While working on The Fusion Effect: A Goodwill Digital Fashion Show I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Goodwill shoppers about their shopping experiences and various trips to Goodwill stores. To make the most out of your Goodwill shopping experience you want to have a plan, but also an open mind for finding items. These shoppers were asked to give their top 3 tips when shopping at Goodwill. Let’s see what they had to say ...

Look up! Take note of the category signs for different types of clothing. These will help guide you as to where you need to go in the store and make your shopping experience efficient.

Don’t be afraid to try things on. Goodwill has several fitting rooms, and you never know how well something may fit until you put it on.

Bring a friend to bounce ideas off of when choosing outfits. Doing this makes your shopping experience so much fun!

—Hannah Bonecutter, Oak Park, Illinois

Keep an open mind. Try to expand your wardrobe with pieces you might not usually wear.

You can go into the store and look for something specific or have an “open-mind” shopping trip. I had an idea of what I wanted, but that quickly changed when other clothing items caught my attention.

Try on the clothes. I found clothes that did not look so cute on the hanger, but after trying them on, I was surprised to see how flattering they looked. Especially the dresses!

—Claudia de Bruyn, Chicago, Illinois

When shopping, work cute items you come across into outfits you already have. Make the most out of the pieces of clothing you buy, so you can use them several times instead of just once.

Buy “signature” pieces that you know will create a “wow” factor in your wardrobe. Buy something most people would not expect you to wear but looks good on you.

When renovating your wardrobe, start from the bottom up. Buy the essentials first!”

—Elise de Bruyn, Chicago, Illinois

Focus on finding quirky pieces to integrate into your everyday outfits, whether that is a dramatic piece of jewelry or a colorful top.

Women, don’t be afraid to check out the men’s section. It is a great place to find button-up shirts or flannels.

Don’t focus on sizes; focus on the fit. Use Goodwill’s changing rooms to try on clothing because you never know what will look flattering.

—Christine Vi, Chicago, Illinois