My Style: A little update...

So, earlier this past week, I graduated from college! Sad thing is, even though I have a Bachelor of Arts degree, I will still be working a crap job this summer. It's for convenience, as I want to go on vacation with my family this summer, and where I work will allow me to take off. Still, all summer, I will be job hunting for a good job. So, you can expect me to show off some thrifty finds that are job interview appropriate.

Here are some photos of my friends and I all dressed up for at 1970s themed party:

[caption id="attachment_184" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="My outfit... I was going as Stevie Nicks."][/caption]

I am wearing a vintage dress from Goodwill that I bought recently for only $4!! I added a waist belt and cowboy boots.

[caption id="attachment_185" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="Close-up."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_186" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Charlie's Angels attempt..."][/caption]

Both Sara and Kelly look fabulous!

Rest in peace, Ronnie James Dio.

On May 16th, we lost another great rock legend, Dio. And because this blog isn't just about thrift stores, but also about edgy fashion, I thought it would be appropriate to honor him.



His taste in clothing may not have been stellar, but he definitely tried to look like a rocker. Dio has been a part of a ton of musical acts, but he rose to fame when he replaced Ozzy Osbourne as the frontman of Black Sabbath. Dio later moved on to head the band he's most known for, Dio, who we can credit songs like "Holy Diver" and "Don't Talk to Strangers" to.  He was a very talented vocalist and songwriter and will be sorely missed.

Street Fashion Round-up: 6 Looks You Can Recreate with Thrift Store Finds

I've collected some spring and summer appropriate looks from street fashion sites that are totally doable on a thrift store budget. You won't be able to exactly replicate the look, but with some Goodwill trips and using what you've already got, you could work these looks into your own outfits.

1. Loose fitting blouse / ripped skinny jeans combo



Dolman style tops are really easy to find in retails stores right now. I got a purple dolman sleeve top at DEB for $3 off of the clearance rack a few months ago. But, hello, this style was popular in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, so it's definitely possible for you to find something similar in thrift stores with a little hunting. Grab a pair of snug fitting light wash jeans, tear if you wish, and voila! This woman has spiced up the outfits with accessories, like her rad sunglasses.

2. Blazer / oversized tee / opaque tights / slouchy boots



Every thrift store has at least one rack of blazers. A few weeks ago I got three New York & Co blazers for work for just $5 each! Oversized teeshirts are overabundant in places like Goodwill and the Salvation army. Vintage slouchy boots are more sought after, but as you saw in a past entry, it's possible to find them for good prices.

3. Layering different prints, fabrics, textures, eras...



This outfit combines so much at once without looking bad. There are some expensive pieces in this outfit -- like the Alexander McQueen sheer scarf (if it's authentic), but even this can be replicated with thrift store finds. Most thrift stores and vintage boutiques have a rack divoted to scarves. The metallic shoes might be a challenge. However, there are a lot of 80s and 90s esque items in this outfit that are likely to be found while thrifting.

Here are some other cool looks:

New additions to my etsy store...

Wanted to show off some of my new "inventory."

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="468" caption="Vintage porcelain earrings."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="415" caption="Vintage metal star earrings."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="448" caption="Vintage gold hoops."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="509" caption="Vintage choker."][/caption]

Whoop whoop!

Hottie of the day... Chris Cornell in the 90s!

Since I am entrenched in finals, graduation is looming over my head like a dark cloud, I thought I'd procrastinate but gathering up some sizzling photos of Chris Cornell from the 90s. It is my firm belief that 90s Cornell is much superior to the modern day Cornell. That gorgeous, gorgeous curly hair... To die for.









Enjoy.

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."]

My Fashion: Dali Art Gallery Exhibition

Getting dressed up for openings for the art gallery that I work for at college is a lot of fun. Not to say that the art is somehow less important. I really enjoy fine art, and this particular exhibition was a collection of Salvador Dali prints illustrating The Divine Comedy. Super cool. So here are some cool outfits from that night...

[caption id="attachment_149" align="alignnone" width="518" caption="Super cool vest and great maxi-dress."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_150" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="Gorgeous dresses!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_152" align="alignnone" width="302" caption="My outfit..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_153" align="alignnone" width="396" caption="Weirdly lit face, and my outfit again."][/caption]

I am wearing:

Leopard print button up top, Burlington Coat Factory, $9 ish

Faux leather waist cinching belt, Body Central, $9

Vintage leather pencil skirt, thrifted, $2

Silver faux snakeskin platforms, Steve Madden, $3o

I can't resist Steve Madden shoes. Those were expensive, but I had to buy silver shoes for my friend's wedding when I was a bridesmaid. Love them though.

Street Fashion Round-up: Boyfriend jeans, Crust-punk pants, and Versace platform shoes.

I haven't been keeping up on posting at all lately! I am in the midst of the end of the semester here at college and I'm only a month away from graduation!!!! AHHHHH! So, that's why you'll be seeing large bursts of posts all at once and then periods of no posts. Please forgive me.

