Stuck in a Fashion Rut?

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a rut?  When it comes to fashion, and more specifically career fashion, I find it's not hard to.  During the work week, you get into a daily routine, and it never fails that you never have enough time in the mornings to devote to really seeking out a rockin' outfit for work.  You throw on "the usual" and call it a day.

For me, that "usual" is black slip on flats, black slacks, print polyester top and black suit jacket - every time.  Some days I'll mix it up and swap out the black for brown - whoopie!  Living life on the edge for sure!  But I find that I just don't have the energy a lot of mornings to really get passionate about my attire.

And then, when I go shopping, I find myself gravitating toward the same styles and color that I wear day-in and day-out.  I have found that if I don't buy "the usual" and start getting more comfortable with different looks, I'm more apt to put a different twist or variation on my daily suit.  Now, when I hit up the thrift stores and clearance racks, I focus on two things: Color and Cut.

Color:  First, I look for colors I don't normally gravitate toward.  I try out yellows, pinks and other pastels instead of the deep, dark purples, reds and blues that blend in with a black suit.  Let me tell you, yellow pops on black like you wouldn't believe!  So anyway, I buy the colors I wouldn't normally buy.

Cut: I think this is the most important thing when you're shopping, no matter what you're shopping for.  If the cut isn't right, it turns out being a crapshoot all around.  Tailored blazers are the love of my life; I have about 10 different blazers/suit jackets that are black, but all have different cuts that give each their own personality.  My problem is that you can only cut a blazer so many ways, and then you wind up buying the same cuts over and over again, hence the rut.  To get out of this rut, I keep an eye out for the cuts I like in blazers, but rather in a shirt.  Women's button ups are great for that suit structure and darting; Poncho style jackets are a nice, comfortable variation on the jacket as well.

~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~

Now, to my reason for this post to begin with - I used these two key points today when out with my friend Kelly at the local Salvation Army.  Like all of us, she has been stuck in the so-called rut.  Kelly mainly gravitates toward neutral colors like black, grey and white.  She also feels comfortable in looser clothing that sometimes can lack the shape she needs to show off her beautiful frame.  So she asked me to head into the racks on my own, without her opinions on color and structure, and put a few outfits together.  Then she would try them on as a set rather than separates to help her get an idea of how to pair different types of clothing.

I happily dove into the racks, knowing exactly what I wanted to see her in.  I hit up the short-sleeved tops and found some great prints that had her neutral colors, but still had a little pop of color somewhere.  I also pulled tops that were solids like a beautiful light olive green one I found.  I then headed over to the blazers (you know, because I'm addicted to them!) to see if I could find anything I thought she might be open to trying.  

I spaced out the different tops I had found on the blazer rack and got to digging.  I chose to stick with her solid neutrals for the most part, but tried to find subtle uniqueness in them as well.  For example, I pulled a black knit poncho jacket and put a red printed top underneath.  I then pulled a turquoise colored suit jacket that matched a green print I found.  And then I pulled a darted, lightly pinstriped black blazer and put the olive green top with it.  Then I grabbed a couple colorful scarves and added those to what I had picked out.

I have to say, I am so proud of Kelly for her openness.  I had so much fun watching her come out of the dressing room in the different combinations, and she was pleasantly surprised by the different looks, I think.  She would up liking the pinstriped blazer (HALLELUJAH!), and ended up purchasing that as well as several of the printed tops and one scarf!  I was SO happy to see her smile when she came out of the dressing room each time, and I was happy to see her liking what I had picked out for her.

In the end, I was able to pull just a tiny bit of her personality out of the rut she feels like she's in for work, and I hope she uses that in the future to push herself to gravitate toward colors and styles she wouldn't normally buy.

Everyone deserves something different from "The Usual."

Much Love,

~Heather

Thrift Store Haul!

