A Beginners Guide To Goodwill Shopping For Fall Fashion

As part of my “self-discovery”,  I thought I would start focusing on finding some great deals for fall fashion.  My wallet is empty most days so I decided to see what I could find at my local GoodWill.

I knew finding something that fit into my fall criteria would be hit or miss.  Long sleeves and I don’t mesh well because I am almost always hotter than the sun.  I don’t like tight clothing because I am too self-conscious and I don’t want things sticking to me.  I have my own set of personal “don’t’s” but I’ll put them aside for now.

I tried to find something that fit within the suggested fall fashion color palette.  I found this website that shows you the Pantone colors for each season.  It provides you with a good idea of what to look for color wise.  It’s like my fashion guide cheat sheet.  Being stuck in “mom-style” for the last 18 years means I need as much help as I can get.  

It was a very daunting experience, I’m not going to lie.  I’m “plus size” so that makes finding clothing you like (especially at a resale or thrift shop) next to impossible.  I was determined to find something…anything that would make me excited about fall fashion again, even if it was gently used!

I grabbed a bunch of clothing and headed to the dressing rooms.  After trying on shirt after shirt, at least 15 different ones, in unexpecting colors and piling them up onto the bench, I started to feel disgusted with myself.  After seeing my semi-naked self-stare back at me made me want to cry.  Was this yet another turning point in my life?  Determined to start loving myself, bubble belly and all, I wiped away my tears and dug deep into the pile of clothing.  When you wear big baggy tee-shirts and yoga pants, finding something that you feel good in is hard.

Then I found it.  It was perfect!  Naturally drawn to dark colors, so I wanted to find colors that best suited my skin tone.  I found this really cute gray (“Sharkskin” they call it)  light weight sweater.  When I tried it on, I knew it was for me.  It just seemed to fit perfectly.  It wasn’t too big or too small, it was light-weight, the right color, v-neck…it was perfect.  I felt so much better after finding that one new piece of clothing.

As I exited the dressing with my sweater and pile of rejects, I spotted this adorable handbag. The muted gold tones created a great accent against the sharkskin colored sweater perfectly!  I visioned what my fall fashion outfit would look like and I couldn’t wait to piece it all together.  I would later pair it up with my light denim Capri jeans, Essie (affiliate links)  nail polish, my older brown Chelsea boot, and crystal necklace .  

Fall Fashion Under $10

I found my new sweater & handbag to kickstart the fall with and it was less than $10 for both pieces.  I can pair my sweater with jeans, black pants, or a skirt for three different looks.  Be sure to follow me on Instagram where I will soon be sharing the other sweater I found!

This was my first baby step back into the world of affordable fashion.  I’m certain that as I lose weight, my fashion sense will reappear.  But in the meantime, I have a few tips to help you rediscover your fashion style.

Tips for Goodwill Shopping

1. Go in with an open mind.  I had never purchased clothing for myself at Goodwill so it was a new adventure for me.  I went in believing I was going to come out with at least one thing, and I managed to find 3.  Do not be afraid to buy things from Goodwill.  Get over yourself!  You can find great, name-brand items (if that means something to you) for a lot less.  My daughter bought a pair of Calvin Klein jeans for $4.99.  Where else can you find a pair of Calvin’s for that price?   Go in with a plan.  Pick a few basic colors to look for.  I knew my staple color was going to be Sharkskin, but I also went in looking for Riverside, Airy Blue, and Lush Meadow.  I kept the Pantone website on my phone for quick access to reference colors.
2. Go in with a budget.  I knew I didn’t want to spend more than $20 on three looks.  My Sharkskin sweater was $4.99, my handbag was $4.99 and my second sweater that will be revealed later was only $3.99.  Keeping in line with my budget, I still have about $6.00 for a third look.
3. Try on different items, styles, and colors.  When I say I took in a pile of clothing, I seriously took in at least 20 different shirts, sweaters, jeans, and pants.  I came out with two sweaters (I’ll share the second find later), and a handbag.
4. Take your time.  There are a lot of things to look through at Goodwill, so take your time in doing so.  Make sure the items aren’t ripped, have holes or snags.  Look at all different sizes too because you never know what size will fit you after someone else has worn, washed and dried it.
5. Enjoy the experience.  After I had my mini-melt-down in the dressing room, I actually had a good time trying to find something that I liked.  I knew that one piece was there, it was just a matter of me accepting me…and being patient. 

I look forward to my Goodwill shopping excursions!  How about you?  Have you ever shopped at Goodwill?  Do you have any tips or tricks to share?  I’d love to learn more as I plan on making going to Goodwill a frequent stop!