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Thrifty Chic

2012-02-27T09:25:00.000-08:00

There is something about the feeling of realising all that goes into creating a moment and defining a vision.

I think Walt Disney said it best: "If you dream it, you can do it."

A sneak peak into my very first Thrifty Chic photoshoot.

(There's more where this came from.)

100% thrifted, of course.

Partigan

2012-02-21T20:41:00.004-08:00

The Party meets The Cardigan. The Partigan.

Happy Mardi Gras Y'all!

thrifted vintage sequin wool cardigan ~ thrifted sterling silver/14ky gold plated ring

Sweet Dreams

2012-02-20T21:30:00.000-08:00

Sweet mother of Ladurée macarons and pleated pastels, this Pixie Market ad is working. it. out.

PRISMATIC

2012-02-16T21:56:00.002-08:00

Accidentally and completely on purpose, a thrifty theme emerged.

You could say I've taken a new angle on office dressing...

I call this "sporty chic," a thrifted grey Zara sweatshirt part of it's younger line, the Trafaluc collection, with geometric shoulder accents.

My favorite thrifted prism necklace (last seen here) so very "Pink Floyd" of me.

Ahhh...the real gems of the outfit....

[Hint: NOT the thrifted red trousers]

Roger Vivier Patent Leather Prism Buckle pumps.

Sadly not thrifted (gasp!)...you can't win em all!

Happy Valentine's Lover

2012-02-14T21:36:00.000-08:00

Joy Division

2012-02-13T01:00:00.002-08:00

Today my coworker told me that the print on my dress looked like the Joy Division album cover.

I said "Cool!", scrunchy forehead, then came home and wiki-googled it. Damn she's good.

The album cover was created by English graphic designer/art director Peter Saville who has also worked with fashion designers such as Jil Sander, Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, and Givenchy.

Fashion designer meets graphic designer equals design destiny.

I thrifted this wrap dress by Margarita Saplala for $1.99 after racking up enough points at Goodwill to get a $10 rebate. That's a $1 for every point, 100 points gets a rebate, you do the math.

The dress is 100% silk with a built in mesh slip. The colorful electric pattern gives it daytime sass but the black background makes it easy to transition for night. I layered on my thrifted vintage cherry red blazer labeled "Marce original" to class it up for work. The blazer fits snuggly at the waist and gives a peplum effect. Judy prefers the mesh-slip-only look. Go figure.

100% Thrifted Silk Dress and Thirfted Vintage Blazer

While I do enjoy a classy outfit, I care less about dressing sensible for work and more about distracting myself with overly stimulating tactile ensembles.

I'm fairly proud of this necklace I crafted with a thrifted gold chain (that originally came with a horrible pendant) and a thrifted large pink quartz pendant. Not much intricate skill involved but yes, I'll still refer to it as crafting. The weight of the quartz keeps the chain from looking too delicate and the weave of the chain makes it seem fancier than a $5 project. To this I say...BAM!

I thrifted the bubble-gum pink heart shaped rabbit fur purse on a thrifting-roadtrip at a Salvation Army in Wisconsin. I'm obssesed. How random? How wonderful? It was love at first sight. Paired with my thrifted bordeaux rabbit fur jacket it's a dash personal style and a wee bit of The Beckerman Sisters....specifically Callianne in this post with a twist of Samantha here. The best part? It's 100% thrifted!

In the Mix

2012-02-02T14:40:00.000-08:00

Just a couple of things I'll be keeping in the mix for Spring 2012...100% thrifted of course!

via Style.com Spring 2012 Shopping Guide

Getting Into the Swing of Things

2012-02-01T08:24:00.000-08:00

By the title of this post you most likely expected that I am a) perfecting my trapeze routine b) signing up for dance lessons c) becoming a professional golfer. Fooled YOU Sally! The swing I'm referring to is the Swing Coat, a popular piece in the 40's-50's-60's a la Baby Boomers aka plenty o' pregnancy bumps. Food babies real babies, whatever it is you want to hide, the swing coat gets a full nod from me, my insatiable apetite and my menstrual cycle, since by design it was meant to be oversized.

