Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews

10 Signs it’s time to take it to the Thrift Store

March 31, 2015 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links results in us getting a commission (not always, but just about), which helps keep the lights on around here. We also take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Clothes are a lot like thinning hair, aging sports stars, and dead-end relationships. Better to fire it before it quits on you. Here are 10 signs it’s time to send those duds to the thrift shop.

#1. There’s a company logo on it and you no longer work there.

Most of us have worked at jobs that required us to wear company logo wear. And then we leave the job… and we still have a bunch of embroidered polos, windbreakers, and baseball caps. Problem with still wearing those is that it’s seen as an invitation by some to ask if you work there, or, if you know someone that they know who works there. And then you have to explain “nah, I don’t work there anymore because our ratings stunk / I dropped a car off the lift / who knew you could SINK a bumper boat?”

#2. You haven’t worn it in over a year

What % of an average guy’s closet is taken up by dead-stock clothing he hasn’t worn in a year or more? Sure, some items are seasonal (shorts, heavy wool sweaters), but if it’s something you haven’t worn in over a year, it’s time to ask yourself if it’s worth the space. Can’t tell what you have or haven’t worn, since it all gets lost in the shuffle? Try the reverse hanger technique.

10 Signs it's time to take it to the Thrift Store | Dappered.com

The Reverse Hanger Technique in action

#3. It’s a single-breasted suit with 3 or more buttons on the front.

Unless it’s a 3/2 roll, a 3-button suit will probably look best on a hanger in a thrift store. The short lapels and massive swaths of fabric on a 3-button (or 4-button or…) don’t visually do anything to accentuate a guy’s shoulder to waist ratio. You’re simply swaddled in a barrel of cloth. Trends are cyclical, and one day the 3-button suit might make a comeback (never say never) but a 2 button has never and will never***, go out of style.

#4. You “found” it in your closet, but you weren’t excited to see it again.

We’ve all had garments go missing deep within the collection, but when it’s rediscovered, if you’ve moved on like Helen Hunt in Castaway? It’s time to let it go man. Even if there’s initial interest due to the novelty. Let it go.

#5. It’s featured, prominently, in the Macklemore song

Unless you own a DeLorean, and then if you do, you keep that thing. Forever.

#6. It’s been sitting in a “to take to the thrift store” bag for a month.

Just get it in there already. This is the bizzaro-universe version of procrastinating on returning a regrettable purchase you made over the web. It’s just eating up floor space. The worst case scenario is that you make a bad purchase, the return-window expires, it sits in your closet unworn for more than a year, and then it spends three months in a bag on the floor of your bedroom waiting to go to the thrift store. HOW CAN WE LIVE LIKE THIS.

#7. It has a hammer loop on it, and you’re not a carpenter.

Carpenter jeans, believe it or not, are attempting a comeback. No hammer loops on the contemporary versions, but still…

#8. You’ve gained or lost 15 pounds, and there’s no going back.

Whether you’ve gone Beast Mode, or à la mode, be honest with yourself and your new body type. If it’s the new normal, don’t hang onto the old, now-uncomfortable clothes. It’ll give you a false sense of wardrobe security. One day you’ll really need a clean shirt, but the only stuff that’s not in the hamper is a size too big or too small.

10 Signs it's time to take it to the Thrift Store | Dappered.com

Hulk pissed he no longer fit in his old stuff, and needed to buy new stuff.
Hulk hate himself for his humblebrag. Hulk has sad.

#9. It’s your lucky shirt you wore on the day you got fired…

…and got dumped. Nothing like sinking a bumper boat and getting dumped by your significant other in the same day.

#10. It’s a jersey of a sports star who left on bad terms or was a huge bust

Look, it happens.

***Wait, what happened to “never say never”?
Top photo credit: M. Mozart

Filed Under: Accessories, Clothing, Dappered Classics, Etc., Shoes

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or hit us up on Instagram!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

BR Factory New Arrivals (and 49% off), Seiko 5KX decent price, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

BR Factory New Arrivals (and 49% off), Seiko 5KX decent price, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Totes, sneakers, and Nordy Rack is worth a look.

Style Scenario: Groundhog Day

Style Scenario: Groundhog Day

Bing!

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

They’re calling it their Red Label line. So… why another line? And how?

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • 10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Rugged Boots, Italian wool trousers, & More
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Italian Traveler Wool Blazers, Nordy’s NOT final sale section, & More
  • Style Scenario: It’s still winter. (Nothing over $100 edition)
  • The Dappered Space: 5 Essential Home Decor Items for any grown-guy’s home
  • MTO Suits, Goodyear Welted Boots, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

Copyright © 2023 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.