crossfire

hat/Urban Outfitters, sweater/Old Navy, shirt/Gap Outlet, pants/Forever21, 
boots/ZigiSoho from DSW

Sorry, this post isn't really about thrift store shopping...I just love the inspiration behind this outfit and wanted to share. But I'm not a total failure. The clothes might not be from thrift stores, but I'm still very thrifty! Everything I'm wearing, while bought new, was on sale. I think the entire outfit cost me $30. It would have been about $70, but I bought the shoes with a gift card, so none of my money out of pocket for those!

Anyway, like I said, I wanted to share the outfit and the inspiration behind it. The look was inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughn. If you don't know who that is, shame on you, now educate yourselves. I grew up listening to SRV because of my dad. As a kid, we always had SRV grooving through the stereo speakers at home, and I know all his songs by heart. He was truly an inspirational artist, and the world lost him too soon. 

A few weeks ago I was sewing, my dad was flipping through the channels, and SRV's video for the song Crossfire came on. I thought to myself, "Well that's an interesting look. I bet I could update it a little and make a really cool outfit that pays homage to Mr. Stevie Ray." So that's what I did. 

This video is so so weird. Ah, the late 80s. Anyway, ignore the strange and awkward stuff and just look at what he's wearing. :)

SRV, being a Texas boy, always wore these flat-brimmed cowboy hats. I don't exactly have a flat-brimmed cowboy hat, so I thought this floppy felt hat from UO would be an updated and not so literal choice. By the way, I looooove that hat. I want to wear it every day. But that might get weird.

I don't own a poncho...I've been looking for a really cool one, but when I'm looking to buy something I really want, I shop around a little. I don't just buy the first one I see...gotta get those deals! :) Since the poncho thing wasn't going to happen (and a poncho that enormous would look ridiculous on a normal person who wasn't a Texas blues musician), I went with the longest sweater I have. Yes, it was featured in a previous post, and people who do fashion blogging don't really like to show themselves wearing things more than once, but this is real life with a real budget. No infinite wardrobe here. 

Since his look had a lot of extra things going on with the fringe on his sleeves, the rings, his decked-out guitar strap, all that extra fabric at the neck (does that poncho have a cowl neck or a matching scarf???), I thought it might not look so overwhelming if I just tried layering jewelry. As I've said, I like wearing lots of noisy necklaces because it makes me feel like a gypsy. :)

I could have worn cowboy boots, but I didn't like how the colors looked together. So I went with motorcycle-inspired boots. Those boots are so comfy and wonderful...I have them in black AND brown. :) 

What do you think? SRV-esque?  

*Style tip: Have fun and pay homage to some of your favorite musicians, actors, and television/movie characters every once in a while! Channel your favorite Mad Men character and wear a 60s-inspired look. Bring out your inner Phoebe Buffay in a quirky bohemian look. Get classy and bring back old Hollywood glamour a la Clark Gable, Jimmie Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Claudette Colbert. Get your David Bowie on! Draw inspiration from anything and everything you love! Why not? I think fashion should be fun. :)

Before you go, here's another Stevie Ray fav. This song was written by Jimi Hendrix, but SRV did an instrumental cover...and won a Grammy for it. It's just brilliant. One of the best blues grooves ever.

*No thrifting tip?? Gasp! Shock! Horror! 

little creators

Today's post has no pictures, no thrifting tips, just a few words and a little peek inside my heart. :)


I am well aware that some people may look at this blog and think badly of me, and think I'm superficial and I pay too much attention to my outward appearance. The fashion industry is ALL about how you look, and some may quickly judge and say that my interest in fashion shows how vain I am.

Hear my side of the story. Maybe you'll change your mind. :)

I view fashion and clothing as a worshipful expression of creativity.

Creativity is both a fully-human and fully-divine experience. 

We are all made in God's image.

God is the ultimate Creator.

We are all little creators.

God has placed in each of us the desire to create! Creativity looks different for each person. We paint, write, knit, cook, woodwork, sculpt, cut hair, sew, write songs, take photos, dance, sing, act, make films, garden, even work hard and passionately at math or science. We each use God's great masterpiece creation to create something new!

I seek to honor God through the way I dress. I house the Holy Spirit within me, so my body is a temple. When people decorate a church, don't they try to make it look beautiful? Don't they try to make its outward appearance reflect the honor and reverence and worship happening inside? Why shouldn't I be encouraged to do the same, a person carrying the Holy Spirit inside of her?

