thredUP is an online secondhand clothing marketplace that has thousands of pieces of brand name, high quality, gently used clothing at a fraction of the cost. They add thousands of new pieces everyday. There are great deals to be had at thredUP, but it can also get overwhelming because of how much they do offer. In these thredUP reviews, I’ll share some tips and tricks for shopping thredUP that keep you from spending countless hours in front of your computer and will instead help you find the good stuff there in record time.
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It’s no secret that I love thrift stores, yard sales, consignment stores and all other forms of secondhand shopping. I make at least one, usually more, trips to some of my local favorite thrift stores each week. Here lately, I’ve been perusing one of my favorite online secondhand shops more often though – thredUP. I found thredUP a few years back and I loved it, but it was so overwhelming to me because there were literally thousands and thousands of pages full of items to browse through. I could easily spend an hour in front of the computer looking through the pages and not find but one or two possible things I might get.
My experience with thredUP has changed now though…
I got smart about shopping on thredUP and now, I can find multiple fantastic clothing items at great prices (sometimes normally way expensive brands) in hardly any time at all! I’m so excited about all I’ve been able to find on there recently using these tricks that I wanted to share them with you. Y’all, just a couple weeks ago, I got 10 pieces of clothing for just $140. That included five tops, one romper, one blazer, one dress, one top for the Circus and one romper for the Circus!
Are you ready for the life-changing thredUP shopping tips?
thread Up Reviews
I thought it would be helpful to share my tips for finding the gems on thredUP with both a video and screenshots. You can watch the video just below and I’ve also written out my tips for using thredUP below the video as well. On top of that, I also put together some outfit ideas using pieces I’ve gotten from thredUP too.
Tip #1: Browse thredUP on your computer, not your phone.
When I look on thredUP, I like to open up different pieces I like in new tabs. Doing this on my phone is a nightmare, but on my computer, it’s much easier and I can easily click back and forth between tabs to compare items.
Tip #2: Plug in your sizes.
Before you ever start shopping on thredUP, plug in your sizes under your account.
As long as you check that little box that says “Always set filters to My Sizes,” then anytime you are browsing for clothing on thredUP, they will only show you items available in your sizes.
Tip #3: Check your recommendations.
After you’ve done some browsing and purchased a few items from thredUP, they will start gathering item recommendations for you. I’ve found some great pieces this way!
You can see your item recommendations both under your account, by clicking on Account Details at the top > My Shops > Recommendations. You can also scroll down the thredUP homepage to see recommendations for you as well.
Tip #4: Check new arrivals often.
thredUP adds thousands of new quality items daily. I tend to scroll through the first four or five pages of the new arrivals once a day or once every couple of days. This is where you can find some awesome pieces before someone else snatches them up!
Tip #5: Use those filters!
Anytime you’re browsing on thredUP, you’re going to have filters on the left of the page – use those! This is especially helpful if you’re looking for something specific or wanting to stay in a certain price range.
There are filters for price, brand, style, color and much more!
Tip #6: Favorite Items / Add to Cart
If you find an item you like, be sure to either add it to your cart or favorite it.
If you absolutely love it and are pretty sure you’re going to buy it, add it to your cart right then! You’ll have 24 hours to purchase it before it’s put back out there for someone else to snatch up. If you aren’t quite sure, you can favorite an item as well so you don’t forget it.
Tip #7: Favorite Item Notifications
So let’s say you find a piece you love, BUT it’s already in someone else’s cart. 🙁 What you need to do is click the “Get Notified” button on that item.
If the person doesn’t purchase the item, you will get an email when that item is available for purchase.
Tip #8: Shop the Seller’s Other Items & Similar Brands
If you find an item you love, see if that seller has other items for sale by scrolling down the page.
Chances are, if you like one thing that seller has for sale, then you might like more! I have found great pieces this way!
Another thing to check out in this area is that “Brands Similar to …” link – these are brands that are going to have clothing similar to the item you’re looking at. You can also keep scrolling down on an item’s detail page to see other similar items as well!
Tip #9: Shopping by Brand
I’ve already told you that you can shop by brand using the filters, but you can also shop by brand through an item’s detail page.
Simply click on the brand name and you’ll be taken to a page with other items in your size from that brand.
Tip #10: Use the Search Feature and Turn on Search Notifications
If there is something specific you are looking for, search for it.
If thredUP doesn’t have what you want right now, turn on the search notification button for that search and you’ll be notified when new items are added in your size matching your search specifications.
Tip #11: Use Your Favorited Items to Shop Similar Items
You can see your favorite items by going to your account details > My Shops > Favorites. You can also click the heart in the upper right hand corner on the thredUP homepage. Here, you’ll see all the items you have favorited. It will tell you if items are still available, sold or in someone else’s cart.
