More often than not, following the latest fashion trends can be difficult─ partly because trends change as quickly as Irish weather, and partly because it’s too expensive to update your entire wardrobe! Luckily, filling-in your wardrobe doesn’t always have to be expensive. You can always try shopping for “new” clothes at second-hand shops for Quick Clothing Alterations.
The obvious advantage of second-hand shops is that the items are cheap. However, the cheap price tags do not necessarily reflect the quality of the item. You can actually find vintage and designer clothing in great condition for a fraction of their original price, leading to major savings.
If you have the patience and the eye for fashion, you can greatly benefit from visiting a second-hand shop. If this will be your first time visiting such a store, here are a few tips to help you increase your chances of finding an absolute steal:
Perfection Can Wait
You’re highly unlikely to find a perfect fit when you’re out bargain hunting, and that is perfectly fine. If you fall in love with a stunning outfit that is a size too large, purchase it anyway! You can always take in a dress to reduce its size and make for a comfier fit. You’ll still end up with a bargain, even with the added cost of alterations.
Be Creative
See clothes for more than what they currently look like; a less-than-stellar t-shirt, for example, can become a cute crop top! Many clothing alterations shops like The Zip Yard offer restyling services to their customers. The next time you browse through the racks of a second-hand shop, channel your inner fashion designer and look for clothes you can have restyled.
Take Your Time
Half the fun of purchasing clothes from second-hand shops is digging through mountains of clothes to find the diamond in the rough. To do that, an article from The Guardian tells you to take your time:
“Dive into those tubs of scarves and bags and hats. If you’re shopping anywhere where the stock is donated, dedicate a large chunk of your time to looking for something special.
Charity shopping is not for people in a hurry, because usually where there is one shop, there are many more. And limiting yourself to one is impossible. My charity shopping sprees usually take in five shops, all within a minute’s walk from one another – to miss out any of the key three would be nothing less than sacrilege.”
(Source: Dos and Don’ts of charity shop shopping; The Guardian; December 4; 2012)
