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!

seamstress betty

remember that betty emergency i told you about a few weeks ago? when i couldn't quite fix my beautiful vintage velvet gypsy skirt in time for my friend's wedding? well, i found a solution and with the help of my mom's nice sewing machine, everything is all better now and ready to wear.

original

thrifted for material

as i was perusing the racks at my favorite Twin Cities thrift store (which i could reveal but i'd be giving away my secret), i found another velvet maxi skirt in a similar burgundy color for $2. i immediately bought it, with the brilliant idea of using it as my added material to lengthen the skirt.

when i finally got around to this project the other day, i made sure to take measurements before beginning, so i knew if i would have enough material or not. i measured the hem of the original gypsy skirt (as a bell-shaped skirt the measurement around the bottom is pretty big), and also measured the replacement material skirt. i cut the replacement skirt into 4 sections of even width, attached them to form one long piece, and hemmed it. when it came time to attach it to the original skirt, i was just a hair short but had enough material left over to fill in the gap.

finally came time to attach the long piece to the hem of the original skirt, for which i used a heavy duty zig-zag stitch, since the velvet materials are fairly heavy. et voila! it turned out great. though the colors are just a hair different and the sewing is not perfect, it's perfect for me and will do just fine for me to wear. yet another way to make use of my resources and efforts for an entirely custom piece of clothing.

finished product!! adds about 4 inches to the original length

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.

a great day in thrifting

it wasn't in my plans today, but going to the Truckee Hospice thrift store today brought me some good luck and incredible bargains. after the Farmer's Market, where Trev and i picked out some fresh, local, organic produce, i felt like it was worth a shot to check out the thrift store. almost immediately, i found some great jewelry that could be used for my own crafting and jewelry-making (taking things apart to use the pieces in a new way is my favorite hobby - upcycling!). a few minutes later, when i checked out the shoes, i found these incredible flat Børn sandals. if you don't know this European comfort brand, do some research and get to know them. for $12, this was a huge score. i would bet the original retail price was at least $110.

black Børn sandals, red Aerosole sandal wedges (backdrop is
tabletop from Salvation Army in Santa Cruz, 2009)

i've also been waiting for a pair of cute, flat, comfortable sandals to come my way, always keeping an eye out, which is why i had great success today (drawing upon some of the wisdom i shared in my vintage and thrift guide, found here). as i was heading to check out, i spotted yet another rack of shoes and a pair of red leather wedge Aerosoles. again, a comfort brand for only $3! these probably retailed for around $70 (check out that tribal print on the wedge - perfect for my style). 

penny collecting

some people hate coins and having change around in their pockets, purse or other money-carrying contraption. in the past few years when money's been tighter than ever and I've been on my own, i've started saving every piece of coinage that comes my way. it definitely pays off, though does require a hit of patience. it's also something Trevor and I do together, making it special for us and contributes to something fun for us to do together. just another way to save your pennies!! literally. as you can see, we even throw dollar bills in the jar to help it accrue funds quicker.

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

bargains

ever since i was a kid, my mom has taught me to be on the lookout for bargains. this could mean a number of things but today, it meant a trip to my local thrift store for half-priced day. on the last 2 days of each month the Truckee Hospice thrift store sells EVERYTHING for half-price. i walked out with: 4 necklace chains (for crafting purposes), 1 pair black J.Crew boots ($5), 1 James Perse lightweight cotton cardigan, black denim bustier top (to be altered to fit me properly), and a utility belt for Trevor. this was a pretty resourceful trip for me, and i didn't even drive! the thrift store is a short walk from my house. happy bargain hunting!!