Buying Basics: A Shopping Review

            Readers, this is probably the most boring shopping recap of mine you will ever see. I love patterns, color and texture so much that shopping for basics is practically a chore. However, in order to utilize all the patterned, colorful and textural pieces I already have, I need basics as mixing items.

1. Mossimo for Target Women’s Color Blocked Dress ($28)

This dress is a replacement for a similar grey sheath dress I thrifted a while back. I loved how versatile that piece was, but the hem was too short. As a woman approaching her professional life, I realized the original dress needed to be replaced. When I spotted this dress at Target a while back, I knew it was the one. I waited and waited for it to go on sale, but because it was so popular, it never did. I mean, why put an item on sale when you know you can get a customer to buy it for full price? I bought the very last one in my store. The cotton material is going to be perfect for all seasons. I can’t wait to style it for winter!

2. Mossimo Black V-Neck Tee ($7)

I love a basic black tee and this one is SO soft! The visual appearance of the material makes it suitable to be styled in a dressy or casual manner. Once I find that sequin skirt I’m after—I’m sure I’ll be pairing it with this top.

3. Old Navy Black Crepe Scalloped Shorts ($6)

Scalloped hemlines are a trend I definitely missed out on this summer. I saw pieces featuring this detail at Urban Outfitters, Lily Pulitzer and Old Navy—this shows that the trend was so popular that retailers at all levels picked up on it. Another trend I noticed this summer (and didn’t partake in) was wearing silky shorts in the daytime. These shorts combine both trends and although I had to put them away for the season, I can’t wait to style them this summer!

Thriftfully Yours,

B

How to: Slim Winter Silhouette

            I love finding creative ways to layer my clothes in the cold months—what I do not love is the bulk that is often added. My beautiful thrifted polka dot dress is sleeveless and short, but I wanted to wear it for an art event I was attending. Wearing a cardigan seemed obvious so I needed another route. Enter—the “ninja suit”

            What is a ninja suit, you ask? A black tissue weight turtleneck and black sweater tights. All women need these pieces. They are winter staples and can help increase the versatility of other pieces you already have, like my polka dot dress.

            The suit kept me warm (the event was in a poorly insulated old building) and kept my silhouette slim.  Fashion success!

Thriftfully Yours,

B 

The Fair Isle Sweater

 

           The Fair Isle sweater is a piece with staying power. They’re fashionable, warm, and come in so many wonderful patterns. Many of the fashion blogs I read have featured this style of sweater (see how other bloggers wore it below).

            I picked up this sweater over the summer and since the weather has cooled down, I’ve been trying to think up a way to style it with a twist. In my mind, the expected route is to pair the sweater with jeans and a pair of riding boots. Despite my consideration, I was stumped.

            Enter—Pinterest. I randomly stumbled across a photo of fashion blogger Sealed with Style. 

I loved how she chose the pop of pink as an accent under the sweater. What a simple answer! I decided to go a step further and integrate another Pinterest discovery—using bold stud earrings as collar studs (credit to B Soup). 

Check out how these other bloggers wore Fair Isle sweaters

College Prep (photo credit to F. E. Castleberry)

Sarah Vickers from Classy Girls Wear Pearls 

I'd be remiss if I didn't include Blair from Atlantic Pacific

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Thrifty Threads: A Salvation Army Shopping Review

            I never tire of going for a hunt at Salvation Army on a 50% off Wednesday! I have snapped up so many treasures for amazing prices and this week was not any different! I snagged 7 treasures, mostly basics, that I can’t wait to integrate into my wardrobe!

 

1. Button Ups

Tommy Hilfiger White Button Up ($3)

For such a staple piece, white button up shirts are hard to find thrifting. This one is in perfect condition- either barely worn or perfectly cared for. It’s perfect for layering under sweaters for winter and I’ll wear it solo for spring.

Lands’ End Purple Gingham Button Up ($5)

With a little tailoring, this shirt is going to be a wonderful addition to my closet. I recently found another gingham shirt (blue and white) at a church rummage sale for TWENTY CENTS and now I’m hooked on this print. 

2. Long Sleeve Tops

J Crew Black Long Sleeve Top ($2)

I don’t wear black too often, but it is a requirement of my restaurant side-job. This long sleeve top has great detailing. It’s hard t see in this photo, but it has some tuxedo tucking details around the neckline. For $2, it’s hard to pass up any piece by J Crew.

Mossimo Green Sweater Turtleneck ($2)

I’m a recent convert to the turtleneck and this cozy sweater version is perfect for the chilly temps we’re experiencing in the Northeast. I think it has great versatility- I wore it with a skirt for Thanksgiving and I plan on pairing it with jeans for a more casual look. 

3. Stripes

Banana Republic Navy and White Striped ¾ Sleeve Top ($5)

I have versions of this top in short and long sleeved versions. What can I say? Can’t go wrong with navy and white stripes!

