Written by: Kendra Kelly-Peterkin
Visuals by Darrius Spence and makeup by Arianne Lachey
All items pictured were purchased from The Salvation Army Thrift Store
Thrifting can either be the highlight of your summer hangout, or a complete disaster. You walk into your local Salvation Army Thrift Store, browse through different sections, feel buried by the amount of clothing in front of you, and it feels like nothing catches your eye. Suddenly, it’s an hour later, and your trip maybe ends with an empty cart.
Most people think that finding good pieces of clothing at the thrift store is ‘luck’, but here’s the truth: successful thrift-trips don’t happen at random; they follow a very strategic system. Those who find the right pieces know how to scan racks, find long-lasting fabrics, shop for different seasons, and, most importantly, see the potential behind every piece of clothing.
As a fashion consumer turned stylist, my introduction to wardrobe curation began with thrifting. On the surface, thrifting is a wonderful way to promote environmental sustainability, inspiring shoppers to give unwanted clothing a second life rather than placing them in landfills. Beneath it, most clothing in thrift stores are rare, aged, or discontinued, forcing shoppers to intentionally select pieces that will maximize their closet. At The Salvation Army Thrift Store, every rack offers an opportunity to discover those unique pieces while shopping sustainably. Rather than buying outfits exactly as displayed on clothing racks, I dive deeper into the silhouettes, layers, textures, colors, and versatility before choosing pieces at a Salvation Army Thrift Store.
When curating my summer wardrobe, the goal was to find pieces that felt breathable, secure, and adaptable to three core summer outfit scenarios: casual/everyday, beach days, and night-out. Loose maxi skirts, sheer tops, vintage jorts, and stacked jewelry are just some of the playful yet elevated pieces that commonly appear in summer outfits.
So, instead of browsing sections randomly, I developed the CTRL formula. This formula has completely changed the way I thrift and guarantees at least one successful outfit every time.
The CTRL Formula
This formula treats thrifting like a 4-step system:
C – Curate
T – Test
R – Rework
L – Layer
Carefully curating outfits during your shopping spree, testing fabric quality, reworking the original presentation of pieces, and layering outfit components allows you to thrift intentionally, much like a stylist would.
Using this method has made my thrift trips much easier, causing me to leave the store with concrete outfits rather than random purchases that don’t complement each other.
C - Curate
Most people make the mistake of walking into a thrift store without a plan, becoming easily overwhelmed by the amount of clothes in front of them. That’s how people end up with an empty cart on the way out.
Before I even browse through sections, I already know what colour palettes, silhouettes, fabrics and textures to seek out. The exact items aren’t always planned out but knowing what clothing characteristics to find allows me to pinpoint exactly what I need to buy.
When it comes to summer clothing, I usually look for the following details:
- soft denim
- large silhouettes
- sheer/breathable fabrics
- layers of basics
- bold accessories that create interest
- pieces that can be styled casually or for special occasions
Thrift stores display several pieces of clothing from different time periods, aesthetics, and fabric types. Consuming all of this visual information at once can be overwhelming, which distracts you from finding what you need. Instead, focus on curating a choice of pieces that share similar characteristics. This way, your selected items will stand out instead of looking off. Intentionally curating clothing improves your ability to recognize strong pieces.
My thrifting journey usually begins with selecting a top because it sets the tone for the outfit’s overall look. The summer season almost always calls for:
- sheer button-ups
- tank tops
- fitted tops
- large/oversized tee shirts
- breathable pieces
An oversized tee shirt has a much larger silhouette than a fitted top. A structured top holds more casual energy than a sheer button-up layered with an undershirt. Proportions can completely change the energy of any outfit. Most people overlook qualities like drape, density, neckline, sleeve composition, texture, and layers, which is why they aren’t always satisfied with the outfits that they create. Clothes don’t always need bold, intricate designs to provide value in your wardrobe; they serve as a base that thrives from added detail. Clothing pieces are like a book, and styling is the story that it holds.
