I hate to say it, but fall is around the corner. Especially as Ottawa’s mid-September days grow cooler, windier and rainier, it’s just about time to say goodbye to sunny summer weather.
Luckily, fall is fun! The varying day-to-day temperature means some days you can run around town in a skirt and boots, while others you can layer up underneath a cozy knit sweater. Fall is fashion month, and leaves fall and as you flip through Vogue’s thick September issue, you might feel inspired to completely reinvent your wardrobe. Well, you can – even on a student budget, thanks to your local thrift store.
Here are five fall fashion trends you are sure to find at your nearest secondhand store.
- Oversized blazers
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If you’ve spent any time at all on the internet lately, you’d have seen a business blazer sneak its way into the coolest outfits of the season. Thankfully, you can find tons of cool, oversized blazers in both the men’s and women’s sections of your favourite thrift store. Go for a business-y check print, or keep it simple with a solid colour. It’s an easy way to make a simple outfit more interesting and it’s an easy layer to remove and put back on as the weather changes.
- Animal print
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Some people say animal prints never go out of style. This may be true, but it’s hard not to notice their ubiquity on everything from coats to midi skirts to bucket hats in the past year. If anything, animal print is definitely having a moment right now. Make the most of this moment by finding a timeless animal print garment to pair with your basics to keep the piece timeless for years to come.
- Big pants
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One of my favourite trends as of late is wearing really big pants paired with a small, tight or cropped top. The tiny top and boyish bottoms combo is fun to experiment with and it’s comfortable to wear! I’ve found that the Men’s section of most thrift stores have an extensive jeans collection. You can stick close to your size for a slightly loose fit, or you can go up a few sizes and use a belt if you want HUGE jeans. Pair them with a tight-fitting top and your favourite shoes and you’ll look like this:
- Silk and satin scarves
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One good scarf can go a long way in your wardrobe. I’ve seen printed scarves used as tops, belts, hair accessories and more. What better way to maximize your purchase than getting a gorgeous vintage one from a secondhand store? Thrift stores sell these scarves for a few dollars and have so many prints and styles to choose from.
- Tiny purses
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The cutest and most impractical trend of 2019 has to be the little bag. French designer Jacquemus may have catapulted the trend for this year, but bloggers and influencers have been reaching into their closets and raiding their local vintage stores to find the same micro bags that were oh-so popular in the early 2000s. Opt for one that at least fits your phone and you’ll be looking like you stepped out of an episode of some 2004 reality show.
If you’re on an extreme spending budget, stick to the basics and stay trendy this fall season!