You’ve probably all heard Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” by now, but have you ever tried shopping at a thrift store, or “thrifting”?

Or have you ever consigned your clothing or engaged in a ferocious bidding war on eBay? For the fashion-focused college girl, secondhand shopping is an amazing way to fill your wardrobe with great clothes and accessories without emptying the bank.

While “Thrift Shop” made secondhand shopping out to be totally grungy, it doesn’t have to be that way! More than half of my closet was purchased at thrift and consignment stores, and it consists mainly of classic brands like J. Crew, Club Monaco, Theory, Madewell, and even some designer stuff!

If you’re interested in shopping secondhand but don’t know where to start, I’ve put together a handy guide that’ll get you looking incredible in no time! Read on for the college girl’s guide to shopping secondhand:

Table of Contents

Knits

Unless it’s brand new with the tags still on, most secondhand knit clothing (e.g. tee shirts, thin sweaters, jersey anything) won’t be in great shape. Even high quality knits tend to pill, snag, tear, or stretch out after a year or two of wear.

Anything stained or stinky

This one shouldn’t need further explanation, but do make sure to check for any stains that might be lurking, especially in the armpit region.

Anything that needs serious alterations

Some alterations are easier than others: if all you need to do is shorten the hemline or replace a button, go for it! But if that dress needs to have the bodice taken in, the neckline lowered, and the sleeves slimmed down, it might be more work than it’s worth.

While a DIY is always fun, it’s easy to get carried away and swamped with “projects.”  I’ve fallen into this trap too many times – I’ll find a piece with a fun pattern or great fabric or cool detail and completely overlook the fact that it just doesn’t fit me. While I occasionally do get around to the alterations, more often than not my exciting purchase ends up gathering dust in my closet.