How to Thrift Store Shop Like a Pro: 4 Fantastic Fall Outfits for ONLY $17.93

If you know anything about me, you already know I love a good bargain which means I also love to go thrift store shopping. It's a bit like a treasure hunt each time I go and recently I keep finding all kinds of awesome treasures at all of my favorite second hand shops!

Designer jeans, adorable flowy tops, fun and funky sweatshirts, proper button ups, and all kinds of other goodies came home with me over the last few weeks. While I'm super proud of all my treasures, today I'm sharing just a sample of my new wardrobe and a few hints on how you can find some awesome additions to your closet as well! These four stylish fall looks were all put together with items I bought while thrifting, so start taking notes because this is how you thrift like a pro!

Outfit number 1 is a fun and flirty bohemian look, a flowy, sheer, oversized shirt with a lace bottom paired with pastel short shorts and pair of nude heels. Not pictured, but I accessorized with earrings that match my shorts and I was good to go! I love this outfit for warmer days, long days at school, or even just for running errands. Casual and classy, this outfit is timeless and comfortable.

Shirt: $1.49 | Shorts: $2.49 | Heels are old

Outfit 2 is a pretty little number, perfect for a funky office environment or just a romp around town. I styled a pink and black cropped blazer with a tank top, a grey mini skirt with black stripes, and a black druzy necklace; admittedly, this outfit would look better with a black tank but I still love the style. Speaking of style, I opened the fitting room door to show my husband this cropped blazer and had a stranger tell me it didn't look good on me. While I appreciated her input, I'm glad I trusted my instincts and bought it anyways; which leads to a little thrift store advice, if you think something looks awesome then it probably does so buy it... and on the other foot, if you aren't sure about something, then go ahead and put it back!

Cropped Blazer: $1.99 | Skirt: $1.99 | Necklace is old

Outfit number 3 is a preppy, dressy casual look. I paired a pair of designer jeans that fit like a glove with a white tank and a teal long sleeve, button up shirt and left a few buttons undone to show off my black druzy necklace. I love the simplicity this outfit offers and think it would be perfect for someone trying to portray a laid back yet polished look!

Shirt: $2.49 | Jeans: $4.99

Outfit number 4 is the perfect cozy, cool-weather fall outfit. With a purple metallic polka dot, ultra comfortable sweatshirt paired with the same designer jeans mentioned above and nude heels, you can't go wrong! I love the down-to-earth look this outfit gives off and can't wait to rock it around town the few days Florida actually has some cool weather.

Sweatshirt: $2.49 | Jeans: price listed above

So just in case you are like me and hate doing math, all of this means that I put all four of these outfits together for only $17.93! I literally feel like I've won the lottery every time I go thrift store shopping, simply because I'm able to get so much value for my dollar and most of the time the clothes have barely even been worn! What's not to love about scoring awesome deals on adorable clothes?

Are you wanting to get your hands on some excellent second hand deals? I'm not an expert but I'm a pretty avid thrift store shopper, so here's my top 3 tips for finding things that are perfect for you at a thrift store:

1. While this first tip may be obvious to some, it's probably the best way to find things you'll love... You need to choose thrift stores in a more upscale environment. I've been to thrift stores in the hood and I've been to thrift stores nearby the rich & famous, you can guess which store had tons of name brand merchandise and which one had nothing of interest. I'm not saying you won't be able to find something at the thrift store "on the wrong side of town" because most likely you will find at least a few things, but you are more likely to find things you are gaga over when shopping on the nice side of town!

2. Look at each and every item, twice. I know it sounds crazy but I highly recommend looking at each and every item among the things you are wanting to add to your wardrobe. If you are wanting a new skirt, don't just skim over the surface of the skirt section but dive in, hands first. You'll want to look at every skirt, if you like the design or pattern, check the size, and if it's your size add it into your cart. This may seem like another obvious tip but so many of my friends skip over large sections of clothes, while my version of shopping takes more time, I always find the best items in the store! Give every piece of a clothing a look and you'll notice you'll find a lot more adorable additions to your wardrobe than you did just skimming through racks. Also, give each and every piece you choose to buy a really thorough second look for stains, holes, or other funk after you've tried it on!

3. Did you know that a lot of thrift stores have sales and discounts?  All you have to do is look at the stores event calendar and you'll be able to save even more money on your new clothes!! My local thrift store offers half off days, once a week, as well as discounts for senior citizens and our service men, plus occasional blow out sales including a pretty rockin' Black Friday sale! Crazy huh? I'll be honest, I tend to go on the half off days! It's a great way to save SO much money, you'll

Now that I've shared 4 epic outfit ideas and 3 tips to ensure you find something you love while thrift store shopping, I'd love to hear all about your favorite thrift store find? Have a favorite piece of furniture you scored or maybe a rad pair of jimmy choo shoes that you just happened to find at a second hand store? Tell me all about it in the comments below!