7 Tips for Thrifting

I’ve been shopping resale my entire life. Not because it was ethical, but because it was affordable. I'm also a woman who loves a bit of a chase and there's something so satisfying about the thrill of the hunt. That search for that perfect gem, hidden among racks and racks of clothes.

This purple dress was one of those gems. The bright color, the ease of the material, the flattering wrap style - I knew this dress would be a warm weather staple. And even though it was too big and slightly see through, I saw the potential after a couple of quick fixes. Throw a belt on top and a slip dress underneath and this dress is ready to shine.

Now that I’ve committed to shopping ethically, resale stores - whether they are discount thrift stores or retro vintage shops - have become a staple in my shopping rotation. And since not everyone out there is a veteran thrifter, I’m sharing a few of my tips for a successful thrifting outing:

1. Ignore the sizes. Vintage clothing sizes are drastically different than modern sizes. Recently I found a white silk midi skirt that was labeled 3 sizes up from my usual size. When I tried it on, the fit was perfect. Sizing varies so much depending on the decade or the brand, it never hurts to try on an item with potential. Plus, if you find a great quality item, it's worth having it altered for a better fit.
2.  Explore the men’s section. I have found everything from my favorite vintage t-shirts to cozy, oversized sweaters in the men’s section. If you're petite, check out the children's section too. There are some great blazers in the boy's section for the small framed woman. Don't limit yourself to the obvious.
3. In a rush, stick to a color scheme. Oftentimes thrift store items are color coordinated. If you don’t have time to sift through every single item, think about the colors you wear most and stick to those.
4. Just because it’s affordable, doesn’t mean you need it. It’s easy to get caught up in the great prices and over do it. Keep your lifestyle and personal style in mind. Remember, quality over quantity. A helpful tip is to ask yourself, "If it was full price, would I still buy it?" If the answer is "no," you are probably buying it because of the low price, not because you actually need (or want) it.
5. Keep a list. It's helpful to have a list of pieces you are looking for to keep you on track and keep you from ending up with an overflowing closet of items that don't suit you. I keep a list of items I need hanging inside my closet. Whenever I am out shopping, I take the list so that I know what pieces to look for and can distinguish between what I need and those tempting impulse buys.
6. Be open. You have your list of items you are looking for, but don't be afraid to stray for some truly special pieces. With a little digging, you can find some unique finds that may not be on your list, but are too amazing to pass up. Just make sure they are items you will actually wear in your real life. You may find a beautiful pair of vintage stilettos, but if you never actually wear heels, they will just sit in your closet and take up space. When making any purchase, it's important to be realistic about your lifestyle.
7. Use the internet. There are tons of online resources available that allow you to shop from the comfort of your pjs. This is especially helpful when searching for something specific (like an evening gown). You can filter through the inventory by size, color, price, etc. Some of my favorite online resale shops are ThreadUp and Tradsey. And if you want to shop from your phone, check out apps like Poshmark and Depop.

Are you an expert thrifter? What are some tips that you find beneficial when shopping?

dress: vintage from lost and found vintage

belt: old

shoes: old zara

jacket: thrifted

bag: rent the runway

photos by Laila of Studio 11.11

Third Piece Rule

One of the most frequently asked questions I get asked is "how do I take my style from 'basic' to 'bold'?" And while there are a lot of options (like spending an outrageous amount of money on some incredible designer piece), there's a super simple solution that can be found in your closet.

It's called the "Third Piece Rule."

Some of you may be aware of this rule already. Others may follow this rule without actually being aware that you follow it.

And it's as easy as this: If you have on a top (piece one) and bottom (piece two), add a a third piece. That's it. This third piece can be anything from a vest (my personal favorite), to a jacket or sweater, or even accessories like a statement necklace, oversized scarf, or hat.

The addition of a third piece (or even a fourth or fifth piece) helps an outfit pop. It helps give dimension to your look. It adds visual interest. All good things when you are trying to elevate your look.

So next time you're getting dressed and feel like you could use a little extra "style" in your basic outfit, remember the third piece rule.

Utilizing a vest to add impact to an outfit.

A great blazer or jacket can take your outfit up a notch.

Don't forget accessories - even a great statement necklace can elevate your look!

Do you follow the third piece rule?

