Why I Love Thrifting for High-End Fashion

There’s a moment that happens when you’re thrifting — if you know, you know.

You’re flipping through a rack. It’s quiet, a little chaotic, nothing stands out… and then suddenly your hand stops.

The fabric feels different. Softer. Heavier. Better.

You pull it out.

Cashmere. Silk. A beautifully made piece tucked between fast fashion and worn basics.

And just like that — you’ve found it.

It’s the thrill of the find

Over the years, I’ve found pieces I never would have imagined — a Chanel scarf tucked between fast fashion racks, a men’s Loro Piana tuxedo, Etro ties, and a mint-condition mens Brunello Cucinelli cashmere zip-up that felt like it had been waiting there for me.

Vintage Schiaparelli silk scarves, a structured Mackage crossbody, and more modern finds like a classic Burberry piece and Chloé signature scalloped pumps — even a pair of unmistakable Christian Louboutin heels.

But the truth is, I rarely find these pieces where you’d expect. For higher-end brands, I hunt in local charity shops and women’s club sales — the kind of places where donations come straight from well-loved closets, and no one is curating for resale value.

That’s where the magic is. The pieces that make you stop for a second and wonder how they ended up there in the first place.

Thrifting for high-end fashion isn’t passive. It’s not scrolling, it’s not clicking “add to cart.”

It’s active. It’s intuitive.

You’re using your eye, your hands, your experience.

You’re scanning for:

• quality fabrics

• construction

• labels

• that subtle difference between something ordinary and something special

And when you find it?

There’s a real dopamine hit. A little spark of excitement that never quite gets old.

It’s not just shopping — it’s discovery.

There’s always a bucket list

I think most thrifters have one — whether we say it out loud or not.

A quiet list in the back of our minds. The pieces we’re always hoping to find.

And I don’t just source for resale.

I have a list too.

Sometimes it’s a specific brand.
Sometimes it’s a perfect fabric.
And sometimes, it’s just great vintage — the kind you can’t quite define, but you know it the moment you see it.

And when you do find it?

It’s amazing.

Not just because of the value, but because of what it represents — patience, instinct, and a little bit of luck.

Over time, I’ve been lucky enough to find a few of mine.

Three Brunello Cucinelli heritage sweaters, a Burberry silk scarf in the blue plaid colorway.
A few Jenni Kayne pieces that felt exactly right.

Each one tucked into a rack, waiting to be noticed.

And still — there are things I’m looking for.

A great vintage Pendleton shirt for one of my sons.
A beautiful cashmere sweater in just the right colorway for my sister-in-law.
The kind you know the moment you see it.

That’s part of what keeps it interesting.

There’s always something out there you haven’t found yet.

It’s a social ritual

Some of my favorite thrifting moments have nothing to do with what I bought.

They’re the afternoons spent with girlfriends — walking into a store with no expectations, laughing over what we find, holding things up and asking, is this amazing or completely insane?

There’s something about thrifting that invites conversation:

• opinions

• stories

• second guesses

• little celebrations when one of us finds the piece

It’s not transactional. It’s shared.

It’s something I share with my son

One of the things I didn’t expect is how much I’d love doing this with one of my sons.

We see things differently — different styles, different instincts — but that’s what makes it fun.

We’ll walk the racks together, and sometimes he’ll spot something I would have missed. Sometimes I’ll show him what to look for — the fabric, the stitching, the way something hangs.

There’s a quiet kind of connection in that.

No pressure. Just time, attention, and the occasional “this is actually really good.”

It travels with me

Thrifting isn’t something I only do at home.

It’s something I look for wherever I go.

From Paris to Seattle, one of the first things I do in a new place is search for consignment, charity, and thrift stores. Not the obvious stops — the quieter ones. The ones locals know.

There’s something about seeing a city through its secondhand shops.

You get a sense of:

• what people wear

• what they value

• what they’ve let go of

And sometimes, you find something you could never have found anywhere else — a piece that carries a little bit of that place with it.

It turns travel into something more personal.

Less about buying, more about discovering.

It’s a community (even when you don’t expect it)

Recently, I ran into someone I follow on Instagram while thrifting in Palo Alto.

She didn’t recognize me — which, honestly, made sense — but I recognized her right away.

For a minute, I just watched the way she moved through the racks. The same instinct, the same quiet focus.

And then I did something I don’t usually do — I walked up and introduced myself.

I told her I loved her content.

It was a small moment. Simple. Brief. And then we both went back to what we were doing.

But it stayed with me.

Because it reminded me that this isn’t just something I do on my own.

There’s a whole community of people who see things the same way — who notice the fabric, the details, the potential.

You don’t always see each other.

But every once in a while, you do.

It’s about quality — not quantity

At this point, I’m not looking for more.

I’m looking for better.

Thrifting high-end fashion is about recognizing:

• craftsmanship

• natural fibers

• pieces that were made to last

It’s choosing something that already has a story — and giving it a second life.

You stop chasing trends.

You start building a wardrobe that feels intentional.

It aligns with how I want to live

There’s a deeper layer to it, too.

Buying preloved — especially high-quality pieces — feels like a quieter, more thoughtful way to consume.

Less waste.
More longevity.
More appreciation for what already exists.

It’s not about being perfect.

It’s about being intentional.

And sometimes… it’s just magic

There are days when you find nothing.

And then there are days when everything aligns — the right store, the right rack, the right moment.

A piece you never would have found anywhere else.

Final thought

Thrifting, for me, isn’t just about fashion.

It’s:

• the thrill

• the connection

• the quality

• the stories

It’s a slower, more human way of shopping.

And it’s one I keep coming back to — again and again.

Buy better. Wear longer.

If you’ve ever thought about turning thrifting into something more, I share exactly how I build my resale business in my playbook.