"You love vintage Too? Well, coo coo ca choo!"

A combination more typical, American and comfortable than PB and J is women and clothes. And for the past two years it's been all about vintage clothes.

And finding this combination of estrogen and antique in my backyard was a welcome surprise today. But you have to follow the clues to find the hidden treasures and fellow hunters here.

Take the Urban Snob's page on Facebook, it lead me to an ad for an open house sale by Pampered Peacock Vintage. And I mean open house in the most literal sense.

Tucked away in a narrow and creepy side street, Pampered Peacock Vintage is everything the name says it is. As soon as you walk through the brightly painted Tiffany Blue door you're greeted by the smells of Chloe and Channel No. 5. The walls are peachy-brown, with gold-accented lighting. It's warm, eclectic and extremely stylish without trying.

Six pair of eyes look up from their jewel encrusted smartphones long enough to give a quick evaluation of the "new comer." I obviously stumbled upon a tight-knit and cautious vintage fashion community.

I searched the eyes, finding not one familiar pair, except for the woman who opened the door for me. The owner, Cachet. I've met her before during my frequent kickboxing workouts. I never took the time to actually talk to her, judging her before I met her.

Thinking of my pre-judgement, I quickly smile and say a bright: "Hello."

She quickly evaluates my attire, vintage Romantic-Equestrian, and gives me the "I remember you, but I don't know if I like you" hug. But still, it's a welcome and she remains hospitable by asking if I'd like Naughty Cider.

I agree, take the glass, sip and begin to carefully peruse the vintage goods. Hello, polyester, rayon and ultra-suede! The familiars I find every week in my favorite thrift stores.

The clothes were selected carefully. There’s not stitch out of place or trace of a stain. The clothes range from early 40s to late 70s, and all inspire the over-priced and cheaply made clothes you find everywhere.

This vintage lover is a kindred spirit, as well as her friends. Each were clothed, colored and coiffed in vintage refinery. They’re a pleasant surprise. I've obviously stumbled upon a secret vintage community. And it makes me happy.

But my time with this tight-nit and well-dressed phenoms was short lived. Responsibilities and the real world need to be dealt with. But, just as I found the cookie crumbs that lead me to this community, I know that it will lead me back to them. I’ll let you know what I find.

Thrifted D.I.Y.: Alterations

To be original, you have to go back to the origin.  And, if you need to, improve or alter it to suit your individual taste.

Take this shirt for example.  It's a beautiful cream frilly shirt with princess sleeves. 

I love everything but those sleeves.  Soooo, I ripped them out with my seam ripper, folded the edge down, ironed it and bonded it with my stitch witchery.


I tried it on again and it was boxy, so I sewed in a tuck right under the armpit to give it an hourglass figure.

Next on the list is this Black lace dress I purchased for $1 at Volunteers of America.  Very billowy...very 70s...very big...and may be very time consuming.

It's proof that not everything can be solved with my nimble fingers, sewing kit and stitch witchery! But, I found a local seamstress who I hope can help alter this into a multi-purpose LBD. Wish me luck!

Lastly, I'll be leaving Blogger for Wordpress and Tumblr. PLEASE check me out!

As always....Happy Thrifting! 

Man, Oh Mannequin!

I finally have it!

The one 'THING' that will take my blog away from amature to the professional.

A dress form...aka a mannequin sans appendages!

A friend is a craigslist aficionado  found it and about 10 others for $50 a piece which is a lot so I said no.  But, two weeks later the seller slashed the price in half and here 'she' is!  ;D

She's about a size 6 and an instant mind opener.  It didn't take me long to come up with today's very conservative outfit.  It's definitely not going on my favorite thrifted list, but at least you can get an idea of how I'll use the mannequin.

I can't wait for the heming, altering and styling that's to come!

Thrifted D.I.Y. - Hem It Up!

I don't know if you've noticed, but I've been spending more time fixing my thrifted goodies and less time...ahem, hoarding. ;)

And, I have this sneaky little suspicion that I'm missing out on some great finds. But common sense says I can't keep buying more skirts if I already have a stockpile of beauties that aren't hemmed.

So the solution: Ultra light Stitch Witchery...aka Instant Hem. It's super easy to use and ultra effective.
For this thrifty D.I.Y. I started with the cranberry skirt below that needed 4" cut off, plus an additional inch for the hem.

I simply cut the skirt to the desired lenghth, ironed the inch wide hem, placed the stitch witch in the crease of the ironed hem, turned the skirt inside-out, placed a wet cloth over the section I wanted to hem, and held the iron (on the wool setting) for 10 seconds. And, voila!

It worked so well I hemmed this perky green but shapeless frock below to a very flattering skirt that's above knee-length. And this almost-maxi black and cream polka-dot number that turned into a very flirty addition to my closet. ;D

More stitch- witched skirts to come! Til next time, Keep on Thrifting!

