on a break

In the last 5 months, John and I successfully watched all 10 seasons of Friends. For everyone that was at my wedding, those flowers you took home were made through a heartfelt mixture of paint, patience, and some great 90s TV.

So in honor of Ross and Rachel, I am on a break from thrifting. Actually from buying clothing at all, but let's be real - that mostly consists of thrifting. But, before the great break began, I went on one last colossal thrifting run. Here are the spoils, photos courtesy of the project I posted about yesterday...

One pair of leggings and 2 yoga pants not included. Very happy with my goodies!

peace&love,

Jill

70s Show

I tried to not like the 70s style for so long. And then I caved. 

Hello high waisted pants, printed tops, and sky-high wedges. 

{Wearing this outfit makes me think about the beginning of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie when they swear to not wear their shirts tucked in with a belt at the same time. Oops.} 

I hope your enjoying your spring time. It's so beautiful here and I am so ready for May, road trips and getting married! I feel like a one woman factory lately, but I love making so many goodies to share with the people I love and celebrate the start of John and I's life together. 

Heart garland tutorial coming soon!

peace & love,

Jill

Thrifting for the Thrift-Store-Intimidated

Every time I wear something cute and thrifted it's inevitable that someone will say, "It's too bad I can never find anything good when I go thrifting." I want to argue that successful thrifting is a lot more about looking at things the right way, and not just being lucky, but then I realize that I am not writing an essay that needs a thesis.

Let's just say that I have taken the last few years to pull together a lot of pieces I feel good about, and almost everything has come from some combination of garage sale-ing and thrifting. And what ever your experience with thrifting has been before, your feel good closet can be thrifted too!

Here's a few things to keep in mind.


1. Forget everything you know and hold dear about sizes.

Different brands, eras, and target audiences are all mashed up in the thrift store and I think we can all agree that a size Large from Express in the 90s is not the same size Large you're going to find in your average tee-shirt. Quietly set your vanity down at the door. Reassure yourself that, yes, that number you hold dear is your real dress size, but the thrift store doesn't play by those rules.

Instead of judging pieces based on the size on their label, improve your eye-balling skills. Look at clothes that fit you well hanging on hangers. What do they look like? Look for thrift store pieces that look similar on the hanger, even if the "actual" sizes are not so similar. I am 5'1" with an average build, but there are definitely freakishly small XLs hanging in my closet. (They might be little girl XLs... But that is neither here nor there.)

2. Look at the labels and brand names, but don't let them be all you consider.

 I'll admit it. J. Crew on a label probably means that I'll try real hard to make it fit. Or Anthropologie. Or Urban Outfitters. Or Northface. But AS A RULE, look at the construction and state of a piece before you judge a book by its cover--or a shirt by its brand name, in this case. Observe how laundering and wear has affected the piece itself. Look for holes, rips, stains, and frays. If you can't fix something that's wrong with it yourself, it's probably a pass.

3. Branch out.

Never wear dresses? Give the dress section a browse. Rock bottom prices make thrift stores the ultimate place to branch out and try new things. If it doesn't work out, take it back for someone else to try it.

4. Have a list, but keep your eyes open.

I have an on-going "like-to-have" list that I keep in my purse that helps give me direction in mammoth, unexplored thrift stores, but if something unexpected catches my eye, I investigate. Always. Look at what's really there, not just what you would like to be there. Recruit a fashionable and fun friend to feed off of if you need one. (Three cheers for alliteration!) Having another person can start the "Oh my gosh, try THIS on!" game that sometimes results in great finds, and always results in giggling fits. It's really a win-win.

5. Steel yourself up for some huntin'.

Thrifting takes time and patience. If you don't enjoy the hunt for it's own sake, take heed: Nothing is ever guaranteed, and sometimes there really isn't anything amazing hidden amongst the junk. But you never really know for sure, and that's what makes it so fun. The muses of thrifting are fickle, but dedication can have thrilling rewards.

Good luck! See you at the thrift store!

peace&love,
Jill

How to Love Your Closet: Fill in the Gaps

If you're just joining us, this is a series on managing your closet so you can get the most out of your clothes. New articles out each Monday! 

So now that you've cleaned out your closet and played dress up you're ready to fill in the gaps in your closet. Here's the next step.

1. Make a list of must-haves. Contrary to what you might read in, ummm, every fashion magazine ever, a white button down might not be a must-have for you. There is no hard and fast rules on this, so think about what you really need. Ask yourself these questions.

• What do I need to wear to work/school every day?
• What do I like to wear?
• What do I need to add to my closet to get the most out of the clothes I already have?
• What do I tend to buy that I don't really need? (Hint: Stop buying this. For me it's casual shirts. And I don't even like to wear pants!)
• Do I have a solid set of basics? (Neutral tights, leggings, slips, tanks, socks, and underwear?)

These questions will help you pinpoint what it is that you need in your closet so you can make shopping for these things your top priority. Look for good brands on clearance or at the thrift store, but splurge on these things if you need to. It will be worth it.

2. Make a list of like-to-haves. This is your clearance rack, thrifting, garage sale-ing list. Be as crazy as you want, but hold out for the bargains with these. You shouldn't spend a fortune on a rust colored burnout cardigan unless it's one of your must haves, but if you see it for a steal, get it! These are the things that will keep your wardrobe fresh, fun, and unique and they matter just as much as the must-haves... they just aren't worth breaking the bank over.

Here are my base rules for buying like-to-haves:

1. It must be reasonable enough that you will not be annoyed if it doesn't work out. My limit is usually $10. This might seem low, but I almost never have to go over it unless something is so unbelievable wonderful that I might not be able to live with myself if I walk away. The low price goal keeps me from making bad decisions in the name of having a fun wardrobe and it keeps shopping fun because it's a challenge. (Challenges are my favorite.) Set a goal that you feel is reasonable for you and stick to it.
2. You must like it. This might seem like a no-brainer, but for some people it's not. If it doesn't speak to you, don't buy it! Hold out for the piece that has you written all over it, even if it takes longer, which leads us to...
3. Be patient. I've been in search of the perfect grey blazer for two years. But it's a like-to-have, so I'm going to hold out even longer. Hang on to both your resolve and your goal amount. It will pay off!
4. Keep your list updated. I never found the bright teal leggings I wanted a few years ago, but then I realized I wasn't twelve and crossed them off the list and added wine colored skinny jeans instead. (No judgement if you happen to like bright teal leggings.) Change your list as your tastes change. Having an updated list will help you when you're overwhelmed at the mall or, even worse sometimes, an under-curated thrift store. You can scan for particular colors, cuts, and kinds of garments amidst the craziness and stay sane.
5. Style it as soon as you get home, or, if it is thrifted, as soon as you've washed it. Don't let an awesome but intimidating piece languish in your closet because you a.) keep forgetting you own it (this happens to me all the time) or b.) as soon as you get it home you wonder what the heck you'll wear it with. Go back to the dress up stage! It's fun, I swear.

3. Go shopping. Be it at the thrift store (DO IT), a consignment store, or the mall, go shopping for your missing treasures. Buy from your must-have list and embellish with like-to-haves as they jump out at you. But most of all, don't expect this to take one trip. Let it be a process. Be patient and open and see what happens. Hold out for things you love.

peace&love,

Jill