Decided it was time for another street style round-up, so I chose some cool outfits from LookBook.nu and Easy Fashion. Enjoy.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="320" caption="Cropped blazer, boyfriend jeans."][/caption]

I love this outfit. It's simple and casual enough that it's actually practical. I really want a pair of boyfriend jeans.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480" caption="Garter stockings, shredded top."][/caption]

I think she's wearing pantyhose that are made to look as if she's wearing a garter belt and stockings as well. Very sexy but still edgy.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="320" caption="Leopard dress, denim vest, studded cuffs."][/caption]

Love, love, love, LOVE. Everything about it. I would wear this outfit, if the dress were a bit longer. I don't like to have to worry about my underwear or butt-cheeks showing. Just makes me wanna not wear a dress when it's so short that you can only really be standing. Nevertheless, this is a bomb outfit. I wanna stud my denim vest. Think I'll wear it tomorrow.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="512" caption="Killer boots and crust-punk pants."][/caption]

Despite how delicate those pants would be, it's a really cool take on the way crust-punks alter their pants. They will sew patches upon patches onto their pants until the pants are virtually gone. This person (I assume they made them, if they bought them that's sad) must have taken a lot of time to sew all these little sections of denim together. Very cool. I really like that they've used dental floss as thread too. Seems tacky, but floss doesn't break as easily. Hand sewing with thread makes the item delicate because the thread doesn't allow for stretching.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="512" caption="Gorgeous platform shoes."][/caption]

I think these are Versace shoes, if I am not mistaken. They are fabulous. So fabulous that I'm now angry.

Well, that's it for now. Please, please, please leave comments! Stay tuned for more madness.

Fashion Icon: Axl Rose.

I have been fascinated by Axl Rose since I was a little girl. Axl Rose probably isn't the first celebrity you might think of when it comes to great fashion, but I'd argue otherwise. While he may be a jerk and may be gross now (yeah, those bizarre braids are awful) he was certainly on his game in the 80s and early 90s as far as his fashion sense goes.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="395" caption="Classic Axl: Aviator sunglasses, t-shirt, lots of bracelets."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="532" caption="Tight pants paired with cowbow boots."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="330" caption="Captain America!"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="A bit risque, but still fabulous!"][/caption]

I was thinking of putting together themed outfits specifically for the blog that are inspired by the fashion icons I feature... Keep posted.

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.

My Style: Some great outfits from the Gallery Exhibition...

So, this Saturday was the opening for the new exhibition at the art gallery where I work. Here are some highlights from my friends' wonderful outfits:

[caption id="attachment_133" align="aligncenter" width="385" caption="Berkeley, in a great fitting purple buttoned dress."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_132" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="Kathleen, in a longer dress which she got for free."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_134" align="aligncenter" width="446" caption="Sara, in a pretty teal tulip dress with a zebra print cardigan."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_135" align="aligncenter" width="512" caption="Kelly, wearing a gorgeous black dress with lace trim."][/caption]

Please, leave me comments!

My new boots!

I got these boots at Burlington Coat Factory, as I have been having zero luck in finding "riding boot" style boots in thrift stores or on etsy. Every time I would see a pair I liked, they were the wrong size or were super expensive. These boots were $3o, which is more than I would have liked to pay, but they are super-cute and I love them, so what the heck. They're Roca Wear.

"My Style" throwbacks...

Some pictures I never got around to posting and some from before I started this blog.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="305" caption="Queen of Hearts Costume"][/caption]

I am wearing:

- Yard sale earrings (little running bunnies) - $0.10

- Halter dress (Salvation Army, can't remember the price but probably less than $4)

- Black and red polka dotted vintage skirt (Thrift Store, $2ish)

- Red vintage apron, vintage (antique store, $3, which I thought was kind of pricey)

- Claire's and Kohl's bracelets

-Red wedges (Payless, can't remember the price)

I wore that outfit for an Alice in Wonderland dance. I was proud of myself for putting together a pretty cute ensemble.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="359" caption="Sailor skirt (flea market) and moon boots (Payless, $6)."][/caption]

Got the skirt at a flea market and the belt is a plastic fish scale belt. It's vintage. And amazing. I think the skirt was $2. The person I bought it off of had sewn it herself. So, it's one of a kind. I sound pretentious. I apologize. I love this outfit.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="364" caption="All black outfit, but crappy picture."][/caption]

I wore this to a formal dinner at my university. I have had those ridiculous platform mary janes since high school. I got them at Hot Topic on super clearance for $4!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="452" caption="Zombie Axl Rose costume."][/caption]

Axl Rose is a huge influence on my style. I guess he's kind of a douche and is really gross looking now, but in the 80s and early 90s he was a mega-babe and had badass style. I love the way he combined aviators with rolled up bandanas. I am wearing a vintage leather vest I purchased off of eBay after looking at too many Kat Von D photos. Basically this is a combinations of Kat Von D and Axl rose. I would love to see their lovechild.

Sidenote: eBay is a great place to find used clothing. It's cheaper than most etsy stores (because etsy sellers are aware that they can charge a pretty penny for old clothing) and has more selection.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="453" caption="My Lizzie Borden costume..."][/caption]

Nothing about this really screams Lizzie Borden, but it was a last minute Halloween costume. I used some bloodied gauze (a decoration, not real) as a hip scarf and wore a groundhog skull I found along some railroad tracks as a choker. I have a puff-sleeved button up with a waist cincher corset over it, and a black peasant skirt.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="453" caption="Another shot..."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="604" caption="I'm the one in the polkadot skirt."][/caption]

I like this picture because it shows how much my style has changed. (This is from about three years ago, give or take.) I still like my outfit in this picture, but since I am 21 years old now, I've had to grow up a little. Still, I kinda wish I could dress like this. I have to get a job, though.

Well, that's it for now. I am posting entries in spurts because I am stalling on doing my homework.