Casual Friday

I'm been changing into this outfit every day after work for the last three days.  It's so comfy. The shirts and shoes also happen to be the spoils of my Wednesday thrifting plunder.  It's becoming a weekly ritual that I run to The Attic, my favorite thrift store for vintage, during lunch.  Wednesday is the first day of the week that they are open.  This week proved to be successful.  I bought the shirt below ($2.00), the shoes below ($2.00), the blazer from yesterday ($5.00), plus two other pairs of vintage shoes.

Blouse - Vintage, Thrifted

Skinnies - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Belt - Vintage, Goodwill

Flats - Vintage, Thrifted

Thrift Finds for the Week

Well, real life is managing to limit blogging and thrifting time. I haven't done much of either lately. I did manage to pick up these two little lovelies at Goodwill today. $2.00 a piece. Sometimes it's the little things that get you through.

l - r

Pink Brooch - Vintage, Goodwill, $2.00

Blue Brooch - Vintage, Goodwill, $2.00

Grand Total $4.00

Thrift Finds For The Week

This week our new Goodwill turned a month old.  Do you know what that means? They now begin 50% off color of the week.  The first tag color was green.  Luckily all my finds were green, so they were all 50% off.

Can you tell I'm getting ready for fall?  Boots last week, turtleneck, sweater, and blazer this week.

Blazer - Vintage, Goodwill, $2.50

Turtleneck - J.Crew, Goodwill, $1.00

Silk Skirt - The Limited, Goodwill, $1.75

Sweater Shell - Vintage, Goodwill, $1.75

Total: $7.00

Thrift Finds for the Week

I made some lucky thrift finds this week, including one item off my Fall 5 Piece wishlist.  It really is amazing how many things from your wishlist or how many on trend items you can find at a thrift store with enough patience.

On an unrelated note, I am soooo ready for fall so I can break out my boots, including these new beauts.

l to r

Vintage Dress - Bobbie Brooks, Local Thrift Store, $2.00

Brown Leather Boots - Antonio Melani, Goodwill, $4.00

Black Leather Boots - Gianni Bini, Goodwill, $5.00

3 Vintage Slips - Local Thrift Stores, $1.50, $1.50, and $1.00

Total: $15.00

Thrift Find for the Week

Well, the good thing about working is that you're making money, but you don't have time to spend it.  As opposed to when I was under-employed.  Plenty of time to shop, just no money.

This week was my first time to have an 8 to 5 in a while and I did no shopping whatsoever.  I did however pick up a blouse this past Sunday amid a wedding thrift excursion.  You might even be able to guess what kind of top it is.  Why yes, it is a silk top from Banana Republic.  Summer 2007 according to the tag.

Blouse - Banana Republic, Salvation Army $4.00

Ever since I learned the tag trick, I've been using it in my thrifting.  I find that the average piece found in a thrift store is 2007 or 2008.  So I guess that indicates that for most people 3 to 4 years is the life span of something in their wardrobe.  Do you find this to be true for your own wardrobe?

Blazer - Vintage, Thrifted

Blouse - Banana Republic, Thrifted (Unblogged)

Jeans - BDG, Urban Outfitters

Wedges - Jeffery Cambell

Bracelets - Kohl's

Thrifty Professional, An Oxymoron?

Thanks everyone for your kind words about my new job.  I'm excited to have one that is semi-permanent.  In the coming weeks, you might notice Unusual Form take on a slightly more professional air.  Even though my job has a lax dress code, to say the least,  I still want to put my best foot heel forward.

Today I would like to re-iterate a point that I have covered before.  I think it's a topic that merits another visit.

It is possible to shop thriftily and still dress professionally.  I know that for several people "thrift" shopping has a stigma.  They think that it is all about digging through old, smelly, used clothes, but for me thrift and second-hand shopping is about being able to own brands that I couldn't afford new or that would max out my budget if bought new.  I would never be able to afford a new dress from Tory Burch.  Why would/how could I pay well over $200 dollars for a dress?  However, the occasional thrifting cosmic alignment allows me to own such an item at a much more budget friendly price.

By now my love for Anthro has been well documented, but the reality is that I can afford only a handful of these pieces each year, not the closet full that I covet.  From time to time, thrifting serendipity occurs and I have the opportunity to become the proud owner of pre-owned Anthro.  For example, take the blouse that I am wearing below.  It is Odille, everyone's favorite Anthro brand.  I found it at a charity resale shop (read: higher prices than the average thrift store), but I loved the color and the fit and the tie at the front.  Even thought its $12 price tag might seem hefty as far as thrift goes, it was a mere fraction of its full retail price.

Blouse - Odille, Thrifted (Unblogged)

Skirt - Vintage, Thrifted, Altered

Heels and Belt - TJ Maxx

Another way to dress professionally and thriftily is through vintage. For the most part clothing from past eras was much classier than the average piece of clothing today.  Crocs anyone?  Suits, pencil skirts, LBDs, these were just the every day wardrobe 40 years ago.  Vintage pieces can now be snatched up second-hand to bring a little class to your wardrobe.  The skirt I'm wearing above is vintage, purchased at Goodwill for $4.00.  I did have the length altered for a slightly more modern look.  I find that most thrift stores I frequent have a plethora of brightly colored pencil skirts, blazers, and button downs, all essential elements of professional attire.

