If you’re looking to shop the latest trends, I always recommend trying the thrift first. Most clothing trends are directly pulled from the past, meaning someone else’s trash (or previous clothing donations), can now become your treasure! I decided to challenge myself with the goal of finding current 2022 fashion trends I’ve been loving during a trip to Value Village.
Before I hit the racks, I made a list of what exactly to keep my eye out for. I think it’s always a good idea to have a thrift wish-list, so you don’t accidentally miss something just because it wasn’t at the forefront of your mind. Making a list makes the process more intentional and less all over the place because we all know thrifting can be overwhelming. That being said, even though I had a general list, I always go in with an open mind for more. You never know what you may come across!
Some of the general trends and specific pieces I was looking out for at Value Village were: mini skirts, lingerie style clothing, vests, ballet core pieces, coastal grandmother clothing (linen, button-ups, etc), cargo bottoms, beaded bags, clogs, and silk scarves… you get the point. Of course, I didn’t find everything on my wish list, but I am pretty stoked with what I did end up finding!
Take a look at what I found while thrifting current fashion trends!
Shoulder Bags
I always check the purse section first. This time I had my eye out for beaded purses, shoulder bags, and canvas tote bags. I had no luck finding anything beaded, but the other two bags I found totally made up for it. Shoulder bags are definitely having a moment right now! Even when they aren’t specifically “trending”, you can never go wrong with a classic shoulder bag. I came across the one pictured above while searching the purse section at Value Village because I thought the shape was really cool. I turned it around to its front and saw the word “Gucci” stamped on the front of it! I have no doubt that it was a knock-off, but still, a pretty cool find nonetheless.
Tote Bags
The simplest bag trend is taking the world by storm. The classic tote bag. People are ditching structured work bags for relaxed canvas tote bags! They’re just so effortlessly cool. I’ve had my eye out for one at the thrift for a while and coincidentally this time, I found one! It’s branded with Sperry, which gives it that nautical vibe everyone seems to be loving right now, too.
Vests
I’ve been seeing tailored vests everywhere lately! It’s the perfect piece to bring you from summer to fall too, being that it can be worn buttoned-up as a top, or layered over a shirt. This is a clothing item you can almost always find at the thrift! Both in the men’s and women’s sections depending on the overall vibe you’re striving for. The one I found was from women’s, and I liked how it had a satin back, making it a little more relaxed and less stiff than a typical menswear tailored vest.
Lingerie Tops
Another thing I’ve been seeing literally everywhere is lingerie-style tops and corsets worn as going-out tops! Don’t skip out on the lingerie section at VV, there are tons of great finds! I found a pink tank with the prettiest feminine details, that I actually ended up purchasing for myself. I think it would be super cute paired with a simple pair of jeans! I also found more of a lingerie-style top, also in pink (another trend in itself #BarbieCore), that would make for such an adorable going-out-in-the-town top!
Mini Skirts
The thrift has many mini skirts to go around and in a large variety of styles! I checked two trends off my list with this cargo-style mini-skirt I found! It’s actually a skort which makes it even cooler in my humble opinion. This piece of clothing single-handedly fills all of my late-90s and early-2000s style dreams.
Coastal Grandmother
I can’t get enough of the “Coastal Grandmother” trend, made popular on TikTok by creator Lex Nicoleta, and the thrift is the absolute perfect place to shop for it! When I was looking for clothing within the coastal grandmother theme, I pictured any clothing I may see chic grandma at the beach or gardening in, elevated it by picturing said grandmother in The Hamptons. Linen, breezy pants, neutral colours, loose button-ups… you get the vibe. The pieces I found reminiscent of this trend were a pair of white linen loose-fitting pants with a waist-tie and a short-sleeved button-up shirt (which may have also come home with me).
Baby Tees
Baby Tees are something that has been popular for quite a while now and remains relevant today! They’re really not difficult at all to find at any thrift store! I found this cute pastel striped baby-tee with a lettuce hem in the Women’s Tee-Shirt section. It’s such an easy piece to style in a multitude of ways. Bonus Tip: Depending on your clothing size, you may even be able to get away with finding your perfect baby-tee in the kid’s section!