My Thrifty Style - Brown Is the New Black

Every year there's a new color...this Spring it was soft colors like pale pink, rose, peach and pale neutrals.  While this summer it's all about punchy bright colors like coral, cobalt blue and various neons.  And every year everyone says black is in...Black never goes out of style...Black goes with everything.  It's a classic.

Just like everyone else, I used to own so many black articles of clothing people used to ask if I was from NYC.  Now I say Brown is in.  I'm kind of obsessed with converting and transforming myself and my closet with this earthy color.

Yes, black it can be chic.  But an all black outfit is harsh and doesn't fit the feminine look I'm going for.  So, I opt to trade out some black accessories uch as a belt for a brown suede with gold detailing.  It nips in my waist and is kind of quirky curve ball.  Love it!

I want to celebrate my womanly form and express my chicness is softer ways.  So brown it is.  What I've been doing is slowly styling items with brown; slowly fazing black out.  Now I have more brown purses, accessories and shoes than before and they come in a various shades of brown...cognac, auburn, mahogany,  etc.

Maybe I love brown because it compliments and warms my own shade of brown, a mix of sepia and sienna...or maybe its more of a dark cognac.
Whatever the official shade, this earthy color is bees knees to me.

Last Thrifted Outfit Standing

Okay...more like the only thrifted outfit.

I only styled one thrifted ensemble this week...thanks to two half days and very little to inspire me at the first half of the week.  I think I made up for it yesterday!

It's very country club/Desperate Housewives-ish.  The top I got from New York and Company last Spring.  It's deep teal, with crochet/lace on top (strapless bra necessary!), and it warms up my skin tone.

Thrifted items: The tan and white skirt (dry clean only...ugh!), unworn shoes from Target and a taupe suede belt with gold accents.

Accessories: (Thrifted) Polished white quartz and gold beaded necklace and faux pearl necklace from  Old Navy.

Hopefully I can get the creative juices flowing so I can style more thrifted outfits for you guys!

Til then...Keep on thrifting!

Thrift...For Your Wallets Sake

Since I've rediscovered my love for thrifting and rekindled my talent for finding the fashion needle in the uninspiring haystack. I've been trying fruitlessly, to encourage my fashion forward girlfriends to join me, and what I got what this…

Aren't you worried someone will consider you CHEAP?!

Cheap? CHEAP?! I don't know if they've been looking at the news, reading the papers, checking their bank accounts or empty gas tanks. But, the economy isn't in a better place. Gas is going up, along with food,
clothing, electronics, and anything that's driven by a big gas guzzling truck.

So in the spirit of being frugal, economical, prudent, cheap…and parsimonious (;-)), here are my top five list of why it's important to thrift:

Thrift Store Prices Don't Change with the Price of Gas or Oil…YAY!!!
Because people donate goods sold in thrift stores are sifted through by volunteers. Since there's no one on the payroll, prices don't have the gas or labor tied to them.

No Coupon, Text Message or Code Needed to Enjoy Discounts
Most thrift stores, like my favorites Community Aid and Salvation Army, offer 50% off every day (depending on the designated tag color). And of course there's Wacky Wednesday where the entire store is half-off, except collectables or extremely new items.

Thrift Stores Change with the Seasons
People have to remember, thrift stores are still retailers. They know you're most likely not going to buy a $2.99 cable knit sweater instead of a lace cami in the beginning of summer. Thrift stores are marketing to you the consumer, just like any other store. So when you come in that sweater will be rows away, while the tanks and shorts will be some of the first rows you see.

Access to VERY Deeply Discounted Vintage Items
Thrift stores are a fantastic way to add individual style to your wardrobe and set yourself apart. No one is going to style pieces you buy the same way. Especially if you deliberately, but successfully, search for brands
that don't exist anymore, like me!

Thrift Stores are Inspirational
You may be surrounded by odd smells and you may sneeze every time you shift a hanger, but for those of us who don't live in New York, Boston, Philadelphia or some other metropolitan city, we need inspiration! Take the items below...

The dress is imply 70s; what some call a Midi (not really full-length, not short, just in the middle).  It fits perfectly at the smallest part of my waist and flares out at the bottom.  As soon as I saw this, I stood in awe. I pictured this cool rosie color against my milk chocolate skin and I thought, rose bush. I needed something green…leafy green so I when I found this cloisonné necklace I knew my vision was meant to be.

After those two significant purchases, everything else fell into place easily. The earrings were free, something I found in my mother's jewelry box, the cognac belt from Goodwill broke up the dress and the cognac wedges complimented everything nicely. What a pretty rose bush I made!

As always…Keep on Thrifting!!!

