Story by Carson Hendrickson and Emily Schauer
Photos by Sydney Kelso
Design by Sasha Smith
Despite its recent rise in popularity, thrifting is not a revolutionary concept. For years people would excitedly share their finds from stores like Goodwill or The Salvation Army, adding pieces to their own wardrobes once beloved by others, cultivating their own style at a cheap price. However, for some people, thrifting is something to look down upon. Due to their affordability, donation centers are popular places for people with low incomes to shop from. As such, if, for example, a child is seen wearing a clearly second-hand item of clothing at school, they might face bullying and harassment for not having as much money as their peers.
The COVID-19 pandemic, while devastating, turned out to be something of a cultural hinge for thrifting. With so many people spending time inside, social media grew exponentially in popularity. Everyone was online, sharing and talking about anything and everything. TikTok was among the most popular apps to be used. People would post videos on how it is more sustainable to thrift or make your own clothes rather than take part in the “fast fashion” norm. Fast fashion is the term used to describe how clothing sold in many chain stores and malls nowadays is being mass produced at a rapid pace and often doesn’t hold up to the test of time. So, when one item of clothing inevitably becomes unusable or undesirable after a couple years, consumers head straight back to the stores to replace it, thus continuing the cycle.
Thrifting not only saves you money in the long run, but because new items are constantly being added, each trip holds something different for thrifters to find. It is easy to grow overwhelmed by the large number of pieces to sort through when going thrifting for the first time. The best piece of advice is to go in with an idea of what you want to find. If you don’t have a specific intention, it’s easy to spend hours upon hours pushing hangers on racks and examining every little thing. Each thrift store tends to have the same arrangement: shirts, pants and skirts, dresses, jackets and shoes, all assorted by size. Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether any intention lies within those racks. So start somewhere, find your size, and go from there.
Besides finding individual pieces to spice up your wardrobe, you can also thrift for specific aesthetics, which is what this article will be covering. For this purpose, we went to the Goodwill located on Warbonnet Drive in Moscow, Idaho, to search for items in a few popular aesthetics to build outfits from. Our chosen aesthetics reflect not only the classic look of each but are also enhanced by personal touches: from hand-sewing pieces for a better fit to completing a look with some pre-owned pieces.
The first outfit we have can be described as a simple whimsigoth look. With the stars on the sweater coupled with the skirt, you can embody the feel of the night sky in this fabulous outfit. As for shoes, anything goes with this one! These boots tie the whole thing together nicely, putting the “goth” in “whimsigoth.” Any potential makeup and accessories are up to your discretion, but silver is always a good option for an outfit like this. The components for this outfit were purchased at the Goodwill here in Moscow.
The second outfit puts a spin on the grunge aesthetic, cleverly described as “business grunge.” Taking the star sweater and boots from the previous outfit, this one adds a maroon blazer and boot-cut black jeans for a more personal swing on a classic aesthetic, thrifted or not. Fashion is a form of self-expression, and what better way to self-express than by adding your own beloved pieces to the mix? The tops for this outfit were purchased at Goodwill in Moscow. The black jeans were purchased at Walmart in Boise.
The third outfit gives the feel of an authentic vintage look. With this look inspired by the 1930s and 40s, you too can look like you just stepped backwards in time, right in time for the second Great Depression! Creating a historically inspired outfit is not as daunting and difficult as it seems. A plain or neutrally colored button up shirt and high-waisted, wide-legged slacks are all you really need. Jazzing it up with a sweater, blazer—or in this case, a sweater vest—can add some extra flair. Doing your hair in a vintage style and wearing a pair of vintage round glasses are optional, but they help to communicate the time period you are trying to convey. The pants, sweater vest and boots were purchased at Goodwill in Moscow. The shirt was purchased at The Hope Center in Moscow.
The fourth outfit is somewhat in the same vein as the last, with a “dark academia meets The Hobbit” vibe. The elements are essentially the same as the last – button up, slacks, vest – except this outfit plays with texture. A natural fiber, linen shirt, paired with green corduroy pants and corduroy waistcoat give a soft, natural, almost fantastical feel to an otherwise distinguished academic look. The waistcoat, pants and loafers were purchased at Goodwill in Moscow. The linen shirt was purchased at The Hope Center in Moscow.
The fifth outfit is a contemporary breath of fresh air, giving a slightly retro, artsy hipster vibe. A pair of wide-legged jeans and a quirky graphic tee are the base for this aesthetic. Paired with a colorful rusty corduroy jacket and teal Chuck Taylors gives the outfit an “I’m not like other girls” feel. Now you are ready to go take pretentious photos of the clouds to post on your MySpace in the Year of our Lord 2025! The jacket and shirt were purchased at Goodwill in Moscow, the shoes at The Hope Center in Moscow, and the pants at Ross in Moscow.
With the right attitude, a caffeinated drink in hand and a friend or two to accompany you, you can make your thrifting trip one to remember. Scroll through Pinterest for inspiration on how to spice up that wardrobe, or get creative and wing it, but no matter how you approach the task of the adventure of thrifting, just remember to have fun!
