The life-changing magic of thrifting up! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

The life-changing magic of thrifting up!

Roxanna

Veteran

For the last couple of years, I have hit what I'll call a wardrobe barrier.

I love clothes is sumptuous fabrics that are well made and drape well - I adore good craftsmanship. My style moniker is urban luxe, which means I like my style to emanate refined luxury with an urban edge. But what I found at retail was more hit-and-miss quality, with most brands becoming worse and worse on the quality side. I shop mostly online and don't have time to go peruse boutiques with my with life and young kids right now.

This all came to a head last year when I was looking for quality with pants that were comfortable, well fitting and of exceptional quality. I identified Theory pants as working well for me, but at $400 a pop, I couldn't justify buying more then 1 pair (and even that was on sale.) So I turned to thrifting. My criteria were very specific : only natural fibres, made in Canada, USA or Italy, current and well fitting.

Within a month I collected 5 pair from Theory, Max Mara and Judith & Charles. All met my criteria, are luxurious, refined and current. And all were under $8 each from Value Village. Whoa!

Emboldened by that, I have stretched out into other categories and collected pieces that make my heart sing and that meet the quality and craftsmanship that I adore. A deep purple velvet ruched jacket from Elie Tahari ($12). High waisted leather pants ($8). Several cashmere sweaters and silk blouses made of two ply cashmere and silk with a great hand (impossible to find in retail these days!) And I've added some beautiful jewelry pieces too.

Yesterday I splurged on my ultimate dream - on an Oscar de la Renta dress on consignment that I fell in love with - hand embroidered Silk taffeta, made in Italy. At $300 it was a fraction of the original $4,000 price tag.

Designer Thrifting has helped me get the wardrobe I love at a fraction of the price. Of course it takes a lot of work - but to me it's about the same account of work I had to do to find pieces that fit me and met my quality standards at retail. I still buy retail - but a lot less.

I have loved reading your thrifting stories on RunCarla's thread and would love to know - have you tried designer thrifting?

Below - some of my thrifting finds:

Cream silk blouse (vintage) and Theory pants
Elie Tahari velvet blazer and Theory pants
Haight Ashbury top and Max Mara pants
Herringbone sweater with shawl collar
Club Monaco high waisted pants and gold necklace
OdlR dress
Tory Burch sweater

This post has 9 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Shopping

40 replies

Latest reply was from Glory

Anonymous

What great finds! I check in the hopes of finding unique pieces too-and Hewis
Loved your Ted talk BTW!

ChristelJ

Veteran

Well done! Your finds are gorgeous. I can relate to your search for quality. That's one of the things I adore about thrifting: finding luxurious and finely made items one can't find so easily in regular retail anymore. You've done exceptionally well, though! My local Goodwill has no designer section, and I don't like to shop online as much as in person, so my quality scores are hit and miss.
I especially admire the sublime blue dress. Where did you find it, if I may ask?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Roxanna are you my long lost, somehow much younger, twin sister? YES. I started thrifting in college because I loved the hunt and the cool stuff, but picked it up again in my 40s because I loved the hunt and coveted the higher quality pieces I could only afford this way. I have become a quality snob, and cannot believe the prices they charge for poorly made items at retail.
I love your pictures. Outfit #1 is smashing, the blouse looks perfect on you. The high waisted pants are fantastic. I only wish I could see the velvet better! You must look amazing it that gorgeous dress too!
I hope you will excuse a small (unhumble) brag:
I have a closet full of designer finds. The most shocking, and latest (yesterday), was a pair of Chanel ballet flats for $5 at a thrift store near the fruit market in my town (not normally the source of my greatest finds). I wasn't sure they were real, and didn't think they would fit since they were marked a size larger than I normally wear, but I took them home, cleaned them, researched them and here I am chortling to myself.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Roxanna

Veteran

Shevia - you were once again my inspiration! I saw all your fabulous thrifted finds and thought, I have to try this myself! I remember an Ungaro piece you wore that was absolutely stunning. You are exactly right, it is being a quality snob on a budget that drive me to thrifting - and I'm so glad it did. CHANEL ballet flats?! Wha?! You have the best scores! And I am honored to be your twin sister (probably because I keep copying your style lol)

Christel - I found VSP consignment online through the Blue Collar Red Lipstick thrifting blog, and found the dress there. It was actually at the store in my city, but I knew I wouldn't get there so I just ordered it online!

Jules

Veteran

I am seriously impressed with your finds, especially in such a short timeline. I honestly didn’t think that was possible in Toronto based on my thrifting experiences, which have involved a lot of people picking through mediocre items.

Gretchen

Veteran

Wow - Amazing! I tend to focus my thrifting (usually online) on bags, shoes and accessories as those are the areas where I have issues paying full price. Kudos to you on finding such great pieces - can't wait to see you model the cocktail dress!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Wow, amazing finds! You look great in all of them.

I must not have that amazing thrifting karma because I don't think I've ever found anything nearly that fab. I have kind of given up on it. It always seems like the good stuff is all a size 4 or something, which just depresses me. LOL

Barbara Diane

Veteran

What amazing finds-your determination and perseverance have paid off.
Same with you Shevia.

Carla

Veteran

Seriously fabulous scores, Roxana. I +++ agree! Quality stands out. I had an appointment downtown and popped into my favourite thrift shop. It is very small, so easy to recon quickly. Found a black 98% wool/2% lycra jacket that fits like it was tailored for me! Half price day at the shop, so, um, $3. I brought it directly to the cleaners ($10) and will get it back next week. AT, so not 'designer' though. My favourite fall/winter bag is a thrifted Coach (see below).

