Vintage Lookbook Spotlight #2 - Goodwill

This time of year is crazy when it comes to shopping and spending; you’re probably on the hunt for Christmas gifts for your loved ones (or even purchasing some things for yourself). However, you don’t always have to buy the next big new thing, and you may be surprised that some of the latest trends are in your local thrift store or second hand shop. In the second installment of my Vintage Lookbook Spotlight series, I’ll show you my finds from Goodwill and how they can be styled to go with current fashion trends or classic pieces that you will always need in your closet. Be sure to look for my best thrifting tips in bold and keep them in mind next time you’re on the hunt!

Goodwill has been a huge part of my life ever since I can remember. My grandma used to work at one and when I would visit her in Kansas, we would hit up the local Goodwill and raid every garage sale we could find. This always sounded fun until I realized she wanted to get up at 6 AM to find some good deals, but looking back on it, I appreciate that she instilled a love of thrifting in me at a young age. I tend to always go to the Goodwill in Fountain Square because I always find gems there! I’d say my number one tip when it comes to thrifting is figure out what kinds of people live in the area near the store and if you like the looks you see those people wearing, try the store out! These stores usually take donations so you could find something you like or give things you’re just not into anymore!

Piece #1: Midi Skirt

The midi skirt is all the rage this autumn and winter! I am definitely for it since I feel that they are tall girl friendly and can be styled with so many different pieces. When your legs are 75% of your body, it can be difficult to find a skirt that doesn’t make you look like you’d rather be at the club. I found this skirt near the end of my Goodwill trip and was shocked to see that it was from Forever21, a brand I regularly shop from in store. This goes to show that you can find current stylish pieces in these kinds of thrift stores and save way more money! I will say that I found out the skirt has a small hole in the seam so my number two tip would be to check the item over a few times for holes, staining, or any other issues that might be a surprise to you when you take it home or if you’re not trying it on. One of my bad habits is not trying clothes on because I’m lazy so don’t be me! Try on and inspect!

Piece #2: Elegant Turtleneck

This turtleneck was a gem of a find and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. I originally had grabbed it because I gravitate toward “the groutfit” look and my entire closet is grey but second guessed it because I didn’t know if I really needed just a basic turtleneck sweater. I’m so glad I gave this a chance because the SLEEVES y’all!! They have these little slits on the side which gives the top that much more character instead of just being basic and makes it a little more elegant. Turtlenecks like these are easily paired with something like the above midi skirt, black jeans, or even slacks for an easy but put together look for work. My number three tip is to take your time! If I hadn’t taken the time to think about this piece, I would’ve missed out on a classic top with conversation starting sleeves. When thrifting, it’s best to allot an hour or two to really scour the store and make sure you haven’t missed anything that you’d love to have in your closet.

Piece #3: Classic Cardigan

As a library/museum/archive person, it has been ingrained into my brain to always have a cardigan on hand. Whether its in my car or shoved in my purse, I will never be without an extra layer because I’m always borderline freezing. I’ve been on the hunt for a cardigan in this color to add to my wardrobe because it fits with my standard color scheme: mustard yellow, olive green, and oxblood maroon. I seem to always love pieces in these colors so I’m so excited that I finally got a cardigan in the one color I’ve been missing. Cardigans are perfect for any time of year: in the autumn and winter they can be layered over a sweater with some cute jeans or leggings and in the spring and summer they can be perfect to throw on during chilly mornings or when you’re on a rooftop bar enjoying a fruity cocktail. My number four tip is to always be on the lookout for pieces that you can use in any weather and season. This keeps your closet versatile and cuts down on the cost of buying more clothing to fill that void.

Piece #4: Cute Dress

This ended up being probably my favorite piece from this thrift haul! If you didn’t already know, my favorite color is yellow, but I always have trouble finding the perfect shade that fits my skin tone and doesn’t clash with my blonde hair. This dress called out to me mostly because IT HAS POCKETS! I’ve never felt so blessed to find this. I also love the length, kind of in the same vein as the midi skirt, because it feels a little more modest and covered up (not that the opposite is a bad thing, it’s just when you’re 5’8” your legs don’t need more attention). For some reason, I kept trying to find ways to justify this dress, I wasn’t completely sold on it. But then I used my number five tip and pulled up my Pinterest to find some inspiration! This is one of my favorite things to do before, during, and after thrifting because it helps you keep a curated list of things you want in mind when you’re going shopping. It also helps you avoid buying unnecessary pieces just because they are unique or quirky or trendy but may end up being donated by you a month later when you’re cleaning out your closet.

Piece #5: Khaki Pants

These pants were definitely out of my comfort zone. I hardly ever buy pants of any kind, at a thrift store or fast fashion places. They never fit and I never have the motivation to try them on so I just stick to fun leggings, cute skirts, or dresses that are just an excuse to not have to match two separate pieces. However, I decided to use my number six tip and to step out of my comfort zone and head over to the pants section of Goodwill and try it out. I was surprised to find brands like Levi’s and current trends like the bell bottoms that are making a comeback. I didn’t try these pants on but I’m so glad they fit! I am excited to style these since they will be more of a challenge because I’m not used to styling jeans but I love the color and I think they will be great this holiday season.

Challenge

So those are the pieces I picked up for this round of Vintage Lookbook Spotlight and now I’m challenging you to do the same using the tips I’ve laid out for you in this post. I want you to find an outfit and use the hashtag “#VintageLookbookSpotlight” and tag me: @hayleymccoy16. I’ll be reposting the looks that are under the hashtag for the next month and be sending one lucky person a $20 Goodwill giftcard! This is a strategic number because all of the items in this post cost $20.65 so I challenge you to hit $20 or under! Hopefully this can be a great way to encourage you to shop secondhand this holiday season and support our local thrift stores!