Liz Claiborne Cream and Gold Striped ¾ Sleeve Top ($2.50)

More stripes. I loved the shiny, metallic stripes on this top. It looks a little boxy in this photo, but the fit is nice.

 

4. Floral Shift

Talbots Floral Shift Dress ($2.50)

Someone must have been delirious while tagging this dress- $5 for a Talbots dress? SalVal seems to have some awareness of brand prestige, especially with dresses and prices according. So even by thrift store pricing standards, the price is ridiculously cheap. I certainly don’t need another dress for spring and summer but this one is a bit different than the ones I presently have. The neckline is pretty conservative as is the hemline. It also screams Classy Girls Wear Pearls (a favorite blog of mine). 

Hope you enjoyed this weeks finds! Have ideas about interesting ways to style these pieces? Contact me! Comment, email me (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com) or tweet me at (BsGoodwillHunt)

Thriftfully Yours, 

B

How to Wear: Fur Accents

            Winter weather often leads me astray from my fashionable self. Sometimes being warm means foregoing fashion—but not always. Enter: Fur Accessories. I had the lucky experience of finding this faux-fur collar at Salvation Army this summer. It is amazingly realistic, soft and warm.

This fall, I noticed the trend traversing all over the blogosphere in many forms: vests, collars, snoods, and stoles. Never one to be left out, I have been wearing my faux frequently. It adds depth, class, and a certain luxe factor to any outfit with which I pair it.

For today’s outfit, I paired my fur stole with an all black outfit- making it the start player! It dressed up this basic ensemble and took it to another level.

Check out how these other bloggers wore fur! 

(Left: Jillgg's Good Life Right: SideSmile Style)

(Blair of Atlantic Pacific) 

Thriftfully Yours, 

B

 

Outtake !

 

How to Wear: Men's Wear Inspired

            Something about men’s wear intimidates me. This is strange experience for me—I pride myself on my fashion fearlessness. Finding new ways to stretch my wardrobe sometimes means stretching my fashion comfort level to include new styles.

            Besides challenging my comfort by being men’s wear, this outfit also features a much more basic color palate than my usual, day-to-day look. The expected choice is to use a white button up with a black vest. By switching these colors, I add visual interest and give this outfit more personality.

            When thinking about ways to create a men’s wear inspired look, I knew I wanted to mix masculine pieces (a button up shirt, vest and trousers) with feminine details (ruffles, pearls and metallic heels). I already owned all these pieces--I just mixed them in a new way to create this look.

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Giving Thanks

Dear Readers,
Whoever you are, wherever you are, I am thankful for the support you offer me through your views. I started this blog because I love fashion and wanted to share my thrifty ways with the people of the internet.
Today, I will be counting all my blessings (and enjoying the food).

Happy Thanksgiving,
B

How to Wear: The Daytime Sequin

 

            Standard professional wear can easily go from classic to boring. Basic pieces like pencil skirts and white button ups are important building blocks in any wardrobe, however I also treat them like a canvas to add my own creative touches to. Innovative styling not only creates visual interest, but it also makes an outfit more unique. 

            While browsing on Pinterest, I came across this inspiration photo. 

At times, I have replicated outfits piece for piece, but this time, I’m recreating only a few components. The inspiration I drew from this photo was the layering of a sequin tank over a button up shirt paired with a blazer. I liked the idea that the blazer neutralized some of the shine from the top, making it more appropriate for day. 

            I thrifted this top with the intent of wearing it out—needless to say, with my busy schedule, it was not getting a lot of wear. Thanks to inspiration photos and the blogs I read daily, I have been introduced to the idea of the daytime sequin. I’ve added so much value to this top because now I can style it for daytime wear.

Tell me readers, Are you wearing sequins and sparkles in the daytime? Comment, email me (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com) or tweet me (BsGoodwillHunt)

Thriftfully Yours,

B

From Rummage to Retail: A Shopping Review

            I am a perpetual shopper. Retail, sale, secondhand, or window shopping—I will shop anywhere. Today’s post is a recap of two pieces each from a church rummage sale and retail shopping at Kohl’s. 

(Starting Top L, moving clockwise)

1. Lands End Blue and White Gingham Top: Remember in the Weekend Wishes post I mentioned wanting a gingham shirt? Well, my mom found this one for $.20 at a local church rummage sale. Can’t wait to integrate this piece into my wardrobe for all seasons!

2. Christopher & Bands White Printed Capris: The print on these is hard to see, but it features a super sweet illustrated print of people, shops and flowers. The fit in the waist is good but the legs are a bit wide for me. I plan on paying to have them tailored. They were purchase for $.20, so putting a bit more money into tailoring still makes for a good deal!

3. Apartment 9 Teal Camp Shirt: I’ve been looking for a good deal on a camp shirt for some time now. I wanted this one in white, but it was so sheer, I couldn’t get it and switched it for this teal one. Perfectly lightweight for spring and summer, easily layered in fall and winter. I purchased this top on sale for $25 (Original price: $36).

