Romanticize Your Life: Thrift Store Finds
Let’s start with the essentials, which is this article that outlines what it actually means to romanticize your life as a whole, why to do it, how to do it etc. I feel like this is “essential reading” if you will and is the basis for which most of my work here stems from. TLDR; romanticizing your life is about finding beauty in your daily life and letting that help you become more present and enrich your day-to-day. I’m a very “you shouldn’t need a vacation from your life” girlie.
But on that, I want to share what I’ve learned over the years about thrifting and its major part in accessing the outer life that reflects my inner life adequately.
Why Thrifting?
1) sustainability - for your wallet, for the planet, and for the shifitng versions of yourself that will no doubt come forward. It’s not reasonable to assume that you are goin go tstay the same, that your style or colour palate or needs won’t shift. Thrift stores make it so that you can be guilt free in your endeavour to switch things out, treat yourself, and not break the bank either
2) presence - if you’re truly thrifting in a Salvation Army or Value Village, you know it’s a hunt. There is a fuck ton of stuff to sift through and you really have to be in the right mood to go and sort through it all. Finding things you love requires patience and presence. It means you actually have to touch things, have to interact with the world around you and slow down. I often take a whole cart with me and will spend hours in a place, and at the end I will go through all of my finds again and see what really resonates with me right now. Often the first few things I pick act as sort of a “warm up” to the hunt and I rarely end up taking them with me
3) adventure - this really plays into some artist date energy (iykyk, and if you don’t know check out the artists way) but basically an artist date is when you take your inner most creative self on a date! It’s just you and your inner child, and the goal is to allow yourself to find and ineract with pleasure on you terms. I really think that going to the thrift store is like going to a safari for stuff. You never know what you’re going to find, often your pleasantly surprised, and it also takes some minor prep to ensure that the dust and weird laundry detergent smells and flourescent lights don’t take you out.
How To Thrift
Okay I’m not really here to tell you what to do exactly, but these are things that I’ve learned that have really helped me get the most out of my thrifting ventures
Spiritual Stuff
1) make a list of things that you want to find. You don’t have to assume you’ll find all of it now, or in one go, but make a note in your journal or on your phone of things and whenever something pops up whether it’s from pinterest or a DIY or just something you want in your wardrobe add it to the list. This is different than going thrifting looking for certain things - I really wouldn’t recommend that most of the time honestly. But make a list and you’ll be surprised what comes your way - I’ve found brand new coyboy boots, drum sets, dishes I’ve been coveting, incredible clothing pieces, silk scarves etc. Don’t hold back.
2) when the feeling calls, listen. Thrifting is not something that should be planned in my opinion. The winds of it will come and find you and pull you towards it on the oddest of days and moments. When I go thrifting and I’m not in the mood, I rarely find anything or find it hard to commit to anything. Don’t force yourself, don’t put pressure on it. Just let it flow.
3) be careful about who you go with. There are literally 3 people I truly like to thrift with - my best friend, my gramma, and my boyfriend. I will spend hours at the thrift. I have a process. I do not want to be disturbed but I do sometimes want someone to show things to. If you are thrifting with someone who is done after 30 minutes and you’re only through the homewares that’s going to create tension. This also sort of falls into the “don’t plan it” energy because if you’re not all vibing it will affect the search. I think it’s also important to thrift with people who have a different style than you do - you don’t want to be fighting over the finds.
Pratical Stuff
1) physical body - bring water, eat before you go, have snacks ready, wear comfortable clothing. A lot of thrift stores post-covid don’t have change rooms anymore so I like to wear leggings/tank/one-piece and a cozy sweater so I can easily try things on as I need to. I’m not concerned about being a fashion girlie when I’m thrifting, I’m concerned with longevity.
2) headphones - even if you aren’t listening to anything, just being able to tune out the world a little bit is such a game changer. I often listen to Tara Brach podcast or really soothing binaural beats while I’m in there. I want to remain calm and in my vibe, and I also generally want to be left alone.
