How far can you stretch 50 bucks in fashion?

Each year there is a monumental struggle between wardrobe and wallet. It's like the clash of the Titans. And for some reason Sisters-mine and I all step forward to participate in this struggle at the same time. Not having much of our own moolah means that Mama and Dad's wallet takes a hit that it doesn't like the flavor of. You know the old tale--every family does, unless you happen to make a 3-digit thousands income. ;)

Yesterday, however, I took my last fifty dollars from the money I made this summer and thought I'd help out--I needed the clothes and the family couldn't foot the complete bill so soon after Sisters-mine drained the coffers last week for their autumnal shopping. This was going to be a fun challenge for me, and already I had an idea that I'd make it into a cool practice-what-you-preach blog post.

You remember I lectured you on wise spending a couple weeks ago? Yeah? Well this week it was my turn to try out my own methods. Just how much can a girl get for fifty bucks? Let's see...

I started by using my own Rule Number One: getting rid of anything you don't wear now. That was easy enough--after a year you kinda get a feel for what you wore and what you didn't the year before.

Then it was time for Rule Number Two: buy at thrift-stores!

I moved on to the rest of my rules to see if the system actually worked. First stop? Salvation Army! There are two in a town nearish us, so we went to both of them. Salvation Armies are amazing because on Wednesdays, all clothing and apparel is 50% off! YES! And I apologize in advance for the low photo-quality...Sarah had done something genius and photographically correct with her settings which was too advanced for my point-and-shoot self, and the shutter took *forever* to snap so I couldn't get any cool shots of the belt or the vest like I wanted....

Sage green ruffle-button top and cozy grey sweater: $1.50 and $2.00

Total: $3.50

This looks so much cooler in person. It's what I've affectionately termed my "Amelia Earhart" outfit.

Genuine Leather Vest: $5.00 (I splurged) 

Short-sleeve Sweater: $1.50 

Really good-quality brown skirt: $2.50

Total: $9.00

I'm planning on wearing this with my vintage alligator-skin Oxfords! :D

Rose-bud silk/satin blouse: $1.50

Lavender ruffle-top: $1.50

Dip-dyed sweater: $2.00

Total: $5.00

I walked past this blouse in the store and thought, "Aw, that's kinda cute. But it's probably for grandmothers." Then I saw the smocked elastic at the bottom and knew it was a vintage-inspired item for "Today" that I wanted to own. :) I mean, come on. Who doesn't like a fluffy blouse with blue polka-dots?

Vintage-inspired blouse: $1.50

Total: $1.50

Forest blouse with side-tie sash: $1.50

Total: $1.50

 This one is going to be my cozy go-to outfit. I just know it. A sweater-knit hoodie/cami? Yes please! And in a warm, cozy mulberry color. Love it! The brown, calf-length "broom-stick" skirt is pretty cute too.

Mulberry Sweater-duo: $2.00

Skirt: $2.50

Total: $4.50

Who can say Nautical? I love this sailor-sweater. So warm, but so winsome! And it's soft as cashmere, which is a plus. I hate scratchy sweaters. :D

Sweater: $1.50

Total: $1.50

Blue half-sweater: $1.50

Cream lightweight sweater-blouse: $1.50

Total: $3.00

Of course either of these two items could be paired with something different, but I liked them so much together in the store, I'm sure I'll wear them that way much of the time. Here's a close-up of the detail of that cream sweater:

One last outfit...

Mulberry-colored thermal shirt/hoodie: $1.50

Style & Co jeans: $3.50

Western-style leather belt: $2.00

Total: $7.00

Look! I even managed to squeeze in a pair of shoes. Really really cute shoes at that.

Lace-accent peep-toe heels: $3.50

Total: $3.50

I ended up at a Goodwill too, but only bought the jeans there, having only a little money leftover. But I was pretty pleased with myself because the pair of jeans had an orange tag and guess what? Yup. Wednesday is Orange Tag day at that Goodwill!

