This is one of those posts I can’t believe I haven’t written before. Talize is one of my main stompin’ grounds, and I certainly thought I would have blogged a thrift trip inside their orange walls already. But alas! Not yet! So, without further ado, here we go!
Wait, a little more ado: thrifting for summer clothing is just the best. I spend all winter passing over cute summer dresses and crocheted crop tops because of their impracticality, but for a brief window, I can load up on all the things that have no place in the world besides a musical festival or summer camp (and I’ve gone to neither, oddly enough).
Now here we go. Let’s talk dresses!
First to be granted a chance on Julie’s Next Top Mini were these two dresses in varying shades of purple. The burgundy one was a lovely colour, and very flattering, but it fell in the “too short for work” and “not fun enough for everything else” zone. I loved the lace cutouts on the 80s voilet number! But it was too short for, well, everything. So, it was a pass as well.
Both of the above looks, it they had fit, would have fit nicely in the “imaginary music festival” section of my closet. The coral sun dress was a bit paper-baggy at the top, though, and the black maxi was just eh. Honestly, I’ve just been desperate to create this look from 2011 with a maxi and a belt, but I think that might have to do less with finding the right dress, and more with eating fewer potato chips.
Four misses off the bat isn’t unusual for me. It’s just part of the process. As the old saying goes: if at first you don’t succeed, wait until your sister finds something that’s too big for her!
Actually, to be honest, Laura pulled this one specifically for me, because it almost could have worked as a bridesmaid dress for the upcoming nuptials of my other sister. We’re all wearing mismatched navy/lace dresses, and I’m the only one who hasn’t purchased a dress yet. While this dress is lace, it’s a bit too teal, a bit too tight, and not quite formal enough for a girl on bridesmaid duty. That said, I’m confident I can find another occasion to wear a stretchy lace dress in any colour, so I brought it home.
Having declared a victor in the race of JNTM (Julie’s Next Top Mini, keep up, guys), let’s turn our attention towards some basics:
Remember last year when I expressed my desire for a thrifted denim shirt? And my delight when I finally found one I loved? That find signified that the denim shirt trend has reached a point of critical mass. That’s a term I don’t really understand, but I’m using it to say that the denim/chambray shirt trend is now so wide spread you can find them in thrift stores easily. I did like the snaps and details on the chambray shirt above, but it also just felt a little too Claire Dunphy. Don’t get me wrong, Claire is a babe, and she can rock the “mom on the go” thing with ease, but I’m not a mom yet, and when I’m “on the go”, it’s usually “I’m going to get ice cream.”
The two “yeps” above aren’t extraordinary, but they are fun and functional. That first top in particular is just a comfy, colourful stop that I might wear on a Saturday while I do errands (ie: go thrifting). And those jean shorts will be worn every second I’m not at work. I’ve been wishing for some denim shorts that weren’t Daisy Dukes, and these fit the bill. They are a little snug at the moment, but I plan on stretchin’ them right out.
Next up: Leather!
Ok, not neither of the above items feature real leather, but they’re close enough. I loved, loved, loved, the cut and shoulders on that first jacket, and the lines of leather on that Nygard coat made it look more modern than it actually was. But, in stark contrast to my trouble with dresses, both these items were a little too big. But not to worry, I did end up with a piece made of actual leather:
This Danier leather vest is a quality piece! The way it fits almost gives off a bustier feel, and sort of gave me vibes similar to this favourite look from Yen. While I’m not sure how I’ll wear it yet, the It’s a piece that will stand the test of time. While the leather goods are among the higher prices items at the thrift store (this one was $15), they earn that price tag. And sometimes I need to take the item out of it’s thrift store context: If I saw this piece at Danier for $15, I’d snatch it up faster than you can stay “see my vest.” Since this one was in great condition, my reaction was the very same.
The last item in my haul were these adorably tacky gold flats. They have GIANT ZIPPERS on top. Like, huh? Plus, that little gold heel injects just enough class into an otherwise too flashy shoe.
Perhaps what I like best about this thrift trip is that no two items are alike. I came home with a dress, a shirt, a vest, shorts, and a pair of shoes, in varying textures of lace, cotton, leather, denim, and gold. Thrift stores are always a mixed bag, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Until next time!