#thrifttips

not all thrifted pieces are equal and the ones that hold their value the longest usually come down to three things: quality, fabric, and timeless style.

designer denim, vintage tees, leather jackets, natural fiber sweaters, and classic outerwear are some of the strongest value holds in secondhand fashion. they last longer, age better, and stay in demand even as trends change.

one of the biggest advantages of shopping an online thrift store is finding pieces that are not mass produced and have real longevity. instead of chasing fast trends, smart thrifting is about choosing items you will actually wear for years.

For the most part, my blog is composed of one consistent theme which is being an advocate for thrifting. But I have never clarified reasons why you should step into a thrift store near you and try it out if you haven’t. I’ve heard all the excuses for why people lean away from the idea of going thrifting. “They sell heavily used clothes” “Clothes are outdated,” “It’s dirty” “Most clothes found in Thrift stores are ugly,” “It’s too messy to find anything there”  

But here’s my response, to these concerns that I hope will eliminate the negative connotations of thrifting.

1.“They sell heavily used clothes”

Yes, thrift stores sell used clothes. Many people also donate clothes that no longer fit them, never wear, or couldn’t return. Thrift stores do carry lightly-used or never wore clothes with tags. One of my favorite finds at the thrift store is a pair of used Prada leather black boots with a few scuffs that were easy to fix! Don’t let the word “used” keep you away from the potential you may find.

 2.“Clothes are outdated”

Yes, many clothes there are out of style. There are many things I pick up from the racks and simply laugh at the idea that someone actually wore them before. But like everything, fashion and the latest trends are always changing and style is subjective. Choose what you like. What I love about thrifting is that you find items that aren’t sold in stores because it’s not trending in the market. Be different. P.S. Retro right now is so in!

 3.“It’s dirty”

Everything that I have purchased from the thrift store is washed soon after. I don’t know where it been and who worn it so it’s better to stay safe and wash it with warm to hot water to rid of whatever it been through. All clothes should be washed before being worn no matter where you bought them. Fast Fashion goes through several processes and steps that you may not even think about before it makes it to stores. Even in traditional retail stores, customers try on, drop, and step on clothes before we purchase them. (Speaking from my experience in working in retail) Always wash your clothes before you wear them!

 4.“Most clothes in thrift stores are ugly”

Yes and no. Don’t blame the retailer for selling clothes that you may find ugly. Instead, blame the taste of consumers who buy the clothes. Style, like I said before, is subjective. I think we’ve all bought clothes from regular retailers that people have found distasteful. Buy what you like, thrift stores are full of unique silhouettes and patterns that regular retailers may not hold and yes others may find ugly.

 5.“It’s too messy to find anything there”

That’s the exciting part of thrifting. Finding pieces that grasp your attention without planning it. You must go open-mindedly of what you can find there and the many ways you can modify. Do it yourself (DIY) projects are so much fun! Can’t find denim shorts in the middle of winter for a tropical vacation coming up? Check out the denim section at your local thrift store and find a great pair that you can simply cut and make as shorts. All my favorite high-waisted shorts are from the thrift store!

Imagine an immense warehouse dedicated to vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories. Picture hundreds of labeled cardboard boxes filled to the brim with wool sweaters, colorful printed blouses, and piles of denim in every kind of style and shade. Does it sound like a dream? A fantasy of yours? Then head Udelco Warehouse for some extreme thrifting located in Hawthorne, New Jersey.

I only learned about Udelco a few weeks ago from a Youtuber who vlogged about her experience shopping there. As a person who naturally enjoys the hunt for unique and discounted, I thought this place looked very promising for some vintage pieces to add to my wardrobe. I was ready to put my thrifting skills to the test so I invited a friend and went for the first time.

The warehouse is on a dead-end street inside of a quiet suburban neighborhood in Hawthorne. But don’t let the isolated horizontal building fool stop you from exploring its wonders that awaits inside. At first glance, Udelco doesn’t seem so daunting. We were welcomed by a boutique-like space with few clothing racks filled with denim, jackets, dresses, and tops. The walls are decorated with flags, vinyl and shelves of combat boots along with other antique pieces all possibly found there. Stepping further to the back is where the real mission begins.

There are walls covered with massive cardboard boxes filled to the brim with different shades and textures of textiles.  The boxes were labeled with everything from 80s long cotton dresses to ugly Christmas sweaters. But don’t let the amounts of boxes filled with clothes overwhelm you because that’s the fun part. Make sure to really dig into the bottom of these boxes because you might never know what you can find.  

