Little Ridiculous

I'm working on a thrift wardrobe make-over for my friend's husband. He wants to look less dad and more stud (my words but that is the idea...). I hit up the Value Village 50% off sales to get a start on that wardrobe overhaul and I was humbled to find out that thrifting for men is a little (a lot) trickier than thrifting for women. Especially when the person who you are shopping for has a modelesque physique; he's tall and skinny. I did find a cool vintage plaid shirt and some snappy Kenneth Cole shoes but this thrift overhaul will probably take a little more effort.
As my success in the men's section was fairly weak, I wandered over into the ladies'section to turn my shopping around. And turn around it did... Especially in the form of this $5 Canadian made Irving Samuel jacket... You can tell from the animal print, the leather trim (yes, that's leather!) and the gold hardware that this was a pure 'notice me' jacket from the 80's. A twist on the ever popular Chanel bouclé jacket...

I always wonder who originally owned the crazy pieces I find at the thrift store. This person undoubtedly appreciated quality and a little bit of the ridiculous. Pretty sure we could be BFFs...

And how will I wear this lovely piece of thrift? With ripped denim, of course... How else?

Thrift Find

I hit a rich vein of thrifting these past few weeks. I did the Value Village/Talize thrift crawl twice. Once for the 50% off days and once when I needed a vintage frame to hang a cat poster from my grandmother. Of course, I needed to start my hunt for a good picture frame by walking through the dress section. It's all part of the journey, right?
Of all my finds, including a pretty good 50% off day haul which I documented on Instagram (bucking my mediocre record on 50% days...), my best find was most definitely a made-in-France, Sonia Rykiel dress. There was a tag that labelled it as a special release for Milli's in Hamilton. Yay for local love.
But when I went to take pictures of the dress on the judy, it just didn't highlight how perfect it is. At first glance it looks like a classic 3/4 length black dress but it has these amazing details that just elevate it. It needs a body, not a judy to do it justice. No offence Judy. I've included a picture of the top, with its popping shoulder detail, but for its full reveal, ye shall have to wait for the first nice summer night where I make up a fancy occasion just to wear it out. I am hoping that will sucker you into reading my blog for a few more months...?

Seriously, I would never have a chance at a mint condition Sonia Rykiel piece (an indication of their regular prices here), if it were not for the thrift store. This is why I thrift.

Up until I found the Sonia Rykiel, I was pretty happy with the $13 silk beaded dress I found earlier at Talize that day. I really do like it a lot but in my excitement for the other dress, it dropped to second place. It's good though, like I said; silk, great condition, fits perfectly and it's a Petite, so it's a little shorter... I'm open minded about my hem lengths (how progressive of me... I know), but I can be partial to a shorter number.

What sold me on it? That scalloped hem. 

This Week I Thrifted

Yesterday I had a pretty successful day at the thrift store. I took my time and made some big decisions in order to narrow my cart of goodness down to 4 items. I took those items to the cash and discovered that 3 of the pieces were actually 50% off. I struggled mightily to restrain myself from leaning over the counter to plant a big kiss on the lady behind the cash. Good thing I learned about personal boundaries at some point...
If you follow me on Instagram (myeditblog) then you will know one of the pieces I found was a vintage Etienne Aigner trench coat with burgandy leather details (here is the exact one on Etsy). Do I need another trench?
Please stop with the hard questions...

I also found this dress.

What? Silk Wayne Clark (Canadian high end designer) polka dot dress
Where? Talize
How much? $6.50

At first I could not figure out what that extra piece of material at the waist was, but in true Jentine-in-a-thrift-state-of-mind moment, I figure I would just make it work (did I just refer to myself in the third person? hmmmm...). This unabashedly optimistic attitude in the thrift store can be both a good and bad thing. But I knew I had to make it work because I couldn't leave a silk, full circle, polka dot skirt behind.

Side note. Full circle skirts are a beautiful thing. When they are cut in a nice material, they fall so flatteringly and their twirl potential is incomparable.
Anyways, when I put the dress on, I saw that the extra piece of material was actually a waist sash.
So what we have here, is a perfect summer dress with a slight drop waist...

