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Spring Outfit Challenge with Savers®

When the seasons change, one of my favorite things to do is swap out the clothes in my closet. It is my habit to put my out of season clothes away in the attic so I only have things I can currently wear hanging in my closet.

I think it’s safe to say that spring has finally sprung here in Pennsylvania, and I’m so excited to start wearing all the spring clothes!

One thing I always notice when I start actually wearing the new season’s clothes is how many “holes” I have in my closet. By holes I mean the wardrobe essentials I’m missing or that need to be replaced. Yes, that even happens to fashion bloggers!

The good news is, I get to do one of my favorite things — shop!

When it comes to shopping for clothing, I always recommend buying quality over quantity, especially with wardrobe staples like denim and shoes, but sometimes I get comments saying basically, I’m not working with the budget you are…

I get that. Fortunately there are some great shopping options that do not require paying full retail price or even retail sale prices. Enter Savers®.

If you’re shopping with a limited budget or simply enjoy the thrill of the hunt, thrift stores and consignment shops are a great way to find designer brands for deep discounts, and Savers® is a thrift store known for high-quality clothing at deep discounts and a pleasant shopping experience.

Savers® has a few different brands, so depending where you’re located, you might also know them as Value Village® or Unique Thrift®. Regardless, they’re where it’s at when it comes to scoring great thrift finds.

When they invited me to partner with them to spread the word about their unique thrift shopping experience, I decided it would be a great opportunity to put my money where my mouth is (so to speak) and put together a spring date night outfit with name brands I often wear and recommend — all from Savers®.

Last week I took a drive to my nearest Savers® to see what it’s all about and to shop for my outfit. I ended up bringing home 3 pairs of jeans, 5 tops, 2 pairs of shoes, a bracelet, and a record, and my total purchase was less than $80. #score

Before I left, I put out a call for thrifting advice on Instagram, and I got some great tips.

5 Tips for Thrift Store Shopping

  1. Go early and go often!
  2. Don’t go looking for something specific – you could overlook a great find. Have fun!
  3. Examine every item carefully for holes, missing buttons etc…
  4. Don’t be in a rush …. take your time and try everything on 😁
  5. I ❤ thrifting!!!! You never know what treasures you’re going to find.

Armed with these tips, I set out for my local Savers® on a rainy Thursday.

My Savers® Experience

When I arrived, I found a large and inviting building in an outdoor shopping center, and the first thing I noticed when I entered was how well organized the store is. It was large, open and airy, and everything was very tidy.

I’ve been in thrift stores before that were crammed with too much product, but Savers® was different. Not only was the inventory spaced out nicely, but all the racks were incredibly orderly and easy to look through.

I started shopping in the denim department because… where else? #denimismylovelanguage

I was really excited to see what name brands I would find, and I was hopeful I’d like the selection. First of all, I love how they hang their jeans — it makes it so easy to see the brands and sizes.

I didn’t find many skinny jeans (my favorite style) but I did find quite a few good pairs of bootcut jeans.I saw brands like Express, American Eagle, Gap, Loft, and Kut from the Kloth.

I get a lot of requests to style more bootcut jeans for the blog, so I picked up a few pairs. The ones I’m wearing in this post are Kut from the Kloth, and they were $11.99. I know, right???

Once I’d picked out my jeans, I moved on to the tops.

I like how they have their tops organized — a rack for sleeveless, another for short sleeves, then long sleeves, then sweaters, etc.

Within those racks, they are organized by size. I started in the sleeveless rack, and I found 5 tops in pristine condition sporting brand name labels I know well such as Loft, Ann Taylor, and Liz Claiborne. This Loft top was new with tags!!

This black top is Ann Taylor, and while it didn’t have any original tags on it, it looks brand new. I instantly put it in my basket because this is the type of top I love to wear for a date night in the summertime, and it also layers nicely under a blazer or denim jacket on cooler spring evenings.

I also picked up this set of bangles from the jewelry deparment.

Finally, I perused the shoe section. I debated a pair of black Nine West pumps, but I wanted something more summery so I ended up with a pair of super cute Christian Siriano sandals that look like new except for a bit of normal wear on the bottom of the sole.

They have thick straps and a modern block heel, and they’re very comfortable. Best of all, they are the perfect height to wear with these jeans.

My last stop was the record section. My 15 year-old daughter has an extensive record collection and an eclectic taste in music.

A few months ago, she and a friend went to a high school production of the musical, Brigadoon, and they had quite a time. They still joke about it, so when I saw the record for the soundtrack, I grabbed it immediately. C was beyond thrilled when I got home and presented it to her.