Heels
The last thing I looked at was shoes, and there were tons of cute and trendy shoe options! If you’re a little wary of getting shoes at the thrift I recommend trying out a shoe sanitizing spray and then you’re pretty much set. One of the shoe trends I was looking out for were clogs, as I’ve been seeing them styled more and more. Although I didn’t find actual clogs, I did find a style inspired by them. I also found an adorable pair of black heels with a toe-ring detail, which is super trendy right now!
The bottom line is, I would say this thrift trip exceeded my expectations! Even though I didn’t check everything off of my list, I was impressed with how many current trends I could actually find within the walls of my local Value Village. If you’re looking to test out some current fashion trends, I hope you feel inspired to try thrifting some for a sustainable, not to mention, affordable alternative!
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The nature of thrifting is always hit or miss, however where you’re thrifting can totally affect your success rate. If you’re someone who’s new to the world of thrifting, it can be challenging to find your favourite locations, especially when it comes to Value Village. As you get comfortable with thrifting, you’ll soon find your go-to spots where you seem to have the most luck. Some locations are more organized than others, and some are just over-crowded, and seem to always be picked over. There are pros and cons of a quiet Value Village just as much as a busy one — it’s all about preference, but we’re here to help you experiment to help you find your top spots. We know that thrifting at Value Village requires some patience, but opting to shop there over chain stores or even curated thrift stores will definitely help you save.
Here are the best Value Village locations to shop at in the GTA.
70 Bristol Rd E, Mississauga
This Mississauga Value Village is a huge location with a great selection. It’s one of the more organized Value Village’s which always makes it easier to sift through the racks, especially if you’re a thrifting newbie!
2030 Appleby Line, Burlington
This Value Village is located in Burlington, about an hour away from Toronto and it’s known to be super clean and organized! It’s also rarely busy, which is always nice. It has a great selection of various types of clothing, so regardless of your style, there’s something at this Value Village for everybody.
1525 Victoria Park Ave
This Scarborough Value Village is a favourite for many. It’s known to have a great selection of name brands and high-end finds but obviously, there are no guarantees when it comes to thrifting. However, a lot of people have had a good record of success at this location, plus, it’s one of Value Village’s larger locations, so there’s more to go around.
10620 Yonge St, Richmond Hill
This gem of a Value Village is located in Richmond Hill and has a large selection with tons of variety across all genres — not just limited to apparel. This spot is also known to be very clean and tidy, which seems to be a running trend in the best Value Villages!
50 Horseshoe Crescent, Hamilton
This GTA Value Village is a little bit off to the sides in the suburbs, which is a general thrifting life hack! Some of the best Value Village locations are hidden in smaller cities, or hidden in the suburbs because in general, they are picked over less. Let’s face it, thrifting isn’t a secret anymore and people are quick to grab the good finds, so sometimes searching through a lesser-known Value Village is worth it!
924 Queen St E, Toronto
Although this location is on the smaller side, that doesn’t mean you can’t score. This VV tends to be busier, but that just means it’s constantly rotating inventory. Another great thing about this one is that it’s in such a prime area of the city, which means people are constantly donating here. This location has a great jewelry selection in particular, which is a great tip for those of you looking to build your jewelry collection! Value Village is a great way to get more with your budget. Pro tip: there are often quality pieces behind the glass at the front.
1319 Bloor St W, Toronto
This Toronto Value Village located on Bloor Street West has a great reputation for its great selection! While this location is on the busier side, folks say there’s a quick turnaround with clothing constantly coming out on the floor as fast as it leaves. So, if you don’t mind a little competition from savvy thrifters, check out this Value Village location!
45 Woodbine Downs Blvd, Toronto
This Value Village is located in the Etobicoke area and is another one totally worth checking out. People say the prices at this location are on point as well and there’s also a great selection — what more could you want in a thrift store? This location also has a ton of inventory and is quite organized for the amount of inventory, as well.
