Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. Please read my disclaimer for more information.
Spring is approaching, but boy am I cold! If you know me well, you know I love winter thrifting. I love exploring the racks for coats, cozy knits, and scarves! I’ve put together some essential tips on how to thrift in the winter.
Depending on where you live, winter can be a rather “high maintenance” season. Thrifting is a great way to discover and explore your personal winter style without breaking the bank. Check out the benefits of thrifting here .
Winter Items To Thrift
Outerwear
Without a doubt, one of my favorite items to thrift is outerwear. For most of us, coats and jackets are essential winter items. Quality outerwear in retail stores can be pretty pricey. Thrifting is a great way to score high-quality outerwear for a reasonable price.
-
Wool Coats – Wool coats are timeless, sleek, and stylish. Every woman should own a wool coat. Wool coats are a wardrobe staple that can be worn for years and years. For optimal warmth, opt for a long wool coat. When considering a wool coat, check for the wool percentage. 100% wool will be the warmest. However, a coat with at least 60% wool will keep you comfortable in cold weather. For wool-blend coats, look for coats that contain nylon – nylon helps the coat last longer. Also, it is best to avoid buying wool coats with fabric containing over three fibers because these are more susceptible to pilling.
-
Down Coats– Down coats, which come from ducks or geese, are also great to find at thrift stores. Down coats are known for being the best insulator for winter coats. When looking for down coats, you should check the fill power of the down. The higher the fill power, the warmer the coat will be. If warmth is a concern, aim for a down coat that contains over 550 fill power.
-
Performance Winter Coats – If you are planning to go hiking, sledding, or skiing this winter, check out the performance winter coats at your local thrift store. Because these coats experience extreme weather and wear and tear, look for active coats that contain nylon. Nylon is the most durable, but polyester is also sufficient. Lightweight and waterproof features are also ideal to look for.
Layering Pieces
Layering clothing is vital for not only putting together a chic winter outfit but for maintaining warmth as well. Basics are very easy to find at your local thrift store. Why pay $20 for a long-sleeved T-shirt when you could thrift it for $3?!
-
Base layer – The purpose of the base layer is to wick moisture away from the skin to keep you from getting cold. Base layers include cotton T-shirts or wool tops. Also, look for base layers made of cotton, silk, or wool.
-
Mid Layer – The mid-layer should be looser than your first layer. Mid-layers include long-sleeved t-shirts, turtleneck sweaters, and button-down shirts. You should look for mid-layers made of wool, fleece, down, cashmere, synthetic fiberfill, and cotton.
Sweaters
Your local thrift store is a great place to stock up on cozy knits. Sweaters are a winter essential and can be easily styled with skirts, pants, and jeans.
-
Cashmere Sweaters – Thrift stores are great places to find high-quality cashmere sweaters. Cashmere offers a cozy, luxe feel and helps keep you warm in the winter. In retail stores, cashmere sweaters can range from about $50 to over $1000! Save money on such a luxurious item by checking out your local thrift store.
-
Fitted Turtleneck Sweaters – Fitted turtleneck sweaters can not only be worn alone, but also can be layered under dresses, chunkier sweaters, and oversized button-downs.
-
Chunky Knit Sweaters – Chunky knits are great because they are so cozy and pair well with jeans and skirts.
-
Ugly Christmas Sweaters – I’m sure you have been invited to or will be invited to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at some point in your life. Without a doubt, ugly Christmas sweaters can be rather corny. My ugly Christmas sweater makes a rare appearance around the holidays and generally hides out in the back of my closet during the rest of the year. Before you spend a lot of money on an ugly Christmas sweater, check out your neighborhood thrift store first!
Bottoms
The thrift store is a great place to find pants and skirts during the winter.
-
Pants– Look for pants of thicker fabric to will keep you warm. Be on the lookout for authentic and faux leather pants, black trousers, and jeans.
