Thrifting tips

[bootsvalentine]

I used to thrift shop a lot as a teenager, esp. when I had fat friends to go with. I got out of the habit and I feel so impatient when I go into a thrift store that has no organization by size. I feel like 90% of what is there would never fit me. So I'd love it if any of you thrift-savvy fatshionistas could share with me how you deal with this! I

Comments

[peradouro]

Sucks that they don't have at least general sizing. Our Goodwill had really good sizing/secioning in women's stuff, but lately it's been a wee bit off. In the "plus" side I've been seeing 12s... Not sure who's been doing the sorting but something is a bit off there. Or maybe it's me. I always thought plus sizing started at the 20s.

[wingedcorset]

Depending on the store (original store, not thrift store) plus sizes can start anywhere from 12-20. Twelve as the starting point is becoming far more common, as far as I can tell.

[yesmina]

i always get a bunch of weird t-shirts that i find in the t-shirt section. i get men's L most of the time so they fit tight and look hot!

[beautyofgrey]

I tend to thrift for basics, so when I go in I have an idea of what I'm looking for (black cardi, denim skirt, khaki capris, etc.). Then I mostly comb through the racks with that in mind. Of course, I usually stumble onto something else in the mean time.

That said, I'm really lucky that the local Goodwill does designate a few plus racks (and they also receive Target's dumpoffs/no sells). It's a bit hit or miss. I'm an 18 and can sometimes hit up the regular section for skirts.

[missciapponi]

I go to Goodwill or Salvation Army when I've decided to dedicate a whole afternoon to hunting, or just want thrift for fun, but when I really want to buy, I usually go to the smaller thrift stores in my area--I've found that the little places are more likely to organize by size. The places I go that have dedicated plus sections are all small charity-based thrift stores (one donates $ to blindness prevention, another to a local hospital)--might wanna check and see if there are similar thrift stores near you.

I've also established a relationship with an owner of a vintage shop in my neighborhood and ask her to throw *anything* she comes across that would fit a modern 22/24 my way. Because she can't move it in her shop (she says fatties don't even really browse her store--they just assume there is nothing for them) and most of the large stuff she finds isn't in great condition (I don't know why that is...) I've gotten a couple of cute, cheap things that way.

Hope some of that is helpful!

[elemenopea]

re: most of the large stuff she finds isn't in great condition

Because once we find something nice that fits, we hold on to it forever.

[rosewater]

You don't say where you are in AZ, I found a ton of plus size stuff in the Phoenix Buffalo Exchange -- and probably would have found more if I hadn't been there with two boys who wanted to leave. There wasn't a separate plus size section, and I didn't get to look at dresses, but I found skirts up to a 22. I love Buffalo Exchange, and at an 18ish, I never have trouble leaving with at least one thing.

[bootsvalentine]

cool, I am in Phoenix, I will check it out!