It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
(Hum it with me while I sing) “There are thrift stores to discover, frugal finds to uncover and scarves just waiting to be tied…”
Oh, excuse me, I’m getting carried away because I am about to disclose two of my newest Frugal Fashionista finds, and they just happen to have made my “Top Ten” list.
For many, a timeless leather jacket is an investment that is worth the splurge because of it’s versatility, wearability and basically, just the sheer classy lady factor. For me, as much as I can appreciate doing the math on a “cost per wear” basis, I just haven’t felt called to take the leather jacket plunge… until now.
One of my favorite thrift store tips is to watch as the employees roll out the new racks of clothing. If someone in your size happens to have just donated, you’ll have many choices located in one spot without having to dig.
So image the heart palpitations that began when my eyes caught sight of the rolling cart. It was across the Goodwill store, but I could just catch a hint of the end cap. There it was… hanging in all its glory…a perfect, black leather jacket.
Could it be? Just for me? Was it a ladies’ size? Or just for guys?
I promise. I did not sprint. I can take a hint. That would not have been lady like. (But I did do a bee line straight for that piece of perfection.)
Now the next question would be about the price. Often, but not always, leather items are marked “special finds” and the regular prices do not apply.
Well, guess what? It was JUST my size, and by divine intervention, there was not a “special finds” price tag on it. I raced it to the check out and literally prayed the whole time, “Oh please, may she not say it’s a special leather find, please, may she not say it’s a special find…”
My sweet cashier rang me up (while I chatted to her the whole time…maybe an attempt to distract her from my find, maybe not. 😉 ), and then it happened.
She gave me my total.
My astronomical total for a beautiful, leather jacket in pristine condition, that fit like a glove, that didn’t need to be altered or have the 80’s shoulder pads removed was….
$5!!!!! Yes, FIVE DOLLARS!
(Pic taken at 11pm by darling photographer daughter. Oops…fuzzy, but I was not redressing. :))
So let’s price the outfit on the left: Right:
- Leather jacket: $5 (Goodwill) Banana Republic shirt: $1
- Pink Sweater: $1 (Yard Sale) Brown Designer jacket: $3
- Skirt: $1 (Yard Sale) Black WOOL skirt: $1
- Leather Black Boots: $5 Banana Republic boots:
Total with TWO leather items: $12!! Total will be revealed…
This brown jacket raves versatility, dressed up, or paired very casually with jeans, it’s always a winner. Ever since my initial scarves post, I have been adding them to everything – fun, frugal, easy and cute.
This wool skirt is actually from a two piece set that retails for hundreds of dollars. My daughter saw this picture below and mentioned that I looked like a cowgirl. I don’t think that was the look I was shooting for, but when you see the price on Banana Republic boots, you can think I was shooting for anything and it just won’t bother me.
I always LOVE Banana Republic’s quality and know, at times, they have great deals, but NEVER EVER this good.
Yes, view the original purchase price on the box, and then the blue yard sale tag (it would not be these inexpensive at a thrift store).
I found the brown jacket, boots (and a boat load of other items) from the same lady who sold everything in near perfect condition, many with the tags still hanging.
CHA CHING! SCORE!!!! Doing the happy thrifting dance:)
And that is why I am LOVING LEATHER at my Frugal Fashionista prices. Finds that inexpensive don’t come along every day, but often enough to know that thrifting is SO worth it.
So now do you want to join with me?
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
Scoop me up off the floor! Wow Jen, that’s awesome.
Both outfits are gorgeous. Way to go!
Jen, this is amazing! Good for you!
Holy smokes! I thought I was a happy camper when I found boots for $2. You are truly blessed when it comes to great bargains! You have inspired me more than once, keep it up Miss Jen!
one word…..AMAZING!
Great! I have to admit I paid $5 for non-leather black boots the other day. And $20 for a perfect leather jacket – good finds, but not quite like you! Oh well, I also got three pairs of dress pants (something my post-third-baby-body really needed) that fit perfectly for $1 each! Thanks for sharing, and I LOVE both outfits – so what if boots and fringed skirt are a bit western! 😉
Awesome!! What a blessing from the Lord. This was a fun post, and very inspiring!! Blessings!
