A Gen Z Guide to Instagram Thrift Shopping
Posted by admin on 2024-02-09 |
Are you intimidated when you’re browsing online thrift stores? Are you perpetually on the hunt to find thrift picks on the best deal possible? Perhaps, you found thrift stores but find it hard to trust the seller? Thrift shopping in the Gen-Z era means, shopping can now feel like a daunting task. There is a knack to thrift shopping, that takes a few bad tries, experimentation, and a good eye for fashion finds.
We don’t want you to go through all the trouble, so here’s your shopping best-friend: the guide to make sure your fashion game is always on fleek.
1) Create a separate Instagram account for Thrift Shopping.
This is something you can do to organize your thrift shopping in the most convenient way away from your personal account and feed on Instagram. A separate finsta(Fake Insta) for your thrift shopping needs, is perfect because you can follow all the thrift accounts you like, save all the posts you need, and dm all your sellers with complete privacy and efficiency.
2) The Thrift Store Hunt.
This is a rough stage when you start out thrift shopping on Instagram, you usually don’t know where to start. Unless the stores always pop up on your feed, this can be a rough patch to begin with. But exploring thrift stores, is like a chain. Once you find one, you can go to their stories, where they most likely would be promoting other thrift stores. This is usually the fastest way to find more thrift stores. You could always ask your thrift shopping friends for recommendations, or preferably do an internet dig to find the more popular, trusted ones. Another good way to find thrift stores, is to check hashtags on the public explore page like #thriftshopping, #thriftstores #thriftfashion #smallbusiness, etc. Once, you get past this stage of finding the thrift stores that are perfectly curated to your liking, the real fun of thrifting can begin.
3) The Thrifting Fun
Before you begin online thrift shopping, get yourself measured and sized in numbers. Thrifting can sometimes lead to a size mishap, so it’s always safe to buy a size larger and then altering it. But if you’ve got a good eye for clothes that fit you well, you can start digging for the fashion picks. Save items you love. Dm the sellers for the price, and never shy away from enquiring if there’s a discount or upcoming sale. Most thrift stores do timed drops, where they announce the thrift picks beforehand, and then you can book them via dm. Use the reminder feature on Instagram and set timers for the fashion drops you are looking out for. This is usually a competitive space where you might miss out on purchasing on time. That comes with thrifting, and it’s totally okay. The clothes that are meant to be, will be!
4) Buying the Find
It is always good to go into thrift shopping with a budget in mind. Allot your money to items that you immediately require in your closet. Splurge money only if you find rare finds from luxury brands, or vintage items that are one-of-a-kind. But a general rule of thumb is that your first deal is perhaps not your best deal. Look out for similar sellers and thrift stores that offer the same item for much cheaper. When it comes to trusting the seller, always give priority to thrift stores that have highlights on their page, which is a compliation of customer reviews, and proof of good clientele. Most thrift stores, that have an ample following and social media engagement will be trust-worthy. But always keep a look out for scams, and fake sellers. Always make a conscious purchase. Keep an open mind when it comes to buying the thrift pick.
5) What After?
Once the fashion pick finds its way to your home, always unbox it with video documentation. Try it on, and see if it fits you well. There can always be room for alterations, so keep that in mind. If it’s disappointing, check if your seller has a return policy(It would be usually mentioned in their bio). On the other hand, if you absolutely fall in love with your find, you go rock it! Try layering it with already existing items in your closet, mix-and match, and definitely explore your comfort zone in fashion. And once you start thrifting, it’s HARD to stop! So this is it. You are ready for your thrifting journey. Keep your fashion hat on, be your most creative self, and dig deep through the thrifting world, and you’re definitely turning heads on your next walk out!
