Frugal and Fitted

  How to Find Good Pieces at Low-End Thrifts Low end thrift stores can be pretty overwhelming. There's no aesthetic choice usually, things are cramped on the racks, and the lighting is harsh. However, hidden amongst those wacky aisles are some actual gems you just have to know where to look. Here's how to spot quality pieces, even when everything around you is chaotic and so not cool.  1. Feel the Fabric You don't always have to judge things by appearance, touch everything. Quality fabric looks and feels different. Natural materials such as 100% cotton, linen, silk, and wool usually hold up longer in the long term and usually have a thicker, softer feel compared to synthetic fibers. If a thing feels robust and smooth instead of thin and plasticky, it's well worth a closer look. You can also reverse tags and check fabric content, clothing from earlier decades were made with better materials and stronger stitching across the board. 2. Check the Stitching Poor stitching is...

  Types of Secondhand Stores to Avoid When You're on a Budget Thrifting used to mean cheap, and unique treasures ,but now with the popularity of vintage clothing, not all secondhand stores are cheap anymore. When you need to fill your closet without emptying your account, the following are the types of secondhand stores to consider skipping when buying clothes. 1. Curated Vintage Boutiques They have nice Instagram aesthetics, well-lit dressing rooms, and racks full of vintage clothing and Y2K nostalgia but you're going to pay for the aesthetic. These stores do tend to price pieces pretty high because they've already done the digging, cleaned the clothes, and styled them in a way that will make you want to buy everything. While they're great for inspiration they're rarely budget-friendly. For example a $5 thrifted tank would cost $40 at a boutique. 2. "Trendy" Thrift Chains in Gentrified Areas Large brand names like Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads Trading Co...

  Affordable Sites to Shop Vintage Online (Not Just Depop) If you’ve ever searched “vintage clothes online,” chances are Depop popped up first and the clothes were probably very overpriced. While Depop has its gems, it’s become saturated with overpriced “vintage” clothing and resellers flipping Goodwill finds for a 100% markup. However there are better and cheaper sites to find cool vintage clothing. Here are some underrated, budget-friendly places to find cool clothes without draining your bank account. 1. eBay eBay is a very underrated goldmine for vintage clothing. It's not usually curated like Depop, but because of the lack of curation it is a great place to find deals. Use specific search terms like "Y2K mesh clothing," "90s mini skirt," or "vintage Levi's 501 USA made." You can also add filters for price limits, auctions, or direct sales to get even more discounted deals. Another tip is that you can “watch items” and if you hold off on buying...