As the 2022 begins, so does my third year of buying only secondhand clothing! Not only is shopping secondhand often cheaper than buying new, it’s a more sustainable option to filling out your closet. Giving a longer life to an existing product means not creating demand for new items (new products that require energy and a depletion of natural resources).
The year 2020 was my first time making the new year’s resolution to avoid buying new clothes and exclusively shop secondhand for any items added to my wardrobe. As someone who enjoys dressing up and fashion in general, this was an opportunity to push myself to new creative limits while also adhering to my new sustainability goals.
If you’re interested in seeing some of the outfits I put together using my secondhand pieces (and other environmental content), follow my Instagram!
The rules I followed:
- All new to me articles of clothing obtained need to be acquired secondhand (thrifting, online resell stores, clothing swaps, etc.)
- Exceptions for socks, underwear and bras, swimwear, shoes, and safety/ sports gear (safety glasses, helmets, work gloves, etc.)
- I can accept new clothes as gifts or as prizes (But I can’t circumvent my secondhand objective by having someone else purchase a new item and “gift it” to me)
- Jewelry can be bought new (though I aim for sustainable options when possible)
I’ve thought about also having an exception for clothing that supports charities or local businesses, but I will play that by ear.
Places I Shopped
I wasn’t going to get rid of any of the perfectly good clothing I already owned and loved, but I knew that I wasn’t currently satisfied with what I had in my closet. I’m still actively looking for clothing that I feel fit my desired look and would be long lasting. While I will pick up some trendy items from time to time, my main clothing goal is to find timeless quality pieces.
Below are some of the places I shop at for secondhand clothing, ranked with my most frequented option at the top. If you want to read more in depth about my experiences (pros and cons, stories, etc.) with these secondhand options, check out my blog post here.
- Thredup
- Thrift Store
- REI Garage Sale
- Plato’s Closet
- Garage Sales
- My mom’s closet
- Clothing swaps
Challenges
The biggest challenge for this resolution was the amount of time to took to acquire certain items I desired. Though I love the thrill of shopping secondhand for the treasure hunting aspect, I know that you don’t always strike gold every time. For example, Halloween took more planning than I’m used to. I’m often guilty of putting together a costume last minute. Without the ease of buying anything new off the shelf, I had to give myself more time to gather materials. This year my boyfriend and I went as Tom Nook and Daisy Mae from the video game Animal Crossing! (My family dog joined us as K.K. Slider.) I spent about a week going to different thrift stores for materials, and I put together the outfits using almost entirely secondhand materials (except for fabric markers, hot glue, felt, paper, markers, and white ribbon).
If I had a wedding or a themed party to attend, then I would need more time to search for the perfect clothing pieces. Also, if I knew of key items I wanted to add to my closet, I would have to allow plenty of time for me to find them secondhand. Thankfully, I have been able to find most clothing items I desired within reasonable time.
Another difficulty with only buying secondhand clothes is that you have limited options. Though I try to avoid overly trendy items (and opt for more timeless pieces), sometimes I do feel like I must miss out on some cute outfit opportunities. There are secondhand shopping options like Plato’s Closet that offer access to many currently trendy items, but there often isn’t the full gamut of choices. Sometimes I can’t find exactly the item I’m looking for.
When scrolling through social media or online advertisements, I can’t just purchase the items seen directly from the store. I’ll see a Tik Tok video or Instagram post of someone showing off multiple outfits, and I know I have to work harder to replicate the look. There are plenty of enjoyable and rewarding aspects, however, to putting in the work to shop secondhand.
Benefits
Throughout my years of having this resolution, I found that I was more intentional with what I bought. I could no longer impulsively buy the latest trends or the clothing item I didn’t need but was on sale. This experience allowed me to reach a more minimalistic mindset when it came to fashion. And with that, I also found myself treasuring more of the clothing pieces I owned.
Shopping secondhand is also oftentimes a cheaper alternative to buying new. Online secondhand stores such as Thredup may sell clothes at higher rates than a physical thrift store, but they are discounted compared to the same item if it were new. I found that I can still find quality pieces that I love by shopping secondhand.
There is also an amazing amount of thrill and satisfaction with walking into a thrift store and finding a unique and perfect piece of clothing. I love running my fingers through a clothing rack at a thrift store, sifting through endless amounts of shirts and pants that I don’t want, and finding a gem. The same feeling can be accomplished with going through online secondhand stores!
Overall, I have been extremely satisfied with my decision to only buy secondhand clothing. Shopping used is great for the environment, and the difficulties I’ve encountered are tolerable. At some point, I may branch out into buying new clothing from sustainable and ethical brands, but for now I’m enjoying the treasure hunt for preloved items!