Black & White

Printed short sleeve tie blouse- Ship N’ Shore (via Goodwill) ~$3.50

Black pencil skirt- Target ~$20

Pearl necklace- gift

White skinny belt- no tag (via Goodwill) ~$2

Black gladiator sandal- Ruff Hewn ~$13 (on sale)

TOTAL COST: $38.50

            A warm day amidst some chilly ones! I used this brief weather reprieve to wear this blouse that I thrifted a while ago. Wearing black in the summer is something I shy away from because it doesn’t seem seasonally appropriate, so when I bought this blouse, I had to put it away for a while. Fall seemed to be a great time to pull it out and this day really allowed the blouse to be on full display (i.e. no cardigan needed). I stayed with the black and white theme when selecting the rest of the outfit. Looking back, the belt was a misstep- there are no belt loops on the skirt, so it was moving all over- annoying.

            I think this may be the final wearing of my new favorite sandals of all time- but don’t worry, just for the fall and winter seasons. Packing up and swapping out my out of season clothes has been a semi annual tradition for YEARS. I love taking out the bins and rediscovering all those pieces. I also get to put away my summery stuff. It’s refreshing- but I am going to miss those sandals for the next 6 months (or so).

Tell me readers, What items are you sort of sad to put away for fall and winter? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Pretty Patriotic

Polka dot secretary blouse- James Kenrob (vintage, from Goodwill) ~$3.50

White and gold pencil skirt- Worthington (via JC Penny) ~$7

Skinny light blue belt- Vintage (via Goodwill) ~$1

Navy blue leggings- via Gabriel Brothers ~$4

Brown boots- Xappeal (via Rack Room Shoes) ~$20 (on sale)

TOTAL: $35.50

            Riding boots! It’s something I actually love about fall. My boots are sort of beat. I bought them on clearance 3+ years ago at Rack Room Shoes in what has turned out to be a snag at $20. These boots have been put out, NEW, every year for just around $50 and they’re not real leather! Not worth $50, maybe $20. Regardless, mine are starting to peel and are scuffed at the toe. It may be time to start scouting for a new, leather pair. Perhaps Christmas list…

            In other news, it is cold enough to wear my secretary blouses! We’re starting with this one and working through my entire collection. My outfit sort of ended up looking quite patriotic, especially after I added red coat.

Tell me readers, Any tips for finding a great pair of leather riding boots? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Goodwill Goodies: A Shopping Recap

Since it’s time for back to school (& work) for mom and I, we did double duty with back to back thrift store visits before we get too busy to search the racks. On our first day, we hit our local GW. As I mentioned in my last few shopping recap posts, I am trying to focus on fall fashions when I’m shopping since it’s fast approaching. Again, I was lured in by a few summery pieces but did manage some fall ones also. Here’s the recap!

(Starting Top L square, moving clockwise)

1. I’m not sure what my obsession is with heather grey, but it lives on! This Eddie Bauer tank top with cream detailing is more fun than a plain grey tank but is still versatile. I plan on using it as a layering piece in the fall.

2. This skinny striped Banana Republic tank is another piece I felt would transition well to fall. I also feel like the colors and shape a bit more grown up than some of my other tank tops, which is a plus as well.

3. Most of the Goodwill’s I have been to often get left overs from Target. These swim bottoms are NWOT and are preppy and nautical (two things I LOVE). However, upon arriving home, I realized I don’t have any tops that coordinate. Boo. Hoping I can find a navy and white top with anchors on it at a final sale somewhere soon J

4. I’ve relapsed, readers. I bought ANOTHER secretary blouse and it’s not even a solid color (which I proclaimed would be the only other one’s I would be on the look out for). I couldn’t resist! It’s navy blue with red and light blue abstract spots on it, AND it has a peter pan style collar. Couldn’t resist. I now have TEN- Oops?

5. Oh LOFT- How I love thee. These patterned capris are so fun and fit very well. I’m excited to wear them well into fall. Wondering how I could pattern mix them… Stripes?

Tell me readers, Where do you like to buy your bathing suites? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet to me, BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours, B

One Blouse Two Ways

Black printed blouse- Ship N Shore (via Goodwill) ~$3.50

Grey button pencil skirt- Ann Taylor LOFT (via Goodwill) ~ $5

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

Grey pointy flats- Nine West (via Goodwill) ~$5

TOTAL COST:

Outfit One ~$11.50

Outfit Two ~$33.50

            I love finding versatility in my clothes. My plethora of secretary blouses can be worn in both dressy and casual ways. In look one, I paired my blouse with this excellent find, an Ann Taylor LOFT skirt I thrifted. The original buttons were plain so I swapped them out for these beautiful silver crest ones. In the photo, both pieces look like the same color, but there is more definition and separation when you see it in real life. I went for a more relaxed look in my second outfit. I would have never thought to wear them untied until I saw this photo from a favorite blog of mine, Pink Peonies (http://www.thepinkpeonies.com/). 

I also love the white pants with the dark top. This blouse looks plain from far away, so I included a close up of the print. 

It’s an interesting one and I’m not sure what it’s supposed to be, but I love the incorporation of orange and blue as small detail colors.

