Have you been thrifting lately? Do you usually go with a set goal in mind?
I’ve tried to thrift with a set goal in mind. It never seems to work. I become frustrated and suddenly something that used to be joyful gives me a headache.
I’ve learned to surrender myself to the joy of discovery when it comes to thrifting.
Thrifting is like yoga for your style. It teaches you to move and stretch your fashion brain in ways you never thought possible.
Where else would I find a full purple midi skirt in leather? With an icy blue jacket as a topper?
I never would have considered either of these pieces in a retail store. The cost of purchasing a new leather skirt would be well beyond my budget, let alone a purple midi leather skirt.
The velvet jacket is by Façonnable, a high end brand from France that I adored but couldn’t afford when I lived there. I might have let out a little squeal when I spotted it. The quality is amazing. As soon as I slipped it on I knew it was coming home with me.
I don’t normally wear safari style jackets and this one is missing the belt but that wasn’t enough to deter me. It fit too well and the colour was too rich and helloooooo! velvet! My obsession with velvet is out of control. I now own six velvet jackets.
I may have a problem.
I love how shopping secondhand pushes my style limits.
When I discover quality items like this that deserve to be purchased I have to be willing to imagine myself differently. A purple leather skirt and blue velvet safari jacket wasn’t on any “want” list or filling any holes in my wardrobe. I had to open my mind to the possibilities that lay within each of those pieces and be willing to see myself differently to incorporate them into my life and wardrobe.
Imagining yourself differently is a unique skill that ensures you don’t become stale, repetitive or stuck in a style rut.
If you are truly gifted like Melanie then you will not only see beyond yourself, but also beyond how that item of clothing is normally worn or used. She takes men’s sweaters and wraps them around a model as a scarf. A man’s tie becomes a woman’s belt.
Being willing to see everything with new eyes and no preconceived ideas will free your fashion style and open your creative heart.
My goal when dressing myself it to look artsy, feminine, interesting, colourful and unique. There are many different ways of going about that and thanks to shopping secondhand I am discovering even more.
How do you stimulate your style sense?
You might also enjoy How To Train Your Thrifting Brain
or some great Tips On How To Choose A Winter Coat
What a stunning outfit with all the great textures. Think you are probably right that you take a little more risk with clothing choices when the prices are lower. But it still takes a lot of style to pair these two items together and make such a fab outfit.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Would love for you to stop by & join TBT Fashion link up.
What really makes me laugh is how I found these pieces the same day in the same store. I don’t think I would have thought to pair them together otherwise.
Love the outfit, and the purple skirt was a wonderful find!
Two wonderful finds, you’re on a thrifting run of luck at the moment, aren’t you?
You’re so right, buying second hand makes us far more adventurous in our sartorial choices. When things are a few quid it doesn’t take much persuasion to snap something up and give it a go. What’s the worse that can happen? We don’t love it and the charity shop (or a friend) get it instead.
You’re really selling midi length to me, I’m starting to wish i had more in my collection. xxx
I don’t own a single velvet jacket!
I agree with all you’ve said – thrift shopping does indeed force one to think differently about ways to wear things, and ways in which we view ourselves. For crying out loud, I bought a white fur-trimmed cape last week!! I never would have bought that full price but for £3 it would have been rude not to.
I always do think of you as artsy and interesting, so whatever your experimentation and veering from your own norm, it’s obviously working!
x
I’m surprised you don’t own a single velvet jacket. They would go so well with your lingerie obsession. In fact I’m surprised you don’t own a long velvet robe.
Ha, I’m wearing a long velvet robe right now! Will keep my eyes peeled for a little velvet jacket xx
Ha, I’m wearing a long velvet robe right now! Will keep my eyes peeled for a little velvet jacket xx
It IS like yoga for the brain. Well said. You look so cute in that skirt that my brain just did a Happy Baby!
Ha! My second favourite is the puppy dog stretch ; )
Purple leather and teal velvet? NOTHING to think about at all! 🙂 You styled this expertly and look gorgeous. I get how you feel, such a wonderful rush when you you re-imagine yourself in something so luxurious or unexpected. We are always self editing, and that is good. So important to keep oneself open to new possibilities. YOU will never be stale!
xx, Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/
Thanks lady : )
You are so right….I always say it’s a treasure hunt—and sometimes you come home with nothing! These two items are spectacular! But 6 velvet jackets? Now you call that a collection and hang it on the wall!! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I am up to seven. I do did a space to hang these as art. But given the choice, I’d probably like to see my extravagant vintage gowns on the walls before the jackets.
It’s been many years since I went thrifting (I used to work near a cool thrift store that I checked out often; I’ll have to search for some good ones close to me).
