Thrifting isn’t just a fleeting trend—it’s shaping up to be a seismic shift in how people approach style, home design, and even personal well-being. According to Pinterest’s Fall 2025 Trend Report, the appetite for vintage and secondhand finds is not only surging, but it’s also redefining what it means to live stylishly and sustainably. The platform’s data, gathered from user activity between January and March 2025, paints a vivid picture: consumers, especially Gen Z, are leading a revolution that’s as much about self-expression as it is about saving money and the planet.
“With interest in thrifting growing so rapidly, we wanted to make it even easier for people to discover and shop preloved pieces on Pinterest,” Sydney Stanback, Pinterest’s global insights and trends lead, told WWD. The company’s response? Launching Thrift Shop, a limited-time shopping experience running through September 26, 2025, in partnership with global vintage and thrift retailers. The aim is to blend discovery with shopping, making it effortless for users to stumble upon that perfect piece—be it a 1960s evening gown or a hand-painted ceramic vase—while browsing the platform for inspiration.
It’s not just about nostalgia or a desire to save a buck. According to a recent EY report cited by WWD, the global secondhand apparel market is growing three times faster than the overall apparel market. With the cost of living soaring and tariffs biting into household budgets, 72 percent of consumers now prefer repairing items over replacing them, and 36 percent are turning to secondhand or preloved goods more than ever before. It’s a pragmatic response to economic pressures, but also a reflection of deeper values: sustainability, individuality, and a yearning for authenticity.
On Pinterest, the numbers are staggering. Searches for "Dream thrift finds" shot up over 550 percent this year, while "vintage fall aesthetic" saw a jaw-dropping 1,000 percent increase. Stanback explains, “[Gen Z] are not just buying—they’re curating. We’re seeing thrifted kitchens, thrifted decor and even menswear thrift outfits gain momentum. For this audience, secondhand is a way to create a unique look or space that feels personal and meaningful, rather than mass-produced.”
That desire for uniqueness is transforming every corner of the home—and every aspect of personal style. Beige, it seems, is out. According to ELLE Decor, “vintage maximalism” searches are up 260 percent, and “handpainted furniture” is up 135 percent, signaling a clear move away from cookie-cutter interiors. Instead, Pinterest users are seeking out pieces with history, character, and a story—items that look like they’ve been loved, not just assembled.
One of the most pronounced revivals is the Art Deco aesthetic, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. As Country Living details, this style—characterized by bold geometric flourishes, dark woods, silver metals, and a touch of Gatsby-era glamour—is back in a big way. Searches for “Art Deco vintage” are up 805 percent, and “Art Deco interior 1920s vintage” has climbed 745 percent. Even “1980 art deco” is trending, up 509 percent, reflecting a broad fascination with the style’s evolution.
Why the sudden obsession with Art Deco? According to Country Living, it’s partly the allure of an era that’s been romanticized in art and literature—and partly the cyclical nature of design trends. The centenary of the 1925 Paris exhibition that launched Art Deco has certainly helped, but so has Gen Z’s passion for thrifting and vintage. “The glamour of Art Deco returns for a modern twist on vintage elegance. For fall 2025, it’s all about elevating the everyday,” the Pinterest report notes.
Key elements making a comeback include 1920s-style kitchens with white tile—a design choice that originally gained popularity after the 1918 flu pandemic for its clean, hygienic appearance. Searches for “1920s kitchen original” have soared by 494 percent. Nickel and chrome hardware, made popular by advances in electroplating during the 1920s, are also reappearing in contemporary homes, bringing a sense of craftsmanship and engineering marvel to modern interiors.
Vintage Art Deco decor, such as period clocks and mirrored accents, is also on the rise. These pieces, which once adorned the desks and walls of America’s burgeoning skyscrapers, are now fetching anywhere from $25 to $1,000 depending on rarity. Dark wood finishes, parquet floors, and furniture—once overlooked—are gaining renewed appreciation, thanks in part to the “Grandmillennial” movement that values storied, antique pieces.
But the Art Deco revival is just one facet of the broader thrifted revolution. Fall fashion is also getting a vintage-inspired overhaul. Pinterest has seen a 47,680 percent spike in searches for “women’s preppy outfits,” with related terms like “preppy vibes” and “new preppy style” also seeing exponential growth. Statement layers, caffeine-inspired neutrals, and vintage watches are all in vogue. Gen Z men, in particular, are seeking out classic timepieces, with “vintage luxury watch” searches up 82 percent and “analogue watch” up 59 percent.
Patchwork clothing is another hot trend, with “patchwork T-shirt” searches rising 4,443 percent and “patchwork sweatshirt” up 2,219 percent. The 1960s are having a moment, too—searches for “1960s evening gown” are up 5,928 percent, while “60s babydoll aesthetic” has climbed 4,428 percent. Even in beauty, the past is present: “clean grunge makeup” is up 652 percent, and “natural grunge makeup” is up 368 percent, reflecting a nostalgia for ’90s and 2000s style, but with a modern twist.
Home decor is equally transformed. Statement tiles are everywhere, with “vintage tiles” up 1,107 percent, “terracotta tiles texture” up 833 percent, and “unique tiles” up 450 percent. Blue ceramic tiles and copper bathroom tiles are also trending, as are Mexican tile kitchen backsplashes and striped tile bathrooms. As ELLE Decor points out, these tiles celebrate imperfection—color variations, visible joints, and the unmistakable touch of human craftsmanship.
Even the office isn’t immune to the thrifted, personalized treatment. With companies calling employees back to the office, searches for “luxe office” (2,766 percent increase) and “work office makeover” (2,652 percent increase) are soaring. People are seeking ways to make their workspaces reflect their personalities, from ergonomic accessories to personal art collections and greenery that softens corporate sterility.
Beauty and wellness trends round out the picture. Innovative skincare ingredients like “salmon DNA” (searches up 623 percent) and “Cos Rx snail essence” (up 33 percent) are gaining traction, as are cozy fragrances—think “vanilla scent aesthetic” (up 157 percent) and “layering scent combos” (up 117 percent).
For many, thrifting is more than a way to save money or reduce waste—it’s a form of self-expression and a statement of values. Stanback sums it up: “For our users, sustainability and self-expression go hand in hand. Thrifting allows them to build wardrobes, homes and lifestyles that are entirely their own while reducing waste. It’s not about chasing the latest mass trend—it’s about finding the one perfect piece that tells a story.”
As autumn approaches, it’s clear that the thrifted revolution is here to stay—blending history, personality, and sustainability in a way that feels both fresh and timeless.
