TOP 5 STYLING TIPS FOR A THRIFT TRIP

BY TIFFANY RUIZ  UPDATED JANUARY 6, 2025

Ok, so, I know some of you might think second hand shopping is “ eww, it’s used” -_- but what isn’t these days, am I right? Or the ever popular, “you don’t know where or who they came from”, let’s face it, most of us don’t even know where the food we eat comes from. I don’t mean to judge or put anyone’s beliefs down, I just want to share why I think it is worth it to shop a little more sustainably by thrifting. Once you give it a genuine shot, it can be so fun! Trust me. 

Listen, I used to be that girl who said “eww but it’s all, pre-owned”. This was when I was ignorant to the reality of fast fashion. If you haven’t heard of it before, fast fashion is basically the concept behind the mass production of textile goods that produce most of our clothing and fashion related items that have created an unsustainable monster of an industry. Seriously, did you know that there are literal cities created by the mass waste that fast fashion creates?! That’s right, CITIES, that are fueling hazardous health conditions to vulnerable populations, creating toxic landscapes that are taking up space and destroying ecological systems and ultimately contributing to the global crisis of climate change.

P.s. if you are interested in learning more about what fast fashion is I suggest you watch The True Cost. Also, thanks for reading so far and I hope you find these tips fun and helpful.

Ok well back to the thrift tips (crying while smiling, aren’t you?). I’d like to share some vital tips for your first thrift trip (or if you’re a thrifting newbie), woo! Let’s all share information, support efforts towards good causes and let’s shop wisely anytime we can people, can I get an amen?! 😊

First of all, I will encourage you all to shop local!

There is always the good ol’ Goodwill or a Savers (or whatever other big chains are close to you) but there is nothing like a small little locally owned thrift shop. When you donate to local thrift or antique shops you know part or all of the profit is more likely to go back into the local community. Big chains advocate for community outreach as well but you know, the bigger the chain the sketchier the fund distribution to be honest. So that’s that, find yourself local hidden gem and start there! (p.s. all tips and advice are based on my own humble opinion, take it or leave it or whatever, just my opinions) [insert “it’s just my opinion” OC housewives gif here]

Here are some of my favorite go to styling tips while thrift shopping:

1. Find Neutral Colored Staple Clothing Items

Finding a fun and colorful piece is great of course, but I bet you if you buy that fun print cat sweater, you might not wear it as much as you’d think. You are more likely to get more use from something “staple” in your closet. Take these cotton neutral shorts I found at my local thrift shop for example. I can use these for a casual look and pair it was a tee shirt and some comfy sandals or sneakers and bing bada boom you’ve got a cute casual look. To dress these up, add a belt, fitted top and some dressier shoes and you’ve got a whole other vibe!

2. Fabric, Fabric, Fabric!

This kind of goes with Tip #1, staple pieces should preferably be quality breathable fabrics. Cotton, linen, silk, wool, cashmere, lyocell blend (fine), polyester (mmm not so much). But let’s face it, most clothes these days are made of polyester and since we’re thrifting, don’t feel too bad about buying polyester…just keep in mind that natural fabrics will allow for better breathability and be longer lasting in your closet while polyester might make you sweat up the ying yang and not have that same quality feel or look compared to other options. Again, just my opinion 😊

3. Make the Clothes Work for You

What do I mean by that? Well listen, part of the fun of thrifting is finding things that you wouldn’t normally go for. Thrifting consists of a mish mash of a ton of different people’s personal styles and personalities. If you’re looking for a specific look it might be harder to find exactly what you are looking for (unless the thrifting gods are with you lol) but you can always find ways to make things work! I’ve always wanted a cropped jean jacket that’s a bit oversized. So is it obvious what I would suggest…yup, CUT IT! Find an oversized jacket you like, watch a couple YouTube videos for tips and create it yourself! Custom, unique and sustainable. Voila 😊

4. Search all Sections of the Store

Here’s my example, I had been in search for a tuxedo dress for the LONGEST time. I wanted to pull a “men’s style but make it sexy” kind of vibe but I just never had any luck finding anything. So, to the men’s section I went! That’s right, search the ENTIRE store. Going to the men’s suit section was the answer! I found a very classic oversized blazer that fit me just right. Now, I could have had it professionally tailored to be a dress but for a cost-effective version of my vision, I styled it with a thick black waist belt and presto, I had my suit look I had been imagining! I also created a look with it by pairing it with knee high heels, a mini skirt and a low knot bun…one of my favorite looks that I’ll be rocking next season!

5. Never, Never, NEVER Skip Accessories!

Jewelry, bags, hats, belts (and always check the shoes). You can find some real gems if you take the time to check these out. I found this bag at a local thrift spot last week and I found it so interesting! The tag is definitely old, so what does that tell me? Vintage baby! Lol No one else is going to have this bag and I love that. It’s black, classic print and texture, perfect size and subtle style. You never know what you’ll find.

I hope you have found this blog helpful and entertaining. Thrifting has become more mainstream these days and I LOVE IT! Let’s try new things, experiment with your style and always think twice when buying anything retail. And remember, when it comes to shopping for clothes it should be about having fun! So, have fun and please send us comments and/or pictures of your sustainable journey on our social media, we would love to hear from you!