How to Thrift with a Purpose: Striped Grey Pants for the Win
If you have been reading my blog for a while or if you follow me on Instagram, by now you have realized that I enjoy thrifting and that I do find some great pieces for great prices. I wrote a post a couple years ago with some tips to thrift successfully (here) and if you search my website and search for thrifted/thrifting, you will find that many of my outfits feature a thrifted piece. I wanted to add a couple points to that post from a couple of years ago, so today, I am sharing how I have been thrifting this past year. Today’s outfit is an outfit I wore earlier in September after I thrifted this pair of striped pants.
Today’s first thrifting tip is that not all thrift stores are created equal. Some are fairly expensive and do not offer the options of a dressing room (yes, that’s you, Goodwill), other seem to offer dated selections and others are so messy, you do not want to visit them.
While I haven’t been to Uptown Cheapskate this year, most of my thrifted dresses do come from there. I did find that the one in my town didn’t have as good of a selection as some a little further away. So you may need to expand your search and plan lunch out or meeting with a friend to make your drive worthwhile. You may find that certain stores are great for home decor while others have a great selection of denim, skirts, etc.
I like to try on clothes, so when in my town, I only choose to go to a thrift store where I can try clothes on or can easily try something over my clothes. My favorite thrift store here is Park Ave Thrift which has dressing rooms and I always try on things before purchasing them since you cannot return things there. I do not usually have a haul to take home, typically I come home with 2 to 4 items.
Lately, my thrifting routine consists of being in and out of the thrift store in about 15 minutes. I browse up and down the aisles and typically only look at a few sections (on this particular day, I looked at skirts, pants and short sleeves tops) and pull out patterns or colors that catch my eye. I then look at size (and keep in mind several sizes can fit), and whether I have anything like it in my closet. If I do not like how the fabric feels, the article of clothing is put right back on the shelf.
These striped pull on pants (from a Walmart brand) felt good to the touch, fit me perfectly and were nothing like I had in my closet. The price of $2.50 was perfect too! I paired them with a thrifted grey tee, my grandmother’s pendant clock and my new pair of clogs from Lotta from Stocklholm which just closed its doors recently. These were on sale and shipped from the UK. I had been eyeing several pairs for several years and finally decided to gift myself this pair for my birthday. I actually pulled the strap to the back of my ankle to make them easier to walk in. Great quality! No regrets!
Do you have a special routine you follow when thrifting? What is your all time favorite thrift find?
A bientôt!
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20 Comments
Mary White
Mireille, I always look forward to your thrift hauls and how many ways you style items from your closet. You are so creative and always inspire me. I feel fortunate to have thrifted the majority of my fall wardrobe this year. I was also able to pick up a couple of tops and outerwear items to transition a couple of spring dresses into fall. I struggle with finding skirts in my area and purses as there aren’t very many in my thrift stores. My favorite thrifted items are home decor items. I have a ceramic bunny from 1945 that I look forward to putting out each Easter. My absolute favorite is the crystal jam server with silver seashell lids and spoons that I found and always is a great conversation piece on my brunch table. Happy thrifting!
mimifce
Those sounds like such great piece to display! I am glad I provide inspiration: I always figure if I inspire one or two, then I have a purpose! I saw a lady at the hospital with this really pretty orange dress and I just had to compliment her! It just brought a smile to my face to see here so colorful and put together!
jodie filogomo
Only 15 minutes??? Haha
Im just getting started at that point. But it depends on the day and the store.
I really like to look in all the sizes and even the men’s and kids sections.
Xoox
Jodie
mimifce
This allows me to go more often, not spend too much time but still have a little fun! And not over shop!
Joanne
Those are fabulous! I worked at an upscale resale in college and I loved that we had dressing rooms as so many second hand stores do not and I just can not buy clothes without trying them on. A lot of the ones near us shut down many years ago when the economy was booming and none have opened back up- other than the Salvation army/goodwill and it’s very dumpy looking inside ours.
mimifce
Dressing rooms really are a bonus for me!
Sally in St Paul
You are so right that every thrift store is different! Even two thrift stores run by the same company in the same town (e.g. Goodwill in the Twin Citites) can have a different vibe and different offerings. Lack of a dressing room is a no-go for me; I guess if they had a generous return policy, that might be different, but generally, I want to know something fits in the store. That said, stores without dressing rooms can still be a source of accessories and outerwear that you don’t need a fitting room for.
mimifce
I am like you, I don’t want to come home and realize, I don’t like something on me or it doesn’t fit.
Leslie
There is a Goodwill 20 minutes from me that has a dressing room! Anytime I go that way, I make sure to stop. It is smaller but more organized than others in my area. I find the best things and it’s a plus to try on the clothing. I’m trying to be more selective when I thrift otherwise I end up with things I really don’t need.
mimifce
Exactly! I don’t buy a lot when I go, but I usually come out with one or two great items and sometimes empty handed.
Marsha Banks
For some reason, I cannot find any good thrift stores near me. I took my granddaughter to one true thrift store (she considers Plato’s Closet a thrift store). She couldn’t wait to get out of there. It was messy and smelly. The clothing looked like it had been there for years. We weren’t in there 10 minutes. I don’t go to Goodwill except for craft projects. I am a thrifting failure, but there is a personal reason for that, too.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
mimifce
I really depends the areas I have found. I know what your granddaughter means by the smell. My kids say the same thing!
Jennifer
These pants are such a good thrift find!!
Jennifer
https://curatedbyjennifer.com
mimifce
Yes, they are!
Amy Johnson
You have so much luck at thrift stores. Those pants are incredible!
mimifce
It’s the consistency of going regularly and having a method for myself I think. And it doesn’t hurt that this particular store does have some fun stuff most times. Doing only one section or two in the store keeps me from getting overwhelmed.
Cat
I really like those pants!
I don’t thrift, but I haven’t bought that many clothes in general for years. I just don’t have much patience to try on clothes, but have to try them on.
The one thrift shop here in town I come by is run by the Diakonie (the social working branch of the Protestant Church here) and it’s so cramped that my claustrophobia won’t allow more than a few minutes in there.
mimifce
My kids hate trying clothes but as they are getting older and pickier they have found they need to. I have a lot of fun thrifting, most times it is a fun activity and not a needed activity.
Jill
My daughter loves thrifting, but I always get frustrated because I never find anything. Those pants are so cute on you and such a great find!
Jill – Doused in Pink
mimifce
I think a lot depends on the store and how you go about it.