Need fashion tips

i can give thrifting advice!!

• go in the morning and on slower days. once you go to the same one a few times in a row, this can help you gauge what times and days a lot of the regulars frequent. i am a strong believer in going when you don't feel pressured to look quickly.
• search ALL sizes and categories. a lot of people put things wherever they want and do not return it to an employee for proper placement. smalls get hidden into larges, women's into the men's section, etc.
• when scanning a rack to decide whether or not to thoroughly look at something, only pick up colors and fabrics you know you would enjoy on you as to save on some time. ideally, you want to look at literally everything on the rack, but sometimes you just don't have the time or energy.
• go in with no expectations. it's okay to have a goal like, "i really hope i find a pair of pants today!" but take all expectations and throw them out the window because you will often be disappointed or you will spend your whole time on a goose hunt. 
• don't be scared to shop off the racks that haven't been put out yet!! obviously if an employee is working on it, give them some space or ask if it's cool if you take a quick browse. every store may have a different culture on this so don't be afraid to ask if it's allowed. :) 
• i also give myself a budget every time before i even walk into a thrift shop because it is entirely possible to have too many clothes if i have to be honest lol. 
• don't sleep on thrift store bags and purses. i have so many designer bags i got for super cheap. 
• this is a very optional suggestion but would honestly benefit you: learn how to sew so that way you can still purchase things that don't quite fit the way you want it to (or if you really like something but notice it has a hole or some sort of other flaw!!) simple tailoring skills are very easy to learn and you can honestly probably find a sewing machine at the thrift store itself. xD youtube is a great resource for visual learners. 
• if you're gonna go thrifting often, try to rotate shops that you visit so you arent just sifting through the same stofck. i rotate between like 5 thrift shops!

for me, thrifting helped establish my own sense of style!! i used to buy pretty much all my clothes online and from very mainstream sources. thrifting has forced me to work with older styles, styles that aren't particularly trendy, and styles that i would normally not have considered. i love the creativity of it and honestly, it's pretty easy to find alternative things in thrift stores or at least things you can style to suit your desired aesthetic. definitely takes some patience though to get a full wardrobe of thrift!

hope this helps at all!!!

That thrifting advice was awesome, no extra notes from me. 

As for other places to go... depending on where you live, flea markets can be really great for more second-hand clothing. Some vintage shops that are usually expensive will sometimes have warehouse sales that are way cheaper. Like RetroStar here in Melbourne. You can also swap with a friend, or search online for clothing swap events in your area!

In terms of buying new... outlets are always more affordable. It's just a matter of looking in the right places, even in shops you wouldn't expect to have "alt" stuff. You can find awesome clothes in pretty unexpected places. I live in a pretty suburban area. Since I learned to take public transport into the city, I discovered that there are near-constant sales happening in shopping centres there. Certain stores are way cheaper in the city than in town, which was a shock.  

Finally, my favourite: learn to DIY the clothes you want! It's a lot easier than most people think, especially if you have basic craft skills. You don't even need to know how to sew. Badges, stencils, fabric paint and markers, safety pins, iron-on transfer paper... endless possibilities. 

Good luck! :D