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7 Summer Trends to Thrift This Season
It’s summertime and the outfits are…not always easy. Maybe the tariffs are holding you back from your dream wardrobe or you’re not sure what to wear for sun-soaked days that turn to breezy nights. Enter your local thrift store. In case you haven’t heard — you can find the hottest styles without burning through your savings, just by trading in your closet cleanout and shopping secondhand at spots like Buffalo Exchange. We put together a list of the top summer trends to thrift that’ll have you dressing with ease, all season long. ⛅ Get the full fashion forecast below!



West is (Still) Best
If you haven’t hopped on the bandwagon yet, it’s time to giddy-up and go! Whether you’re kicking back at your friend’s house, exploring the great outdoors or seeing Beyoncé on her Cowboy Carter tour — you can do it all in a good pair of jeans and some western boots. Not your first rodeo? Expand your range with a suede fringe jacket or an oversized belt buckle and you’re sure to be the talk of the town.
Summer trends to thrift this season:
- Cowboy boots from brands like Ariat, Justin’s, Lucchese and Tecovas
- Gunne Sax dresses
- Leather jackets and vests
- Mid-wash denim
- Turquoise jewelry
- Vintage belt buckles (the goofier the better)



Say It With a Tee
The reports are in: Tinder is dead and we’re going back to meeting people IRL. But how do you start a conversation with that cute barista at your local coffee shop sans embarrassment?
The answer is graphic tees, aka our go-to once the weather starts hitting 85 degrees on the regular. You can maintain your mysterious cool-girl persona and let your tee shirt do all the talking — great for fashionistas with a little social anxiety! If you’re a regular thrift shopper, chances are you already have a solid collection going, so what’s one more? Go ahead and buy that fun graphic from the band you’ve never heard of, your secret’s safe with us.
Summer trends to thrift this season:
- Anything that doubles as a conversation starter
- Collectible single-stitch vintage
- Shirts with graphics on the front and the back
- Your favorite band’s tour tee
We recommend shopping from both the men’s and women’s section, because good taste has no gender!



Mix, Match & Stack
There’s no better time to shine than summer. Make life easy for yourself and forget the rule about only wearing silver or gold, because everyone’s mixing metals this season. Ask the cashier to look behind the registers where you’ll find the real treasures, like Gucci rings with their original boxes, solid sterling silver and stones of all shapes and sizes. For a look that’s completely your own, try pairing old with new — your grandmother’s pearl pendant goes surprisingly well on that chain you thrifted during your last vacation.
Summer trends to thrift this season:
- Chains for layering
- Rings for stacking
- High-end treasures kept behind the registers
- Pendants you can rework into a DIY charm bracelet
- Sterling silver stamped with 925 (aka “The Good Stuff”)
- Vintage watches



Euro Summer Romance
Big is moving to Paris, and we couldn’t help but wonder…what are you going to wear when you visit him? Whether your flight’s already booked or you’re living vicariously through your friend who’s documenting every part of their trip on Instagram — you can dress like you’re on the French Riviera whenever, wherever!
Get swept away in the romance of Carrie-approved designer, funky accessories and one-of-a-kind vintage dresses. But before you buy, check the care tags to make sure you’re sticking to natural fabrics like cotton, linen and silk — man-made materials just don’t have the same je ne sais quoi. Your clothes may get a little wrinkly in your suitcase, but who cares! You’re on vacation, even if it is just mentally.
Summer trends to thrift this season:
- Mid-length skirts and dresses
- Rose-colored glasses (literally or figuratively!)
- Shoes that were made for walking in, like ballet flats, sneakers or kitten heels (the girls who get it, get it)
- Vintage designer bags
- A boxy linen button down that doubles as a beach cover up



Ready, Set, Moto
Just like the weather, moto style is coming in hot. 🔥 As practical as it is stylish, all you need to get your closet in gear are a few staples: think real leather, sturdy denim and, of course, a need for speed. A leather jacket can rev up any outfit and lucky for you we see lots of them in the store. Throw one on and you’ll look like you’re ready to ride — even if you call shotgun most drives! Wheels sold separately.
Summer trends to thrift this season:
- A perfectly worn-in vintage leather jacket
- Basics to go under said jacket
- Black denim jeans to go with everything
- Harley Davidson anything
- Motorcycle boots



Business, Meet Casual
In case you missed the memo, we’re wearing office wear everywhere but the office. If the workplace movies of the ‘80s taught us anything, you can fake it ‘til you make it with the help of a great outfit. In this post-WFH world, we’re wearing button-ups unbuttoned, shirts untucked and jeans on days that aren’t Fridays. Unless you have a job interview, of course. Not your style? Join our team and you’ll get to wear whatever you want to work, no uniform required.
Summer trends to thrift this season:
- Loafers with current details like a chunky heel or a square toe
- Mid- or low-rise slacks
- Oversized button-ups
- Skinny leather belts
- Ties—you can find silk ones for cheap secondhand!



Touching Grass
Athleisure has been the real MVP of our closets for years. (If you saw me wearing the same pair of leggings every day of 2023, no you didn’t!) This summer, we’re getting our heads in the game with sports apparel — or at least making it look like we do. Play the field in tenniscore prep popularized by Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers or take a page from Kylie Jenner’s playbook with a courtside-coordinated ‘fit. For extra style points, raid your dad’s closet for retro team merch only the real fans will recognize.
Summer trends to thrift this season:
- A jersey from your college team that never wins a game
- Basketball shorts with a 5” inseam
- Funny baseball caps your dad would wear
- Micro-pleated skorts
- Retro merch from brands like Mitchell & Ness
- Varsity jackets

So now you have a list of all the summer trends you need to thrift this season…
but those clothes aren’t going to pay for themselves! If you’ve been meaning to clean out your closet, now’s the time to sell us those warm-weather styles — including the ones we mentioned above. For anything we’re able to buy, we’ll give you 50% in trade or 25% in cash or PayPal. Not a bad way to make some extra fun money! When you’re ready to stop by, just find your location and let us know you’re on the way. We’ll save you a spot in line. 🫶