Monday, May 23, 2011

Rules to Thrift By

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It's easy to buy the recreation of a popular garment.  But, to find the original, the actual muse of the carbon copy, is a rare and awe-inspiring moment.  Once you've found that missing piece to your closet.  Once you realize that all of the sneezing, perusing and frustration was worth it, calm down.  I can see your eyes get wide with excitement.  I can see you clutching your "precious." And I can see you making a beeline to the nearest dressing room.

Yes, this could be the find of a lifetime, and at the price you may think it's worth making it work no matter what.  But, depending on the condition of the garment, it might not be.

There are some things you need to know before you take "precious" home. 

Garment MUST fit:  If it's slightly too big, enough that you'll need a tailor, then buy away.  But, never buy when it's too small.  It's best to take it to a professional. But, beware letting a dress out can be costly. Make sure the garment is worth it.

Condition: The garment should be almost perfect.  That means bypass the items with stains, holes and discoloration unless it can be altered or mended to hide the imperfection.  If not, put it down and walk away.

Accessorize, accessorize, accesorize: Start off in the accessories section.  You can't go wrong with thrifty jewelry or clutch, and they'll be the perfect fit every time. 
Special Note: If you want to save money on special occasion jewelry, broaches, revamped jewelry trends or real gold and silver check out the glass counter.  Every thrift store has one located next to the accessories.

When NOT to Buy: Yes, I'm encouraging you not to buy, only if you don't love your thrifty/vintage item.  Sometimes we tend to over-consume because the purchase is easy on the budget.  Then, 3 months later it's still hanging in the same spot.  So it ends up being a waste of money, energy and time.

I hope this helps some of you newbies!  Happy Thrifting!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Thrifty Adornments GALORE!!!!

I love a handbag...I really do.  And wallets...and clutches, satchels, hobos, duffles, totes, portfolios.  For me handbags are the quickest and most effective way to accomplish a stylish appearance, and of course they’re completely functional.  Handbags help me live an organized, fashion-forward and effective life.  

Honestly, I’m kind of a standard handbag connoisseur.  I like to keep my bags in tune with what I’m wearing, to me it’s vital.  There are so many occasions when we women need a bag, and for each of these we need something that’s appropriate.  You can’t bring a clutch thrift shopping!  Good luck finding that in the midst of your treasures! 

Here’s a list of my ideal bag collection, well, for starters  ;-)...

Standard #1: Day bag in brown

I typically go thrifting with this bag.  It’s light, sturdy and has pockets inside and out that can be zippered.
Salvation Army: $1.50

The second bag is for yard sales and doing chores like going to the laundry mat.
Salvation Army: $.99

Standard #2: Portfolios
And I can never resits a handbag that has its own identity.  Take this bag for instance…


Salvation Army: Scarlet Briefcase/Portfolio $1.99
One thing you MUST know about me…I LOVE the color red! But, not as much as I love vintage. Which is why this piece is PERFECTION!  Why someone would pitch this little beauty is beyond my comprehension.  It has an indent in the front from the handle and few scratches on the back, but a little TLC from crafty lil' me will make it look as much as it used to.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Small-City Thrifters Unite!

The more I read some of these fantastic thrift and discount fashion blogs written by Metropolitan Fashion Amazonzians, the more I realize that we small city women need a voice.  We don't have access to big city thrift fashion like the DC Goodwill fashion blog.  We are smack dab in the middle, with access to malls where we have to hunt down trendy and cheaply made deals, hunting for the next carbon copy but cute outfit right next to girls half our age OR head to strip malls only to find robo-mom attire desired by...robo-moms.

But we thifters...we are rebels...

We crave a closet other women would drool over...

A closet that allows us to complie and create some of the most authentically thrown-together and chic outfits without having to haggle with a 17 year-old over a fitted red stripped t-shirt or stalk a mom through clothing isles who picked a dress that's too small for her, but would be perfection on you...

Yes, we thrifters, we crave, and are in desperate need of, a thrifty fashionable outlet...

Keep on Thrifting!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mother: My best friend and fashion icon

(Due to many technical and comuputer errors...this post is late...better late than never I guess.)

On this Mother’s Day, I celebrate the woman who shaped everything I am now and will be in the future.



Even while toting me around, Mom still had a great sense of style
 As a girl, my mother would take me to the local Goodwill to shop for anything and everything.  I used to roam the isles holding my nose from the smell of moth balls, must and body odor, and sneezing from the dust.  I found the store disgusting.  I never understood why she frequented a place that made me itchy and had foul, weird looking clothes.  We weren’t “poor.”

Fast-forward 15 years and I see thrifts stores with the mature and fashionable eye my mother had.  What she saw in a skirt that was too big and misshapen, was a cute pencil skirt after some finagling with scissors
and her sewing machine.  Every piece of clothing had promise, and every household item could find a new home in ours or someone else’s once she repaired or polished it.  She had a gift and her wrestling me through those isles made me see what I could do with purchases like these…

Cream “Wedding” dress: $5.99, down to $2.99
I see this as someone’s wedding dress back in the 60s.  She had a shapely and toned body, bronzed skin and her hair was twisted up with hints of baby’s breath tucked in…And somehow this dress fits me perfectly for a halter.  It accentuates my toned shoulders and hits me at the smallest part of my waist.
I plan to do a 360.  I’ll dye it sapphire or royal blue.  I know I can’t keep the crocheted section from the dye, but some dye remover may help.

As for this dress...

Cream, purple and silver stripped 70s Disco dress: $7.99, down to $3.99
My mother would love this dress.  It's very 70s.  I would say this used to be a disco party dress.  Best thing about it is that it's perfect, except for the slight brown stain 4 inches down from the neckline.  So, I plan to create a slight deep v-neck to hide it.  I think this dress needs a v-neck...don't you?  ;)

So these two dresses and the skirt from my first post while be my spring D.I.Y. project.  I've never sewn before, so this should be an interesting experience.  But, I think my mother would be proud of my fashionable ambition.  I'll update the blog with the final pieces in a month...

As always...Happy Thrifting!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Fashion "Clutch"ed!

Remember this lovely clutch?!


Welllllll...It naturally went with this!


I found this dress at Ross for $14.99 and the pearls and shoes (Ross $22.99)
Once I saw this dress I grabbed this one and the next size up and ran to the dressing room.  It works pefectly, eh?!  The picture doesn't do the dress justice.  The color is brighter, more of a saffire blue, and twists at the bust.  It hits slightly above the knee, so I decided to wear this to work.


But, better yet...!



Skirt from the Salvation Army: $1.99!
 
The skirt is in perfect condition, a rare vintage gem!  It was meant to be paired with this seafoam top from NY and Company, faux pearls from a yard sale and my favorite taupe Jessica Simpson heels.

As you can tell, I dress for the job I was bred for...a fashion buyer!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

"Clutch"ing to fashion

After a very unsuccessful thrift/discount shopping day this Saturday, I trudged into my local Salvation Army (it’s literally right around the corner) and found this beauty as soon as I walked in…




Tan leather clutch for $3.99
What a steal for a genuine leather clutch!  The detailing on the front is what drew me to it, and the fact that its real leather without the overpowering leather smell is definitely a bonus and makes this my Find of the Month!

Check back for the outfit I style this with!

Happy Thrifting!