Cue wistful longing for summery days. Which are a long way away from this December 11...

This Week I Thrifted...

(thrifted sweater, old H&M leather necklace)

What? New w/ tags Acrylic sweater

Where? Salvation Army, Parry Sound

How Much? $6

I got this sweater at a Salvation Army up in Parry Sound while we were away this week. In the time it took Matt to gas up his vehicle nearby, I had done a good sweep of the store, found this sweater and listened to a woman give the breakdown on her menopausal status to anyone nearby. I bought the sweater because snuggly, beige sweaters are not to be left behind, especially when they are new with the tags on them still.

I didn't have a bag with me, so I had to pay the 5 cents at the register to purchase a bag and as I struggled, with my hands full, to get that nickel, the menopausal lady kindly stepped forward and counted out 5 pennies to pay for my bag. In exchange for her 5 cents, I admired and complimented every item of her thrift store haul as she excitedly held them up for me to see.

My compliments have monetary value. A nickel, if you please...

This Week I Thrifted...

(Thrifted blazer, Joe Fresh Tee, Clyde's Rebirth necklace)

What? Vintage wool blazer
Where? Talize
How much? $6
Why? It's not quite the white vintage blazer that is at the top of my GCOGH wishful thrift list but it's pretty good find none-the-less... I almost left it behind too, even though it is great quality blazer at a low price (that being the primary reason to buy blazers from the thrift store) but when my friend questioned why I was leaving it behind, I had no good response. Honestly, I think it's just been so hot lately that I can't even fathom sleeves, collars and wool. In the autumn however, I will be thankful I thrifted this beauty because that contrast collar and exaggerated nipped in waist (check the seaming detail...) are going to look pretty sharp up against a scruffy pair of jeans... Ugh, jeans... another thing I can't even think about in this whine inducing heat...
Somebody please, bring me a cold beverage...

Getting Back in the Game

Vest? Ungaro, thrifted Skirt? Thrifted Necklaces? Banana Republic and Clyde's Rebirth

Lately I haven't thrifted or written about thrifting as voraciously as I have in the past. It would be easiest to say that I've been busy. But deep down, I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that my dad and I don't thrift together anymore. It's not that I don't enjoy thrifting as a solo sport, and even in the last few months before the recent downturn in his health, our joint thrift adventures had become just 20 minute jaunts but for the past 6 weeks, the thrifting with my dad has stopped completely.
In the big picture of all we have lost to Alzheimer's, thrifting is almost insignificant. But for me, that activity was a thread that connected myself and my father and I am sad for the loss of it. I'm always going to enjoy the hunt in the thrift store but I've been on almost weekly thrift trips with my dad for the better part of 4 years and it's an adjustment to a new normal.

This week, I made it back to the thrift store... by myself.
And I bought an Ungaro vest for $5 that made me smile.
I liked it for my usual reasons... it is made of delicious silk and it is impeccably constructed... but I also liked it because it is weird. Weird is good. There is something charming about the ancient pottery illustrations and I can't get over the fact that the shadows of the vases (which look like they were shaded in with a pencil) were included in the fabric design. It's the random finds like this that remind me how much fun the thrift store is... even when I miss my partner in thrift.

This Week I Thrifted... Something Special

What? Forest green Gucci clutch
Where? Bibles for Mission (here)
How much? $10
Why? As if the 'why?' needs to be answered... this little beauty was a special find.

Look at me! Thanks to Bibles for Mission, I have my first designer handbag. Along with hosting the traditional Christmas dinner for the family this past year, this purchase puts me solidly into adult territory. I'm kidding. Adulthood has nothing to do with designer bags... or designer shoes for that matter.
Nevertheless, this clutch was a delight to find. It was on the ground (for shame) where it had tumbled from a little display area and I nearly passed it by. On a second glance, I stooped to pick it up and when I touched the soft silk, I knew I had a good thing. It got even better when I opened up the clutch, saw the labels and even a store tag left on! There was a second where I worried that I might be getting tricked into thrifting a counterfeit clutch but after some research, I am confident it is the real thing. The clutch is silk with perfect finishing and weighty hardware.
It's in such mint condition, that I am almost afraid to use it. Almost...

