Thrifting Guide: How to Find Designer Brands at Goodwill and Thrift Stores

Why Thrifting Works (The Economics)

How designer goods end up at Goodwill:

The donation pipeline:

Wealthy neighborhoods donate:

• Closet purges (bought designer, wore 2×, donated)
• Moving/downsizing (can't take everything)
• Estate sales (elderly pass away, families donate)
• Gifts they didn't want (received designer bag, not their style)
• Trend chasers (last season's designer = "outdated")

Quality items get mixed with everything else:

• Goodwill doesn't always recognize designer brands
• Price based on category (all jeans $8, regardless of brand)
• $300 designer jeans priced same as $20 Target jeans

Your opportunity: Knowledge = profit

The savings:

Retail vs. thrift prices:

Build entire wardrobe for $200 that would cost $2,000+ retail

Location Strategy: Where to Thrift

Not all thrift stores equal:

Best locations:

1. Wealthy suburban Goodwills ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Zip codes with $150K+ median income
• People donate quality items they barely wore
• Less competition (wealthy people don't thrift as much)

How to find:

• Google: "Goodwill near [wealthy suburb]"
• Examples: Beverly Hills, Scottsdale, Buckhead Atlanta

2. College town thrift stores

• Students donate after graduation
• Trendy brands, younger styles
• End of semester = goldmine (May/June)

3. Upscale consignment stores (technically not thrift)

• Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads Trading
• Curated selection (they reject low-quality)
• Higher prices than Goodwill ($20-80) but still 60-80% off retail

4. Estate sale thrift stores

• Specialize in estate donations
• Older clientele donations = vintage, quality
• Higher-end items

Avoid: ❌ High-traffic urban Goodwills (picked over constantly) ❌ Low-income area thrifts (donations reflect neighborhood income)

Timing: When to Go

Maximize your odds:

Best days/times:

Weekday mornings (Monday-Thursday, 10 AM-12 PM): ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• New stock just put out (overnight processing)
• Fewer shoppers (serious thrifters, not tourists)
• Staff still stocking shelves (ask if new stuff coming)

Avoid: ❌ Weekends (crowded, picked over) ❌ Evenings (stock depleted)

Seasonal timing:

Best months:

January: Post-holiday donations (people received new clothes for Christmas, donate old)

May-June: College students moving out, graduating (donate dorm/apartment items)

September: Fall closet cleanouts (donate summer clothes)

Special sales:

50% off color tag days:

• Goodwill rotates discounts weekly
• Monday: Red tags 50% off
• Tuesday: Blue tags, etc.
• Plan trips around your target color

Dollar days:

• Some stores: "Fill a bag for $10"
• Stock up on basics

Brand Recognition: What to Look For

Knowing quality labels:

Designer denim (jeans):

Premium brands ($150-300 retail):

• 7 For All Mankind
• AG Adriano Goldschmied
• Citizens of Humanity
• Paige
• Mother
• Hudson

How to spot: Check back pocket stitching, inside waistband label

Luxury brands ($300+):

• Gucci, Prada, Versace (rare but exist)
• Check authenticity (real leather, quality stitching, serial numbers)

Outerwear:

High-quality outdoor:

• Patagonia (fleece, jackets—$80-200 retail, find for $10-25)
• The North Face (jackets—$100-300 retail)
• Arc'teryx (technical gear—$300-600 retail, rare find but jackpot)
• Columbia (mid-tier, still good quality)

Luxury coats:

• Burberry (trench coats—$1,500-2,500 retail)
• Canada Goose (parkas—$800-1,500)
• Barbour (waxed jackets—$400-600)

Handbags:

Designer:

• Coach (most common—$200-500 retail, find $15-50)
• Kate Spade ($150-400)
• Michael Kors ($200-400)
• Dooney & Bourke ($150-350)

Luxury (rare but possible):

• Louis Vuitton ($1,000-3,000)
• Gucci ($800-2,500)
• Prada ($1,500-3,000)

Authentication critical (many fakes—research how to spot real vs. fake)

Athletic/Athleisure:

• Lululemon (leggings $98 retail, find $10-20)
• Athleta (similar to Lululemon)
• Nike, Adidas (vintage styles valuable)

Vintage:

Levi's jeans:

• 501s from 1980s-90s ($5-15 thrift, resell $80-150)
• Look for "Made in USA" tag (older = more valuable)

Band t-shirts:

• Vintage concert tees (1970s-90s)
• Thin, worn = authentic vintage (worth more)
• $5 thrift, resell $50-200+

Carhartt workwear:

• Vintage jackets, overalls
• Trendy now, easy to find at thrift

Inspection: What to Check

Don't buy damaged goods:

Clothing checklist:

✅ Seams and stitching:

• Check underarm seams (common wear point)
• Loose threads okay, missing seams = pass

✅ Zippers:

• Test all zippers (pants fly, jacket front)
• Broken zipper = costly repair, not worth it

✅ Stains:

• Small stain on non-visible area = acceptable (can remove)
• Large stain on front = pass
• Armpit stains (yellowing) = hard to remove, pass

✅ Holes:

• Tiny moth hole = repairable
• Large holes, tears = pass

✅ Smell:

• Musty smell = usually washes out
• Smoke smell = very hard to remove, pass
• Perfume/detergent smell = washes out

✅ Fabric quality:

• Feel fabric (soft, thick = quality)
• Thin, pilling = low quality

✅ Buttons:

• All buttons present?
• Missing button = easy fix (keep)

Shoes checklist:

