How to Build A Thrifted Wardrobe

Written by Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life, Contributing Writer

In high school, it was boys’ t-shirts, size large, which I shopped for at local thrift stores. Colorful shirts from summer camps and elementary school field days, paired with jeans with the hem let out, and flip flops in every color made up my teenage uniform.

In college, I shopped for server black and whites that could be worn again and again during long restaurant shifts, and a starter wardrobe fit for a young student teacher.

These days, my style has changed, but my primary source for supplying my wardrobe has not. Thrift stores have been saving me and my family money for over a decade. And during those ten years I have learned a thing or two about how to build a stylish wardrobe for much less money.

Tips on building a thrifted wardrobe that is stylish and frugal from someone with over a decade of experience!

Last week one of my favorite stores sent me a coupon for $10 off any purchase. The coupon was just enough incentive to draw me into the store to check their sales and clearance racks. I am in an awkward in between stage right now with my weight– my maternity clothes are too big and yet I haven’t lost enough weight to fit into my “normal” Fall wardrobe.

I found two or three items from the store that I really liked, but I wasn’t ready to spend the amount on the price tag. Not just yet, anyway. First I wanted to check in my favorite thrift shop for what I needed. Because more often than not, I can find the clothing I need for a fraction of the cost.

As I perused the racks, I gave a lot of thought to this post. What works and what does not. Here’s what I know…

How to Build A Thrifted Wardrobe

1. Go alone if possible.

I have done more than my fair share of shopping with my kids in tow. In fact, most of my Goodwill trips are made all together. But, I know that my kids’ patience runs thin if we are not moving along quickly enough. It is also altogether difficult to try on clothing while wearing your baby or while trying to discourage your toddlers from crawling all over the floor.

If you must go with children, bring along the stroller (see above sentence), and a non-messy snack or two. If I need a little extra patience from my children, I will first go by the section with the children’s books or toys to give them something to look at while we shop. Sometimes we leave with a new toy or book. Sometimes we don’t.

2. Be thorough. Very thorough.

There really isn’t anyway around this one. In order to find quality clothes in the right style and size, you need to look through all the racks, piece by piece.

In a row of two hundred shirts, I may find 3 to 5 to try on. In order to find the ones I want, I have to look through many which I do not.

3. Learn to speed shop.

I have learned how to look search through the hundreds of hangers efficiently over the years. If you take a second to look at every article of clothing, the time really adds up and the process can be rather frustrating.

Instead of pausing to inspect each item, learn to scan the rack with your eyes and with your fingers. In a section of clothing, you can almost immediately eliminate over half of the pieces simply from the pattern or material. Thus, you are only checking the brand and size of a handful of pieces in each row of clothes.

4. Pay attention to brands.

I joke with my husband that I wear nicer clothing since I shop at thrift stores than if I purchased everything new. Every single time I visit a thrift store to look for clothes, I find multiple pieces of clothing from higher end stores like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Eddie Bauer, J. Crew, Gap, and so on. Generally speaking, these clothes are often in good condition because they are made from materials that hold up well over time.

Not everything from these stores is in my style or size, but I do give these tags preference. Be familiar with the stores whose quality you appreciate and keep an eye out for those tags.

5. Don’t pay too much attention to brands.

That being said, do not completely exclude the brands with which you are not familiar. More than a few of my favorite pieces of clothing are from brands completely unfamiliar to me.

Just recently, I found a pair of coral colored pants at Goodwill. At first I was not going to try them on because the fit looked a little funny and I did not know the brand. I gave them a chance, though, and they ended being a great fit and good quality too.

How to Build A Thrifted Wardrobe5
T
he scarf was made in just ten minutes from a jersey knit. Find the quick and easy tutorial here! 

6. Only buy what you need. Only buy what you love.

In the past, I have filled my closet with more clothes than I need, excusing the excess because the clothes were purchased frugally. But excess is excess, and owning more clothes than you need does not add any more value to your life or your closet. It simply adds more strain on your space and time.

Using the same excuse of not investing much money, it is also easy to buy clothes which you “mostly like” or which don’t quite fit right but close enough. However, if you don’t love it when you buy it, you are not going to love it simply because you have brought it home.

The same principle applies whether you are buying new or thrifted clothing– buy what fits well, what you feel good in, and what serves a purpose.

7. Inspect each item.

I hate buying a piece of clothing from a thrift store only to discover a hole or stain when I get home. Before you head to the cash register, look over each article of clothing. On shirts and sweaters, give careful attention to the neckline and underarms. On pants, pay attention to the pockets, hem, and waist area.

Occasionally, I will buy something even with a stain or hole because I know it’s just going to be worn around the house, but I want to know about it beforehand just the same.

8. Think outside the box.

If you sew, or know someone who does, many items at a thrift store can be easily repurposed or mended. Dresses can be altered, men’s sweaters or shirts can be repurposed into scarves, skirts or pants can often be taken in or hemmed.

Another occasion to think outside the box is shopping for maternity clothing. At least half of the clothes in my maternity wardrobe were non-maternity pieces which I found at thrift stores. Pants in a few sizes up can work well as your belly grows. Many shirts also accommodate baby bumps, whether they are maternity or not.

Tips on building a thrifted wardrobe that is stylish and frugal from someone with over a decade of experience!

If you were wondering, my trip to the thrift store was successful this weekend!

Instead of paying a lot of money for a couple of shirts from the store (even after my coupon and their sales), I found a pair of Gap jeans, a plaid button-up shirt, and a pair of red cords from Ann Taylor. I needed the jeans (again, awkward body stage), the plaid shirt will be a part of my Fall uniform, and I have been looking for red pants for a long time so I was very excited to finally find some in my size!

Do you buy any of your clothes from thrift stores? What are some of your favorite items to shop for? 

About Lisa

Lisa is married to her best friend and has three inquisitive and energetic kids. She loves crafty things like sewing and painting and actually enjoys cooking with her kids, and making crackers and pasta from scratch. In the busy fullness of life with young children, Lisa strives to live faithfully, remembering the hope of the gospel in all the everyday things. She blogs about a "pilgrim life", living in grace now and waiting for a more permanent, eternal home at thispilgrimlife.com.

Comments

  1. With a family of 5, we rarely by anything off of the racks new. I did make an exception with new jeans a few weeks ago, and they are already falling apart! Full price doesn’t always mean quality.

  2. I have been donating old clothing and buying my clothing from thrift shops for years. I have had great success finding and curating great outfilts this way. I am fortunate to have several awesome shops in my neighborhood. I am so delighted to find and read your helpful tips. I agree that it is important to buy only what you need! I am pinning and sharing this!

Trackbacks

  1. […] Not to give the story away, I saved a bunch of money by checking at my favorite thrift store before buying a couple new items at my favorite retail store. You can find the whole story, as well as my tips for your own thrift store success on Day 2 Day Joys.  […]