A small closet = BIG opportunity!

A recent move and closet down sizing has prompted Patti to reexamine her wardrobe and making the most of what she has.  

Believe it or don't, I have less closet space in our modern condo than in our historical cottage! Ohs noes, I shall have to edit the wardrobe yet some more. And the old one-in, one-out rule will still apply unless I can find a way to freeze-dry my clothing and then just add hot water to revive it! (Remember freeze-dried coffee? So cool at the time).  (source)

While initially, a smaller closet may seem cause for some serious concern; there is a pretty bright silver lining! How much of what we have in our closets are we really over the moon about?  Can we open the door to our wardrobes and smile at what we see there?  And the biggest question:  How much of what's in there do we actually wear?

The reality is that it's better to have 10 things that you LOVE to wear and feel fabulous in than 50 items that are uninspiring.  

So, on that note, when I came across this dress at a recent yard sale, I was all set to list it in my store.  Not believing it would fit, but curious, I tried it on and WOW!  I just love it....the shape, the black & white scheme, the pattern....all of it makes for a piece that makes me smile grin!


I initially tried it on as a dress and MAN!  was that thing short!  At least for me!  And while my husband does love my legs and loves for me to show them, I just don't think I'd be comfortable risking showing sooooo much more!
Paired here with J Crew leggings and flats, it feels very gamine (something I'm really not!).  

And shown here with my favorite black leather skirt (thrifted) and suede boots that I got in a recent swap with my daughter, I changed it up a bit by pairing it with a thin leather belt (thrifted).


For years now, I've been saying that I could make an entire wardrobe out of black and white and still keep it interesting.  Pieces like this make it easy!

And I just can't help but mention that I don't have $5 in this whole outfit! 

 The skirt was thrifted at a church clothing drive that I helped with and I paid $1 for the dress at a yard sale about a month ago.  The details on it are amazing....truly a boutique piece!

5 Reasons to Thrift (that have nothing to do with money!)

Sweet Bella recently did a post on shopping second hand.  It's brilliant in concept and execution!  And while most of us completely understand the financial benefits of thrifting, have you considered the benefits that have almost nothing to do with money?  
It's good for the environment. 
The effect of constant manufacturing of textiles to keep up with the demand of fast fashion has a definite footprint on our environment.  To read more about it, check out this article by the National Center for  Biotechnology Information.  

There's a better selection at your local thrift store

Seriously, there is!  Recently, I went to the local mall and left a bit frustrated.  Sure, beautiful things in every window; but for the most part, everything started to look the same.  I could go into Ann Taylor and see 15 - 20 unique items (for the time I spend in the store).  I can spend the same amount of time in my favorite Goodwill and never see a duplicate item!  I love the varied selection!

Access to unusual items

I'm so fortunate to live in such an ethnically diverse community!  On treasure hunts (thrifting), I've come across a wall hanging from Iran, Turkish slippers and a plethora of Indian tunics.  Even if I could find some of these things at a local retail store, chances are they wouldn't all be in the same store; or they'd be lacking in authenticity.

Giving to a good cause

Most thrift stores represent a charity.  Goodwill provides job training.  Salvation Army helps families in need.  Hospice Thrift provides end of life care to the terminally ill.  Cause for Paws helps find homes for unwanted or abused animals.  The list goes on and on.  When we shop at one of our thrifts, we are helping a good cause AND in many cases, also helping to provide jobs.

The vintage!!!

And now we're at what's really near and dear to my heart!  VINTAGE!  What's more beautiful than a piece that comes with a history and was loved by a kindred spirit from another generation?  Here are a couple of beauties I've found recently.....

Vintage turquoise earrings....Be still my heart!  I just adore these silver earrings.  Genuine silver and turquoise, I'll have these babies till I exit to the hereafter!

I found this hand made dress yesterday and just had to rescue it!  I believe it's all silk and the fabric is totally breathtaking!  I haven't decided whether I'll keep it or put it in my store.  If I do keep it, I can see shortening it to the knee (NOT above) and possibly shortening the sleeves.  I really don't do maxi dresses; but I just couldn't leave this baby behind.

So maybe you're rolling in the dough and money is no object when it comes to shopping.  I'd still challenge you to give thrifting a try.  Check out one of the nicer thrifts in your area.... Goodwill is usually a good place to start.

And should you be so inclined, take the pledge to "Shop Second Hand First".....not only.....but maybe first every now and then.

NUETP: Thrifting the one that got away!

NUETP:  Never Under Estimate The Power

Sometimes the planets align and you can actually thrift that expensive goodie that your pocketbook balks at!

Case in Point:

So check out this fabulous boot from Nine West that truly causes me to salivate more than a little!

And with a price tag of $250, it also makes me weep a bit too!  I just can't....especially on the heels (ha ha, no pun intended) of a $150 boot purchase for my birthday!  Oddly, as I'm sitting here typing, the wheels in my head are STILL turning as to how I can make these happen....Oh man oh man oh man.....

