I miss living in Northern Virginia and being near a Syms. I picked up some very nice suits there for very cheap.

10. make sure you're a size 8 or smaller

My #1 would then be: Drive an hour to get to the nearest city, because all you find at your local thrift stores are things people bought originally at walmart, target, or sears. There's no cashmere here.

@rednrowdy: Not true. Salvation Army and Goodwill always put out a myriad of sizes. At these chains you might have to do some hardcore rummaging, but I've never seen any signs of size-ism at these stores, at least.

If you're willing to invest the time to a.) go to a more upscale location and b.) look through just about the entire store, there really are deals to be had. Probably because I live near (but not *in*) a high-income town in NJ, there's a local thrift shop where I've found some great bargains. Lots of weird boxy jackets and shoulder pads from the 1980s, but every so often, a barely-worn skirt or suit from a designer name.

We spent less than $100 to purchase a beautiful dress and shoes that my wife wore to my niece's wedding last September. The shoes alone would have cost $200 new and the dress was probably $300 or more new. For the tonier clothes I recommend consignment shops rather than the Goodwills, etc. (at least in my area).

um, I live in Florida and I can attest to it being very hard to find actual winter clothes - especially coats here. People dump those things before they come here.

11) Get to know the owner/managers at resale and thrift shops. Tell them what you regularly look for, i.e., styles, labels, sizes. Ask them if they'll call you if good pieces come in.

12) Shop above your size. You can always have it cut down. The expense of fabric alone may make this worth while.

13) Visit resale/thrift shops when you travel. Vegas is great for cocktail looks; New Orleans is fantastic for wool things because people buy them and then can rarely wear them.

@rednrowdy: And not a whole lot taller than average!

@JulesNoctambule:

Maybe if you'd donate your clothes, people your height could buy them!

This one I almost feel guilty about: shop at thrifts near nursing home. When residents move in, most assuredly their long ago beauties go to the thrifts.

@Dead Wrestlers Society: Syms? What is this Syms you speak of? I am in desperate need of affordable but nice suits!

American Cancer Society thrift stores...cancer doesn't discriminate based on income, and if the deceased have no one close to them to take the good pieces, the survivors are often just eager to get rid of everything. If you find one item that fits, chances are there are a few others in exactly the same size.

I thrift in the suburbs, at my favorite thrift store I have gotten some good deals. My friends have gotten even better ones, but they are far more dedicated than I. Where I live now (large southern californian city) I have yet to find a good thrift store with anything that isn't homeless person wear. These are great tips!

Don't ask me where I got my Brooks Brothers shirt, Coach purse or Ferragamo shoes I was wearing last week. :-)

I got a gorgeous tailored Moschino Cheap and Chic dress at a thrift shop for $7 once. True story. I've worn it to like 3 big events now and it's a showstopper.

I've also gotten Seven jeans for $5 and a pink small-indie-designer cashmere sweater for $10 (original price on the designer's website: $400).

All of this stuff is from thrift shops in a really expensive area, so that's what I'd suggest!

Also, I've had some incredible luck in clothes swapping lately. You have to be careful to limit your gatherings to those with at least a similar taste in fashion, and try to make sure people not of average size are matched by at least one other participant. Add refreshments, and it's a party!

Last week I scored a sweater and dress from Anthropologie, and a new Betsey Johnson dress, along with some other really nice basics. Almost everything I brought was also taken to a new home.

@PeachyPeach:
I agree that Goodwill seems to have a good range of sizes, but as far as consignment shops, rednrowdy's experience matches mine. There are several upscale resale stores in my area, and they have very small clothes. (No offense meant to anyone of any size--in fact, congratulations to the size 2s who are getting great deals!)

Awesome article. I'm an avid thrift shopper myself. I live in L.A., so I don't know what it's like in less urban areas, but here if you go to the right shop, it can be AMAZING. I find consignment better than charity thrift in terms of new and designer clothes- but I still go to Goodwill for random stuff, like a $25 real thick leather biker jacket. For anyone in L.A., my tips would be to shop used in Santa Monica, NOT Melrose- that's where I got an Armani blouse, Miu Miu shoes, burberry earmuffs, a Galliano jacket...and so on.

Also, this article does not point out that reusing and recycling can be good for the environment!

