Cardigan as a Shirt

            Recently, I began a professional internship in my field. I work 5 days a week. This program requires professional attire, but no skirts. I never realized how much I like wearing skirts and dresses, so getting dressed has been a bit trying, to say the least.

Additionally, the building in which I work is extreme in it’s temperatures. One half of the building is cold and the other is hot, like 100 degrees hot (sometimes). This forces me to dress in layers because I never know which side I’ll need to be working in.

            These factors (wardrobe restrictions and temperature) have really challenged me. I’m looking at my closet and all I see are things I can’t wear. My method has essentially been: pants, layers, sensible shoe. I thrifted this Lands’ End sweater in brand new condition and decided to highlight the print by wearing it all the way buttoned up, as though it were an Oxford shirt!

See how else I wore these pants HERE!

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Halloweeny

Coral chunky cardigan- American Eagle (via Goodwill) ~$4

Black and white striped dress- Old Navy ~$25

Black leggings- Department Store ~$4

White Bubble Necklace- JEWELIQ (gift)

Pyramid earrings- Forever 21/Target (? not sure, prob around $4 for the pair)

Black knee high boot- (gift)

TOTAL COST: $37

            I have some very strong rules about color pairings. One of these rules pertains to this color combo: Black and Orange. For me, these colors are only appropriate around or on Halloween. I broke out my ON black and white striped dress for the occasion. I’ve been so excited to transition these dresses (I loved them so much, I bought two {the other is red and navy blue}) into fall and winter by pairing them with tights or leggings and boots. I’m already planning my next wearing of this dress (in a month or too, as to be fair to all my other pieces)!

Tell me readers, Do you wear black and orange together all times of year? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Thrifty Threads: A Goodwill Shopping Review

My most recent trip to the GW was VERY fruitful! I snagged 6 pieces and two accessories. I almost stayed seasonal! Just one little slip- Oops?

(Starting top L and moving clockwise)

1. American Eagle Coral Chunk Knit sweater $4

I LOVED the over-sized buttons and the shawl collar!

2. Heart on my Sleeve tie cardigan $4

Not a quality brand, but good over jeans.

3. Merona chevron vest $3.50

Slowly building my vest collection! Still looking for navy and white.

4. Banana Republic patterned top $3.50

Great quality- great print! 

5. Talbots polka dot oxford $3.50

I’ve seen so many great versions of the polka dot blouse, so I was very excited to find this one, especially from a great brand like Talbots!

6. Ship N Shore vintage purple oxford $3.50

When I saw this top, I thought “Challenge Accepted!” I LOVED the color and knew I could find a way to style it to look chic- keep your eyes open for this one! I won’t be able to wait too long to wear it.

7. Blue and white scarf  $1

I don’t know who made this scarf, or what it’s made of but for a buck, I snagged it!

8. Silver Chrysanthemum Broach $5

Such a classic broach- I plan on pinning it on my winter coat!

TOTAL COST for 6 pieces of clothing and 2 accessories: $28

Tell me readers, What are you most recent shopping snags? Thrifted or not! Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Perfect Fit

Maroon long sleeve top- J Jill (via Goodwill) ~$3.50

Fair Isle Cardigan- St. John’s Bay ~$7 (on sale)

Wide leg jeans- Gap (via Goodwill) ~$6

Deer antler necklace- gift (similar items available on ebay and etsy)

Chestnut boots- UGGs (gift)

TOTAL COST: $16.50

            I love to be warm and as a result, I own many cardigans. This one I snagged on mega clearance last season. It’s large enough that I can easily wear it over long sleeves which is great as the weather here goes form cool to cold. I generally don’t like hoods on things other than hooded sweatshirts or a coat, but I made an exception for this one because it was such a great deal.

            As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not really a big jeans wearer. I have a few pairs of skinny jeans that I really like, and I tend to stick with those. This pair, while not my favorite silhouette, is a high quality pair in a great wash that I snagged for a fraction of the retail cost. Additionally, I, like many women, struggle with an appropriate fit in pants, especially jeans. Something I love about shopping second hand is that because most clothes have been preowned, they are prewashed. These jeans are not going to shrink- the size they were when I bought them is the size they are now, years later. Which is more than I can say for jeans you buy new in store!

Tell me readers, Have you ever bought something new only to bring it home, wash it, and have it shrink or change drastically in appearance? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Wearing White: Post-Conventional

Mint green v-neck t-shirt- Target ~$5

Pink circle print cardigan- Target (via Goodwill) ~$4

White jeans- Ralph Lauren (via Marshall’s) ~$25

Sunglasses- Wet Seal ~$3

Tortoise link necklace- JEWELIQ (gift, retails for $20)

Brown leather braided belt- Vintage (from mom)

Gold slip ons- TOMs (gift, retail for $54)

            Certain followers of rules do so without examining the effectiveness of the rule in their own life. However, I am in Kohlberg’s Moral Development stage titled “Post-Convention” and I evaluate each rule by my own standards. “No White After Labor Day” is a rule I simply cannot get behind. It was warm on this day, so white pants didn’t feel weird. I wouldn’t wear them in the dead of winter, but it’s not because of some arbitrary rule- but because I more “wintery” looking items I’d like to style. I wear white in other ways (sometimes called “winter white”) during cooler months, specifically in sweaters.

Tell me readers, What do you think about white during cooler months? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Thrifty Threads: A Junior League Shopping Review

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Here’s my shopping recap from my last trip to the Junior League.

(Starting top L, moving clockwise)

1. This super soft sweater is vintage and bears in insignia ODCC. There is a place, locally, called the Outdoor Country Club and I’m wondering if this wasn’t an old uniform or available for purchase in the past. I wouldn’t have been drawn to it if it weren’t on the 4 items for $1 rack. Oops?

2. Recently, I added a new item to my fashion wish list- a collarless jacket. I stumbled across this one in the cardigan section and loved it. It looks horrific on the hanger- so please trust that this piece is a good one. I’ll definitely wear it open with jeans most of the time, but am open to alternative stylings. It’s vintage AND machine washable.

3. This new rugby top has a secret- it is actually a children’s top. I never thought I would fit into children’s clothes, but apparently boys XL is the exception. I did buy a Rugby top earlier this season (Ralph Lauren, grey with maroon stripes) but still wanted one with wide stripes. I also secretly hoped I could find one in red and navy, so -how lucky am I?

There you have it, readers, my shopping trip all summed up! Keep your eyes open for how I work these new pieces into my wardrobe.

Tell me about your recent purchases! Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B