Secondhand Style: How To Look And Feel Pretty Tough

Put on a brave face, baby. 

For me style has a bit to do with clothes. It has a bit to do with accessories. But style has a lot to do with attitude. It's not about the clothes wearing you. You wear them. You own them. I mean you, own them. Self-confidence being something that I'm lacking, I realized something the other day.

I contend with a fair amount of setbacks. Being the only female supervisor at my job which demands a lot of physical activity, I have to maintain a presence and ability to be "one of the boys." Driving forklifts, breaking down pallets, confronting shoplifters, solving problems, being in charge. Time and time again I am told this is a man's job. And I'm not going to lie. It's tough work. It's work made more difficult by the chronic pain of a debilitating disease. 

But I remind myself. I have Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia doesn't have me, at least not all of me. And if I'm going to be woman in a man's world, I'm going to be a pretty tough bitch.

And I may as well look the part. So I took to the thrift store. Freshly inspired by an influx of army-inspired fall fashion I've seen in the likes of InStyle or Marie Claire magazines, I kept my eyes open to something secondhand that could make me feel more empowered.



And yet another interesting facet of style---a sense of personal empowerment. And why not? Fashion is a choice to be made and a statement to be heard. And secondhand fashion is an even more powerful statement. Thrift shopping for clothes says: 'I'll wear what I want, when I find it, on a budget that fits.' It's a commitment. And one that I don't mind, not one little bit. 

Owning it. 

Because when a few thrifting trips turns into an overall look I love, that's some spending power  I'll flex without question. And in breaking it down, the spending went something like this:

Cropped blue military-inspired cardigan, Impact Fashion Outlet $4.99

Black and gray broad striped tee, Goodwill. $3.50

Marbled jeans, Lane Bryant Outlet.  $19.99

Taupe American Eagle combat boots: Impact Fashion Outlet, $12

I love this outfit for it's grungy, yet structured feel. Paired with loose waves and a strong red lip, it's my go-to get out my way look. It's fearless and feminine. It's pretty tough.


And if you want to be pretty tough, it's quite simple: 

• Be confident that you're strong enough to push yourself through anything
• Celebrate your body with the clothes, accessories, and attitude that fits your style.
• Thrift your way to financial independence.
• Pair combat boots and cropped anything. It just works.
• Don't take any crap. 

What makes you pretty tough?

 

Fare Thee Well, October: Looking Back On My Fall Vacation

The human chessboard at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

Every year I set aside much needed vacation time from my job during the week of Halloween. It is, after all, my favorite time of the year. Like I need a special day on the calendar to celebrate candy and horror movies! But it's far more than that. It's the change of the seasons where the summer air turns crisp and cool, and the fall palette of colors paints everything in hues of red, orange, and gold. 

You perhaps already read about my first day of vacation spent exploring the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park. That was a lovely afternoon. The very next day, my newly-engaged sister and her fiancé, my boyfriend and I, my best friend and her family all went to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. 

The royal joust! 

I hadn't been to the Ren Faire in years, and had almost forgotten how much fun it could be exploring the sights and sounds of the 1600s. With so much to see and do, we made an entire day of watching a human chess match, the royal hypnotist, Celtic singers and dancers, and of course the jousting. 

And to celebrate our triumphant return to the Renaissance, this year we decided to dress up.

A Victorian-goth lady and her loyal knight.

And though I thrifted 90% of my costume, I have to admit that my favorite part of the ensemble was that tiny Victorian clip-on hat. I mean, how cute is that?! And while we're not exactly in the same time period, my love for Victorian mourning inspired the costume. And James?  Well he just wanted to be a knight, which fit the Faire nicely. Maybe I'm a time-traveling Victorian witch? Ah oh well!

Here is my head-to-toe look.

Wig: Already owned 

Shoes: Already owned

Jewelry: Already owned

Sheer Black Blouse: $3.50, Goodwill

Black Dress: $6.00, Impact Fashion Outlet
Vintage Parasol: $5, Bryn Athyn Thrift Shop

Fingerless Lace Gloves: $10, Spirit Halloween

Victorian Hat: $10, Spirit Halloween

Me and Sir Goofyface. 

The grand finale of the night at the Ultimate Joust. 