-
Skirts– I love thrifting skirts in the winter because of the variety of textures available. Look for skirts made of suede, leather, corduroy, wool, and tweed.
Holiday Party Attire
The thrift store is a great place to find beautiful, reasonably priced apparel for your next holiday party!
-
Cocktail Dresses and Formal Gowns– Look for dresses in black, gold, silver, red, or jewel tones. In addition, look for dresses that have a metallic, sequined, or glitzy finish for a more festive look.
-
Sequined and Satin Skirts– Depending on your style and occasion, look for skirts that are short or mid-length.
-
Sequined, Shiny, and Velvet Tops– Festive tops are great to pair with black pants or a satin skirt.
-
Accessories – Check out sequined or velvet clutches and statement earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Althleisure/Loungewear
During the pandemic, I have grown to appreciate athleisure and loungewear so much more. I’m sure many of you can relate! You can find really cute sets and separates at your local thrift store. On your next thrift excursion, check out:
-
Joggers
-
Sweatpants
-
Athletic Jackets and Tops
-
Athletic leggings (I found a cute pair of Lululemon Align leggings at Plato’s Closet for under $20!)
Accessories
You can find a variety of winter accessories at the thrift store. Winter accessories not only help keep you warm but can add a special touch to any outfit as well. When thrifting, check out the accessories section for:
-
Hats – floppy wool hats, fedoras, and beanies
-
Gloves – knit and leather gloves
-
Scarves – Cashmere, wool, and silk scarves. Blanket scarves are useful because they can be worn as a scarf or cape.
Boots
Thrift stores are also great places to find cold-weather boots.
-
Leather/Suede Boots
-
Rain Boots (Recently saw Hunter Rain Boots at Buffalo Exchange!)
-
Snow Boots
Holiday Decor
Many thrift stores carry holiday decorations to bring cheer to your holiday season! Check out the thrift store for:
-
Christmas Trees
-
Ornaments
-
Candles
-
Lights
-
Arts & Crafts
-
Wreaths
- Yard Decor
Around January and February, you may also find Valentine’s Day decorations as well!
Winter Thrifting Tips
Winter Thrift Throughout The Winter Season
You will find thrifting throughout the winter season to be very beneficial when building a great winter wardrobe. Thrift stores constantly restock and you may find hidden gems in October, December, and February.
Winter Thrift At The End Of The Season
Check out winter items at the end of the winter season. Some thrift stores have end-of-season sales where winter items can be up to 75% off! Be sure to check with your local thrift store about end-of-season sales!
Winter Thrift During the Summer
Don’t forget to stock up on winter items during the summer. Many thrift stores carry winter items during the summer, so if you see something you like, stock up and take advantage of the deal!
Shop Sale Days
Thrift stores such as Goodwill offer extra discounts for certain items on different days of the week. In addition, some thrift stores also offer military and student discounts.
Shop In The Early Morning
Go thrift shopping on an early winter morning or when the store first opens. Try thrift shopping before the afternoon crowd so that you have more space to shop and maintain social distancing.
Ignore Size Tags
When thrifting, ignore the size tags on clothing. A size large may fit like a size small and vice versa. When you run across a sweater or any other items you like, you should first examine the item for fit with your own eyes. If possible, take advantage of the opportunity to either try on clothing in the aisle or in the fitting room.
Feel And Examine The Clothes
Feel clothing items to determine whether the fabric will be comfortable on your skin. When you find a sweater that you like, slip your hand underneath the item to figure out whether you like the fabric or not. I highly doubt you want to purchase something that irritates your skin!
Examine clothing items for any wear and tear prior to purchasing. Sometimes thrift store employees are unable to inspect each item thoroughly for holes. If you find an item that you like with a minor flaw, ask the employees or manager for an additional percentage off.
I love thrifting, especially winter thrifting. I hope that these thrifting tips and tricks help and inspire you to build your best winter wardrobe!
Love,
Miracle With Grace