New shoes from TJMaxx

I need some new heeled shoes for work, so I picked these up at my local TJMaxx, a discount clothing store, for $34.99, a bit more than I usually pay for shoes. They normally would have retailed for a higher price in a normal store.

In some cases, you get what you pay for, and cheap shoes just don't last.  At an event for one of my work-study jobs in college, one of my shoes broke, so I was stuck wearing my snow boots for the entire evening. The shoes were $15 from K-mart. Live and learn, right?

They remind me of these shoes I have been seeing on Japanese and Chinese fashion blogs:



 

Thanks for reading, thrifters!

Sewing free t-shirt cutting with Kat Von D and a Thrifty Cent life update!

This is probably something a lot of you have already done, but there are a surprising amount of people who have never customized a clothing item themselves. I started getting experimental with my clothes in junior high. My "creations" looked a little shoddy back then but I've gotten pretty good and tailoring my clothes (except jeans. Too thick and I am too cheap to buy a denim needle for my sewing machine. Quit judging me.).

Here is a step-by-step video tutorial of how Kat Von D (I have a small obsession) cuts her t-shirts. No needles involved. You just need scissors and a shirt.

My workweek has been pretty hectic and all around dumb this week. I am half-way through an eight-day stretch of work at Dollar Tree, AND I just got a new full-time job, soooo I worked two jobs today! I put in my two-week quitting notice today, as in I told a manager. It is not bittersweet, it is purely sweet.

My new job is at an optometry office (seems better to just say eye doctor place). I just did a two hour get-briefed-on-every-thing-at-once session today. I will be the new receptionist, but I also get to do the pre-exam eye tests, like administering the air-puff machine and all those fun gadgets. That part is appealing to me. I think it will be fun to shoot sharp gusts of air at someone's eye. There is another machine that magnifies the persons eye and you have to try and center a little circle on their pupil, but it's a challenge since pupils don't hold still. However, there is a lot of less fun information to memorize, like the scheduling procedures and all the various insurance company policies. (That's actually terrifying. I am nervous.)

This new job marks the end of three years of dollar store reign. (I have worked at both Dollar General and Dollar Tree. Sadly, I never got the chance to add Family Dollar to my resume. Shucks.)

Anyways, if you're reading this, what would you like to see more of?

[polldaddy poll=4733158]

<3 Thank you for your feedback and comments. They mean more to me than you know. <3

6 Different Ways to Wear a Silky Nightgown (outside of the bedroom!)

Right now sheer and chiffon fabrics are showing up on runways and all over street fashion blogs. Several designers featured semi-sheer leopard designs in their runway shows at Fashion Week. (In fact, the pants from the Betsey Johnson show appear to be in the same exact print or fabric as the nightgown I am using). My favorite item of clothing is this semi-sheer leopard nightgown. Here are a few ways in which I put it to use.

Hope this inspires you!

 

#1. Loose, as is.



The first, and most obvious, way to wear an item like this is loose and flowy, perhaps with leather leggings or skinny jeans. It can also function as a dress.

 

#2. Swimsuit cover-up.

[caption id="attachment_484" align="alignnone" width="490" caption="The sunglasses are designer lookalikes that I got at a 99cent store in Las Vegas."][/caption]

I've clipped it in the back to give a more formfitting silhouette. Just throw it on with a pair of sunglasses and sandals and you're ready to go from the beach to the boardwalk! I wore this as my cover-up at the beach in Rhode Island and in Maryland, and I actually got quite a few compliments and people asking me where I got it.

 

#3. Belted, as a dress or tunic.

[caption id="attachment_485" align="alignnone" width="490" caption="The belt was around $9 from Body Central."][/caption]

Throw a belt on it, and it's instantly awesome.

 

#4. Tied or tucked, as a blouse.



I like to tie a knot on the side, but you could also just tuck the shirt into your pants or skirt. Long necklaces pair well with loose fitting blouses, so I've placed one on the dressform.

 

#5. With a vest.

[caption id="attachment_488" align="alignnone" width="490" caption="This is a $3 velvet GAP vest I got from the Salvation Army on 50% off day."][/caption]

Buttoned, or...



