I’ve seen lots of folks extolling the benefits of thrift-shopping over the past year or so, especially in response to Trump’s tariffs. It makes sense, in a world where fast fashion reigns supreme and even low-quality clothes have gotten super pricey, that many people are opting to wear clothes made 20+ years ago – these items are better-made than lots of what’s available now, are usually significantly cheaper, and are more environmentally friendly than buying new.

All of that being said, one of my personal favorite reasons to shop vintage is that it allows you to affordably expand your fashion palate and palette, exploring new styles and perhaps even new gender expressions in the process.

In high school, my friends and I used to go thrifting almost weekly, and it always amazed me to see their faces light up when they would try something on “as a joke” and then unexpectedly fall in love with it. I saw my genderqueer FWB’s spine straighten when they slung on a boxy leather jacket from the ‘80s. I saw a femme friend’s eyes widen with delight when she paired her usual floaty dresses with a chunky pair of deadstock cowboy boots. And I saw the same serendipitous joy in my own eyes when I slipped into a negligée that made me feel like Tinkerbell, or a pink necktie that a fruity businessboy might wear, or a sequinned dress that turned me into a walking disco ball. I could access whole new sides of myself, new vibes and pride and swagger, just by plucking something long-forgotten off the rack and giving it a new lease on life.