If items are sold or in someone else’s cart, you can click the “Shop Similar” button to see items that are similar.
Tip #12: Check the children’s section!
If you’ve got a kiddo or grandchildren, then don’t discount that kids clothes section at thredUP! I have found some seriously cute pieces at great prices for the Circus there. Just like with the adult clothing, you can filter by size, type, style, price, etc.
thredUP Clothes Outfit Ideas
Here are a few outfit ideas using some of my latest scores from the online consignment shop, thredUP.
Black Gingham Button Up + Green Satin Skirt
I found this green skirt at a local thrift store and as soon as I found it, I knew it would be perfect with a black gingham shirt. I searched for one on thredUP, saved the search so I would get notified when new black gingham items were added and when the right one came around, I snagged it!
Tassel Romper
I love rompers because they are effortless outfits – you don’t have to coordinate pants with tops, it’s all right there already put together for you! I got this romper from thredUP for $19!
Red Checked Button-Up + Distressed Jeans + Boots
I call this my tablecloth shirt because it reminds me of those vinyl picnic tablecloths. I love it though and that shirt was only $11!
Long Pink Skirt + Black and White Striped Tank
Both the skirt and the shirt here were thredUP purchases. That skirt is by far, one of the best secondhand clothing purchases I’ve ever made – I love it! It was $45, but I had been looking for one just like it for a long time and it’s a great brand – DKNY. The shirt was only $5!
Pink Gingham Peplum Top + Jeans
I kind of have a thing for gingham – can’t you tell?! No way this pink gingham peplum top wasn’t coming to my house since it was just $10!
Red Tank + Black and White Dress
This dress was one of those pieces I took a chance on. It’s a brand I wasn’t familiar with and had never worn before. I loved the combo though of the stripes and the pop of red and it was only $17 and since I could return it if it didn’t work, I decided to chance it. I’m glad I did because it does fit and I love it paired with the pops of blue on these heels!
Leopard Print Blazer + Guns N’ Roses Tank + Red Jeans
Blazers are my jam – I can’t get enough of them. This leopard blazer from thredUP is lightweight, so great for spring and summer nights. I’ll also look for any excuse to wear one of my band tees and this blazer is great paired with my GNR sleeveless shirt. The blazer was $19 on thredUP.
Black Peplum Top + Pink Jeans
This is a casual outfit that can be easily dressed up or down depending on what kind of shoes and jewelry you want to wear with it. Black and pink is another favorite color combo of mine as well. This top was only $13 on thredUP. It’s just a simple black color, but it fits perfectly and I love it’s peplum flare!
Have you shopped on thredUP before? If you’ve got any great tips to share, please tell us in the comments!
Oh and if you’re ready to do a closet clean-out yourself, you can request a clean out bag to send in your gently used clothing and get a little cash for it!
Want to hang on to this post to remember all the tips? Pin the image below!
Pam S says
Oh good….another site to procrastinate with ~ I need that!!! LOL! Looks too good to resist though. Thanks!!
And I do love the chicken run art 🙂
Jenna says
hahahahaha!!!! It’s one of my favorite clothing sites!! Isn’t that chicken run art hilarious?!
Pam says
(you’ll run on to this somewhere else I think 🙂 OK….the chicken art would be mega perfect in my dining room. ~But I don’t want to be the reason my Mom has a stroke! LOL!!
Jennifer says
Love the post!!! Super helpful! I am having issues with the promo code. My total order is over $150 but no single item is. Is the code only for first time shoppers? (I am a pretty frequent Thredup shopper.) Thank you for the post and tips!!!
Jenna says
So glad it was helpful, Jennifer! I am so sorry about the code. I just went back and read the fine print on that in my email and it looks like it is for new customers only. UGH! I’m sorry!!!!
Jennifer says
Thank you for checking Jenna!!!
Stephanie S says
Love the fines you found . Cute outfits.
Jenna says
Thanks, Stephanie!
Bonnie S. says
Thanks, Jenna for taking the time to post all of these awesome tips, since yes, there are so many clothes in the ThredUP! website, that it helps to know how to navigate through it. I think that consignment is so smart, and I’ve found so many beautiful clothes for next to nothing at consignment stores.
I love your green skirt!! That is beautiful – great score there!!
Thanks again for the tips!
Bonnie
Jenna says
You’re welcome, Bonnie! I totally agree about consignment and just secondhand/thrift stores in general – I have found so many amazing pieces at those places! Some of my favorite pieces of clothing are secondhand!