I have always loved thrifting, and I like to think of myself as an expert at this point. The majority of my closet is clothing I’ve either thrifted or bought from a consignment or secondhand store. Thrifting is a great way to save money and save the environment, plus it’s a ton of fun!
I’ve been looking at Pinterest and TikTok recently (haven’t we all?) for style inspiration. ’90s fashion is really in right now, and thankfully ’90s-style pieces can easily be found at thrift stores. I’m here to not only tell you, but show you pieces you can find at thrift stores that will look like you just walked out of Urban Outfitters.
- Slip dresses
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Slip dresses are such a cute day-to-night look. Layer a slip dress with a long-sleeved turtleneck and chunky belt for a day look, and wear it alone for a night look.
Unfortunately, these super trendy dresses can get pretty expensive when shopping in fast fashion stores. My best tip for thrifting these: Look in the pajama section for these. You might have to dig through some old bath robes and fluffy pajama pants, but these slip dresses are a great find.
- Mom jeans
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Another trend that has come back in style, mom jeans are all over thrift stores. Mom jeans have become a staple in my closet, and they should be one in yours, too — they’re both flattering and comfortable.
When you’re shopping for these, make sure to look at the zipper to determine if the jeans are high-waisted or not. Generally, mom jeans are more likely to be lighter washed, so if you’re hoping to find a pair of dark wash mom jeans, you may have to search a little harder.
- Cardigans
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Thanks to Taylor Swift and ’90s fashion, cardigans are making a comeback. Be careful if you’re going to crop them, though, because sometimes the button hem won’t stretch as much as the rest of the fabric. I struggle to crop my cardigans more than a normal t-shirt, but that hasn’t stopped me from buying, cropping, and DIYing at least three.
Thrifting and cropping cardigans is much cheaper than buying them from Brandy Melvile or Princess Polly, but you can still find all kinds of fun cuts and colors.
- Sweater vests
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At first, I wasn’t sure what I thought of sweater vests, but as they started to accumulate on my Pinterest board, I realized I needed to try this trend out. I didn’t want to spend too much money, because I wasn’t sure I would love this look, so I went to my local thrift store. I found so many sweater vests, and I bought this red one.
Sweater vests make such a fun and trendy layer, and give me total Emma Chamberlain vibes. I like to wear mine with a collared white polo underneath (another thrift find), which you can see in the picture above.
- Turtleneck shirts
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People are putting turtlenecks under everything, so I had to go to my local thrift store and pick up a few. As a kid, I didn’t like turtlenecks, but wow, was I missing out.
I got one in white and one in black, and I love layering them under t-shirts, sweatshirts, dresses, cardigans, and jackets. Their versatility means you really get your money’s worth, and at thrifting prices, they’re a total steal.
- Graphic tees
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One of my favorite t-shirts is an Aspen, Colorado shirt I found in the men’s section of a thrift store. It’s the comfiest shirt I’ve ever worn and I only paid $2 for it. Try looking in the men’s section for these — because who doesn’t love an oversized t-shirt?
- Leather jackets
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Leather is super in right now, and my favorite brown pleather jacket is from Housing Works, a thrift store in New York. While leather jackets might be on the pricey side for thrifted items, you can get a leather or pleather jacket for much cheaper at a thrift store than in fast fashion retail stores or from designer brands.
Thrifting is such a fun way to save money but still dress trendy. I have always struggled to pay a ton of money for pieces that will go out of style in a few years. Remember that fashion always repeats itself, and thrifting is such a great way to find pieces that are unique, inexpensive, and perfect for your closet. I personally feel comfortable taking more fashion risks when I haven’t invested as much. So go out (safely, of course, as we are still going through a pandemic) and find gems in your local thrift stores!