Thrift Shop Chic | A Bargain Hunter’s Guide to Thrifting

Why do you thrift? Perhaps it’s the thrill of the hunt or the excitement of a designer deal for less. Maybe you want to do your part to help out the environment and reduce waste. Or is it that you want your shopping dollars to go a bit further? Whatever the motive, there are many reasons why thrifting is awesome – and fun!

In addition to being a part of creating less waste, I utilize second-hand shops as another means of rounding out my wardrobe. I love that I can find difficult-to-source brands, eclectic designer pieces, and vintage accessories that I might not normally splurge for, along with items in unique prints and colors. Thrifting gives me an opportunity to get creative with my style – creating one of a kind looks that reflect my true style personality. (TO READ MORE ON DISCOVERING YOUR UNIQUE STYLE PERSONALITY, PRESS HERE)

Second Hand & Vintage Style Inspiration

Finding outfit ideas that showcase second-hand style has never been easier thanks to bloggers and insta-bloggers sharing their finds and style on blogs and social media platforms like Instagram. One of my favorite Instagram hashtags to follow is the #thriftedchicstylechallenge, created by blogger friend Michele Clark of @seechele_styles (HERE). Here’s a look at this week’s outfit round-up from the Autumn in Thrift Style Challenge.

Monday

I’m proud to say, with the exception of my Obag, this look is 100% thrifted! Y’all know I love a poncho, and this chevron stripe number, found at ThredUP, works back to so many pieces in my closet. Paired here with a rocker tee for a pop of color, vintage jeans, and a cool suede vintage belt. Flip flops are Tory Burch, my bangle, a vintage find.

Tuesday

One of the many reasons I love to thrift, is the ability to find unique pieces and hard to find brands, all in one spot. Young Fabulous and Broke is one of my favorite brands, yet boutiques around here don’t seem to carry it. Luckily, through online thrifting, you can source just about any brand imaginable, and I’ve picked up multiple pieces, like this top, second hand, in like-new condition. My fringe boho vest came out of the clothing swap I co- hosted 1 week before the Pandemic lockdown last March. The bags? All 3 are second hand, which is your favorite?

Non-Thrifted Pieces: Wide leg pants (Jennifer Grace) | Sandals (Rachel Zoe) | Sunnies (Chloe, Nordstrom)

Wednesday

Another 2020 Clothing Swap Treasure (TO LEARN MORE ON HOW TO HOST A SWAP WITH YOUR GIRLFRIENDS PRESS HERE), this stripe cashmere sweater was a real find. I tend to stay away from stripes, but the price was right (FREE), and I love how this outfit came together. Paired with my favorite ‘Emerson’ boyfriend jeans (HERE) (also available in high rise at Anthro SHOP HERE), Tory Burch Flip Flops, and MY OTHER Obag.

Thursday

Most of my animal print pieces are second-hand, and this coat is no exception. An unexpected pairing with this Zara scarf skirt (also second hand) – these 2 pieces pair beautifully together, thanks to the strong presence of gold and black in both garments. I adore these sunglasses, Vintage Dior from the 70’s!

Friday

I wasn’t kidding when I said most of my animal print pieces are second hand, this long cardigan included. I love how the ombre effect of this particular sweater pairs perfectly with a white tee. My skinny jeans are from Mother Denim, second-hand, with a DIY cut-off hem – a feature I prefer when wearing booties, sneakers or mules. My turquoise cuff bangles are family heirlooms, the tassel necklace is OOAK from a local designer in Santa Cruz. I picked up these sunnies in Florence, Italy last summer.

Mules (Eileen Fisher) | Studded Tote (another OOAK, Young Villagers)

Do tell, which is your favorite second-hand look? (PRESS HERE) to follow me on Instagram for a weekly dose of Second-Hand Style.

ASB Thrifty Thrifting Tips:

Here’s a look at a few things I’ve learned while scouring the second-hand market over the past 40 years.

1. Check Back Regularly
2. EVERYTHING is a deal when you are thrifting. I keep a list on my phone of what’s missing in my wardrobe. That way, I only buy things I really need.
3. With the exception of ThredUp, most second-hand buys are final sale, so before you hand over your cash, take a photo of the item, or if you are shopping online, carry your laptop into your closet, and make sure the item works with your wardrobe. Most second-hand stores do not offer returns, so once you pay, it’s yours to keep. (ThredUP online is an exception as they offer a very fair return/exchange policy).
4. No matter how great a buy it is, only purchase items your size (unless it is super easy to alter, and then again, don’t forget to factor in the cost of tailoring), or most likely it will become a’ Closet Orphans’ (TO READ MORE ON CLOSET ORPHANS, PRESS HERE).
5. Calculate the cost of dry cleaning into the garment price. I once bought a faux fur vest that had leather trim. Little did I know, due to the leather trim, the item would cost me $40 to have the perfume smell drycleaned out of it!
6. Check for wear, pilling, and fading. If you love it, you want to make sure the garment still has enough life in it, to wear till you tire of the piece. Often items in’ like new’ condition are worth the extra dollars spent, as you can often re-sell the piece when you tire of t.
7. If you love the quality and look of designer items, consider checking out ThredUp and The RealReal. Both sites allow you to set up searches and then be notified with emails when items from your search come into stock. ThredUp recently added a “premium” and “designer” filtering option to their main menu tabs. A few of my current searches are ‘Veronica Beard’, ‘Rachel Zoe’, and ‘DVF’. I edit my searches based on what I feel is missing in my closet. You can further edit your search by size, so you only get what will work for you.
8. Sign up for the coupon alerts, as both sites regularly offer deals. If you have never shopped ThredUP (HERE), you can use my share code which will get you $20 off your first purchase (HERE). 
9. Poshmark. Poshmark is basically what eBay used to me back in the day. Its user-friendly app makes it easy to shop and sell. But a word of caution: you are buying directly from a seller. Often the interpretation of “condition” or “fit” may differ from yours – so DO ask questions before purchasing. They do offer “Posh Protect”,  but for the most part, all sales are final. On the plus side, unlike ThredUp, there is some negotiating that can be done, so you can grab some great deals.
10. Find local shops in your area. Here in the Bay Area, I shop at Repeter Los Altos, Millie Mango Burlingame, Filmore and 5th, and  Thredup IRL Boutiques

Questions, comments? Drop me a line in the comments below and I’ll be sure to answer back. Happy Thrifting Ladies!