All this wordiness to say that you don't have to look thrifted if you are thrifted.  The best thrifted outfit is one that no one would guess was actually purchased second-hand.

Thrift Finds for the Week

There was a clear winner in my survey this week.  Y'all definitely want to see my clothing thrift finds, so here goes...my finds for the week. 

l to r

Blouse - Go International Target, Goodwill $2.50

Blouse - Fei (Anthropologie), Goodwill $2.50

Belt - Brighton, Peace At Home Thrift Store $2.50

Heels - Kenneth Cole Reaction, Potter's House Thrift $5.00

Grand Total: $12.50

I definitely went easy on clothing this week.  I'm trying to buy a lot of my wedding decor thrifted/vintage, so I've been concentrating my resources on that.  There was a little interest in my wedding decor so I may put together a post or two concerning that, but I definitely won't overwhelm y'all with wedding stuff.

Accidental Tory Burch

So, I went out to buy a glue gun and came home with a Tory Burch dress. This has happened to you, right? I had to go to Hobby Lobby to get the glue gun. I knew I was going to drive by one of my favorite thrift stores going to and from. I mentally debated whether or not I wanted to stop. "I've done quite a bit of thrifting this week." "I need to start sticking to my shopping budget." "Blah, blah, blah." I finally decided, "Well, I'll go in and look. I don't have to buy anything." How many of you have used this rationale and had it backfire on you?

Anyway fast forward to the dress section. I'm quickly skimming the rack and an orange Mexican inspired number catches my eye. I go for the tag thinking at the very least it's some teenage brand, American Eagle or some such. Nope. Tory Burch. $4.00. A few dresses down, the lovely vintage floral number. Perfect fit. $5.00.

I also picked up a cork board already covered in fabric for $1.75. It makes a perfect display for my necklaces.

The Girls are Back in Town

Hey, y'all! I'm back in action. Sort of. I've been out of town the last few days. Let's just say that no internet + rain + 43 degree weather + improper packing = no blogging.

It may not get much better in the next few weeks. Tomorrow is my final exam and then I'll be moving. Everyone knows that having all your clothes in boxes really puts a damper on style blogging. I am planning to participating in EBEW and the Paper Doll Project next week, so be sure to check back for those.

Now, some thrifting goodness to hold you over. My finds from this weekend: Coach, Vera, Liz, and a book, all for just over $10.00.

I Thrift, Therefore I Am...

... a shopaholic. I know I just did a huge post about not shopping, but I did. In my defense, it was secondhand shopping and I did find two things on my thrift shopping wish list. I found my lighter-wash denim jacket (Gap) and a black maxi skirt (for April's EBEW). The real prize for the day is another Coach purse. This one is a twin to one of the purses I wrote about earlier. It was $10 down from $20.

Sorry for the crappy cell phone photo. I left my camera cord at my parents' this past weekend. That's also the reason I haven't done a outfit post all week.

Shopping Secondhand: Small Leather Purses

I have trouble finding real leather purses, especially good name brands, at thrift stores. Usually some savvy thrift store employ snaps them up, slaps on a hefty price tag, and then puts them behind glass (that is if they even make it to the sales floor in the first place). One thing I have had some luck with are small leather purses. Sometimes these manage to slip by and end up with all the regular purses.

One thing I always recommend when buying secondhand is to try to buy quality items. There's nothing wrong with having a few synthetic purses, but these can easily be purchased new at mass retailers, so for secondhand bags, I try to stick to leather. They are only going to look better with age.

One of the best manufacturers of quality leather goods is Coach. You may think that it is impossible to find Coach secondhand, but I'm speaking from experience, it can be done.

The purses pictured above are secondhand. All are Coach except for the black one in the lower right, it's Etienne Aigner. Coach is perhaps the more desirable brand, but I find this particular Etienne Aigner is on par with Coach as far as style and quality.

The top two purses are from family members, the cream one from my mom and the caramel one from her cousin. They both came from their aunt (my great aunt) and then eventually made their way to me. We usually think of "secondhand" as thrifting, but family members can be a great resource. Be sure to check out the back of your mom's closet and grandma's attic.

The purse on the bottom left is similar to the "Basic Bag" which retails on the Coach site for $168. It was purchased from a now defunct thrift store that benefited a local health clinic for $3.00. They either didn't realize it was Coach or didn't care. Such low pricing could account for why they are no longer in business.

The middle bag is similar to the "Willis Bag" which retails for $298. It was purchased from another local thrift store for $15.00, marked down from a higher price. It was priced a little high for a thrift store bag, but it is definitely a bargain compared to new or even similar used bags on Etsy or Ebay.

The last bag is Etienne Aigner. It is also from a local thrift store, $7.00. Don't automatically dismiss a bag that you don't consider "designer". For thrift store prices, you can usually take a chance on a lesser known brand, all long as the quality is still there.

