Back to School Looks Found at Goodwill

This month's blog post features tips from @tayst.ofchicago, one of Goodwill's 2025 influencer partners. Taylor is a Chicago-based fashionista who loves to put together creative looks!

Kids grow so fast! It is so hard to keep up with their changing clothing sizes. It feels like every time I remember my daughters’ new clothing size; they outgrow it. This is why I don’t believe in spending a lot of money on kids’ clothes. I’ve trained my girls to appreciate Goodwill. They might even, dare I say, love it.

Over the years they’ve found some cool pieces that they fell in love with: checkered jeans, a pink snow suit, and even a genuine leather jacket. They have learned to love the thrill of the hunt and are always excited to show me what they found. I usually bring them with me when I want to buy them more clothes, but I decided to do a bit of back-to-school shopping without them this time.

Because they start school in August, I thought it made sense to get them a few more warm weather pieces. Now, finding pieces that fit is one thing. Finding things that they will like and actually wear is another. I bought four pieces for each of them that included shorts, shirts, leggings, and a jacket, eight pieces in total. I ended up spending thirty dollars for it all, and that averages less than four dollars per item. That’s my kind of shopping. The real test was the try on when I got back home.

I always ask my girls to try on new clothes as soon as I bring them home. Something in me needs to know if they fit and if the girls like what I picked. Immediately. Of the eight items I bought, the girls liked six. I think that’s pretty good. Each of them only hated one of the four things I chose for them. I’ll likely donate the other two pieces back to another Goodwill, but I’ll call this a win.

Left: Taylor's oldest daughter in her Abercrombie brand jeans that she found at Goodwill.

Right: Taylor's youngest daughter in her brand-new snowsuit that she found at Goodwill.