Dirt Chic

Thrifting: How it Adds Up

I was talking to a friend of mine about clothes, and it reminded me of how thrifting to dress really is a skill.  Like any skill, it takes time and patience.  But, the benefits!

Why you should thrift for clothes:

1. CHEAP

2. Unique - how likely is it that someone else will have your clothes?

3. Fun.  It can be a hobby.

I think #1 is the key number, here.  Why is it cheap?  I think about the breakdown of my outfits when I get dressed.  Let's look at some of my outfits.

Menswear look, heavy on the chartreuse.

 

Shirt: $3

Tie: $2

Pants: not thrifted, but eBay-ed, $8

Bass loafers: $3

Jewelry: present

Total: $16

A bit of 70's ridiculousness.  

 

Dress (a nightgown, actually): $14 (vintage store)

Cardigan: $34 (but wool, and vintage Schiaperreli, vintage store)

Blue fur stole: $22 (antique store)

Scarf: $3

Total: $73

A nice contemporary look.  You can't see the boots.  A good example of how to dress w/vintage and not look retro.

 

Blouse: $3

Pin: $12 (antique store)

Pants: new from old Navy. $30

Blazer: $6 (H&M at SalArmy)

Go-Go Boots: $60 (antique store)

Total: $111

Something comfy for summer.  Perhaps needs a slip underneath.

 

Dress/Nightgown: $3

White belt: $8 (vintage store)

Total: $11

Ah.  One of my "formal" looks. :)

 

Dress: $16 (antique store - saw another one elsewhere for $75)

Gloves: $6 (antique store)

Ring: $20 (a vintage/new boutique)

Pink Shearling Stole; $60 (bought a decade ago from Banana Rep.)

Total: $102

Tops.  A nice example of how to mix eras.

 

Same cardigan mentioned above: $34 (from the 40's)

80's blouse: free (thrifted, from Mary)

Total: $34

A "professional look".  That is, a blouse and nice trousers.

 

Trousers: $20 (TJ Maxx)

Blouse: free, thrifted gift

Bracelet: same as blouse (it pays to have distinct style - people know what to buy for you ;)

Total: $20

My Picasso look. :)
 

Bracelet: $12 (boutique)

Skirt/Top: $6

Shoes: from mom

Total: $18

My writer shot.  But I wear this often.

 

"Faille" jacket: $24 (vintage store)

Orange tuxedo shirt: $3

Plastic beads: $3 (antique store)

Pants: new from Old Navy, $30

Total: $60

Studying in style.
 

Ring: $2 (bought in a lot off eBay)

Dress: $14 (vintage store)

Total: $16

Another writer shot.  I hate not smiling in pictures.
 

Dress: $6

Belt: $2 (antique store)

Boots: $75 (2nd pair, stalked off eBay)

Total: $83

My Little House on the Prairie look.
 

Dress: $6

Ring: $3 (Forever 21.  I don't shop there anymore, but I love it. )

Wedding Ring: ha ha

Total: $9

Easter dress. 

 

H&M chain necklace: $12

Bead necklace from K-Mart: $6

Belt: $3

Dress: $6

Total: $27

A flattering picture of me (and Tommy!) in one of my favorite get-ups.
 

Espirit shirt: $12 (vintage store)

Leather belt: $3

H&M tulip skirt: free from Mom (it didn't fit her)

Total: $15

Favorite thrift store find, next to the DVF vintage wrap dress for $6....
 

Avon vintage heart necklace: $10 (flea market)

Gucci dress: $6

Total: $16

My favoritist get-up ever.

 

Red slips: $6 total

DKNY shoes: $67.50 10 years ago

Red necklace as bracelet: $2

Crazy blue lace dress: $20 (vintage store)

Total: $95.50

One of the morals of this post is that shoes are often my biggest purchase (next to new pants) but what I didn't tell you is that Im wearing the same ones over and over, usually - they just aren't shown.  

The other morals are ones you should figure out yourself: how much are your outfits?  Do they bring you great joy?  Are they fun, comfortable, memorable (whatever is important to you in dressing)?

Thrifting (or buying anything second-hand, as I most often do, at aforementioned vintage or antique stores, or on eBay, Etsy, etc.) is more cost-effective.  I average $5 for a shirt, $10 for a dress, $3-5 for accessories, and even find vintage shoes for under $20.  When I'm in Chicago, I even find the pants I love (new or nearly-new from Old Navy, Gap, H&M) for under $10.  How does this compare even to inexpensive brand-new clothes?  Think about it....

