With summer here, and the stores are now open, we can finally get back to a somewhat “normal” life. I do not know about you, but I can not wait to go back to the thrift store. Due to the pandemic, I have not gone thrifting for a whole year; A WHOLE DAMN YEAR! My closet is desperately calling out for new clothes. My rotation of oversized hoodies, baggy jeans and sweatpants have had their time in the spotlight, but now summertime clothes need their time in the shine.
If you have not already checked out the 6 Tips for Online Thrift Shopping, go ahead and check out all the best tips for doing a successful online thrifting spree. If you are like me, you would rather go in-person shopping when it comes to thrifting. I had a chance to reach out to some awesome fashion Instagram and YouTube influencers and ask them for some advice for thrifting in a pandemic. Here are the 5 Tips for Thrifting in a Pandemic from Thrifting Experts.
Meet Brendan Dunlap, a Queer fashion influencer who is taking the world by storm. From his Non-Binary thrift hauls to his fashionable Tik Tok, Brendan is blurring the lines of what is consider Male and Female fashion. Not to mention his Instagram feed that has stunning photos. Check out Brendan’s advice for thrifting.
“My tip for thrifting during a pandemic is the same as outside of one: To find amazing gems, you’ve got to put in the work. Try to go to your local thrift store(s) as often as you can, and do not be afraid to look through every rack. Most of the thrifting isn’t about luck, it’s about putting in the time.”
Also, check out The New York Times article that features Brendan.
Simon John, also know as ThatGuySimon is the streetwear-inspired influencer and YouTuber you need to watch. Simon’s content covers almost anything in streetwear, here is what Simon had to stay about finding the perfect pieces at the thrift store.
“To be honest, thrifting in this pandemic is extremely hard. That is why I try to maximize the online platform and thrift as much as possible there. However, when I do thrift outside, the first thing I do is get as many clothes as possible that I can carry around, from there narrow it down to around 3-5 clothes. Not including pants. I always make sure that the shirt is bigger than me- NOT SMALL OR FITS RIGHT. It must be bigger than me so that I will not have any regrets later. For the bottoms, I go straight for the denim. Trust me, the denim I get whenever I go thrifting always fits so damn well. Of course, some pants from the thrift shop will have damaged tags or no tags at all, but all of that does not mean much to me. I pick the pants which are also big for me, then I will have them tailored later. GO STRAIGHT FOR DENIM, TRUST ME”
All my fellow sneakerheads you are in luck, Simon’s Tik Tok gives you some outfit inspiration for some of the hottest sneakers. Check out his Tik Tok about Outfits for J4s, and his YouTube channel
Ariel is possibly living out my dream life; living in New York (which automatically means amazing thrift finds), a superb fashion aesthetic, and skin that is clear as glass- mask-acne is the real virus. Not to mention Ariel can make rugs! Check out what the thrifting pro had to say.
“Okay! My tip would be to bring a reusable tote bag with you to carry hand sanitizer, an extra mask, and to carry your finds back home!”
Make sure you check out Ariel’s YouTube
Serena is a fashion design student at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. With her Y2K modern Punk style, she is one fashion designer that you need to keep your eyes on. Here is what Serena has to say about thrifting in a pandemic.
“Go with a very general idea of what you want to get, keep an open mind when you’re picking pieces, but make sure to only purchase items that you will wear to avoid impulsive buy and overconsumption!”
Be sure to check out Serena’s fashion line Not Applicable.
If you are looking for vintage fits this summer, look no further because Eric is the one you are looking for. Eric’s style is where the ‘90s and today’s streetwear meet in the middle. With Eric’s style, there is no doubt you will be struggling finding fashion inspo this summer, here’s Eric’s advice for thrifting.
“Remind yourself of your budget every time you thrift😉.”
I want to give a big thanks to all the influencers featured in this article, be sure to check out their socials!
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