Thriftily Outfitted: Week 1

Hello fabbies! I may have topped myself already!

I've been so excited to share what I've styled for this week, but I held off so I can try something new. Instead of rushing a "outfit of the day" post everyday, I'll be posting them once a week. It will save me time, allow for thought provoking and visually pleasing content, and the addition of more articles about my thrifting adventures.
The Thrifty Run-Down
What we have in this weeks collection...Monday: red and white animal print skirt and frilly 50s inspired sweater.  Tuesday: a gauzy, semi-sheer pink blouse paired with a nautical skirt for a look made for the 70s.  Wednesday: a peridot green dress from a big name brand that has a drop waist and soft polo collar that screams 20s and...Thursday: a navy mini polka-dotted skirt from the 90s coupled with a blouse from the 80s!

Main Attraction
My gams! (FYI: Retro speak for legs. ;D) I can't get enough of them, and working at a conservative and fashion illiterate environment won't ever stop me.

Red, White and Cute All Over

1970s Thrift Done Right

Green with Thrift Envy

Button me Up and call me Thrifty

Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from my readers. Enjoy!!!



Thrifty Date Night

I've always been the type of woman to take the "bull by the horns," but never until this week did I ask a guy out on a date!  He's super shy, so I figured dinner at low-key and laid back diner was the way to go, and a movie afterward. 

Shy guy+simple date=FLORALS!!!  I had to keep the outfit floral, shapely, and flirty.  Starting from top to bottom:

This floral shirt has a cream background with red blossoms and brown leaves all over.  It's light polyester fabric, long sleves and colors make it easy to wear this fall too.  ;)

Brand: College Town - $1.49 (Salvation Army)

I had to pick up the red blossoms with this scarlett red and brown leather purse.  The brand is called Leaders in Leather, from Paraguay, and they hand etch all of their goods.  

Brand: Leaders in Leather - $1.99 (Community Aid)

I found these precious cloisonne earrings in my mothers jewelry box and I always passed them up for hoops, dangly earrings or other accessories that I was used to wearing.  These earrings perfectly match my outfit, without trying.  They're delicate and perfect for spring.

Cloisonne earrings (Free)

I snagged this bracelet on one of my "Thrifty Inspiration" trips to my favorite stores...in other words, I didn't mean to buy this bracelet, but it wanted me to.  What kind of thrifty fashionista would I be if I didn't take this dear home?  ;)

Peachy Pearl Bracelet: $.99 Salvation Army

This outfit was everything I've been trying to do for my Spring thrift collection.  It was light, airy, form fitting and had plenty of texture.  It's everything I'm trying to do for Spring.  It was perfect...And hopefully lucky!  ;)

Til next time...Happy Thrifting!!!

Confessions of a Thriftaholic: Blaming It on Being Single

Just because it's a $1, it doesn't mean you should buy it.

That should be my mantra when thrift shopping. 

 I will admit it.  I, Shelby, am a shopaholic. Being real with myself has me trying to figure out why.  Since there could be several reasons,  I'll spare everyone a lengthy blog post!

First: Single People Shop More

Yes, yes we do.  Admit it.  If you are or when you were single you had more "you" time. And what did it look like? Something like this:

• 5:00 PMT - Change for the gym
• 5:30 PMT - Kickboxing class
• 5:45 PMT - Hypothicizing possible date outfits
• 6:00 PMT - Realize that you are missing a certain something for the possible date
• 6:30 PMT - Rush home to change...thrift store run in "need"!!!
• 7:45 PMT - Walk out of the thrift store with about 5 certain somethings that you never really needed in the first place and none of them work for your "possible" date outfit
• 7:50 PMT - Justify thrift purchases until your buyers remorse goes away

How do I know?  Because this was me yesterday!  But, I don't have remorse about a single purchase! You wouldn't either if you bought all of these thrifty beauties!

Cobalt Blue Kind of Day

Filing never looked so fashionable! 

The Run-Down: 
Blue and Tan Stripped combo top from Ross - $9.99
Cognac Braided Belt from Goodwill - $2.99
Cobalt Blue skirt from Salvation Army - $1.50
White cut-out flats from Goodwill - $4.95

Can You Dig This Bunny At Her Gig?

Can you dig the mixture of pulsating color and retro texture?  Can you dig the A line dress that is neither too long nor too short…it’s just right?  Can you dig this assemble created by this blossoming thrift stylist/blogger?

I definitely did! When I finally gathered the pieces to this ensemble, I felt like a transfixed suburbanite transformed into a little caposhi dudette (=cool chick). At least that’s how I felt yesterday. What makes it even better, it’s my 1st all thrifted outfit!