When Thrifting Totally Rules.

Since becoming extra-frugal (and also since becoming a bit of an online retailer of vintage goods) I can't come home with anything for myself without Brandon asking me how much it's worth.  Sometimes I don't want to tell him, because I don't want to sell it.

And I don't, usually.  If I really like it.  I don't care if it's valuable in the sense that it's a valuable item.  But it's nice to know that it's wanted.  Hm.  Can you covet your own goods?

Whatever. :)  Vintage Anne Klein logo ring for $4.  I don't know how valuable it is, but I know it's hard to find.

A nice pseudo-replacement for my orange Bakelite ring that I lost at school.  Rar.

Small Note on Retail Therapy

I was going to go on a shopping fast but it more or less instantly failed.  I did, however, decide not to go to thrift stores and garage sales.  This failed somewhat, too, as Mary and Carra took me along to St. Vinvent DePaul.  Problem is, I hate being understimulated, and I look at everything everywhere all the time.  So, I found a Newberry book that I actually want and would like to read.  Grr.  So, I made Mary buy it. :)

The main thing is that I don't want to move more things into our new apartment, and I don't want to find places for them.  I also don't want to spend money.  But, sometimes shopping is just a good, therapeutic, human activity.  Such as today, when I went antiquing for a short while in Indiana.  I passed on a fantastic giant blue glass ring ($20), and an equally fantastic pink fake-fur bolero coat ($40).  Besides the fact that I would have to show these items to my husband (who now trusts me), I just couldn't get over the fact that they weren't thrift-store prices.  So I walked away with a gift for my mom (an extremely choice and cheap one, at that), and an 80's rainbow hearts kids' necklace for $2.  That is a thrift-store price.

Still, I'm going to continue to see how much I can avoid shopping the next 6 months.  It pretty makes it all the much sweeter to have these days where I just HAVE to.

Scarves: Accessories and Art

For good times, I've been turning to my scarf drawer lately.  (If you are wanting a tutorial I wrote about it here.) 

Scarves are good just to have.  It's easy to find Vera scarves at the thrift store, from 69 cents to $5.  But usually, more like 69 cents!

They can also be had on Etsy and eBay.

I got this cowl-neck one recently at a little thrift store for $1.

I'm finding that instead of craving some new clothes, I can reinvent what I have with a scarf.  It really doesn't matter what season, as they are light enough for even summer.

They are certainly more comfortable than jewelry, and more casual.

They can be feminine.

Or not so much.

I like this concept, though, as it can add a little warmth (and coverage) to a dress.  I do this a lot.

Something I realized the other day, too, is that you can frame scarves.  I haven't done this yet, but it's just a matter of time.  I found a particularly framable scarf.  You can even just tack them to the walls with thumbtacks - maybe I'll just do that and save time (will show you when I move in to my new place).

Someday, I wouldn't mind coming across a Pucci scarf at a thrift store.  In fact, it's my secret wish.

So if you're feeling blah about your clothes, head to your nearest thrift store.  They'll have tons of scarves, and you won't be out much cash!

Vintage Apparel.

I was in St. Louis recently and went to a few resale stores - one vintage, one a Buffalo-Exchange type of place called Rag-O-Rama.  I thought the vintage one would be more exciting, and ended up in ROR as a fluke.  However, it kicked my butt, as it had a massive 80's selection, at standard vintage store prices ($10 a shirt, $15 a dress, etc.) whereas the vintage store only went up to the 80's and was more expensive (though a valuable visit nonetheless, as I love to absorb the style).  

Both places reminded me, however, that it is hard to rock the vintage style if a person doesn't spend ages messing around with it.

So, I am going to be spending more time on Dirt Chic Wardrobe attempting to illustrate how to incorporate vintage and thrift into your wardrobe.  I've yet to find a good resource on that (but if you know of one, please drop me a line).

I promise, not everything I show will be off-the-wall. :)

Long Black Necklace Repair

I posted awhile back about my long green necklace.  After that success, I attempted my black necklace.  That was a freaking lot harder - because instead of this white cord below, I used real silk.  And, instead of two strands, I used three.

