My ultimate guide to building a thrifted wardrobe
And an exclusive video tour of some of my favourite pieces! 👗
Hello, I’m Molly, a full time creator based in the Scottish Highlands. Subscribers can enjoy weekly posts around the themes of slow living, thriving in a creative career, books & nature. Members get access to ALL my content, including video tea times, slow letters and seasonal book reviews.
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I’ve always been a keen thrifter.
I started honing these skills as a child. We were a family who valued a bargain, so much of our outings consisted of visiting charity shops, car boot sales or, best of all, a ramshackle antique shop with multiple floors that we could spend hours perusing.
When I decided to move away from fast fashion brands, that had become my go-to option in my early 20’s, I re-found my love of thrifting. At any one time, at least a third of my wardrobe is second hand, with the remainder being made up of items from more sustainable brands (full disclosure that a proportion of this I get gifted when I collaborate with brands on my YouTube).
We all know the upsides to shopping second hand. The obvious ones are that it saves money and is often a more sustainable way to shop. Other benefits include providing the opportunity of trying out new items/styles, without the pressure of buying things new, and shopping this way can make our wardrobes feel more unique, so we don’t end up dressing like everyone else.
Thrifting has had a surge in popularity in recent years, especially in younger generations, with 83% of Gen Z’s now reported to shop second hand. Finding bargains online has never been easier, with apps like Vinted receiving a dramatic increase in users, rising from 1 million in 2020 to 2.5 million in 2023.
With all this in mind, I thought I would provide some tips I’ve picked up along the way. I’ve also included a video tour or some of my favourite pieces to demonstrate that you really don’t need to compromise on style when shopping second hand…
Tips for building your ideal thrifted wardrobe
Create a shopping list
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when shopping second hand. One thing that can make this feel more accessible and avoid mindless impulse purchases (even if it is a bargain) is to create a shopping list for your wardrobe.
Once you have this, you can decide which pieces you specifically want to get second hand, as this may not be the most suitable option for everything.
For example, I tend to buy shoes new as, being between sizes, I need to try them on before I purchase. That and I want to get as much wear out of them as possible. On the other hand, I love to get things like jumpers and dresses second hand and rarely buy these new.
Your criteria may be different to mine, but it’s worth putting some time into thinking about this before you start hitting the charity shops.
Mix up online & in person
There are pros and cons to shopping online versus visiting second hand stores.
If you are looking for something really specific, then shopping online makes the most sense as it offers more options. Vinted is my go-to app for pretty much everything these days, and it has so much choice that I rarely feel the need to shop elsewhere.
As already mentioned, if you do want to try something on, then visiting the likes of charity shops is likely to be the better option. These are also great for when you are not quite sure of exactly the item you are looking for, as you have the option of trying things out e.g., certain colours or fits.
My approach is to visit charity shops regularly (as its less likely that I’ll purchase something) but only use Vinted during my specified shopping windows, to stop the risk of browsing leading to a less mindful purchase.
Shop specific brands
I have a list of brands that I like to search for when it comes to finding new clothing.
These are brands that I know offer better quality clothing, their aesthetic fits with my style preferences and I feel more confident when it comes to sizing as I’ve shopped from them before (if you’re interested, some of these include Passenger, Lucy and Yak and Seasalt).
This is easier to do online, but its worth doing some research on what brands to look out for when browsing instore, so you can make an informed decision on whether to make a purchase.
Consider quality and longevity
In addition to looking at the brand, its worth examining the quality of an item where possible, to assess how long its likely to last. This can include reviewing things like the fabric type (generally natural fibres like cotton last better than manmade ones like polyester) and wear, i.e., are the seams fraying or the fabric becoming bobbly?
Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy items with imperfections, but only if you are happy with them as they are or you have the skills to improve items e.g., sewing buttons or removing bobbles (I use a shaving cutter for this and its great).
Declutter to fund your wardrobe
There is always more of a risk when it comes to buying items online, so another consideration should be whether you are able to sell an item on again if it doesn’t work for you (obviously I’m referring to the likes of it doesn’t fit rather than it having irreparable damage you should be transparent about!).
Before buying an item, consider whether you think the price is fair. You can assess this buy researching how much an item is new and also compare it to other similar second hand options. This will give you some indication on whether you are likely to get the money back again.
I like to fund much of my own wardrobe purchases by decluttering and selling items that are still in good nick, but I’m just not wearing as much as I’d like. This means that I tend to use my Vinted balance for new purchases (where possible), which is easier on my bank balance!
Some quick tips if you do want to sell clothing online -
Ensure photos are well-lit so items can be seen clearly
Take multiple photos of all areas of interest e.g., I always include photos of the labels (such as size and materials) as well as any damage (such as bobbles). You may also want to include photos of you wearing an item to demonstrate fit, if you are comfortable with this
Include a snappy, clear title with key information e.g., Lucy & Yak Pinafore
Fill in all the information, even if its optional
Write a comprehensive description, that is well spaced with paragraphs so its easy to read, including information such as item type, brand, colour, size/fit, wear, RRP (if bought new) and even styling suggestions can help e.g., great worn with
white trainers
Ensure your pricing is fair but start at the higher end, you can always bring this down at a later point.
Favourite thrifted items from my wardrobe
Drumroll please…
(Please ignore the fact that some of these items need a good iron, my least favourite job!)
Items in video
Brown crop top, charity shop, brand Stradivarius
Tie-dye top, vinted, brand Lucy & Yak
Shirt, charity shop, brand FatFace
Jeans, vinted, brand Everlane
Flower fleece, charity shop, brand Patagonia
Cropped fleece, vinted, brand Urban Outfitters
Floral dress, charity shop, brand Marks and Spencer’s (vintage)
Linen dress, eBay (Seasalt outlet), brand Seasalt
That’s all from me, but please do share any of your own thrifting tips below.
Until next week,
Molly xx
More writing from my slow life…
What I love about being in my 30’s
Charity shops, some very limited Vinted choices, and lots of hand-me-downs from a wide range of family and friends. All thoughtfully considered and worn until they need fixing (or removing...but some stuff's been with me for decades!). That's my jam. 🙌
I love Vinted and buying preloved, it is an ever bigger buzz than finding an item in the sale.