Unique, thrifted style: Local experts share fall fashion tips for 2025 | Business

FRANKLIN COUNTY — It’s time to pull your favorite boots out from under the bed and knit scarves from the top of the closet. 

After what felt like a longer summer than usual, fall has arrived in Vermont and that might mean it’s time for a wardrobe refresh — think chestnut browns and deep burgundy, flannels, fleece and high-waisted jeans. 

Luckily, Franklin County has an abundance of local thrift and vintage stores to help you stay on-trend at an affordable price. 

“I think people are trying to watch their dollars a little bit more,” said Angela Carr, owner of Divine Treasures in Swanton. “If you can get a $12 pair of name-brand jeans versus $40, that’s a good deal.” 

While upstairs at Divine Treasures is devoted to handmade artisan goods, downstairs is chock-full of quality consigned knits, jeans, men’s formal wear, wedding dresses and more. A new coat room has the stylish jackets you need for colder weather. 

Carr opened the store on Merchant’s Row in 2022 to “bring back shopping” after the COVID-19 pandemic drew people away from brick and mortar and toward a myriad of online retailers. She touts a clean and organized space and accepts only quality, unique consignment. 

In the new coat room, she pointed to a long black formal coat, its back embroidered with delicate flowers. 

“The woman who brought this in, she has the most unique style ever,” Carr said. “She’s tall and can carry it off.” 

At Spotlight Vintage in St. Albans, owner Renée Laroche-Rheaume and her trusted vendors offer vintage fashion and costumes for every style. Store racks hold everything from western wear and sparkly, Taylor Swift-like mini dresses to boho chic and closet staples. 

“St. Albans has a really diverse range of people, all ages and interests, so I really try to have a little bit of something for everybody,” she said. 

Thanks to the nostalgia of Gen-Z and Millennials, styles from the 1990s, like baggy jeans, leather jackets and graphic tees, are making a comeback. Vintage stores can be the perfect place to find authentic pieces true to the time, rather than fast-fashion knock-offs. 

“I’m really seeing the pattern of people who are interested in secondhand fashion and realizing the value in buying quality pieces rather than buying something on SHEIN or Amazon that’s going to last once,” Laroche-Rheaume said.

To help you prepare for the fall season, the Messenger asked Carr and Laroche-Rheaume four fashion-forward questions. 

Q:  What is your go-to fall clothing item?

Laroche-Rheaume: I am a big fan of natural fibers, especially in Vermont, because the weather changes throughout the day. You want to layer. 

Carr: Pants and sweaters. Ponchos and wraps are great too. 

Q:  Which accessories are best for spicing up an outfit? 

Laroche-Rheaume: Leather handbags. It’s the time of year to bust out those deep burgundy leathers. Earrings too, because they don’t get caught up in all your layers. It’s a great way to make a statement. 

Carr: Fall and winter are good times to be leaning into darker, bigger jewelry, as opposed to summer when you want something daintier. With a high neck collar, a chunky necklace can look really good. 

Q:  What trends from the past are coming back? 

Laroche-Rheaume: With vintage fashion, everything cycles back around, like every 30 years or so, depending on what’s going on in pop culture and politics. It all affects what people are wearing.

A lot of 90s styles are really popular right now. This time of year, I like to keep the 90s whimsigothic style in stock  — velvet, lace, earth tones. The movie “Practical Magic” is a perfect example. 

People are rebelling right now, so that’s showing up in 80s grunge making a comeback. Baggier jeans, plaids, flannels and over-sized t-shirts. Youth culture is really adopting that.  

Carr: Padded shoulders. A lot of people come in looking for women’s suit jackets with a little bit of padding. Women want them cropped a little shorter and will wear them with jeans instead of a pencil skirt. 

Q: How can you make a jacket look more flattering? 

Laroche-Rheaume: As someone who is only five-feet-tall, I know you can end up looking like you’re swimming in a big coat or sweater. I like to pair those with a slimmer jean or legging to balance it out. 

Sometimes all it takes is the right accessory, like a belt, to make something look a little more form-fitting. A belt over a sweater or tunic can really bring back your shape. 

Carr: My favorite right now is a lighter, plaid or fleece jacket that’s easier to carry and throw on than something bulky. Styles right now have bigger buttons and collars. I’ve got a whole bunch of them that I’m getting ready to put out.