I Thrifted All My Clothes For A Year. Here's What I Learned.

In 2012, when Macklemore uttered the words, “I'ma take your grandpa's style, I'ma take your grandpa's style. No for real ask your grandpa can I have his hand-me-downs”, I had no idea what he was talking about. At that time, I was still blowing hundreds of dollars at Forever 21 and was completely oblivious to the magical world of vintage and thrift shopping. Just a year ago I was freezing my butt off studying abroad. I had no cable television so YouTube became my everything and I stumbled upon the videos of the queen of thrifted fashion, BestDressed. She exposed me to how thrifted fashion could be easily integrated into my current wardrobe, how to style it, and why it was important to buy sustainable clothing. After a couple of videos, I was sold. I made a pledge to only buy thrifted/second-hand clothes for one year. And bruh, it was a difficult, yet completely fulfilling journey. If thrifting and vintage shopping seems scary or unknown to you then you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to break down the world of thrifted fashion and show you some of the highlights of the clothes I thrifted this year. Let’s get to it!

Why Shop Thrifted?? What’s the Appeal?

The bottom line is—the clothing industry contributes significantly to climate change. “Fast fashion”, which is the term used to describe clothing that is quickly made with cheap materials, and most of the time with unethical methods is the biggest contributor. These clothes are always the trendiest outfits put out by stores like H&M, Urban Outfitters, and Target. The whole idea is to get these items out as soon as possible to as many people as possible as cheaply as possible. But what are the costs? Well, according to TheGoodTrade.com, there are quite a few. For one, the chemicals used to make the clothes are polluted in nearby water sources, and then to our oceans. Even after the clothes make it to our homes, as Americans, we dispose of 11 million tons of clothing EVERY YEAR. According to the World Economic Forum, the fashion industry makes up 10% of all carbon emissions. And there is so much more to unpack. The documentary, Alex Jones: Slowing Down Fast Fashion further unpacks the environmental impacts of the fashion industry. If you learn better through comedy, Hasan Minhaj hilariously details the real costs of trendy clothes. All that to say, we are producing WAY more than we are wearing, and it is contributing to the decline of our planet. Out of this crisis, “slow fashion” has emerged. This is a term for clothing that is either made on-demand, made with sustainable/quality materials, made with ethical labor standards, or secondhand items. Brands like Reformation, Levis, and Everlane are well-known for their sustainable methods and of course, it doesn't get better than your neighborhood thrift store. I wanted to address the impacts because I want to illustrate that thrifting is not just for the aesthetic. You have real power to slow down the impacts of climate change by simply making wiser fashion choices.

The Costs of Thrifted Fashion

Like anything, there are two sides to every story. Most thrift stores were created to provide cheaper, but quality clothing to underprivileged communities. With the rise in popularity of thrifted fashion, many of these communities have been left the scraps. There isn’t one clear solution to this problem, but something I try to do is diversify my thrifting habits. Sometimes I buy clothes from ThredUp, an online thrift store that users send clothes into from their own closets. Additionally, I buy from Instagram thrift stores, Depop shops, and after the pandemic, local stores. I also shop at vintage stores, which are the pricer, more curated cousins of thrift stores. Alternating between all of these options, ensures that I personally don’t assist in the depletion of quality items in community thrift stores like GoodWill. Lastly, it’s important to have a “donate, then take” outlook. This year, I donated clothes every few months, even if I didn’t plan to purchase any thrifted items. As with everything, it is important to stay educated and to make ethical choices. Thrifting can be a fun, hunt-like experience, but leave some for everyone else. Additionally, this post is in no way trying to shame people who can’t afford to not buy fast fashion. If you have the means to thrift or buy slow fashion, then I recommend you do. As I always say, if it don’t apply, let it fly! With that being said let me show you some of the pieces I acquired over the last year.