I thrifted this Grey Wool Ribbed Swing Coat at Salvation Army. It doesn't have a label but by it's faded lining it is definitely a vintage piece. It's clean lines, neutral color, and structure are perfectly complimented by a subtle ribbed texture, which makes it stand out alone yet is understated enough as strong backdrop for layering and color.

Oh yeah, and I found this mannequin on the street and brought her home.

Her name is Judy. She's headless but smart enough to recognize Style. She likes being naked just as much as she likes dressing up...which means we have more than a few things in common. It's great having her around when I want to write a blog post but feel less than inclined to get out of my pj's. Here's a few pictures of Judy doing her thang...ya know, posin'.

Armani Collezioni

Narcisco Rodriguez

Thrifted Wool Ribbed Swing Coat

Armani Collezioni via WWD; Narcisco Rodriguez via Style.com

Work, work out, then werk!

2012-01-31T14:35:00.000-08:00

Back in December I was stopped on my lunch-break for a quick 'street-style' photograph. I didn't think to get the information from the photographer where it would be posted...must be so used to paparazzi these days...

Well very randomly during a Google image search for pink shoes, there it pops up. I'm sure there is a logical explanation for this but most likely has something to do with my celebrity status.

If nothing else, consider this evidence you should always leave your house looking and feeling your best!

Thanks Sylvia Chen of THISBEAUTIFULMOVEMENT for the lovely photo.

Thrifted Fuschia Blouse; Thrifted Red Trousers; Thrifted Necklace; Thrifted Leopard Belt; Thrifted Bracelets; Tod's 24Hour Shopping Bag

Go For It

2012-01-30T12:18:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like perusing through 131 Pre-Fall 2012 collections to spike your outfit inspiration threshold and taint your need-to-shop-right-now willpower.

images via Style.com

Then again, you could just let someone else do it, someone that can unsuspiciously click between screens faster than their boss can walk by and notice. Someone like me....because I already did it (and managed not to get fired)... and I picked out my favorites and I posted them on CLICK facebook HERE with my "multi-uploader-thingee" and I may have also accidentally included some Spring 2012 couture. Go for it.

Thank you, more please

2012-01-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

On my way to the city, camera in hand, newly thrifted grey wool coat and light lavender mongolian wool boa, I asked a young boy to snap my picture when I saw a glistening patch of mid-day light below the tracks. He told me he and his friend were going to sell fruit in that very spot.
I told him I'd buy some when he does.

via Narcisco Rodriguez Pre-Fall 2012
thrifted coat, thrifted leggings, thrifted bucket purse, thrifted mongolian wool boa

Arms Like McQueen

2012-01-25T23:16:00.000-08:00

Notice the hair. Oh and the giant puffy sleeves...

Those opening words may have just given you clues about the nature of this post. It isn't to show you how I looked in my early thrifting days, although by the style of my phone and the length of my hair, and the fact that I know this did not happen recently, suggests otherwise. It isn't about the return of the classic white shirt (but you should own one if you don't) and it isn't my new MySpace profile picture (I'd rather use this one).

It also may not be about my psychic tendencies. However, if you look at the bottom-left picture from the Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2012 collection and then look at the top picture of me while squinting your eyes, you may just see double.

Just sayin!

Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2012

Closet Freak

2012-01-22T00:19:00.000-08:00

There's a rumor going around that you're a closet freak...

It's ok. I won't tell anyone.

Instead, I'll do you (one) better.

How about a little something to satisfy your craving...

Thrifted Cynthia Rowley Cream Knit Crop

Thrifted Leopard Circle Skirt Dress

Thrifted Suede Flat Boots

Thrifted Yellow Box Top REHAUL turned Mullet Top

- 100% Thrifted -

Real Girl Genius

2012-01-16T23:13:00.000-08:00

Meet Maya. She's my friend but I'm pretty sure she'd be yours too.

She loves life and lives it to the fullest, but second-most importantly, she does it in Style.

I gifted this thrifted snake-print dress to her before she packed up her life and moved it to Spain - Spain! Which also happens to be much closer to her handsome boyfriend in Paris. Yes, this is real story, not a dream.

My only stipulation for her to take the dress was that she take a picture of how she styles it. So, being the lady that she is, she politely accepted the challenge and whoa! Double-whammy! Sent me not one but TWO thrifted looks back. Now that's the thinking of a real girl genius. I like the way she thinks.

