Thrift Store Style Guide: Make Second Hand Pieces Work For You

Practical, no-nonsense tips for thrift shopping, styling finds, and turning second hand pieces into items you reach for often.

Go with a clear plan before you arrive

Do not walk into a thrift store without knowing what gaps you have in your wardrobe. Many people come home with fun random pieces they never wear, because they did not check what they already own first. Before you leave the house, open your closet and note 2 or 3 items you actually need right now. This might be a plain long sleeve top, a mid weight jacket, or a skirt that works with the boots you already own. Write this down on your phone. You can still browse for nice surprises, but you will always check first against your list. This stops you wasting money on things that will sit unworn at the back of your shelf. You can use the Virtual Closet to log what you already own before you leave, and cross check any find while you are still in the store.

Check fabric and fit first, not the label

When you pick up an item, skip the tag first. Hold the fabric between your fingers. Rub it gently. Does it feel nice against your skin? Will it wash well? Does it drape properly, or is it stiff and scratchy? Next, hold it up to your body. Don't just go by the number on the tag. Sizing varies wildly between years and brands. Even if it is one size larger than you usually wear, that can work for oversized styling. If it is too small, pass on it. Simple alterations to make something smaller or shorter are easy. Making something larger is almost never worth the time or cost. If you are unsure of fit, you can save the item photo and test it against your avatar later in the Avatar Studio.

Simple changes that transform any piece

You do not need sewing skills to change most thrift finds. Most pieces only need one small adjustment to feel like yours. Swap out the buttons on a shirt or jacket. Cut the hem off a t-shirt or jeans straight across, no hemming required. Add a wide belt over a loose dress. Remove shoulder pads that look dated. Roll up sleeves permanently with a few small stitches, or just roll them when you wear it. You do not need to dye, distress or add patches unless you actually enjoy doing that. Very often, all a good piece needs is a good wash, pressed seams, and one small adjustment. For anything you bring home, check the Fabric care guide before you wash it for the first time.

Style thrift finds with items you already own

When you get home, do not put the new piece straight into your closet. Lay it out on your bed with three things you already wear every week. Try one casual combination, one dressed up combination, and one relaxed at home combination. If you cannot make three different outfits that work right now, this piece will not get worn. You do not need to go and buy more items to go with it. That defeats the point. You can test all these combinations without trying anything on, using the Mix & Match Studio. This works as well for second hand pieces as it does for new ones. You will very quickly see what works, and what you should pass on.

Know when to walk away

It is ok to leave something behind even if it is cheap, even if it is nice, even if someone else would buy it. Thrift stores encourage you to buy things just because they are low price. That is not a good enough reason to take something home. Ask yourself: will I wear this at least twelve times? If the answer is no, put it back. There will always be other things next time. Do not buy things to fix them unless you already know you will actually do the work within one week. Many people bring home repair projects that sit untouched for years. There is no shame in leaving it for someone else who will use it.

Build your wardrobe slowly

You do not need to overhaul your closet in one trip. Go to thrift stores once every couple of weeks, for half an hour at a time. Look for one good piece each time. Over the course of a year this adds up to a full wardrobe of pieces you actually like, each chosen carefully. You will end up with items no one else has, that fit your life, and that you will keep for years. There is no rush. Good pieces show up when you are looking for them, not when you are trying to fill a whole closet in one afternoon. 5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose.

Where to start in the store: Everyday Clothing, Sweaters & Cardigans, Jackets & Coats and Women's Accessories.

How giving works when you shop with us

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. After your order you pick one of three causes: CARE International, Cool Earth or Project Zero. The donation is paid out through PayPal Giving Fund UK. Those three causes, together with how we run our own store (honest product data, fair prices), are matched to 11 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

That is the heart of the 1% Movement: small choices × millions of us = change. It is a giving promise we can show you, and it is the only promise we make on this page.