The 6 Best Accessories to Thrift

One of the most important things about wearing your thrift finds it making sure that they don’t look like you thrifted them. Nobody wants it to be obvious that they’re wearing second-hand clothing, a.k.a your grandma’s sweater. And hearing, “Wow, you thrifted that?!” is the best compliment to receive. So, a big way to achieve this and to elevate your thrift finds is by styling and accessorizing.

A girl accessorizing her outfit

Wearing vs. Styling Your Thrift Finds

While simply wearing the clothes you thrifted is 100% acceptable and your outfits can still look great doing this, we need to acknowledge the fact that there’s a big difference between wearing your clothes vs. styling your clothes. Wearing your clothes is exactly what it sounds like: just putting your clothes on your back. However, by styling your thrift finds, you can make them uniquely yours and elevate the look. Maybe you’ve seen the trend on TikTok where influencers break down the difference.

Here are the 6 best accessories to thrift in order to elevate your style:

1. Shoes

2. Bags

3. Scarves & Bandanas

4. Hats

5. Belts

6. Sunglasses & Jewelry

Another way to accessorize your outfit

1. Thrifting Shoes

Now, this may be hard depending on your shoe size because some sizes have more options than others, but I genuinely believe that shoe section in thrift stores is a treasure trove. I have found some of my favorite shoes there, including a pair of black and white platform boots (they’re to die for).

I believe this is a great way to step up your fashion (pun intended) because you can find a lot of really unique shoes for very cheap. This can allow you to step out of your comfort zone (pun intended) by trying something you maybe wouldn’t always wear, but in a way where you don’t have to break the bank to do it.

You can also just find some great staple shoes that are extremely durable. I have a pair of thrifted Nikes that I’ve had for 4 years and I still wear them all over the place. Moral of the story: don’t skip out on the shoe section, I promise. A lot of shoes still have a lot of wear in them so shop sustainably for a pair!

Trending chunky dad shoes are easily found at the thrift store

2. Thrifting Bags

Thrifting bags is a great way to elevate your look because not only are they stylish, but they’re practical: they’re a great place to put all your items. They are such an easy addition to your outfit for this reason.

When thrifting, the purse section is always packed full of bags which means you have a lot of options to choose from. Similarly, because there are usually so many bags, a lot of the good ones can get tucked away and are hidden underneath all the other ones, so make sure to pay attention to those ones.

When riffling through the purses, pay attention to the color and the size you want. This makes it easier to find what you’re looking for.

Thrifted Gucci purse

3. Thrifting Scarves

Thrifting scarves or hair bandanas can really be a hit or miss. Sometimes the only options are badly knitted or falling apart. However, if you are able to find one of these items at the thrift store, jump on it! They can add so much personality to your outfit, especially hair bandanas. Plus, if your hair is a little greasy one day, slap a bandana on and voila! Nobody will know.

We also need to acknowledge the fact that they’re multi-functional. Scarves and bandanas can double as belts, and hair bandanas can be tied around your neck as a chic ascot. They can also be extremely practical during colder weather.

Ways to style a scarf

4. Thrifting Hats

A lot of unique hats can be found at the thrift store- hats that you can’t find in your average fast fashion outlet. Plus, nowhere else are you going to find the same variety of hats as you do in a thrift store and for the same price. There are so many options.

This is one of my favorite accessories to include because they’re also extremely functional. You can keep your head and ears warm and protect your face and neck from the sun, or even hide your greasy hair, just like hair bandanas. Additionally, they can add a lot of color and patterns without it taking away from your outfit because it’s concentrated in such a small area.

Now, I know sometimes people think thrifting hats and trying them on can be gross, but you can easily toss your hat in the washer when you get home, and I’ve personally never had an issue with any of the hats I’ve thrifted, so don’t let that deter you from checking this section out.

Colorful knitted beanie

5. Thrifting Belts

According to How to Wear a Belt: 6 Ways to Style a Belt - 2023 - MasterClass, “The right belt can do more than just hold pants up—this accessory can bring an outfit together, dictate a dress code, and even be a statement piece unto itself.” And they’re completely right.

Belts can often be overlooked because they’re sometimes hidden underneath your shirt when they are serving a more practical function. This is totally understandable, however, keep in mind that by changing it up every once in a while, and wearing it in a way that makes it stand out, you can be functional and stylish just like that. For these reasons, when you’re in the thrift store, don’t skimp over the belt section. By keeping in mind, the size and the width you’re looking for, you’re going to have better luck and it will help you decide what you should get.

However, if you do happen to find a belt that you really like but it’s too long, there’s a belt hole puncher you can buy to create more holes to make it fit you perfectly.

Thrifted Stylish Brown Belt

6. Thrifting Jewelry and Sunglasses

I put these two together because oftentimes in thrift stores, they’re found in the same section. It’s easy to browse over both at the same time because of this.

Sunglasses can be hard to thrift because the options are usually more limited, and you have to make sure you have the right size for your head. Additionally, they tend to be more outdated, but this means it’s a great section for the Y2K girlies. Plus, because there’s usually not a lot to choose from in this section, it’s easy and quick to look through. There’s no denying that it’s a great accessory to add because its functional purpose, so if you’re in need of a new pair or want to find something unique, check it out.

Meanwhile, jewelry can be hard because it can be very cheap looking, but at the same time, you can find a diamond in the rough (pun intended) that’s inexpensive compared to the prices offered at other stores. Influencer Emma Dimarco has some great tips about thrifting jewelry.

Elevating a thrifted outfit with sunglass

As you can tell, there are numerous accessories you can add to your thrift finds to elevate your look. Plus, a lot of things you may already have at home that you can use to do the same thing. At the end of the day just remember that there’s a difference between wearing vs. styling your clothes.

If you’re looking for more styling tips, make sure to stick around for our article on easy, at-home styling tips!