

Don't Sleep On Thrift Stores: Thrifting 101
When it comes to style, there has been a major resurgence of the thrifted vintage look among millennials.
With thrifting, you can save major bucks, find classic looks for any occasion, and support community and WOC vintage thrift store owners with brick-and-mortar businesses and online shops in the process. And while I love buying brand new clothes, there is something special about going thrift store shopping and finding something name brand, vintage, one of a kind, and fly for dirt ass cheap!
I always say, "It's not what you wear, it's how you wear it."
As an avid thrifter, I know a thing or two about navigating thrift stores, finding the best bang for my buck, and thinking of ways to put unique looks together. I decided to put my skills to the test by asking a friend of mine to join me in a thrift store challenge where we put together a complete outfit for $25 or less. I decided to add a twist to it by doing a bunch of different looks, ranging from a girls' night out to a flirty date night.
Read on for tips and tricks of how to navigate thrifting, and also for some style inspiration with different thrifted looks styled by yours truly.
Start Thrifting
Photo by: Dee Williams @hideexdee @famoustaine
Hit up your local neighborhood Salvation Army or Goodwill consignment stores. Likewise, you can look up your local brick and mortar thrift shops. On this particular thrift trip, my friend Friday and I took a trip to the Salvation Army to find some thrifted looks. Remember, you can always take this opportunity to find and support WOC-owned thrift stores.
Check out this popping list of some more online WOC owned vintage thrift stores!
- Golden Bird Boutique
- DivaXpress, LLC
- Just Bree
- Ms. Phay's Closet
- The Thrift, esq.
- The Thrift Guru
- The Thrift Jesus
Photo by: Dee Williams @hideexdee
Once you're there, you will really have to look through the racks to find good pieces, since most of the stores are usually very big. The good thing about these kind of stores is that most of the clothing is color-coded and categorized by male, female, and children's. They are also caterogized by pants, jackets, dresses, skirt, coats, etc. If you are looking for something in particular, you will have no problem knowing where to find it.
Find Opportunities To Save On Top Of Saving
Photo by: Dee Williams @hideexdee @famoustaine @fluidfridays
Another great thing about the Salvation Army, in particular, is that most store locations across the country will have a day where every item in the store is half off, with the usual exception of one colored tag. I usually plan to be at my local store early to make sure that I snag all of the good stuff at half the price. Chain stores like Goodwill also offer half-day sales, as well as other savings events periodically throughout the year. So constantly be on the lookout to get the most bang for your buck.
Get Creative With Your Outfit Choices
Photo by: Dee Williams @hideexdee @fluidfridays
Thrifting allows you to really bring out your own personal sense of style, since there are no rule or guide books when going to a thrift store. You won't have any mannequin styled to perfection, and you won't have anyone there to help you pick out the perfect designer outfits. Thrift store shopping truly allows you to express your creativity through your own personal sense of fashion. Also, going with your bestie is such a fun, and bonding experience as you both nay, or yasss looks together, and swear on what you know sis would love!
Look Out For Stains
Photo by: Dee Williams @hideexdee
Don't be like me, lose your mind, and forget to keep up with your personal belongings. Also make sure you check to see if there are any unremovable stains on something you pick out. Most thrift store sales are final. As a general rule, if you are still feeling iffy about community thrift store clothes, all you have to do is wash any piece you buy before you wear it.
Click through the gallery below to check out the challenge looks that me and the bestie came up!
Look 1: Coffee Shop Chic
Photo by: Dee Williams @hideexdee
Here, I look like I threw on a quick outfit to run to the coffee shop to get some writing done and meet up with a friend for a late lunch date later. I love the chicness of this olive v-line plunge top, the old school high-waist elastic banded jeans, and the super comfortable canary yellow oversized button-down and bag. Total cost of this look? $16
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here to receive our latest articles and news straight to your inbox.
- 3 Ways To Wear A Button-Down Shirt - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- Thrifting Tips Tricks Professional Thrifter - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love, Wellness, Beauty ›
- How to Dress Greener: 5 Reasons to Shop at Thrift Stores ›
- 10+ Tips On How To Thrift Shop Like A Boss ›
- Best Thrift Stores in New York for Cheap Clothing and Furniture ›
- How to Shop at Thrift Stores: 10 Tips for Finding the Hidden Gems ... ›
- How to Thrift Store Shop ›
- How to: Thrift Shop | Top 10 Thrifting Tips! - YouTube ›
- 10 Shopping Tips For Scoring The Best Finds At A Thrift Store ... ›
- 33 Thrift-Store Shopping Hacks from a Professional Thrifter - The ... ›
- 15 THRIFTING TIPS | HOW TO THRIFT SHOP | COME THRIFTING ... ›
- Lets Go Thrifting! The Ultimate Guide To Thrift Store Success ›
Fontaine Felisha Foxworth is a writer and creative entrepreneur from Brooklyn New York. She is currently on the West Coast working on creating a TV Pilot called "Finding Fontaine", that details the nomadic journey of her life so far. Keep up with her shenanigans @famoustaine on IG.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
It’s almost as if most of the traditional sugary sodas that we grew up loving were swapped out for most health-conscious alternatives. If you walk into any grocery store and find yourself in the soft drink aisle, what you’ll discover is a new, fast-growing selection of gut-friendly drinks that are improving our digestive health, one sip at a time.
Probiotics are live microorganisms, often referred to as "good" bacteria, that help maintain a balanced and healthy microbial environment in our digestive system. With probiotic beverages that contain live beneficial bacteria, these drinks deliver probiotics to the digestive system in a convenient and enjoyable way.
Although it may seem as if probiotic sodas have had an instant surge in popularity, these low-sugar, tummy-soothing beverages have earned their position by tasting good and being good for you. From their support in maintaining good bacteria in the gut to keeping your immune system balanced and in check, there’s truly nothing like sipping your way to better gut health.
From fermented seltzers to probiotic pops, we’ve got the best bubbly, gut-focused sodas for you to try.
Poppi 12-Pack Sparkling Prebiotic Strawberry Lemon Soda
Poppi
This sparkling soda from Poppi is packed with the good stuff to keep your immune system boosted, your stomach less bloated, and your digestive system flowing.
Health-Ade Pop Prebiotic Soda
Flavor and fuel for your tummy, who could ask for a better duo to keep your digestive system happy?
Mayawell Bubbly Prebiotic Soda
Amazon
Looking for a soda that puts your gut health first? Mayawell has all the good prebiotic fiber to keep your immune system strong and metabolism burning.
wildwonder Sparkling Probiotic Juice Drink
We love a silly little drink that’s serious about giving your gut the good bacteria it needs, with both prebiotics and probiotics packed in every can.
KeVita Probiotic Sparkling Refresher
The secret behind KeVita’s sparkling refreshers is that it’s been fermented with their water kefir culture to keep the “good bacteria” happy and working for you.
OLIPOP
Amazon
Whether it's for the taste or its endless gut benefits, OLIPOP is providing a healthier alternative to sugary sodas with high-fiber ingredients that support your digestive system.
culture POP soda
Amazon
Sipping on your favorite soda is even better when you know that it’s juicy, fruity, and made with organic spices and herbs, along with billions of live probiotics that are as soothing as it is satisfying.
Humm Probiotic Seltzer
Amazon
If you’re looking for a seltzer that’s good for you and loaded with two billion probiotics in every can, you’re gonna love these seltzers from Humm.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography/Getty Images