Are you heading back to school this fall? Are you looking for a few ways to save money but refresh your wardrobe?
This blog post was made in collaboration with Value Village and all my opinion are my own.
It’s officially back to school season. One thing I always
looked forward to was refreshing my wardrobe for the school year. From
elementary school, to college, to even graduate school, I thrifted to find
unique pieces and basics for my wardrobe.
One reason I chose to thrift my back to school wardrobe was
because of the thrill of the hunt. I love finding awesome pieces for a bargain.
Another reason why I chose to thrift is because I could stay within budget
without sacrificing my style. I’ve thrifted for years and have always found
pieces that fit my petite frame and pieces that let me try that seasons trends.
If you’re looking to stay within budget and refresh your back to school wardrobe, here are a few tips to help you get started:
5 tips to thrifting your back to school wardrobe
1. Schedule enough time to shop
Whether you’re looking for unique pieces or staple items for
your back to school wardrobe, you need time to shop. Value Village does a great
job organizing clothing, accessories, and shoes by sizes and sections. But you
still need the time to sift through the racks and pull out items that stand out
to you.
My recommendation would be at least schedule an hour of
shopping time. That way you give yourself enough time to browse, pull pieces
out, and try on clothes without feeling rushed.
2. Create a
list of what you’re shopping for
If you’re thrifting your back to school wardrobe, you should
identify the key pieces you’re shopping for. Value Village always has great
items in each department and it’s easy to get distracted inside the store if
you don’t know what you’re looking for. Coming into the store with a few key
pieces you want to leave with will help set you up for success.
Value Village always has a mix of unique items you won’t
find in department stores as well as basic clothing items like jeans. Here are
a few things you can add to your back to school wardrobe:
If you’re
shopping for trends this fall season, make sure you look out for…
- Animal prints like leopard or zebra
- Vintage band tees
- Square toe heels and sandals (I picked up these
vintage Cole Haan sandals for $15!) - Satin skirts/blouses
- Mini bags
If you’re
shopping for basics, make sure you look out for…
- Jeans – I’ve found Madewell, Everlane, Hudson, and Lucky brand jeans at Value Village before!
- Cardigan sweaters
- Winter wear/coats
- Plain tees or striped tees
3. Pay
attention to Holiday sales – you’ll get even more savings
If you’re shopping on a budget, pay attention to holiday sales. Holidays like Labor Day, Memorial Day, or the day after the holidays usually comes with a 50% sale. To save even more, you can even join their Super Savers Club to learn about special club member only sale days and other perks!
You’re already getting a deal by shopping secondhand. So
when the 50% off sales come around, your savings are even bigger!
4. Figure
out your go-to secondhand shops
Before you start back to school shopping, you need to find a
Value Village that works for you. I’ve visited a handful of Value Villages
around the western Washington area. And even though I’ve always found at least
one thing in each store, my favorite Value Village locations are:
Crown Hill
The Value Village Crown Hill location is probably my
favorite spot to thrift shop. I always find such great items here! I started
going to this store to originally shop for office clothes. But honestly I’ve
found my back to school wardrobe, Halloween costume, and even holiday décor at
this Value Village.
Lynnwood
I started exploring the Lynnwood Value Village location this year and was surprised that I found a second Value Village store that I really liked. I found these vintage Cole Haan sandals as well as this top and tan jacket here!
There you have it friends. Five tips to help you thrift your
back to school wardrobe!
What are your tips for thrifting your back to school wardrobe?
Thank you for reading!
Love,
Emma
Photos: Holly Phan
We don’t have a Value Vintage in my area but thrifting is such a great way to get the most value out of your dollars when shopping. I love unique pieces that you won’t find elsewhere. In my mind, it makes them more priceless and valuable. Love the tan jacket you found! I can see it getting worn through many seasons and occasions.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com