3) bring your own bags - I love to bring a big IKEA blue bag when I’m thrifting, but I just think it’s a good rule in general if you’re going shopping to bring your own. Bring totes, bring more than you think you will need.
4) price tags mean nothing - rip them off or replace them with something else. A vase is $17? No, more like $4. A t-shirt is $12? “Sorry there wasn’t a tag on this” at check-out brings it down to 6. The way they price things in thrift stores is genuinely so ridiculous and often non-sensical. These things were donated, don’t be afraid to swap a sticker or put a tag in your pocket. No one is going to die, the employees don’t care, your wallet will thank you.
5) sign up for the coupon things. I’ve said so much money just by signing up for the Value Village rewards program - it’s not about the points you rack up so much as saving 40% on items you’re looking for right now. Especially if you are using the above tricks.
What to Thrift
Okay so this part is a little more challenging I think, because it does require you to know yourself. I find myself always drawn towards similar pieces and styles - which can be great until you have 7 versions of the same thing in your wardrobe.
General Rules
1) If it isn’t better than what you have, then don’t buy it. What I mean is, the thing might be super cute but if you already have a version of it and what you’ve found isn’t better quality/fit/vibe then maybe it isn’t worth it. If you do get something better, unless it’s a staple you wear ALL the time and want more than one of, then consider donating or selling the piece it’s replacing.
2) Just because it’s cute or it looks good doesn’t mean you’ll wear it or use it. Objectively I think it’s fairly easy to recognize when something slaps - but it takes a lot of self-control to be honest about whether or not that thing will actually get used or fit your vibe. If your style is changing or evolving this is different, but try to envision where it will go/what you will pair it with. There are exceptions like when you find truly remarkable one-off pieces like a beaded gown or something where it’s a worthy investment for something down the road but it’s worth it to not drown your home in stuff that isn’t actually what you want or need
3) know your colour palate - again, something might be cute but does it vibe with everything else? Will you actually use it? Will you be able to make outfits out of it or pair it with other things in your home? This will change and evolve over time which is great and why we thrift, but generally knowing the colours of your life will make this more cohesive and allow you to feel more at home in what you create over time
4) if you have an idea for a DIY but know you won’t actually do it or don’t have the other things you need be honest with yourself. I’ve bought so many things under the impression that I’ll do something else with them - some things are worth hemming or taking in or taking your time with. But are you really going to re-wire the lava lamp or are you just wanting to entertain the notion that you can (which of course you can) and not acknowledging the difference between this and will.
5) on the DIY tip, before going to get candles or ribbons or shells, check out the weird little bagged section where they put toys and magnet and beads together. Often these have absolute gems in them. If you don’t want the whole collection I just open the bag and take what I want and get them to price it individually at check-out for me. I don’t need more junk - I’ll also buy the bag, take what I need, and re-donate it too.
6) Check fabric tags more than labels. I make it a habit to not buy zara/shein/h&m from the thrift store in general but that goes reverse too where not all name-brands are really going to be that great. Where was it made? When was it made? What materials is it made from? Make this a part of your piece look-over; are all the buttons in-tact, any stains or holes, just a general check of the quality of the garment to see if it’s worth it and if there is any repair/cleaning/updating that is needed. I’ve found so much silk and cashmere this way - from random brands that if I hadn’t looked at the fabric label I may have passed over. This will also inform you of the care it needs - if you put everything through the washer and dryer then maybe the wool pants aren’t a great investment for you.
Things To Thrift
most of this list will be home things because I’m really focusing on romanticizing your life as an external, home based venture that acts as a reflection of your inner life
1) cutlery - I’ve found some truly beautiful knives and mini spoons and charcuterie sets while thrifting. I wouldn’t usually buy a set of silver-ware but those little bits can be found and make such a difference in your collection!
