As an international student, shopping for affordable clothes suited to the Japanese climate can be a daunting task.
Since I hail from a region of India with relatively mild weather, adapting to the scorching hot summers and the freezing cold winters here has been quite the challenge for me – especially considering that I shop on a tight budget when shopping for clothes. Once I got past the assumption that “vintage is bound to be expensive,” thrifting ended up saving money during my four years of undergrad at Science Tokyo. Here’s how I usually shop when thrifting on a budget:
More often than not, I have a general idea of the shape and pieces of the outfit I want. Before going to the store, I usually try to sketch it out or find similar items on Pinterest and pin them.
Next, I try to find an area with several thrift stores close to each other, as opposed to a single store in a popular location. This gives me more options to browse around in case I have something quite specific in mind. When it comes to looking for clothes and accessories, a few areas I frequent are Shimokitazawa, Koenji, and Jiyugaoka.
Shimokitazawa is, perhaps, the neighborhood most well-known for all things vintage. While there are a plethora of vintage clothing stores, the area is also sprinkled with cafes and second-hand book and record stores.
Koenji is a great option if you’re looking for alternative culture and fashion. It also boasts a bustling underground and live music scene.
Jiyugaoka, while lesser-known for its vintage stores, is also a viable option considering how accessible it is from Ookayama Campus and the array of stores offering high-end vintage clothing at affordable rates.
Finally, it is also important to manage your expectations and budget, as that is the whole point of thrifting. There were times when I found exactly what I wanted, but it was out of my budget range even at thrift store prices. At other times, I couldn’t find a single item that I wanted and had to go back home with nothing but a coffee to show for my efforts. It is important to get a bit creative and have some flexibility in the clothing you’re looking for.
My advice: out of the three major elements – shape, color and texture – be willing to sacrifice one.
- If you’re flexible about the shape of the outfit, you can pick interesting colors and textures.
- If you don’t care for unique textures, you can be a bit pickier to the shape and the color of the clothes.
- The end goal is to find affordable clothing that is also suited to your taste.
Here are four points I keep in mind and recommend to first-time thrifters:
- Inspect the item closely: Check thoroughly for stains, holes, loose threads, or broken buttons, and carefully consider which parts are worth fixing and which are deal-breakers.
- Read the labels and tags: Make sure to read the wash and care instructions before finalizing the purchase – is it going to be a hand-wash hassle, an easy machine wash, or does it need an expensive dry-clean?
- Familiarize yourself with fabrics and brands specializing in the certain styles and fabrics you’re looking for. Versace is recognized by its bold-patterned and radiantly colored clothing while a Mugler might be understated in those specific regards but stand out for its sharp silhouette and monochrome body.
- Finally, don’t be afraid to try on the clothes! Vintage stores may often carry shrunken or deformed clothes (due to previous wear and tear), so it is important to try them on, no matter how good they may look on the hanger.
You never know what you’re going to stumble upon when thrifting – it could be a Todd Oldham Spring 1995 piece or an upcycled Zara piece that matches exactly what you had in mind. Thrifting made me very open-minded about how I think about clothing and shopping in general, and I hope it does the same for you! Happy thrifting!
