Secondhand clothes are still popular with many shoppers today. The reasons for the increase in popularity in recent years are numerous—from the low prices to the thrill of the search—but according to Secondhand Chic, another reason is that thrift store clothing is unique. While some items for serious connoisseurs, such as a red-line selvage Levis (about $3000) or a Charles James evening gown (about $10,000 to $15,000) can cost you a lot, many resale items are a bargain. It may sound cool to call your new secondhand purchase vintage, but here are some important categories to understand: Vintage-apparel from past eras that can be anything from Victorian looks in the 1800s to disco in the 1970s, Consignment-typically refers to 1-2 year old clothing that is in good condition where the owner sells clothing through the store and keeps a percentage of the sale. Thrift-stores such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill, as well as cheap locations such as flea markets. You can purchase used clothing is a variety of ways, including physical stores, online stores, online auctions, expos or high-end auctions. Regardless of the way you choose, there are some general guidelines you should adhere to.
First, find a good store by using the yellow pages. For consignment items look for: Consignment; Women’s Clothing, Used: Secondhand Clothing Stores. For thrift items: Thrift; Clothing, Used: Charity stores. For vintage: Vintage or Retro stores. Other ways to locate a good store is by using a directory or using a search engine on the Internet.