Unbuttoned, for a more Janis Joplin kinda look.

 

#6. With a blazer.



Here, I've paired it with my red velvet blazer that I got at a bag sale ($2 for a big paper grocery ball full). Looks pretty classy!

 

So, there's (at least) 6 ways to wear one top! Maximize your functionality, and also maximize your money!

The nightgown I used was around $3 or $4, and is by New York & Co.

Be sure to leave a comment and tell me what you think!!!

Yesterday's Outfit: I have a cold.

I am wearing a few-years-old leopard cardi from H&M that I bought from the H&M store in New York ($16?), a thrifted Express button up collared shirt ($3, CVAS Thrift Store), and thrifted Converse jeans ($6, Goodwill).

 

I have had a pretty bad cold for the past few days. Definitely not looking forward to going to work tomorrow. I decided to leave the house for the first time in two days today (well, yesterday now) to venture out to a thrift store... and was delighted to discover that they were having a bag sale! Fill a bag with clothing for $5. Not bad, but they seemed to be pretty well picked over as far as cool stuff goes, so I shared the bag with my sister. I got a seventies track sweater, which is pretty awesome. I am in need of funds, so I am debating whether or not to sell it.

I can't wait until it gets nicer outside! I can't seem to get any good pictures indoors. I live in a small, crowded house with poor lighting. Also, I always make a weird face when cameras flash. I can't explain it. I just look better sans flash.

I am considering doing prodect reviews for the blog. So, with that in mind, I bought a "ball" of that nifty lip balm by EOS that I saw on Michelle Phan's YouTube, and after only hours of possessing this awesome lip balm, my dog found it and chewed it up. He really loves lip balm. (If you want to try it I found it for sale in the checkout lanes of Wal*Mart.) So, I will have to buy another, since it smelled so good and my lips are hurtin' for balm. I hate winter! I also feel it necessary to express my dire need for a camera tripod. Where can I get a cheap one? Been scouring eBay.

Today I am hooked on the song Heads Will Roll by the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs.

3 Tips for Building Your Thrifty Wardrobe

I'm having some issues with my computer's SD card port, so I can't upload photos of recent finds! It seems the universe doesn't want me to share such thriftiness.

So, to make up for it, I'm starting a new series of posts to offer you ways to be stylish but cheap... err, not cheap, thrifty! More money saved equals more money for cool stuff!

Tip #1: Knee high stockings/hosiery.




Knee-high and over-the-knee stockings and socks seem to be pretty "in" right now, based off of my constant Lookbook trolling.  (It's a problem, I admit, but it gives me lots of ideas for my own outfits. I don't need rehab!)

A lot of young people (like me) seem to have forgotten or perhaps never knew of cheap pantyhose. I'm talking about the kind that comes in the plastic bubble gum machine eggs.



That photo above is basically what they look like. They cram the stockings into those little bubbles. I imagine these don't sell as fast as they used to back in 40s, 50s, and 60s when women wore hosiery almost all the time. These would have been cheap enough that a woman could buy a new pair each week.

You can find this hosiery-filled bubbles in the underwear or intimates section of department stores like Target, Wal-mart, K-Mart, and so on. These things are CHEAP! I got a pair for $0.34!  And, believe it or not, they're decent. If they rip, just buy more. They come in tan, black, and navy. You don't have to splurge on price-inflated stockings from places like American Apparel if you don't want to. One warning -- the pair I bought is slightly sheer. So if you want that opaque look then socks are your best bet.

Tip # 2: Vintage slips.



There's always a rack of slips and silky nightgowns in every thrift store. They are never all that expensive. If your not creeped out by the thought of wearing someone else's slips, these can be pretty neat. I mean, they're not panties or anything. I got mine for around $1.50!

I have three slips. Two are the gown kind that you wear beneath a dress and the other is just a skirt slip. These are good for dresses and skirts that are a little see through, but they also serve as a cheap alternative to a petticoat. While they won't help with that full, poofy skirt effect, they will add a more feminine touch if the bottom peeks out a bit, showing off the lace. If you have a skirt that's just a smidge too short for you to wear out anD about, wear a slip underneath it!

