We’ve all been there before. The budget is tight and you need a costume–or many costumes–for your upcoming film shoot. You can ask actors to bring their own clothes, but what are the chances that they have something that perfectly fits your vision? When you find yourself in this situation, thrift store costumes are the way. But before you just run out to your local Goodwill, there are some things you should know about the art of thrifting that will make finding thrift store costumes SO much easier.
Thrift store tip number one: go early, go often
A thrift store isn’t like a normal clothing store. Since people donate used clothing, you’re typically going to find just one of each item, usually in just one size, and while many stores check to make sure the items are in good condition, that doesn’t mean it’s going to look perfect. So unless you’re looking for something SUPER generic like a black t-shirt or a men’s button down, you often have to go to multiple stores multiple times to find what you’re looking for.
As soon as you know what costume pieces you’re looking for, start going to thrift stores on a regular basis. You don’t have to go every day, of course–that would be way too much–but going once or twice a week is a good idea. If you start shopping early, you’ll also find that different thrift stores have different specialties. For example, there’s one store near my house that always has the best formalwear, and another that tends to have a great selection of jeans. Once you’ve narrowed down where you’re most likely to find what, you can adjust your shopping plan!
Another tip? Ask an employee when they restock. If you can be one of the first people in when new items hit the floor, you’re way more likely to snag the good stuff!
Bring a tape measure
If you really want to be a pro thrift shopper, you should always bring a tape measure. Why? Because you’re as likely to find a dress from 1995 as you are from 2025, and, well… sizing has changed since then! Even for modern clothes, a “large” at one store is different from a “large” from another. Instead of asking your actor for their clothing size, take a few measurements, and then it will be super easy to find clothing that fits them and is comfortable.
Be thorough
I was once at a thrift store looking through the dress section and found one of the best coats of my life. To be honest, I don’t even wear a lot of dresses. Why was I looking there? Because I always check every section. I’m not going to lie, it’s time consuming, but people put random clothes in random places all the time, and most thrift stores are just too chaotic for the employees to rehang every little thing that gets out of place.
If you don’t have time, make sure that at the very least you’re hitting up the “put back” rack. Why? Because a lot of times people grab some of the best, most high quality clothing in the store, and then if it doesn’t fit they put it on that rack. Think of it as a curated collection of some of the best thrift store costumes they have to offer!
Stay open
Sometimes you have a very specific vision, and that’s totally fine; it’s your movie! But sometimes, the thrift store will surprise you with a really cool, unique costume that catch your eye. You should try to stay open to these treasures when they pop up. Sometimes, when I’m working on thrift store costumes, I create a Pinterest moodboard for a character and then just wander around the store until I see something that fits the vibe. That’s so much easier than, say, looking for the perfect plaid skirt or a highly specific floral sundress.
Thrift karma is real
If there is one piece of knowledge I could impart on new thrifters it would be this: thrift karma is real. It sounds silly, but it’s true. Every time I have done something to help out a fellow thrifter, I have been repaid in kind by the thrift store. Things that get you good thrift karma include: donating high quality items, leaving cool pieces that don’t work for you for someone else, hanging clothing back up neatly, and keeping the dressing rooms tidy.
These are my best tips for finding thrift store costumes… and the best part is, these tips work for thrifting for any purpose, so if you want to find some cool new pieces for yourself, now you know how! Happy thrifting!
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I’ve dressed whole productions from the thrift store. It’s incredible what you can find.