✅ Soles:

• Check wear (minimal wear = good)
• Holes in sole = pass

✅ Interior:

• Clean, minimal odor
• Insole intact

✅ Leather quality:

• Supple, not cracked
• Scratches okay (can polish)

✅ Fit:

• Try on (sizes vary by brand)
• Leather stretches, synthetic doesn't

Bags checklist:

✅ Straps and handles:

• Check for tears, weak points
• Hardware intact (clasps, zippers)

✅ Interior:

• Clean, no stains
• Lining intact

✅ Authenticity (designer bags):

• Serial number inside
• Quality stitching (even, tight)
• Logo placement correct (research brand online)
• Hardware engraved with brand name
• If in doubt, pass (many fakes)

The Thrifting Process

Step-by-step:

Step 1: Arrive prepared

Bring:

• Reusable bag (hands free for browsing)
• Cash (some stores cash-only)
• Measuring tape (furniture, home goods)
• Smartphone (Google brands you don't recognize, check resale value)

Wear:

• Easy-to-remove layers (try-on rooms often lacking)
• Slip-on shoes (trying on shoes easier)

Step 2: Strategic browsing

Don't browse every item:

• Scan quickly, stop when something catches eye
• Look for quality fabrics (silk, wool, leather, thick cotton)
• Check labels on anything decent

Focus on:

• Your size section first (maximize efficiency)
• High-value categories (coats, jeans, bags)

Time limit:

• 60-90 minutes max (avoid fatigue, poor decisions)

Step 3: Try on EVERYTHING

Sizes misleading:

• Brands vary wildly
• Vintage sizing different (size 10 in 1980s = size 6 now)
• Clothes may have shrunk

No fitting room?

• Wear fitted clothes, try over them
• Or hold up to body (estimate)

Step 4: Evaluate purchases

Before checkout, ask:

• "Would I buy this at full price?" (if no, probably don't need)
• "Where will I wear this?" (if no answer, don't buy)
• "Do I have something similar?" (avoid duplicates)

Don't buy just because it's cheap (clutter still clutter)

Advanced Strategies

Level up your game:

Strategy 1: Reselling (side hustle)

Process:

1. Buy designer item cheap ($10)
2. List on Poshmark, eBay, Depop ($50-100)
3. Profit $40-90

Best items to resell:

• Designer jeans
• Lululemon leggings
• Vintage band tees
• Designer bags (if authentic)

Time investment: 30 min per item (photos, listing, shipping) Potential income: $500-2,000/month part-time

Strategy 2: Build thrift route

Visit 5-10 thrift stores weekly:

• Plan route (geographic cluster)
• Spend 20 minutes each
• Total: 2-3 hours/week
• Increases odds dramatically

Strategy 3: Befriend staff

Get insider info:

• "When do you stock new items?"
• "Any designer stuff come in recently?"
• Visit regularly, build rapport
• Some staff will text you when good stuff arrives

Strategy 4: Learn authentication

Designer bags/clothing:

• Research specific brands (YouTube tutorials)
• Know common fakes
• Check serial numbers online
• Join Facebook groups (authentication help)

Don't buy suspected fakes (even if cheap—can't resell, ethical issues)

Online Thrifting

Virtual options:

ThredUp (online consignment):

• Curated selection (quality control)
• Search by brand, size
• Prices higher than in-person thrift ($15-80) but still 60-80% off
• Easy returns

Poshmark/Mercari/Depop:

• Peer-to-peer marketplace
• Negotiate prices
• More work (browse thousands of listings)
• Great for specific designer items

eBay:

• Huge selection
• Auction style (can score deals)
• Higher risk (authenticity concerns)

What NOT to Buy Secondhand

Safety and hygiene:

❌ Underwear (obvious reasons) ❌ Swimsuits (hygiene) ❌ Mattresses (bed bugs, hygiene) ❌ Car seats (safety—may have been in accident) ❌ Helmets (safety—compromised if dropped) ❌ Cribs (safety standards change)

Maybe:

• Shoes (clean thoroughly, replace insoles)
• Hats (wash thoroughly)

Cleaning Your Thrift Finds

Before wearing:

Clothing:

1. Wash immediately (hot water if fabric allows)
2. Add vinegar (1 cup—removes odors)
3. Baking soda (for stubborn smells)
4. Air dry first time (check if shrinks)
5. Steam or iron (freshens, kills bacteria)

Bags/shoes:

• Wipe with disinfectant
• Air out 24-48 hours
• Leather conditioner (bags, leather shoes)
• Replace shoe insoles

Master thrifting by targeting wealthy suburban Goodwills (Beverly Hills Scottsdale zip codes $150K+ median income donating designer barely-worn items), visiting weekday mornings 10 AM-12 PM (new stock just processed fewer shoppers serious competitors), recognizing premium brands (7 For All Mankind AG Citizens jeans $200 retail finding $8-15, Patagonia North Face Arc'teryx outerwear $100-600 retail finding $10-25, Coach Kate Spade bags $200-500 retail finding $15-50), inspecting thoroughly checking seams zippers stains holes authenticity (designer bags serial numbers quality stitching hardware engraving avoiding fakes), cleaning immediately washing hot water vinegar baking soda removing odors bacteria. Build $2,000 wardrobe spending $200 through strategic weekly routes visiting 5-10 stores 20 minutes each totaling 2-3 hours increasing odds dramatically. Consider reselling side hustle buying designer $10 listing Poshmark eBay $50-100 profiting $40-90 earning $500-2,000 monthly part-time.