We’re a few months into autumn but it’s taken weeks to finally feel like it. To celebrate its arrival and the transition into the chilly weather, let’s review some affordable ways to update your wardrobe with the best of this season’s fashion trends.

Let’s start with what Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and the Who What Wear website all agree are the trends for this spring:

  • Sheer layering
  • Moody florals
  • Shades of red and pale pink
  • Statement sleeves and shoulders – cold shoulder cut-outs, or sleeves laden with extra fabric and accent pieces
  • Vintage-inspired furs
  • Mid-length skirts

Some of the quirkier trends on other lists include 70s plaid, retro hats, boxy silhouettes, leisure suits and formal velvet. 

Armed with this knowledge, I checked out the Jonnycake Center, The Blue Mitten, and Exceptions this past weekend to see what kind of selection they had for these items, and I am happy to report that I was able to find everything I was looking for!

Actually, thrift stores are a goldmine currently, because of the trend in bold shoulders and revisiting the best of the 1980s. Striped shirts and attire in shades of pink and yellow abounded everywhere I went, with some classic trench coats most available at the Jonnycake Center. The most difficult trend to find was probably the one shoulder/cold shoulder look but I still found a dress or two to fit the bill and since this style is literally everywhere in stores now, it’s only a matter of time before those pieces start finding their way to consignment shops.

Other highlights included finding beautiful and practically new purses by Prada, Kate Spade, and Coach; skirts and blouses by Michael Kors, J. Crew, and Banana Republic, as well as some vintage, American made wool coats and blazers.

Personally, I do almost all of my clothes shopping at thrift stores, and we’re lucky to have so many to choose from in Westerly. Even as an avid fan, I’ll admit that shopping at thrift stores can feel daunting at times – the racks are sometimes overstuffed, the aisles can be small, and if you find something you love but it’s not in your size, you might be out of luck.

However, there’s a lot to be said for the rush of finding a beautiful new cashmere sweater and other hidden gems (sometimes literally) for the price of a cup of coffee! It’s a lot easier to experiment as you cultivate your personal style and justify taking a fashion risk, when it will only cost you $4 instead of $40 or $400! Thrifting is also great for the environment because it reduces waste and it’s great for the community as a whole – for example, by shopping at the Jonnycake Center, you’re helping them provide food, job training, and medical equipment to those in need.

Trench Coats @Jonnycake

As a lifelong thrift store shopper, these are my best tips:

  • Pick no more than three specific items to look for when you first arrive – like some striped shirts, a beachy little black dress, and a trench coat – and make a beeline for those sections. If you go in expecting to update your entire wardrobe in one day, you’ll feel overwhelmed and might leave disappointed.
  • Once you’ve made your way through those areas, make a quick pass of the whole store and see which other items catch your eye
  • Thrifting should be a visual and tactile experience – I like to go by colors and fabric feel
  • Don’t be afraid to grab something that’s a little too big for you – if you love it, find a tailor and have it taken in. We have several to choose from right in town and others nearby.
  • Don’t follow trends just for the sake of it – what works on the mannequin or the runway model may be ridiculously impractical and uncomfortable for you, but if you really love something, find a way to incorporate it into your style. If those head-to-toe florals mentioned earlier are too loud a statement for you to make, go with a floral scarf instead. Make trends work for you.
  • Wear what you’re comfortable in, but don’t be afraid to make a splash – I love to mix classic staples (like trench coats) with novelty accessories like funky purses and boldly colored, oversized sunglasses

Everything old is new again, and what’s trending now will be in thrift stores tomorrow. If you see something in a magazine that you think you’ll love forever, don’t worry if you don’t find it right away. It will find its way to you eventually – that’s virtually a guarantee!

Shop early, shop often – many stores restock on a certain day of the week, so try to figure out what day that is and get first crack at the new arrivals. If you strike out this week, come back next week – there’s always something new about to pop up.

Fashion trends come and go, but having a sense of style is forever.

Happy spring, and happy shopping!