ThredUp: Shop on a Dime. Look like a Million Bucks.

Not sure about you, but my waistline has relaxed a bit after lockdown and the metabolic slowdown of middle age. (Perimenopause deserves its own post, for the changes it brings to womens’ bodies and minds, but that’s for another day.) Rather than fight the change, once again I’m looking for new clothes that meet me where I’m at. But who’s got money and time to spend at the mall or stalking online sales?

Enter ThredUp. It’s a resale site with like-new or barely used clothes that brings back the fun to getting dressed. They have a huge selection of barely used womens clothes that go for a fraction of their original cost. Upgrading with my wardrobe with this site is affordable and surprisingly addictive. The more I shop, the less reasons I see to go anywhere else.

Originally founded to fight “fashion waste“, ThredUp is a marketplace for every price range. Regular clothes go for a bargain, but I am also enjoying access to stuff I could not afford otherwise (for example: nicely tailored wool Escada pants for $90 with a retail price of $500+.)

On top of that, ThredUp runs regular sales, and one happens to be going on right now (early June, 2023) that’s giving 70% off already low prices. Tons of tops, shirts and dresses are available at $3-$10 – that’s often 90% off the original list price. And again, most of these items look barely used or like-new (sometimes even new with tags still on).

What I love about shopping here besides the crazy low prices: It allows me to play. As we get older we are often less likely to step out of our comfort zone, and this site made me rediscover the fun of trying things I normally wouldn’t. (Hello, $400 sequin jacket.)

They also offer a service to get rid of your better used stuff conveniently – simply order a free, seemingly indestructible cleanout bag, fill it, and drop it postage-prepaid at your local post office. Don’t expect much of a payout, but at least you’ll know it will be used sustainably, either resold or responsibly recycled.

My tips for shopping ThredUp: It can be overwhelming at first, so help the site learn your sizes and preferences quickly to make the most of your time.

1. Create an account so the site learns what you like. (I use a dedicated email address for my online shopping to keep my regular email decluttered.)
2. When possible, shop on a computer, not mobile phone. The bigger screen helps you find more good stuff faster. You’ll see the details of the clothes more easily (each photographed individually) and apply search filters more easily to find that just-right item. There’s a great mobile app good for stalking items you save while you wait for them to go on sale, but for serious shopping, I always use a big screen.
3. Store your favorite sizes as you search. There’s no point in browsing items that are not available in your size.
4. Be specific in your search terms (“cotton floral blouse” rather than “top”, for example) and use the filter on the left to refine the results. Filters include brand, fabric, price range, sleeve length, skirt length, % discounted, neckline, the list goes on …dream big, and let the magic happen),
5. Spend some time “favorite-ing” or pressing the heart on items you like, even if you don’t intend to buy them. This will help the site learn what you like and show you more like that. It will also inform you when those items drop in price, so you can keep an eye on them if you’re not ready to buy right away.
6. When you see something you like in a brand that’s new to you (and I guarantee you will), click that brand name to browse all their available items. It’s a great way to discover new designers. I find myself shopping by brand quite a bit on this site to get to the nicer, higher-quality stuff at incredibly affordable prices.
7. To snag bargains from higher-end brands: sort search results from high to low price. You’ll see some interesting choices rising to the top.
8. After you you save a search, buy something, or browse a certain category frequently, you’ll start to get notified when new similar items come in.
9. They offer a kids’ department, too, in case you need to add some useful items to get to your free shipping threshold. (As of now, they don’t offer men’s clothing, like some other resale sites.)

A few things to look out for:

1. Notice which items are “final sale” – they’re the most deeply discounted (hello, hot deal), but then again, you’re committed once you purchase. Usually they’re in great condition, but can have odd sizing (too small or too big) or other deal-breaker (tiny arm holes, itchy fabric, too-deep neckline, just name a few). So beware of buying expensive items on “final sale”. Still, it’s a fun way to try something fun when the price is right. I’ve found some unexpected delights this way and don’t feel bad retiring them after a season. If I can’t find a friend who wants them, I donate my duds to the local nonprofit resale shop and make some of my money back on the tax deduction.
2. Shipping is slow – it usually takes a week or more to arrive. (Express shipping is available for an extra fee.) Then again, imagine the logistics of locating an item among the many thousands of items sitting in their warehouses – I’m willing to wait if it keeps the costs down.
3. Returns have a short deadline. You have something like 1-2 weeks to start a return and another week or so to get it into the mail. If you get busy and you look away, this deadline could easily pass you by.

It might take a few visits to hit the jackpot, but it’s worth the effort. Unpacking the polka-dot box is always a fun surprise. Give yourself permission to play, and enjoy!

One more thing… https://www.thredup.com/r/ZDCVBF

^ Sale or no sale, this link gets you 40% off your first order and free shipping.