• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Sea of Shoes

The Official Home of Jane Aldridge

  • Fashion
    • Outfits
    • Collages
    • Shoes
    • Fashion in Film
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Food
  • Lifestyle
    • Thyme + Temp
    • Travel
    • Interiors
    • Books
    • Music
    • Movies
  • Guides
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Building A Second Hand Capsule Wardrobe for Fall

FashionGuidesOutfits
Sep 13, 201913 Comments

This brutal summer has made me very enthusiastic about preparing for the colder months ahead, and I cannot wait to be wearing some of the cozy sweaters and wool trousers that have been languishing in my closet for months. Part of my preparation for the new season was to par down my wardrobe and part with some pieces that are no longer serving me. I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk about how to build up a mini-wardrobe to get you excited for fall…but do it by shopping all second hand! It has come to my attention that it is Secondhand September and as you know, that is the primary way I do my shopping. Lets break down a step by step process of shopping smart.

I call this a capsule wardrobe because it’s just going to be a mini-boost to to the wardrobe you already have and love. Most of us tend to invest more heavily in coats and bags and shoes because those are the items to go on to serve us for years to come. Supplementing these well-loved investment pieces with a small addition of high quality second-hand sweaters, pants, and skirts can make your wardrobe feel brand new and exciting. Let’s talk about getting a plan together for sprucing up our winter wardrobe, sustainably. It’s a great opportunity to engage with your closet and think about what is working for you and what is not.

  1. Get inspired

The best way to get yourself excited for this project is to make a moodboard for your wardrobe. Go on pinterest and start a inspiration board, make an Instagram saved images folder, or get some magazines and cut out photos you like. I have been craving a simple wardrobe full of natural textures, with lots of navy and brown and grey. I saved loads of images from Margaret Howell runway shows. I love her sense of design and I know that this look is going to be highly thriftable!

2. Make a shopping guide for yourself

Now that you have an inspiration board of what you love, take a good look at it. Write down the colors that reappear most frequently. Did you see an item that you would really like to have? For me, it was a brown plaid midi skirt, and the perfect grey sweatshirt. Make a shopping guide for yourself, identifying a color scheme and key pieces to be on the lookout for. This makes shopping a less overwhelming process. I always find the color guides super helpful.

3. Pull out what you already have and love.

Now, with the same shopping guide and moodboard you made for yourself, take a look at your closet. The moodboard exercise may make you look at what you already have with a totally fresh set of eyes. Pick out some key pieces that fit the theme of the capsule wardrobe you are designing. You may find it helpful to clear off a clothing rack for this. I use rolling clothing racks from The Container Store and they are perfect for putting together rotating capsule wardrobes. I chose a cashmere coat by Lauren Monoogian, a few pair of vintage mannish trousers, an 80s Perry Ellis coat, a vintage Bill Blass coat, and a few favorite men’s sweaters I have thrifted over the years.

4. Closet Cleanout & Clothing Exchange

Now that you’ve clarified your goals for yourself and what you want, your eye will be especially attuned to what is not working in your closet. Go through and look at your closet and take out the things you are ready to part with. I pulled out some jackets that felt outdated, some jeans that I didn’t wear very much, and some clothes I bought at the thrift store that just never fit me right. I had a sizeable bag of clothes I didn’t love anymore that I took to Buffalo Exchange, to exchange for a store credit. This is a great way to shop sustainably. I ended up with a store credit of $120, and I didn’t even spend it all. With my store credit and my shopping guide in hand, I went through Buffalo Exchange to find some exciting new pieces to add to my wardrobe. I did the same thing at Crossroads Trading and found even more fantastic stuff. Shopping at second hand stores that allow you to exchange your clothes for store credit is a great way to dress sustainably.

5. Shopping second hand online, and in thrift stores

To add in new pieces sustainably, use the shopping guide you made for yourself to peruse thrift stores and online at places like eBay, Etsy, and Depop. I made some really cheap finds on eBay, including a beautiful vintage Anne Klein jacket I won for only 99 cents! The DKNY pants look great on and cost me under 15 dollars with shipping included. I found another fantastic oversized men’s sweatshirt and a satin beige skirt when I went thrifting. The shopping guide you make is especially helpful for thrifting, because looking at just the colors you selected will help focus your hunt.

Some tips for shopping on eBay: search for brands you already love and make saved searches. I save searches for all of my favorite vintage designers and I check them every day. That is how I make such affordable finds. Also, don’t limit yourself to just the vintage category on eBay. I often find vintage being sold in the main clothing category on eBay. It takes patience, and eBay can be a bit of a learning curve, but with time you’ll find a rythym and searches you like.

For instance: I did not find the brown check skirt I wanted at any of the consignment stores I went to or the thrift stores, so I started digging on eBay. I was overwhelmed by the options when I searched for “check skirt” on eBay. I tried a couple of different variations to narrow the results, like “tan plaid skirt”, “check skirt xs”, and “brown pencil skirt” and through some variation of these searches I found the one I was looking for. I can’t wait to wear it with knee high boots and navy sweaters this winter!

I hope this guide is of some help and inspiration to you! Let me know what you find this month. I love to delight in good finds with other thrifters and vintage shoppers.

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

inspiration style tutorial vintage

Related Posts

The Classics

Those of you who have been reading Sea of Shoes for a long time know that I am a lifelong ...
seaofshoes
September 6, 2018
Fashion

25% Off At Net a Porter…My Picks!

Hurrah! Today the friends and family sale at Net-a-Porter has started, and there are some truly fabulous choices if you’re ...
seaofshoes
November 11, 2019
Fashion

Elvis Goes to A Weight Loss Ranch…for Models Only!