530 Fennell Ave E, Hamilton
This Hamilton Value Village is a large location with tons to go around! Every department at this VV is almost always fully stocked, so if you’re looking to go on a bit of a shopping spree this one may be worth checking out.
1030 Wilson Ave, North York
This GTA Value Village in North York is a VV location with a huge selection, and it’s not limited to just clothing! Always remember Value Village also carries books, movies, video games, furniture, and more. This spot is super spacious which always makes it easier to sift through and spot those rare thrift finds we are all keeping an eye out for.
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The last time I was in New York, I stopped by a store called Plus Brooklyn and there was an entire section dedicated to vintage. It had been quite some time since I had gone digging through some vintage racks, as more often than not, I am usually disappointed as a fat babe trying to find good vintage threads in larger sizes. As I was digging through the racks, this got me thinking: are there any good plus-size vintage haunts in Toronto? After doing some digging in the plus-size clothing group I’m part of, the one name that kept coming up was Value Village. I had always been uncertain of what the retailers plus-size selection would be like, or if there would be clothes for sizes 20 and above.
So I decided to head over to the location at Bloor and Lansdowne and check it out for myself. Here are some things that I found out after shopping plus size vintage at Value Village!
Instagram/@amascriver
Give Yourself Lots Of Time!
So it is easy to become overwhelmed when you step into Value Village. When I got there, I tried to give myself a lot of time, unaware of if I would find anything or not. Also taking into account that I was going to have to try on EVERY single piece of clothing that I picked up. Does this sound exhausting? Yeah, that’s because it is. Bring water, take a deep breathe, and get ready. Not everything is sorted and the sizing isn’t always in the place you need it to be — but you can, and will find will you need.
Okay, But Honestly: What’s The Sizing Situation Like?
StyleDemocracy
Actually, it’s not bad. There is a distinct section that offers XL and XXL, and during my visit,I found brands like Torrid, Joe Fresh, and Old Navy on the rack. For example, I copped a great black Torrid tank top for $6.99, which I have already worn multiple times. It also helped me have a good idea of what to expect from the sizing! I also found some more traditional old-school vintage, which actually fit my body (size 18/20) and found pieces that went up to a size 24.
The team at Value Village has told me that if you’re trying to get your hands on the newest items in the store, it’s best to go first thing in the morning. Also, some of my pals (who have been vintage picking for years) suggest visiting vintage stores or other Value Village shops outside of Toronto, as the plus-size selection actually gets better. Things to consider, especially if you have a car and are down to make a day trip of it.
Is It True Vintage Or Just All Logo Tees – Real Talk!
StyleDemocracy
You know I would never do you dirty like that. So the thing I really loved while going through the racks at Value Village was that it had a mix of newer brands that we shop for day-to-day online and offline (as mentioned above). Then there were racks of truer vintage pieces, mostly from the ’80s and ’90s. I tried on a few blouses from the ‘80s that ranged in the $10.49 price point, but didn’t find anything that vibed with me. When you get to the racks, remember to keep an open mind and try everything on. I ended up grabbing a red and black, animal-print turtleneck which is not something I would normally wear. But I put it on and thought, YES. I must have this. It was $7.99 and a total steal.
Tailoring Is Your Friend
All of the items off the racks were actually in really great shape, and one skirt still had the tags still on it. One of the skirts I ended up purchasing (a hot pink number with pockets, $5.49) was missing a button. But for the price, I could totally justify taking it to a tailor, or better yet — purchasing a button and sewing a new one on myself. Another skirt I purchased for $8.49 is one of the most perfect additions to my wardrobe but it absolutely needs pockets. I have already consulted with a tailor to see how we can do this. With tailoring and the cost of the piece, it is literally the same price as something you’d buy at Forever 21.
Instagram/@valuevillage_thrift
So with all that said, I want to acknowledge that shopping for vintage can feel like an exercise in futility. But if you can find that special piece that you love, and it fits, and the price is perfect — it will feel as if the stars have aligned. Perhaps it’s time to pay a visit again to Value Village or another vintage shop.
Featured Image: StyleDemocracy
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