Weekend Watch: VI

            My weekly perusal of retail websites yielded an overwhelming number of desired pieces from one brand: Old Navy. Compared to what I normally find, I am excited. It definitely seems like ON is stepping up their game! Here are my top picks from their new arrivals.

1. The Critter Sweater $29.94

Critter Sweaters from Old Navy

This item should have been featured on Weekend Wishes. I’ve seen bloggers rocking critter sweaters from brands like J Crew (French Hen), Madewell (Sheep), and the Gap (Owl) and knew that as this trend grew, it would become available at all price points. Old Navy is offering Critter Sweaters in three prints: Owl, Fox and Sheep.

2. The Polka Dot Sweater $24.94

Polka Dot Sweaters from Old Navy

Polka dots are not hot news but they are still trending! Old Navy released three light weight, ¾ sleeved polka dot sweaters in September and now, a full sleeve sweater is available as the temps get colder.

3. The Striped Boatneck $12.50

Striped Boatneck Tops from Old Navy

A classic and chic item. This top comes in multiple colors and can be worn dressed up or down.

4. The Sequin Baseball Top $24.94

Sequin Baseball Top from Old Navy

A perfect “day-to-night” piece. I especially love the midnight blue one. I would feel great tucking this into a pencil skirt or paring it with jeans- great flexibility.

5. The Printed Sweater $32.94

Printed Sweaters from Old Navy

It’s no secret- I’m a sucker for a print, so it’s no surprise I selected these three options.

6. The Skinny Pant $34.50

The Skinny Pant by Old Navy

I had the Skinny Trouser on my Wish List a week ago and I’m so glad to see Old Navy following in Big Brother Gap’s footsteps in offering this silhouette. I’m pretty excited to try these on in basic black. 

Tell me readers, Would you snag any of these Old Navy items? Comment, email me, (BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com) or tweet me (BsGoodwillHunt)

Thriftfully Yours, 

B

PS- I have NOT had the opportunity to check the quality or feel of these items in person as my store has not stocked these items by the time of my visit. If you have any feedback on these pieces, please let me know. Thanks :)

Cute Clutch

-->

White polka dot sweater- Old Navy ~$25

Black capris- Old Navy ~$7 (Old)

Sunglasses- Wet Seal ~$3

Yellow Flower- H&M ~$6 (for two)

Mustache clutch- Target (gift)

Black gladiator sandal- Ruff Hewn ~$13

TOTAL: $54

            You already know how much I love this sweater so I’ll skip it and go right to this moustache clutch. Target calls it a “pencil case”- who knows. Regardless, it is absolutely excellent. They’ve been making them in different prints and colors for over a year now. They retail for about $20. I’ve used it as a wallet and a clutch. Are all women pouch lovers or just me? It’s such a selling point. This clutch has so many different compartments it’s great. It also has card holders inside. Just go buy one. Or two.

Tell me readers, Would you buy this clutch? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Skinny & Spotted

Green polka dot sweater- Old Navy ~$25

White sleeveless button up- Ann Taylor (via Salvation Army) ~$3

Dark wash skinny jeans- Papaya (via Consignment) ~$4.50

Faux tortoise link necklace- JEWELIQ (gift)

Red loafers- Talbots (via Goodwill) ~$6

TOTAL COST: $38.50

            Dark denim skinnies, loafers, and a polka dot sweater- this is one of my favorite outfits yet. This Old Navy sweater is an EXCELLENT piece, if you don’t own one yet, seriously check into it! I loved it so much after just a few wears that I went back and bought a second one in white with black polka dots. I could seriously sing it’s praises for 6 more paragraphs, but I’ll spare you. Just go to ON and try it on.

            You know how with some trends, you think they’re terrible and you can’t wait for them to end or you liked it at the start, but you tire of it? I hope I NEVER feel that way about skinny jeans. Skinny jeans salvaged my relationship with denim! I barely wore jeans in HS. Just around my senior year, skinny jeans began their popularity reign. I hopped on board and never looked back. I dress them up or down and wear them with every color and print imaginable. Thrifting for jeans is tedious but no more than it is at a regular retail store. In fact, remember that thrifted jeans have already been washed and worn, making the fit when you try them on the fit you are going to have once you take them home and wash them. No shrinking. It also gives you exposure to a very wide array of brands. I’ve never heard of Papaya but it turns out the brand suits my body type and I’d never have found it had it not been for thrifting! Okay, end preach.

