A new online shop for second-hand clothes solves the biggest problems with thrift shopping: digging through piles of clothes and dealing with... smells.
ThredUp carries clothes and accessories for men, women, and kids — and they didn't forget about plus-size fashion.
Prices run from as low as $1.99 to a dress that sells for $1100.99, while brands run the gamut from Forever 21 to Marc Jacobs. Everything is promised to arrive clean, odor-free, and packaged neatly in a cute shipping box.
We first spotted it on Fat Girl Flow's YouTube channel, but there are tons of ThredUp hauls and unboxings on YouTube.
After watching vloggers talk it up, Mary and I decided to put ThredUp to the test.
We went online and looked for three items that we could incorporate into our wardrobe.
Mary was up first. With all the options available in her size, Mary made a complete look.
The blazer, ($28.99, Susan Graver) tank top, ($7.99, Ann Taylor LOFT), and pleather leggings ($16.99, Express) shown here are all from ThredUP, while the shoes were Mary's own.
One of our fears about used clothes was germs. This fear turned into a reality when Mary pulled a used Kleenex out of her pocket!
"I was happy the jacket had pockets. However, when I put my hand in the pocket, I was scarred for life. There was a USED TISSUE in the pocket. I was somewhat confused because I thought they cleaned the items before selling, so I wondered if they really clean them as much as they say," said Mary
Though there are lots of options for plus-size women on ThredUp, I didn't find them to be as fashionable as the ones in the straight size section. To start, I found this $10 jacket.
Jacket, $9.99, iB Diffusion
The jacket fit comfortably and the closures worked like they were brand new.
My jackets didn't have pockets, but I was completely fine with it after what happened to Mary.
Mary's second look had her feeling like Olivia Pope.
"I'm ready to take on the White House," she said.
Blazer, $49.99, BCBG Max Azria</a>; trousers, $23.99, Eva Mendes</a>; tank top ($7.99, Ann Taylor LOFT</a>; shoes, Mary's own
As comfortable as this blazer was, it wasn't perfect — the snaps were broken.
"I was really excited to see the blazer! I thought the blazer was as cute in person as it was online. It wasn't stiff and felt more like sweatshirt material, which was nice. However, I wish it hadn't kept unbuttoning! There was this little snap that wouldn't stay snapped. I guess I'd have to buy my own closure and have it sewed on the jacket."
But she still loved the look and quality of the pants.
Since making a complete outfit with separates was not going to happen, I bought a dress.
I love the vintage style of the dress ($28.99, Adrianna Papell). Oddly it was advertised online with a belt but arrived with no belt, which left me with empty loopholes that I'd probably just cut off.
I actually liked this dress and it suits my style. I just wish it fit a little better.
For her third and final look, Mary channeled her inner boho goddess.
Top, $19.99, Ann Taylor LOFT</a>; black skirt, $7.99, Old Navy</a>; shoes, Mary's own
"The top looked like new, and I think for the price — $19.99 compared to $60 retail — it was a good deal. I would've probably gone a size up for a more voluminous, boho vibe. The skirt was a little odd at the top since it bubbled out," she said.
The peekaboo slit was her favorite part.
The last item I tried on left me in complete shock.
$15.99, Torrid
These were advertised as pants and the mannequin wore them with a loose fit. I tried them on and they were actually leggings!
Were they comfortable? Yes. Would I buy these again? No.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Pros:
- ThredUp carries plus sizes and straight sizes and cuts out the work of searching through thrift store racks.
- You can't beat finding tops for almost a dollar.
Cons:
- It promises to be super sanitary but our Kleenex surprise proves otherwise.
- The options for plus-size women are outdated and limited. The higher you go in size, the fewer options you have.
- You only get 14 days to return the clothes for a refund.
It's a great business concept that will hopefully get better with time. It's certainly worth checking out if you love thrifting but hate spending hours in thrift stores!