Nothing like a double dose of inpsirational thrift-style to kick-start 2012. Agreed?

Thrifted Snake Print Dress; Thrifted Velvet Top; Thrifted Miniskirt

Like Totally Scoob

2012-01-02T22:41:00.000-08:00

Ended my year where it all began - the St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store in Madison, WI.

YAHOO!

I can already tell this is going to be a really good {thrifty} year.

Spots on Spots on Spots

2011-12-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

After the first spot comes the second then comes a polka-dot obsession...

I thrifted this sheer top on the same day I thrifted this high-waisted pencil skirt that also happened to be the same day I thrifted these ankle booties. Accessories thrifted too except for the tights.

Catch my thrift? Womp womp.

One more dotty look before the new year, I just couldn't resist.
I'd say this time I was pretty spot on!

My next dream career: stand-up.

Happy Thrifty Holidays to You and Yours
(whatever your dreams may be)

Photos by From My Eye To Yours

Oh So Chanel

2011-12-20T00:15:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it means but I've always been distracted by shiny objects. I think it may mean I have a secret talent for finding buried treasure. My mom did always tell me that I'm "special."

I thrifted this metallic threaded boyfriend blazer not only for its explicitly shiny aesthetic but also because the fabric looked like rows of fancy ribbon sewn together, and who doesn't want to be wrapped up in fancy ribbon? I threw on my favorite (and only) pleather leggings because comfort is key, shine on top of shine is magic, and when I wasn't wearing them and bent over let's just say it wasn't very Chanel.

Which reminds me to tell you that the look I'm channeling daaahling is the mashup of Chanel Pre-Fall 2011 and Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 because mashups are all the fashion rage these days. My look is 100% thrifted courtesy of yours truly. So, use your thrifty imagination and squint your eyes, I bet you'll be saying to yourself...oh yea, that's so Chanel!

Thrifted Tunic Blazer; Thrifted Pleather Leggings; Thrifted Michael Kors Metallic T-Straps; Thrifted Beaded Evening Bag; Thrifted Gold Chain Necklace; Thrifted Ring

Photos by From My Eye To Yours and Style.com

Stealing The Scheme

2011-12-14T23:38:00.000-08:00

For their 90th anniversary show the Gucci Fall 2011 collection delivered what the Huffington Post coined perfectly as the "contemporary female dandy." And you know what they say...once a dandy, always a dandy... so seeing this collection was more like an affirmation to my total dandiness. Oddly enough the vibrant deep color pallette also confirmed my craving for mixed berry fruit snacks. You'll get what Im saying eventually.

I thrifted this neck-tie blouse and cashmere-wool blend pants on the same day. They were both a part of suit sets that I wanted to break-up but I ended up purchasing the whole suit and re-donating the counterpart. The shoes are Franco Sarto thrifted some months ago in perfect condition at Salvation Army. They have quickly become one my most favorites with their hidden platform and thick heel. The cream hat and bordeaux fur jacket were thrifted recently and would've been perfect for completely stealing this style.spot.runway scheme had I remembered to put them on.

100% thrifted
photos From My Eye To Yours

Color Me Harlequin

2011-12-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

Thrifted Top, Thrifted earrings, Thrifted Ring; Harlequin via Google

Photo by From My Eye to Yours

Silk Worm

2011-12-07T08:08:00.001-08:00

I have always had a fascination with silk fabrics, my favorite being the raw texture of silk dupioni. Part of this fascination stems from the fact that such a luxurious fiber can be derived from the not so prettiest of insects. I was lucky enough to see the process firsthand at a silk factory in China - one of the world's largest commercial silk producers (sericulturists).

I recently had a conversation with my new friend Claudia of ChicABoom Fashion about the importance of fabric when thrifting. I would argue that when most people thrift they care less about the quality and feel of the fabric than it's look, style, and fit. Unless its a very itchy wool or a thick sufficating poleyester they can tolerate most anything for a bargain. On the other hand, when you are a regular thrifter (i.e. at least 1x every week), you are more likely to be more selective with your purchases.

