But over the past two, maybe three, years I stopped donating all of my clothes there. Sure, I still drop a few bags off every now and then, but all of my clothes? Nope, I’ve stopped doing that.

While we’d all like to think we’re doing the eco-friendly and charitable thing by donating our clothes to secondhand stores, it doesn’t always work out that way.

My typical donation process would involve doing one or two major closet clean outs a year and then donating bags upon bags to the nearest thrift store.

But after reading this article on what really happens to your clothing donations, I started rethinking my plan.

I knew the actual amount of thrift store donations that actually gets sold was pretty low, but I was still shocked to read that on average it’s just about 20 percent. Yes only 20 percent of the clothes you donate are actually resold in the stores. Shops are just overflowing with donations and/or the donations just aren’t sellable.

So now when I have clothes donations, I do things a bit differently.

[bctt tweet=”Here’s Why I Stopped Donating All of My Clothes to the Thrift Shop” username=”PatriceJWill”]

One major change I’ve made is that I take inventory of my closet at least every quarter. So four times a year I go through my clothes, shoes and accessories to determine what I no longer wear, need or love. Doing this on a smaller scale {versus just once a year} makes the process easier and the amount of bags I have to lug around much lighter.

But one of the biggest differences is where to donate. Some of my clothes are a bit dressier, so I make it a point to research churches and even career centers that may be in need of those items. If you have children’s clothing, you can also do this with some schools or daycares in your area. Always call in advance to be sure they’re currently accepting donations and specifically ask what they’re in need of.

And I know some people get annoyed at the process of selling their clothes to Buffalo Exchange or Beacon’s Closet, but their buyers know what tends to sell. So if I have a garment that’s really trendy or a classic piece, then I’ll go there and sell my items for a few bucks. It’s never a lot of money, but I know that since they’re out to make a profit, they’ll only accept stuff that has a high potential to sell and find a good home. Check this post out if you want tips on how to sell your clothes.

Of course I’m not telling you to stop donating to thrift shops. I still plan to make occasional donations, especially if I know it’s a garment that has a high potential for being sold {great quality, brand, etc.}. I’m just sharing a few tips that can make the donation process a bit easier and more thoughtful.

The post Here’s Why I Stopped Donating All of My Clothes to the Thrift Shop first appeared on Looking Fly on a Dime.

So when I went to Finland a few weeks ago {Helsinki and then Turku}, I wasn’t really sure if I’d have time to hit up a thrift store, but as soon as I arrived in Turku, Finland’s oldest city, I immediately spotted not one, but two secondhand shops.

I. Was. Stoked. And it also felt like that was the universe’s way of saying, “Patrice, you must thrift.”

Here’s what I found while thrift shopping in Turku.

I was staying less than five minutes away from Maanantai Market thrift shop so I knew I had to pop in. With less than 45 minutes to shop, it was a quick lap around the store but I’m happy with what I found.

One of the things I love about thrifting in a new city or country is seeing what garments are in abundance and what trends are popular. The Turku shop had tons of Zara on display and naturally, they had quite a few pieces from Finnish brand Marimekko. The store was also extremely bright and organized, which made it easy for me to get through the racks. This was such a blessing since I was low on time.

The first thing I spotted was a gold chain belt. But not just any gold chain belt, it had fun tassels. This was 9 Euros and the most expensive item I purchased. I also found a pair of vintage clip on earrings. These were in a small basket with tons of other accessories, but the gold and polished black made them easy to spot.

A simple, but essential item for me was this black body suit. I wasn’t even sure if it fit {didn’t have time to try things on!}, but I was willing to take a risk. Low and behold, the sleeves are a biiiiit too snug so I’ll probably give this away to a friend. Oh well.

[bctt tweet=”Travel and Thrift: The Vintage Pieces I Found in Finland” username=”PatriceJWill”]

And for the final simple, but oh so awesome piece: this vintage denim dress. The acid wash denim is retro, but that lion detail on the bodice is a-frickin-mazing!!! And the icing on the cake? The dress has pockets. I recently wore this vintage dress with a crop top underneath and it fit perfectly. This is something I can wear year round and I’m sure you’ll see me wearing it quite often {just warning you in advance}.

