Thrift Store Chic: Adorable and Attainable Secondhand Style

We all know those people who just have incredible luck thrifting. They can walk into a store for the first time, and they’re out again in a half-hour with a new (to them) wardrobe or stash of housewares that look effortlessly lovely. Today we’ll share some tips and tricks from the experts so you, too, can steal that thrift-chic style.
Elisa Marshall in a room decorated with thrift store finds

Image via wsj.com

For Elisa Marshall, a founding partner of the charming bakery chain Maman, thrifting is in her DNA. The daughter of an antiques dealer, even as a child she was poking around flea markets admiring secondhand finds. She harnessed this appreciation for stuff with stories to decorate all six of her restaurant’s locations with a cohesive, cozy character. Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina (Greensboro) recently shared an article on its Facebook page with Marshall’s insight for transforming thrifted things into chic décor.
“It’s too easy to go to a store to buy a decorative piece that anyone else can have,” she said. “Finding these pieces that you have stories to tell about personalizes your home and makes it unique.”
One quick tip: “A table can look too contrived if everything [on it] is the same,” so mix and match to find a balance of objects that’s specific to your taste. Read the rest of the article for more advice on picking the perfect pieces for home during secondhand shopping adventures!
Sherrica Sims in an orange maxi skirt and blue blouse

Image via instagram.com/sherricasims

Where fashion is concerned, I feel like Sherrica Sims has found a sweet spot. Her vivacious spirit has her exploring so many different styles of dress while always keeping it true to herself. Although she never comes right out and states these two thrift-shopping tips, from reading her Instagram posts, I think it’s safe to say that positivity and a great sidekick are two of her secrets to secondhand shopping success. In fact, this flowy burnt orange maxi skirt was spotted by Sherrica’s Thrift Chic partner Nina. So, if you really want to score some great finds, take the pressure off with a coffee, a friend and a positive attitude. I bet you won’t be disappointed!
A re-finished side table

Image via dwellbeautiful.com

Our last tip for today is to imagine the possibilities. A lot of things won’t look great sagging from a plastic hanger or sitting on a crowded shelf, but it’s the personality you infuse within your finds that makes them special!
These 21 Incredibly Chic Thrift Store Makeovers shared on the Facebook page for Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties (Eugene) exemplify the toad-to-prince transformation that is possible with a bit of imagination and a touch of elbow grease. Click through to see the easy step-by-step tutorials for thrift-chic re-dos, like this metallic-topped side table, that are totally attainable for every skill level! Imagine some of these techniques applied to the items in your local Goodwill®, and you won’t be leaving empty-handed.
Now it’s time to hit the racks to see what unique and lovely thrift store finds are waiting for you. Your purchase will be doubly classy since it will also support Goodwill’s mission to help people with barriers to finding employment overcome their challenges by obtaining quality jobs. Goodwill organizations are involved in one out of every 200 hires in the United States (based on Department of Labor Statistics), and that’s possible because of people like you who shop at and donate to Goodwill.