HOWEVER,

Quite a great consolation prize is this pair of VINTAGE 9West booties.


I thrifted these bad boys literally DAYS after I saw the current ones.  While not EXACTLY the same, obviously, they come a really close and contented second.  They have many of the same elements that make the ones above so special:

• 100% leather
• Cordoban tone
• Heel
• Rounded toe
• Same height
• Same shape at the top
• Same western feel

And guess what?!  MY SIZE!  For $3.50, I just about RAN out of the Goodwill with them!   Slight Problem:  When I got home and started to wear them, and they hurt like you wouldn't believe.  Apparently, years of neglect and un-use left the leather really tight.  I tried to bear through it a couple of times and thought my feet would cry genuine tears after 30 minutes.  

I tried stretching them with the water in the ziplock bag method, and while it helped a bit, not nearly enough.  I was concerned that I'd have to put them in my store, but I still had one more Hail Mary play - professional stretching.  For $10, a local shoe repair store was able to stretch them for me.  WOW!  What a difference!!!  While they're still a tad stiff, they are immensely wearable!  So for $13.50 instead of $250; I now own a very similar pair and they're still my beloved Nine West!

While I'd still love to own the current pair, if they never end up on my feet....how could I even complain?  This pair that I thrifted is a most delightful, Candy bar from God!!

***Meaningless Numbers***

Silk blouse:  Thrifted and chopped off the arms, Skirt:  Thrifted, Shoes:  Lela Rose for Payless via eBay

I found this skirt at a new favorite local thrift store.  I saw it on the racks on a couple of visits and finally decided to just get it to sell because it has such great details....side zips that go all the way up the thigh, a great stretchy fabric and tailored seams.  It's a size 2, so as much as I loved it, I was fixated on the size.  But as I was in the dressing room trying on some other things, I eye balled the skirt laying in my cart and thought, "MAN!  I swear that looks like it would fit me!" and so I went for it and braced myself for a few moments of sweating, pulling, grunting and possible tears!

But guess what!?  BAM!  FABULOUSNESS was born!!!  It fit so great that I knew it was meant to be
AND an object lesson was learned.....

FORGET ABOUT SIZES.....THEY MEAN NOTHING

Perusing my closet, you'd find everything from 2 to 16 and everything in between!  That size 2 no more makes me tiny than the size 16 makes me full figured!  I'm just me and those sizes just don't mean a thing!  Makes you wonder why we put so much significance on a number, eh?  

Seven DON'Ts of Thrifting

Top:  My sons', Skirt:  Leather Vintage Thrifted, Shoes:  BCBG Thrifted

Seven Don'ts of Thrifting

1.  DON'T pass by a "not so nice" looking Thrift Store.  This vintage leather skirt was purchased at a Thrift dive a couple of weeks ago for $2!  Some of the BEST things I've found were bought in some of the WORST looking places.  Let others avoid those dusty shops while you clean up like a fat cat!

2.  DON'T buy anything for yourself that you're not crazy about.  Seriously, if you even have to ask yourself, "Hmm, should I get this?", then the answer is probably "No".  If you DO this DON'T, you'll be guaranteed to end up with a closet full of "so so" instead of a closet full of "FABULOUS!".

3.  DON'T leave anything behind that you really want.  Most likely, it WILL NOT be there when you go back.   Rule of thrifting, if you think you're going to be thinking about it long after you leave the store, better get it right then!

4.  DON'T be afraid to get out of your comfort zone.  Did I ever think I'd like this aqua blue green color?  Absolutely not.  But for $2....knowing that it's a quality buttery leather skirt makes it easier for me to experiment and find out that I actually DO like the color of a 1963 bathroom!

5.  DON'T hit and miss.  I often hear, "Wow Serene!  How do you find such great stuff at thrift stores?  I NEVER find stuff like that!"  There's no special magic I have for finding things.  I enjoy the hunt, so I go often and scour the racks.  When it comes to skirts, dresses, and sweaters; I will quickly go hanger by hanger and put my eyes on everything.  There are just too many items to cast a fleeting glance and tell if there's gold in them thar hills!  Take your time and go often.  The treasures will reveal themselves to you!

6.  DON'T pass up something with a great fit!  I'm talking PHENOMENAL fit!  Especially when it comes to skirts and pants.  Even something painfully ugly will look FABULOUS with a perfect fit!   

7.  DON'T take thrifting too seriously.  It's supposed to be fun.  So you could kick yourself because you passed up that fur coat because you wanted to think about it and when you decided that your quality of life would triple with it in your closet; you return to the store to find it gone.  You forgot Don't #3!  No big!  I promise you, you'll come across something else equally FABULOUS and MONUMENTAL on another visit!