We left the warehouse with our arms hugging a pile of clothes to our chest to make sure that we don’t drop them. My first trip to thrift paradise was a success!

I really didn’t know what to expect walking into Udelco. After my experience there, I think I can provide some tips that I wish someone told me beforehand.

Tip 1- Bring a Tote bag!

Udelco doesn’t provide bags to put all your vintage goodies in. I left the warehouse with my arms filled with my purchases and I don’t know what I would have done if I had found more.

Tip 2- Take your time!

Shopping in Udelco shouldn’t be rushed. There’s so much to discover in both the women and men section. Make sure you have more than an hour to dig into boxes filled with potential gems. They are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays they are closed. So, plan ahead accordingly to indulge in some vintage hunting.

Tip 3-Bring hand sanitizer!

Stay clean after digging into piles and piles of clothes

Tip 4- Stop by an ATM beforehand!

The concept of shopping at a thrift store is different for everyone. There are people who go for a bargain to add unique pieces to their wardrobe like a fringe suede vest or vintage band tee. There are others who are interested in finding brand names at a bargain. But the elite are in the hunt for vintage. So, what’s the difference between vintage and thrift? It’s simple, it depends on how old the clothing is. If the clothing was made more than 25 years ago than it’s considered vintage. Anything before the 90s is considered as vintage pieces. If you find an 80’s Levi’s acid wash denim jacket in good condition then congratulations, you’re a pro at this! Finding anything vintage at an affordable price now has become near to impossible because anyone who discovers it and knows it’s worth sells it for double the price. I love the thrill of the hunt but those who are interested in finding vintage can do so online. Sites and apps like eBay, Poshmark, Depop and Thread up make it easy for a vintage fan to search for a particular item rather than just shop with an open mind.

 In contrast, thrift items are used/ pre-worn garments that are up to resale in either consignment or thrift stores. Consignment shops like Buffalo Exchange or Plato’s Closet are given clothes to sell and in return exchange for money to resell. Thrifted items are usually peoples’ donations from either the Salvation Army or Goodwill as they are the top organizations for collecting the no longer unwanted.

 It’s upsetting to see an increase in prices at the thrift store for secondhand pieces. Pre-worn/ used clothes shouldn’t cost the same as if you were to buy them in the mall. The point of going to the thrift store, at least for me is to experiment with silhouettes, patterns, colors, or trends at a more affordable price. Macklemore said in Thrift Shop, “Only have twenty dollars in my pocket”  

I began thrifting back in 2012 and the very first time i tried to thrift, apparently, I could barely remember where it was exactly but the satisfaction it had given my system will never be forgotten. Yeah, seriously haha! So, in this post, I’ll answer the most basic questions frequently asked by my friends or my relatives.

Mostly asked questions about thrifting:

Why do you thrift?

      Let’s make the story short.. because I’m a broke gal who loves expensive sh*t. :)

      Tagalog Translation: wala akong pera pambili ng white tee sa Zara worth 2,500pesos kaya sa ukay ako kakapit hehe zzz

Where do you thrift?

      Usually Cubao (fashion delite,Kabunyan), Marikina (fleur de lis, Kabunyan), Cainta (Sta. Lucia Mall old cinema), Katipunan (beside the old 711). Oh, and i’ve tried thrifting in Recto once and it was amazeballs! Damn, those braded bags! But my go-to thrift shops will be found in Bayan, Marikina.

How do you thrift? Why do you always get awesome and interesting things in ukay-ukays?

     Uhm.. tyagaan lang and patience? hahaha! Will post more tips on how to achieve well-accomplished thrift hauls soon! ;)

Hindi ba madumi mga ukay-ukay?

      Yes! Dusty, dirty, mabaho, mainit, etc etc etc etc.. and i don't really care haha. Depende na sa tao yan :) But nowadays mas improved na yung ibang thrift shops.. Air Conditioned! So, sa mga medyo sensitive sa heat but who’s willing to try and discover the magic in thrifting, doncha worry the aircon’s got your back!

Do thrift stores go on sale?

     OH, YES THEY DO! New arrivals ranges at 100-300 pesos, depending on the kind of items and sale price ranges at 5php-100php

Do they allow reservations?

     Yes, depends sa store if gano katagal pwede magreserve :)

Aaaaaaaaaand that’s a wrap for my very first post!

Next time, i’ll be posting my most favourite thrift finds since i started thrifting!

See you on my next post!