Tell me readers, What trend do you LOVE? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com or tweet me at BsGoodwillHunt

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Exceptions

Red, pink and orange tank- Cable & Gauge (via Junior League) ~$ .10

Pink shorts- Tommy Hilfiger outlet ~$25

White and leather belt- Vintage (from Mom)

Gold slip on- TOMS (gift, retails for $54)

TOTAL COST $25.10

            Here’s another summery piece I picked up recently and rushed to wear before fall renders these pieces worthless. When I am thrifting, no matter where, I have standards for the pieces I buy. I try to select quality pieces from brands with which I am familiar: Banana Republic, Gap, J Crew, Express, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, etc. This shirt, however, was not produced by one of these retailers. But, dear readers, there are things called “exceptions.” For example, when I get to fill a paper grocery bag with clothes for A DOLLAR and the approximate “cost” of each piece I selected is approximately TEN CENTS- I may be less picky about the brands. While I did mange to get a piece each from Gap and Lands’ End, the pattern and shape of this top urged me to purchase despite lacking label.

Tell me readers, Do you ever ignore your fashion rules and why? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Going Postal

Light blue short sleeved button up- Banana Republic (via Goodwill) ~$5

Black skirt with tiny white polka dots- BRIGG (via Goodwill) ~$6

Metallic pointy toed kitten heel- Nine West (via Bon Ton) ~$20

Pearl necklace (gift)

TOTAL COST: Approx. $31

            This outfit has a total clothing cost (excluding accessories) of $11! Would you ever know it? I don’t think so! This shirt was found on one of my most recent excursions to Goodwill and I was thrilled to see the Banana Republic label. Okay, yes, it looked a little “postal service” to me but I know that it’s all about styling! So I took it home, washed and ironed it, and decided that it would pair well with my black polka dot skirt.

            Over time and through lots of practice, I have developed an eye for quality and often find myself picking through the racks and flipping right to well known labels- it’s my super power. Of course, I see plenty of items with good labels that are U-G-L-Y. The visual appearance is also important. Now, I don’t want to come across as a label snob, because it just isn’t true! To me, a label can be important because, for many brands, it is synonymous with quality. The difference between buying a Banana Republic silk skirt at Goodwill for $6 and buying a poly-blend skirt from Old Navy (same parent company!) for $6 is not equivalent. I’d rather pick through the racks at Goodwill for these quality pieces.

            A brief note about the shoes. For this outfit, it would have been easy to wear a black shoe. Black skirt. Black shoe. It makes sense, right? NO WAY! Black shoes would have been way too bold and distracting from the more subtle nature of this preppy outfit. It seems like everyone is so into “the nude shoe” but why wear a shoe that blends in? That’s not my style. A light gold metallic shoe is also a neutral! It pairs well with many colors and keeps the focus on the outfit. (I also have pale legs, so a black shoe would be especially distracting)

Tell me readers, What labels do you swoon over when you find them at thrifty stores? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Polka Dots

Navy top with orange polka dots- TJ Maxx ~$15

Grey silk skirt- Banana Republic (via Salvation Army) ~$3

Metallic pointy toed kitten heel- Nine West (via Bon Ton) ~$20

Silver necklace- Flea Market ~$1

TOTAL COST: Approx. $39 

Oh polka dots, why must you be so fun and whimsical?! I snagged this top at TJ’s about a week ago and have been dying to wear it. Dinner out with a friend seemed like a prime time to test it out. I knew I wanted to wear a skirt, but what color? I’m still building my professional wardrobe, so skirts that coordinated and matched the level of sophistication I was going for were slim pickings. Personally, I don’t enjoy black and navy together (yes, I do recognize they are both neutrals and therefore can be worn with anything) so my black pencil skirt was out. I do have a cream colored one which would go nicely with navy but it has gold accents. Orange and gold is not a combo I enjoy either.

This situation led to creative problem solving.

Mom and I started an online retail shop (currently on Etsy, looking to try out Ebay also) and we had this skirt in our hold (see also: Guest room closet). I think I may keep it. A silk BR skirt for $3?! Crazy talk! It was half off day at the Salvation Army when we went, so were extra lucky scoring this gem. I really like navy and grey together so here’s what I ended up with. Simple accessories that add an accent color heightens the sophistication.  

Tell me readers, Are you on the polka dot bandwagon? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B