Blog/Instagram
Hi! My name is Lindsey Rouleau and I run LINROU Blog. For years I loved using my personal Instagram account to post my outfits, hairstyles, makeup and more – but it wasn’t until April 2018 that I actually decided to turn my love for all those things into a blog. Since then I’ve expanded a bit, and I love sharing all things fashion, food, and fun in Phoenix!
My first encounter with Goodwill was actually all thanks to my husband, Steve. A San Diego area native, he grew up sifting through Goodwills, antique shops, and flea markets. He lives for that kind of “treasure hunting”!
I, on the other hand, was completely unfamiliar with the concept of thrift shopping before I met him. I think there is a bit of a stigma attached to buying secondhand clothes – my first thought was that a Goodwill would be full of worn out, dirty, unwearable clothing. But after making my first trip with him, I learned that couldn’t be further from the truth! All it took was finding a few of my own treasures to learn that Goodwill is the place to find brands that I love at prices that I love even more!
This particular Goodwill trip was somewhat different, though. I’m a firm believer of going into a thrift store with no “shopping list” – you’re unlikely to find exactly what you’re looking for, but if you keep an open mind unlikely treasures are sure to find you! I wanted to show you guys as many great Goodwill finds as I possibly could, so the strategy was a little different. My goal was to find an outfit for each of the following categories: night out, workday, vacation, fall, and rehearsal dinner. And although I didn’t exactly check all those boxes, I still love everything I found in the end!
Outfit Number 1: Casual Fall Outfit
This outfit started with me finding this adorable grey t-shirt dress! I love loose-fitting dresses like this to layer with cute jackets or scarves. Paired with these strappy black sandals and my denim Hollister jacket (which I actually found on a previous trip to Goodwill), it’s the perfect casual outfit for shopping or going out to lunch!
Outfit Number 2: Lazy Day Chic
This outfit is all about that cozy cardigan! This black cardigan from Nordstrom was perfectly paired with my comfy graphic tee and my even comfier boyfriend jeans. In this outfit I feel ready to hang out with family, go on a road trip, or just run errands – in style!
Outfit Number 3: Workday Fashionista
This outfit means BUSINESS. When I saw this cute white top, I immediately thought of wearing it under my favorite pink blazer! To top it off, I was so excited to come across this super flattering pair of Wax jeans. They’re meant to be booty lifting, and normally when I buy jeans like this I have to go to Fashion Nova and pay WAY more than I would at Goodwill!
Outfit Number 4: Blazin’ Blazer
When I first saw this blazer, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to pair it with… But I knew I had to have it! I quickly learned that pairing an oversized blazer like this with a midi dress and some knee-high boots is sure to make anyone feel like a total boss.
Outfit Number 5: Rehearsal Dinner
I actually just got married and became Mrs. Rouleau on October 6th, 2018! I had the pleasure of going on this Goodwill trip in mid-September, and at that point I still had no clue what to wear to my rehearsal dinner. That was until I came across this total win! This super fun bodycon dress was from Forever 21… and it STILL HAD THE TAGS ON IT. Paired with this super-comfy pair of lace-up wedges, I felt absolutely fabulous on the night of our rehearsal!
Outfit Number 6: Emerald Beauty
If I’m being honest… I have no idea where a homebody like myself will ever wear a dress like this. (Anyone hosting a fancy dinner party anytime soon?!) That being said, I couldn’t resist this gorgeous green number! Paired with my favorite strappy heels and a cute little clutch, I feel classy and ready to party in this beautiful little gown!
So now that you’ve seen all the fun outfits I found at Goodwill, you’re probably ready to try your hand at finding your own treasures! But before you do, let me give you my top two Goodwill tips to set you up for success:
1. Go in with an open mind. If you go in looking for something specific, you’ll probably be let down. You can keep a running list in the back of your mind of things to look out for, but Goodwill is all about going in with no expectations and being surprised what you find!
2. Consistency is key. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my Goodwill-aholic husband, it’s try, try again! Visit often, because it’s all about the joy of treasure hunting – not instant gratification of finding an item on your very first try.
Now it’s your turn! I hope my Goodwill haul gave you some outfit inspo, and my shopping tips help you have a successful shopping spree! And of course, be sure to follow my future fashion adventures on Instagram, @linroublog. Happy hunting! – XO, Lindsey