I'm already mentally making plans for our return trip next year. The costumes, the crafts, the food and vendors---it was wonderful. If you find yourself in the area, all vintage enthusiasts, self-proclaimed nerds and Renaissance aficionados should make the trip to the PA Renaissance Faire, which is in season from August-October. And while I might have a slight bias due to my love of all things October, I do recommend going in the fall. There is an added magic in the air, and the fall scenery could't be more beautiful. And... of course, costumes of all kinds are welcome during Halloween weekend. 

A tractor ride to the apple orchard.

And speaking of Halloween, this year I thought it would be fun for James and I to go apple-picking at Styer Orchard. Being a New Jerseyan, he had never been to the beautiful family farm. I make it a point to go every year during my fall vacation. 

A perfect setting for Samhain. 

And I'm sure you can see why. In addition to scoring 4 pounds of golden delicious and staymen-winesap apples, a few miniature pumpkins, and Indian corn all for under $13...the scenery is breathtaking. 

It seemed fitting that I started my vacation with the serene surroundings of the Shofuso House and ended them here---a lovely full circle week. Of course it wouldn't be a real vacation without a few trips to the thrift store, which I found even more fashion to feature in future Secondhand Style posts. And in a sad sort of running joke---it wouldn't be a vacation without a medical setback or two. James spent much of the week sick with a sinus infection from Hell, and I was taken to urgent care only to be told that the sudden  intense pain I had is possibly nerve damage in my right arm. Typical! But we didn't let all that get us too bogged down. 

My new-to-me ultra-mod mug and saucer, $4 from 2nd Avenue Thrift.

And at the end of the night, after giving out buckets and buckets of Halloween candy, we came home where I had myself a big cup of french vanilla coffee while blogging my little heart out.

It had been a big week---full of traditional Japanese culture, the ultimate vintage experience of the Renaissance Faire, a trot through nature, and of course some serious thrift shopping. I suppose that's why this post was such long time coming---that and I've been working nonstop on additional photos and content, all while contending with new pain medication that's making me sorta loopy. But nonetheless I'm glad I had my week off to celebrate my favorite time of the year, and I'm glad that I got to celebrate it with James. 

Oh! And speaking of celebrating, I'd like to thank all of you that participated in the Vintage & Craft Giveaway to the celebrate the 5th blogiversary of Let's Go Thrifting. It truly has been a wonderful five years, and I'm so thankful for the readership and all of the kind words. The winner of the Vintage & Craft giveaway was...Jennifer C! Congratulations, Jennifer.  And thank you all for making Let's Go Thrifting the secondhand community that it has become. 

I hope that all of you had a wonderful October, and a magical Halloween. 
I'd love to hear all about what made your month of October special.

How are you celebrating the fall? 

Secondhand Style: How To Dress For Less At The Thrift Store

And I will shout my style secret from the mountaintop. 

I remember a time, way back in my early days of thrifting, when I would collect a compliment with hesitation. When being asked where I got a certain shirt or skirt, and I answered "I got it at the thrift store." The conversation would screech to a halt right then and there---with the inquiring party unsure how to continue the conversation knowing that I (gasp) got it at Goodwill. 

Fast forward some fifteen years later and the conversation has changed entirely. Now people want to know which thrift stores I frequent, what the inventory is like, how often I go...and...

How, oh how, do I find such fabulous things at the thrift store? 

And since the focus of this particular blog post is secondhand style, I've decided to share a photo spread and a few thrifty tips on how to make the thrift store your go-to place for fashion.

I shall call this look 'The Sassy Librarian.'

Don't be afraid of color and texture.

I think this outfit works for a few reasons. The powder blue shirt and fuchsia shirt compliment each other. The charcoal gray blazer is a neutral, and the skinny salmon colored belt just ties it all together. Now I obviously am in love with the color combo of this entirely thrifted outfit. But there's even more to love once you see the details. 

It's a cropped blazer with ruched sleeves, which makes it workplace appropriate but with a few fun little touches. The ruched sleeve plays up the tuxedo style ruffles of the vintage top. Don't ya think? 

But here's the catch. I wasn't lucky enough to thrift these three pieces in one single trip to the thrift store. If only. 

But by keeping mindful of what I have in my closet from previous thrifting expeditions, I can mentally piece together an outfit that works. 

And don't forget to accessorize!


