Welcome to my October Frugal Fashionista Fashion Show.
If you’re not familiar with my ongoing Frugal Fashionista series, it’s my personal attempt to encourage women that we can dress fabulously, express a creative side that we never thought imaginable, and do it all on a “yard sale” budget.
Yes, I have heard all the hesitations about dressing thrift, but I can guarantee that with an eagle eye and some patience, we can all create a small designer wardrobe consisting of core wardrobe pieces for $100. For those of you with petite to plus sizes, it requires a bit more work, but just this week alone I found the cutest size zero Anne Taylor dress (sold in their retail stores just last year), the sassiest size 22 pair of jeans…hip as can be, a fabulous size 20 black dress and three plus size skirts all for a total of $15.
So have some fun…you may hit the jackpot your first time out…or not, but when you do, it’s SO worth it.
Remember, thrift is back, it’s the new black…
My great find this week.
It never ceases to amaze me the quality of gorgeous clothing that people donate. Consumerism is still through the roof in relationship to women and their clothing, but I benefit from those who get tired of their outfits after just a few wears, so I am not complaining. 🙂
Remember my tip about trying on various sizes? This shirt is a prime example. It’s a much bigger size than I would typically wear, but since I purchased it at a yard sale for $1, I wasn’t about to pass it up.
A classic white shirt is one of my core wardrobe pieces and this style flatters any size. Because it ties on the side, I cinched it tight and love it! Even when I was 40 pounds heavier, this same shirt would have fit. A $0.50 yard sale Liz tank is layered underneath for modesty.
I accented the outfit with a brown jeweled bracelet – $1 (yard sale), and a fun drop necklace that you must see, but can’t…ugh. Again, yard sale.
I’m just going to say it…I was giddy when I found this skirt, oh yes, I was.
The possibilities are endless. Getting ready for church and running really late, (yes, I literally left the house with soaking wet hair), I grabbed the first shirt that matched – white. But this style would be spectacular with turquoise, light blue, black, brown, green, or orange. I have at least eight shirts that would match and it can be worn all year round – dressed up or down. Again, remember that sizes when thrifting really varies. This skirt is a petite and I am on the tall side. Assuming it would be too short, I tried it on anyhow since I LOVED the fabric. I guess it’s meant to be worn longer, but I snatched it up anyhow…for just $2.99 (Carolina Thrift).
I know that some of you are extremely hesitant about wearing second hand shoes, and eventually I will do an entire post addressing just that issue. Until then, trust me on this purchase. I walked up the driveway of this yard sale and these shouted, “Buy me.” At $1, it was a no brainer. The owner exclaimed how she loved these shoes, but she bought them to match a dress that she wore to a wedding and was only going to wear it once. I LOVE ladies like that. I’ll take that all day long. These are definitely not shoes that I would recommend wearing to church and then shopping at Sam’s Club…again, trust me on that one. 🙂
So have you done the math?
- Shirt and tank – $1.50
- Skirt – $2.99
- Shoes – $1.00
- Jewelery – $2.00
Total cost of this outfit (which really does look better in real life): $7.50
I was going to do another outfit, but this is your opportunity to show us the great deals and steals that you have put together in the fashion department. Remember, at least one of the main items in your outfit should be second hand.
You are truly a Frugal Fashionista! I love the outifts you put together.
WOWZERS! I love the skirt! Beautiful! You’ve really opened my eyes to giving the clothing in thrift stores more than a passing glance. I’m already styling a few more items to my work wardrobe thanks to you. Keep the ideas and tips coming.
Thanks for hosting Jen! It takes a brave woman to post pics of herself, and you do it often! And I LOVE that skirt, it’s just wonderful. It’s great to find a piece that goes with lots of others.
Although I find plenty of clothing for me and family, I am still working on finding shoes and accessories the way you do – or maybe it’s just that I don’t look because I tend to wear the same black shoes, brown shoes and three necklaces that are my favorites!
I know…I feel so silly every time I take and post these pics with my outfits, but when I stopped posting the Frugal Fashionista posts, there was anarchy. I got a TON of emails, so it’s back to me putting me big ‘ole face on the screen. Trust me, I am looking for a mannequin or dress form at GoodWill. That would help.
It wouldn’t be the same on a mannequin! But I hear what you’re saying about feeling silly. 🙂 Thanks for doing it anyway.
Gorgeous – love the outfit and price!
Love the outfit!! I actually picked up some similarly styled shoes at a Goodwill sale last month. 🙂
Hello, my frugal friend! Great outfit, love the skirt & you know how excited I get about all of this too.
I’m so glad I came across your post. I love being frugal and finding great clothes. Thanks for posting your great finds.
