As you walk through the halls of Buena, students with all types of aesthetics and styles roam through the school. From surfer, to skater, from goth to cottagecore, and indie to basic Brandy Melville, there will never be one fashion in highschool. But, becoming stylish on a budget can be difficult, so we must turn to thrifting. Thrifting is a popular activity among the teens of Ventura, and there are many different thrift stores to explore around town. However, there are many tips and tricks you may want to know before you go, so that you can find the best clothes, at the best price.
- Look at the end of the racks
The end of the racks can sometimes have what previous shoppers decided to leave at the store at the very last minute. Looking at the ends of the racks can save you the time that other people already spent looking through all of the clothing items. When people decide what they want from their haul, they put back other good finds at the ends of the shelves, leaving it ready for you to snag!
- Check the floors – look everywhere, underneath and on top of things
Although you may feel a little silly, bending down to see what is under the clothing racks could get you an amazing find. Sometimes, people try to hide items they love in or under the racks, and although not always true, you can always benefit from looking.
- Look in all sections, even the kids section!
I have found some of my favorite tiny tanks, t-shirts, and tops in the children’s section. You can find kids XL’s that fit you perfectly at a much cheaper price than what the adult t-shirt would be, even at the thrift store price! Although it can be slightly more tedious sifting through paw patrol, and Disney princess graphic tees (unless that’s your jam), there are some great bargains awaiting you.
- Go early or during work/school hours (if there’s no work/school)
The phrase “the early bird gets the worm” explains my point here. If you are the first one in the store, you have access to the brand-new items, recently dropped off. (This strategy is especially useful when shopping at the Bins). Along with going early, if you go during the workday or school day from around 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the stores tend to be a lot less busy and you have a lot more of the store to yourself.
- Be open minded about things and try to wear new things
Although something may look weird on a hanger, you may love it on yourself. There have been many times when I thought something would be completely wrong, and then I end up loving it once I try it on. Thrift stores can have some wacky items, make sure to be open minded when you go!
- Go often but don’t always expect to get something every time you go.
Thrifting is a wonderful and cheap alternative to shopping full price, but it does come with the risk of not finding what you need or want. It’s important to go often, and keep checking for the things that you want, but make sure your hopes are low. If they are low and you find nothing, then you are okay with it. If hopes are low and you do end up finding something, then it is super exciting!
Finally, here are my favorite local places where Buena students can find thrifted items, and where to go for what, from my experience.
I have had the best experiences here finding shoes and tiny tops! I bought my superstars for $3, and they are usually $100, full price. I also love the children’s selection in this store, they tend to have cute tiny surf tops for 99¢.
In the bins, they price items based on weight, so things tend to be towards the cheaper side. I would bring gloves, and hand sanitizer, and make sure to show up early so you can snag the great finds!
This is one of the more expensive thrift stores, but also a more well known one. I tend to go in here to find good dress clothes, because nicer items are donated. You can also always find good books and knick knacks!
This is my favorite thrift store of all time. I can find the best tops, sweaters, jackets, and items here. I have never left disappointed! Always make sure to check in the men’s section here, as they can have some really cool finds as well (especially in sweaters!)
There are a few more secret places, but of course I’ll leave you to explore for yourself as a now professional thrifter. I can’t give away all the secrets in one article!