I usually walk into a thrift store with a mental blueprint of the outfit that I want, even if I can’t find the pieces just yet. For instance, I wanted my first outfit to be casual, comfortable for every day, and hold subtle design details. Thus, I paired a sheer black long sleeve with a soft denim maxi skirt, using large silver bangles, a ring, necklace, earrings, black oversized belt and chunky silver heels to create interest through size contrast. From afar, it looks like a casual outfit with pops of detail here and there. Up close, the contrasting silhouettes and subtle velvet stripes on the black top give it a sense of individuality.
T - Test
Modern fashion trends, especially those highlighted on social media, often pressure shoppers into prioritizing looks over fabric. However, what social media doesn’t tell you is that trending items are often made from bad fabric, which fades, frays, and pills over time. This has led me to consistently test the fabric before placing a piece in my cart.
Summer fabric tests call for attention to qualities such as:
- air permeability
- comfortability in unpredictable weather conditions
- softness
- durability
- light weight
The last thing you want when thrifting an outfit is selecting pieces that look good, but cause discomfort in hot summer weather. My fabric testing process occurs in steps designed to promote the purchase of pieces suitable for summer weather and long-lasting wardrobes:
1. Check the stretchiness of the fabric: does it expand enough for free movement, or hug the body uncomfortably?
2. Place the fabric in your hand and feel it: is it soft or brittle? Thin or thick?
3. Check how the piece sits on the body: does the material fall seamlessly, or does it sag?
Most pieces instantly feel low-quality the moment you touch them, while others feel high-quality because the fabric is strong and comfortable. Good outfits look high quality because they use good fabric, not just popular branding assets like logos.
The second outfit part I search for at the thrift store is bottoms. I enjoy exploring the men’s section, as they often have sturdy jeans and shorts. For my second outfit, I went for a vibrant beach day look. I picked out a sheer pink cover-up, black undershirt, green jorts, green bracelet, earrings, and a pearl necklace stacked with a silver necklace. The clothing included fabrics such as denim and chiffon, which are very durable when worn.
R - Rework
Sometimes, people build an outfit and become unsatisfied with the first look once they try it on. However, the customization of an outfit doesn’t end after you’ve taken it off the rack. You must think outside of the box; thrifting is all about creativity, not perfectionism.
Pin your top at the sides.
Cuff your jeans.
Turn your shirt around.
Change the proportions in an unconventional way.
Making simple adjustments to your outfit after putting it on transforms it from basic to one-of-a-kind. The best outfits use imagination as a styling tool.
My third outfit took on a night-out vibe featuring a bold red mini skirt, brown patterned long sleeve, black pointed toe heels, silver bracelets, rings, an ear cuff, and a light brown belt. While putting the outfit together, I could have worn the skirt without a belt, as there are no belt loops on it. Wearing it with a belt not only created color contrast, but the unconventional placement of a belt on a skirt with no loops added more visual interest to the outfit. This way, I created my own way of styling the skirt rather than simply wearing it how it’s marketed to be worn.
L - Layer
Layering is the final step that ties all elements of an outfit together. Contrary to popular belief, layering doesn’t always mean adding heavy pieces over each other for warmth. Sometimes, it means creating visual interest through added details, whether heavy or light.
During the summer, you can create visual interest through layering things like:
- jewelry
- accessories
- tops
- skirts
- cover-ups
- sheer scarves
I use accessories as a special touch on all my outfits. While thrifting for pieces to curate my three core summer outfits, I ensured that I layered bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings to make my outfits feel more unique.
The Takeaway: Thrifting is Easier Than You Think
Thrifting is the easiest way to build your summer wardrobe; you just need the right formula. Rather than relying on trends, browsing thrift store sections intentionally by choosing pieces that are versatile, breathable, and comfortable, sets you up for a successful wardrobe curation experience.
Some of my favorite summer pieces, like my denim maxi skirt and silver bangle, looked ordinary at first sight. However, the high-quality fabric, secure design, and styling potential of these pieces is what pushed me to buy them.
That’s what thrifting is all about; finding ordinary, abandoned pieces, and giving them a second life.
So, stop shopping for pieces with popularity in mind, and instead, browse intentionally at your local Salvation Army Thrift Store to find pieces that promote comfort, versatility, and creative self-expression—while also helping your community and the planet.
That’s how personal style is created.
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