My go-to outfit for chilly days (and a giveaway)

[Click here to read this post on the blog](. This post is sponsored by [thredUP](. Chilly days are here again: sweater weather has finally arrived in the Upper South. I’ve been so looking forward to the change of seasons, and was more than ready to pull my own cool-weather clothing out of storage. But when I went to retrieve them, they were nowhere to be found! I finally figured out what happened. [My family moved earlier this year.]() When we unpacked nine months ago, I took that opportunity to carefully cull my already minimalist-leaning wardrobe, only unpacking clothes I truly loved and wanted to wear, and that were in good condition. It hasn’t been truly cold since we moved—until now, when the gaps in my closet are suddenly obvious, and the box holding my favorite winter scarves is still AWOL from the move. To quickly patch the holes in my wardrobe without spending a fortune, I turned to [thredUP](, the largest online thrift store where millions of women refresh their closets. They make secondhand shopping convenient and fun, carrying on trend, like-new fashion (sometimes brand new with tags!) from top name brands and designers for up to 90% off. (Plus I have a coupon code for you that get you an even better deal on your first purchase—and a giveaway for one lucky reader!) I love getting a great deal, but I don’t often shop secondhand in person. I have friends who enjoy the thrill of the hunt—who love to dig through racks of clothing to find a hidden gem at a killer discount. That’s not me. Thankfully, thredUP combines the value of secondhand fashion with the ease of online shopping: I search for my favorite brands—J.Crew, Madewell, Banana Republic, The Gap—and filter by size, color, price, and style to easily find what I’m looking for. When it’s cool but not cold, my go-to outfit looks like jeans + neutral sweater + [a great third piece](), and on a cool fall or winter day that’s likely to be a scarf. It’s incredible how adding a scarf to a basic sweater and jeans elevates an ensemble from purely functional to a legitimate outfit. I will be wearing some variation of this outfit—denim, sweater, scarf—three days a week this season, because it’s easy and it looks good. I like to look good, and I really value easy. Scarves are easy and fun to buy secondhand—the price is right and the fit is guaranteed. I filled my [thredUP]( cart with cute, fun scarves that I could easily add to my neutral basics to complete a great fall outfit, and thredUP’s selection was fantastic. I found a black and white, new with tags Modcloth blanket scarf for $9.99 (instead of $30 new), an adorable pink Banana Republic scarf with pompoms for $14.99 (instead of $48), a grey fringed Banana scarf for $6.99 (instead of $35), a blue plaid Gap scarf for $9.99 (instead of $30), and a yellow plaid blanket scarf for $7.99 (instead of $24). I appreciate how thredUP triple inspects each item by hand to ensure everything is like-new (or even brand new with tags!), and arrives neatly packaged and folded. Shipping is free on qualified orders and returns are easy. When I shop [thredUP](, I always check to see what they have from my favorite brands. That’s how I stumbled upon a great pair of Madewell jeans in my size for only $26.99. I’m a new convert to Madewell denim: they make fabulous jeans, but they’re not cheap, so I was psyched to get these for significantly less than the $119 retail price. I found more great pieces for daily wear while I was browsing— like a cute Madewell cardigan for just $42.99 (instead of $149 new), and a J.Crew crewneck sweater—the kind I’ve paid full price for in the past—for $20.99 (instead of $98 new). I always check for shoes from my favorite brands while I’m browsing [thredUP](, which is how I stumbled upon these gorgeous J.Crew ankle boots. When they arrived the soles were pristine—I don’t think they’ve ever been worn. And instead of the hefty $228 price tag I’ve seen online, I picked these up for $67.99. I wear a size 11—which is rare, and hard to find secondhand. I’ve learned that if I’m looking for a certain size or color from my favorite brands, it’s worth checking back regularly—thredUP gets new inventory in all the time. When I’m shopping [thredUP](, I have a pretty good idea of what I’m looking for, but I’m also open to serendipity. I’ll check out what my favorite brands have on offer, just to see what’s there. (In practical terms, this means I’ll sort by size, but not necessarily by item.) Sometimes it pays off big. That’s how I found this gorgeous J. Crew cocktail dress, which will be perfect for holiday party season. This beauty came new with tags, for just $47.99 (instead of $250 retail). Want to try it yourself? [thredUP]( is offering Modern Mrs. Darcy readers a special discount! The first 100 people to use my code ANNE40 will get an extra 40% off their first order. (Applies to new U.S. customers only. Redeemable online only. Certain restrictions apply.) Want to shop on somebody else’s dime? One reader will win a $250 shopping spree on thredUP! To enter, [Click here to browse thredUP](, and [comment on this post]( with an item you’re loving most for the winter season. The winner will be picked randomly after the giveaway ends. (Giveaway ends Wednesday, November 15 at 11:59 pm EST. 18 and older, U.S. only.) Good luck! I hope you win. Do you have a friend who would enjoy getting these emails? Please forward this email on to them. [Modern Mrs Darcy](=) | 6000 Brownsboro Park Blvd Ste H, Louisville, Kentucky 40207 [Opt Out of Blog Posts Only]( | [Unsubscribe from all MMD emails](