Blazer: Impact Thrift Stores, $4
Top: Salvation Army, $2.99
Pencil Skirt:Impact Thrift Stores, $4.99
Belt: Torrid, purchased with gift card

This ruffled floral print blouse was $4.50 from Impact Thrift.

Try it on. Seriously, just try it on. 

Okay, ladies. Let's recite a mantra together. Come on. Say it with me: Size is just a number. I cannot stress this enough when it comes to thrift shopping for clothes. The measurements that determine size are subjective to the country of origin, the manufacturer, the type of garment, even the time it was made. And being a plus size woman myself, I know that it's a frustrating concept. But it's the truth. Looking at my almost entirely secondhand wardrobe, the sizes vary from a large to a 3X.  And who knows what cute things I would've dismissed as too small /too big/too frumpy/too form-fitting if I had't tried them on. 

Take this floral print ruffle top, for example. On the hanger it looked a little lifeless, a little old. Add to the fact that somebody had ripped the tag off of it, so I had no idea what size it was...or at least what size it claimed to be. But I thought hmm... well let me just put it in the pile to try on. And you know what? I love it. I wear it with a wide belt, to cinch it in for a more youthful vibe. Also, I'm really digging ruffles lately. 

Keeping it casual with a $3.50 printed short-sleeve sweatshirt from Goodwill.

Experiment with trends, but be true to you.

Using  fashion magazines for a dose of thriftspiration, I keep a journal of clippings nearby whenever I go thrifting. Trendy and thrifty---that's my goal. But fashion is pliable. It can and should be molded by your own perception of what you believe to be beautiful, comfortable, creative, and cool. For me...well. I'm all too aware of my body type, of what I'm comfortable wearing. 

And a full confession...in being true to me, I have to say that setting up these photo shoots for this post was difficult for me to do. I struggle both physically and mentally with my body. And since being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, that struggle has become increasingly difficult. Maintaining my 40 pound weight loss is tough with a chronic pain condition. But I'm not ready to call it quits yet. 

A lovely fringe kimono. Just $5!

And it should also be said that I'm easing myself into including full body shots for future fashion posts here on Let's Go Thrifting. I know my weight, while something that I've struggled with my entire life, does not dictate my worth. I'm starting to embrace more of a personal style to celebrate both my physical achievements towards bettering my health and the mental shift towards a more positive attitude. 
Also, it helps to go thrifting for clothes when everything I had was too big for me to wear.


But no matter what, I'm going to try to remember that size won't put a stranglehold on my style. And neither will Fibromyalgia. And neither will exorbitant prices. Because I'm a thrifter, damn it. 



And if you're a fashion-forward thrift shopper like me, share your trendy finds in the link-up below.

My Very Favorite Fall Fashion Accessories

Vintage enamel heart necklace with flowers and scalloped edges. $8 from Impact Thrift.

Fall is my favorite time of the year for fashion and fashionable accessories. The summer is too hot to accessorize much beyond a pair of earrings and some shades. In the winter, we're too buried beneath our layers to even notice the finely-tuned details of accessorizing. The spring holds some possibilities. But for me, it's all about the fall. So when I saw this fabulous vintage necklace at the Feasterville Impact for $10...I snatched it up. (A find made better by the fact that I had a coupon that knocked it down to $8). Thrift score!

Electric blue Olivia + Joy satchel. $12 from Salvation Army. 

Let it be known that I have a considerable collection of bags, backpacks, purses, and totes---all of which I put to good use. But there's nothing in my closet remotely close to this brilliant blue bag. It's in brand new condition, with just the right shock of color to spruce up any fall ensemble. And what's more? It's an Olivia + Joy---a designer that easily retails between $60-$110 new. Thank you, Salvation Army. 

Gold & brown toned wrap belt. 25 cents from the Goodwill Outlet. 

In all honesty, I'm not sure how much this belt cost. Salvaged from one of the many totes of the Goodwill Outlet in Bellmawr, NJ I can only guesstimate that at 99 cents/pound, this lightweight vinyl belt couldn't be more than a quarter. Its golden hue pairs perfectly with several of my fall tunics. And if you keep your eyes peeled, you might just see it in action when I post a little thrifted fashion photo spread that I've been working on! 

Leopard print infinity scarf. $5 from Payless/Cat eye sunglasses. $12 from Target. 