If you tally up all my best-as-I-can-remember prices it comes up to around 40 bucks. I know I spent closer to fifty so I guess I am remembering some of the prices incorrectly. STILL! God's provision is so awesome! 19 items for $50.00...comes out to just over $2.50 an item! Beautiful.

If this isn't cool enough, I'm busting the myth of thrift-store clothes being Walmart hand-me-downs. There is quality stuff here, okay? Let me prove it to you--here's a list of all the brand-names I got:

She Said

C'est City--an August Silk company

New York & Company

Appleseed's

Sag Harbor

Dressbarn

L.A. Blues

Gap

Cato

Say What?

Fioni

Style & Co.

Worthington

Laura Scott

D.F.A. New York

In a way, we Thrifters are the die-hard fashionistas. We're the ones who are willing to pour time and patience into wearing brands. It's easy to swipe a credit card and buy clothes from designers. But those of us  who wait...and wait...and search...and wait...and search longer get the labels at an ounce of the original price. Don't lose heart--look how the Lord blessed fifty bucks! Amazing.

What say you? Thrift stores for the win?

Eight ways to dress for money's sake

 "I love America, and I love American women. But there is one thing that deeply shocks me--American closets. I cannot believe one can dress well when you have so much."

-Andree Putman

A wardrobe is quite an easy thing to concoct for one's self...online that is. My Pinterest-closet is the most amazing thing you've ever clamped eyes on--I could dress the world out of it. Only...I can't. That's right. Though I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to fabulous wearables, My clothing is somewhat limited on behalf of budget and that-shirt-is-perfectly-good-even-if-it-isn't-flattering kind of things.

So what's a girl to do when she's inspired for fashion and has a very slim budget? I'll give you my tips on how to dress well without emptying your pockets and exhausting yourself. All you will need is a good eye, a deal of patience, and a bit of money.

 
1.} When sorting through your current clothing, don't keep anything that you don't wear. Chances are if you haven't worn it yet, you never will.Instead, get that clothing out of your drawers so you don't sit there staring at a stuffed dresser wondering what in the blue blazes there is to wear. Makes a person feel stupid to do that.

2.} Shop at thrift-stores and consignment shops: really, this is oughtta be Rule Number One. Sure you feel like you need to bathe in flea solution after coming into contact with some of them, but you've gotta admit that when you're shopping at most thrift stores you've got all the rich, pitying people donating their designer clothes. I'll admit that some thrift-stores are pointless to go to. Visit a few around your area and learn which ones have the clothes and which don't. Generally the shops in rural areas just won't be that great. Instead, look for thrift-stores near the posh parts of a city--chances are the wealthy folks around town will be dropping off all their cast-aways here. I think it's safe to say that....90% of my wardrobe is made of hand-me-downs or thrift-store clothes. It's the way we've rolled for years.

3.} Don't buy it unless you are absolutely certain you'll wear it: This is something I've had to train myself to do. I'll find a shirt or skirt and put it in my basket because it'll work, but when I look at it five minutes later I give it a good going-over. Does this color look good on me? Does this style look good on me? Will I actually wear it? Sometimes the shirt or skirt is just plain ugly. Don't stress about not buying it--you'd do much better to save your five dollars and spend it on something you'll actually get some use out of. We all have that graveyard-in-the-closet where those bad choices dwell. It's full enough already.

4.} When buying new clothes, keep in mind the clothes you already have: Mama taught me a long time ago to be wise in choosing clothes, even if it fits and it's pretty. Sometimes I'll pick up the most beautiful skirt but after considering it, I realize I have nothing that would match with it, it isn't a very versatile thing, and unless I am okay wearing the same exact outfit eight times to church this summer, I really shouldn't buy it. It's hard to do, but in the end when you consider everything you could do with a different item, you'll cheer up.

