These Are My Surprisingly Chic Finds From Goodwill

Anyone who knows me at all knows just how much I get a kick out of thrift shopping. Chalk it up to a residual habit from my cash-strapped college years or simply a creative way to shop for the items no one else will have, but these days I consider myself an expert in hunting down the best thrift-store finds—Goodwill hunting, if you will. I've even compiled my top thrift shopping tips so you can uncover one-of-a-kind finds, too.

These days, a certain vintage aesthetic is trending, which means you can create a really cool outfit out of clothing that appears to have lived a previous life. Just take a look at the top summer 2018 trends to see that "throwback" items like bucket hats and "dad" shirts are blowing up right now. So if you know which nostalgic trends are coming back around, as you probably do, being a Who What Wear reader, you'll be able to find authentic (and crazy cheap) versions at a Goodwill near you.

That's exactly what I did, and I'm pretty proud to share my favorite thrift-store finds of the summer so far. Just up ahead, see the how I'm styling these surprisingly chic finds, and then shop the affordable pieces I'm after this season.

I'm not normally a hat person, but this striped bucket hat just felt completely right for summer. Now I'm happy to say that it's become a staple in my beach bag.

I bought these lemon-colored trousers on a whim back in the winter just because the color put me in a good mood. Cut to the summer, and Gen-Z Yellow is a full-blown color trend, so naturally, I couldn't be any happier with this thrift-store find.

I found this little PVC bag right around the time that see-through bags were spiking. It had a pretty hideous inner layer that I quickly disposed of to create the look I was going for.

This lime green button-down shirt is a perfect example of why I adore thrifting so much. It's my opinion that the best finds are the offbeat items that can't be found anywhere else.

Did this metal-handle bag call my name because it oddly reminds me of a 2014-era Céline purse? Maybe. Did I proudly make it mine for all of $6? Hell yes.

Shop my favorite affordable picks of the moment:

Now read up on how to score the best thrifted pieces for yourself, too.