You are so right that thrifting can stimulate your style sense, and I love all the cool items you have been getting (the dress you got that sadly lost its color when you washed it is one of my favorites – hope the coloring in is coming along?).
I really like this outfit – you did a great job bringing unexpected pieces together!
That repainting of the dress is haunting me. I’ve finished the arms and the front and started on the back. I am going to finish it though. Oh yes I am.
You identify the key appeal of thrifting — its serendipity. We never know what we’ll encounter. If we’re brave, we can take style-risks we never would have otherwise because the low prices make fashion experiments possible. You look GREAT in this outfit. That jacket and skirt had to be very expensive when purchased new.
You are right. Both of these pieces would have been expensive new. I tried to explain the thrill to my Dad the other day. He just didn’t buy it. He is of the camp, “If you don’t need it, you shouldn’t buy it. ” I obviously took from my Mom’s side of the family.
I am all about pushing style boundaries and finding these 2 pieces is amazing. I never have a goal set when I go into a thift store as they can be so hit and miss. That purple midi skirt is a wonderful find and so is that jacket. That fact that the jacket is missing the belt wouldn’t bother me as I always swap out my belts.
Rebecca
http://www.winnipegstyle.ca/Blog/default.cfm
I am all about pushing style boundaries and finding these 2 pieces is amazing. I never have a goal set when I go into a thift store as they can be so hit and miss. That purple midi skirt is a wonderful find and so is that jacket. That fact that the jacket is missing the belt wouldn’t bother me as I always swap out my belts.
Rebecca
http://www.winnipegstyle.ca/Blog/default.cfm
Yeah…it didn’t stop me from buying it : )
I didn’t realize that you thrift as well Rebecca. I’ve heard there is some good thrifting in the Peg.
You are the queen of the velvet jacket. There something about that fabric that SPEAKS to you. And leather too. You were probably born wearing velvet and leather. And thanks for the shout-out, heh.
You are so right about thrifting expanding style boundaries. Do I need a blue velvet safari jacket? becomes Do I not need a blue velvet safari jacket?, particularly when it doesn’t break the bank. Like you, I get in trouble if I have something specific in mind for a specific trip, but it usually shows up eventually.
You will break the Net if you get Vix hooked on midis. Hahaha! Sounds like a challenge to me.
Ha ha!
Next time I’m going to ask myself that question…”Do I NOT need this?” Actually I doubt I need more help. In fact taking the husband with me I’ve noticed he is even more of an enabler.
Hang on! I am having trouble working out the problem. Are you saying that there is such a thing as too much velvet. That can’t be what you are saying. That is like saying there is such a thing as too many thrifting finds, too many swing skirts, too many rakish hats. Ridiculous notions! You look awesome! I one-hundreds percent agree that thrifting makes you push boundaries. I went op shopping (what we Aussies call thrifting her down under) with my sister the other day and she kept saying ‘that’s old fashioned’! Isn’t that the point, I told her. You get to remake and restyle things that seem to be passé into new interpretations, which, if you look at fashion throughout the ages, is exactly what designers do year after year. At crazy prices. The only thing I feel about thrifting is I wish it could stay a secret so only us in the know can surprise people with our unique styles! Thanks so much for sharing your amazing outfit. (And for listening to my ramblings) xx
Ha! True!
Often I find that newbies to thrifting just don’t “get it”. Then, once they do, they can’t be stopped.
I agree that there are now so many people shopping thrift that it can be challenging to find those really special high quality pieces. Especially vintage, which is one of my favourites. That is also half of the fun though. It is the ultimate treasure hunt.
Hope you are doing well!
How right you are Suzanne about the pleasures of thrifting (charity shopping here in the UK). The joy is surely in the unexpected nature of it. Planning on finding a specific is impossible and also puts a barrier between you and the spontaniety of the occasion. The maxi skirt is a wonderful colour and so it the jacket. Who would have thought that a safari jacket was something to get excited about? But this velvet one most definitely is! The colours work beautifully together particularly with that gorgeous scarf. I love your background natural colours too – and how cute is that little bag?!
Anna
Anna’s Island Style
I do have a bit of a soft spot for vintage tapestry bags.
You’re right of course – it’s the thrill of the discovery and then deciding how to make it more “you.” That’s a totally gorgeous skirt and jacket, Suzanne and you look beautiful.
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Thank you wonderful lady!
I’m really bad at that knack of visualizing how to use items differently and love the theory of thrifting but not the experience of it much. But then I see what you come up with and think “Maybe…”
The purple with the tan sweater is surprisingly really working. I’d never have thought of that color combo.
