The Skinny Cargo

Grey crest t-shirt- J. Crew ~$15 (on sale)

Denim cargo pedal pushers- Ann Taylor LOFT (via Goodwill) ~$7

Brown leather braided belt- Vintage (mother’s)

Ship & map printed triangle scarf- Local consignment shop (no brand) ~$6

Gold chevron slip-on- Toms Shoes (gift, retails for $54)

TOTAL COST: Approx. $28

I don’t wear denim often- not even in the winter. I own quite a few pairs of jeans and the ones I wear the most are two dark-wash skinny-cut pairs. These denim pedal pushers were thrifted at the GW a number of years ago and I barely wore them-in fact, they were in my own donation pile before I had the wherewithal to rescue and keep them until my styling’s were a bit more on the mature side. The fit is great, the wash is dark and the length makes them workable for spring, summer and early fall. They even have these great cargo-style pockets that became significantly more popular after the “skinny cargo” was unleashed upon the fashion public two seasons ago. Ann Taylor LOFT was totally ahead of that trend- who would’ve thought!

While many looks I post here on BGH could be classified as “casual,” this seems even more so, and I attribute it to the denim. The heather grey tee and pedal pushers were alright, but needed something else to make the outfit more attention grabbing- thus the scarf bow. I’m not sure that it was the right choice for this outfit, but when I get something new, I can’t help but feel the intense desire to test it out as soon as possible. This fashion-impulsivity causes me to do some weird things, like wear out of season clothes or mix style genres. This scarf is one of two I recently purchased at a local consignment shop ($6 a piece!) and I am already obsessed with all the ways I intend to tie/wear it. I found an excellent graphic on how to tie square scarves all sorts of interesting ways and I will post it with another entry I’ve got on deck. My fashion muse for this scarf/giant hair bow is the lovely Blair Waldorf (of Gossip Girl, naturally). While I doubt this ensemble en total would be appealing to her, the vintage hair adornment is a classic-Blair.

Tell me readers, Do you take fashion inspiration from a TV/Movie character? 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

Matchy-Matchy

Black button-up dress with small floral print- I Heart Ronson (at JC Penny) ~$20

Red braided skinny belt- H&M ~$5

Black, tan and red messenger bag with Aztec stitching- Mossimo{Target} (via Goodwill, NWT) ~$6

Tan sandals- Target ~$20

TOTAL COST: Approx. $51

            What an excellent find this bag was! It’s hard to tell from my small photograph how lovely it is and for all of $6, all I have to say is, THANK YOU to whoever donated it. The strap to the purse is easily adjustable to a wide range of lengths- this makes it easy to go from shoulder bag to cross body bag in seconds. I also like a bag that closes well. This bag closes using a fairly strong magnet/snap system. Easy enough to get into (as the owner) but not too easy. The bag also features a host of inner hiding spots (which I call “comparticles”), which, as a lady, I enjoy! Finally, my favorite feature is the size- not too big, not too small. My prerogative with a purse generally revolves around its ability to hold a bunched up cardigan. I am really beginning to believe that I am part lizard, which means if I’m out of the suns direct rays, I feel the need to cuddle under a blanket. Blankets are not highly portable, but cardigans are. I’ve been carrying this bag for a few days now and I am really pleased with how smooth, silky and real the faux-leather feels. It’s a far cry from the “pleather” of my youth (What’s up 90’s?). As a thrifty lady, I’m all about faux, because it errs on the less expensive side, however, a faux-anything is not worth the reduced price if it looks or feels comically fake. The whole idea of faux (in my opinion) is that it should be passable for the real thing by “walking around society members” (e.g. not connoisseurs of the real deal).

            A note on styling: For many years I’ve been hearing Stacey and Clinton try to help WNTW participants “unlearn” the idea that “matchy-matchy” is bad and unnecessary. Although I don’t go out of my way to match this closely every day, I like the level of coordination in this outfit. The reds in the belt and bag match well, as do the tans in the shoes and bag. Finally, the geometric straps on the sandals pair well with the angular-Aztec inspired stitching on the bag. It may be matchy-matchy, but I think it looks damn good!

            Tell me readers, Do you think this outfit is too “matchy-matchy?” Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

As ever-

Thriftfully Yours,

B

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

Consignment V. Goodwill

Navy & white floral wrap dress- Tommy Hilfiger Outlet (via local consignment shop, NWT) ~$21

Indian penny pendant necklace- Vintage (from grandmother)

Tan sandals- Target ~$20

TOTAL COST: Approx. ~$41

            I was a little unsure about even using this outfit for BGH because, as a total ensemble, it’s on the simple side. However, I figured it would give me an opportunity to talk about my recent experiences in consignment shops.

