Our Fashion-Forward Crew Share How They Build A Second-Hand Wardrobe That Works

Do you dream of vintage finds so good you could cry? Of answering "where did you get that?" with "oh, it's thrifted"? Same. 

But building a second-hand wardrobe that actually works for you isn't always as straight forward as it seems. It can be easy to get lost in trends, wonder whether you actually like something or are just excited at the prospect of a new piece, and even just to know where to go, or how to start. 

To help you build the thrifted wardrobe of your dreams, we teamed up with the legends at Vinnies to ask our team exactly how they do it. Because the truth is you don't have to jump on every trend, own 100 pieces of clothing, or make your way to Europe to build a collection you love—you just have to remember a few simple things. 

Make Friends With Moodboards

Dinushka Gunasekara | Brisbane Editor

Pinterest boards are your hero to avoid thrift regret (AKA when you think something has potential in-store, but ends up rotting in your wardrobe). I save up a storm and then when I'm thrifting, I keep an eye out for anything that matches colour/style/fit/material. If it ticks three out of four boxes, it's usually a winner.

Shop With Purpose

Maisie Gray | Commercial Content Strategist 

Shopping wise: go in with a purpose. Thrifting can be overwhelming, so know what you are in the market for—head to those racks and anything else is a bonus. Also, head out of town—make it an occasion and explore a niche suburb, these spots are way less picked through and have the real nuggets of gold.

When it comes to styling, steer clear from the original purpose of the piece and get funky with it—turn a scarf into a top, make jeans into capris, etc.

Pair Vintage Gold With Everyday Basics

Elizabeth McDonald | Commissioning Producer

When styling, pair your vintage or statement piece with your everyday basics. You'll feel rad, but with an accessible look that won't make you feel like you're wearing a costume.

Don't get blinded by the "I can probably make this work" mentality. If you don't immediately love a piece, don't buy it, especially if you're tempted just because it's cheap. Thrifting is better than fast fashion by a mile, but you're not helping the environment or others by storing a "meh" dress in your wardrobe for a year, then just donating it back. 

Tailor Your Finds

Andi Baulderstone | Strategy Director

Simple tailoring (a hem, a shoulder strap shorten/lengthen) can really change a piece and make it something super wearable that fits you perfectly—and it usually won't cost you too much. It makes the piece feel new and changes the vibe from "I'll make it work", to one of a kind.

Stear Clear Of Social Trends

Jessica Best | Sydney Editor 

Steer clear from Instagram every now and then (a cheeky deactivate is always encouraged). We're constantly shown new products and served ads on there so it can be easy to fall into the "I need to buy that" mindset. Once you kind of get some space from it, you can lean into your own style a lot more without falling victim to what's trending, because this changes so much and it can feel like you're always playing catch up.

Ready to put an end to your "nothing to wear" spiral? Head to Vinnies to get started. 

Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Vinnies and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.