@MameDennis: The other thing is that whether or not all sizes are represented, the cool wonderful stuff is overwhelmingly -- well, even size 8 is generous. 2, 4, maybe 6, more like. At least, that's my experience with consignment shopping. I used to score all kinds of fantastic, barely worn designer deals during the thirty seconds I was a size 2. Now, at a size 10? Not so very much!

I must gloat about my recent thrift karma:
1. Anna Sui hand crocheted long cardigan - $6
2. Evan Picone 80s evening gown covered with bugle beads and ornate beaded paisleys, in perfect condition - $30

Although not they're not filled with designer goods, I love small town thrift stores on road trips. I've scored amazing goodies in Albuquerque, Fresno, and Kansas.

@coup d'état: let Mr. Google guide your way. They are in various US states, sadly, the nearest one is about 4 hours from me now. If there is one in your area, it's worth checking out.

@richcreamerybutter: Clothes swapping is hot here especially for kids clothes, because kids outgrow them so fast and its way too expensive to buy brand new ones, even the walmart clothes get expensive when you have to buy a new set of clothes for your baby every month or 2.

Clothes swapping is also good because you know that the clothes have only been in one person's home, so they are usually not very worn out, in contrast to the sometimes utterly beat up clothes you have to rummage through to get to the good stuff in a thrift. No one would bring their most worn out clothes to a clothing swap either, people usually bring decent quality stuff. Thrift prices can also add up, clothes swapping is free!

Yard sales here tend to have the BEST deals on clothes, plus there is no size-ism, you just have to hit on a house where people that are your size live. You will hit on that house eventually as well, trust me. The person at the house will be more than glad that you are buying their stuff too! The prices are usually flat, 50 cents for shirts, 25 cents for shirts, 1$ for pants etc. so you can choose what you want and even the brands that you want. Every yard sale here has clothes, even more if your looking for kids, children's or baby clothes. Stay local to save gas (driving 20 miles out for a sale usually isn't worth it).

A private ($$$$) school in our city holds an annual clothing sale with zillions of donated items, usually upmarket labels, from its parents, families, etc. They even have a designer label boutique in one corner. You can get amazing deals if you're willing to negotiate the crowds on opening day! Then there is half-price day; awesome. My kids always dressed like trendy little preppies growing up. :) And the sale totally solved the problem of buying a navy sport jackets for once-a-year wear by my boys. $10 apiece, and hand-downable.

@Super_Kitten: Any recommendations on particular stores in Santa Monica?

I've just been to the Goodwill, nothing much. I did score an amazing Kenneth Cole purse from the Out of the Closet store in West L. A. though...

@TheWillow: And then I wear what, exactly?

Sometimes I get the feeling I'm one of the only women in America who doesn't give a damn about designer things. If it fits, looks good and doesn't cost a lot, I don't care whose name is on the tag!

@fizzyg: I live in a small town an hour from the nearest city, and at this very moment I'm wearing a DKNY sweater that I bought at the thrift store three blocks from my office for $2. It's all about, as brendastarlet says below, getting to know the local stores. Also going in FREQUENTLY. I go in at least twice a week, spend less than half an hour on a given trip, and may not find anything at all 3/4 of the time, but the times I spend ten cents on the retail dollar make up for it.

i love thrift stores. most of my clothing comes from them!

Any Canadians reading might want to check out Value Village. My mother would kill me if she knew I were reporting this, but all those fabulous designer suits she wears to the University Board of Governors meetings? Yep ...

@Super_Kitten: Burberry earmuffs? 1) If you live in LA, why would you need them? 2) Maybe it's just me, but I can't grasp why anyone would care about such a thing. I don't mean that as critical of you so much as I'm unable to understand why such a thing exists at all...

@JulesNoctambule: My wife is in your corner. Her current favorite jeans are from Eddie Bauer.

@JulesNoctambule: Mainly because some designer clothing is really better quality. You have to know what constitutes better quality rather than just paying for a name or some over the top style.
I quit buying cheap shoes. I either fork over the cash, wait for a sale or find a slightly used pair on ebay or at a thrift. I quit having problems with my feet being tortured, cut and blistered by doing this.

@fizzyg: Your #1 is essentially the same as theirs.

