As you’re no doubt aware by now, I love thrift store shopping. In addition to the fact that it’s a bit like going on a treasure hunt, there are several other advantages. I can afford to pay full price for my clothes, but my opportunities to shop are limited by the fact that I live in a very small rural community. Two small thrift stores are the only places to shop for clothing locally. The cost per wear is, of course, much lower when I buy second-hand and I also like the fact that, in my own small way, I’m helping reduce the enormous impact that the fashion industry has on the environment.

Thrifting can be a great way to add unique pieces or to fill gaps in your wardrobe, but I cringe whenever I see a blogger or a YouTuber bragging about her thrift store “hauls”. Excess of any kind bothers me. A bargain isn’t a bargain unless you’re actually going to use it and I can’t imagine anyone actually wearing everything in some of those hauls. I often leave a thrift store empty-handed, but once in awhile I find something that’s just right for me. Today I’m going to share my last two second-hand finds with you.

The casual, comfy tunic shirt from Old Navy has been a good addition to my fall wardrobe. The fabric, although 99% cotton, has a linen-like feel and the soft tan with multicoloured flecks throughout works well with my complexion.

When thrift store shopping, you might have to wade through some very outdated pieces to find what you’re looking for, but it’s possible to look up-to-date or even on trend wearing second-hand clothes. For example, brown is one of the hottest fashion colours for fall/winter 2024 and stripes are also on trend. There’s nothing out of date about my latest find which went with me on our recent trip to the coast.

I probably wouldn’t have bought the sweater new because it was made in China. That’s a personal choice, but one of my fashion shopping goals in recent years has been to avoid buying items, especially new ones, that were made in a country that is so well-known for exploiting it’s factory workers.

In case you’re wondering, the final two photos were taken in the tiny community of Madiera Park on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. The other one was taken yesterday in my own backyard. At 14ºC (57ºF) and sunny, it was unseasonably warm for the first week of November in Alberta, but I’m afraid that we’ll soon be taking all my fashion post photos indoors again!