Buying Used Clothes Intelligently

Buying used clothing can save you a ton of money, but you have to be smart about it.

Before you make any clothing purchase (and this applies to ALL clothing, not just used) do a thorough check all over the garment. Search for holes, especially in knit garments. Look at the seams to make sure they’re sewn correctly. Check the collar and arms for stains from other shoppers trying it on. Make sure any beading or other embellishment is securely attached. Look for worn spots that show on the outside. And make sure the garment REALLY fits you correctly (or can be easily tailored) and hangs correctly.

Try to avoid buying used ‘trendy’ items. By the time trendy items hit the used clothing racks, the trend is usually on the way out the door and you’ll be stuck with a dated piece. (You may have better luck buying trendy items on the internet. Lots of shoppers go home with items they haven’t tried on and then are too lazy to return them to the store so they sell on places like ebay.)

Some fabrics handle wear and aging better than others. Pay attention to pieces made of chiffon or other wispy materials and make sure they haven’t become stiff or yellowed. While jeans may look good after being worn in, make sure slacks and other pants don’t have worn spots on the thighs or rear. And unless you like that ‘professor’s tweed jacket’ look, look at the sleeves of jackets and blazers for thread-bare elbows.

You may or may not be able to get any stains you find out. The longer the stain sits, the more likely it is to become permanent. Delicate fabrics may be damaged by chemicals and scrubbing, so if you want to purchase a stained garment, make sure to test on the inside of a cuff or other inconspicuous spot before you start scurbbing. Depending on the location of the stain, you may be able to cover it with a fabulous vintage brooch or a patch made of different fabric.

You can always replace a set of buttons if one or two are missing (or if the originals are exceptionally ugly), but you may not be able to find a match for missing beads or rhinestones. Check and double check the entire garment for loose or missing pieces.

Image by http://www.sxc.hu

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