I know that my outward appearance doesn't matter to God. He cares about what's going on in my heart. The most important thing is to cultivate inner beauty. And I strive to do so. But I also think I would not be living up to my full potential in Christ if I did not use the gifts He's placed in me! My outer beauty can reflect my inner beauty! I try to dress in a way that reflects creativity, joy, freedom, and hope! I think God delights in my outward expression of the things He's written on my heart! Simply getting dressed every day can be an act of worship!

I have a few hopes for this blog. Managing your finances in a way that is honoring to God is extremely important. One way you can do that is by being frugal and thrifty when you shop for clothes! Hopefully this blog can give good advice to those who want to be stylish AND frugal! Also, I hope to inspire people to live more creative lives. Christians must embrace creativity and make room for it to happen in the Church and their daily routine. Creativity calls us to worship, brings us closer to The Creator, and makes us more like Him.

And isn't that the point of, well, everything??

staples

blouse/thrifted, skirt/thrifted

Hmm. My feet got cut off...Here are my fun shoes:

shoes/thrifted, originally from Target

Guys, my hair is wonky. It's looking a little ombre, but not in the cool, trendy way, in the weird, I'm-too-lazy-to-color-my-hair-in-a-timely-manner way. Maybe I should try to do something about that...

For my makeup, I didn't want to go too dramatic, so since I wanted a bright lip color, I went really soft with the eye makeup...just cream and pink eyeshadow, very light brown eyeliner, and a bit of mascara.  

Love the print in the blouse! From far away it looks like little tiny hearts, but when you get up close, it's actually a fun geometric print.


The blouse was originally a dress. It was cute, but didn't fit exactly right through the hips...those lovely hereditary child-bearing hips of mine. Sorry future daughter, you'll get them too! :) I just loved the dress so much, I decided I would cut it off and wear it as a shirt. It's a bit schoolmarm, a bit Little House on the Prairie, a bit frivolous with all it's ruffles, but I decided that I could pull it off. (I don't actually know if that's true, I often just decide I can pull something off and wear it no matter what...some people say it's confidence, I think I'm probably just stubborn*..) I have had that skirt for years. It's great to have pieces in your wardrobe which have versatility that you can wear from season to season, year to year.


Thrifting tip: Always keep an eye out for pieces that can become staples in your wardrobe. Of course leave room for the 'fun' things in your closet, but make sure you have plenty of pieces with versatility and sustainability. This means looking for good quality clothing that is well-constructed. Things that are made well will hold up after years of wear and washing. A few things in my closet that have become staples for me are my men's chambray shirt (I seriously wear it ALL the time..it's my go-to shirt when I want to look stylish and be super comfortable without having to put a lot of thought into it.), my great-grandpa's brown fedora, skinny jeans, black leggings, black pencil skirt, the flouncy black skirt you see above, cardigans of all colors, scarves, boots, and ballet flats. I also wear tights year-round. As you can see, not everyone's wardrobe staples will be the same, so don't go out hunting for a chambray shirt if you're not a fan! That's why it's important to discover your own personal style so, as you shop, you don't waste money on something you will only wear a few times. Closet staples are an essential part of building up a fantastic wardrobe, so keep your eyes peeled and have fun!

Happy thrifting!


*I like what I like and I'm gonna wear it no matter what you say! So there! cue me sticking out my tongue in a sassy (bratty?) fashion...

loot

I thought I'd show you my finds from Goodwill half off day yesterday. :)

I already have two flannel shirts, but one has a bunch of holes and should just be thrown away. I found a new one to replace it! And I love how 'lumberjack' this one is. :)

I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with this dress yet, but I bought it because these are absolutely my colors. I have a few ideas marinating up in the ol' noggin...we'll see where this goes.

I bought this dress solely for the fabric. Pretty pretty pretty!! No clue what I will end up creating out of it, but I promise you'll be the first to know.

My name is Karen and I have a problem. I can't pass up anything with a paisley flowery print. I just can't. This blouse is soooo cuuuute. I love the soft and subtle colors! It seems like the perfect lightweight spring blouse to me! It fits, so I might just wear it as-is without any alterations.



So there you have it! Those are the fun things I found! What do you think? There were some art pieces and home decor items I really loved, but alas. I don't have the room for it. I also have a pretty serious mug addiction. I can proudly say that even though there were about 5 mugs I wanted to snatch up, I restrained myself. I refuse to let my life look like an episode of Hoarders.

How much did all of these things cost, you ask? Only $11 total! Victoire!