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Thrifty Thursday: a little head to toe thrift action. I’ve been on the hunt for a vintage chain link Chanel belt. Well, this isn’t Chanel but I scored her for less than 10 Euros while in Finland a few weeks ago. Warning, you’ll get tired of seeing me wear her. * * * * #lookingflyonadime #budgetfashion #affordablefashion #fashiononabudget #styleonabudget #affordablestyle #budgetstyle #vintagestyle #vintagefashion  #thrifting #thriftstorestyle #thriftstorefinds #thrift #thriftshopping #thriftstyle #blackswhoblog #browngirlblogger #blackgirlswhoblog #blackfashionblogger #outfitgoals  #realoutfitgram  #visualcrush  #everydaystyle #makeyousmilestyle #vintagebelt

A post shared by Travel & Lifestyle writer (@patricejwill) on Nov 7, 2019 at 6:06pm PST

Besides loving all of these pieces, they’re reminders of an amazing trip I experienced. So having the chance to combine travel and fashion, particularly thrifting? That’s always a win-win.

The post Travel and Thrift: The Vintage Pieces I Found in Finland first appeared on Looking Fly on a Dime.

Every now and then I’ll find some online winners, like the cute swimsuits from my Zaful haul. But there can also be some misses, like my shopping review for Wish.com. Again, there are always hits and misses, so I prefer shopping in person.

But if there’s one site I’ve consistently shopped from, it has to be Amazon. I usually buy last minute random things {gotta love that Prime shipping!}, but when it comes to clothes, I haven’t always been so quick to add items to my cart. There was this killer $7 off the shoulder dress I purchased two years ago and recently I made another purchase.

It’s a basic garment, but a winner. Like, I love it so much I’m ordering more colors.

They’re a pair of leggings. Yup, leggings. Told you they were pretty basic.

But what made me give these leggings a try is the fact they have a near perfect 5-star rating and more than 3,000 reviews. At the time of writing this, 3,763 reviews to be exact. All for some leggings?

Since they were $10.99 {cheaper than the ones I buy from Target}, I figured I’d order a pair in black and grey.

When they arrived, they were the softest leggings ever. Ever. The online description mentions them being “buttery soft” and that’s 100 percent accurate.

I’ve had the leggings for more than six months now so I’ve washed them quite a few times. They’re still in tip top shape, just as soft and haven’t lost any of the elasticity in the waist.

These have become my go-to leggings for quite a few outfits, including while traveling or working out. The high waist means I can move around without having to worry about that annoying roll down waist.

I’m actually going to buy a few more of the leggings, another in black and maybe an additional color {they’re available in more than 30 hues}.

[bctt tweet=”The $10 Top Rated Amazon Leggings that are Worth the Hype” username=”PatriceJWill”]

These aren’t thick leggings I’d wear on a really cold day, but they were perfect for spring, summer and early fall. I’ll continue wearing them now that it’s getting colder, but as a layering piece {most likely under a long dress or distressed denim}.

Leggings can be seen as being boring or “basic,” but let me tell you, they’re a great wardrobe staple. Comfy, cozy and you can make them as casual or dressy as you want.

If you’re stuck on how to style them, check out this post: Stylish Ways to Wear Leggings. And you can get the Leggings Depot High Waisted Leggings here.

Worn here with a vintage wind breaker I found at the Goodwill Outlet while thrift shopping in Nashville and the Target sneakers from the Cat & Jack boys line.

The post The $10 Top Rated Amazon Leggings that are Worth the Hype first appeared on Looking Fly on a Dime.

Well, there’s a reason why I immediately discard that paper sleeve.

If you’re anything like me, then you enjoy solo travel. Or maybe you want to feel more comfortable doing so. I have an entire post with tips for women traveling alone.

Either way, this tip is especially helpful for my solo female travelers.

This is such a minor thing but I’ve been doing this for a few years and it helps me feel a bit safer.

So why do I discard the sleeve my room key comes in?