I have some goodies to share with you from my thrift store adventures yesterday!  I was invited by a friend of mine to go out to the Salvation Army to look for work clothes.  Of course I said yes.  We spent quite some time picking through their stock and came across some great items and at bargain prices.  Purple tags were automatically $0.69 cents, so I kept an eye out for those when shopping as well.

~~~~~     ~~~~~

I didn't come across too many things that worked out for me, but I still did well on bargains.  I found a bunch of beautiful tops, but they either didn't fit or I didn't like the style on me.  Here's what I found at the Salvation Army:

Item: Kenneth Cole-Reaction men's button up
Price: $0.69 cents

I try to find button up shirts for my fiance when I go out on 69 cent day at S.A.  This Kenneth Cole one is in great shape and a pattern that I really liked.  He wears button ups for work, so I always keep these in the back of my mind when I go thrift store shopping.  He is building up quite the collection from my thrift store trips.

Item: Merona (Target brand) women's long-sleeve t-shirt
Price: $0.69 cents


The second item I found was this basic grey, long-sleeve t-shirt.  These are super soft and a comfortable option for casual weekend days.  I would pair it with a colorful camisole underneath, a tied scarf, jeans and boots.  For fall, you could add a jean jacket or a green, military style blazer for an edgy feel.

I know these items don't seem like much, but I feel if I can find these basics in good shape for 69 cents, they are definitely worth it.  It's a way to keep rotating your basic pieces cheaper.  69 cents is still better than a cheap Walmart item that's $3.00!

Item: The Travel Selection brand red basic shell tank
Price: $2.99

I've been trying to keep an eye out for these shells to put underneath my suit jackets for work.  It's your typical sleeveless tank top, but I liked it because of the beautiful deep red color and had a flower pattern on it.  It's nothing exciting, but it will look nice and professional underneath a suit jacket.  Since this one wasn't a purple tag item, it had to pay full-price for it, but still at $2.99 it's a great deal.

Grand Total at Salvation Army: $5.18

After all was said and done, I wound up spending $5.18 total for 3 shirts and 2 decorative pillows for our living room.  While the trip was not a huge haul, I wound up finding some good items at great prices.


I still had time before stores closed Saturday night, so I decided to make a trip over to my favorite Goodwill store in town, and man am I glad I did!  I found several items that I absolutely love.  The Goodwill sale was 1/2 price blue tag items.  Sadly, only one item was a blue tag, but I still got great deals on things I know I'll wear all the time, and one not-so-great item I should have noticed before I purchased it.

~~~~~     ~~~~~

Item: Star Vixen leopard print top
Price: $3.49

I am super excited about this leopard print top.  It's a short-sleeved polyester top with large flutter sleeves.  I would wear this to go out on the weekend in.  I'd put a black tank underneath, toss on some colorful jewelry, trouser jeans and heels and head out on the town.

 



Item: East 5th tank top
Price: $1.75 (1/2 price blue tag item)

I was really happy to find this polyester embellished tank, and it was even better when I noticed the blue tag.  However, what I didn't do was pay attention to the details of the shirt.  I even tried this one on and still didn't notice there were a whole string of brown beads missing from the neckline.  I was so focused on the fact that it was 1/2 price that I didn't make sure to check the top over for blemishes.  I may be able to string new beads, but chances are I'll end up donating this one back to Goodwill before getting around to doing it.

I was really disappointed when I pulled this one out of the bag today to take pictures of.  If I would have noticed the missing beads, I never would have bought it.  And I think it's plenty noticeable, so I'll wind up never wearing it.  I should always use my own advice and check for rips, tears, missing pieces, etc before buying anything.  At least I'm only out $1.75!

Item: Tommy Hilfiger navy blue, asymmetrical cardigan
Price: $3.49

I am a magnet for cardigans.  They are easy to wear, comfortable options for work if dressed up appropriately.  This one is a soft knit material, and it has a rolled and buttoned 3/4 sleeve.  There's nothing quite like finding name-brand, quality items for killer deals!

Cardigans are so easy to pair with other separates for work and weekend looks.  I will wear this piece with black or neutral tops, long necklaces and a belt for work, and for weekends, I would pair it with a brighter tank top underneath, chunky necklace (or scarf) and no belt for a breezy, comfy outfit.  A belt can give a shapeless piece the right structured, polished look you need for a day at the office.

Item: Simply Vera by Vera Wang straight-leg denim capris
Price: $5.99

These jean capris happened to be in the denim racks with my size, but they are way too small for me.  I picked these up because my mom LOVES Vera Wang pants.  I'm pretty sure 99% of the denim she wears is by Vera Wang.  I have to admit, if her jeans came in my size, I'd probably be hooked, too.  Wang uses classic shapes and adds a touch of style to her pieces with buttons, studs and splashes of color.