You look fabulous, as always. Love the shirt and the skirt….
Love these posts!
I am so bad about taking pics of my finds lately but I have been in dire need of a fall jacket and scouted one out at Target that I loved 2 months ago. It is navy blue, peacoat style in a lighter weight fabric with big ole cream colored buttons. A fabulously fun green and cream polka dot lining. $40. Ugh.
Last week it appeared, new with tags, on the rack at my Goodwill. $9.99 And it was 50% off day.
My dream jacket for just under 5 bucks!
🙂
Niki – YEA!!!! That is the kind of story I LOVE to hear. That is exactly what I am talking about when I say a little patience…now why that lady wouldn’t have taken it back to Target, who knows, but I am so thrilled for you! 🙂
JEN
I think it looks great in blog life too! I love the skirt! So cute!
Toni
You inspired me to try thrift shopping, and your kind tutorial inspired me to try linking up again! If I did it wrong, it’s not your fault! (If you have a chance to read my link, you’ll understand why I almost didn’t post.:} ) Your finds are fabulous, as always.
Thanks again for your help!
Ginger
Jen, I just love your Frugal Fashionista posts. 🙂 Once again, you’ve proven that you don’t have to spend $$ to look cute!
Love those shoes!!!
I’ll look forward to checking out the links posted later on. Please say a prayer for my little one today…waiting on some medical test results from this morning, and kind of nervous. :s
Awesome! Truly inspiring! Thanks so much, however, my question is – how did you lose the weight, because I could stand to lose some, too!
I am planning on getting around to addressing my weight loss. The majority of my loss was in my 20’s, but it took me two years to lose it all after my fifth child. It’s just a matter of sitting down and processing it since weight loss for many women is more than just starting to exercise…so many emotions built in on that issue. 🙂
My fifth child will be 2 in January! She is our precious gift from God.
I know exactly what you mean because it is more than eating right and exercising for me. It has more to do with not wanting to taking care of me. I still look at it as being selfish if I ask for help, but it is a work in progress!
Love your thoughts and ideas! Thanks again!
That outfit looks great! Love the shoes.
Great outfit! It would look great with chunky silver and turquiose southwestern type jewelry,too. I’m so happy to see the photos. It turns out my filter was blocking photo bucket!
Love your posts! You find the best things at
garage sales! Thanks for letting us link up
with Frugal Friday –
http://www.reasonablyrandom.blogspot.com
The outfit is fabulous! I just don’t get it though. How do you do garage sales? Do you just drive around looking for them or do you have a neighborhood that you stick to or do you look in the paper for ads and map out your plan? I NEVER find anything at garage sales and I hate just meandering until I find one. There has to be a better way that I am just missing. The thrift shops around here are just packed…with people! It seems everyone is thrifting nowadays and there’s nothing good left. Maybe it’s just the area in which I live – too much unemployment here.
hi Barb – Sprinkled through out my trash to treasure posts I give tips for yard sale-ing, but I will do a few posts that give them all in one spot. There is a “plan” that you have to have to find the treasures…most importantly, getting up early and being at the sales by 7:00am for the best variety, going fast..don’t meander at each and every sale, mapping it out before hand so you know where you’re going and not having to look for them. It’s a hunt, but it’s a fun hunt.
🙂 Not at all to argue with Jen’s advice with getting deals at yard sales… but I find amazing deals and I don’t usually leave the house until after 10am Saturday mornings. I have two little boys and we dawdle sometimes 🙂
I only do church, school or neighborhood sales and going near the end of the morning people are practically giving away their stuff.
For example, this morning I got Ann Taylor, Express, Gap and New York and Co clothes for .50 cents a piece.
I also picked up some wooden toys for my boys (a wooden train for $1 and a wooden castle building block set for $3). I thought they’d be fun to put away for Christmas. I googled the names (I’d never heard of them before) and the train is valued at $75 and the castle at $280!!
There are TONS of great deals to be had – and at homes you don’t expect it at!! But there’s also a lot of over priced things to wade through too. A lady this morning was trying to sell curtains for $150 – at a YARD SALE!!
It does take patience. And having a sense of humor. (ya know, so you can inwardly laugh at the $150 curtains!)
Chuckling with you on the $150 – WHAT IN THE WORLD??…I hit a few like that last weekend and thought to myself, “Do they think this is Target?” In my yard sale post that I did earlier this year, I completely agreed with you that there are still great things later in the day. In fact, by then, people are ready to really make some deals. If people are looking for really nice household decor, furniture and big tag items though, the earlier the better (since I will have beat you to them by ten…ha ha ;).
Oh, I’m so glad this is a linky thing because I would love to show off what I am wearing in the frugal fashionista way!