My 2020 Thrifted Pieces

I got this blazer from an Etsy shop, ShagsVintage. One of the best parts of thrift shopping is scoring unique pieces such as this one. The pink sweater underneath is a hand-me-down from my aunt. Do not sleep on your family member’s closets! Ask grandparents, cousins, and uncles for clothes they don’t want anymore. So many gems lie behind an old church hat. The pants are not thrifted, but they’re Levi’s (100% cotton), so guaranteed to remain a fixture in my closet for years to come. The best thing about this outfit (!!!) has to be the white cowboy-like boots that I purchased at a vintage store while abroad in Montreal. If you travel anywhere, make a trip to the thrift store a scheduled stop on the trip. Thrift shopping while abroad is also what brought me and one of my friends together. It’s a great bonding experience.

My mom gave me this blazer from her closet. Can y’all believe that it was a staple in her wardrobe when she was in her 20s?! Proof that quality materials can last for years. Who knows what I’ll be able to pass onto my kids? These corduroy pants were a quick pick up from an Instagram store, @la_slay95. I was pretty excited to score these because many of my favorite Youtube thrifters had a pair just like them. Pro-Tip: Learn your body measurements! A lot of the Instagram thrift stores sell quickly, and if you don’t know your measurements, you might miss out on some funky pants!

I purchased these pants from ThredUp, the online thrift store I mentioned earlier. It is super convenient and unlike in-person thrift stores, you can search for specific brands and fabrics. Eventually, the site starts to recognize your buying habits and recommends items they believe you may like. I scored these LizGolf pants for $20 (the original price was $50). Another feature of the site that has allowed me to find beautiful pieces is the “Clean Out” option. I clean out my closet, ThredUp sends me a huge prepaid package, and I mail it back for them to sell. I get a cut of the profits, and if I want I can keep the money I make to use as store credit. With this system, I’ve been able to purchase higher-end secondhand pieces for much less. I’m not sponsored I promise! I just wanted to show you a very helpful option, especially during a pandemic.

I picked up this set on another Instagram shop, @blackgirl.thrifting. It caught my eye because of the 80s vibes. Paired with mom jeans, it really is a simple, yet adorable look. Speaking of Instagram shops, I only shop with stores that I know are reliable. I check to make sure some of my friends have shopped there or that it has been endorsed by a well-known influencer before purchasing anything. Some people unfortunately are scammers and the best way to protect yourself is to rely upon old-time word of mouth. If you need any other safe recommendations, leave a comment below!

Let’s start in order of purchase. This brown coat was hanging at the back of a rack in a huge thrift store in Montreal. It looked a bit shabby, but I noticed the quality of it and figured with a good wash, it could be fabulous. And I was not wrong! This coat turned out to be one of my favorite purchases this year. It’s warm, made with excellent quality, and very trendy. The best part is I purchased it for $8!! Don’t believe the lie that you can’t find trendy pieces while thrifting! The graphic tee was also in a Montreal thrift shop. I almost didn’t buy it because I wasn’t sure if it would fit my style (whatever that was back then), but the color was magical and I figured for the price I would give it a try. Another piece I am so happy I bought! Lastly, I bought these jeans on ThredUp. I knew I wanted to buy jeans that were 95% cotton or higher so that they would last for years to come. Jeans with a lower percentage of cotton (*cough* skinny jeans) tend to deteriorate quicker. I recommend buying straight-leg jeans (a timeless style) with 100% cotton as often as possible. They are a bit harder to break in, but they will last years longer than a pair of cheap skinny jeans.

I found this blazer in Montreal at a vintage shop. It was a bit pricey, but I bought it because as soon as I saw it, I saw possibilities. The same goes for the rest of the outfit. The green sweater underneath was a quarantine-find. While cleaning out my parents’ basement, I stumbled upon an old sweater of my Dad’s. Immediately, I loved the color and could imagine the outfits I could create. And the shoes were a ThredUp purchase. I was so excited when I saw these green, reptilian shoes were in my size, and I showed them to my family, who seemed doubtful they could look good. Once I put all the pieces together, they were impressed with the outcome. So what’s the lesson? The true key to thrifting is knowing your style before you walk in. If you have no idea what you like, you will get completely lost in the sauce. Earlier in the year, I scored some great pieces, purely out of luck, but when I began to curate my closet and truly understand my style, I was able to make informed decisions about what I wanted to add to my closet.