This pair are in like-new shape and have the whisker detail at the hips and a cute, slit hem at the bottom.  The back pockets also have a small flower detail on them.  These were the most expensive item I bought, but at $5.99 and in such great shape, I couldn't pass them up.  Simply Vera is sold at Kohl's and usually run $44.00 and up.

Item: Purple striped 3/4-sleeve t-shirt
Price: $3.49

This shirt was my favorite piece of the day.  I am thrilled with this pattern and color!  There is no tag, so I don't know the brand, but it is the comfy knit material and super lightweight.  It's perfect for fall layering.  I wore this today with a blank tank underneath and a black button up long-sleeved shirt with buckle details over top of it.  I buttoned one button just under my bust at the waist to give a little shape.  The button up is a tailored, short hemline, so the striped detail of this top peaked out from underneath the bottom as well.

I would wear this fun print with and for almost anything.  I love this top!  :)

Item: Villager by Liz Clairborne grey blazer

Price: $3.99

I always take my time and dig through the racks of blazers at Goodwill because while they organize most styles by size (jeans, slacks, etc.), they don't do that with blazers.  You have to go piece-by-piece and check every size tag.  But I always do because I always wind up finding great items like this grey blazer for work.  It is a polyester/rayon blend material, but it has a tweed-like feel and look to it, without having the weight of tweed.  I also like that it has the black stitching detail around the lapels and bottom hemline.  I think this blazer looks chic and polished; I can pair it with a pencil skirt, a colorful top underneath and heels for a perfect office look.

Item: Valerie Stevens-Woman (plus-size line) pinstriped suit jacket
Price: $3.99

Did I mention I LOVE the blazer section at Goodwill?!  Holy cow this jacket is beautiful!  I'm a sucker for pinstriped detail.  It has red and light blue pinstriping and fits like a dream.  The two-button suit jackets work better for my body type because they button slightly lower, allowing me to button them both without any tugging on the sides due to a larger bust.  I am able to get the shape I want without feeling like a stuffed sausage.  The other great thing about this jacket is that it has pockets.  Pockets are a nice surprise because most of my suits have faux pocket detailing.  It looks great, but utterly useless.  I work for the government, and we often have to carry our badges to get through security in the building, so I always like having pockets to slip my badge in since I don't like clipping it on the outside of my clothing.  I am thrilled to have found this gem among those racks!