I feel like I’ve been getting a lot of cosmic signs from the universe lately that I need to spend ...
seaofshoes
May 1, 2019
Fashion in Film

Three Valentine’s Movies and Menus For A Romantic Night In

Much like New Years Eve, Valentine’s Day is one of those nights that can fall massively short of expectations when ...
seaofshoes
April 7, 2019
Food

Best Shows from Spring Summer 2019

I had the privilege of attending this show and from the moment the show started you knew that this was ...
seaofshoes
October 15, 2018
Fashion

Prep Classics

I like having a few preppy staples on hand to mix in with my outfits. A polo feels very modern ...
seaofshoes
September 6, 2018
Fashion

CYBER MONDAY

  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I missed out on Black Friday because I was just so wiped ...
seaofshoes
September 6, 2018
Fashion

Finding the Perfect Chunky Turtleneck

  I posted this look on Instagram this week an was inundated with questions and DMs about my cable knit ...
seaofshoes
September 6, 2018
Fashion

The Year of the Clog

  Why do clogs feel so right, right now? Maybe because sensible shoes feel grounding in insane times like these. ...
seaofshoes
July 19, 2019
Fashion

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gitana says

    September 13, 2019 at 12:29 pm

    Oh wow. I love the finds you were able to discover at these places. I love going to buffalo and crossroads. They’re really good for finding quality for low prices (and most of the stuff has hardly been worn!). And the Joan Twin Peaks vibes are totally YES. I’m feeling the trouser and sloppy sweatshirt look lately so I’m definitely going to write a good, condensed (gotta keep it minimal) shopping list down soon. :) Thanks for the inspo.

    simplygitana.com

    Reply
    • seaofshoes says

      September 13, 2019 at 2:07 pm

      Thank you Gitana!! Good luck on your winter shopping. Joan Chen’s look in Twin Peaks was so elegant! She was just gorgeous too.

      Reply
  2. Renata says

    September 13, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    I have been shopping second hand for years now and it’s the best: quality, price and exclusivity. And so much fun!
    Your excellent article makes me want to start ‘cleaning’ my wardrobe right now! :)

    Reply
  3. Elyse says

    September 14, 2019 at 5:43 am

    Great article! I am your mother’s age but you’re always an inspiration. ❤️

    Reply
  4. MP says

    September 14, 2019 at 9:43 pm

    Lots of fresh, fall-ready sustainability inspo! I am a fan of Buffalo and Crossroads, too. Though I have spent the last year paring my wardrobe down so haven’t indulged in a store credit yet. Keep your fabulously unique sense of style coming!

    Reply
  5. lvm says

    September 16, 2019 at 2:37 pm

    Bravo for buying second hand (plus for finding such chic outfits)!! I really want to stop buying fast fashion, less focus on trends, but rather buy second hand etc. Hopefully this kind of conscious consumption evolves into a trend – it would be influencers’ little contribution to making the world a better place and stopping climate change. <3

    Reply
  6. Melissa says

    September 17, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    I’d love to see more guides and tips like this, Jane. You condensed it into a format that’s easy to follow and is flexible.

    Reply
  7. Talya says

    September 18, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    Thank you so much for being so inspirational Jane! You are affecting how I see fashion so much.
    – I was wondering if you were planning to do a blogpost about how you maintain your wardrobe too (such as tips on ironing, categorizing).

    Reply
  8. Michsi says

    September 23, 2019 at 2:16 pm

    I never find things like this on ebay! I just ordered a blazer tho. Maybe that will look good once styled. I want really cool pants though. The studio Nicholson pants are really nice.

    Reply
  9. emaor says

    December 19, 2019 at 1:38 pm

    https://www.emaor.com/Best-Sneakers-for-Men-Sneakers-for-Men-Sock-Shoes-Sneakers-Shoes-for-Men-pd93559826.html
    Best Sneakers for Men Sneakers for Men Sock Shoes Sneakers Shoes for Men

    100% Leather and Textile

    Imported

    Boost is our biggest buffer: the more power you provide, the better your buffer.

    Hob knit upper;High ribbed collars and welded seams to provide additional weather protection;Thermal lining

    Enjoy the OrthoLite insoles

    The Hiamovi logo is on the heel strap and insole

    Reply
  10. Gata Collins says

    March 5, 2020 at 10:21 am

    What a brilliant idea :)

    Reply
  11. Naina Das says

    February 7, 2021 at 2:03 am

    Hi Jane!

    I bought a pair of vintage leather pants, as I didn’t want to spend on a new pair. However, the pants are a bit stretched out/slightly baggy at the knees. Do you know of any quick fix for something like that?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • seaofshoes says

      February 7, 2021 at 9:12 am

      I have never heard of a method to fix that, it is an unfortunate problem with natural leather that it does tend to stretch out! There are some good lined faux leather pants out there and I think that’s kind of the only way to avoid it! xx

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer Section

Sea of Shoes

  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Social

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin

Site Info

  • Copyright 2020
  • All Rights Reserved
  • Site by Jeff Dashley
  • Graphics by Heather Clark Lynn

Partner with Sea of Shoes

Jane Aldridge became one of the earliest pioneers of style blogging when she launched her Sea of Shoes in 2007. For the past decade, Jane has appeared in and worked with dozens of leading fashion publications and brands all over the world.

partner@seaofshoes.com

  • Copyright 2020
  • All Rights Reserved
  • Site by Jeff Dashley
  • Graphics by Heather Clark Lynn