Her best friend’s birthday was the next day, and the gift was still on the shelves of a Goodwill. A thrifter who goes by Lauren Flips set a goal: find at least five pieces that make up a Ralph Lauren style outfit, all from one store. She ended up spending four hours there, and says it turned out better than she could have imagined.

Her friend loves the Ralph Lauren look, which means neutrals, equestrian touches, cable knits and plenty of natural fabrics. Lauren lives five hours away and was traveling for the birthday that weekend, so the shopping trip at her favorite thrift store in the Milwaukee area had to pull double duty as a gift and a styling lesson.

She shared the whole hunt on her YouTube channel, from the first rack to the final mix-and-match. Here is how she did it, and what you can borrow for your own thrift store gift.

The Rules She Set Before She Started

Lauren kept her search tight. She wanted a white or printed button-up, a turtleneck in white or black, a cable knit sweater, a plaid or wool skirt, and maybe a leather piece. The color palette was neutral, with deep reds and browns for richness.

Her biggest rule was natural fibers only. When she picked up a top that felt like polyester, she put it right back. She would not buy her friend anything polyester, and when she found acrylic turtlenecks she kept looking, hoping for cotton or a soft merino wool that would be easy to care for and not itchy.

Shoes were a big part of the aesthetic, too, so she did not skip them. She found suede pairs that felt preppy and Ralph Lauren, but they were a larger size, and she planned to resell them online if they did not fit. Her friend does not wear heels often, so she stayed away from them and kept an eye out for leather and suede boots for winter.

Shop the Men’s Section

One of her best tips is to shop the men’s racks, and to go a size down from your usual. Men’s clothing is typically sized up, and cottons and linens in an oversized cut fit right into the Ralph Lauren look.

“Definitely don’t sleep on the men’s section when you’re looking for stuff,” she says. It is where she found a Brooks Brothers shirt in 100% cotton with a boxy shape, and a men’s Polo Ralph Lauren piece with the pony logo on it. She also looked for a cable knit there, along with corduroy and flannel.

She also kept an eye out for price tags. A little L.L.Bean piece was only $5.19, a Ralph Lauren item was $7.39, and a Tommy Bahama shirt was $20, which she thought was steep. A flannel at $13 was nice quality but a little pricey too. And a denim dress at $6.99 was 100% cotton, so it went in as a contender.

She adds a reminder that cheaper store brands can be a smart buy too. She says not to sleep on Universal Thread, a Target label, which often uses good materials. One piece she looked at was 78% cotton.

A Cart That Got Out of Hand

By the time she got to the sweaters, she admits her cart was very full, and she had to sit down and edit it. She had picked up a few things for herself, including a silk top that looked like vintage Michael Kors and a size 12 silk piece, and her mother-in-law had added a bunch of things as well.

She then went through each piece and asked a simple question: do I love this enough to pay for it? A Lauren Ralph Lauren sweater with a lot of wear might have been fixed with a sweater shaver, but she passed. A wool-blend jacket that was only about 30% wool went back, and so did a summery piece that did not fit the winter season. She says she did not want to get her friend something she did not love just for $10.

The Final Outfit, Piece by Piece

Back at home, Lauren laid everything out and showed how she planned to mix it. Here is the haul she settled on:

• A linen blend A-line midi skirt with a belt, new with tags from Dress Barn, with an elastic back and a slit in front.
• A wool vest with a buckle that gives an equestrian feel. She thinks it may have started out as part of a men’s suit.
• A rich red small-wale corduroy piece from Talbots, in the deep tones of Ralph Lauren.
• A men’s Polo Ralph Lauren piece, to be worn oversized and half tucked over a chunky sweater.
• A Brooks Brothers polo for the same half-tucked, country club look.
• A 100% cotton cable knit sweater from St. John’s Bay, which she calls the classic Ralph Lauren look.
• A men’s ruffled tuxedo-style shirt, which she plans to layer under other pieces for a feminine touch.
• A lightweight A-line denim skirt, a good stand-in until her friend finds a thicker one.
• A wool plaid skirt that turned out to be Bowden British tweed, which she suspects is vintage and could resell for a good amount.

She also pulled a dark maroon piece from her own resale closet to round out the set, because it looked so rich next to everything else. In total, she says, it is a starter capsule wardrobe for the Ralph Lauren aesthetic.

Takeaways for Your Own Thrift Gift

Lauren’s trip works as a template for anyone shopping for a friend. Start with a list of what the person already wears, and note the colors and fabrics that fit. Check the tags for fiber content before you buy, because natural fibers last longer and look more expensive. Look outside the section with your size on it, since men’s shirts and sweaters often suit women’s styling.

She also suggests picking pieces that mix and match, so each one works with at least two or three others. Think neutrals first, then one deep color like red or maroon. And do not be afraid to stay for four hours. As Lauren says, she never expected to find everything she wanted in just one thrift store, and she was astounded how much turned up, and it might be the best gift she gives all year.

She asked readers to share their favorite piece from the haul, and what they might have grabbed that she left behind.

More Stories You May Like

• Reseller Spent Five Hours At The Goodwill Outlet Bins And Filled Their Cart With Clothes To Resell Including A Tiny Kids Tank Top They Expect To Sell For $30
• Repainted Matchbox And Hot Wheels Style Cars Are Passed Off As Factory Originals So Check Rivets And Wheels Before You Pay
• Vintage Space Heaters Electric Blankets And Fans Are Best Left Unplugged Because Many Old Models Lack Modern Safety Cutoffs