And because it's just an unlikely occurrence that you can find everything your heart desires solely from the thrift store, I've decided to include two fall staples in my list of favorite accessories. Not thrifted, but loved all the same---I almost always throw on an infinity scarf and a pair of shades before heading out the door. Browns and beiges, these are my go-to fall colors, if you couldn't already tell. 

Love letter 'n' envelope earrings, handmade by yours truly. 

 It's not fall unless I've made some sort of wearable craft and these precious love letter 'n' envelope earrings are too-cute to not make the list. Using a printer, Grafix shrink film, a few bits from a jewelry kit, and Mod Podge as a sealant, I fashioned myself a new accessory from vintage ephemera. 

It's not thrifted, but crafted. And I love, love, love them. 

By the by...you can win a pair of vintage envelope stud earrings and much, much more from my Vintage & Craft Giveaway in honor of the Let's Go Thrifting 5th Blogiversary.   

There are just 6 days left to enter before the big winner is announced on November 1st. So get those entries in today for your chance to win these adorable earrings, a copy of American Junk, vintage Eden prints, craft supplies, and more! 

Hazelnut coffee with fat-free, dairy-free french vanilla cream. $1.97 from Wawa.

And the most important accessory of all? It's the one that gets me through the day--- the deliciously cheap caffeine fix. And for those outside of the tri-state area of PA, NJ, and DE...those poor souls who don't know what a Wawa is: I weep for you. Sipping on 24 oz of coffee during a photo shoot, while working on a blog post, or en route to my next thrift trip is perfection. It's hot. It's sweet. And for under $2, it's best coffee around without a doubt. 

So with my coffee in hand, I'm off. I'm grabbing my satchel and shades, and I'm hitting the thrift---where if I'm lucky I'll find even more fall fashion accessories to feature in a later post. 

'Til next time, thrifters! 

The Impact Thrift Stores Fashion Outlet Grand Opening

The day prior to the grand opening extravaganza. 

Impact Thrift Stores has set up shop for the fifth time here in Pennsylvania. Its newest location officially opened for business today at 208 Commerce Circle in Bristol, PA. And while this is the fifth time around for ribbon cutting ceremonies for the ever-expanding Impact, this is the company's first foray into secondhand fashion specifically. 

Cute and colorful wares, carefully organized.

And by the looks of things, the transition was seamless. With this location formerly housing a Fashion Bug store, Impact seized the opportunity to use the lighting, fixtures, and space of the previous occupant to their full advantage.The 10,000 square foot sales  floor  is organized by garment type, size, and color, with fashion choices for men, women, children, juniors, maternity, and plus sizes.  And of course... it's not fashion without the shoes, accessories, and jewelry. 

Bright costume jewelry? Yes, please. 

Come to think of it, I could use a new handbag...or two.

In the upcoming days to the official ribbon cutting, the Fashion Outlet quietly held a soft opening to give the retail operations a test run. And a good thing for me, too, since I'd be physically unable to snap these photos of the merchandise in the swell of the crowds snatching it all up. Don't believe me?

After the celebratory cutting of the ribbon...

...The crowd came a'piling in. 

And while every volunteer, member of the store staff, corporate employee and CEO aided customers in getting shopping carts, finding fitting rooms, and getting rung up...no amount of workforce could prepare them for that turnout. While I'm awaiting word on the sales totals, I'm sure it was an impressive figure. And this is an especially worthwhile effort, considering that 10% of the day's totals went to Advocates For Homeless & Those In Need (AHTN).

Your dollars at work! 

But all the fanfare aside, The Impact Fashion Outlet is a bright, organized location...and a great starting place to bring that one friend who is always impressed by your secondhand style...but seems skeptical at the process. And don't forget to keep a lookout for those daily colored tag sales.

Bargains...on top of bargains. Well color me frugal! 

With the powers of thrift... I scored a drapey black blouse, a sleek black bubble dress, an autumn inspired striped sweater, and a floral print kimono jacket with fringe...all for about $20. And all which will be styled and photographed in due time. But for now... get yourself to the Bristol Commerce Park Shopping Center and find yourself some new-to-you style at the Impact Thrift Fashion Outlet. 
_____________________________________________________________________________
Ribbon cutting photo, courtesy of Jill Tarabar. 