This Week I Thrifted...

What? Navy suede Sigerson Morrison flats
Where? Goodwill on Bloor St (here).
How much? $7
Why? Hey Ma! I bought flats! They are cute AND comfortable! Are you proud?
Someone (thank-you) commented a while back that I should check out the Goodwill on Bloor St. because it is ripe for the picking... It's funny, I remember going there during my university days but for some reason I thought it had shut down since. Not so, my friends. Not only was it still open but it was filled with good stuff. It was ridiculously messy and I would not recommend this place if you are new to thrifting, as the organization was fairly non-existent and the pricing system was confusing, but there were interesting things everywhere. I was with my Dad and so I only did a fairly quick sweep of the store.I didn't want to push his thrift patience and jeopardize my part of the inheritance. I bought these shoes and a silk shirt, and I am sure I would have found more if I had had more time... Not that I need more stuff... I could stand to remember that sometimes.

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

What? Vintage (though maybe not, it's hard to see...) beaded collar
Who?  I asked a childhood friend (technically my first friend EVER... we were bbf's... baby best friends), who I got to see again this last week to help me out and wear the collar for me... How's that for special?
Where? A thrift store in Zwolle (here)
How much? 1.20 euro
Why? I think I found the thrift store of my dreams. I mean, thrift stores are in my dreams a lot but this one was pretty fantastic. While we were visiting some family in Zwolle, my aunt offered to babysit my nephew, then she lent my sister-in-law and I some bikes and gave us directions to the nearest 'kring-loop' in her town. This thrift store had charming display cases everywhere made of old milk crates, a big play house in the corner full of all the kid's toys, and a restaurant attached where you could buy any of the furniture they used for seating. With so much effort being put into display, you would think it was an expensive vintage boutique but it was really just a big thrift store with regular thrift store prices. I bought a red suede jacket (coming soon to a post near you), a vintage cigar box for Matt, little goat slippers for my nephew, a rug for my cousin and this beaded collar. I call that successful.
Too bad an ocean separates my house and my new favourite thrift store...

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

Dress? I.B. Diffusion, thrifted Necklaces? Antique market

What? Wool/Acrylic blend dress
Where? Value Village (yeah... I keep going back...)
How much? $4
Why? I thrifted this dress recently on a quick trip to Value Village. I had done a fast scan of my favourite areas and I was about to try on a dress, when I saw a really stylish girl coming out of the change room. I saw her put stuff back on the return rack and I knew I had to check her rejects. The minute she was out of sight, I totally bee-lined it to her section of returns and found a veritable thrift gold mine. I bought this dress, a leather skirt and cape/vest thingy just from what she left behind. How's that for a thrift tip? Follow people whose style you admire (at a respectable distance, you creep...) and wait for their left-overs...

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

Dress? Thrifted Necklace? Gift from my Mama

What? Porridge dress with a jersey top and a contrasting silk skirt.
Where? Talize
How much? Shhhh... secret, I gave it as a gift
Why? I am trying to be more conscientious about giving thrifted gifts... as long as the recipient is cool with the idea. The problem with gifting thrift is that it takes planning and I tend to be the last minute type when it comes to gifts. I am getting better at planning ahead because friends can only feign gratefulness at tabloid magazines and Mars bars as birthday gifts for so many years. That said, I am a fan of trashy magazines and chocolate bars so I would appreciate either...
I gave this dress to a friend as part of her birthday gift last week. It was a good find because it was brand new, it had a pretty, pocketed silk skirt and a big, sassy sash. I knew my friend would love the pattern mix and style of the dress. I did a little internet sleuthing (2 minutes, hardly sleuthing...) and I found that the dress was originally $150 at Anthropologie. $150 would buy a lot of magazines and chocolate bars, just saying...

