Thrift Shopping Tip – STOP
Thrift Shopping Tip – S.T.O.P
How do you know when clothing is right for you? There are so many choices out there it is overwhelming.
If you shop thrift like I do, it is a minefield of great pieces that are awesome and inexpensive but aren’t exactly right for you.
Recently I bought a few pieces thrifting.
Suprise!
Ha ha.
Not.
Anyhoo… I picked up this gorgeous silk patterned dress by Marciano for $10 that would normally cost around $150.
Stunning right? It is a babydoll shape, empire waist and above the knee. This style isn’t good for my body type. I decided to disregard that knowledge and take it into the fitting room. It was too pretty, too silky, and so cheap, I was determined to make it work.
When you’re trying to convince yourself of all the reasons why you should buy something you need to stop yourself, literally.
Think of this acronym…
STOP
S – Shape…is the shape right for your body type?
T – Timeless…will you tire of this quickly?
O – Objective…are you being objective and looking at the garment with a critical eye? Will this work with other pieces in your closet?
P – Positive… does it make you feel positive about yourself and your body? It should make you feel amazing.
It is obvious that I choose to ignore each of these tips and bought it simply because I liked the pattern, colour and fabric, and the fact that it was such a great deal.
This is the bests photo I took. Every other photo made me look like a linebacker that had just swallowed another linebacker and then chased him down with a magnum of red wine, two family sized chocolate bars, a couple of banana splits and a wafer thin mint (cause that’s classy).
Let’s talk about what went wrong here.
The V is too deep (even when I’ve tacked it) the arm holes are too large, the shoulder straps are too narrow and angled inwards showing more of my armpit area (so sexy!), the empire waist and pattern emphasizes the chest, the band of graphic flowers emphasizes the stomach/hips and finally there is no defined shape.
I knew it was wrong.
Just look at my face. I look pissed grumpy.
This didn’t lift me up.
I went against my gut feeling and bought it anyhow thinking somehow, magically, on the drive home I’d lose 20 lbs and grow three inches.
I was a bad thrift shopper.
On the other hand, while I was making my way out of the store, a skirt yelled out to me, “Rescue me! I’m perfect for you!”
It was eccentric, bold, artsy, unique and all-the-way-out-there.
I knew immediately that this would work.
STOP
Did it tick all the boxes?
S – Shape
Yes, I’ve learned to really love a midi circle skirt on my frame even though I’m petite.
T- Timeless
This is such a unique piece it defies trends.
O – Objective
Objectively I knew I had pieces already in my closet that would work with this skirt. Also, the skirt is a piece of art. I wish the photos captured the beadwork and sequins better.
P – Positive
Yes, I felt happy with a positive self-image when I looked in the mirror. It made me feel like a million bucks even though it cost me $5. (Yes, I know I wasn’t supposed to mention price here, but I have to brag, it’s a thrifter thing.)
And now, for your viewing pleasure, I shall dance.
Scoring a one-of-a-kind piece like this while thrifting often makes me feel like dancing. It’s like winning the lottery on a very small scale.
What happened to that other dress?
I took it to my favourite consignment store.
I know it will look fantastic on someone, it just wasn’t me.
Do you have any shopping or thrifting tips to pass along? Or maybe a rose for between my teeth?
Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like, Shoe and Tell, Turning Heads Tuesdays, Throw Back Thursdays
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Shoe Storage Solutions For Shoe Hoarders
Help! I Own Too Many Shoes – Shoe Storage Solutions
Recently I was asked how many shoes I own.
(Thanks, Ally!)
I wasn’t keen on sharing the number.
I’m ashamed of my shoe/clothes hoarding addiction.
137 pairs. Not including sports shoes, winter snow boots or rain boots.
Now I know what you’re all thinking…
“What size are you and can we play sharesies?”
Why on earth do I need so many pairs of shoes?
I’m not a millipede. I can only wear one pair at a time. (This makes me a little sad.)
Lilly Allen put it best when she sang,
“And I am a weapon of massive consumption. And it’s not my fault it’s how I’m programmed to function.”
I firmly believe that shoes can make or break an outfit.
They can be an outfit’s exclamation point or its sad ending.
I’m not tall or lanky and shoes help me elongate what I lovingly refer to as my “short man legs”.
Often I create an outfit from the ground up, starting with my shoes first, dependent upon my activities.
Now that I am fifty, I am no longer able to ignore foot pain. When my feet hurt my brain hurts and I’m mean unhappy. Heels above 2.5″ are out of the question unless they are boots. Flat shoes are also a big no-no and make my plantar fasciitis scream. Even Oprah’s favourite shoes, Tieks gave me blisters after about 20 minutes. (BTW…I will be selling these Tieks I bought for $115 which I wore twice. They are a size 7 if you are interested email me.)
I’m trying to replace my fancy “10 minute” aka “bedroom shoes” with more comfortable versions that are still stylish.
This is one epic challenge and akin to winning the lottery. Most fashionable shoes aren’t made for my feet.
The progress is slow, but I am beginning to weed out the shoes that are impractical and painful. Once I can find a replacement I will be saying goodbye to those red ones in the photo above. (Insert very unhappy face.) They are too pointy, too tall and have no straps. My feet walk out of pumps 90% of the time.(Even when I add in those little pads to stop my heels from coming out.) Am I the only person with this problem?
I’m on the lookout now for some 2-2.5″ red heels with a little strap.
In my quest, I bought these…
I was high on new shoe fumes when I put them on my feet and they didn’t hurt. These will not replace those red pumps. My plan was good but I’ve already strayed. Keep tuned to see if I can get back on track!
I will be sharing some of my favourite most comfortable shoes that I own and other comfortable shoes that I’ve researched in two more upcoming posts.
How do I store all these shoes?
When one owns this many shoes one needs a second house an intervention brilliant storage solution. I adore my Ikea Pax closets. (FIY this is not a sponsored post.)
Prior to getting these closets, my shoes were scattered throughout the house in five different places.
The closets are very deep and allow me to easily place one shoe behind the other so I am able to view my entire shoe and boot collection at a glance.
I own quite a few pairs of boots and hats as you can see here.
You can configure the Ikea wardrobe shelves to the height you require.
In each of my closets, I have the upper shelf for hats stored inside boxes.
My three drawers are divided with Ikea drawer organizers.
I roll all my t-shirts so I can see them at a glance.
The second drawer is for underwear, socks and tights all stored in drawer organizers.
The third drawer is filled with accessories including bracelets, scarves, hats, watches, pins and hair accessories.
In conclusion, this closet is my wardrobe saviour.
I rarely have an issue finding something. There is a place for everything and everything in its place.
*Additional Boot Storage TIP*
I roll cardboard or newspaper and stuff my boots with it to keep their shape and make sure they stand upright.
So now you all officially know that I am two steps away from being Imelda Marcos The Second.
Do you have any special shoe/boot storage tips/secrets that you’d care to share?
You know I need all the help I can get.
Linking up with Your Whims Wednesdays, What I Wore, Throw Back Thursdays
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