In my experience, you are going to have a better chance of finding a well priced leather bag at a locally owned thrift store versus one of the larger chains. Be sure to dig through all the racks. You should be able to tell the leather bags from the synthetics based on touch. Look for a style you like, leather that feels good to the touch, high quality stitching, and unusual details like buckles and claps. Finally, remember that the best bag is one that you will actually carry.

Shopping Second Hand: Silky Scarves

I'm starting a new series about shopping second hand. I do not claim to be an expert on this subject by any means. I'm basically writing from my own personal experience. This series will primarily focus on things that I like to collect as well as things that I have good luck finding second hand.

The first objects of my second hand affection are silky scarves. I find that square scarves in a silky material are relatively easy to find. I love having a collection of such scarves on hand to add a pop of color to an otherwise bland outfit. These little beauties pop up in a variety of places. The ones below came from thrift stores, antique stores, flea markets, and estate sales. I don't think that I've paid more than a dollar or two for any of them regardless of brand or material.

What should you look for in a scarf? Obviously you should first look for colors and patterns that you are attracted to. If you don't love it, you won't wear it. For good quality scarves, look for those made of pure silk. Most places, especially thrift stores, don't distinguish between materials when it comes to price. This silk ones are the same price as the synthetics. The material is not always indicated, but with a little practice you should be able to identify silk by touch.

Another sign of quality is a name brand. High-end designers such as Hermes are know for their scarves, but I've never found one second hand. I have, however, found several scarves designed by Vera Neumann, a very popular and prolific 20th century textile designer. Her scarves are usually marked with her name "Vera". The three scarves on the bottom row are all marked Vera. You can clearly see her name on the middle scarf.

Flickr has several groups dedicated to the work of Vera Neumann. I would suggest perusing these groups to familiarize yourself with her work. She has a pretty distinctive, painterly style. Once you know what you are looking for, the scarves will be easier to spot.

Good luck and happy hunting. Next week, I'll have a new installment of Shopping Second Hand.

Back in the Swing of Things

Okay, so I'm not normally one to disclose prices unless I got an insanely good deal on something. Well, dear readers, my entire outfit cost less than $25.00. You heard that right, $25.00! That's the total for everything I'm wearing except the tights (I've had them so long I forgot how much they cost).



The most expensive thing I'm wearing is my shirt. It's from Anthropologie, which normally means big bucks, but I found this baby for $10. Love their sale racks. My locket and bracelet are both vintage. The locket was my Great Aunt's and the bracelet was a gift, while my belt was $1.00 at a local flea market.

My skirt is vintage Oscar de la Renta. A big name in fashion, but not big money in this case. I found this during my post 30 for 30 Goodwill run, where all skirts are $3.99 and this was no exception. It was a bit on the long and dowdy side, but I've finally figured out how to make a blind hem on my sewing machine. I hemmed it up myself, taking off six inches and saving about $8.00 in the process (the amount a tailor would charge for the alteration).

Finally, the boots. Oh, the boots. These are vintage Joan and David Couture, also found at Goodwill, though several months ago. I paid $7.99 for them, but I know they had to be a couple hundred dollars originally. I wore them for the first time today to walk to the Walgreen's on the corner and before I could even get in the door a girl was complimenting me on them.

So that brings the grand total to under $25.00. Why am I telling you all this you may ask? I just want to make the point that you don't have to spend a lot of money to dress well. It's going to take a little more work, a little more looking, a little more DIY-ing, but with a little more effort it can be done.

Skirting the Issue

I suppose I've been on a skirt binge lately. I see so many tutorial online and skirts seem like one of the easiest things to make for yourself. You don't have to worry about sleeves and shoulders and busts like you would with a dress.

The first skirt is a project that I've been intending to do for quite some time. It's a tutorial on the ReadyMade website on how to turn a men's shirt into a skirt. I found a shirt I liked for $2.oo at my LTS. I think that the directions on the website are missing some words. It was a bit hard to follow, but I used what was there and filled in the blanks on my own. Overall, I think it turned out pretty well. Now to style it I think I need an old band t-shirt and some beat up cowboy boots.

The second skirt was also a tutorial I found online. I used some vintage fabric I found at my LTS (a different one than above). This time 2 yards of fabric for $1.00. The elastic in the waist actually cost more than the fabric. A quick and easy tutorial I'd recommend anytime you want to spice up your wardrobe on the cheap.

Repurposed Filled Life

I found this blouse at my local Goodwill. I absolutely love the pattern. The colors are so vibrant. It reminds me of something my grandmother would have worn in the 70s. Unfortunately, it made me look like someone's grandmother when I put it on. The fabric was so great, I could not pass it up, though. I knew I could do something with it. Enter pillow form I already own.

A little seam ripping, a little cutting, a little sew, and viola. New Pillow. I even managed to make the buttons on the front of the blouse, the opening in the back of the pillow case. The best part, it totally matches the color scheme of my apartment.