It may surprise you to know that Goodwill shopping turned me into a quality snob. Let me explain.
A few years ago I was stuck in a vicious, fast-fashion cycle. I like to add to my wardrobe about twice a month, and I was priced out of shopping the brands I really wanted. Enter: a wardrobe full of H&M and Target. What’s worse is that I wasn’t taking any fashion chances; not only was my wardrobe disposable – but it was really bland.
Fed up with a look that just wasn’t doing my any favors, I embarked on an experiment to build a wardrobe I loved on a budget. The parameters were simple, but kinda radical. For six months, I would shop only at my local Goodwill.
That was 2009 and, although the experiment has long ended, I’ve been shopping secondhand almost exclusively since then. I love shopping secondhand for so many reasons. Obviously, the cost is a fraction of what I would pay – even at H&M. Also, it’s a solidly sustainable choice; I’m not contributing to the retail clothing machine that pollutes and gobbles up resources.
But the best reason to shop secondhand is that I am choosing from an impossibly diverse selection. I don’t just build my wardrobe – I curate it. And, now that I can see the quality difference between the finds I love and I what I used to buy, I’m never going back.
Below are just a few of my favorite (thrifted) things:
I love the mix of materials in this lace t-shirt.
This is a recent find – boucle jacket by Sandro.
These are very slim cropped pants from J. Crew. The coin motif reminds me of a vintage necktie.
I. Love. This bag. Vintage patchwork leather.
The trick to wearing a vampy print like leopard is to find a garment in a modest cut, like this shell.
Vintage enamel necklace in gorgeous green and blue.
Color-blocked pumps. Very on-trend.
Hey – speaking of thrifting like a pro, join me on September 29th as I put my style hunting powers to work for you! Every month I get a group of shoppers together for what I call “Goodwill Hunting.” It’s a great way to play with fashion and find your signature style. Learn more here …