Sunday Thrift Haul
If you cannot see the above video please check it out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi2LCAuhDDk
Craving Magenta
This is truly the colour of the season for me I am finding it in so many unique shades throughout the thrift stores. When I was a child a friend bought me a shirt this colour and I believe it may have been the only compliment from her I ever received – but she said this colour looked really nice on me. I must agree! Its that lovely dark pink!
This is a new look I’ve put together featuring two half price day pieces I found last month the top only needed a slight alteration. Unfortunately some of the cutest tops I’ve found in my travels I’ve left behind due to the style of the elastic band around the bottom for this “peasant” style… Looks good on no one by the way. Fortunately for me the elastic was not sewn into the hem so I could remove it with a small snip! My intention was to wear it tucked into a high waisted skirt so the bumpy bottom isn’t so much of an issue.
I didn’t have to alter this skirt in any way and it fits really well because of the stretch. It also matches my pumps nicely! I picked up this multi layered necklace from The Store a few months ago, as it had sat in the display case not selling for a few months. I honestly can’t imagine why its a stunning Shopping Channel piece thats a bit on the dressy side that we had priced for just $20.
No bites. Often there are things that I love in the store that sit there without someone to love so I take it upon myself to see what’s wrong with it, why it hasn’t sold. Sometimes I end up absolutely loving it myself and have to introduce it to my wardrobe – other times I figure out right away it was a bad design.
However I think this pairing is absolutely gorgeous! I am always so thrilled with the vision I have for a look turns out better than expected!
Vlog: Value Village Half Price Day Thrift Haul
If you cannot view the video above please check it out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjUk-RFWINA
I consider this thrifting trip to be quite successful however as always some things are better left on the hanger or for another body shape. I was excited for a couple pieces that I do not feel were all that flattering which is completely okay, you don’t have to win them all! I styled up a select few pieces from this haul quickly to show them off but I’ve gone into more detail below as to which are yay’s or nay’s!
The Yay’s
Taupe Joe Fresh Skirt ($3.50)
Blush Forever 21 Dress ($6.50)
Pink Dynamite Blazer ($5.00)
Ivory Calvin Klein blouse ($4.50)
Peach Forever 21 top ($3.00)
Grey Emma & Michelle dress ($10.00)
Turquoise Forever 21 dress ($3.00)
Coral Forever 21 skirt ($5.00)
Continue Reading
Love Forever 21
There are two brands that always seem to capture my eye, Forever 21 and H&M. There is something about their colours and prints that are so captivating and unique. More often than not if I’m searching through racks and engaged by a floral top, its always one of these two brands! This look is one of my new favourites. My coworker had brought in this blazer by Forever 21 for consignment, it was love at first sight. The colours, the print the intricate little bead details… just beautiful.
Neckline Redesign
I’ve had this top for years but it has always frustrated me due to it’s awful neckline. There are many tops similar to this that I see come through the Store, but they always seem to fold nicely. There is something about this top, or perhaps my build that absolutely cannot pull off this design.
Today (because I needed it for my outfit) I decided to make some adjustments. Because of the intricate nature of what I was about to undertake, I had to resort to hand stitching directly on my mannequin. I figured doing it by hand would ensure that both sides were aligned nicely and the folds would be in place.
It was by no means a huge change but enough to make a much nicer neckline for my body type.
Big Buddha Poncho
Now the idea of this month is to shop in one’s own closet, however there are a few exceptions to the rule – its damn near impossible to do a “no-shop” when you work in fashion retail!! 🙂
Although I have been practising being very brutal with myself, thinking over items for considerable time before making a decision: Will I wear this? Is it worth the price? Will it go with what I already own? How unique is it? Asking ourselves questions like this any time we are shopping is a great way to make your budget that much easier. Our homes are full of things we don’t need, impulse buys and things we should have returned to the store. All in all we shouldn’t be so lazy, think before you do things that effect your cash flow.
I slipped up at the store (for my No Shop September) when this poncho style top came in, but everything about it screams me: the rosey coral tones, the hint of sparkle, the unique-edgy-ness of it all. For $10 I thought it would be a good idea to snatch up something to wear to work when the season starts to change.
Thrift Gone Wild
Now in working at a consignment store we receive a wide variety of clothing and I’ve seen things you can’t imagine that people still have shoved in their closets. I have always rolled my eyes when velvet and animal prints show their ugly faces in the backroom. The ladies love them (a certain generation of course) but they really do love the wild prints and fabrics.
