Spend enough time in thrift stores, estate sales and antique malls, and you start to see things differently — and start to notice trend cycles. Objects that might have seemed ordinary a few years ago suddenly feel very current again.
Sometimes it’s because a television show brings a look back into circulation (hello, ‘90s Calvin Klein via FX’s Love Story), or a trend resurfaces that makes a particular designer from the 1970s suddenly feel relevant again.
When you can train yourself to notice trends outside their perfectly curated worlds, you’ll start to spot them even at thrift stores (so that, in the right light, that dusty old vase on the Goodwill shelf looks less like junk and more like that piece you saw on 1stDibs recently).
These are all items I’m noticing trending outside the world of vintage — in fashion mags, on Substacks, in celebrity and influencer homes …. this is exactly how trends work: they start at the top and trickle down.
I prefer to intercept trends near the top of the funnel — before they wind up on Target or Zara shelves. This is my entire ethos: I don’t want to wait a trend out and resort to buying a dupe. I want to find the original, more well-made version. That’s the idea with this series: to show you the pieces that I think might eventually get the trickle-down treatment.
With that in mind, here are the six things I think you should be thrifting right now: three to wear, and three for the house.
1990s Calvin Klein
a 1990s sequined Calvin Klein dress on Etsy for around $400
The renewed interest in 1990s Calvin Klein isn’t subtle. Between the resurgence of minimalist fashion and the recent attention around Love Story, the brand’s clean-lined ‘90s pieces suddenly feel very current again.
The best vintage Calvin Klein pieces are exactly what you’d expect: simple slips, bias-cut dresses, crisp white shirts, and perfectly tailored coats. Nothing flashy and that’s exactly the point.
A 1990s Calvin Klein collection maxi skirt in a gorgeous forest green
Things I look for:
Silk slip dresses
Minimal black wool coats
Simple leather belts and bags
Anything labeled Calvin Klein Collection
Typical thrift price: $10–$80
Resale value: $150–$800+
Search terms: vintage Calvin Klein 1990s, 90s Calvin Klein Collection, vintage Calvin Klein slip dress, 90s Calvin Klein silk dress, vintage Calvin Klein minimalist dress, 1990s Calvin Klein coat, vintage Calvin Klein blazer 90s, vintage Calvin Klein runway, Calvin Klein Collection vintage 90s, 90s Calvin Klein black dress
*One small trick that often works: sort by “newly listed” rather than price. Good vintage clothing tends to get purchased quickly, so the best pieces often disappear within a few hours of being posted.
Marble Figural Objects
a marble sculpture I saw at a thrift store recently for $525 (eek!)
Marble is one of those materials that elevates any space it’s in. Even a small dose of marble adds texture and interest — it makes things look grown-up! And sexy! In my mind, marble is always “in,” but lately I’m seeing even more of it. And I want it all.
I love the big marble furniture pieces but even tiny finds like bookends, trays, and small sculptural objects scratch the itch. Many of these were produced in Italy in the 1970s and ‘80s and turn up surprisingly often at thrift stores.
a green sculpture for $280 on eBay
a soapstone figure for $300 on Etsy
Things I look for:
Heavy weight
Interesting veining
Sculptural shapes
Typical thrift price: $5–$40
Retail equivalent today: $150+
Search terms: vintage marble sculpture, marble figurative sculpture, carved marble figure, marble bust sculpture, vintage marble statue, Italian marble sculpture vintage, marble figurine carved stone, neoclassical marble bust, marble torso sculpture, alabaster marble figurine
The rest of this list — including the best corset tops, hand-painted fruit bowls, intaglios, and striped bags — is for paid subscribers. If you’ve been using this newsletter as a way to thrift with more intention (and fewer misses), that’s exactly what the paid posts are for: more specific objects, clearer tells, and fewer dead ends.
You can subscribe below to read the full list and get access to the rest of this series going forward.
