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