Outfit: Thrifing

With the abundance of stylish people living in Portland, it is easy to find some lightly worn items at the multiple thrift shops around town. Finding a bargain and a great piece can be challenging though. Here are some of our tips:

1. GOODWILL: This is where expensive thrift shops often get their items. If you have the patience and time you can find numerous pieces to add to your wardrobe which usually won't cost more than ten dollars. Our favorite Goodwill is the SuperStore, located in SE Portland. It is massive and we have found tons of deals. 

2. GO NOW:  After the holidays many people have restocked with new clothes, thrift stores therefore get a surplus of items that people have donated to make room in their closets.  We found this to be especially true on our most recent trip to Goodwill, where we each found more quality items than usual. 

3. BRANDS: It may sound obvious but look at labels! A five dollar tank top originally from Fovever 21, may not be as much of a bargain as a cashmere sweater from J Crew. Quality brands tend to hold up better and maintain their fit. Always check for stains, pilling of sweaters, and rips. Some of our favorite brands to look for when thrifting are: Pendleton, J Crew, LL Bean, and Ann Taylor Loft. Finding a vintage Coach bag is the pinnacle of a thrifting experience.  

4. TRY ON: Brave the florescent lights and long lines, it is worth it! Many items at thrift stores made it to the donation pile because of an odd fit or flow. Trying on your finds is essential to knowing if they will work at home, and not end up back at the donation center. Our strategy is to grab a large shopping cart, scan each rack, throw in any possibles, and then try on. We often have twenty items in our cart when we go to the dressing room and walk out with two or three great steals.  

Here are a couple of our latest finds: 

J Crew Sweater

Ellie's Outfit: 

Sweater: Thrifted - Originally J Crew

Dress: J Crew (Similar)

Belt: J Crew (Similar)

Boots: Frye

Bracelet: Gift from Dad :) 

Aztec Skirt

Maddie's Outfit: 

Skirt: Thrifted - We are not sure where it originally came from, but it is awesome! 

Jacket: Levi (Similar - color no longer available) 

Boots: Nordstroms

Happy Thrifting! 

Ellie & Maddie