Finding the Right Item in Online Thrift Store UK Clothes: Best Tips
November 26, 2023Explore the best online thrift store UK clothes with tips on finding quality fabrics, understanding your style, and shopping within your budget.
In today’s world, where every business is profit-oriented, the fashion industry has shifted from producing evergreen masterpieces1 to trendy designs. Ironically, brand-new trendy designs cost a lot more and offer less value than the evergreen pieces which are mostly found in thrift shops around.
The sales of thrift clothes online became a big trend in 2020 when several businesses were forced to move online due to the pandemic. Since then, online thrift store UK clothes have seen a significant market increase, with many customers preferring online orders over physical store visits.
Some online thrift stores sell UK clothes only, while others sell clothes made in any part of the world. Regardless of where it’s made, what matters most is the quality of the fabric and the style of the cloth itself.
Knowing that choosing the right item in a thrift shop is based primarily on your perspective
and interests; In this article, we’ll discuss some tips you should know to hand-pick the best vintage clothing in any thrift store.
6 Checks For Handpicking Suitable Vintage Pieces In A Thrift Store
1. Mindset (Right Shopping Mindset)
Oxfam Charity Shop, Princess Street, Knutsford by Roger A Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Selecting anything from a list of options in life requires decision-making, which comes as a reflection of your mind. And just like for any other thing, to find the best vintage clothes for yourself, your opinion and interests matter a lot.
A positive shopping mindset informs you that you will get the right customer treatment and value for goods ordered online. It also informs you that you do not have to buy the most expensive item in the shop to feel valued and respected.
A good shopping mindset is borne out of a good self-image and worth. Whatever you perceive yourself to be is what resonates with you, and this isn’t different for shopping.
2. Have Knowledge of Fabrics
When shopping at an online thrift store for UK clothes, it’s okay even if you don’t have extensive knowledge of fabrics2. However, it’s necessary you feel the texture of the clothes you pick to determine if they’re the right ones for you.
Fabrics3 vary in density and complexity and are classified based on the raw materials used in their production. Some common fabrics materials are cotton, polyester, chiffon, organza, etc.
Take note of clothes made from two or more different materials to know the best practises for caring for and maintaining the fabrics.
3. Online thrift store UK clothes – Competition & Market Survey
Halloween time in the Goodwill Superstore, Little Havana, Miami Florida – Phillip Pessar, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
As an online shopper, you should never dismiss the place of market research4. Get to know details about what’s in stock and compare prices between different stores to find the price and quality that best suits your budget.
Competitors pose as masked opportunities to get new critical insights into the same market. Therefore, utilise this opportunity as a consumer to assess businesses that align with your preference.
You can review the market for certain products by considering the product’s sales data over the course of some consecutive years. For example, denim is considered an evergreen fashion item because it’s been a sustainable fashion since the early 1950s though there’s been slight variation in its style over the years.
4. Shop the Latest Batch
The latest batch of any online thrift store UK clothes collection is where you find the best selected items and this goes for thrift shopping too. Shopping for vintage clothing at online thrift store UK clothes is becoming increasingly competitive each passing day therefore, if you truly desire to get high-quality and aesthetically pleasing pieces, get shopping when the latest batch drops.
This is not to say you shouldn’t shop from other batches. After all, good quality materials can be found in other batches too. Depending on your interest, you can still find what suits you in any batch as long as you are willing to search.
5. Look Through Other Online Thrift Store UK clothes Sections
Another thing to note is to look through other available sections. Sometimes, clothes often get wrongly classified into different categories, and you might miss out on getting pieces that suit your style if you stick to only one section.
Often times when you scan other sections, you feel inspired to try out new things and ump up your style. You can also find new pairing ideas for some of your clothes and footwear.
6. Don’t Buy Because It’s Cheap
Nearly everyone makes this fashion mistake6. You walk into a store (or browse a website), and you find a cheap item you do not need, but you decide to add it to your cart because it’s cheap and you can afford it. This is not only a bad money habit for you in the long run. It also adds unnecessary clutter to your wardrobe as time goes by.
It’s a known fact that your style speaks volumes about your personality, interests, and lifestyle. So, instead of shopping for an item because it’s cheap, think about the image it portrays to the world about you and how comfortable you are with the result it brings.
Online thrift store UK clothes In Summary
Finding the right item in an online thrift store UK clothes is not a difficult task. As long as you implement some (if not all) of the tips mentioned here, you can definitely get what you’ll love in the long run.
However, nothing good comes without a little patience. Take your time to search through different categories and collections available to find your very best pieces. You can also choose clothes a bit above your budget as long as that doesn’t affect your other expenses.
- https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/workers-denim/
- https://sewing.com/fabric-types-everything-you-need-to-know/
- https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/couture-fabrics/
- https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/how-to-conduct-competitive-research
- https://www.blue17.co.uk/vintage-blog/womens-1990s-vintage-clothing/
- https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/shopping/shopping-mistakes-youre-making-and-how-to-stop-2/
