Thrifting or second hand shopping as a plus size person can be difficult. I’ve been to stores that are rumoured to have a great plus size range only to find that it only goes up to a size 18, I’ve found many many dud outfits (think of the nana fat girl clothes from the 90’s) and I’ve had some real misses buying from online sellers. I do really like the idea of being able to onsell my clothes and be able to buy pre-loved clothing from others, in what seems to be such a throwaway culture, so I have persisted and over the years I have picked up a few thrifting tips that I thought I’d share with you.
You’ve got a few routes you can take when it comes to thrift shopping – you can shop in a secondhand store, you can buy pre-loved clothes online (either from a Facebook group, auction site like TradeMe or an app like Depop), or you can have a clothing swap.
I recently bought this dress from a seller in Australia via Facebook. The brand is Domino Dollhouse, which is no longer operating, so this is a pretty rare find. It’s in great condition (looks brand new) and I got it for a fraction of the cost of the original price – I’m pretty stoked with this bargain!
Five plus size thrifting tips
1. Shop online
For sheer range of options, I love being able to shop online because it means that I can shop the closets of people who live nowhere near me. That means a greater choice of sizes, brands you might not be able to get here (super important if you live in NZ where the plus size options are limited, particularly if you’re on a budget) etc. I find that some second hand shops are amazing for plus size options, but they’re pretty limited so while I donate my clothes to certain charity shops in the hopes of sharing the love, it’s very rare that I see anything over an 18. The lesson here: we need to be donating or selling our clothes as well because if we don’t then we will have nothing to buy!
2. Get the fit right
If you’re in store, try things on, just like you would at any other shop. If you’re trying to bag a bargain online, don’t be afraid to ask the seller for measurements – I find that getting measurements means that I know how it will fit on certain parts of my body. You’ll also want to double check what kind of fabric the garment is and whether it’s stretchy. If you buy something and it doesn’t fit right, you usually can’t return it in the same way you’d be able to if you were buying new, so make sure you get the fit right to start off with.
3. Make sure it’s in good condition
Check for tears, make sure all buttons are present and accounted for, ensure that zippers are in good working order. Also check seams and places where wear might be an issue (I’m thinking of inner thighs of trousers, because we all know how real chub rub is!). Don’t buy things that need mending, because chances that you will actually mend it are very low! If you’re very lucky, you might find garments that are BNWT (Brand New With Tags), these items are a great find!
4. Check the website
If you’re buying something that is current season or last season, it could be worth checking the retailer’s website to see what the “buy new” price is – earlier this year I bought a dress second hand that I could have gotten brand new for half the price because it was on sale on the brand’s website. Yep, I totally got caught out! Learn from my mistakes, people.
5. Don’t be a sucker
Does the deal you’re getting sounds too good to be true? Then it probably is. If you’ve found a “genuine Louis Vuitton purse” for $10 then either it’s the steal of the century or it’s a fake. If you’ve purchased online and are collecting your new finds from someone else’s home, take someone with you. Be a sensible shopper and don’t get sucked in.
Tell me your thrifting wins and horror stories!
If you’ve got any other tips for shopping secondhand, let us know
Meagan wears:
Domino Dollhouse Star Print Dress (3XL) purchased pre-loved from Sonia H for $20
Head Over Heels Bronte Ankle Boots from Number One Shoes (9)
Photos: Ambient Light Photography
I have a few handy tips at
http://onceuponanopshop.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/op-shopping-101-few-guidelines.html?m=0
Basically: don’t always rely on the size written on the tag, don’t limit yourself to the “plus size” section, try it on, look often and think outside the box.
My best buy actually was a steal of the century! A genuine Loius Vitton bag for $10! I guess they thought it was fake but when I saw it had a tag with a seriAl number on it I researched and turns out it costs $900!!
HOLY MOLY that is such a good bargain! I thought of you the other day actually – I picked up a gorgeous grey leopard print dress for just $5, I was so pleased. I’ve never gotten a bargain like that in my size before!
Great advice, Meagan.
Just another thought for when you are looking for a home for those clothes that you no longer need. I recently gave bags full of Plus Size clothing and accessories (including handbags) to Dress For Success. They do a fabulous job and I am sure that their clients aren’t all Size 16 and under.
That’s a great idea Lynne – plus size workwear can be hard to find/expensive so anything we can do to help babes find awesome jobs and feel confident when they go to work is a fab plan 😀
I love these tips Meagan!
I recently purchased a second hand trench coat from a lovely lady (that’s you btw) with the tags still on and at a steal of a price. I’ve never been happier. When it comes to clothes online, I find it so difficult to make the decision to actually buy. I’m such a scaredy cat for getting caught out but I think I’m going to try and be bolder when it comes to purchasing online in the future 🙂
I’m so glad you loved the coat, it’s really really lovely on you! I think making sure you go by measurement rather than size label is super handy when buying online!