Well, if I lose my key card, someone has no way of knowing what my room number is, but if my key is inside the actual paper sleeve with my room number on it? Bam, someone now knows where I’m staying {the hotel name is on the sleeve!} and my actual room number.

Sure, I can go to the front desk and have them deactivate my old card and give me a new one, but the point is a stranger would now have knowledge of where I’m staying. That’s a no-no.

Instead, I separate the two immediately and just discard the sleeve. In the event that I do lose my key card, maybe someone will know what hotel I’m staying at {if it’s on the actual card} but at least they won’t have my room number.

[bctt tweet=”For My Solo Female Travelers, Here’s a Small, but Helpful Hotel Hack” username=”PatriceJWill”]

If I really want a sleeve to hold the key, I just ask the front desk to give me a blank one without my room number on it.

This is such a minor move and though I’ve never actually lost a key, it gives me an added sense of security.

Cheers to more travel in 2020.

The post For My Solo Female Travelers, Here’s a Small, but Helpful Hotel Hack first appeared on Looking Fly on a Dime.

Well, last week Naomi Campbell {the supermodel Naomi!} posted a video where she shared her airplane routine and guess what? She does the same thing! It’s all about staying healthy and minimizing your contact with yucky germs. Because trust me, those seat trays and pretty much everything on a plane, are absolutely filthy.

In addition to my wipe down process, I actually carry what I call a “flight pouch” on every trip. I keep this bag packed at all times and it has hands down kept me healthy and made flights more comfortable.

Y’al know I pack efficiently, so the pouch I carry with me is also small. I bought a ton of these clear cosmetic bags for a few bucks and they’ve held up pretty well. The size means they can fit into my personal bag which I stash under my seat and since it’s clear, I can see everything without even having to open it.

I never board a flight without my Clorox disinfectant wipes. I tend to buy these from Target, but you can get these antibacterial wipes anywhere. I try to buy ones that don’t have much of a scent. Also, I carry a small container of hand sanitizer. Because what’s the point of wiping my area down if my actual hands are still dirty?! And look closely at the pic below. You might notice a bit of plastic around the opening of the hand sanitizer. That’s because I place plastic wrap around the opening so if the flip cap opens up, I don’t have to worry about the liquid spilling out in my bag.

Not pictured is my Emergen-C powdered drink pouches…or at least the generic version. I actually pack a few of these and drink one the day before a trip, the day of travel and right after traveling.

Those are the items that help to keep me healthy, but I also carry a few other essentials, including CBD muscle balm to alleviate an achy neck or back. And of course some moisturizing hand lotion. I usually just take one of these small bottles of lotion from whatever hotel I’m staying at and sometimes I even mix in a bit of grapeseed or rosehip oil in the bottle.

I’ve seen some women who wear makeup when they fly and not to judge, but…I could never. Planes are just soooooo dry and can wreak havoc on your skin so besides filling in my sparse brows, I keep my skin makeup free. But I absolutely have to keep my skin moisturized, so I actually have a small container of night cream {Dermalogica’s Sound Sleep Cocoon}. While I’d normally wear this before going to bed, I apply a bit during a flight to help combat the dry air. I’ve even gone as far as to bring eye patches with me. And if you feel self conscious about people staring at you, just wear oversized sunglasses and no one will really notice the eye patches. Also, I reapply sunscreen. I love a window seat and you can absolutely be exposed to UVA and UVB rays when you’re thousands of miles in the sky. Instead of dealing with any lotions or sprays, I like Alba’s sunscreen stick. I bought this on a whim at TJ Maxx and like it so far. I have noticed that it can leave a bit of a white cast, so I usually layer a dab of facial oil over it.

And though I don’t wear makeup on flights, there have been times when I need to head straight from the airport to an event or meeting so I use my handy contact lens case travel beauty hack and add a few drops of foundation to one side and usually an oil {the one I mentioned above!} in the other side. A small powder compact and this handy retractable makeup brush means I’m set. This is super easy to apply in the airport bathroom or even in the backseat of a car and it doesn’t require me to dig through my bags or unpack a ton of stuff.

The post Airplane Essentials to Stay Healthy and Comfortable  first appeared on Looking Fly on a Dime.