Just recently before the holiday weekend I thrifted two very different 100% silk pieces. The major differences being color, origination, and size. I tried on this beautiful cream silk dress that fits me perfectly. I saw on the fabric tag the dress was produced in China. Then I looked at the designer tag and saw it was Chloé! Then I realised it was only $4.99 and had slightly irregular heart palpatations for the next five minutes. Somehow I recovered and continued shopping.

Then I found this guy.

While it may not be a Chloe dress in my size, it is the most fantastical piece of Italian silk joy by St. Stefano all wrapped up in a blazer. Much too large for me but much too amazing to pass up. Who doesn't want a brightly covered marching band all over their blazer? I know exactly the friend and he marches to the beat of his own {style} drum. Ba dum, ching!

70s - 80s - 90s

2011-11-29T14:36:00.001-08:00

Took a weekend trip to Chicago to see one of my bestest buddies Chelsea who lives nowhere near the ocean but has the perfect kinky blonde beach waves and sunkissed skin.

Not only is she a master wordsmith and one of the many creative elves behind the site E Drop-Off, she also happens to have a super rad tumblr See Lanvin chock full o' style inspiration you will never want to end. Oh and she can make a t-shirt and wedges look just as elegant as a sequin dress.

Would I lie to you?

Since we both just so happen to be huge fans of shopping and it also happened to be Small Business Saturday, we decided to take a mini vintage tour and check out a few local boutiques to show our support. Chelsea picked out this cozy striped knit hat at Kokorokoko - a vintage shop focused on their love of the 80's & 90's. It felt like a living episode of a VH1 Greatest Hits show.

It wasn't until we headed to Very Best Vintage that I could "show my support" when I spotted this 70's floral bedroom peplum top. I knew I had to take it home when it looked like I purposefully layered it over my Moschino inspired polka-dot and stripe collared shirt (here) trying it on outside the dressing room. I love that I could easily transition it for night with the right black bra. Push-up of course.

Swan

2011-11-22T08:39:00.001-08:00

Met my thrift-lover for another round of hardcore soul-shaking closet-making thrift loving.

Let's just call this love(her) Swan.

I think these pictures can do all the talking but I'll leave you with this: A wise woman once said, "I can live without money, but I cannot live without love." Touche (Judy Garland) touche. In this case love was a fur jacket in the most delicious shade of wine. So I brought love home.

thrifted bordeaux fur zipper-front jacket

Multitasking

2011-11-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

I've discovered my love of tassels extends beyond adorning shoes & belts. I was more than estatic when I thrifted these tassel clip-on earrings, which originally had a giant pearl in the middle but were just a little too long for my taste. A few DIYminutes later and voila, a thrifty take on the infamous LV Spring 2011 look! And yes, I took this photo while at work. It's called multitasking!

xoxo

Come To My Window

2011-11-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

I can't keep my eye away from windowpane plaid. Less prep, more pep!

...and as the thrift universe would have it, I found the perfect windowpane blazer for fall.

Pictures to come. In the meantime, "check" out these lovers below.

images via streetfsn & sartorialist

Pop-Up Style

2011-11-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Just a few weeks back I had the pleasure of co-hosting Mischief & Thrift: A Thrifty Vintage Pop-Up with the fabulous seamstress, designer, and vintage collector Kim Hurley of Proper Etiquette and her daughter Brianna, my dotty spotty friend. Kim refers to her collection Proper Etiquette as Modern-Vintage since many of her pieces can mix-in easily as modern day trends. No wonder we get along.

With a keen eye for collecting vintage style Kim can find the gem in everything. She creates custom one-of-a-kind jackets by recycling vintage pieces into modern-vintage "Upcyling Couture." When Kim asked what kind of jacket I'd like I never imagined the outcome would be this. A mash-up of black raffia, velvet, rhinestones, and pearls. A little Michael Jackson. A little bit more Chanel. Et voilà! A crazy little thing called LOVE.

100% thrifted

And since Friends Don't Let Friends Thrift Alone and

Friends Don't Let Friends {Wear} Thrift Alone

I give you my friends. Wearing thrifted clothing. While I was in the other room, thrifting. Duh!

Event pictures and more on the StyleSpotRun Facebook Page. Check it out. Just Do It.

Photography by Jason Miller