A Day At The Thrift Stores

It is an absolute thrill to find gems in places you'd never guess would have them. I am not ashamed to admit that half of my wardrobe were either bought from a thrift store or purchased with a discount. Some of my favorite pieces in my closet were bought from thrift stores all across the state of California.

Photos taken by KSole

Outfit Details:

• IMKING Shawl Cardigan (thrifted)
• Hanes Classic V-Neck
• H&M Chinos
• Vintage Polo Ralph Lauren Loafers (thrifted)

I remember when I was a kid my parents would always drag me to the local Goodwill and I would just sit there and watch my mom go through what I thought back then were piles of junk. Now I understand why my mom spent countless hours thrifting. The best part of thrift hunting is the fact that you'll never know what you'll discover. If you've never been thrifting before, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Number one rule is that you should never walk into a store expecting to find anything. There might be days or even months where you'll find absolutely nothing, but all it takes is that one gem to make up for the drought. Secondly, keeping track of which stores are successful for you can not only save you time, but will save you money in the long run. The last golden rule to remember is if it doesn't fit, simply don't buy it. It can be the nicest pair of dress shoes, but if it is the wrong size, it will just take space in your closet. You can purchase it if you plan on re-selling them, but that is just a whole different story in itself. 

Photos taken by KSole

Again, you will never know what you can find at any given day. I ended up buying the tie above (classic green and navy stripes) after we finished with the shoot. I can't complain about purchasing a vintage Brooks Brothers tie for $3.99.  

If you haven't experience the thrill of shopping at thrift stores, I suggest you go out to your local Salvation Army and check it out for yourself.  If you are an experience thrifter, share with me some of your best finds. You can do that by leaving a comment below.