I went thrift shopping for the first time and here’s how it went

Plus,

five tips for first-timers!

Here’s the deal: I’ve always wanted to go thrift shopping, but for several reasons (or excuses), I never got around to it. So when the idea to do it for a blog article was presented to me by our professor, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to finally make it happen.

After doing a little research, one of, if not the most, popular thrift store in Toronto is—you guessed it—Value Village. They’re known by many locals for having the widest selection, and they have several branches scattered across Toronto. For my first ever thrifting adventure, I went to the branch located at 924 Queen Street East in Leslieville.

I entered the store and was immediately greeted by the men’s section. To my amusement, they’d already put out Halloween costumes and decorations. I made a quick walkthrough of the store and I will admit, it was a little intimidating and overwhelming.

There were so many pieces to comb through and the store was moderately busy with fellow thrifters also looking for hidden gems among the racks. As expected, the men’s section was significantly smaller compared to the women’s section.

I didn’t have a lot of free time that day so I basically just skimmed through the racks. I wasn’t able to buy anything, but I did find this blazer in a beautiful olive green shade but it was in a size XL, which is way too big on me.

So one of the reasons why I picked this Value Village specifically is because there are also many thrift shops in the area, albeit smaller. After Value Village, I went to Good Juice Box Vintage, just a few blocks away.

In comparison to Value Village, Good Juice Box is smaller in terms of inventory and pricing is a little higher, but for good reason. The staff on duty said that everything on display is handpicked by the owner and is inspected and/or repaired before being put out.

Definitely, Good Juice Box has a more boutique feel than Value Village. The selection is more curated and personally, I think the merchandise is better too. Although, I’m sure you’d find some good pieces at Value Village too if you looked hard enough.

My friend scored this beautiful long black leather trench coat for $99, but the buttons were a little loose, so she asked to have them tightened by the staff, who happily obliged. There was also this nice Tommy Hilfiger jacket, as well as a couple of quirky grandma sweaters on display.

All in all, my first thrift shop experience was fun! As someone who loves shopping, it was refreshing to explore a different side of fashion. Even though I went home empty handed, I definitely want to check out more thrift stores soon. Hopefully, I’ll get lucky next time!

If you’re a newbie thrifter, here is a handful of tips I have for you:

TIP #1 Know what you’re looking for.

When you come to the bigger stores like Value Village, it can be easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you don’t know where to start. So come with a list of items you want to find!

TIP #2 Do your research.

When deciding which ones to visit, do a recon to find out which one is better suited for you. Do you want more options like Value Village or do you prefer a more controlled environment like Good Juice Box?

TIP #3 Inspect the items before purchasing.

Not to point out the obvious but these are secondhand clothing, so expect signs of wear. If you do find something you like, check it first—are there holes or stains, and can they be fixed?

TIP #4 Come prepared.

Some things to bring: a shopping bag to put your purchases, extra cash in case they don’t take cards, and a measuring tape you can use when you’re not quite sure about the sizing.

TIP #5 Keep an eye out for unique pieces.

When you go thrifting, the goal is to find one-of-a-kind items, pieces you won’t be able to buy at H&M or Forever 21. Finding designer names and vintage brands is a major plus.