I haven’t been thrifting (or shopping at all) in ages, but I do usually go in with a plan so I know where to start. And you’re right, you do have to be flexible – and have patience. I have experimented a lot, and I think at least 50% of my finds have gone back to the thrift store eventually. But the ones that work have been great! Nothing like your amazing leather skirt and velvet jacket, though!
BTW, just thought I’d mention that the font on your blog is so faint I find it a little difficult to read. I just thought I’d mention it because I’ve appreciated when readers tell me things like that.
I think that is interesting that you have kept track and found that you’ve only kept 50% of your finds.
I am so sorry to hear that the font is difficult for you to read. I bought this template for the blog and outsourced someone to make the changes for me and now am unable to go back in and see where to change the colour of the text font.
I will say that the brightness level on your screen can easily be adjusted which would darken the text colour in the interim from me hiring someone again to make that change. It is just a workaround. I need to find out if anyone else has the issue as no one has mentioned it.
Congratulations Suzanne for your recent blogging award. It’s well deserved x
Anna
Anna’s Island Style
Thanks Anna : ) Ally is a sweetheart.
I don’t know that you can truly have a great thrifting experience if you have a goal in mind, after all, it is the thrill of the hunt, of finding something spectacular that of course you don’t need, but once you see it, you HAVE to have it. Congrats on scoring another beautiful piece of velvet to add to the collection. I would have wanted that amazing purple skirt too, but it would have never fit me, sigh.
I couldn’t agree more. We don’t know we desperately needed it until we saw it.
“My goal when dressing myself it to look artsy, feminine, interesting, colourful and unique. ”
Girl…you nail it EVERY. SINGLE.TIME!!! I love your style and I love that you show women how fashionable they can look wearing thrifted clothes…which is my mission in life!
Darlene
http://whosaprettygirl.com
It is funny because I came to thrifting via vintage. I was hooked on vintage and discovered I could sometimes find vintage via thrifting. Then the flood gates open and I’ve become a thrifting devotee.
I love the colours in this outfit, and the skirt looks so good on you. I wish I could go thrifting… I like looking at things in vintage and charity shops, and have bought some great costume jewellery, scarves etc. But clothes… I’m a bit snobbish I guess, or squemish, or something, but I want my clothes unworn. It’s really stupid, but I can’t seem to make myself buy clothes second-hand.
I *used* to be that way about thrifting but I obviously got over it rather quickly. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve found new pieces with tags still on while thrifting. I also love the idea of saving items from ending up in a landfill.
Couldn’t agree more – it really does stimulate your style senses and gets you looking at clothes in a completely different way. I never thrift or charity shop with an idea in mind. You just have to go with the flow and see what you come across. It’s rather like going for a walk. You never know what you might see or find – you just have to enjoy the journey!
http://petitesilvervixen.blogspot.co.uk/
Yes, yes, yes to this! I totally agree! It is a journey of discovery, the hope of finding treasure, the unexpected, the thing you never thought to think of!!!! The jacket is absolutely gorgeous! The way you put things together is beautiful! It’s nice WHEN you find something you wanted, but it is definitely the mystery that makes it so fun!x
Don’t we all love a good treasure hunt? : )
Indeed… perfect items. I know Faconnable (cannot make the cedille) and that is quite expensive yes. You are right that it brings you new ideas. But I have problems enough to make normal stuff work for me. I am in the lower classes of this school. You are graduating. Melanie is the teacher.
Greetje
If you had asked me 6 years ago about buying second hand I would have been disgusted with the idea.
Watching the True Cost docutmentary was an eyeopener even if I was well established at buying secondhand by that time.
Also of course, you need to have more time to devote to looking for thrifted items. I do think though if you were to score some of your treasured Maxa Mara pieces via consignment (which I have seen many times) you could change your mind and slowly and more easily (consignment is much cleaner, organized than thrifting) be introduced into secondhand items.
Problem is, we don’t have such good consignment stores in The Netherlands like you have in Canada and the USA.
ohhhh, such fabulous pieces!!, purple leather, teal velvet, they’re magnificent colors and textures to enjoy and play with!! Lovely color combo, and you look gorgeous!. Love particularly your skirt’s shape!
I’m not a thrifting expert, but I like to read your advices, and I think they’re pretty useful!
besos
That skirt has added pieces to make it fuller on the bottom. Almost like a bell skirt. It truly is a work of art.
I admire that you buy many of your items via Ebay. I’m too scared to buy when I can’t try it on.
What an amazing, amazing outfit you created, Suzanne! Truly gorgeous, and every item looks like it was made specifically for you. Very inspiring article too – STYLE STIMULATING. 🙂 Now you make me want to go thrifting. And my closet rode has already broken – no more space!
Two fab items, dear, the skirt and the jacket. Wow!
I agree about the open mind in regards to styling and clothes. You have it and Melanie is a master in it.