Amazing! I spotted two incredible leather jackets the other day, but one was marked $25 (obviously a deal, but a still a deal-breaker for me) and the other was a man’s jacket that wasn’t my husband’s size.
Wow! Those are beautiful! I have to say, I’m jealous. I live in the DFW area and never have I seen such finds at such prices.
Amazing!! Do you realize how much western style clothes are?? Extremely expensive ~ 🙂 You really scored! I haven’t seen bargains like that in Texas…perhaps I need to change areas and try something new.
This post is giving me heart palpitations!! I NEED THAT FIRST JACKET!! When you are done with it, kindly send it my way!
Hee hee…you are first at the top of my list. 🙂
Nice find. Please dont take this the wrong way. Do you ever feel quilty about buying clothing from a thrift store, when it looks as if you could afford to go to regular clothing stores. Maybe we should leave the thrift stores for those folks that are are poor and maybe out of work. They are the ones that could really use that nice clothing to perhaps feel better about themselves or to dress up when looking for work. I think those folks really rely on the thrift stores to cloth their families. I always like being frugal, but I dont want to take away from folks who really need the thrift stores for survival.
Hi Sharon – Don’t worry, I don’t take this the wrong way at all, and would love to respond. In many areas (and especially ours), there are SO many thrift stores stuffed with clothes. I think that seriously every single person could shop at a thrift store and there would still be things left over. If you’ve looked into Goodwill or Thrift stores, they end up having to throw things away after awhile. I honestly wish that more people would shop thrift. Believe it or not, I have spoken with people that are unemployed and even some living at poverty level who refuse to shop thrift.
And on to your first point, you must be a new reader…I love that I look like I could afford to go to a regular store, that is the beauty of thrift, especially when my husband has been out of work for the last ten months. It’s detailed in my archives as part of our God Watch.
But even when we are back fully employed, I will still shop thrift because it’s a way that we can have five children, repurpose and stay debt free. If I had shopped retail over my lifetime, we wouldn’t have been able to go these last ten months without being in a lot of financial trouble. Thanks for the comment and I am glad I could address it. 🙂
Thank you, you explained it very well. I am a new reader. I hope your husband finds work soon. Happy Holidays to your family.
Sharon
It could not have happened to a better person – enjoy!
Your finds are amazing! I know God is just blessing you like crazy! And I love your response to Sharon’s questions as well. Debt free rocks!
I just had to giggle when I saw the box for your boots, with the original price of $178, the yard sale price of $1, and the style of the boot “Charity” 🙂 Maybe she thought she was giving her “Charity” boots to charity 🙂
About Sharon’s comment…my favorite thrift store actually STOPPED ACCEPTING USED CLOTHES for awhile. Their dumpster was overflowing with clothes; it seems that almost everyone has more clothes than they *truly need* these days…
OH MY GOODNESS, I am laughing so hard. You are right. I didn’t even think about that…too funny.
wow! so happy for you! love that skirt with the fringy stuff! Kelly
WOW that is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!!!!
I think I might be confused. lol. Your jacket looks more like Suede to me, and I thought it and leather were two different things (well, two different sides of the hide…)?
Hmm…I don’t know since I am not a expert on leather. I am just going from the inside tag and it says leather , but since there were no hanging tags, could it be suede leather, but it just doesn’t say?
Either way, I am still thrilled. 🙂
It is a great deal.
The best deal I’ve found at Goodwill lately were some nice boots, but they were still $9.00!
I’ll have to visit NC sometime soon. 🙂
I love you! You are a rockstar…a penny pinching great example of living within your means rockstar! You look so great in both outfits! I too noticed the name of the boots! Love it!
I wanted to share something pretty cool that our local thrift store does. I live in Utah. Where the most common thrift store is the DI ( Deseret Industries) After the clothes have been sitting for too long they pull them from the racks and bundle them in a compresser. Like you see cardboard. Then they are shipped over seas to third world countries. Washed and dried as to not be horribly wrinkled and donated to less fortunate people there. I had never realized that the clothes at some thrift stores are discarded. That is heart breaking when there is such need in other areas of the world. By the way, my son who was working on his “Citizenship in the Community” merit badge did service hours at the DI and was one of the people pulling the older clothes. He really got to see the big picture!
I love your fashion shows!! I can’t wait to see the next one!
