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For almost any fashion-minded, style-obsessed, blossoming expert shopper out there, thrifting is a ritual of sacred proportions. The fashion industry is riddled with stories about the time we thrifted our first designer handbag, or the Prada blouse we find buried in a rack at Vinnie's that we've had for ten years, or the Burberry scarf we scored at the Salvo's for under $50 when we were a teenager. For most individuals with an affinity for luxury fashion houses, cult-favourite ateliers and couture studios, thrifting was our first foray into the designer world, and even though new pieces might have found our ways into our lives as we've gotten older, vintage shopping still holds a very special place in our hearts.

And it's not just us—the It-girls of the international style set, from Emma Chamberlain to Hailey Bieber and the queen of vintage herself, Bella Hadid, have long been purporting the benefits, both in terms of style and sustainability, that thrifting affords. There's certainly a playful and endearing element of eliteness that comes with the nature of finding select one-of-a-kind vintage, and in a world of dominant widespread trends, this little slice of worn-in authenticity and uniqueness can feel really good—and so does knowing you've contributed to a recycling of fashion, which in an age of fast fashion, is crucial.

But there are a myriad of downfalls and issues related to thrifting that have risen in large part due to thrifting's widespread popularity. With the rush to shop vintage at every opportunity, it can be easy to end up thrifting items on a regular basis that we never actually end up wearing, quickly fall out of love with, or that simply fall apart before we've had a real chance to give it a new life. And with such a high turnover of thrifted and vintage clothes, we end up consuming and then discarding items just as much as we would fast fashion. Or at the very least, make poor decisions that we'll later have irremediable buyers remorse about before going out and doing it all over again.

The key to getting out of this vicious cycle and making smart thrifting decisions that will actually benefit you long-term? Mindfulness and a few considered, important questions you can ask yourself. So here's a breakdown of the 6 things you need to consider, before you shop vintage to get the most out of thrifting, according to this Vogue editor.

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“Am I thrifting a transitory trend?”

This is true of all shopping, but particularly when it comes to thrifting, fighting the urge to buy items that are definitively one-trend can be a big part of thrifting sustainably and mindfully. It's just as easy to wear once and discard a thrifted item that you bought for a particular look that you'll wear once as it is with a fast fashion item. The beauty of meaningful, conscious thrifting is that you can find some truly special and unique items that will last you a lifetime—so use the opportunity to hunt for them, even if that means looking for a while, as opposed to falling for the temptation of a transitory trend every time you walk through the op-shop door. You can thank us later.

Image credit: Instagram.com/emmachamberlain

“Does this actually fit me—or do I have a good tailor?”

If you find something gorgeous but it just doesn't fit you right—a hem trailing the ground, a waistband cinching your waist, a bodice gaping—consider leaving it behind. Or, make a commitment to find a good tailor, then actually go to them. If you know you'll have the time and resources to do so, getting a garment tailored—thrifted or otherwise—is an easy and wonderful trick to making your clothes fit you perfectly and look the best they possibly can on you.

But if you're honest with yourself that you're never going to get that done, have the strength and wisdom to put it back on the rack. As thrifting gets more saturated and expensive due to demand, size inclusivity can become a barrier to thrifting for many people. If something doesn't fit you and you're not in a position to amend that, perhaps leave it behind for someone who will fit into it and get the use out of it that you never would.

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“What’s the state of the fabric, seams and hems?”

Before you get too attached to an item, make sure to give it a good and proper go-over. Check the tag for fabric details so you know how you'll have to care for it, make sure the seams and hems are in good nick, and have a thorough look for stains that won't budge and holes you can't darn. We're sure you want to give your newly thrifted item a good long life, and if it won't make it past one wear, that's something you're going to want to consider before you get your wallet out.

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“Is this a high-quality, reputable brand?”

Due to the nature of many op-shops and second-hand stores' donation processes, namely the ones that aren't curated like a vintage or consignment store will be, there's going to be a ton of clothing that trickles in from fast fashion brands and other lower quality garments. The same way that buying fast fashion new won't last you forever, neither will buying it secondhand, and you'll ultimately be buying into all the same problems one way or another. With a bit of patience and plenty of digging, you'll be glad you didn't blow your thrifting budget on a bunch of fast fashion pieces when you finally find that special designer or high-quality piece you've been looking for. 

Image credit: Instagram.com/emmachamberlain

“Can I buy or sell this at a consignment store?”

We adore a good consignment store—not just because everything has already been selected, vetted and curated for you based on quality and design, but because the buy and sell system they operate on can be profitable for you, too. If you're new to consignment stores, let us break it down for you—these stores will buy your vintage or designer clothes from you and sell them on your behalf. For what they will earn from the sale of those clothes, you will earn back a percentage of the cash value or often, store credit to spend on other items.

Of course, donating to a charitable op-shop is a very worthwhile and generous option that shouldn't be overlooked, but if you're going to replace what you're giving away for new items anyway, a consignment store is an easy and fun way to do so. Even if you're not looking to sell anything, thrifting at consignment stores is still a great way to guarantee you'll find high-quality items off the back of a sustainable recycling practice.

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“Is it worth the price tag?”

While "thrifting equals affordable" used to be a true adage and still is at certain shops, the general state of thrifting and vintage shopping is that prices have hiked up exponentially in the last couple of years due to the allure and prestige of second-hand shopping. If you're thrifting at an op-shop that's trying to sell an item for almost the same it retailed for but the money is going to charity, then perhaps you can take this with a grain of salt—but many other vintage stores will inflate their prices beyond the mid-range price bracket you might have been expecting.

That's not to say these items aren't worth their price tag or that you shouldn't shop them, far from it—it's simply wise to know that before you go thrifting, you may end up wanting to spend a lot more than you intended. For that reason, think long and hard about cost versus benefit of a thrifted item before your purchase, and try as best as you can to stick to a self-determined budget—just for a little peace of mind.

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