Several years ago, I sighed on facebook about the complete lack of decent thrift shopping in my local town. A friend sent me a message and said “Have you heard of ThredUp? It’s a new thing for online used clothing sales!” I was completely intrigued and immediately started trying to see if there were other places that did this too.
Buying used clothing is budget friendly, cuts down on waste in this world. If I can, I always try to buy used before buying new. And sometimes if I’m lucky, I get to add really nice things to my wardrobe I’d never dream of affording otherwise.
But buying used clothing without seeing and trying it first? I’d tried this on ebay and it was very hit and miss. I was a little bit skeptical about a whole online store front. I talked to a lot of people and even did a little post talking about my discovery and asking for feedback from the Adornabelle community. The consensus was? Try it! So I did. Since I got a credit just for signing up, and since there were free returns on everything I decided I couldn’t really loose too much from the experience. Turns out, that may have been one of the best online shopping experiments that I’ve done!
Since that first little try out a couple of years ago, I’ve made a few dozen purchases from online consignment and resale shops. I’ve even found some of my absolute all time favorite pieces of clothing this way. I’ve saved a ridiculous amount of money shopping at these places on clothing for both myself and my toddler. My little experiment has paid off super well in my favor, and I thought it was high time to come back and give you the full scoop on my favorite, go-to shops around the web. Since I wrote my first post, Twice has gone out of businesses. But ThredUp has taken off and is now one of my favorite places to shop.
ThredUp
ThredUp was my very first experience buying used clothing from online consignment. I was newly postpartum and after my c-section, nothing I owned was comfortable. I found a few soft, knit dresses that were stylish, comfortable and made me feel good about how I looked. It was a huge win for me because getting out of the house was difficult and I’d already come back from an exhausting trip to the mall empty handed.
Everything I have ordered from ThredUp has been in excellent condition. In fact, some of my favorite things have come from here over the last few years. I’ve been able to shop from a much wider selection than I would ever have locally, and I enjoy finding some favorite brands at such affordable prices. Customer service has gone above and beyond for me when I had questions, which makes me feel good about spending time and money there. ThredUp has become one of the first places I turn to online when I need something for my self or toddler. I’ve been able to find great, quality items that have worn so well and that she and I have both loved. You still get a $20 credit for signing up for ThredUP for the first time. That means you can get a couple things for free, and returns are always free, which is great.
Schoola
Schoola is my newest discovery. When I first visited Schoola, there was almost nothing there. I thought it was confusing to navigate and had such poor selection that I didn’t plan on coming back. But this spring I stumbled back over and was really impressed. Not only did the site have a bit of a new look, but I loaded up my cart with a whole stash of adorable toddler clothing at a fraction of the cost! I’ve ordered with Schoola several times now and have been very pleased with my orders. They aren’t quite as picky as ThredUp about the brands that they take (so you’ll find target and Walmart, as well as The Children’s Place and Gymboree) and do sell some things with a bit more wear ( pilling, but no stains!) for the kids. But the good thing is that they have really specific descriptions so you know exactly what to expect. And I’ve been amazed at how many like new, or new with tags items they’ve had not just for kids but for ladies as well! I found the cutest modcloth dress for 60% off retail price-with the tags attached. Schoola saved me a ton of money on clothes this year. I’m glad I decided to give them another chance!
Schoola has free shipping with no minimum order. I love that because sometimes I am just looking for one or two things to fill in some seasonal wardrobe gaps and it’s nice not to have to pay shipping even if I only spend $10. They also are doing sign-up credits right now, so you get $20 off your first order. This means you can get a few things for free, which is a wonderful way to try them without any loss on your part. Schoola also donates 40% of proceeds to schools around the country. It’s a good way to save money and give back to our communities.
Another fun thing about Schoola is that they have these little perks now and then for their customers. In December if you placed an order, they sent a small gift card to Target. And this month they shared on the blog that if you sign up and refer 3 or more friends, they’re sending out $25 gift cards to Amazon! That’s a great incentive, I’d say.
Darby’s Dresses
There’s another resale movement springing up these days, and that’s the Insta-shop! A few months back, Darby shared some of her favorite thrifting tips with us. But if you haven’t checked out her shop on instagram and facebook, do it! Darby carefully selects the best items from local shops and offers them to those of us who are either not lucky enough to have good thrifting options or who just don’t have the time or desire to sort through things to find those perfect pieces.
I finally had the chance to snatch up a couple of adorable items this fall, and I love them! I love knowing that every single item is carefully selected so I know that it is in great condition. I also love that I can support a small business and another stay at home mama. Darby is a dream to work with too. She is great at answering questions, and she ships items so quickly!
There are tons of instashops online these days, and I’m enjoying watching the world of second hand shopping evolve in such wonderful, creative ways. Especially since it makes finding cute clothing so much easier for me!
About Chantel
Lover of sunshine, chacos, fireflies, pretty nail polish and cute summer skirts. Wife to Scott. Mama to Charlotte. Virtual Assistant.
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