It was very hard for me to work with.  But, I tackled a big project for my first time using it out.  Every single bead on this necklace had a knot after it.

After starting it and getting a little bit into it 3 times and then MESSING UP ROYALLY I decided I would just have to suck it up, and do it a little easier.

So instead of knotting it after every bead, I would knot it wherever it looked good - usually, after a string of the longer beads.  That way, it for some reason the necklace breaks again, I won't lose the whole strand.

And now I have my lovely long necklace back. :)  So very happy.

Fun Jewelry DIY

I need to do this.

One of the best ways to get new jewelry is to make it from something else, as I've discussed before.  It doesn't take a lot of skill, either.  Just some good ideas. :)

Jewelry Organizing: Link

Good ol' Real Simple.  They often send me some interesting ideas.

Go here to get some quick tips on keeping your jewelry untangled!

Altering Your Own Clothes

Man, I wish Blueprint hadn't kicked the bucket.  Well, I'm never getting rid of my copies.  They had some choice ideas of ways to spruce up items you have.

Such as this feature on adding faux-fur to sweaters.  Faux is a great idea - or a vintage fur piece.  (I have ethical quandary about buying new fur.)  Cardigans can be found anywhere, but one I'm particularly lusting after is one of these from the Vermont Country Store.  The picture's a little senior-citizen-ish, but they come in a gazillion colors and are the old-school styling.  (I won't be getting any, however, as I have plenty o' cardigans and the price is a bit too steep.)

Fur is insta-glamour.

Even when petite.

They also have a feature on souping-up your clothes.  This idea below is something I'm particularly obsessed with - more with pants, though.  It's my dream to have a bunch of brightly-colored tuxedo trousers.

I've actually had a coat altered, it's a good idea.  It was $40, but that's way cheaper than buying a new coat.  I had to shop around for the right price - this was one alteration job I just wasn't going to tackle myself, my sewing skills aren't that ace, and the lining freaked me out.  A note on tailors: get a recommendation.  I have been sorely displeased w/some work, especially the place where the lady told me they tried to do a "professional" job, and charged me for a Frankenstein-looking stitch job that I could've done myself.  Be explicit w/what you want.

I think these ideas can be a jumpstart for envisioning your own alterations.  I alter anything that is w/in my power.  If not, I make someone else do it, if I have money.  I have a pile of things that need to be altered, but I make sure it is all choice stuff that I will wear and wear.

I look terrible in shorts, but just as terrible in ankle-length pants, unless they are wool trousers.  I believe in cuffing, and shortening - and if possible, lengthening.  I bought a pair of new Old Navy pants off eBay (I prefer Old Navy black pants, until I can afford to get my own made), and they were cuffed AND ankle-length, which was bad, as they were also stretch.  Yuck.  Well, I kept them around, and got a serving job - so I let out the cuff (super easy, just needed a seam ripper and an iron) and started wearing them to break them in.  They are now a favorite pair of pants.  For $8!

I've yet to have shoes altered, but I've had plenty repaired.  The repair place in my hometown is extremely basic, and have taught me that if one place says no, you can find another place that says yes.  Case in point: my favorite boots.  The zipper was totally shot, but the hometown place said they couldn't fix it.  I took it to a shop in my college town, and they guy did it for $12.  He told me that custom-length zippers aren't cheap, because he can only buy the zipper in a huge roll - but his brother had his own shoe repair shop, too, so they went in together.  

Remember the clip-on shoe embellishments from the 80's and 90's?  Not a bad idea....

Happy altering!

Dirt Chic Wardrobe: Now Open!

Please head on over to Dirt Chic Wardrobe!

On it I will be re-posting some things in the Dirt Chic archive, but with plenty new features and ideas, in the Dirt Chic style - artful frugality!

Some highlights:

* How to save on all kinds of grooming items: perfume, makeup, skincare, body care.  

* DIY experimentation, but especially the kind for those of us who don't have a lot of time, and/OR a lot of skills

* Off-beat and vintage fashion, and how to go about making up a wardrobe in the cheapest possible way.

If you have any fashion/grooming/accessories questions, or posts you would like me to do, please comment there or send me an e-mail at arwen@dirtchic.com.  I know that how we look is important, and it's great to approach it with a frugal, yet fashionable mindset.  So log on and enjoy!