Thrifting tip: When you have a fun day of second-hand shopping planned, plan your outfit accordingly! Wear things that are easy to take off and put back on quickly for when you want to try on items. Avoid lots of buttons, complicated shoes, or tons of layers. On the bottom, I would suggest wearing something close-fitting, like leggings or skinny jeans. That way, if you're trying on a dress or skirt, you can slip it on quickly over your pants. Dresses are a really simple thrifting uniform. Just one piece over tights, leggings, or your bare legs! You should probably wear a camisole just in case you want to try on something thin or low-cut...Unless see-thorough and cleavage-baring is your thing, of course! If dressing rooms are full, a simple outfit will be easiest for slipping things over your clothes in the middle of the store. You probably don't want to be weighed down with a big coat, so just leave it in the car and brave the cold from the walk from the car to the door. You'll be okay, I promise. You probably also don't want to be worrying about an bulky and obtrusive purse or bag that keeps slipping off your shoulder when you're looking through the racks, so I suggest using a bag with a long strap you can wear across your body. My outfit yesterday was a camisole, t-shirt, cardigan, skinny jeans, ballet flats, and a small cross-body bag. Simple, easy, and comfy. And for the love of all that is good, if you try on shoes, wear something on your feet. Don't just stick your naked foot into a potentially germ-infested shoe. Ew.


Happy thrifting!

lace + cowboy boots

headband/handmade, blazer/thrifted, dress/hand-me-down, tights/Target, boots/thrifted

That blazer is one of my favorite finds. Blazers are wonderful and can be worn with just about everything! They are an easy way to keep a t-shirt or plain tank from looking shlumpy (yes, I made up that word...because I like it), wear one instead of a cardigan to give the outfit a more polished feel, the possibilities are endless! Anyway, when I found this blazer, I was pretty jazzed about it. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I LOVE color. A blazer + bright color = big smiling face. It was looking a bit plain, but I had a small moment of inspiration. My grandma had given me a bunch of vintage lace, and I just had a feeling it would be the perfect addition. It was. 

I also love those boots. I had been searching all over for some cowboy boots, but all the pairs I found in stores were too far out of my price range (because I'm cheap). I found these nearly new, soft, slouchy, cognac-colored, heeled cowboy boots at Plato's Closet at a great price. I just used a lot of adjectives. That's because these boots are awesome. 

Thrifting tip: Just because you have the freedom to take fashion risks and buy a little more at the thrift store, that doesn't mean you should fill up your closets with a bunch of low-quality crap. If you don't love it, don't buy it! During a trip to the thrift store, you may find a bunch of stuff you like and a few things you completely love. Focus on the really good stuff you KNOW you will wear. If you're in doubt about a certain piece, it's best just to leave it. Make smart (but fun!) purchases! 

Happy thrifting!

attention. attention, please.

Attention. Goodwill 50% off day is this Saturday! Well, at least it is for MY local Goodwill. If it's not 50% off day for your Goodwill, sorry. Definitely find out when yours happens!

Time to get your thrifty on, folks! 

Thrifting tip: On Goodwill 50% off day, it's a good idea to go earlier in the day. I have gone when it first opens, and I have gone late in the afternoon. There are pros and cons to both situations. If you wait in line for them to open the store, you get first pick on all the treasures, but you have to fight weird crowds. Seriously, some of the people who show up first thing in the morning for half-off day are interesting characters who can at times be quite pushy. If you wait to go later in the afternoon, the crowds aren't as intense, but the merchandise might be picked over. That doesn't mean you're not going to find anything great. I've found success at all times of the day. And sometimes I walk out with nothing. The mystery is part of the fun! So if you want some good deals (seriously, a quarter for a mug? Fifty cents for a belt? Awesome.) and you're feeling adventurous, take advantage of this possible shopping spree! Above all, have FUN!

Happy thrifting!

color match made in heaven

earrings/hand-me-down, cardigan/thrifted, t-shirt/Old Navy, belt/thrifted, skirt/handmade, shoes/thrifted

It's no secret to anyone that I am crazy about vintage-inspired looks. My favorite parts of this ensemble are the shoes, belt, and earrings, which are all vintage. I made the skirt myself. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it's a paper bag-waist skirt. It's made from vintage fabric my grandma got at a yard sale. :) That cardigan was a fantastic find, because I wear it with just about everything! Cardigans are so easy to dress up or dress down. Your wardrobe is in need of some cardigans.

Also, how wonderful is the combination of red and turquoise?? 

Thrifting tip: Shopping second-hand gives you the financial freedom to experiment with your style a bit! I was a little wary of the purple corduroy pants at first, but when they only cost a few dollars, I figured it might be worth the risk...it was! When you shop second-hand, the tiny impact it leaves on your wallet offers you some wiggle room! So, be bold! Try something new just for the heck of it! I try not to take myself or my wardrobe too seriously. Fashion should be fun, and where's the fun if you never try anything new? If the look crashes and burns, so what? At least you were trying to step out of the box and be creative!


