Ever receive an ad in the mail that just gets your wheels turning? The other day, I was going through my mail, and I received a couple of ads for “Back-to-School Sales.” Note that I nor the other members of my household—a.k.a. my husband and our houseplants (typical millennial)—are of “back-to-school” age. These little advertisement mailings with kids carrying their backpacks, school buses, pencil and paper make me wonder how parents are shopping for their children or even us grownups shopping for our wardrobe needs this year.
Fast fashion may feel like the only budget-friendly answer to your back-to-school shopping list. However, there are some other great options that may even be lighter on your budget and help our planet! Since around this time last year, I’ve made it a mission to make my fashion finds more sustainable; a fortunate byproduct of that is that it also tends to save a few bucks as well!
1. Do a closet purge & take inventory before you start shopping!
Does the idea of purging your closet sound counterproductive to you? You may be thinking, “Danielle, I already don’t have what I need for the school year and now you’re telling me to clean out my already limited closet?”
While I’m still dreaming of the technology marvel from Cher Horowitz’s closet in “Clueless”, we’ll just stick to a manual inventory of your closet. Has anyone found a way to use AI for this purpose? Please tell me if you have!
Use this time to evaluate pieces in your closet or child’s closet that still fit and have maintained quality. Sometimes it feels like you’re shopping in your own closet! Separate into three categories:
- Keep – Clothing pieces and shoes/accessories that still fit; have no irreparable rips, tears, or stains; and have maintained color (i.e., no to minimal fading).
- Donate- Gently worn clothing, shoes, and accessories that do not work for you anymore. Maybe your size has changed or it was a final sale purchase that just didn’t fit right. Raise your hand if you have personally been victimized like me by final sale items from online shopping! Only donate items that you would consider buying yourself, don’t send tattered clothes to these donation places. You can drop off at local non-profits, ministries, or thrift stores. Check your local resources for options available. Some organizations will even pick up your donated items at your doorstep, organizations such as Florida | Vietnam Veterans of America.
- Recycle- Items that may not be worth donating. Think items that have irreparable holes, rips, or are well past their prime. These textiles or shoes could be repurposed and there are recycling boxes all throughout your city. When I’ve dropped items off at those boxes, they tend to be large and blue. Even our Circle K gas station has one, that I stopped by to drop things off after pumping gas!
2. Thrifting & Consignment Shopping.
I’ve found some of my most favorite wardrobe pieces by going into thrift shops and now it’s a requirement when I travel to new cities to check out their local thrift or consignment shops. Peep my thrifted scarf on our latest travel adventure in Lisbon!
I peruse from time to time when I’m looking for a one-of-a-kind piece or a special outfit for an event! Some local thrift stores have special deals that day like “Fill-A-Bag” sales where you can fill a shopping bag and pay $50 for everything you can fit in the bag. I successfully managed to fit 13 items in my latest “Fill-A-Bag” sale, meaning I paid $3.85 per item, and that includes dresses, shirts, pants, a rain jacket, and accessories. Check out your local thrift shop for upcoming deals or subscribe to their text promotions.
You’ll pay a fraction of what you would for a new piece and you can feel good about not contributing to clothing waste! You can even shop sites like: ThredUp | An Online Consignment & Thrift Store, Poshmark or even eBay to find thrift items right at your fingertips!
Lastly, you can feel good knowing that many of these thrift shops either are a non-profit that helps clothe your community or they donate their proceeds to local clothing initiatives! Support their mission!
3. Clothes Swap.
Have you ever grabbed a coffee or lunch with your friend and admired their outfit or special accessory? That moment brings me to my last idea, consider doing a clothing swap with a few friends or one of your local groups. I had my doubts initially because my friends and I are not all the same body type or size. I’ve always been shocked by the amazing finds that come from these group clothing swaps.
Clothing sizes can vary from brand to brand, so you’ll be shocked that even though you may be a medium in one brand, your friend’s large shirt in another brand could fit like a glove!
Have everyone bring a bag of those purged items from their closet. Layout options on a dining table or folding table. Then everyone gets a chance to shop for what each other brought. Whatever doesn’t get chosen you can donate to the organization of your choice!
You’ll be amazed at what you all pull together when you organize a swap night with a few friends! Plus, you get to purge items you no longer wear!
You may like to do this for your young kids or teenagers as well! It meets every budget, because it is FREE!
While I may not be going to school myself, there’s still something deeply ingrained after years of going to school that makes me reevaluate my wardrobe this time of year. You can use this guide as a way to intentionally shop and hopefully save a few dollars in what could be an expensive season! Now, someone please show me how to recreate the closet technology from “Clueless”!
August 2025
