Mastering the Art of Thrifting: A Stylist’s Eye on Secondhand Fashion
My love of thrifting didn’t start with slow fashion or sustainability—it started because I was obsessed with clothes and broke. Shopping full retail wasn’t realistic, so thrifting became a way to expand my wardrobe without spending a fortune. It also became my creative outlet-a way to find clothes that actually felt like me, and a way to express myself through outfits I could style on a budget.
As a professional stylist working with clients in the Bay Area, Houston, and New York City, secondhand shopping still remains one of my favorite tools for building great wardrobes. Whether I’m sourcing a silk blouse for a busy attorney in Oakland or helping a new mom in Houston find elevated everyday basics, I still get a thrill out of finding special and unique pieces for my clients.
Here’s what I look for when I thrift:
Fabric: I am all about natural fibers— silk, cotton, wool, and linen. If it’s polyester, it better be fabulous.
Construction: I always check seams, linings, buttons and structure. Sometimes zippers don’t work, seams are ripped or buttons are missing. If it’s something small and the item is worth it, I will buy it and fix it, but large holes and mislaid seams make an item unwearable.
Era and originality: As a personal shopper, I am looking for pieces that feel one-of-a-kind but still modern and wearable—adding personality without ever veering into costume territory.
Price: These days many thrift stores specialize in curated pieces with hefty price tags. I enjoy the hunt of a good piece and prefer not to spend a lot of money on something that’s previously been worn.
Labels: There are some labels I always keep an eye out for—brands that were made well to begin with and still hold up years later. I refuse to buy fast fashion resale. If it wasn’t made to last the first time around, it definitely hasn’t gotten better with age. And then there are the labels I grab specifically to resell. That’s where a solid knowledge of fashion history (and a sharp eye) really pays off. (I recently found a perfect black Christian Dior blazer at the thrift store!)
Thrifting takes time, luck, patience and a good eye. Some of the best pieces in my closet—and my clients’—have been found this way. The thrill isn’t just in the discovery, but in styling those finds with something already in your wardrobe or something new. That’s what real style is to me.
Whether I’m styling clients in the East Bay, shopping for wardrobes in Houston, or planning future sessions with clients in NYC, I get excited about discovering a new thrift store filled with treasures waiting to be styled. And while I didn’t get into thrifting for sustainability, it’s become one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. My clients care about it, and so do I —because how we shop matters, now more than ever.
