multi-use winter accessories

now that it's november in Minnesota, i've been happily pulling out my winter jackets, clothes and accessories. i am a summer baby but i do love layering and feeling cozy when its cold outside.

back in August i found an amazing, handmade vintage crochet shawl at Ragstock for about $6. with a little push and some inspiration from my style guides on instagram (@manrepeller is particularly influential) i put the shawl to the test as a scarf. lo and behold, it is a thing of beauty and warmth worn either way.

shawl/scarf, vintage rings, red nail polish and a recycled
military-inspired black jacket. 

when i get to school after braving the elements and the bus, then i use it as a shawl again to keep me warm in the cold classrooms. i love getting the most out of my money, using recycled pieces year-round!

trial and error

we all make mistakes. some are more costly or more hurtful, or sometimes just a misstep in this game of life. i recently purchased a pair of incredible black vintage riding boots online, only to receive them and find they didn't fit. how could this happen? i measured every angle of my own boots and compared to those listed on the site (Etsy - only the most amazing virtual marketplace ever). i had been searching for a pair of flat vintage boots, since one of the keys to vintage shopping is to keep an eye out.

you like? 

i bought them too soon. i was in a rush to have these gorgeous black boots but alas, they arrived and were just barely too big. since i bought them online from an Etsy seller, there was no chance of a refund. i had already negotiated a better price AND paid $25 for shipping from Canada. i immediately put the word out to my girlfriends, a few showed interest, but nothing serious. i'm hoping they sell to a friend, or i'll have to list them on Etsy again. i could try to consign them, as i'd usually do, but i wouldn't get nearly the same value as if i sold them on my own.

thus, patience is the key. since i'm not completely struggling for money right now, i can wait for the right buyer and price. i'd rather give up less cash than take less. perfect! saving money AND passing on a beautiful pair of boots to the right person.

consignment gold at the end of the rainbow

unless you've been living under a rock and know nothing about me (or have never read this blog before), you know nothing about my obsession with used and secondhand goods. i love thrifting and vintage shopping so much i even wrote a guide for my readers and followers so you too can strike gold at your local thrift shop or vintage boutique.

silk Marc Jacobs blouse, purchased for $26
in 2008

last week i was given the privilege to pick a few things out (for back-to-school, yay!!) with my parents at my favorite consignment store EVER, Fashion Avenue. i could go into more detail about its location but that would be completely giving up the secret. there i found a sweet scoop neck Velvet brand wool-blend tunic and a light-colored and lightweight plaid button down by Free People, all together for under $60.

the lot of scores from 1 week of consignment shopping

a few days later, my dad called and said i had a store credit at Fashion Avenue as a late birthday present, so i was able to go pick out a few more things for school, when i found an adorable grey sweater dress by Free People and some J Brand black denim bootcut jeans, again for about $60. that may seem like a lot to spend on just a few items, but knowing what i do about these brands means they will last for a long time, fit me well, and can be consigned for something different if i decide i don't like them anymore.

keyhole and ribbon detail from the back of Free People sweater dress

i cannot tell you how satisfying it feels to find such amazing deals on high quality clothing. i mean i can, and i am now, but i recommend you find out for yourself. check my guide (all 3 parts) for more info and tips to making the most of your money! being resourceful will always pay off, i guarantee.

san francisco on the quick

Trev tries on his favorite team's
helmet at a Mission thrift store

earlier this week, Trevor and i decided to head right down the hill to the great city of San Francisco for a quick trip to see friends and enjoy the city. the drive down is only 3 hours from Truckee and beautiful through the foothills. if i have the time, i usually stop at Pedrick Produce in the Valley, to stock up on local fruits and veggies. our first day and night were spent mostly socializing and going out in the city, which can be costly, but we managed to not spend a total fortune on alcohol.

Mexican Cokes

the next day we nursed a serious hangover with brunch at Eats Restaurant in the inner Richmond district. after our meal, we headed to the Castro so i could swing by Crossroads to sell some clothes. i've been cleaning out my closets as i get ready to move to Minnesota and i was able to sell a few things, though that particular Crossroads was already well stocked. while i did my errand, Trevor and his friends went to hang out at nearby Mission Dolores park. after a food coma and nap we got ready to head out of town, hitting up the famed Mission Chinese restaurant on our way out of the city. i've been hearing about this place for a while, where authentic, traditional Chinese cuisine takes center stage and the public comes pouring in. the sign outside is for the previous restaurant, named Lung Shan (it's yellow and hangs overhead; have to keep an eye out!). the vibe inside is hip yet traditional, featuring lanterns and huge paintings of the General Mao and his comrades. we ordered 4 "Mexican Cokes" (Coca-Cola in a glass bottle) made with real sugar and got to work on the menu.

between the 4 of us, we ordered one soup, one chicken dish, and two vegetable dishes, one of which was a cold appetizer. all food is served family style and the portions are appropriate, even at a fairly inexpensive price. without realizing it, we did all order fairly spicy dishes and the kitchen staff certainly does not skimp on the spice. after sufficiently stuffing ourselves and relieving our burning mouths with cold Coke, we paid up and tipped the very aloof hipster server. including tip, we spent under $80 (his aloofness prompted only an 18% tip).  with a little time to kill before rush hour ended on the Bay Bridge, we headed to a nearby thrift store on Mission and 17th. the place was like a huge warehouse, yet i found nothing (and i am trying hard to stop collecting items right before i move).

cold Garlic Cucumbers at
Mission Chinese

we made it home to Truckee that night around midnight and i was supremely exhausted, but it was all well worth it. San Francisco is my favorite city and i was happy to have one last trip before heading east again for school.

