A little thrifted look
I’ve loved fashion since I was a little gal and it’s been something I’ve wanted to delve into a little more on here. I think it’s the creative in me, and maybe it even stems from my love of collage, but I love going to thrift stores so dang much. It’s such a fun challenge to build a wardrobe from the unique, one-of-a-kind things they have. Over the years as I’ve changed a lot of my buying habits to try and create a more ethical lifestyle, I find myself frequenting Goodwill and consignment stores more and more. So without further ado, here’s a little thrifted look! Not every part of this outfit is thrifted, but I usually like to balance the old with the new. I bought the sparkly turtleneck on consignment and it’s one of my favorites! It’s a “vintage” Madewell (“vintage” just sounds so much better than “used” haha). I got the Levi’s at Goodwill a few years back. They are actually supposed to be a straight leg fit, but I had my mom fix them up to fit more like a skinny jean. I mixed in a new scarf and shoes and voilà!
So back to thrifting: I’m alllllll about it. I love it for it’s environmental impact and the way I can buy from brands that I don’t want to support directly because of the way they treat their employees (hi, H&M). Also, I just love it because its cheap!! I’m a college student and definitely on a tight budget, so thrifting helps me keep some extra cash in my wallet. When I talk about thrifting with people, I sometimes get the response of “I feel like I never find good things! It’s just so overwhelming!” and I get it! Goodwill can be a scary place, with seemingly unendless racks of clothes. So I thought I’d share a little bit of my process.
Keep an open mind
Whenever I go to a place like Goodwill (basically anywhere that’s not consignment or curated in a sense), I keep a very open mind. If you go into Goodwill looking for a pair of black overalls, good luck. It might take 10 trips before you find those. So I typically have a list in my head of dream items to find at Goodwill that I’m always looking for. These items don’t have a deadline (as in, “I need a denim dress for a wedding I’m going to!”). This gives me the freedom to look every time I go in, without the pressure of needing to find it ASAP.
Know your brands, colors, and textures/patterns
These are the three things I look for when I quickly skim the racks at Goodwill or a Consignment shop. I know there are certain colors that I won’t wear. Maybe they don’t look good on me, maybe I have nothing to match them. Regardless, no matter what brand it is or how cheap, I won’t wear it. On the contrary, I know there are colors I love! This immediately helps me to sort through some of the racks and removes possibilities. As I am scanning through all the choices, I look for patterns or textures that I like. I love denim and stripes, so I stop to look at things that fit these descriptions. Last is brands. It’s funny how frequently you gravitate towards the look of a certain brand. For me, it is Madewell. I can randomly select their stuff from a mile away. Now, just because something is Madewell does not mean I’m going to buy it. However, I know that the quality is going to be good, and it’s style is going to be on point with the look I’m going for. Just like when I pull Forever 21 items, I always put them back, no matter how cute they may be. Their quality stinks and even a $2 price tag doesn’t make that worth it.
Don’t be swayed by price
I know that a $5 pair of Free People jeans is a great deal, but if they don’t fit right, they aren’t worth it. Only buy things that you would still want if they were full price. Trust me on this, I learned this lesson the hard way. You will save yourself so much time in the long run when you go to clean out your closet 6 months later.
Hopefully that helps a little bit next time you head out to your local Salvation Army or Consignment shop! Thrift away!