Jen, yes I want to join you! I just found your website and am so inspired by your thrift store finds along with your “put together” looks and trash to treasure transformations. I’m one of those people who has shopped at thrift stores from time to time for stuff like canning jars but thought “eww” about clothes. At first I thought I couldn’t find anything because I’m not small like you and I’m tall. Wrong! I found every size at the Goodwill and more tall sizes than I would ever find at the local mall.
My deals weren’t as smoking as yours but here’s my first haul: a gorgeous silk Coldwater Creek blouse, a Penney’s brand tunic in my tall size, and a very good quality black knit jacket with soutache braiding (labels removed). I would estimate the retail value of the 3 items to be at least $150, all looked new, and I paid $13! Thanks.
This has opened up a whole new hobby for me but I can see how I must learn to use restraint or I will be quickly overrun with great clothes spilling out of my closet.
To the poster who thinks people who can afford to shop retail should feel guilty, I also wanted to point out that thrift stores usually serve other purposes. Goodwill and Salvation Army train and rehabilitate people who would otherwise not be employable. And many other thrift stores are run to provide funding for charitable causes. So anyone who shops at thrift stores is actually helping those less fortunate.
You are in NC? Just curious if the thrift stores you are shopping at are in the Charlotte area? My parents love the thrift stores in that area (they live 8 hrs. from there). The thrift stores there are awesome, so these kinds of deals I don’t believe would be as readily available elsewhere. I hope I get a chance to visit there sometime; I love that area!
You, my friend, have a gift! Fabulous finds!!! 🙂
Jen, I didn’t realize your husband has been out of work for 10 months–God bless you guys! I’ll be praying. Suede is leather with a different finish. Technically it should be called “sueded leather” but it is called suede for short! So, yes, it is leather. When are we linking up? I’ve been finding things are ready to take a fashion show, even though I’m twice your size–LOL.
Jen,
Love the looks and your stewardship. Too add to your comments to Sharon, shopping thrift whether you can afford new or not allows you to use your money to do other things. For example, purchasing food for the local food pantry, or help a single mother in need, sponsoring a missionary or even pay off your own mortgage early.
I wish, like Jen, that others shipped thrift more often. I see couples with big houses, big vehicles, lots of new trendy clothing with all of the accessories and wonder how in the world they are keeping their heads above water…….many simply aren’t. They are caught up with keeping up with the “Jones'” mentality.
My family loves thrifting, repurposing, etc. It is fun and rewarding in so many ways 🙂
Good golly I would love to find boots like yours in my size! Now that’s a bargain!!! I just wanted to chime in and say that thrift shopping is for everyone at all income levels— by buying thrift, you support the mission behind the store (we shop Goodwill). My husband and I are amazed at the variety of cars in our local shops parking lot — everything from Hummers to junkers. And the stuff on the racks inside — everything from expensive designer items to weird and strange clothes. It’s high entertainment!
You are so right…I’ve wrote a post at an another site where I shared that thrift stores embodies the melting pot of America…I love it – every culture, background, pay scale. I have had the best “life” conversations at our local Goodwill.
Jen,
I have been inspired by your finds and deals. I just got back from our local thrift store and I was able to purchase 18 pieces of clothing (for my 5 daughters) all look brand new and come from high end stores… got it all for $30.55 (that’s roughly $6.00 per child)!!!! I am going to wrap them up and put them under the Christmas tree!!! wooo hooo after Christmas we should all link up for another fashion show!!!!!
Thanks
S
You are so right…I’ve wrote a post at an another site where I shared that thrift stores embodies the melting pot of America…I love it – every culture, background, pay scale. I have had the best “life” conversations at our local Goodwill.
ooops…meant that for last poster. I was going to respond to you that we definitely need another link up….how about next Friday? I’ll post it.
Sounds Great….
I love leather and have gotten quite a lot of nice leather and suede at thrifts. I try to determine if I can clean/deodorize it on my own — having it professionally done adds on too much to the price. But I have a trick I hope you’ll try. If I can snag a cheap enough piece to try it on, I’m going to give it a shot too…
I have been told that if you run a leather piece through the washer and dryer, you end up with an instantly distressed garment that is “instant vintage.” I am dying to see this in action!