Someday when you marry that millionaire you can splurge. ;)

5.} Think simple, then snazzy: If you've got the chance to buy four items of clothing, pick three that are simple, multipurpose colors/styles, and one accent piece. You'll find you can stretch out your out-fits pairing the things you have at home with these new pieces. While the accent pieces are fun and necessary, if you bought four accent pieces you might find you didn't have anything to match and instead of opening up a whole new batch of possibilities, you'd limit yourself severely in comparison.

 The striped skirt could be the accent piece you buy, but the grey top can be re-purposed so many ways!

6.} Accessorize as much as you can: (And no, I don't mean all at once.) Look for belts, long necklaces, sweater, shrugs, vests...anything you can think of that is versatile and will change the look of an otherwise drab outfit.

The neat thing about most accessories is that you can wear them with multiple outfits and if you look hard enough they are not expensive. (and necklaces and belts are not that expensive to begin with!) You'll be surprised how much wider your range of outfits will be just by introducing a new piece or two.

7.} Watch the sales racks: this is an area I haven't explored much because I don't have time to frequent Cato and Belk and other stores that have great sales. But many of my girl-friends tell me that the sales can be killer if you just lurk around long enough. I imagine this would be a fabulous time to get some of the things you'd not be able to afford otherwise. Splurge on a bit of a wild, works-with-one-outfit kind of thing here!

8.} Blink, wink, and think: Sometimes you get to the point where there is not a red cent to your name and you're sick to death of every outfit you've put together. Now is the time to get creative with the clothes you do have. Set out some of your clothes in their usual outfits. Then separate them into piles of tops and bottoms. Try mixing and matching and see what you come up with. Often you'll find a color combo you'd never have thought of! (stay tuned to see the Blue Peacock Whimsy outfit I rummaged up a few Sundays ago.) The important thing here is not to over-think it. Cross your eyes if you have to. But I guarantee that you'll come up with something wearable.

I hope these pointers have aided you in remembering to dress well even when you feel poor as Job's turkey! What are some of your tips and tricks? <3

She's Making a List...

I know it is not even November yet, but now is the time of year I begin to think about making presents for people. Mama, Grace, Anna, Daniel, Benjamin, two aunts, and several good friends have their birthdays before Christmas, and then there are Christmas presents to get too. Needless to say, I could start much earlier and not be amiss! Naturally, I haven't the funds to buy presents for everybody, and I detest cheaply made things. Homemade can be amazing, or ridiculous. I vote for the amazing side of things. It's pretty easily done, actually! Some of the ideas I've had (and executed) are:

• A Christmas-themed novelette: "A Tale of Fairfax and Cloves"
• Aprons

not mine. :)

• Flower bobby-pins

Looks easy enough but no, I didn't make these. :)

• water-color painting

This belongs to an unfinished children's book about a toad named Mr. Otis Puddleby. :)

• homemade cordial cherries and cookie-dough truffles
• a bird-cage made out of Popsicle-sticks with a tiny fake bird for a younger sister--she *adored* it!
• hand-made dolls
• crocheted hats or scarves. Please, nothing lumpy. The idea is fashion. ;) 
• straw-hat work-basket. (instructions from the 1800's! :)
• Elaborately decorated and decoupaged book of quotes
• tea-stained stationary

My hand-decorated Pride and Prejudice stationary: "It is a truth universally acknowledged..."

• Egg-dolls

This is Miss Eglantine Benedict. She was recently shipped off to Washington a girl who won her. :)

•  Decoupaged paste-board boxes

I made this for a recent contest on my writing blog

There are so many many things you can make to give as gifts that cost little or no money. Handmade doesn't have to mean a sorry excuse for a present. Some of the best gifts I've been given were made with bits and pieces from around the giver's house. Don't be afraid to go wild. You'll come up with something, I know. But if you have the funds to buy gifts, I am not belittling you. It would be a whole lot easier to be able to buy something you really know the person will love. It just seems my budget entitles me to the Dollar Tree or my own resources...I prefer my own hands to those of some factory-workers in China. ;)