My First Time Shopping Secondhand on thredUP + 3 Things to Consider

If you are any bit familiar with shopping secondhand online, thredUP has probably come across your radar. Recently, I was looking to add a few high-quality pieces to my wardrobe on a modest spending budget. Since so many of my blogging friends have shared great things about thredUP, I finally placed my first order. While I may still buy new here and there, I am glad that this journey has at least opened me to more options. Here is my honest thredUP shopping review, as well as 3 tips to consider when buying secondhand clothes.

When It Makes Sense to Shop Secondhand

Growing up, I remembered there being a lot of stigma with shopping secondhand clothes. This perception has definitely gone away in recent years. But that doesn’t mean I was open to the idea. Cleanliness and quality were my two biggest concerns. However, with my most recent purchase, I’ve learned that there are scenarios where shopping secondhand just makes sense:

1. You’re looking for a high-quality ‘occasion’ piece: Main category that comes to mind is formal dresses. Renting is an option, but if you want a piece that you can rewear to multiple occasions for years to come, shopping secondhand could be a great way to save money.
2. You’re not ready to invest in something new yet: Eyeing a luxury or designer piece? If it’s a new brand you’ve never tried before, buying from the brand secondhand can be a great way to test the waters. The same can be said of new silhouettes or styles that you’re interested in.
3. You’re looking for something one-of-a-kind: That is one the biggest draws of vintage clothes. Shopping secondhand makes it super unlikely anyone else will own the same piece as you 🙂
4. Save Money: The designer pieces I bought this time around were over 70% off their retail price, and in great shape. The prices are hard to beat!

ThredUP Shopping Review: What I Bought & Loved

Even though shopping secondhand is more sustainable, I was careful not to overbuy. Purchasing an item just because it is affordable usually leads to more waste (similar thoughts in an old post: What I learned in my 3-Month No Buy Journey). So for this first purchase, I only purchased 3 items and my Tory Burch dress ended up being my favorite.

Tory Burch (Orig. $375, Bought: $40): The fit and sizing, the design, and fabric were all just perfect! It is a crisp poplin cotton shirt-dress, and I love the classy safari print. No stains, and it looks like someone just cut the tag off because the strings were still attached. This item was true to the description, and I can see myself wear it quite often this summer.

ThredUP Shopping Review: What I didn’t Love

Rebecca Taylor Tiered Pinwheel Dress (Orig. $325, Bought: $25): I will say, this dress is super cute and I love the design. However, once I got it out of the box, I knew the owner before me shrunk it in the wash 🙁 It is short, and the bodice fits quite tightly for a size 2. The fabric also came super wrinkly.

I have to be careful with how I care for it in the future because if it shrinks again, I know it won’t fit anymore. This piece just goes to show that when you buy secondhand, it can be hard to tell the exact quality and condition from the online description. I gave this dress a good iron, and it looks so much better now. Unlike new clothes, secondhand pieces do need a little more TLC.

Club Monaco Scalloped Skirt (Orig. $190, Bought: $5): I was lacking a nice black skirt, and this piece brings me back to the good old Club Monaco days. The brand aesthetics have shifted a bit since 5 years ago, so I was glad I find a piece from when their silhouettes were much more feminine.

I have always been in between two sizes, and this time, I went with the larger one. Unfortunately, the waist was too big on me. Since this skirt was only $5, I didn’t feel like it made sense to return it, but if I tried it on in-person, I wouldn’t have bought it. The skirt looks OK when I tuck a dress shirt in underneath, so I may get it tailored.

My learning here is that with buying items secondhand, returns can be costly (to you and the retailer). Research closely, and take your own measurements beforehand. It helps decrease waste, especially if the clothes end up unworn or disposed of.

3 Things to Consider When Buying Secondhand Clothes

There are some minor inconveniences to buying clothes secondhand. After my first purchase, here are some practical tips to consider:

1. Customize Your Filters: Color, fabric, brand, price, size. Shopping secondhand saves money, but it also costs you time! With items refreshing so often on thredUP, it is hard to find the right item in a large sea of products. Optimize your experience by setting your filters from the get-go. That way, you are only getting pieces that fit you.
2. Always Wash & Iron Your Clothes: ThredUP does NOT wash the clothes before listing them. You should always wash your clothes before you wear them, even if they are new. But for obvious reasons, it is even more important then they are pre-loved. Ironing and steaming also give them a more ‘revived’ look, if they come wrinkly.
3. It’s not the only way to be sustainable: Remember, there are plenty of other options when it comes to managing a conscious closet: do a swap with friends, rent, or invest in something great and love it for a long, long time.

I am glad to have opened my options to something I never tried before. But it is definitely not the only way to shop sustainably. I hope these tips help, and feel free to use my thredUP referal link for $10 off your first purchase 😀