Thrifting, when done right, is so much cheaper than flat-out dress or tux shopping. Plus, recycling clothes (even other people’s) is better for the environment.

Going out to the store for any formal event can drain hundreds of dollars from your bank account. Even Windsor, a more affordable dress store, costs, at minimum, $60 per dress, and at Men’s Warehouse, the cheapest suit you can rent is $138. However, that’s not including shoes, accessories, makeup or hair products. In total, prom and similar events can easily cost students more than $270. Not to mention, the price racks up even more when you add in multiple banquets for extracurriculars and other formal events.

However, if you thrift, you can save a lot of money. For example, the last four formal events I attended, I spent a total of $50 on clothing. This year, my prom dress cost me $18. My older sister, Kristina Birkeland (‘24), bought her prom dress for $13.

Many people worry that if they thrift, they can’t find something they like, poor quality, germs and scams. So, to avoid that anxiety and stress, here’s a guide on how to thrift your formal clothes!

Find What You Like Before You Look

No matter if you thrift online or in-person, I find it’s easier, less overwhelming and faster if you decide on what you want before you start your search.

Tips:

Use social media apps (like Pinterest) to get outfit inspiration

Decide on what color, fabric, cut, and other features you would want or not want to quicken the search.

Go to some formal stores (like David’s Bridal or Men’s Warehouse) to try on different styles in person. This way, you can see how different colors, materials and cuts fit you before you buy.

Take into consideration if you want to wear it again. For women, many prom dresses can’t be worn to other formal occasions. So, if you really want to get more bang for your buck, consider getting a dress that can be worn to weddings or other formal events.

Online vs. In-Person: Pros and Cons

There are two ways you can thrift: going in-person to your local thrift stores or online.

In-Person:

Where to go: For first-time thrifters going in-person, I’d recommend Goodwill or Salvation Army. Both are organized, reasonably priced, and not overwhelming. If you want trendier clothes but a higher price tag, Plato’s Closet and Uptown Cheapskate are good options as well. I’d stay away from Family Thrifts. While they are extremely cheap, they can be quite overwhelming because of their size.

To avoid getting something you dislike, try it on! Take into account you can’t return what you buy, so make sure it’s what you want, the material and fit work for the event, check dress codes before buying, etc.

Online:

Where to shop: Nowadays, there are a ton of resale/thrifting websites and apps. Personally, I use Poshmark. You can filter what you’re looking for (color, price, categories, etc.) and sort by price. However, there are a ton of boutiques and insane prices for some clothing. There’s also Depop, ThredUp, and more.

To avoid scams: look for items listed with multiple pictures, pictures of what the item looks like now (don’t base it on pictures of prom from the 2000s), and go to the seller’s account to see their rating. Also, look online or at other sellers to see what it’s going for.

Downsides of Thrifting

Men, in general, usually have fewer options to choose from.

People not in the “standard” sizes may have a harder time finding clothes

The Actual Search

Thrifting, especially when you’re doing it for the first time, can be overwhelming.

For in-person, I’d recommend bringing friends (especially ones who have thrifted before) or listening to a podcast/music to minimize that anxiety. When you’re looking, search for your desired length, color, material and size. For example, if you’re looking for floor-length, only look at dresses that are longer than the rest. Keep in mind, finding the “perfect” outfit can take a long time and many revisits, so go once a month or hit up different stores.

For online thrifting, utilize the filtering system. When I was looking, my go-to filters on Poshmark were: women’s dresses, max price $30, and sorting from cheapest to most expensive. Also, look at brands you want, like Dillard’s, Windsor, etc. I also recommend looking up bridesmaid/groomsman as there are hundreds of people looking to get rid of nice quality, (usually) classy formal wear. Again, this process can take a long time, so make sure you look in advance and when you can. Also, take into account shipping time.

Pay attention to how you can clean it! Most, if not all, thrifted items should be washed prior to wearing to get rid of germs, smells and stains. Some, you can get away without, but it’s best practice to clean it.

Specific recommendations:

For men, there’s a Salvation Army in Mansfield that has a wide variety of button-ups and men’s clothing. Usually when you walk into a thrift store 75% of the floor is taken up by women’s clothes. However, this Salvation Army was equally split between men’s and women’s. While it is a long drive, from my brief perusal, it had everything from shoes to suit jackets, making it more than worth the trip.

For women, I don’t know any specific stores. A lot of stores I‘ve been to had at least one or two formal dresses. I’ve had good luck at the Goodwill in Lakeworth, but I found my prom dress online. If you have had good luck at a specific store, comment to let me know.

Other ways to save money:

Get your hair, makeup, and nails done at beauty schools. Nikki Self, the ASL teacher, got her sister and her own hair done for her sister’s wedding at Ogle Beauty School ($20). Self initially requested someone who had experience with up-dos and was ready to graduate about 2 weeks out from the wedding. Then, after she tried it and liked it, she scheduled those same people for the day of her sister's wedding.

Trade shoes with others. Many people have extra shoes that you can borrow for the night.

Also trade accessories! Many people (including older siblings, friends, parents, etc.) have watches, necklaces, earrings they’d be willing to lend.

Ask a friend who knows how to sew—especially those in fashion design—to make simple alterations.

Ask someone in floral design to make your corsage and boutonniere

Conclusion:

Everyone wants to feel pretty/handsome when they dress up and a tight budget shouldn’t exclude you from that experience. It takes time, but thrifting is more than worth it for yourself and for your wallet. This year, I am proudly wearing a thrifted prom dress, so, if you see me, come and say hi! If you are trying to or have gotten a thrifted formal wear, comment below your own tips or questions.