Outfit Post: Event Styling

When dressing for a special event, I tend to put some thought into my outfit. I like to stand out and wear something unique, but I also make sure the outfit represents my personal style. There's nothing worse than showing up at an event and not feeling like your bold and confident self.

So when deciding what to wear, I like to ask myself three questions:

1. Will I be comfortable?
If I am tugging at a dress or worried about it being too tight or too short, I will spend the entire evening self conscious and paying more attention to my outfit than to the event itself. Definitely not how I want to spend my time. I am a huge believer in looking good and feeling good in your clothes.
2. Is there a unique element to my outfit?
I really love fashion. I love experimenting and playing with trends. Part of my personal style involves taking risks in fashion, so it's important to me to have on something different. Even if I'm in a basic LBD, I'll be sure to add a statement shoe or bold accessory to stand out in the sea of other little black dresses. And finally...
3. Does this represent my own personal style?
As much as I love to play with styles, I know what feels like "me" and I make sure to stick to that. Personally, I avoid short and tight. I am attracted to neutrals over patterns. My preference is a nod to menswear instead of overly feminine. This doesn't mean I'll never stray from these guidelines (experimenting with other styles is part of the fun of fashion), but knowing my own personal style helps me to know what looks I'll confidently rock, especially when getting dressed in a hurry.

This dress from Rent the Runway, hits all three points. The scuba-like material is incredibly comfortable and is form fitting without being too tight. The side cut-out detail transforms this dress into something a little sexier than a standard pencil dress, creating a perfect date night look. And the modern silhouette is on trend, but still classic - representing my own personal style.

What do you look for when choosing a dress for an event? Do you follow any guidelines to make the decision easier? If you need help figuring out your own personal style, I can help.

dress: c/o rent the runway

clutch: vintage (similar here)

shoes: ann taylor (similar here)

earrings: thrifted (similar here)

Closet Q&A: Goal Dresses

Welcome to my very first Closet Q&A series! Thank you to everyone who has submitted your questions so far - keep 'em coming! Without further delay, let's jump into our first question:

"What's your stance on buying things that don't quite fit yet? Are "goal" dresses just not a good idea?" - Hannah

via

I totally get the appeal of "goal" items. You find a dress you love and buy it a little too small, using it as motivation to encourage yourself to workout more, eat healthier, and make better choices overall.

However, I think this mentality can be risky. What if you don't reach your goal size? That perfect dress is going to quickly turn from a motivational tool to a guilt-ridden reminder; a reminder that what you're doing isn't enough. What started out as a positive incentive starts creating negative pressure to be something...different. And don't we already have enough of that in our lives? Plus, you're losing valuable closet real estate for something you can't even wear.

My advice? Embrace where you're at now. Find something you feel fabulous in and rock it. Leave the ill-fitting dresses behind.

Got a question? Let me hear it!

10 Tips for Organizing Your Closet

My closet is my sanctuary. It's the one place in my house that is (almost) always organized. Even when the rest of my house is full of chaos and in complete disarray, my closet is my zen-like space of calm. 

The reason my closet stays this way is because 1. I respect the clothes. And 2. I have an organizational system that keeps everything neat and clean. And since many of you are in the midst of spring cleaning, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share my top 10 tips for keeping your closet organized:

1. Edit. Before you can organize, you want to clean out and edit what you have (see this post for tips on cleaning out your closet). You want every item in your space to fit and make you feel good when you wear it. 

2. Organize Clothes. Arrange hanging items by style and by color. Keep pants in one section, blouses in another, dresses in another, etc. Then organize by color/style/occasion. For example, I organize my dresses first by color and then by formality of the dress (so I start with all my casual summer dresses and end with formal wear). Organizing like items together makes getting dressed a breeze.

3. Coordinate Hangers. Having matching hangers may seem over the top, but it keeps the closet looking streamlined and can save precious space. My pick are these black velvet hangers (HomeGoods also has similar ones for cheap). Delicate blouses and dresses don’t slip off and their slim shape means you have more room for clothes. Win-win.
4. Hide the Clutter. It's inevitable. No matter how much we organize our closet, we all deal with clutter. Use bins and boxes to keep these items (think sunglasses, belts, scarves, etc.) out of sight.
5. Organize Shoes. Whether you install shelves or store pairs in clear bins, be sure to have an organized space for your footwear (a pile at the bottom doesn’t count). Pick your favorites and display them like art.

