By Felicia Czochanski Bisaro
The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on the previous year and set resolutions to improve our lives in the next year. Whether this is by setting up healthier habits, taking better care of household finances or living more mindfully with how we shop, there are always areas where we could improve. As I look ahead to 2025, one of the areas I’m interested in improving connects both my personal and sustainability goals. I plan to continue to shop secondhand, primarily for designer and luxury pieces. In the next year, my goal is to really focus more on quality instead of quantity when shopping.
Thrift shopping at Goodwill® can be fun and rewarding. I love the treasure hunt of secondhand shopping, and I make sure to set aside enough time to do a good search of the racks and shelves. I’m always on the lookout for designer items that are a fraction of their retail price, and over the years, I’ve had some amazing finds. I’ve found authentic Prada, Gucci, Missoni, Valentino, Alice + Olivia, Loeffler Randall and so many more. I always check the designer tag because, it’s a good indicator of the true value of the item. I’m focusing on quality this year because while I love thrift shopping, after a while, if you like to shop frequently, all those good finds start to add up and create clutter in your closet. I’d rather invest in a few designer pieces that I really love (at a price I can afford).
Sustainability at Goodwill
One of the things I love the most about Goodwill is that it drives the circular economy. This ensures that items stay in circulation longer and find new homes after other users no longer need them. Plus, when you shop at Goodwill, the proceeds of your purchase go back into the local community because it’s a nonprofit that supports people looking for jobs, education and support. Keep this in mind as you clean out your closets and home goods. Donating them to Goodwill saves those items from going into a landfill and gives them another chance at being picked up and used by someone else. By shopping secondhand, you reduce the need to produce brand-new items. It’s an environmental win, a community win and a personal win — all in one.
In my recent trips to Goodwill, I started to put this resolution into action. Trust me, it’s hard limiting how many items you buy when it’s easy to find so many hidden treasures at Goodwill. Yet, giving myself more restrictions did help me focus more on the quality of what I was buying. Not only did I want to find items by designers that I loved, but I wanted them to be higher quality materials that would last longer. Even while the price tags were a little bit higher for these items, it’s nothing compared to the original retail price, and I know they’ll be in my closet for years to come.
My High-End Goodwill Finds
Here’s some of what I took home!
- Paige Wool-Cashmere Blend Sweater
I’m going to be living in this sweater as the weather gets chillier. The asymmetrical detail makes it extra chic, and it is incredibly soft and comfy thanks, to the high-quality material.
- Trina Turk Alpaca Blend Oversized Sleeveless Cardigan
Oversized layers have been in style for the past few years, and this oversized cardigan is no exception. I’ll pair this with a long-sleeve top or sweater to keep me warm all winter.
- Veronica Beard High Waist Straight Leg Denim
Shoutout to the Goodwill on New York City’s 23rd Street for consistently having great denim options. When I saw this pair of jeans, I couldn’t say no. I love the high waist detail above the button, the color of the wash and the straight-leg style. It’s everything I’ve been looking for in a pair of jeans. While they usually retail for close to $300, I paid $19.99.
Find your local Goodwill store to start your own path toward more sustainable shopping in the new year.