Grand Total at Goodwill: $28.00

~~~~~     ~~~~~

When all was said and done for the day, I spent a whopping $33.18 total for this haul.  That my friends, is why I love thrift store shopping.

Much love,

~Heather

Always Have a Game Plan

I think it's important to always have a game plan when you go shopping.  But more importantly, have a game plan when you're going thrift store shopping.  If you don't, you're almost always destined to leave disappointed or empty-handed.  I try to map out my trips before I ever set foot in a Goodwill because if I don't, I'll find myself getting scattered and never really digging for the gold in those racks upon racks of clothing.

~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~

Without further ado, here are my tips on having a Thrift Store Game Plan -

1. Prioritize your needs and/or wants.
Are there holes in your wardrobe (or shirts even) that need filling first?  I often find two types of items that I have to keep rotating in and out because of wear and tear, weight fluctuation and the changing seasons - Suit Jackets/Blazers and Dress Slacks.  If I am needing new suit jackets, I make sure I hit up that section first.  Basically, make sure your budget is well spent before pilfering through all of those impulse buys waiting to snag at your purse strings.

2. Be willing to try things on.
I never knew how much of a problem this was for a lot of people until a friend of mine once said "I hate trying clothes on in the store.  I just hold it up, and if it looks like it'll fit, I buy it."  I couldn't hardly get over that!  Maybe it's because my mom always made me try things on before she bought them, but I ALWAYS try EVERYTHING on in the store first.  Why spend the time and money buying something that you may not end up liking or may not even fit in the first place?  Sure, in regular retail stores you can return the unwanted item and get your money back.  But most thrift stores have a "no return" policy.  You're SOL at that point. Also, it's good to try things on in the store because that is often when you notice any blemishes in the item - tears, holes, snags, discoloration, etc.  Good bargain or not, try that sucker on first!

3. Be patient.
Great things come to those who wait.  Trust me, those great deals are there just waiting to be snatched up.  You just have to be willing to dig.  Allot enough time in your day to spend time going item-by-item, rack-by-rack; that's how you find the good stuff.  And if you're short on time, keep an eye out for the sale items; if you're at Goodwill and the 1/2 off price tag color is Blue that day, make sure you stick to the blue tags.  Swiftly slide items on the rack, always keeping a keen eye out for a blue tag.  You may be able to get lucky and score a good deal on something you love.  Salvation Army is great for that since they do a $0.69 cent-sale every weekend based on random color price tags.

4. Avoid the "Boutique" section, if possible.
Some thrift stores, like Goodwill, have a section that they use to jack up the price on brand name and trendy items.  Since Salvation Army doesn't separate their items by general price ranges and individually price-mark their items, the higher priced items will be blended in with the cheaper pieces, so you have to be careful there.  I have a rule at S.A. - any item priced above $6.00 is considered a "boutique" item and off limits.  I'm there to score a great deal, not a good deal.  I'm not saying I avoid the higher priced items all of the time, but 4 out of 5 trips I won't even touch them.  If I have the extra cash in my shopping budget, then I splurge if I happen to find a piece I just HAVE to have.  Or if I'm looking for a specific style or color for a special occasion; I'll splurge then too, because it's still a cheaper option than buying at the mall.

5. Stay within your budget.
That brings me to my next game plan tip - SET A BUDGET AND DON'T GO OVER IT.  I will admit, sometimes, I can be the first one to break this rule, and I wind up regretting it later.  Granted, you're getting some great deals that you wouldn't find elsewhere, but you're still spending more than what you plan on.  It's easy to do when everything is super cheap, ironically enough.  You throw anything and everything in your cart and wind up spending $100+ at the checkout.  Set a "top dollar amount" and leave it at that.  Remember, you're thrift store shopping because it's CHEAP and good for your budget.  Keep a mental tally of the items that go in your buggy.  When you reach your limit amount, go try things on in the fitting room and weed out what ends up not working for you and keep moving, doing the same process until you reach a point where you top out at your top dollar or are happy with your finds and ready to checkout.

6. Take a friend and share the wealth of goodies!
Thrift store shopping is almost always more fun when you go with a friend.  You help each other find the great prices and get to give opinions on what you try on.  If I don't take a friend, I often end up chatting with the people next to me in the fitting rooms and share opinions that way.  I like to know another person's take on the clothes I pick out.  It can put things into perspective a little more.  I don't mean simple things like "Love that top!" but rather things like "Wow...that color works great for your skin." or "That dress would look awesome with a jean jacket."  I like getting comments like the latter two because it helps me keep a mental note for future shopping trips.  Someone says green is my color?  I'm going to watch out for that color next time and see how it works out for me.  Someone shows me how to pair separates?  Hell yes!  It's always more fun to have friends with you when shopping.  Recently, I tagged along with my 19-year-old cousin to help pick out some business/professional clothes for her upcoming school year where she will be required to student teach.  We were able to scour through several racks and stores and get some great professional looking pieces at dirt cheap prices she could afford.

7. HAVE FUN!