Happy thrifting!

my so-called life

This dress is pretty 90s, and I just love it. All I need is a flannel shirt and some Doc Martens to turn into Angela Chase. My grandma is constantly bringing me clothes to look through because she knows I love to turn something weird into something great. This dress came from one of those loads.

necklace/Anthropologie, dress/thrifted, leggings/Forever21, booties/Modcloth 

All the alterations I had to do on the dress were to make it look less dated. The dress had shoulder pads, and when I took them out, it left awkward puffy shoulders for me to deal with. The length of the dress was to my mid-calf. The waist of the dress had a little panel with four buttons on it, which was odd and unflattering. I took in the shoulders, cut off about 10 inches off the bottom hem, and removed the weird buttons. Now it's a cute short 90s dress with a modern look, and gets tons of compliments! :)

Thrifting tip: Check labels for fabric information! Natural fibers like cotton and linen are the easiest to clean and remove odors. Synthetic fabrics are a bit trickier. They tend to hold in odors, so that lovely musty smell of the consignment shop will be much harder to remove from something made out of a synthetic fabric. If something smells strongly of body odor or smoke...just give it up. Not gonna happen. Often, vintage labels will tell you something is dry-clean only...meh. Unless it's a really nice or fancy fabric, I will usually just wash it cold on gentle or hand-wash. I'm known to shrug my shoulders at fabric care instructions and just make an educated guess. So far, I haven't had any mishaps. :) 

Happy thrifting!

corduroy gypsy

necklaces/handmade, thrifted, Anthropologie, sweater/Old Navy, t-shirt/Old Navy, pants/thrifted, boots/Maurices

I found these pants at Goodwill and I absolutely had to have them. Who has plum corduroy pants?? No one! I tried them on, and while they fit perfectly at the waist, the cut of the pants were weird. They were basically awkward 90s mom jeans. Soooo, I whipped out my trusty sewing machine and made them into skinny jeans! I just love them. They're quirky and unique and goofy and I feel a little spunkier when I wear them. 

I also am an advocate of wearing several necklaces at once. Especially noisy necklaces. They make me feel like a gypsy. :) I think that layered necklaces can work when you are wearing solid colors, because busy necklaces paired with busy patterns are a little overwhelming. Just keep it on the simpler side, and layer away! 

Thrifting tip: Learn how to sew! Being able to do simple alterations can give your thrifting experience quite a boost. Altering hems, adding/removing/altering sleeves, taking in baggy-ness, and changing buttons are all really helpful skills to know. There are plenty of online tutorials for sewing beginners, so don't be intimidated! You can do it! But if you find it's just not your cup of tea, or you're gifted in other ways, find a friend or local seamstress/tailor who can do it for you. Expect to pay a little (typically $10-$30) for your alterations. Always offer to pay a friend. That's just nice. That way, if they decide to do it out of the kindness of their heart, it will be a nice surprise for you! And if they refuse payment, at least offer to take them out to coffee, or send them a thank-you note. Just a little something to express your appreciation. :) 

Happy thrifting!

culture keeper

I'm featured in a post on thrifting confessions today on Culture Keeper! Read and enjoy!

paisley pretty

hat/heirloom from great-grandfather, earrings/hand-me-down from mom, men's chambray shirt/thrifted, paisley dress/thrifted, belt/thrifted, tights/Target, boots/Maurice's

This is a super comfortable look for me. The dress is cute and girly (I have a love-affair with paisley), and the man's shirt makes it more casual and comfy. The hat makes it a little quirky. That amazing hat is one of my prized possessions. My great-grandfather died of cancer when I was in elementary school, and when his clothes and other possessions my great-grandmother didn't feel the need to keep were divided up amongst the close relatives, I picked out this hat. As a little kid, I didn't think about it being a potential fashion statement, I just thought it was really cool. Now it's one of my favorite things to wear. 

Thrifting tip: Don't restrict yourself to just one section of the store. Take your time and look through everything. Who knows what fabulous gem could be lurking in the corner? Find slouchy sweaters and cardigans in the men's section. Don't forget those boyfriend jeans! If you have a smaller frame, you might be able to find something that works for you in the larger end of the children's section. Let yourself get lost in the thrift store for a while. I think it's good for the soul. 

Happy thrifting! 

alpha

Here marks the beginning of my journey into the world of fashion/craft blogging. The majority of my wardrobe is second-hand. I love thrifting because it allows me to create a style that's uniquely 'me' and I don't have to spend a lot of money to do it! So welcome, friend, to Second-Hand Stylista. I hope you emerge armed with knowledge and eagerness to go on your own thrifting quest!

Happy thrifting!
Karen