I love thrifting for clothes during the fall and winter — even though winters aren’t terribly cold where I live, the creative possibilities open up for layering and styling when there’s even the slightest chill in the air. And only at the thrift store can I find pieces that are affordable, stylish, and high-quality.
What kind of winter clothing can you find at the thrift store?
What exactly can you find while thrifting for winter attire? Of course it depends on what your local store has on hand, but these are just a few winter basics to keep your eye on.
Coats and jackets
Let’s start with the thickest layer: outerwear. I don’t think I’ve gotten a jacket or coat at a department store for years. The last time I remember buying a jacket at full retail price was early on during the pandemic. It was a gold Target Wild Fable puffer jacket that, unfortunately, started tearing up pretty quickly. RIP.
It’s pretty easy to find coats and jackets at thrift store for under $20. Where I live, it’s usually under $10! Listen, I know that thrift store winter jackets can look kind of dingy, but I promise that there are hidden treasures if you dig diligently. Just the other day, I found a frog-closure Eileen Fisher jacket for a mere $10 at a local vintage store. One of my all-time favorite coats, this camel Espirit shearling trimmed jacket, only cost $15 at Goodwill SV, and it’s lasted me nearly a decade (and surely had a life of its own even before me).
Though it’s tempting to thrift a bunch of coats because they’re cheap, it’s a good idea to check for stains and pilling. I also recommend checking out the care requirements. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to deal with hand washing or dry cleaning, make sure that your piece is machine washable.
Sweaters
Anyone who knows me knows that the way to my heart is through a vintage ramie and cotton sweater. I’m a firm believer in thrifting for sweaters — most fast fashion sweaters are thin and sad and threadbare, so why not spend your hard-earned money on a chunky cotton or wool vintage sweater?
You can find sweaters of all kinds at the thrift, from elegant cable knit sweaters to cute ugly Christmas sweaters for your fur babies. One of my go-to pieces is a gray cable-knit cotton Gap sweater my grandma bought for me at the flea market five years ago.
When you thrift for sweaters, I recommend checking the sleeves and hemline for any signs of notable wear. I usually put back pieces with loose threads or excessive pilling.
Hats
I’ve sworn off from buying Target beanies after seeing them disintegrate in the wash one too many times. A Target beanie costs anywhere between $5 to $20, and you could probably find a higher-quality winter hat at the thrift store for the same price (or cheaper). As with anything you thrift, it’s important to evaluate the condition of the hat and clean it thoroughly before wearing it.
I also love digging through vintage hats for classic silhouettes. A few weeks ago, I found a beautiful Italian wool cloche hat from Nordstrom for about $5.
Scarves
Whether you love a wooly red scarf à la Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” or a chic silk scarf, thrift stores almost always have scarves for under $10. I’m personally partial to a colorful pashmina scarf. My winter attire tends to be pretty understated, and a pashmina scarf is a really easy way to add pops of texture and color to my otherwise simple looks.
With scarves, keep a close eye on signs of wear like loose yarns, pilling, and runs. If you also love a pop of color, make sure your scarf isn’t faded from excessive or incorrect cleaning.
Holiday attire
For the last 10 years or so, I spent most holidays with my immediate family, so I really haven’t had a need to dress up. But if you have holiday parties with friends, in-laws, or work colleagues, thrifting for winter suits and dresses can help you elevate your look while sticking to a strict budget. Whether you’re looking for a gold cocktail dress or burgundy velvet suit, the thrift store can be a treasure trove for one-of-a-kind pieces.
Most of the best practices I outlined above apply to holiday attire, too. Be sure that you can deal with the care requirements and observe the piece for any visible signs of damage.
When should you shop for winter clothing at the thrift store?
If you’re looking for the best deals on winter clothing at the thrift store, you’ll probably encounter the lowest prices around summertime. That said, I’d still give the thrift store a go during autumn and winter. Chances are, this is the time when your local thrift store brings its winter inventory out on the floor, so you’ll come across lots of fresh (old) inventory. (And in any case, it’s likely cheaper than buying something new at a department store.)
I also recommend keeping tabs on any winter promotions your secondhand shops might have, such as after Thanksgiving or Christmas sales.
That’s all for today, folks! If you’re willing to make the trek to the thrift store during autumn and winter, you’ll come across a bevy of high-quality and affordable clothes. I know that for me, personally, the holidays can be a bit stressful when it comes to money. What I love about thrifting is that your money can really go far. All of the existing coats in my closets are thrifted, and most of them have been in my collection for years and years.
