Reduce. Reuse. Recycle… Fashion

I don’t spend a lot of money on my clothes.  I don’t mind if you do, I don’t have a prejudice against buying expensive clothing.  But I just don’t.  Never have.  I like the thrill of finding something I love at a really good price- whether it’s consignment, or mark-down department stores or good ole Target.  I find I like the pieces better when I had to work a little harder finding them.  I shop clearance racks everywhere I go, love a good sale and the occasional coupon, I am not above buying my stuff from Goodwill and I will gladly accept your hand-me-downs.Please don’t confuse this as begging.  I’m just not too proud to wear cheap or free things.  Even if I had all the money in the world, I would still shop this way.  I mean… I’d buy me some fancy stuff just to see what all the hype was about, but I would absolutely still be thrifty.  It’s just fun.  And putting together new outfits with all my pieces- new and old- makes me giddy as a school girl. 

Here I’m wearing lots of fun stuff with fun stories.  The top is from one of my oldest friends.  We give each other clothes from time to time and I love wearing her stuff cause it makes me think of her. It’s by Velvet Heart and I believe she got it from Lavendar Boutique.   It’s so soft and comfy and easy breezy- it’s one of my favorite pieces she’s ever given me.

The cream lace shorts come from Marshall’s and are by Free to Fly.  I bought them several years ago.  They’re double lined, have an elastic waistband so they’re really comfy, and have a pink ribbon strip down the outside of each leg.  $10.  Super cute.

The hot pink pumps are Chinese Laundry by way of Goodwill.  Paid $4.99 for those babies.  By the time they got to my feet, they were perfectly worn in and comfy as hail.

The clutch is mushroom grey vinyl and faux leather from H&M in LA several years back.  It came with straps but I detached them because I preferred the look of it as a clutch.  I use it a ton- both fancy and casual.  It goes with everything.  $15.

This outfit called for a messy ponytail.  I made sure to have some product induced thickness and a little wave in it before I loosely gathered it into a pony.  I left my long bangs down in the front and swept to the side to add to the casual feel of the outfit.

My sunglasses are Kenneth Cole via Marshall’s.  I’ve had them for years.  And they’re my favorite pair of aviators I’ve ever owned. They’ve taken a beating throughout the years and are still good as new.  $7.

My rings are both from Charming Charlie last year- the green one was in a basket of discount rings at the register and I paid $2 for it.  The bigger one is one of my favorites- It was $13.

The bracelets are both from a boutique I walked past on vacation, whose name I simply cannot remember.  Both were on sale for $7.  The wrap-around is one of my new favorite pieces.  I’ve been wearing it all the time.

The earrings come from the same shop- $15.  Also one of my new favs.

 

Looking put together doesn’t require a lot of money.  It may take more thought and creativity to style yourself with inexpensive, odd pieces but I think that’s a positive thing.The best things are never easy.You get more satisfaction out of something knowing you had to think a little harder to create it.  We should all try harder to share and appreciate what we already have instead of be on the prowl for something new and shiny.

The world would be a happier place if we just trusted that what we already possess is simply good enough.

 

XO