Thriftspiration: From Haute Couture To The Thrift Store

Since the hectic holidays have come and gone, I've had some time to organize my surroundings and prioritize my thoughts. And what's more, I've had the time to recover from whatever demonic respiratory illness that plagued both my Christmas, New Years and better part of January. 

On to bigger, better, brighter things. With the return to my old self, and my love of all things old and quirky, I've been hitting the thrifts hard. But I've been very selective of what to bring home. After the annual post-holiday closet cleanse, I've decided that it was time to narrow my secondhand gaze upon mostly clothing and accessories. 

And in doing so I've developed a few tips I'd like to share: 

• Clothing is more than a size, more than a label. And this is especially true for previously loved garments.  Quality and fit are important factors. And sometimes the manufacturer, and indeed the size, are not universal in the end result of the product. Try it on and give it a few moments on your skin, and a few poses in front of the mirror to see if it's for you. 
• Take sartorial risks. Thrift stores are the perfect place to step out of your aesthetic comfort zone without financial ruin. I mean...who knew that my thick-in-the-middle proportions could rock a pencil skirt? 
• Keep your closet organized...all the time. Seriously. Pants with pants, shirts with shirts, sorted by color or style. Maybe you have a formal side and a casual side to your closet? That's okay too. But set up a system and stick with it. This way you'll know what you already have and what you'd like to have. 

And lastly, I won't hide it any longer. My indulgence (okay, one of many) is magazines. I love, love, love a well-written interview with a designer, an expertly photographed fashion spread, an editor's picks of the season's hottest trends... And this does not mean I can't be thrifty!  

That photo of my closet? I estimate that its entire contents are as follows:

- 80% thrifted

- 15% purchased on sale or clearance 

- 5% purchased at regular price

And when I see these gorgeous spreads in the pages of InStyle, Nylon, or Marie Claire magazine, I'm only more driven to find suitably on-trend alternates at local thrift stores. I even keep a clippings notebook on hand, full of colors and styles that inspire me while I am thrifting for fashion. And I encourage you to do the same. Carry a source of thriftspiration. I like the tangibility of a notebook. But you're welcome to make a file on your iPad or a Pinterest board accessible on your smartphone. 

Use what inspires you as a springboard for ideas, or make a challenge of mimicking your favorite look.  And in the end, when you start racking up he compliments, you can brag all about your fashionably savvy secondhand know-how to envious friends and family. 

In the coming weeks, when I'm feeling a little bolder and a little braver, I'm going to show you some head-to-toe looks that were assembled with design in mind and more money in  my wallet. 

Can you think couture and spend thrift store?

Two Looks, Two Seasons And One Small Problem

As you can see, I've managed to assemble two cute, seasonably appropriate outfits thanks to several fruitful trips to the thrift store.

On the left, we have a vibrant orange cotton blend tee with a keyhole accent. I thrifted this quite a while ago, but let it sit in my closet in the hopes of finding something delightful to pair with it. Then along came this brand new Target-designer label Kirna Zabete high-low skirt from Goodwill.  It's bright and breezy, perfect for summer.

And I'm calling this look on the right The Sassy Librarian. A vintage structured polka dot skirt and a brand-new with tags Anne Klein bow tied cardigan. Both from Goodwill--well two different Goodwills, technically. But both cute, cute, cute.

So I've assembled a punchy and light summer look and a dark but delicate outfit for fall. And each set of clothing was under $8!!

There's only one small problem...

Oversized sunglasses: $13. Cross-weave plastic tote: 25 cents. 

Costume pearl necklace with silver mesh bow: $12. 

In both the thrifted summer and fall ensembles, I spent more on the accessories than I did the actual clothing! I am a sucker for cute costume jewelry. I'll be the first to admit it. And what full-figured gal doesn't love an oversized pair of shades? I know I do. 

It's been a while since I've scored any major secondhand accessories, so I've had to improvise. And while spending a measly $12 on a necklace that I love isn't a crime...it's kind of crazy to think that in styling these two outfits I spent a combined $26 bucks (well, $26.25 if you include the thrifted vintage tote). That's $26...on the accessories alone. 

Maybe I'm just in a secondhand slump when it comes to finding thrift store jewelry. But I shouldn't feel guilty about enjoying some time at the mall for a little accessorizing, right? 

What do you think, ladies?