Tell me readers, Which look do you prefer? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Oops, I Did It Again (& Again)

            My favorite seasons for fashion are fall and winter. Shops like Goodwill and Salvation Army offer some out of season items at all times, which means I can be collecting special pieces all year round, regardless of the present season. At times, I find myself getting hooked on a specific type of garment. Recently, that piece is the secretary blouse. Three years ago, while participating in a Goodwill “up-cycle”/re-fashioned” fashion show, I was assigned this beautiful outfit…(check out that fabulous hat and those heels!)

I fell in love with the silk paisley blouse and purchased it (for $3.50) after the show. My sense of fashion was a bit different in 2010 and I hardly wore this top. However, it planted the seed for what has truly turned into an obsession with the secretary (or tie-neck) blouse. My interest in this garment really accelerated after I purchased this pink, purple, and blue paisley blouse.

I received many compliments on it and loved the special feel that only a vintage piece can give. I wanted more and so my collection began. Presently, I have 9 secretary blouses (varying sleeve length) that were all thrifted. These tops are on trend for the upcoming fall season, however, you’re not going to find them for a better price or more special looking than thrifting a vintage one.

Case and point?

(Left: Saks Fifth Ave, Right: Equipment {via Last Call: Neiman Marcus})

I like both of these blouses but with price tags of $69 & $139 respectively, I wouldn’t dare buy either. My entire collection of 9 secretary blouses (the remaining 8 pictured below) cost me around $32. If I have to choose between 9 different options for $32 or one blouse for $69 (or even $20 at a store like Forever 21)- it’s not really a fair fight :)

They’re silky and light-weight enough for late summer/early spring and with a cardigan, sweater vest or blazer, they work as a layering piece all winter long. I should probably stop buying them, but I could go for a few more in solid colors- as you can see, I only have one (the silky champagne blouse- all the rest are printed, though it’s hard to see). Maybe black or purple?

Tell me readers, What do you think of this trend? Do you have a favorite among my 9 blouses? What are your style suggestions for this trend? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Sal-Val Scouting

           Mom and I decided to pop by the local Salvation Army for some thrifting. Our local GW is quite small compared to others I’ve visited, so when we’re really in the mood to search the racks, it is best to hit the Sal Val as it’s at least 3x larger. We did A LOT of picking and trying on. I came out with 6 pieces for a total cost of $23.00. Mom also added a few new pieces to our eBay account (http://tinyurl.com/eBayCraftmom).

            My favorite snag of the day is an item that was on my Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/ladypsychology/) wish list- a removable fur collar for a winter coat. I had pretty much given up on finding one in the stores I visit, so I was perusing Etsy for something well priced that didn’t look like a bad rug. I had found a few nice, real rabbit fur collars and some nice faux’s for anywhere between $15-$30. The price I paid for this little gem…?

$7.50. It’s faux, its lush, it ties at the bottom, it’s excellent. Another item off the Wish List!

             The remaining 5 pieces are all clothing: 2 (more) vintage secretary blouses (black with orange and blue accents {Ship ‘N Shore}, and the red, white and black vertical stripe {Knitmakers}), a Land’s End deep red with white cherry blossom print cardigan, black and white print Ann Taylor tank top, and a white Ann Taylor poppy printed skort. I will admit, I have a serious addiction to tie-neck, secretary blouses. With the addition of these two, I now have 8 of varying sleeve lengths (Perhaps it’s time to stop…). Not all of the pieces I bought are summer season clothes, so you’ll just have to wait to see how I work them into my fall/winter wardrobe. I’m sure the poppy skirt and black and white printed tank will be working their way into some up coming posts! I have a hard time waiting to wear my new pieces. 

Tell me readers, What item of clothing do you have multiples of? Inbox or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B

~P.S. Check out this thrilling polyester number I tried on. Sadly it didn’t fit (wouldn’t zip up in the back) but I got a picture of it! Mom says its very “Laugh In.” I loved it. Don’t know where I would wear it, but what a piece to have around for parties or a photo shoot!

My Fashion Wish List

I started reading J’s Everyday Fashion (http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/) a few months ago and I loved her idea for creating a monthly fashion wish list. For my current and projected job, income, and life pace (not to mention my already enormous wardrobe) it was just not fiscally (or spatially) smart to do a monthly wish list. Instead, I generated a list of fashion basics that I want to locate within the next calendar year. I typed it up in Notes on my iPhone (so I could easily reference it while out thrifting) and I have it here for you all to see below.

I then decided to begin finding photographs that accurately represent what these items will look like- though not necessarily the exact piece I wanted. The night before my last major GW trip, I pinned photos for several list items: black lace up bootie with heel, striped blouse (and other secretary-style blouses), a blue Oxford and a white Oxford. Below is a screen shot from my Wish List board on Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/ladypsychology/)

Maybe I should put things out into the universe more often because the goddesses of GW seriously smiled upon me. I thrifted: 4 secretary-style blouses, one white Oxford, a brand new pair of black lace-up booties, and a Hawaiian themed dress (not pictured). See swatches and snap shots below.

That swatch on the top left is nearly identical to the maroon looking top I had pinned just the day before! (It’s hard to see the pattern on the photo) The white button up is Express brand, barely been worn and fits perfectly. Total cost of this haul? $27. I dare to hypothesize that purchasing that Express Oxford new would have been at least that cost, if not more.

So my suggestion would be 1- Make a list of core pieces you covet & 2- use Pinterest to post photos

            So tell me readers, Ever had a very successful GW or thrifting haul? How many pieces for how much? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B