Meet Ashley Brewer,
A local NC stylist bringing you the latest fashion trends frugally and confidently. Passionately driven to break down double standards within the beauty industry, Ashley amplifies body positivity and self-love to encourage individuals to wear what brings THEM joy.
Follow her on Instagram @lovely_ashleyb
Sometimes it seems like women get to have all the fun clothes shopping — for themselves, for their children, and for their husbands too. But, let’s face it: the ‘majority’ of men say that they hate, no wait…they loathe shopping for clothes. The commonly stated reason?
Most men say they hate shopping for clothes because they don’t know how to put an outfit together.
But I hear many of my lady friends saying the same thing and not knowing what to pick out for the guy in their life.
Here are three inspiration styles, all filled with recommendations to build out the essentials for a men’s wardrobe, and all thrifted from Triad Goodwill stores:
With a special thank you to my fiancé Dustin for modeling these looks today.
Got a sporty guy?
A simple pair of solid color basketball shorts can be a closet staple! Paired with any tank top or t-shirt you instantly have appropriate sports attire. We found these grey Reebok basketball shorts and this blue sleeveless shirt for $2.99, perfect for those outdoor summer sport activities.
My guy enjoys the comfort of sleeveless tanks for his disc golf days and our Triad Goodwill store in Greensboro had a whole rack full of those.
We also found this versatile solid black short sleeve hoodie. Pairing this with the grey basketball shorts gave us two new sport styles instantly.
Got a casual guy?
A solid white t-shirt is a versatile, must-have item. Luckily, we found this fitted white tee and were able to piece together a few different casual looks from this thrift trip.
Pro tip: I recommend looking for a ‘fitted’ solid t-shirt so it’s more comfortable for layering items year round.
Pair with neutral colored shorts and sneakers, then throw over any patterned button-down, and you have this casual yet put together look.
Going out, but shorts are too casual? Just trade out the shorts for your guy’s favorite pair of denim, and make sure that the button-down (long or short-sleeved) is paired with a nice sneaker. Presto! Another casual yet put together look.
This plaid flannel button down was a fantastic find for only $5.99, but was made of a thicker material, which will be perfect for the upcoming fall season.
And if you’re looking for another fun way to dress up that basic white t-shirt I keep telling you that you have to have? Add a vest!
For this look, I was envisioning something a little different and wanted to create a rustic style. So when I stumbled across this vintage vest from Triad Goodwill, it became my absolute favorite piece. It was only $4.99 and in pristine condition.
I layered the vest over the fitted white t-shirt, added a pair of dark wash denim jeans over these worn genuine leather dress shoes, and cuffed the bottom of the jeans to create this handsome rustic vibe. (Thank you again to my fiancé, Dustin!)
Need ideas for business casual?
Staying with white as a neutral, a classic button-down shirt is an absolute MUST for a man’s wardrobe. Pair this shirt with any color slacks or khaki pants, match the belt and shoe color together, and viola!
Jos. A. Bank is a brand I always try to seek out while thrifting, so coming across this gently used Jos. A. Bank button down for only $5.99 was a win-win!
I paired this button-up shirt with gently used Banana Republic khaki pants, also found for only $5.99. Then I added the brown belt and matching brown shoe, creating a sophisticated business casual look.
As luck would have it, I found a second pair of the same Banana Republic pants in navy blue. Changing out the brown leather dress shoes for pristine white sneakers made this style ideal for a more casual date night.
And if you need something a little more formal…
You cannot go wrong with a pair of sleek black slacks and black dress shoes. Just don’t forget the matching black belt! You never know when you’re going to need them, but the need always seems to arise throughout the year. Black goes with everything and is a true closet staple.
Digging through the racks, I found this gorgeous deep plum button-down from American Eagle for only $5.99, and I loved how it created a moodier look against this pair of black slacks for a professional style.
What to look for on your next trip to Triad Goodwill:
Here we are with a FULL cart of different styles to try on. There are endless wardrobe choices from all eras at your local Triad Goodwill. Plus, I truly had so much fun piecing these looks together.
- Solid-color, fitted t-shirts are always great for layering in any season.
- Dressy button shirts can be worn several ways: buttoned up or left open and paired with neat, neutral colored shorts or with a nice jean for a put together casual style.
- Khaki pants, black slacks, black belts, and black dress shoes are all closet staples you’ll need when the next business occasion arises.
My Tips and Tricks for shopping the BEST deals at Triad Goodwill
- Visit regularly! Seriously, go often. Inventory is constantly coming in.
- Stop in at prime times – during the weekdays too if you’re able!
- Know what you’re looking for.
- Think outside the box and get creative.
- Donate something every time you go to make room for new thrifted fashion items.
Remember, when you thrift at Goodwill you’re
- Saving Money $
- Reducing Waste [recycle emoji]
- Curating a One-of-a-Kind Wardrobe
- Supporting your Community