During my latest half price day thrifting trip in Ottawa I discovered this leopard print top by H&M. Naturally I just seem to love everything that is H&M – I now laugh when I’m drawn to something “Oh look, its H&M, go figure!” This top should never have caught my eye. With everything I believe in my interest in this top makes no sense. Unless of course, my age is becoming apparent and I’ve hit that age where (gasp!) I am being attracted to prints like this!
Haha in all seriousness though, I was surprised at how much I liked the top, but we must also take into consideration the feel, the cut, the print itself and naturally the styling of said top to keep it fresh and modern.
I surprised a lot of people when I arrived at work wearing this top, gold jewellery and vibrant coral red shorts. It was really fun but also very unique!
Stunning Royal Blue
Now this look is was a happy accident, and surprisingly far classier than I expected! I have had both pieces for a little while and had not yet worn either one as I didn’t know how to piece it together. Basically everything I tried didn’t work because this top by H&M is very long and I don’t do the legging look very well. This is actually paired with a long maxi skirt also by H&M. As it turns out the solution to both issues was that they needed each other! Fortunately I happened to realize they were both from H&M, so one could only guess that they were the same shade of royal blue.
This is my latest favourite outfit because its easy to put together, it can be dressed up or down, and it has received by far the most compliments of anything I’ve worn to date!
Feminine Details
I had tickets to see Royal Wood in concert in Belleville Friday night. I took my mother as my date and as the thrifty woman she is, suggested we pop into Value Village since we were early anyway. I found two pairs of vibrant flats by H&M that I hmm’d and haaa’d over but couldn’t bring myself to pay $6.99 a pair when I wasn’t 100% sure I would wear those particular colours. I did luck out however in this beautiful crochet style dress by American Eagle Outfitters. I was even more impressed when I tried it on the next day for work and I can honestly say it is now one of the most comfortable, feminine and all around beautiful dresses I own. Continue Reading
Laundry by Shelli Segal
It’s not often I thrift only one item, but who could pass up a gem like this?! There was a dress consigned at the Store a month ago that had a unique chain print on it, although I wasn’t a fan of the dress I was interested in the print that was on it. As I was doing a quick pass through the dresses at Value Village I happened to notice a unique print that completely grabbed my eye.
Although it isn’t actually a chain design, it gives the illusion but with added gold and peach colouring. Once again I wanted to make it slightly longer so using the same cream coloured lace as I used in my H&M Bow Print Skirt, I added a very sweet trim to the bottom that seemed to continue the mixed print flow.
Now to wear the dress to work for the first time I wanted to tone it down and make it easier to do all the up-down lifting and walking around. I’ve never actually had the opportunity to wear this 3/4 sleeve navy blue knit top from the GAP until now! It has a very cute shoulder button detail too which is a nice touch.
I added a belt with gold buckle to create more shape and of course, added some gold necklaces for bling!
Bohemian Chic
Today’s look is a little more boho-casual than my usual but man is it comfy! I have been aching to wear my spring and summer dresses but with the chilly weather still hanging on I’m forced to layer up. My boss mentioned that I hardly ever wear my hair up these days so I thought a little more casual look with a hint of girly meets cowboy was in order with this messy updo.
The over sized sweater top from Forever 21 is one of my favourite thrift finds this year as it is so comfortable and such a nice look. The dress underneath is by Absolutely & Faith, one of my favourites from The Revolving Door. The top half is lovely ivory lace and the bottom skirt section is a lovely sheer peach. To complete the layered look I added another gem I picked up in Medicine Hat on one of my first thrifting excursions after my move, a super cute and dainty ivory scarf. The belt I swiped from an H&M dress I bought last summer, it just goes with everything!
Ottawa Thrifting – Round 2!
I spent my Sunday up in Ottawa once again checking out what a few Value Village stores had to offer before heading to a concert in Burnstown. It was rather successful if I do say so! I found a super cute vintage dress I plan to alter and a few vibrant skirts!
1. Purple and pink floral skirt by H&M
2. Orange and blue splatter print top, no label
3. Vintage dress by Quintieri
4. Brown and gold sparkle knit sweater by Urban Behaviour
5. Orange blouse by George
6. Floral pencil skirt by Beecher’s Brook
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