Overall, I was impressed with my Savers® shopping experience. I’ve been to a few thrift stores and consignment shops over the years, and never have I seen one this orderly and spacious.

With over 100,000 items on the sales floor and thousands of quality items arriving every day, I couldn’t begin to go through everything, but on the few racks I perused, I found a great selection of quality name brand clothing, and everything I looked at was in excellent condition.

If you’re shopping on a limited budget or simply enjoy thrifting for the thrill of the hunt, I highly recommend finding a Savers®, Value Village®, and Unique Thrift® near you. In addition to clothing, shoes, and accessories, they have a great selection of quality household items and unique finds. You never know what you might find!

WIN A $50 Savers® Gift Card!

Woohoo! Savers® is sponsoring a $50 gift card giveaway. There are multiple ways to enter; all are optional, but the more entries you make, the greater your chances of winning. Good luck!

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Winner must be 18 years old or older and have a United States mailing address. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Savers®. The opinions and text are all mine.

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80 Responses

  1. We have a Value Village. Never been there or knew anything about it. So thanks for the post. I like how organized the store is. I hate ones that are piles of clothing. Old Navy, for example, is so messy even though I love their clothes.

  2. Most of my clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. come from thrift stores. Your blog and a few others have helped up my game on putting things together and recognizing the trends. For that I am so grateful. Many times I calculate the cost of my total outfit, shoes, jewelry and all. Under $20 is typical. I don’t mean this as a brag at all but I usually get a compliment. I attribute that to all the ideas I get from you fashion bloggers. I appreciate ALL of your effort. I always look forward to my daily visit with you.😄

  3. When my children were in school, we use to shop at a Value Village in Charlotte, NC for their school clothes. I was always able to pick up name brand things for them. When their friends asked them where they found a certain item. they would tell them their Mom found them at a little boutique called Values at the Village!! I am a HUGE fan of thrift stores!! Always find something I think I just can’t live without!!!

  4. I have shipped at value village before and have found some cute things. They have a half off day the last Wednesday of the month and I like to shop that day. Most things I get I end up loving but if not, at least I didn’t spend much on it. Haven’t been thrusting much lately (a lil difficult with a 4 year old and a 6 month old but hope to start up again in the fall when the 4 year old starts school!

  5. You found some cute items at Savers.  I’ve been to our Savers a couple of times and have never found anything. I’ll have to try them a few more times 

  6. This is my first time commenting. I really enjoy your blog! I have heard that there is a Savers near me but, have never been there. I love to thrift shop, so that will have to change. Thanks for the post.

  7. I love Clothes Mentor. I find something every time I go there. It’s very neat and organized and not only is it organized by short sleeve/long sleeve etc., it is organized by color!!!! You can very quickly find out if what you came in for will be found or not. Twice I have gone in looking for a particular colored cardigan and found it. And you can’t beat the price for name brand items!!!

  8. What a great post. I love a bargain. Usually shop when stores have 40% off. Loft and Chicos seems to have that a lot. Hope you feel better soon, JoLynne. You deserve a break. I’m sure the stress you have been under has caused some of that. You are a trouper though.

  9. I loved your outfits! You look great in the treasures that you found. I love thrifting and have found some great stuff on my trips like a vintage YSL bag, Givenchy heels, and an authentic Tods bag for $4.99. 

  10. I love the occasional great finds at my local thrift stores! Especially for the young kids who grow so fast! 

  11. Great post. I have found some nice things at thrift stores. My ex would ask me ‘new top’? my reply new to me! Best find ever was the 6 men’s Ralph Lauren dress shirts with dry cleaner tags still attached…$10! My boys attend private high school and had to wear dress shirts and ties. They were beyond thrilled!

  12. Fun post!! I am a regular at our local Goodwill. It’s true about shopping often. I once purchased a Liz Claiborne black jacquard dress coat ($120 tag still on) for $10! I also purchased a Krupps espresso machine for $9. Love that place! It’s also the best place to shop for flower pots etc!

  13. My mom loves thrift shopping so I grew up seeing this as the first stop for shopping. I’m not as patient as her so I don’t go very often myself. I like to carefully scrutinize and try on EVERYTHING so it takes me a lot longer than her to get through a store haha! Jackets and coats are my favorite thrift finds and a category that I think is often overlooked.

  14. I wish we had a store like these in our area. I hope you get to feeling better….. I love Talbot’s sale rack!

  15. Thanks for sharing your experience – super helpful. I love the shoe department at my local Marshall’s but the clothes are too disorganized for me.

