The leaves were changing, fall was in the air, and thrifter Lillian Kay had a plan for a full day of hunting. She had about five stores in mind and a Pinterest board built around what she calls a whimsy goth look. By the end of the day she had spent just $55 at one store for two leather coats, then found a Goodwill where the jackets cost about $10 and a top turned out to be 100% silk.

She describes herself as an October baby, so this is the season where she thrives. Her shopping list was specific: funky boots in velvet, leather or patchwork, either a chunky 1970s style or a sleek 1990s and early 2000s look, plus plenty of velvet, belts, chunky knits, a shawl and some fringe. She also wanted what she calls Penny Lane coats.

That name has a story. She says she recently learned the coats are also called Afghan coats, and that they were rebranded as Penny Lane coats because of the movie Almost Famous, since people did not like the older term. She has been making her own, and a sewing video on the topic was on the way.

The First Stop and the $55 Warm-Up

Her first stop was the thrift store she calls the whimsy goth mecca, the place she goes for every Pinterest-board thrift. Inventory was thin at first. Then she found a suede jacket with a knit trim and said she had been dying for suede. A plaid skirt, a brand called Studio 253 and a silk piece from a brand called August Silk caught her eye, and she checked the kids section, where she has had good luck before.

She came out with items she liked, including matching lamps in perfect condition for about $3.99 and, in her words, a jacket that fit like a glove for $10.99. She later recapped that she spent $55 at that store and called it a good warm-up. The best part was two leather coats. She did not buy a black one because it was too oversized, but she was thrilled with a tan-ish brown leather jacket that she calls so 1970s.

Not everything made it home. She passed on a bag she loved because it was peeling too badly to save, and she left behind a summery bag and several pieces that were cute but not quite right. She calls this being selective, and it is a theme of the whole day.

The Goodwill Where Everything Hit

After a burrito break at Chipotle, she headed to a Goodwill with the bins right next door. Within minutes she found something that left her stunned, a piece she checked and confirmed was 100% leather. Staff mentioned that they had just taken a lot of old stock down and put out new items, which she said explained a lot.

From there it kept going. She found a velvet piece that was just a little too big, a beaded top in extra large that she loved anyway, and a grandpa-style sweater with colors she adored. A beaded 1990s tee, she says, was almost exactly like one she had pinned on her board. She notes that this Goodwill was a bit pricier than other stores, with one jacket at $10, but worth every penny.

Her best find may have been the quietest one. A lightweight top that she says is perfectly whimsy goth turned out to be 100% silk. She calls it the pinnacle of the day and says she cannot believe it. She also kept a fall bomber jacket in a faux suede, though she admits that with two nearly identical suedes in her cart it feels silly. One is dressy and one is casual, she explains, so they are two different vibes.

She passed on a cropped tapestry coat because she already had enough jackets, a crochet piece missing a button, and a top with glitter threads and damaged beading. Her mantra from there on was to be selective.

The Bins, the Budget and a Closed Door

At the bins, she says she works quickly because the low prices make it dangerous, especially around sewing supplies. For $20, she walked away with BCBG Mary Janes in red, an early 2000s low-rise scarf belt, a long jacket with a fur collar, chunky studded Vera Wang suede heels, a studded bangle, black suede gloves, a candlestick holder and a hat. She also found an old Harvard piece that looked like it might be too small. She called the whole thing a complete score.

A later stop found jackets for $8.99 and a rack of batwing sleeves that she called fun. But the third Goodwill of the day had temporary hours and had closed four minutes earlier, at 6:30. A cashier at one stop asked if she was a reseller. She said she shops mostly for herself, though she may end up reselling some of it, and if not, she will just own being a hoarder.

Lessons From a Full Day of Thrifting

Her trip offers some takeaways for any bargain hunter. Check the fabric tags, because leather and silk can hide among the ordinary racks. Ask when a store puts out new stock, since a restocked floor can change the whole visit. And do not skip the kids section or the bins, which she says almost always hit because they are so affordable.

Most of all, she shops with a list and a limit. She tries pieces on before buying them, puts back the maybes and keeps only what fits her board. The result, she says, was a great kickoff to the fall season and so many jackets that it is not even funny.

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