We live in Seattle and my wife finds all kinds of good stuff. At least 2 times a week she goes to goodwill and comes home with brand name stuff that she keeps or sells online. She always buys 7 jeans for a couple of dollars then sells them on ebay for $30-50.

@Dead Wrestlers Society: i just got a suit and 4 pants there for under 350

@coup d'état: In Northern Virginia, I think there's one in Falls Church.

@CassetteLove: Dressing like a senior citizen is always fun.

@richcreamerybutter: For some reason being excited because somebody died and I got a great deal on their clothes would make me feel bad.

@bohemian: Exactly. Many designer pieces are much, much better quality, and are much more durable than any piece of anything picked off the shelf at a Wal-Mart.

@fizzyg: No, go to a rich suburb. The city places have crap.

@Xanaxian: For the Americans, that's Value City. Looks like a Pakistani bazaar, has lovely stuff.

@Merkin: My experience confirms both yours and MameDennis's. I think that, not only do wealthier people tend to be thinner (being able to afford health food, personal trainers, et cetera) but they also tend to be okay with getting rid of things that don't fit. Us poor fat people, we hold on to everything. It might fit someday! It cost too much to get rid of!

i know for a fact that the goodwill community foundation stores in NC send things to specific store locations based on the type of item and the store's location.

the store at the fancy new shopping center in the north of town gets the nicest dresses and intact housewares.

the store next to the japanese steakhouse gets the ladies suede and leather goods, target's cleared out inventory with price tags still on it and the nicer furniture.

the store near my house gets the jeans, widest selection of children's clothes and all the vinyl records.

i started to notice the trend about two years ago and asked about it. the employee i spoke with admitted that they sort the donations each store gets and then the nicest examples of certain types of items get shipped around based on demographics.

since the stores are only a few miles apart, when i am shopping it helps to know which store to go to if i need to find something specific. but for folks who have to take the bus it must be a pain to not ever be able to get a NICE winter coat at the store nearest them

10. Get a sewing machine and learn how to use it. (I just got one, but unfortunately I have to put off sewing till everything outside of our room stops icing over.)
11. Ask friends if they have any clothes they don't need sitting in their attics. I got a 30's fur coat that way. Unfortunately, I have to fix it every week or so, but it still looks awesome...

@pecan pi:

Whoa, I live in Falls Church, I didn't know of this store. I think actually I might have seen it, but I didn't know they had suits, I'm in desperate need of a new suit that isn't grey or black. :/

@rednrowdy: Not being a woman (and a person who doesn't buy clothes at thrift shops but will buy most anything else) I can't confirm or deny what you say.

I do know that I've heard many thrift shops advertising for donations of "plus sized" clothing. I don't know if that's reflective of the clientele or just that supply is, as you say, lacking.

@CumaeanSibyl: I think it's kind of funny that the old paintings of Greece and Rome and the Renaissance the wealthy people were painted to look chubby as they were the only ones who could afford to eat well. Heck, a lot of the classic nude portraits look like Lane Bryant mannequins.

(not that that's a bad thing)

FWIW, I donated all my "fat clothes" to the local Goodwill or sold them at my parents' yard sale.

@Ayan YanYan Warsame: It's inside a pretty big building. If memory serves, it's near the Eden Center.

@JulesNoctambule:

I feel the same way most of the time, but if properly cared for, even WalMart clothes can last for a while. Don't put your WalMart stuff in the dryer, and it lasts longer. And my jeans are always Riders from WM, mostly because they fit me well.

The thrift stores, markdown stores and discount outlets do have deals that are pretty good, however. I don't buy any designer stuff at them for the name, but if they are made better, as bohemian and pecan pi said, it's worth a look, as they will last longer.

There's a store here that has used clothing, slightly upscale, and I got a Jones New York embroidered wool cardigan there for $20. It's a little '80s (has great big clock motifs on it), but I've worn it for years and it's still in great condition. I also hit a markdown store looking for a cheap coat (found one) and walked out with a Liz Claiborne beaded shawl for $15. I didn't NEED it, but I WANTED it. It looks great draped over my chair!

@HogwartsAlum:

Meant to say, I am very tall and it's sometimes hard to find stuff that is not too short, but if you keep going back and looking, stuff shows up. :)