Mongolian Long Beans with Leeks
(this was the spiciest and my favorite dish!)

the spread: Kung Pao pastrami, Garlic Cucumbers,
Mongolian Long Beans and Smoked Beef
Brisket soup

a new how-to: vintage, thrift and consignment shopping

part 2: the search begins

now that you've studied your designers, know your style and what's around, you can really get into your groove to find some good duds and bargains. i've got some more helpful info for you in part 2, so you can make the most of your shopping trips.

1. clean out your closet

with consignment shopping, part of the idea is to trade with the shop. this way, you will not spend as much money as without the trade, and they will in turn get some new merchandise from you. a few things to remember:

• consignment stores will only accept clothing that is still in good to mint condition (new is best), so be sure to inspect your items before taking them to consign; remember that everything can be donated if its not sold
• know the different types of consignment stores; some will pay you cash up front for your items (Buffalo Exchange and Plato's Closet will both use this process), whereas other consignment stores will pay you for the items once they have been sold (usually true of smaller, locally owned shops)
• don't be offended if they don't take any of your items; consignment stores purchase clothing that's not only well-kept, but also stylish and on-trend (or a classic item, like a Chanel jacket)

Marc Jacobs butterfly sleeve blouse - $26 at Buffalo
Exchange in 2008; sold $15 of clothing, actual price paid: $11

2. prepare yourself mentally

with any of this resourceful shopping, its important to be patient and be prepared to dig. and dig, and dig, and dig. to find the really good stuff requires a lot of scouring and looking through racks of clothes. this is especially true of thrift stores, where things are not categorized much further beyond the type of garment. at consignment stores, they've done half the work for you already, by buying higher quality used clothing. vintage boutiques also do a lot of the work for you, hence the higher price tag than if you were to find the item yourself at a thrift store.

3. be patient

from part 1, you should already know what kinds of things you are looking for, so as not to feel overwhelmed. you might be going through racks and racks of long-sleeved shirts, for instance if that's one thing you need, and are not finding anything you like. rather than pick up the first thing that catches your eye that does not fill your requirement of being long-sleeved (unless it is so absolutely fabulous you can't live without it), try to pass it over. my routine, once in the store, is to grab anything that might fit my body and my style, and filter through everything before purchasing. just remember to be patient and maybe that special item you're looking for is at a different store. it's best not to force it!

studded Blank NYC shorts $13,
Genetic Denim dark skinnies,
$13, both from Plato's Closet, 2012

armed with this information, i suggest you take some time to do even more research as to what's available in your area (i will give region-specific recommendations in part 3) and what items might be needed in your closet. remember that when you're cleaning out your closet to trade and consign clothes, the store will be looking for season-appropriate items. save your winter consignment for the fall, and right now in the early summer, aim to trade summer and light fall clothing. this should help you make the most of what you've already got! 

part 3 will complete the series on Friday, with more tips for hunting and making the right purchases. 

a new how-to: vintage, thrift and consignment shopping

part 1: educate thyself

for years now i've been very fond of this resourceful kind of shopping. i find that i get the most complements on outfits and pieces than are unique, and usually not brand new. after talking to some of my friends and realizing just how much used clothing is in my closet, i decided to share this wealth of knowledge (along with some tips from trusted, fellow vintage-loving ladies).  the most important thing before a thrift or vintage mission is to be educated and knowledgeable about a few things.

1. know your style

sometimes i feel like i might spend a little too much time reading and keeping up with fashion; then i remind myself there is no such thing as too much fashion. when opting for recycled fashion, know what is in style, what the classics are, and what defines your personal style. i read a variety of websites and follow others on Instagram to keep up with trends and what trends suit my own style. check out style.com, whowhatweardaily, and Song of Style for ideas, photos, designer info and more. not only is it important to know your trends, but knowing about designers and the different values of their clothes is equally important.

2. know your designers and brands

vintage DVF shirtdress; paid $20
in 2006

the whole point of buying recycled and used clothing is for the bargain, right? so finding an item by a cheaper brand really isn't worth the search or has the same thrill as finding a Prada blouse. it takes time to learn about designers and their styles are constantly evolving, just like our own. if the item you are looking doesn't require high quality then some inexpensive brands will do the job. for example, recently i wanted a few things to wear at festivals but since it's a fairly dirty place, i don't want to buy anything new or expensive. i went to my favorite Savers in Reno and found 2 long, comfy, inexpensive skirts. 

lightly used Jil Stuart floral dress;
paid $13 in 2011

3. know your needs

there is nothing worse than feeling guilty about spending too much money on things you don't really need (OK, there are worse things but let's stick with this context). after studying up on your designers and trends, think about what you already have that could be used in a different way to suit a trend, and only then think about what you could add to your wardrobe. this is an important factor to have a successful vintage or thrift shopping trip, so as to make the most of what's offered at the store. 

4. know your stores

it's helpful to do some research about which and what type of used clothing stores are in your area. this could mean asking your girlfriends who shop vintage, checking yelp for different reviews or starting at your local thrift store to get in the mood for searching and scouring racks. different consignment and vintage stores will cater to different customers, so it's good to know ahead of time what you're looking for. it's also helpful to know the different types of consignment, but i'll get into that more later.

important terms

vintage - generally refers to crafted, quality pieces that are 20-25+ years old

consignment - the store buys, sells and trades more current fashions; some vintage, sometimes more items by higher-end designers 

thrift - used, non-categorized items, usually sold to benefit different organizations rather than a small business

damask - tag is sewn properly onto item; the threads and stitches can be seen on the outside of garment