            My mother and I ventured out in our semi-new city to check out a few consignment shops. I’ve been thrifting pretty regularly at Goodwill but I tend not to hit other thrifty stores, like consignment shops, because they tend to mark up for a product so similar to GW. Of course the prices are still reasonable, especially compared to retail. Many consignment shops have rules about the labels it will accept along with the amount of visible wear an item has. This is helpful to the buyer because it can mean less digging and quality labels.

            BUT (there’s always a but…) for me, thrifting is so much about the hunt. Consignment stores take away that joy for me! Nothing makes me smile quite like finding that vintage, unique, or one of a kind piece at GW (and at a killer price). To be fair, the consignment stores I visited were very reasonable, one was far less than my expectations, price wise, and I was thrilled to snag two vintage scarves. I would recommend a consignment shop to individuals who might feel Goodwill is too far a jump from the regular retail stores she frequents. Consignment shops often have their clothing divided by size, as well as garment type, making it much easier to search.

            This dress was a true snag, even at $21 (when compared to $5 for a dress at GW). It has so many qualities I like in dresses: classic silhouette (wrap dress), timeless color combination (navy and white), fun print (while still mature), good length (even with lanky arm syndrome), & finally, it’s made of some genius material that breathes and doesn’t wrinkle (even after you roll it into a tiny ball and squish it in your suitcase). For all of these reasons, I am already planning on including this dress on next summer’s family trip to Hawaii.

            Tell me readers: Are you more likely to shop consignment or shop at Goodwill (or similar thrift store)? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B

The Polo Dress

Kelly green dress- Ralph Lauren (via Goodwill) ~$7

Gold pyramid earrings- Forever 21 (multipack) ~$5

Brown skinny braided belt- H&M ~$4

Navy & green striped flip flops- Lands End ~$10 

TOTAL COST: $26

            There is something about Kelly green that draws me in like a moth to a flame. I loved it as a brunette but I love it even more as a pseudo-red head. One of my favorite preppy color trios is Kelly green, brown, and navy blue (with gold accents, of course!). Of course all women should develop their own personal style, but I do believe in basics. Professional style tends to include some staple pieces, and for me, one of those pieces is a polo dress. I normally wouldn’t belt this dress, but I am trying new things. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I found a great pin on Pinterest (check me out! http://pinterest.com/ladypsychology/)which shows 12 different ways to knot a belt. I tested out a few myself! The top one is my favorite but with the braiding, it’s hard to see exactly how I wrapped it. I think with a simple skinny belt, this knot will be much more crisp.

            These earrings are my favorite gold posts. They are simple but a little more ‘fun’ than the standard (read: BORING) post earrings. I also have a pair in silver (H&M). 

Tell me readers, Are you feeling Kelly green? Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B

Hanger Appeal

Multicolor abstract print ruffle top- Halogen (via Goodwill) ~$5

Bright pink ¾ sleeve cardigan- Gap Outlet ~$20

White jeans- Ralph Lauren (Via TJ Maxx) ~$25

Necklace- Vintage (gift from grandmother)

Belt- Vintage (mother’s)

Gold herringbone shoe- TOMS Shoes (gift, retails for $54)

TOTAL COST: $104 ($50 w/o cost of shoes)

            I am trying to increase my work-friendly wardrobe, especially spring/summer tops, so I focused on that during my last trip to GW. Along with a light blue Banana Republic button up, I also snagged this multicolor, abstract printed top. It also has ruffles, which I’m obsessed with. (Nothing says “preppy” quite like a ruffle.) This top caught my eye because of the print (ok, yes, and the ruffle) but when I picked up the hanger to look at the tag and size, I was disappointed. It looked very sad (and saggy) on the hanger. If one wants to be a successful Goodwill shopper (or thrifter in general) one must give up on the idea of hanger appeal. I figured trying a shirt on takes less than a minute. So I had little to lose and a new shirt to gain! Trying it on proved that its (lack of) hanger image was not representative of how it looked on! It’s stretchy, comfortable and versatile.

            A note on styling: It’s hard to see in this photo, but I have my pants cuffed. I remember when short pants were a big social no-no. It meant you had outgrown your clothes. As a full sized adult, it’s no longer a question of outgrowing my pants, it’s now a more overt style choice. I think cuffing pants is a great way to wear pants during the spring and summer months on cooler days. Ankles are a great body part to show off, as they are not overly provocative. 

Tell me readers, Are you as into ruffles as I am?! Comment or email me at BsGoodwillHunting@gmail.com

Thriftfully Yours,

B