Tip # 3:  Thigh high hosiery.




This tip is less about saving money but more about appearance. If you're like me, you might have a little bit of pudge around your tummy. Now, don't get me wrong, I love pantyhose, but I hate that no matter what size you buy the top of it always cuts you off strangely. Even if you have very little pudge, it will still create a muffin top effect. So, your left to either just deal with it and have a lumpy looking stomach under your dress or scrunch it down around your pelvis, and then that looks bulky. You really can't win. I see women who seem to have mastered wearing pantyhose without these afflictions, but I haven't quite figured it out yet.

For years I avoided wearing pantyhose with dresses and only ventured to wear them with high waisted skirts because I didn't like how the pantyhose maid my stomach look. Then, while in Las Vegas this past summer, I found a part of vertical striped black thigh-high nylons. I wanted them so badly, so I got them. I realized that these solved my problem completely!  So, if you have the same problem, why not give thigh-highs a try?

Okay, that's all for now! Happy thrifting!

Featured: Plastic Rings

Cheap looking jewelry is something I really can't resist, and bubble gum machine rings are no exception. They could look tacky, but some of them are really neat. Plus, they totally fit with the Thrifty Cent ideal -- they're usually only fifty cents. There are a lot of varieties of plastic rings. Vintage rings from the 6os and 70s are little bit more sought after and will run you a bit more money, but you can find some decent deals on etsy or eBay. Also, nicer plastic rings can be purchased pretty much anywhere. Claire's always has a nice selection.

Here are some I found floating through the vast internet ocean:

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="My rings."]

6 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Closet -- and how to maintain it!

One of the pitfalls of being a bargain hunting addict is that you tend to accumulate a lot of stuff. This is no different for clothes. I find myself buying at least something every other week (or just every week), so I have had to devise a way to cut down on the clutter. I am going to be graduating from college soon, so I have been trying to kick that into overdrive so I don't have to haul as much back home.

Here are some good "rules" for purging the exess in your wardrobe:

1. If you haven't worn it in at least six months, then it's toss-worthy. Now, there are certainly a lot of exceptions to this rule, but it's a good way to help your re-evaluate how much you really like an item of clothing. If you take a look at your dirty laundry over the course of a month, you'll get a good idea of what items you really wear often.

2. If it doesn't fit, ditch it. I break this rule a lot. I tend to hold on to things that are too big or too small in case I somehow gain or lose weight. Not only is this unhealthy thinking, it causes you to have a lot of clothing lying around that you simply can't wear. Just live in the moment, and wear clothes that fit you now.

3. If it's damaged, throw it away. This goes for undergarments as well. We've all got a treasure trove of holey socks. Just think of it this way: throwing stained, ripped, or torn clothing will give you room for new, nice clothing.

4. Don't overlook accessories! Make sure to go through your handbags, shoes, jewelry, etc. so that you maximize your free space.

5. Every time you buy something new, get rid of something old. If you find your self running out of space and hangers in your closet, you're probably due to get rid of some things. This rule is a good way to maintain a decently sized wardrobe after the initial purge.

6. When shopping for new clothes, ask yourself, "Do I absolutely love this?" or, "Do I need this?". I use this rule a lot, as I tend to buy clothing on impulse when it's cheap. Then, I come home, and realize I don't really like the stuff I bought all that much. Try to think realistically about how often you'll wear the item, where you will wear it, how much wear you can really get out of it, and so on. I try to pass on items that I'm not absolutely in love with.

Once you get done purging, you'll have more space to organize the pieces that you really love and wear often. As I said, I am in the middle of this process myself, and honestly, it hurts at first to get rid of old things, but after you've done it and you can see the difference, it feels pretty rewarding. Any items in good condition can be donated to your local charity thrift store, for some other thrifty shopper to find. Or you could host a clothing swap!

These tips are kind of obvious, but the trick is getting yourself to really obey them. Once you can overcome your desire to hold on to old clothing, you'll be golden. If you'd like more tips, Apartment Therapy has some more helpful tips on wardrobe purging here.