{Guest Post} 14 Shades of Grey

Today's gust post is from Duc, who's blog I've been enjoying since Kayla's 21 Day Challenge.  She's here to share some of her awesome thrifting tips.  Be sure to head over to her blog and take a peek at her lovely style. :)

Hello everyone. I'm Duc aka Salazar from 14 Shades of Grey, and I'm here to guest post for Faith while she's preparing for her move.

I started blogging a year ago, when my closet and my style were both in dire need of a make-over. Being recently out of grad school at that point, I had no budget to speak of (I still don't), so I turned to thrift stores and sale racks (and sale racks at the thrift stores) for my new wardrobe. Here are a few things I've learned about thrifting:

Know what you're looking for. It can be overwhelming when you first walk into a thrift store, so it helps to have a general idea of what you want. Thrift stores are usually organized by colors, so if you know that you want, for example, a yellow skirt, it will be much easier to navigate. However, I said "general", because you really can't count on finding exactly what you want while thrifting, so keep an open mind to pieces with potential - you can always alter them to your liking.

I was actually looking for a white cable-knit sweater when I found this lovely embroidered cardigan

Don't get blinded by the deals. Here's the flipside to "keeping an open mind" when thrifting. It doesn't mean grabbing whatever you can because it's cheap. Pay attention to the quality and condition of the piece. Also, don't get too caught up in the brand names either. I once bought a Diane von Furstenberg jacket because I was like, "Oh my God, it's DVF and it's only $5!", then ended up wearing it only once. Think about how the piece would fit with your style and what you have in your closet. I know this is the basic rule of shopping, but it can be difficult to remember when faced with price tags that are all under $10. It's not a good deal if it doesn't work for you.

I thrifted these boots for $5, and they've become a staple in my wardrobe ever since

Know your stores. Both the lay-out and their inventory. Like I said, my thrift stores are divided into sections like dresses, skirts, pants, long-sleeved shirts, short-sleeved shirts, etc. and then organized by colors. But your stores may be different. Knowing which racks work for you (I tend to go for the skirts and dresses first) will make your shopping faster and easier. Also, see who lives in the area and who donates there. For example, I have two stores I usually go to - one in a suburban area, where I find older, more vintage-inspired pieces, and another in an area with more young professionals, where I find newer, more up-to-date stuff. Plus keep an eye out for discount days or weekly sales.

A Pendleton jacket, one of my favorite vintage thrift finds.

Patience, patience, patience. Thrifting is a hit-and-miss process, one trip you get a huge haul, another trip nothing at all. Go often, be thorough (thrift stores aren't always the most organized, so sometimes the blouse you're looking for may be hiding with the dresses!) and don't get frustrated when you don't find what you're looking for at first.

And that's it. Big thanks to Faith for letting me babble on her blog, and best of luck with the move. Remember: know what you want, but keep an open mind, and have fun! For those about to thrift, I salute you :)

Awesome tips Duc! Thank you for sharing! :)