Let’s face it. Famous people are everywhere and we can’t help but be interested. At least a little. Celebrity best dressed lists and “Who are you wearing” segments at awards shows have permeated our TV screen and fashion magazines for decades. Following the fashion trends of our favorite actresses, models, and other well-known figures have inspired our shopping habits for as long as most of us can remember. Replicating their glamourous and creative looks can be exciting, especially if it’s someone whose personal style and look emulates our own. We feel inspired and then look for the exact high-end brand names and labels or more pocketbook-friendly options that suit our budget and style. 

But for many celebrities, the attitudes and shopping behaviors they have stuck with for years are changing. Some of our favorite stars have joined the sustainable fashion movement with good intentions for our planet and the environment. Others have taken to vintage and thrift shopping to find one-of-a-kind pre-loved items that they can incorporate into their closets for both on and off the red carpet. In either case, finding out that the celebrities below choose to shop pre-loved clothes makes me fall in love with them and what they stand for even more. 

There is nothing quite like a well-known individual with the earning capacity to buy anything they want but who chooses to do the right thing regardless of what it could do to their reputation. (Although I think it improves it). Below is a list of six famous, lovable celebrities who have chosen to shop pre-loved.

CELEBS WHO THRIFT

Macklemore

We’ve all heard the song but believe it or not, the song was inspired by Macklemore’s real-life experience. Macklemore has gone on record saying that hip hop is heavily based on spending money, but he is all for saving it. He shopped at thrift shops when he was young, and he enjoys it because it’s “out of the box.” One of the first things he’s done on previous tours is looking for the thrift stores in the cities he visits. There’s just so much to love about someone talented, down to earth, and with a purpose in life that better serves our planet.

Julia Roberts

Last time we checked, Julia Roberts earned approximately $20 million per picture, but that doesn’t dictate how one of America’s sweethearts’ shops for herself and her family. Instead of buying her children expensive new clothes, the star incorporates gently used threads from local thrift stores. Julia shops second-hand for herself from time to time as well, having been spotted in thrift stores around California over the years. 

A quote from the Enquire about Julia’s views on shopping second hand:

“You know what? For the most part, when you’re talking about kids’ clothes, I don’t understand why you would NOT shop at thrift stores and the Goodwill. Does that make me cheap and tacky too? Kids outgrow their clothes really fast, and as long as you wash the second-hand clothes after you buy them, who cares? As for shopping for yourself – well, some people just like those vintage-y, dated clothes that you can find at thrift stores. I once got a great pair of jeans with the most stellar bootcut ever. It was just the right amount of flare. I loved them, and I wore them to death, and I think I paid like $5 for them.”

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren. What an absolute legend. I’ve always admired this woman’s confidence, regality, and talent. Her care-a-damn attitude is something I aspire to. She’s been open about what could be considered controversial topics, such as her decision to live child-free and her series of famous lovers.

Her attitudes in fashion are as out of the box as the rest of her views. She’s said, “the whole thing of clothes is insane. You can spend a dollar on a jacket in a thrift store. And you can spend a thousand dollars on a jacket in a shop. And if you saw those two jackets walking down the street, you probably wouldn’t know which was which.” We love to hear it!

Drew Barrymore

Back in 2010, Drew Barrymore rocked a $25 metallic mosaic print dress on the red carpet. It was a vintage dress by a brand called Janine from a thrift store in Austin, Texas. Considering she comes from a Hollywood royalty bloodline of prestigious actors, one would think that there would be an air of pretension when it comes to her appearance. I’m not saying that she strictly shops second-hand, but the fact that she is open to it and incorporates it into her wardrobe is more than most celebrities at her level.

Eva Mendes

This stunning actress is known for her glamorous looks and high-fashion style, but Eva Mendes has confessed that she enjoys shopping at thrift stores for clothes, and she’s hooked. Eva has spoken openly about being from deep LA and growing up in hand-me-downs. She didn’t have much and owes the affordable price point and availability for all women factor of her clothing line, New York & Company, to that.

When she appeared on Queen Latifah’s show, she said, “Give me a Salvation Army and a Goodwill, and I will find stuff in there. I love it. I’m a wannabe archaeologist. I could just excavate – I always think I’m going to find a hidden tomb somewhere.” – Gotta love a gorgeous woman who knows how to keep it real despite her evident success. 

You can watch her speak about New York & Company in the video below. 

Miguel

I’ve always been a fan of Miguel’s smooth R&B hits and finding out that he shops second hand just adds to the delight. The Grammy winner says he prefers clothes from thrift shops because “it’s like clothes with character.”

Even more impressive is that Miguel has recently launched his own sustainable clothing line, S1C, in early 2021. The pieces in the line include a hoodie, kimono top and a t-shirt dress, all made using sustainable compliance measures. He wanted to create sustainable clothes with an edge. The clothes are very much representative of Miguel’s multi-cultural background and the complexities of urban life.