Thrift Finds: Retro Charm

E here, I picked up this adorable little number for just $7.99 at Goodwill the other day. Funny story; my husband came in and asked "where did that come from?" I replied that "I just bought it at Goodwill today. Isn't it darling?" Of course my husband, (being the man that he is,) remarked that it looks like something that you would see someone in Florida wearing." I didn't know if I should take this as a compliment, or as a playful jab. That's the thing though, fashion is a means of personal expression and others might not always get it. After all, you know how guys are! Mine isn't exactly the most stylish. [Sorry honey but it's true!]

What I love about this dress is the retro charm. There's something about the whimsical tropical print that just caught my eye. It immediately stood out to me on the rack. For me, thrifting is like treasure hunting. I look for things that are unique, and that stand out. 

Take this dress for example, I absolutely love the detailed print. Its fun yet flirty, making it the perfect summer dress. That's the beauty of thrifting, you never know what great pieces you might stumble upon. 

Doesn't the purse go with the dress just perfectly? That was my first thought as soon as I saw it. In true blogger form, I was already planning outfits in my head!

I normally don't go for small bags, but its always good to have a purse in every shape and size for any occasion. This one will be perfect for travel and those days when I just don't feel like lugging a big, heavy bag around.  [I feel like this is a problem that all stylish females struggle with! style versus practicality.....size versus versatility, etc.]

That's the beauty of thrift shopping, you can walk away with several purses (designer even) for relatively cheap. I've built up quite a collection of wallets, clutches, and purses over the years from great brands such as Coach, Betsey Johnson, Dooney and Bourke, Kate Spade, just to name a few. Well that's all the time we have for today. Happy thrifting!

-E

Viva Las Vegas - Day Three: Flower Child [Pt. 2]

 

 

 

 

 

 

E here, part deux of day three required two outfit changes; one for Beatles Love, and the other for  Chippendales. When packing for this particular vacation, I had to consider all of the different things that I would be doing both in the day time, and in the evening. I don't know about you, but I'm the kind of person that likes to plan outfits ahead of time. Its much easier to have outfits picked out in advance so that you don't end up over packing. I narrowed down what items to pack (dresses, shoes, accessories, etc.) based on what I would be doing. 

 In this case, I wanted something fun and playful to wear to the Beatles show (pictured above.) Since the title of the show is "Beatles Love" I thought it would be fitting to go with a retro, Mod inspired look, and what says that better than flower child! I think that the crème de la crème of this look is the charming floral headband. Recently, headbands such as the one that I'm wearing have come back into style. You've probably seen pictures of celebrities like Lana Del Ray and Taylor Swift donning headbands. I picked this one up at Forever 21 for $4.99.
 

 

Thrifted items; black wedges: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill,) purse: $5.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; floral print dress: Love by Design $15 (Fred Meyer,) cardigan: $10 (Nordstrom Rack,) floral headband: $4.99 (Forever 21.)

 

 

Thrifted items; black wedges: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill,) purse: $5.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; black dress: $30 (Topshop,) necklace: $15 (Topshop,) floral headband: $4.99 (Forever 21.)

 

 

As for the Chippendales show I went for something a little bit more understated. So how does one determine what to wear to an occasion such as this? Well, you can never go wrong with a little black dress. While others might go for a more daring look, I opted for something a bit more classic. I didn't have a lot of time to change between the Beatles show and this one, so I picked something that was versatile and comfortable. Also, the headband complimented the dress, and added a playful touch to the overall look. That's all for this segment. Next time I'll detail my final shopping trip.        

-E

 

 

Cat Lady Chic

 

 

E here, its been awhile since my last post. Unfortunately, life has been somewhat hectic for me lately. My New Year's resolution was to be a better blogger, and I'm really trying! Ironically, the title of this post is Cat Lady Chic, and believe me I've felt like a bit of one lately!

 

 

[Taken at Toulouse Petit; crawfish, shrimp, and Andouille sausage over creamy grits, with scrambled eggs.]

 

In addition to blogging about my outfits and thrifting adventures, I'm going to start posting pictures of food. I don't know about you, but I'm a serious foodie. I have a very diverse palette and love trying new things. Pictured above is one of the best breakfasts in town. If you're ever in Seattle make sure to stop by this place, I guarantee you won't be disappointed! I've been to New Orleans twice and I think that this restaurant does a great job of capturing the creole flavor of Louisiana. My recommendation - order anything with crawfish in it!

 

 

Thrifted items; trench coat: Gap $20 (Crossroads Trading Co.,) wedge flats: Aldo $12.99 (Goodwill.) Non-thrifted items; cat sweater: Love By Design $10 (Fred Meyer,) sheer blouse: Forever 21, jeans: JCPenny's $25, vintage necklace: gifted. 

 

 

The interesting thing about this outfit is that these shoes are probably the most expensive pair that I've ever thrifted that aren't designer. In the same shopping trip that I got these shoes I bought; Marc Jacobs heels, Coach loafers, Tahari and Sperry Top Sider flats, all of which retail for more than Aldo. [I'll be posting the details of the thrift haul that these shoes came from soon.] But that's the funny thing about thrifting, sometimes items are under or overpriced.

 

 

Ultimately I made the right decision in purchasing these shoes because they are a great style staple for any closet. Just like having a little black dress, black shoes go with just about anything from jeans and a tee, to a flirty blouse and skirt. Also, pointy shoes such as these dress up any outfit and make you look chic. Whether its jeans or a skirt, you can make any outfit classy and sophisticated. All it takes is a few extra touches to give any outfit that extra oomph. Take my necklace for example, it was given to me by a friend who found it at a flea market. Besides adding a pop of color to the outfit, it also gives it a retro feel. Remember, it doesn't take much to look like a million bucks, so see what you have laying around that you could use to boost an outfit.

 

 

Well that's all for today. More posts coming soon. Happy thrifting!

-E