Thrifting a Fall Wardrobe, 2024

Part One

I've tried different ways of writing this post, including using the curmudgeonly rabbit alter ego, but everything has felt like too much overthinking. Here's a final attempt, and I'll try to keep it as simple as possible.

I don't know what the economy is like where you live, or whether you have been seeing the same price hikes we have, even at thrift stores. Some people are refusing even to shop in thrift stores, because they think resellers are taking the "good stuff," or that the thrifting trend has caused prices to rise. Now,  I admit, I have seen my share of nutty, worn-out, overpriced stuff. However, that's not all there is, even at the big chains! Sometimes you have to look, and look again. There is no exact system, no checklist, no magic store--it just comes down to looking at things with an open mind, and avoiding as much pricing nonsense as possible (especially the proliferation of "boutique" racks at stores that aren't up to the challenge). But it does help to start with a plan, which is where the Vivienne Files website comes in. 

The Vivienne Files has been doing a monthly series based on paintings, and one of them is "The Glen" by Canadian-born artist Elizabeth Magill. I started off using the V-F series as a pattern for this fall's clothes. I realized, however, that, while I enjoyed the challenge of paring down to navy-blue-white (and I found some good navy things that I might not have looked for otherwise), I have clothes in other colours that I want to wear as well, and that's just common sense. So this is going to be an "inspired by" rather than a close copying.

That brings us back to questions like, what do you like to wear? What do you have? What will you be doing? How many clothes do you need? Do you want to be creative with outfits, or make them no-brainers because you're busy with other stuff? What's your weather like? September where I live can sometimes be hotter than August (especially in the afternoons), but there's usually a week towards the end of the month when you wake up and know that yep, summer's done.

Part Two: Start with a Scarf, or Two

A midsummer thrift stop netted me two new scarves, for two dollars apiece. Here they are with a cashmere-blend pullover (just saying that feels luxurious), and a vintage silk blouse (ditto).

But since we also have to clothe our bottom halves, here are the tops again with the addition of blue jeans (thrift store dollar rack), a pair of knit pants, navy running shoes, charcoal-grey ankle boots, and a practical purse.

We may as well stay dressed up for now, with a pinstriped blazer, hot pink turtleneck, navy skirt (made from a dress), deeper pink sleeveless dress, and dark blue cardigan. The ankle boots are on repeat, but I've added loafers (bought new last year) and a rhinestone-trimmed handbag.

So far we have 9 clothing items:

navy silk shirt

lighter weight pink turtleneck pullover

heavier pink turtleneck pullover

dark blue cardigan

navy pinstriped blazer

navy skirt

blue jeans

navy knit pants

deep pink sleeveless dress

What are some things we could do with those?

Navy shirt and skirt, a different scarf and bag, boots

Pink cabled turtleneck, navy pants, running shoes, a navy-based scarf

Shirt, cardigan, jeans, purse, loafers.

Hot pink turtleneck, dark blue cardigan, skirt, boots, purse

Navy shirt, knit pants, navy running shoes, and a light blue pashmina scarf.

Part Three

While this little clothes cluster makes for nice photographs, there are some obvious gaps. Let's add nine more items.

navy short-sleeved t-shirt

grey-blue long-sleeved t-shirt

white shirt

blue chambray polka-dot shirt

white mock-neck sweater

navy "unblazer" (can be worn open or zipped)

another pair of navy pants

jean skirt

navy cabled turtleneck pullover

One could manage pretty well with this wardrobe for the fall (say if one were hanging out at the observatory, or running around Rabbit Land). There are enough tops to get one through the week, as Janice at the V-F says; there are enough things to layer. But how could we expand it a bit more? Maybe a bit more pattern? Some stripes?

Cotton-modal Henley top

Vintage navy polka-dot rayon blouse, short sleeves    

Bright blue striped pullover. It's what I think of as a fake knit--the stripes are printed on one side only; but I like it anyway.

Blue and white striped shirt, and a heavier navy cardigan with striped elbow patches (not shown).

And a few other things that aren't navy or blue?

Plum-coloured wrap blouse (vintage)

Lavender turtleneck

Another favourite heavy pullover, pink/purple mix

That brings us to 26 clothing items, which is a pretty good place to stop. 

Part Four

An evaluation? This season's wardrobe is heavy on shirts and sweaters, with not as many options on the bottom; so some not-navy trousers, such as light grey cords, are on my wish list. (I did have a pair, but they're worn out.)  Also, maybe a pair of dressier shoes (I have hard-to-fit feet, so I have to take what I can find). The interesting thing about it, though, is that, with the exception of a couple of pairs of shoes and the jean skirt, I think everything on this season's list came from secondhand sources, and some fairly recently.

So it's out there. You can find it. Go for it.