This sweater was purchased from Vanilla Vintage, an online, curated thrift store. I love this shop in particular because it specializes in clothes in a certain color palette. All the clothes are muted browns, whites, greens, and blacks. It is a great place to shop for a specific look and the owner is super sweet!! Getting to know some of these shop owners has been very rewarding, so don’t be afraid to reach out. The pants were thrifted from ThredUp. I was pretty excited about these jeans because they’re oversized and very comfy on days when I want to lounge in jeans.

This outfit is ThredUp approved! The top was thrifted from a ThredUp Goody Box, which is a service they provide that allows you to be styled by one of their stylists. You receive the curated box in the mail, try on all the clothes, keep what you want, and mail back the rest. Truthfully, this service has some kinks, but once they are worked out, I am sure this will be a more popular feature. I was over the moon about this skirt because it was from the brand, Privacy Please—a sometimes expensive shop, so I was delighted to get it at a reduced price from ThredUp. Pro-Tip: purchase items out of season. Even thrift stores raise prices depending on the season. I was able to get this outfit for a reduced price because I thrifted it in the fall.

So, I think this may be my favorite outfit. I spotted this sweater on ThredUp immediately because of the 70s inspired collar. The best part of thrifting is finding unique pieces or ordinary pieces with unique accents. I also thrifted this skirt from ThredUp. I’ve been wanting a plaid skirt for a while and I added the item to my “To Be Thrifted” list. This is a list I keep on my phone to remember what items I want to add to my closet. This keeps me on track and stops me from thrifting unnecessary items. I suggest doing this when you are comfortable thrifting and are pretty in-tune with your style. Lastly, these amazing loafers were a steal from ThredUp. They have the academic/preppy look I needed to complete this look, and as a short girl, I love the platform detail.

Please pause for a brown leather jacket appreciation moment. Y’all, I love this piece! This was another item on my “To Be Thrifted” list. I waited all year to purchase this item from Vanilla Vintage. And I have to say, when it comes to thrifting, patience is key! Unlike fast fashion, you can’t buy things as soon as the feeling overcomes you. You have to wait to stumble upon the right item from the right seller and that could happen in a few weeks or a few months. For me, it took all year to find this 100% leather gem, and I don’t regret the wait!

This Anthropologie skirt was free because I purchased it using my store credit on ThredUp. It caught my eye due to its Cottagecore look and feel. I’ve been enjoying styling it during the season of autumn. While it is important to buy staple pieces that can be worn in multiple ways, please also buy unique items that reflect your style. Part of having a distinct style is being able to put together items in a way that is unique to you. So have fun!

Final Thoughts

Will I continue to only shop secondhand? For the most part, probably yes. There are some pieces I would like to purchase from some slow fashion brands like Reformation, but after this experience I can’t imagine going back to strictly fast fashion. I know too much!

This was a very rewarding experience. Not only did I learn about sustainability and forms of fashion, but I also learned so much about myself. Prior to this experience, I knew nothing about my style or how to make outfits. Thrifting forces you to be savvy and to come up with several outfits using one piece. Outside of style development, I saved a lot of money! The cheap quality pieces I bought this year saved me from buying expensive fast fashion pieces while the expensive quality pieces I bought will ensure that I save money in the future.

Along with these benefits, there are challenges. It was difficult at times to not be able to hop online and just buy exactly the top I wanted. Thrifting requires patience. This is the difference between slow and fast fashion. It took months to find some of these pieces. The slow process was agonizing at times, especially at the start. Additionally, there were some thrifted duds at the beginning, which is why I suggest having an idea about what your style is before diving into thrifting. Watch YouTube! So many people do thrift hauls and can give you ideas about where to shop and any techniques they’ve acquired over the years. More than anything, educate yourself about the impacts of the fashion industry. The overall goal of thrifting is to build a set wardrobe and at the most purchase a couple of pieces a year. This is how we minimize the dangerous impacts of the fashion industry. So challenge yourself! Make the pledge that for all of 2021, you will only buy thrifted pieces. And if that’s too much, start with 3 or 6 months. I promise you won’t regret giving it a try. Use the tips I mentioned or download the free printable thrifting checklist below, and before you know it, you’ll be a pro!

If you have any thrift store recommendations or valuable thrifting tips, let me know in the comment section! I could always use more resources!!