A Beginners Guide to Thrifting in Paris

Finally, you get the opportunity to raid Parisians' unwanted clothing items! Out of style trends, worn out pants and your mom’s favorite shirts can be revamped and given a second life, if you know where to find them!

First thing's first.

Sort Through the Junk.

Racks and racks of pieces are unwanted for a reason. If a rack seems uninteresting to you from the get-go chances are you will not find something you love– go check out another rack! If you do find something you like, before you get too caught up, check the quality of the piece. Lots of items at second hand stores are given up because they are worn out. Be on the lookout for stains, holes, rips, discoloration or even funky smells.

Go in with a Plan.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clothes a thrift store can carry. Having a plan and idea of what you are looking for can help you narrow down your search to avoid getting swamped by the racks. That being said, a plan can be rearranged, but sometimes the best items are found when you are not expecting them.

Make a Day out of it

Thrifting is no easy task. It is a lot of effort to sort through piles of and racks of miscellaneous items. We recommend allotting at least three or more hours to a successful thrift trip. In Paris especially, most thrift stores are somewhat close to one another, sometimes may be even on the same street. For example, Rue de la Verrerie has a dozen thrift shops all within a short trip. This can save you time and money, that being said, there are a lot of stores to visit all on the same road. You may zig-zag across the same street looking through windows or squeezing around people to sort through clothes.

Don’t Get Discouraged.

You may walk away tired, sweaty and nothing in hand after your first day, no stress! If you go later in the day and all the 'good stuff' is nowhere to be found, chances are resellers or thrifting fiends had dibs over unique items. New clothes are added everyday so it may take one or more tries to find something you truly love.

Find Something Unusual.

Second hand stores, especially in Paris, have so many pieces you will never find anywhere else. This can be a great opportunity to find something unusual or unique at a low price. You can take advantage of the low prices and purchase something you may typically not buy if it would be at full price. Find something to spice up your wardrobe.

Must Stop Shops

One thing special to Paris is the 'Kilo Shops', where clothes are tagged by price per kilo, so you pay depending on the weight of the garments. Some of my favorite Kilo Shops include: Kilo Shop Kawaii, Kilo Shop and Free'P'Star. Other thrift shops I have loved include: Hippy Market, Chinemachine, Dynasty Vintage and Vintage 77. Each location offers vintage items you will not be able to find anywhere else.

Happy Shopping!

Until Next Time,

Ella