  16. Great post!  My hubby & I love doing what we call “the Sally Rally”!  Salvation Army & Goodwill. Every few weeks we make the loop, hitting the thrift stores & going out for lunch.  He is a big time reader, so popular author books are his thing to look for.  The consignment shops in our area are Plato’s Closet, Style Encore & for kids – Once Upon A Child.  Style Encore features more missy & plus sizes, lots of designer handbag/shoes, as well as a great selection of clothing.  All items are styled & sized as the store you visited.  Our daughters have been able to purchase Hunter Boots for the granddaughters over the past few years, #hugesavings  The nice thing about those stores is that they post daily their hot items on Instagram.  If you see something you know you want,  call the store, make your purchase over the phone  & pickup later.  It’s a nice option out there!!  

    1. Do you have Clothes Mentor? We have it and it’s for the missy styles and handbags. I love going there to get work out clothes. Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and Athleta. I don’t think I have paid full price for workout clothes in years.

      1. No, we don’t have one here in Northeast PA. I checked their website & there is one about an hour & 30 minutes south of us though. 

  17. I love going to Goodwill stores. I once found a pair of AG jeans for $5.50. I believe the hunt is what I love! My 14 year daughter is a fan of thrift stores. Her friends love going with us too!

  18. I haven’t been in Savers in years. I recently went to 2nd Look and didn’t find anything. I should try Savers again. It is sleeveless tops season!

  19. What a fun post! I used to only thrift occasionally for fun, but with now that I have kids I do it a lot, and since discovering ThredUP, I’d say at least half of my clothes are now second hand. I wear nicer brands and the fit is better, go figure! It’s important to make sure you truly love something, not just buy something because it is cheaper or a fancy brand. That is key to loving the thrifting experience in my opinion. It is good for the environment, too! Win, win!

  20. Great post Jo-Lynne. I will have to give Value Village another try. I think the key is having the time. Lots of times I have gone there but been in a hurry. I think I will take a day for myself and maybe head over to fill the holes in my closet for spring. I need some new shorts.

  21. A store I often overlook in my shopping…. thank you for the reminder!! $$ left in our pockets is definitely the best kind lol

  22. I’ve never tried Savers before, will have to check it out! Thanks for the inspiration. I have gone to Goodwill occasionally and sometimes have luck, although many times do not. The trials of a tall person, have to find just the right stuff for it to work. 🙂

  23. Yes, I’ve found some great things at Savers in the past. In fact, today I’m wearing a navy blue pair of Sperry’s docksider shoes I got there! They are the perfect casual spring shoe for when its not quite warm enough for sandals yet.

  24. Love that you found such great finds while thrifting! Whenever I find a Loft top while thrifting, I instantly think of you. I think it’s great fun to see what you can find. The savings is the extra bonus! Love this post. 

  25. My friend introduced me to the Sally Ann and her thrifting finds. Now, I often drop by when driving that way. I head to the home decor section first. Initially,  I had a hard time buying used clothing but I have since gotten over that. Finding your first name brand piece in perfect condition sets the hook. I keep a pair of small scissors in the laundry room so when I come through from the garage it’s a snip and into the washer.
    I can’t go early in the day so I drop by late when they are restocking for the next day. It is a nice way to add variety to your wardrobe for very little money. 

  26. I loved your posted. Thrifting is such a goo option when you are on a budget and you can definitely find some great things from well known brands.

  27. What a fun post! I love the thrill of the hunt at thrift stores and the friendships I have made with the owners and clerks. I live near a Value Village and have a lot of fun there with my whole family looking for bargains and unique items.

  28. Bummed that our Savers in WI closed last month. I do not believe there are any other Savers left in WI. Their prices are very high, which may explain them closing. But either way, I love thrifting!

  29. I know I already commented, and sorry for not thinking of it earlier, but I was thinking about shopping secondhand this morning and I just wanted to say that the more I shop secondhand, the more important your blog becomes to me. Not going into regular stores as much, I wouldn’t know what was in style without you! And then I can see the holes in my wardrobe and get those from places you recommend instead of having to look all over the place for a quality item. Thank you!

  30. I absolutely loved this post. Those jeans are so flattering on you! While I enjoy shopping discount stores, like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s I also have a few consignment shops that I take my clothes to, then what they don’t take I donate. And, I have found some really good deals at these shops. I recently brought a Troy Burch purse in great condition.  My daughter is just now starting to enjoy going to these shops with me, as she is a full time college student and can’t afford to spend her money on clothes. But, she will not buy used shoes. She thinks it’s totally gross to wear shoes someone else wore, but it doesn’t bother me lol. Thanks so much for sharing this and it’s the reason I follow you, you are so down to earth and share a variety of price points with us 🙂 

  31. Great outfits and finds!! I don’t do a lot of thrift shopping, but I do some and I am always happy when I find something I love that is a good brand, nearly new and at such a great discount. I also am a believer in doing some “recycling” :). Thanks for sharing and thanks to you and your readers who gave you thrift store shopping advice. That was helpful.