6. Utilize Hooks for Accessories. Handbags, jewelry, and scarves tend to get messy, tangled or end up on the floor. Simple hooks either inside or right outside your closet, are great ways to organize accessories without taking up a lot of space.
7. Use Vertical Space. Use the top of your closet for items you don’t need daily access to. Large bins or baskets are great for storing out-of-season items.

8. Make It Pretty. Your closet should be an oasis. Even a small closet should inspire you, not stress you out. If there’s room, add a runner in a fun print or wallpaper as a backdrop for your clothes. The prettier it is, the more likely you'll keep it organized.

9. Invest in a Full Length Mirror. Being able to see how your entire outfit looks is crucial to feeling confident as you walk out the door. Ikea has some great mirrors that look expensive and cost less than $100.
10. Think Outside the Box. Literally. If you have a tiny closet, expand it by using space outside of it. I display my jewelry on the wall right outside the door. Use an armoire for extra clothing storage, a bar cart to hold accessories, or a clothing rack to display a selection of your favorite curated items.

What additional tips would you offer for keeping your closet curated and organized?

7 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Closet

 

Winter is over. You know what that means - spring shopping! But before you do that, you have to make room in your closet with some spring cleaning. It’s a new season and that means it’s time to assess what you have and figure out what is missing. If you wake up most mornings staring at a closet full of clothes but think to yourself, I have nothing to wear, it's time for a ruthless closet edit. Here are my 7 tips for cleaning out your closet with (relative) ease.

1. Schedule TIME. Don’t rush this process. Give yourself a full day, maybe even a weekend. Sort through each piece with a critical eye. Take everything out of the closet. Try things on! The point is to create a closet full of items you truly love, not just tolerate. And love takes time.

2. Bring a Friend. And not your agreeable “yes” friend. Your honest, ruthless friend (and preferably one who shows up with champagne). You want someone there who will give you the hard truth on the items you own. She'll tell you what's flattering and more importantly, what's not.

3. BUT Trust Yourself. I have pieces of clothing that aren’t necessarily the most flattering pieces, but I love them. Friends don’t always understand these pieces and that’s okay. At the end of the day, this is about your own personal style. If you really love something, keep it. Just make sure you wear it.

4. Make 4 Piles. Keep, Edit, Donate, and Maybe. Keep the items you love, fit well, and are in good condition. Edit pieces that need to be tailored, hemmed, resoled, etc. (and actually take them to be fixed!). Donate everything else. Haven’t worn it in over a year? Get rid of it. The more you donate, the more room you have for items you feel great in. Give someone else the opportunity to love an item you now feel so-so about. Look into non-profits like The Salvation Army, Goodwill, Dress for Success as well as women’s shelters for places in need of clothing.

The Maybe pile is not an essential, but if you have hoarding tendencies, it makes letting go easier. Sometimes an item is hard to get rid of until you’ve gone through the entire process. A maybe pile lets you safely put items aside and reassess after you’ve gone through your entire closet and you realize you don’t need 7 striped shirts (guilty). Most of those maybe items will end up in the donate pile when you realize how many other amazing and better fitting pieces you own (and probably forgot about).

via pinterest

5. If it Doesn’t Fit NOW, Get Rid of It. Or at least remove it from your limited closet space. Maybe it’s your 10 pound lighter jeans. Or pre-baby LBD. Whatever it is, if it doesn’t fit now, it’s just taking up precious space in your closet. Plus, it’s probably reminding you of a different time in your life when you were a different size, creating constant anxiety. Embrace your size NOW and find flattering clothes for your current body. Trying to squeeze into too tight pants is just depressing and unflattering. Let 'em go.

6. Don’t Let Sentimentality Own Your Choices. We all have items in our closets that we never wear but we keep because it reminds us of a certain event. Unless it’s your grandma’s vintage wedding dress or something truly special, get rid of it. How many college sweatshirts and fun run tees do we really need?

7. Be a Better Shopper. Now that you have a closet filled with items that fit, are flattering, and you love, keep it that way! Stop buying clothing simply because they're on sale or affordable. It’s better to save up for quality items that work for your figure and your life than buy a bunch of cheap things that sort of work. Pay attention to what ended up in the donate pile. Try and avoid the same pitfalls.

Good luck, have fun, and enjoy your new curated closet!