If I’m ever sad, I know there’s always one thing that makes me feel better: thrift shopping. After a particularly stressful day, there’s just something special about going to my local Goodwill or Salvation Army that offers me an escape. I love the thrill of the hunt: digging through racks of clothes to find the unique pieces that I know will stay in my closet for years to come.
One of my favorite feelings of all time is when someone asks me where I got something and I can say, “It’s cheap!” because I’m so proud of my find. Of course, second-hand shopping or second-hand shopping on the Internet has numerous other advantages in addition to the pure thrill. It’s better for the environment, you can shop more carefully, it’s usually inexpensive, and shopping at thrift stores often supports a charitable initiative.
Through my years of thrifting experience, I’ve learned that there are some clothes that are even better second-hand, especially when it comes to wardrobe staples. There are certain things that in the past were made simply to be more durable, such as jeans, handbags and jackets. However, there are some pieces that are so easily available second-hand that I almost never buy them new, such as oversized button-ups and graphic tees. These are the items I always look for at the thrift store:
One of my absolute favorite pieces to wear to work is a sleeveless sweater. In the colder months I wear them under a blazer and in the summer I combine them with a great pair of trousers or a nice pair of jeans. I’ve been so lucky to find beautiful vintage styles at countless thrift stores and I always get compliments on them. I would also recommend looking for quality chunky knits among the regular sweaters.
As mentioned earlier, there is always an abundance of button-ups at any thrift store. Personally, I shop in the men’s department because I prefer a more oversized and relaxed fit. No matter what style you’re looking for – classic white, Coastal Grandma blue, striped or even linen – you’re almost certain to find an option you like.
One of my favorite things to do in thrift stores is to walk up and down the jeans and shorts aisles (both men’s and women’s) looking for the iconic Levi’s patch. Vintage denim is high quality, extremely flattering, and usually much cheaper than the Levi’s you can buy new today. Also, some of my favorite denim shorts are cutoff jeans from a thrift store.
I am a firm believer that people often sleep in the handbag section at the thrift store. If you ever need a unique bag for a specific time of year—say, a brightly colored or rattan bag for summer or a sherpa bag for winter—I would highly recommend checking out the thrift store first. Additionally, if you want to make a designer purchase, shopping secondhand on sites like The RealReal or Rebag is a good place to start.
No matter the season, I always make it a point to browse both the men’s and women’s jacket sections at any thrift store. You’ll find some super unique or very high quality pieces here, including suede, real leather and chic oversized blazers. One of my very special wardrobe staples is second-hand jackets.
Look, I love a graphic tee from Urban Outfitters as much as the next girl, but oversized tees are a lot more fun when they come from a thrift store. The men’s t-shirt section is one of my absolute favorites because you can find some really wild and unique stuff there. Plus, these t-shirts tend to wear perfectly, making them one of the most comfortable pieces in your closet.
In recent years, linen pants, wide-leg pants, and even “grandma pants” with elastic waistbands have seen a surge in popularity. Not only are there tons of great vintage options in thrift stores in beautiful colors and unique patterns, but I also find myself reaching for my thrift pants most of the time rather than my new pairs. There’s just something about these vintage style pants that are so comfortable and easy to wear.
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