I have to admit that the thrift shops have been more interesting than retail of late.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

JAileen

Veteran

I’m so impressed with your purchases. They look really perfect on you.

Anonymous

I’m really impressed and envious . I have NO thrifting skills whatsoever . I can barely manage Winners, never mind a thrift shop . I totally get that desire to have more luxurious clothes -but being put off by the prices . I struggle with issue all the time , and never manage to resolve it

lyn67

Veteran

Awesome finds, all- you and Shevia have the greatest luck with thrifting quality items!

Roxanna

Veteran

Thank you all! Loving hearing your finds

@Lisap you are right, it is not a quick prices, and you have to love the thrill of the hunt and be willing to walk away empty handed more times than not. So it's not for everyone.

@Runcarla that jacket is perfect! While I find that designer clothes are often a 'shortcut' to quality, I don't ignore the older retail pieces too. As you found, old AK is often quite good quality, as is old Sisley (the line used to be made in Italy.) And I find that Chinese pieces made and sold in the Chinese market can be quite good quality too, as can old, Scottish cashmere sweaters. I love discovering a great quality item under the radar! Nice work!

Gennifyr

I don't look at labels when I'm thrifting but I buy almost everything at either Frenchys or the Sally Ann. The most I pay is $5. The nearest VV is an hour away so I rarely go there.

I have almost uncanny good luck with thrifting and I live in rural NS. I add things to online shopping carts and within a week or two, a similar item appears at the thrift shop.

SarahD8

Veteran

Wow, Roxana, what amazing finds!!! I am in awe. So luxe, and such perfect fit. This is what clothing should be (by which I also mean, of sufficient quality that it can be passed around when an item stops working for its current owner).

A large portion of my wardrobe is secondhand, certainly over half. I don’t care so much about labels but I am a cashmere junkie (and more generally a natural fibers snob). I have a LARGE collection of cashmere knitwear, all secondhand. My latest purchase is a navy cashmere cardigan with Aran cabling and a funnel neck that opens up to give a middy collar look. By Frame, excellent condition, impeccable cut, under $40. Adore.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

What awesome finds!That blue dress is gorgeous and you would never guess that any of your outfits were thrifted.

L'Abeille

Veteran

Not to hijack, but Gennifyr, how nice to see you back! And to see a shoutout to our own Maritime chain, Frenchy's. (There's a particularly good one in my small town.) My daughters make sure to hit it up when visiting from big cities elsewhere in Canada; we don't get the first pass by antique sellers picking off the good stuff.

I've never found cashmere, and not often silk, but I agree that hand-feel can quickly isolate the natural fibres that are worth a closer look.

Roxana, I long to achieve your level of classiness.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

How fortuitous, Roxanna! And you look fabulous. Very nicely done. #1 is my fave. And we MUST see you in that dress.

Jaime, you look amazing too.

Chris987

Veteran

How lovely! You are so fortunate to live in an area where enough women buy the higher end stuff at retail that there is a good supply in thrift shops, and that your body type fits these styles you so love. I don't find this type of stuff at all in thrift shops near me, and I've looked. I haven't tried the shops closer to the city (Boston) because it's a bit of a haul, and Boston is relatively speaking a smaller city. You are indeed a lucky duck and your finds are FAB!

Anonymous

I know it's kind of shallow and I wish I could say ecoconsiousness got me first but this is hands down the best inspiration for thrift shopping I've ever encountered.

Gennifyr

Thanks L'Abeille! I took some fashion time off for hiking and this summer I wanted to get back in the groove

L'Abeille

Veteran

Not all thrift stores carry only regionally sourced items. It is undoubtedly the case in consignment shops, but the chains are different. A friend of mine is a trucker, and he frequently takes a load of secondhand clothing from Toronto to Pennsylvania or somewhere else in the US, and from there takes another load to Halifax. (I can't recall which chain it was for.)

I think that is why I find items in thrift shops from American stores that aren't available here new.

fifthandfinest

(website)

Your finds are amazing!
I’m a big second hand/thrifting fan. I’ve found some amazing things. It does pay to check and double check for stains, rips etc (I found that out the hard way). I’ve also just started selling some pieces on eBay and really enjoy not only making money, but seeing my pieces go to a good home and knowing I’m not contributing as much to the impact of fast fashion.

Bennett

Veteran

Ugh, I wish I lived in an area that had this quality of thrifted items. I recently tried the local Goodwill after seeing all the scores on YLF. That was an hour of my life I'll never get back! I WILL, however, poke around online for resale clothing now. You look impeccable in everything.

I also check out Blue Collar Red Lipstick's blog to be inspired by her thrifted and consignment mixing; she does this so well!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Wow, this is amazing. I need to take lessons from you! You have found some beautiful items. I really love the new dress and you look spectacular in all the others as well. How wonderful to find great quality at bargain prices and so much fun to search!

Anonymous

This is such a happy post! Thank you for sharing your good fortune.

mamiesgirl

I have had a bit of luck at resale shops but am no expert. Also I think where you lives makes a difference. My best finds are at a shop in DC. We don't have great thrift shops in my hometown.

karen13

Veteran

Wow - inspirational! I love all your pieces and definitely need to see you in that gorgeous dress!

Sal

Veteran

Sensational pieces Roxanna!! They look wonderful on you.

I have three designer/ high end pieces in my closet from thrifting/ resale.

I think for classic smart dressers thrifting is excellent - maybe harder for casual dressers.

12