The dress is an authentic vintage piece of 70s history. And, even more rare, it’s in perfect condition! I didn’t have to mend a single stitch. I wish I could tell you the brand, but the “label” (a piece of ribbon stitched with the brand) is curled up from old age. But, the Union Made tag is in-tact. It’s a vibrant Cerise (thanks Neckties.com) and looks as if it was dyed yesterday, with a cloth belt in the same color.

I paired it with light brown sugar colored leather and cork wedges (Community Aid -$4.50), a cute but basic addition. The cognac braided belt (Goodwill -$2) adds some texture, draws attention to the smallest part of my waist, and breaks up the dresses strong color.

The faux jade necklace (Salvation Army -$3.99) is my 2nd favorite thrifted piece and my wild card. It doesn’t seem like it would be matched, but if you take a closer look the “jade” is intermingled with a heavy white bead, etched in gold rose that is painted in with such a close shade of Cerise that it makes the necklace an unpredictable, but obvious choice.
Til I catch you on the thrifty flip-side…Happy Thrifting!!!

Dandelion Wishes and Cerulean Blue Dreams

I needed to wear this outfit today.  It was the perfect Moody Monday buster.

From the simple white cotton t-shirt, the frilly navy blue top, blue flowered patterned skirt, burgandy belt to call attention to my small waist and cognac brown wedges serve as the perfect neutral.

But let's focus on my favorite item, the skirt,for a moment.  It was thrifted for $1.50, circa early 90s, perfect condition; polyester-cotton blend with a slight sheen.

It reminds me of my childhood summers lying on green crab grass, making numerous dandelion wishes to the cerulean blue sky.  The skirt is my childhood, made perfectly for my adulthood.

My Holy Trinity of Thrift Stores

If you love to shop like me, then you know that shopping for authentic, mint-condition vintage is work!

Coordinating your wardrobe and transforming your closet to accommodate your evolving taste in clothes, shoes and accessories isn’t easy and you have to be prepared.  I mean the kind of preparaed that takes packing food in your car, also some baby wipes and hand sanitizer in your cross-body satchel!

I'm a Thrift Road Warrior, with only three stores to choose from...My Thrifty Holy Trinity are so reliable and easy on my wallet...I would lay my right hand on the Bible and swear by them!  Here’s a nice run down of my loves:

• Community Aid
It has everything a thrift store should: easily accessible location, big parking lot, 50% off sales almost  every day, large quantities of gently discounted but high quality goods…and the best Wacky Wednesday in town.

I’ve garnered the most inspiration, clothes and shoes from this one store. There’s never a day when I go to “browse,” that I don’t find some piece that would suit my flourishing throwback Spring wardrobe perfectly.  Just this last Wednesday I acquired these lovelies...

Authentic 70s Party Dress for $1.00...AND it's in perfect condition

Cream Floral Blouse from Foxcroft for $1.50

Sheer Black and White Blouse from H&M - $2.00



Sheer Cream Blouse for $1.50

•Salvation Army

The second most important store to me is the Salvation Army that’s 2 miles away from my abode. It’s filled with goodies as soon as you enter and it’s the place where if I go looking for something specific whether it be a brown braided belt, cross-body satchel or floral skirt, I will go home victorious.

And, not only does it have the second largest amount of skirts and dresses out of the three, it carries accessories that aren’t locked behind a glass case.

Faux Jade and Flower - $3.99

• Goodwill

It’s half the size of the other three stores in the area, there isn’t much in this store and the prices are close to co-signment store prices than a thrift store.  But, what my local Goodwill lacks quantity and low prices, it makes up with the quality of clothes and accessories.  Even though...I have nothing spectacular to share with all of you...nothing has been worth me buying.  Wah.  :(

But I have one gripe...Now I understand that thrift stores can only offer the quality and quantity that's donated. And, Goodwill has better stock thanks to partnerships with stores like Target, Gap and the Bon-Ton (department stores) for items that wouldn’t sell, unlike the other thrift stores. But, that doesn’t mean the prices should reflect that. The whole point of a thrift store is to offer deep discounts to reel in consumers and the proceeds go to charity.  If you want people to come in, you offer deep discounts, with additional percentages off without having to buy a discount card.

BlogThis!

Ladies and Gentlemen...Welcome Aboard!

I meant to go nautical and went flight attendent instead yesterday.  Overall, I'm proud of the ensemble.  It's quite charming and interchangeable!   I plan to wear the shirt with dark denim jeggings, snake skin open-toed flats and something in Cobalt blue (one of summers hot colors) will brighten it up. 

Skirt: Community Aid - $1.50
Shirt - Community Aid - $1.50
Shoes - Nine West
Jewelry - Old Navy

I also shared this with my Trimirror app buddies who adored it.  Too bad I don't have a better camera so you can see how chic and expensive this outfit looks!  Ohhhh well!  On to my next post, til then....Happy Thrifting!

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.

BlogThis!

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!

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