Thank you for hosting such a great fashion show! It’s great to be able to share with others who can appreciate these fantastic finds. And I am so encouraged to look for even more things at the secondhand store vs. regular stores to meet my family’s needs. This gave me an additional boost! MIKI
Okay, girlfriend, you are the BEST! I have a number of clothing items that I’ve purchased from thrift stores over the years, but you are THE BEST at pulling different elements together to make super-chic ensembles. I am seriously envying that skirt–what a great find! And holy moley, it looks awesome on you!
My best thrift-store clothing find was a beautiful red wool swing coat that I bought at a church thrift store for $5. It appeared to be from the late 50’s/early 60’s, but was in excellent shape. Right after I bought it, my boss received a Bergdorf Goodman catalog in the mail. As I flipped through the catalog, I found–you guessed it–my coat! The Bergdorf coat had a black velvet collar and cuffs. I took the magazine photo and my coat to a professional seamstress, who altered my coat to look just like the $750 Bergdorf version. Man, I loved that coat. 🙂
Come on Richella – don’t just tell us about your finds…come show them off so everyone can see how gorgeous you are. 🙂
How fun! I had no idea that you do this! I love to bargain shop. And I have to say that those shoes are AWESOME – I am lusting after them!
XOXO
Jen
I think you are the cutest momma I know.
That outfit makes me smile… it’s dreamy.
Love your fashionista fridays!
Jen,
Just today, my 4 girls and I spent 2 hrs in our local Goodwill. We came home with the following:
For my 14 yr old- 2 pr dress slacks, 3 cute dressy jackets, 3 dressy tanks, turtleneck sweater, blouse, and 2 pr jeans.
For my 10 yr old- 4 pr pants, 5 shirts
For my 9 yr old- 5 shirts
For me- 2 blouses, and a blazer
Plus a pair of jeans for one of my boys.
All totalled-$98.00!!
The jackets for my 14 yr old alone would have been more than that retail! All name brand stuff…all the jackets were Ann Taylor Loft.
Needless to say, I was a very happy mommy!!
Dawn in SC
WOW – you had an amazing day. So fun to hear all the kids getting such great things. Isn’t it wonderful to have children/teens that are completely fine with GW?
I HIT THE JACKPOT after I wrote this post with a black leather jacket. Can’t wait to show you all.
Love love love the shoes! They are gorgeous!
I love, love, LOVE this series :). I recently got hired as a photographer and the “uniform” required is black. I’m a springy type of person who adores pastels and lots of pink… so I had pretty much zero by way of black in my wardrobe. I have spent $15 and have name brand–some even still brand new–attire to dress up for work. I still need another pair of pants and something comfortable for shoes… But I feel pretty good about the pennies I’ve pinched ;).
I forgot to add to my other comment above… I was totally planning on participating this round… and, well. I dawdled.
Me again. With a question.
Do you know anyone in Canada that has gotten amazing steals on stuff at yard sales/thrift stores?
That is where I am originally from and I have never seen stuff like I find down here at yard sales up there – but I left there 5 yrs ago when I was 19 (and not a devoted yard sale/thrift store junkee) I get a lot of comments from friends and family members (in Canada) saying they could never find the same type of deals up there… and I am almost inclined to agree with them!
Just wondering if you know of any great frugal shoppers up north!
What a cute outfit! Thanks for the inspiration.
Love this outfit, but then I love just about every outfit you put together. I especially like the skirt in this one.
You are my inspiration. When I get in a clothes slump, I check out your website. I love your frugal ways!! It inspires me to hit the thrift store once more to see what I can find. (Frankly, it’s about all I can afford anyway.) You always look like a million dollars!
Thanks for sharing.
girl, you’d look good in a brown paper bag!!!!
You always find great outfits for super cheap! I just found a great peasant dress and Lucky Brand Jean Jacket…at goodwill!
How cute are you!?! Love, love, love the shoes.
FYI, I am fully hooked on couponing. Have been doing it religiously since your workshop, saving hundreds every month, and have enough laundry detergent for 8 months.
Thank you, thank you for the inspiration and know-how!
Hope you’re doing well!
Just want to say that, even though I’m a size 1x/2x, I still find lots of clothes @ the thrift stores. My favorite is a Travelsmith basic black dress — size 1x — for a cost of $1.50. And my London Fog print trenchcoat — for $8.
And for the kids! Today we went thrifting, and, despite the $12 dress that DD#2 insisted she needed for her speech competition, we came in under budget.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the knack of putting a jazzy outfit together. Maybe if I keep reading ….
You really have a special talent!
You know how to spot pieces and then how to put them together for a great look.