  32. You found some cute stuff! I discovered Savers 5 years ago when I was pregnant. I bought all my maternity clothes there. Now, I’m hooked. I love looking for my treasures, at prices I can afford. I like how the store is organized— makes shopping easy and pleasant. 

  33. I love shopping at Value Village! And now that I am 55, going on Tuesdays saves me 30% for my whole purchase.

  34. I have never seen a thrifty store look so neat and appealing! This was a great post and a good reminder that we don’t need to spend a lot to look good. 

    Can you see yourself shopping there once in awhile now that you have been there and discovered items and brands you like? 

  35. We have a Savers nearby, and I went there years ago to check it out when it opened to see what all the hubbub was about but didn’t find anything. Perhaps it’s time to stop by again. I enjoy finding things for the home at thrift stores. Fun to find unique things. Pretty outfit you put together! 

  36. Hi from Australia. Even we have savers and I love to shop there. My Best Buy was a pair of nude Marc by Marc  Jacob heels  never worn for $10 in the correct size. Bargain. And they go with everything.

  37. I love thrift shopping but have not been to a Savers can’t wait to give them a try. My daughter and I often go together so I look forward to shopping with her there as well when she returns from college. Love your finds and the brands you picked.

  38. I HAVE THAT SAME BURGUNDY TANK FROM LOFT!! (Bought it last summer on sale) So funny! 😄 I wore it so much last summer with jeans, shorts, denim skirt….& I still love it. 
    So I have never heard of a “Savers” store; I don’t  think we have them in CA (or at least not that I know of). Sounds like you got lucky! The closest thing we have around here would be TJ Maxx (do you have those?)  but it doesn’t sell previously owned merchandise, just discounted. I have an aunt who shops at the Goodwill store near her in northern CA though; she says she’s found many items that are good brands with tags still attached. Go figure! 
    I’m a little weird and OCD though, and the thought of wearing something once worn by a stranger kind of bothers me. 😬 

  39. We have a Savers and it’s where my daughter headed whenever she needed stuff for spirit days in HS. You are right, they are very organized and have a ton of stuff. Nice finds!

  40. I so love Savers! And I like to donate to them, too. Nothing makes me more excited than going to Savers and finding nice things. I also like looking at their home goods.

  41. I love Savers! Glad you found some great deals. I’m currently taking course 2 for Adore Your Wardrobe, so of course I need to replace most of my summer wardrobe. I found a few great things I needed at Savers which really helped my budget!

  42. I’m not much of a consignment shopper but your description of how they have things organized makes me want to check out the Savers in my area – especially how they hang their jeans. Will have to put them on my list for weekend errands. I do have 2 stores that take my items to for recycling – I use Clothes Mentor and Uptown Consignment.

  43. Jo-Lynne, I love Savers. We had two big stores here in Toledo, and then one day I went in there and was told they were both being closed. The employees only had about a ten day notice. Needless to say, I was very disappointed and it gave me a bad feeling towards the company because of how they did it. Not sure what their reasoning was, as they were always busy. I really do miss them. I am a thrifter and they were my go to stores…always well organized with lots of merchandise. I am very sad that they pulled out! – Amy
    https://stylingrannymama.com/

  44. I LOVE Savers.  there is not one where I live but when I visit my friend in San Jose we always go to Savers for fun.    I have purchase many an oil painting from their as well as jeans….

  45. We love the Savers in Austin! You can really find some great clothing at thrift stores and I do that often!

  46. I DO have a Savers nearby and have found many great finds in clothing there. My daughter was THRILLED when I sent her to Savers to look for quality clothing for her new baby…her husband couldn’t believe the quality and price compared to the new items they had bought.

  47. I love Savers! I used to go to them in Phoenix when we lived in AZ and I always loved how well organized their store was. There’s supposed to be a Value Village about 45 minutes from where I now live but I haven’t had time to check it out yet.

  48. Interesting post. I like to visit thrift stores from time to time but don’t usually look for clothing. Maybe I should. 

  49. I love shopping at thrift stores! I never heard of Savers before but I’ll have to check it out 🙂

  50. Love thrifting.. minus a toddler. I have found some great things thrifting! Love the half off days.

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