4. Jennifer Lopez for Kohl’s Cream Brocade Flair Skirt: I recently decided that I have enough pencil skirts so I needed to move on to another silhouette—enter: The Flair Skirt. I love the emphasis on the waist and the volume of the skirt. The cream and gold combo is perfect for the holidays! I purchased this skirt on sale for $25 (Original price: $50).

Tell me readers, How would you style these pieces? Comment, email me (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com), or tweet me (BsGoodwillHunt)

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Weekend Watch: VII

            As I did last weekend, I am focusing on one affordable store for this week’s Weekend Watch post: Target. This brand is participating in many of this seasons trends such as unexpected leather accents and incorporated sequins. * Please note that many of these items are new and some were not in my store when I went to “visit” them to check for quality and in-personal appearance. *

Leather Details Okay, so Target isn’t carrying leather, per se, but rather leatherette, and quite frankly, from what I have seen of their fall leatherette, it’s a pretty good dupe for the price. (Certainly nothing like the “pleather” I remember from the 90s--ew.) If you want to try this trend but aren’t 100% committed, I would suggest the navy pencil skirt ($25) or Bordeaux dress ($35).  The leather accents are small and add visual interest without being too bold. For those fashionistas looking to indulge this trend a bit more, I suggest the black pencil skirt ($17) with leather panels or a leatherette legging (not pictured).

Sparkle & Shine My love for sequins has been at an all-time high recently-- just check out my recent Pinterest pins HERE. The holidays are a great time to incorporate this somewhat dressy detail into your everyday wardrobe. These two sweaters from Target were available during my visit and I loved both in person. In fact, it seemed as though they were pretty popular—many sizes were sold out at the time of my visit. The sequins seem to be well secured to withstand washing. Both sweaters could work equally well with jeans as with a more dressy skirt, and that makes them highly desirable to me! They retail for $30 each (Black/White or Orange).

Fancy Flats With the weather beginning to vary throughout the day (as it often does in fall and winter), I generally stick to wearing flats or boots. My collection of flats is severely lacking, so I wanted to scope out some fun options for myself. The black flat on the left ($20) has three details I am crazy about: quilting, a bow, and a patent leather cap toe—can you say très chic? Perfect with everything. The shoe on the right ($20) is a bit more dramatic--the jewels are eye catching, yet the hue is still neutral, making it versatile.

Tell me readers, Are you wearing any of these trends this fall? Comment, email me (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com) or tweet me (BsGoodwillHunt).

Thriftfully Yours,

B

How to: Extend Garment Use

            Despite being a print lover, I value the importance of basic pieces in neutral colors. By owning a variety of pieces in the same hue, I can recreate similar looks throughout multiple seasons. For example, black is a neutral color. My wardrobe contains the following basic black pieces: shorts, capris, pants, pencil skirt, mini skirt, maxi skirt and LBD. All of these pieces can be paired with the same tops. This means if I have a top that goes well with black, I have extended its possible wear by 6 or 7 times.

            Today’s outfit uses this concept by capitalizing on the on the versatility of grey. I wore this polka dot top in THIS post with a grey mini skirt. For fall, I paired it with grey pants. By utilizing the same color story, I was about to recreate a favorite outfit for a new season.

Tell me readers, Do you own a multitude of basics in one color? Comment, email me (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com) or tweet me (BsGoodwillHunt)

Thriftfully Yours,

B

A Night in the Tropics: Part II

        

           The transition from summer to fall is rough. Packing away my warm weather clothing is seriously depressing. The lone saving grace of fall is outerwear. Some women love shoes, some women love handbags, I love outerwear.

            A coat isn’t just a warm practical covering for one’s outfit—it should be an extension of your fabulous ensemble. For the dinner dance I recently attended, I wanted to be sure I selected the correct coat from my collection. I selected this purple one for its length and dressy quality. The faux-fur collar I thrifted this summer seemed to be a good addition for both warmth and class. Nothing says, “I’m one classy broad” quite like a fur (or good faux).

Tell me readers, Would you wear a fur (or faux) collar this fall? Comment, email me (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com) or tweet me (BsGoodwillHunt)

Thriftfully Yours,

B

PS. 

Me and my date, James Maria

A Night in the Topics: Part I

  

            This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go back in time. I attended a dinner dance at a local ballroom where little in the way of décor has changed since its opening sometime in the 1900’s.

 Many of my fellow attendees were retirement age couples who seemed excited to get dressed up, enjoy a nice meal, and hit the dance floor.

            The theme of the evening was “A Night in the Tropics.” As a “theatre person” I love a chance to wear a costume—or in this case, to subscribe to the theme. This dress, a special piece released by H&M this summer, seemed to be a great choice. 

The color and print seemed appropriate for the theme. I easily selected my faux-tortoise necklace as my standout accessory and my outfit was complete!

Tell me readers, Would you wear this dress from H&M? Comment, email me (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com) or tweet me (BsGoodwillHunt)

Thriftfully Yours,

B