If you think buying clothes from a thrift store is but a short step from eating dinner in a dumpster, think again. Thrift-store chic is a well-established trend even among the rich and famous – though they call their outfits “vintage” instead of “second-hand.” You can look “mahvelous” too, if you know their secrets to mining gold from the dross.

Many clothes that are sent to thrift stores have never been worn. Some still have the original department-store sales tags attached, and some are what eBay would call “new without tags.” It’s possible to tell by looking at a garment’s manufacturer’s label whether or not it has ever been laundered.

Other clothes have been worn gently but are still “good as new.” To determine whether an outfit will work for you, try it on to assess the fit. Check out seams, particularly inseams, for signs of wear; make sure that all buttons are still there, that zippers work, and that linings (if present) are whole. If you really love something but it needs some work, determine whether it’s something you can do such as replacing buttons. Extensive alterations can require a professional, but hiring a tailor to custom-fit a suit or a formal dress can still be a lot cheaper than buying it new.

Familiarize yourself with the stores in your area; they tend to “specialize” (one may carry more women’s-size clothing, another be more likely to have a good selection of glassware, etc.) and find out when your favorites re-stock and when they mark things down.

The more “upscale” clothing is, the less likely it has been worn often before coming to you and the more likely it is that it has been well taken care of. Check out the thrift stores in more affluent areas of town, and look inside the clothes for designer labels. You can also find great deals on clothing for small children and infants, because they grow out of things long before they wear them out.

Be willing to experiment and express yourself more flamboyantly than you might usually do. You’re not out much if you don’t like it, and you may find a style all your own.

If all else fails, take my Mom with you – the woman is an uncanny bargain-magnet!