My Favourite Thrifted Fall Pieces- Lookbook
Fall weather is finally here! Even though those few sweltering days in early October were a nice final farewell to summer, I was very ready to bring out the sweaters, long pants, and layering pieces. Over the past few months, I have been gathering some pieces from local thrift stores to add to my fall wardrobe.
Summer is a great time to thrift for fall pieces, as sweaters, jackets and scarves are much less picked over than during the cold seasons. It is definitely not too late to look for your fall essentials, however! As people bring out their own fall wardrobes, seasonal closet clean-outs will be in full swing. Also, it is always a great idea to have your friends and family go through the items you plan to donate before dropping them off at your local thrift store. Free clothing exchanges for everyone!
The outfits I put together are comfortable for the current Ontario autumn weather. I love to layer clothing, and try to incorporate a variety of textures and silhouettes to keep things interesting and flattering for a variety of body types. These outfits are thrifted from head to ankle, but I hope to come across some good thrifted footwear this year to incorporate into more looks this fall.
The first outfit is definitely one of my favourites. I thrifted this velvet, chestnut coloured babydoll dress from the Salvation Army during its 50% off sale for 14 dollars. This is typically more than I like to spend on a pre-owned dress, but since it is made in Italy and in flawless condition, I thought it was worthwhile to pick it up for the fall. The purse is another Salvation Army find, and a great structured and versatile piece that I use all the time. The dress is short, and can show off a lot of leg if that’s what you’re in the mood for, but in this case I paired it with some over the knee boots for a bit of a 1960’s silhouette.
The next look is more business appropriate, with a vertical striped button up, a pair of high waisted trousers, and a brown leather belt. All three of these pieces are from Value Village, each for under 10 dollars. For outfits like this, it’s important to make sure that the pieces are well fitted to your body. Professionalism is important in a lot of office environments, so if you plan on thrifting pieces like this for work, be selective, and don’t settle for something that doesn’t fit you just right.
Outfit number three is one that could also double as a Halloween costume if I completely run out of ideas. The ruffled shirt is one that I acquired from a friend’s “to donate” pile, and has quickly become one of my favourite pieces for layering under dresses. The black corduroy zipper dress is from Value Village, and provides a surprising amount of warmth and comfort, making it less scary to go bare-legged during a typical Canadian Autumn.
This look is the most simple of the bunch, with a chartreuse high neck sweater, a pair of high waisted acid wash jeans from Value Village, and a vintage chunky statement belt that I picked up from an Antique expo. The sweater is slightly oversized, but very soft and cozy, and paired with a big belt and some high waisted slim fitting jeans, gives off a typical 1980’s silhouette.
The fifth look is feminine with some 90’s and early 2000’s elements. The dress is a 90’s sleeveless fitted dress with a delicate tartan pattern that I bought from Value Village, and the jacket is a faux shearling, also from Value Village, that offers some considerable warmth for chilly October nights. The mini backpack is from the Salvation Army, and is a really soft, high quality leather with no noticeable wear whatsoever, and fits my phone, snacks and wallet with lots of extra room.
The last look is one that I typically wouldn’t go for, but the dress was such a great, bold 1970’s sunflower pattern that I couldn’t walk away without it. It is probably more of a summer outfit, but with the layering of the long sleeved t-shirt underneath, it provides enough warmth for some mild fall weather, and can easily be paired with a jacket to offer some more, if needed. The dress is perfectly fitted to my body, and even without the shirt underneath, the underarm seams are high enough that there is no risk of any sneaky bras peeking through. The purse is a nice deep brown, textured leather with a ton of pockets. The dress and purse are both from the Salvation Army, and the belt is the same Value Village one from before.
I hope that these outfits inspire you to get creative with styling thrifted pieces of your own. I actively seek out thrift videos on youtube and thrifty blogs just to see how other people style their finds, and I continue to draw inspiration from those for my own personal style. My personal style is definitely eclectic, and I am completely useless when it comes to committing to one specific aesthetic, but I firmly believe that personal style and self expression can have a huge impact on the way you feel. Wear what makes you happy and makes you feel the most confident, and you will always look your best!
Happy thrifting!