Haley, the Florida creator behind the YouTube channel Haley’s Corner, says tops like the ones she found cost around $20 in Canada. At her Florida thrift store, they were as little as $2.99, and blazers were just $3.99.

Her mission was to build a Ralph Lauren style fall wardrobe without paying a Ralph Lauren price. She describes herself as a happily devoted wife, but says there is one name that keeps popping up in her head lately: Ralph. The preppy, equestrian, old money look is everywhere this fall, and she has officially fallen for it.

So she headed to the Red, White, and Blue Thrift Store with a plan and a cart, and came home with enough pieces to make a whole set of outfits.

What the Ralph Lauren Look Really Means

Haley explains the style as classy, preppy, equestrian and cozy. Think chunky cable knits, plaid, button-downs, suede and leather, riding boots, and colors such as deep browns, burgundy and forest green.

She says the best part is that nothing about it feels overly trendy. The pieces could have been worn 20 years ago and will still look good 20 years from now, like the outfits Rachel Green wore in Friends. The idea is a capsule wardrobe full of timeless pieces that look expensive but are cozy to wear.

Her cheat sheet for shopping is simple:

• Stick with neutrals such as white, ivory, cream and beige, then add color with baby blue or navy, sage or forest green, and burgundy.
• Look at the materials. Cotton, linen, eyelet lace and lace are all good signs.
• Look for textures like ribbing, cable knits and ruffles.
• Choose real fibers when you can, such as corduroy, wool, leather and suede.

The Tops, From $2.99 Up

In the tops section, Haley moved from beige and cream pieces to blues and stripes. An eyelet lace blouse with a pretty shape was $5.99, and she says it would look equestrian with any denim. A navy gingham top was only $2.99, and she says gingham is so classic you can wear it in every season.

She also found a vintage-tagged ruffle top in satin with lace trim for $3.99, and a long sleeve blouse that looks great tucked into denim with riding boots for $4.99. Along the way, she kept a running tally of the actual Ralph Lauren pieces she spotted, including a fitted striped top and a top with a straight-across neckline in a pretty blue.

That is where her Canada comparison comes in. She says she missed Florida prices, because tops like these were costing about $20 in Canada, which she called insane. For $2.99 to $5.99 she was filling her cart.

Turtlenecks were another must-have. She recommends a thin one with detail at the neck or sleeves so you can wear it under a jacket. One with a ribbed texture was $3.99, and she says it works with an A-line brown skirt or a blazer.

Blazers for $3.99

The blazers were the biggest surprise. Haley is not a structured dresser, so she wanted something loose and laid back, like houndstooth, gingham or brown tones, with a fabric that is not stiff.

One navy and brown blazer was $3.99, and she compared it to a stiff pinstripe blazer that felt like an office look. A looser jacket in soft tones was also $3.99. A red check blazer she tried on made her feel like she was about to attend a horse race, and she paired it with black even though she never wears black. Another blazer, in extra extra large from the women’s section, came with big shoulder pads that she loved, and she asked fans whether to keep the pads or remove them.

The lesson, she says, is that people are sleeping on the blazer section, because everybody donated their blazers from the 1990s and early 2000s thinking they were no longer stylish. She is now officially a blazer girl.

Skirts, Accessories and the Final Looks

Skirts were another stop. She looked for suede, corduroy, plaid and gingham, and long A-line shapes with a big belt. An animal print skirt with a slit was $3.99, and an asymmetrical white skirt with a ruffled hem, also $3.99, turned out to be her perfect size. She says leopard print is considered a neutral because it returns every season.

Leather belts were another score. She found one for $3.99 with a genuine brass buckle, and she says the only belts she likes are thrifted because they have a worn-in patina. Striped scarves were $2.99 each. Even sleepwear counts: a baby blue lace nightgown for $2.99 caught her eye, with a satin pajama top for a cozy night routine.

Once she got home, she styled her finds into outfits that she says would be fit for Pinterest:

1. A jeans and white tee look with a leather belt, loafers and a striped blue button-down worn open or over the shoulders. The shirt was $4.99.
2. A frilly high-neck top for $3.99 with a plaid brown skirt, brown boots and a leather jacket.
3. An all white look with the $3.99 asymmetrical skirt, animal print accessories and a suede bag.
4. A corduroy skirt with the red check blazer for a holiday feel.
5. A striped top for $5.99 with a white button-down tied at the front.

Tips You Can Use at Your Own Thrift Store

Haley’s trip is a roadmap for anyone who wants an expensive look on a small budget. Spend your time in the blazer section and the skirt rack. Check labels for natural fibers, since she says real materials are what make an outfit look elevated. Think in layers, because even a thin blazer can make a warm weather outfit feel like fall.

Above all, remember her rule for building a wardrobe that lasts: stick to the basics, then add one fun pop of texture or pattern. A gingham top at $2.99, a blazer at $3.99 and a belt with a brass buckle can add up to an outfit that looks like it came from a designer store.

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