I really think this is the most important tip I can offer.  Thrift store shopping should be an adventure worth taking.  I look forward to every thrift store trip I take.  It's my relaxation and my gift to myself for working hard everyday.  I set aside whole days devoted to thrift store shopping most of the time.  I get excited when I come across a brand I love at a great price.  When I find going out blouses and jackets that I feel represent my personality and style, I start to get giddy.  My fiance often winds up standing at the fitting rooms waiting on me because I've spent the last two hours trying stuff on.  I can't help it; it's an adrenaline rush when I find so many treasures in one or two stores at killer prices.  Who wouldn't be excited when they score $70, name brand dress pants at the staggering price of $0.69 cents!

~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~

I hope these tips have been helpful.  Keep an eye out for a thrift store haul post within the next day or so.  I'm heading out with a friend to help search for work attire, and I've got 50 bucks to spend on those great deals!  :)

Much love,
~Heather

Thrifty is My Middle Name

It's true - I'm addicted to thrift store shopping.  I can't get enough of digging through racks upon racks of old, used clothing...It's a rush for me to dig through an entire rack of stuff right out of the 80's to find that one gem that suits my style.  How can you go wrong with the price, anyway?  Ninety-nine percent of the time when someone asks me where I bought a piece of my outfit, I reply with "Goodwill, of course!"  I live for thrift store finds.

So without further ado, here are a few items I've found over the last several months that I feel are expressive pieces worth mentioning.  I will try to find these items online, if possible, so you can know where to purchase. :-)

The first I want to share with you is this pair of boots I found at The Salvation Army.  I went to both SA stores on President's Day weekend because everything was half off, no matter what color price tag was on it!  (For those of you who may not know, they pick a "color of the day," and any clothing item with that color tag will be half of the price marked.)

These beauties were marked $4.99, so I paid $2.50 for them.  A steal to say the least!  These boots are by Truffle in a size 9.  I found a couple different similar styles here and here.  Both are inexpensive and definitely worth checking in to.  These are comfortable to walk in, and I can wear them all day without any problems.  I like how the tops can be rolled down for a more relaxed look, but I prefer to lace them up all the way instead.  I also like that they were already broke in to a bit of a worn, creased look.  I think it helps with the rustic effect.  You'll notice there is a bit of a scuff on the left toe, but for $2.50 I wasn't going to complain!  I will just take a similar colored marker and color that bit in to make it much less noticeable.

My next thrift store steal are these gorgeous teal pumps by Spicy.  

I can't seem to find them online, or anything close to them in style for that matter, so I'm assuming they are probably discontinued.  They are a pair of faux snakeskin, stiletto pumps in a beautiful teal shade.  I would say they are probably between two and three inches in height.  I am a sucker for the pointed-toe style heels, so I was super excited to see these at a local thrift store for $9.99.  The snakeskin adds a nice textured feel, and the buckle gives them a little bit of a pop.  I like to wear these to work underneath a pair of floor length trousers so that the pointed toe peeps out underneath to show the color and silver buckle.  Wearing them like that with the pointed toes gives me a nice streamlined look, which I love.  I have to admit that they are uncomfortable if I'm on my feet for a long period of time, but they are tolerable for my daily desk job.  Quite a bit of weight will rest on the ball of your foot when standing in these, so I recommend purchasing a gel sole to slip inside styles like this for more practical wear.

The third "steal" I found was at The Goodwill.  I found a pair of bootcut Lane Bryant dark wash jeans for $4.99.  I am always ecstatic when I find Lane Bryant brand clothes at thrift stores because buying Lane Bryant in their own store is always way too expensive.  A regular price pair of jeans at LB runs around $60-$70. 

    

I really like this style of jean for three reasons: 1) the dark wash, 2) the whiskering at the hips and 3) the extra panel above the back pockets.  Dark wash is universally flattering on all body types, but especially among us thicker gals.  I also like that a dark wash can be dressed up with a nice blouse and blazer or dressed down with a fitted tee for a more casual look.  I have always loved the whiskered pattern on jeans; I think it gives them a fashionable look without being overbearing and full of holes.  The big reason I love this pair of jeans is the way they sit on the hips.  Because of the extra panel of fabric above the back pockets, they cover the entire rear without fear of showing more than I bargained for when I sit or bend down.  They have a fair amount of stretch in them as well, which helps with the comfort factor.  Shown here, they do look a little big in the back, but this was after I had worn them all day long so they relaxed quite a bit.  When I first put these on after a washing, they feel and fit amazing.  The fabric lays flat in the front, which is something I always look for in a good pair of jeans as well.  I don't like feeling like I'm carrying around a pouch...not very flattering!

The last item I want to talk about is this necklace I found at The Goodwill.

I have no clue who this piece is by, but I love the costume style chunkiness to it.  It's fun without being too gaudy.  I have been gravitating toward extra long necklaces lately because I like the idea of drawing the eye down to lengthen the neck area.  I think in this case the knotted beads intertwined with the chains gives it a unique interest.  I use this piece to give an otherwise stale outfit a personal flare.  This necklace is two of my favorite things in fashion - Black and Chains.  It's edgy and fun, and for a price of $3.99, I wasn't about to pass it up!

Well, that wraps up my first thrift store haul!  I have tons of other great items from thrift stores, so I'll make sure to include them in Outfit-of-the-Day posts in the future.

Much Love,

~Heather