Vintage Hide&&Seek

  Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons; sweater tights, Pumpkin Spice lattes, Halloween, morning fog, that crisp chill in the air. What more could a gal want? However, my absolute favorite part of fall is when second-hand stores start bringing out more of their vintage and vintage inspired pieces. 
  Just like most stores, second-hand shops tend to advertise clothes that reflect any current holidays coming up. I have found that in the months before Halloween, second-hand stores hold onto vintage looking shoes, accessories, and clothes; then, when the month of October comes around, they put out everything they have been holding onto for people looking to create Halloween costumes. For those of us just looking for the day-to-day vintage pieces, it's a jackpot. 
  A few weekends ago, my mom and I took our usual Sunday trip to Goodwill to drop off some donations and, of course, we couldn't help but to go inside and take a peek. The whole store had been transformed into a Halloween junkies dream. I ended up picking up a few things, they aren't vintage but I wouldn't have found them had they not been set out for Halloween...

1. Boots for Fall

  These White Mountain Boots were only $15.oo They have no scuffs, they have a leather upper, and the buckle on the back is a really nice detail without being overwhelming. Now compare these to..

  These Dolce vita Equestrian boots are extremely similar to the boots I bought for $15.oo except these cost $219.oo (Thrifting wins again!) 

2.. Faux Shearling Lined Jacket

  This tan, faux shearling lined jacket has been one of my favorite finds! It's American Eagle and runs at about $100.oo new. I bought it for only $7.oo :) It's extremely warm and completely worn in from its previous owner (so its not stiff at all!). The only down side to buying this jacket is that the previous owner left tissues in both the pockets (ewewewewew) and one of the pockets is tearing a little. Other than that, this jacket was one haute pick ;)

Venus and I are sew thrifty&&sew happy!

Top 10 Trends for Fall

1. Velvet

2. Faux Fur

3. Lace

4. Graphic Prints

5. Bold Reds

6. Capes&&Ponchos

7. Sexy Sheers

8. Something Spotted

9. An Exotic Print

10. Lace Up Booties

Sew Thrifty. Sew Happy.

Thrifting? No, thanks. I don't dig the grandma look...

  Contrary to the popular belief of non-thrifters, second-hand stores do not solely consist of grandma clothes, 80's and 90's blasts from the pasts, and polyester suits. 

  As a shopoholic college student, buying clothes at full price isn't always in my budget...ever. So, how does a trendy gal (or guy) like myself keep up with looking fashionable and not outdated? I thrift. Thrifting isn't just walking into the nearest second-hand store and walking out with armfuls of trendy clothes. Like most activities in life, thrifting has rules. Theses rules aren't made to annoy you, they are made to help you get the most out of your thrifting experience. :)

The Trendy Gals&&Guys Guide To Thrifting.
1. Walk in with a sense of adventure. 
Walking into a second-hand store with a specific item in mind will get you no where (except to a place of constant frustration). Remember: It's not the mall. 

2. Don't always look at things as what they are but what they could be. 
If you posses any type of sewing ability, embrace it! If not, learn some simple sewing techniques. Vintage is very popular, but not all vintage silhouettes are modern friendly. I find this to be the case with a lot of dresses. Sometimes you want the neckline lowered, the hem shortened, or sleeve length changed. Having the ability to alter second-hand looks will help them to move fashionably forward. 

3. Make sure you are familiar with current and future trends.
Read Cosmo, Glamour, Vogue, Elle, Seventeen, People, any type of magazine that gives you examples of current and future styles. I find quite a bit that people give away clothes to second-hand stores that they think have been outdated. Remember: Everything in fashion comes back! Styles, colors, patters, silhouettes, you name it! 


4. Check out the accessories!
Do not make the mistake of only looking at the clothes! Check out the bags, shoes, belts, hats, and jewelry. 


Sew Thrifty. Sew Happy.