2) dishes - for soooo long so many of my dishes have been thrifted. Especially!!!! If you love a mis-matched vibe. I have my regular plates and bowls, but all my side plates, cups, mugs, and mini bowls etc are all thrifted. Some of them are sets (I try to buy in sets of 2/4 - I like even numbers personally unless it fits together with other stuff). Also be patient, if you have a vibe you’re curating over time it may take a while to get everything. Play the long game, and also check out other stores of the same chain near by because sometimes donation centres split things so you can find the other set pieces somewhere else.
3) catch-alls and stands - I’m a huge “everything should have a home” person and all those homes should be cute. I love finding old silver pots for my plants, little stands to display my perfumes, and dishes or ash-trays to catch my keys or jewellery. I think the thing here again is to just ensure that you’re not buying things because they are cute but make sure they will have a use for you and the design of your home. All of these things should be functional in the long run imo.
4) jugs, pitchers and vases - if you find a cute vase or jug GET IT! They are so multi-functional and really make something like drinking your water more enjoyable or making sure your flowers stay fresh. You don’t need a lot of them and I personally find it really hard to find ones that match my vibe so if you find it, get it! My favourite use for a good pitcher is to water my plants.
5) jars and pantry things - I love cooking and baking - especially for the people I love - and I find it so much easier to do this when my kitchen is beautiful and organized. If you’re needing larger things like containers for flour it can be a lot more economical to thrift them. You can also get really cute ones that are vintage or just create a mix-and-match energy. I like finding old bottles that have a unique shape or design - and decanters as well - and using them for my oils and vinegars. You can get the tops they use at bars for alcohol to ensure easy use and pour. It really adds a unique and elevated energy to your kitchen area. You can also use them to make infused oils or even for bath salts etc if your a big bath person!
6) wall accessories - picture frames, mirrors, little shelves, candelabras! Your walls hold so much potential. I love collecting frames and making little collages in them, whether for a one off piece or as a gallery wall. I also love a DIY upcycle of making mini picture frames magnets for your fridge. A great hack here too is to go get some old magazines with pictures you love and use those to fill the frames. This is such an easy hack and can make it seem like you’ve curated a crazy art collection. I have so many funky pieces I’ve collected over the years and when something doesn’t fit anymore I sell it or put it in storage - I often rotate art and prints for what I’m feeling at the time
7) lights and lamps - make sure they work first! But a cool base with a funky edison bulb is my go-to for not-overhead-lighting, an essential in my home. It’s also very easy to add a little personal touch to a lamp shade - I bought some fringe and hot glued it to the base of one in my bedroom for impeccable cowgirl oracle vibes.
8) textiles - rugs, towels, upholstered stools etc. Most things can be washed - if you find a cute set or a hallway runner that’s just yout vibe it’s likely more worth it to buy it and clean it than to buy it completely new. You can also dye things! Found a perfectly sized throw pillow but it’s kind of boring? Dye it a colour you like - this goes for clothes too. Customize things!!! This is also a great place to look if you like making your own clothing to get fabrics for your projects that are unique
9) art supplies and weird oddities - fridge magnets, stamps, candles, ribbons, beads - if you’re a DIY person do not skip out on the section with all the weird bits and ends. I love getting old wrapping paper, magazines, books for styling (iykyk - not for reading content just vibes whether because of the cover or name etc), swirly candles, beads, embroidery hoops and threads. This makes for unique things to work with, can save the bank if you want to work with many different mediums and can play around with what feels good or build collections over time.
AND THATS THAT!
Most of all, enjoy and have fun! Don’t take it too seriously! Sometimes I play a game of having $20 or 20 minutes to find things - it’s supposed to be pleasurable and that should be your #1 goal through-out. To find pleasure and romanticism in the process of the hunt as well at the styling and utilizing of it. Thrifting is a long game process, dare to dream and be bold and try things out in a lower-stakes way.