If you’re new to my Frugal Fashionista posts, go back to the beginning of the series and see my challenge to dress for less..second hand.
Every outfit that I put together never exceeds $15 (including accessories and footwear).
Looking at the pieces below, I’m maxing out this post at a total cost of $7 (I know, I know…you never find deals like that ;)) .
Showing you the possibilities that are out there for fun, festive holiday attire may encourage you to finally throw away that stenciled Christmas tree sweatshirt that Grandma gave you back in the 90’s. Yes, I admit, I had a growing wardrobe of outdated Christmas clothes that I just couldn’t part with since I thought…”well, they’re festive.”
I GOT RID OF THEM!! Yes, I did and now I am free to dress without the small voice in my head whispering that I must wear it so I don’t hurt momma’s feelings.
I started looking ahead for winter and holiday attire that I could wear more than just three weeks out of the year, and this is just a sampling of what I found over the last few months. (Or what I actually remembered to photograph:) )
My white “Winterwonderland” sweater with removable fur collar and sleeves (although I will not be removing them ).
$3 Goodwill
Remember how I said to look for items with unique details…fun collar, sleeves etc? Well, this $2 yard sale black sweater is perfect to dress up or down. It’s hard to see the sleeves, but they are SO fun. Wearing it with the $1 red scarf, it’s casual, but paired with this fancier necklace, it’s perfect for any dressy affair.
I have lived in this $1 yard sale red sweater for the last two weeks. Worn with jeans, skirts, or black pants, it’s been my versatile “Go To” sweater when I need to dress a little warmer. That is not a red furry collar, it’s a fun hood and I love it.
Ok, below is what I whipped together yesterday in my moment of “daring to be different.” This is actually a little red dress that I picked up at a yard sale, but I didn’t try on until I got home.
HELLO? I will never show off that much of my legs, so I turned it into a shirt, got daring with a funky leather belt and added one of my every increasing wardrobe of scarves.
If I was trying to make this the best possible outfit, I definitely would have worn my high black leather boots. The short ones just don’t cut it, but I was going for the practical, “walking through the snow”, going to vocal team practice, real life outfit and these were the boots that made that happen.
(Please just laugh at the first two pictures. I’m initiating another photographer son and when I went to load the pics, I realized that these were the only pics he took of the boots. I look mad in the pictures. Yes, I will check them before midnight next time. 🙂
I can’t state it enough. Look for clothing pieces that have just a small, unique twist and that becomes a statement piece. The sleeves and fringe made it just that.
When the woman told me that she bought this for the sympony last year and only wore it once, I was sold.
Don’ t tell her, but I would have paid $5 for this designer sweater and she only quoted me $1.
YES, ONE TEENY DOLLAR. That’s better than the Value Menu at Wendy’s. It’s hard to see the detail on this sweater, but it’s definitely one of my holiday attire “scores”. Wearing this with a long, velvet skirt from GoodWill made it an amazing designer, holiday outfit for only $5.
As you sort through your extra clothes and make your donation pile, weed through your dated holiday clothes and get rid of them. Begin the hunt for fun, festive holiday outfits that will leave you looking like a million bucks, yet spare your pocket book from taking a hit.
Every time you do one of these posts I get SO excited!! I really, really need to get some time away from my house (and young children) to scour the local thrift stores. I’m so inspired right now!! And, those sweaters are gorgeous!! I can’t tell which one I love the most. They are all perfect!!
Jen, you look great – I love every piece!! Thanks once again for the wonderful inspiration!
Merry Christmas!
The red sweater is absolutely gorgeous!
Wow, great festive finds! I am in total envy of your scores! I’m just not a sweater gal myself but those are lovely on you. I managed to find a few silky blouses that I would not normally buy since they won’t get a ton of wear, but since they were thrift store finds for under $5 apiece I went for it!)
🙂
That red sweater is fabulous!!
Awesome sweaters, all of them. I assume the yard sale finds were made during “yard sale season”, so I guess you have to envision snowy weather on a 95 degree day…
Absolutely. Thinking ahead to the next season is how I shop for my kids as well. 🙂
I read this earlier today (when I left the gingerbread comment) and then immediately was inspired to go to the local thrift store. My mum came along (she’s visiting for the week -yay!) and the two of us spent a couple hours having fun browsing the shelves.
I came away with amazing treasures. Thrift store and yard sale clothes shopping is one of my favorite things and today was no different – well, today was better because my mum was there to go too 🙂
If we lived closer I would *love* to spend an afternoon or two with you and take all the pictures for you of your clothes/accessories. In fact I might even barter with you and trade photography for some M size thrifty finds 😉
But alas, five hours is a bit of a drive for a photoshoot 🙂
How fun to go with your mom, and yes, I would love to go with you in a heartbeat. Have a blessed Christmas, my friend, and hope you’re sporting some of those frugal finds. 🙂
and oops! meant to add that you got some great finds 🙂
I love the white with the fur!!
Marvelous finds, Jen–you look beautiful for Christmas and will be ready for New Year’s Eve, too!
I stopped by my favorite thrift store on a whim last Monday. I didn’t really intend to go this week, but I sure am glad I did! I found some elegant items for New Year’s and a fancy dinner out we’ve planned in early January to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary. I got an Ann Taylor velvet shell top (lined with silk), a pair of wide-leg Tahari wool trousers, a knee-length leather skirt, and a pair of high peep-toe pumps–all for just over $20. 🙂
Have a blessed Christmas.
Jen, I love every bit of these posts and to see this one today is a ‘Christmas Present’ to me, for that is how much I enjoy seeing your “finds” and how you make it all work (thanks for the pics). Deeply to you I say that you and I are similar in our hunt for the deals and the ‘details’, the love of the process and the beautiful outcome for the lowest price 🙂 Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas! ~Connie (homeschooling mommy of 3 in Oregon)
ps May I add that the Lord has been so good as I am in week 2 of recovering from a bi-lateral mastectomy after finding cancer on one side…the other side and all nodes clear however in the midst of this there are still fun finds at the Goodwill to be found with my ‘new’ body for this time 🙂 My apology to your readers if this is too much information, just wanting to share and give Glory to God, and enjoy the frugal fashionista in each of us! ~C
I really love these frugal fashionista posts! I get so inspired when I read them. I even went to our local Goodwill a couple of weeks ago and tried several things on. This is something I have never done before. Nothing fit me but I will be going back soon. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love all the fur trims. Merry Christmas! I’m in the car driving to CT after out Xmas breakfast. I wanted to take a moment to wish all my favorite bloggy pals a wonderful holiday. Enjoy the time with your family.
Fun! I picked up a couple sweaters recently for $1 a piece and have worn them for all the festivities! Oh, and a dress for Christmas Eve church was only $1 and I wore black pants under it because it was a blizzard! I hope the scarf made up for the pants!
Seeing your gorgeous & fun buys are inspiring, to say the least! Wish I were tall and skinny like you ~ 🙂 I will be looking for great items now too. Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m constantly amazed at your finds!….can’t wait to see the promised plus size post, or have I missed it? I still don’t think it’s possible for me 🙁