Thrifty Outfit: Bright Threads for a Blustery Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I needed this outfit today. It’s bright and summery and nothing like the weather we are having here in Western N.Y.  My sister Emily and I and some close girl friends are all training for a half marathon we’ll be doing in the spring. Needless to say, making myself run in these subzero temps is hard, but I am doing it…although I try to talk myself out of it at every turn. I think all our conversations with each other for a while went something like this:

 

Friend: Tell me you are not running in this!

Me: I thought about it for a second… but I decided no.

Friend: Yeah way too cold, I’ll start tomorrow

Me: yeah me too…

Friend: we have time right?

Friend: we totally have enough time.

 

Except that tomorrow is always just as cold and blustery and so… we have all had to just suck it up and just run in the worst weather…We will all be stronger for it in the end.

 

In the meantime, I’ll just dream of the beach and wear lots of layers!

 

Thrifted Peplum top:$5.00

Thrifted floral pants:$12.00

Thrifted heels:$8.00

Forever 21 collar necklace: $4.00

MLK Day Sewing Project- Plaid work dress

I was going to go thifting today but then I looked in my sewing room and realized I have more than enough projects right now. So, of course, instead of finishing any of them…I started a new one. I’ve had a dress idea for a while and had a day off today to make it, so I did.

 

 

I started with a basic princess seam dress, and then added a strip at the bottom with pleats to add the flare out look.

 

Thrifted Fabric: $.99

Thrifted Navy long-sleeve: $1.20

Thrifted Heels: $.$6.00

Minty Fresh DIY $5 Dress

I was finally able to start some projects again.

I thrifted this lovely fabric and had to immediately make a dress out of it because I loved it so much. This was the first time I had used bias tape and I am seriously in love, and will now being using it all the time!

 

Thrifted Fabric:$.1.99

Zipper: .99 cents

Bias tape: $1.20

Thrifted Red Blouse: $6.00

Red Heels: $8.00

Top Six Thrifting Tips For New Thrifters

Sorry for the long pause in posts. I took a holiday hiatus from the blog and projects, which proved to be much needed as they were crazy busy. I did little thrifting over Christmas but did put together 6 of my top thrifting tips for beginner thrifters:

1. Get friendly- Each store has a schedule of when they mark down, restock shelves and have special promotions. Ask the employees about when these happen.

2.Become a member- Some stores offer club cards. It’s free so take it. It usually comes with % off days for card members and email promotions.

3.Get to know each store- Every store is different, even large chain stores like Goodwill vary from store to store. Learn which department each store thrives in, ex. Shoes, house ware, fabric, clothing, But is can even be more specific than that. Some stores have a great dress collection, or always have great coats; one store may have lower prices or more vintage pieces. Knowing this can help you save time in the long run.

4.Be Patient and Meticulous- Thrifting is fun, but it can also be tiring, and tedious. Don’t expect it to be like shopping at the mall, you’re sifting through peoples rejects after all, so it won’t be a walk in the park. You need to dig deep, literally and mentally sometimes to find the treasures, but once you find that awesome one-of-a-kind piece, it will all be worth it.

5.Go full and thrift happy-   If you are at all like me, I have a serious personality disorder called, “food anger”. I may seem fine on the car ride there, but as soon as that tummy grumbles I have been known to turn green and rip through my clothes in hysterics… Maybe not quite, but I do lose all ambition and if thrifting was at all on the schedule it’s just going to have to wait. So take it from me and don’t thrift while hungry…it’s just dangerous.

6.Learn to leave empty handed- I imagine some people think I walk into a store and 10 minutes later walk out in wondrous triumph, arms full of glorious vintage clothing… that’s called…a fantasy. It takes time, and a lot of times, I walk out empty handed. You have to learn that it is ok to not buy something. There will always be “good deals”, but there is a fine line between a thrifter and a hoarder and I’d much rather learn constraint than end up on an episode of Hoarders: Buried Alive in a few years.

I promise I’ll get back to my projects next week, or as soon as I can find a moment of daylight to take photos. YAY for the onset of longer daysJ