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

Dress and Necklaces? All thrifted

What? A vintage ployester maxi dress.
Where? Talize
How much? $3.50
Why? Two Mondays ago it was the 50% off sale at Talize and last Monday it was the 50% off sale at Value Village. I got up super early to make it to both by 7 am (I know, I'm still grouchy at Value Village but the 50% off lured me...) and I did OK. Sadly, I always have more success when I have to pay full price. I did get this dress though... It's a little different for me; it is a lot of polyester and it has a rather ridiculous print (blue ladybugs and tulips...? ) but the fit is really flattering. There are elastics hidden under the arms that give the dress a nice shape in the right spots and let the rest of the dress drape nicely. Because I am awesome, I tried on the dress at home and I got myself completely tangled in these elastics and I snapped the one right off... Go ahead, take a moment and laugh as you picture me tangled in this dress...
Now the dress sits in the fix-it pile. It will take me 10 minutes to throw in new elastics but I will probably procrastinate on doing that until the spring... I can't just stop being a procrastinator, Matt would worry...

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

Leather skirt? Thrifted Silk blouse? Thrifted and then swapped Cowl? Old school project

What? A patterned leather skirt
Where? Bibles for Mission (here)
How much? $1
Why? I have this annoying habit where I can't leave good things behind at a thrift store... Which is fine, except I end up buying clothes that don't fit me... I'll either convince myself I am going to give up wine and get up at 4 a.m. to do zumbalicious pilates yoga before work to make myself fit into them or I buy them for a friend. Buying clothing for friends is a sweet sentiment, but sometimes I need to be reminded that, just because I would think that a skirt with sequined cats and mohair camels would be the stuff dreams are made of, doesn't mean that my friends agree.
But it was $1 day at Bibles for Mission and even though the racks of clothes were completely picked over, I found this great tan leather skirt. It won't fit me but I had to take it along because... it's awesome and a dollar. So, I'll send it along to a friend and she better love it or I'll take her off my blog roll... I'm kidding, I would never threaten Internet consequences... if she doesn't love it, I'll just tackle her.

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

What? A lot of vintage jewelry...:)
Where? Salvation Army, 28th Street, Grand Rapids
How Much? Various prices but the most expensive was the sterling mini perfume necklace for $7. Not too shabby...
Why? I went down to Grand Rapids this week to watch one of my brothers do his dissertation defense and while I was there, I made sure my priorities were in order and I did some thrifting as well. I didn't thrift alone; after 2.5 years of online love, I finally met Brianne in person (she's real and very pretty... I stared at her a lot... I like to keep it creepy) and we made thrift magic. I always check Brianne's blog because she must have the best vintage jewelry collection, so it was extremely fitting that the Salvation Army near my hotel was having their annual jewelry sale on the day we went thrifting. Call that great timing or just, freaking amazing. There were tables and tables of jewelry and it was so overwhelming that we went twice just to make sure we caught all the good stuff. I bought 6 necklaces and 2 pairs of earrings... I could have bought so much more but I was trying to exercise self control in front of my new friend.

Seriously, how cute (a word usually reserved for puppies, kitties and an occasional baby) is this vintage perfume pendant? And yes, the patterned dress? It's a brand new, silk, Banana Republic dress that I found at a thrift store in Grand Rapids too...

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

Cape? Ann Taylor, thrifted Belt? Thrifted Blouse? I.D., Winners

What? Ann Taylor cape
Where? Bibles for Misson Thrift Store
How much? $5
Why? In the last two weeks I have spent 8 minutes thrifting. It was not time wasted, as evidenced by this great little cape I found.
With Halloween around the corner, I have been avoiding the bigger thrift stores. I get that a thrift store may be a good place to find a cheap and original costume but I don't get why thrift stores get all sexy, cheap and polyester in October. I mean,I understand it, it's all about the bottom line but I can't handle the crowds and sparkly angle wings so I take my thrift elsewhere.
I love the Bibles For Mission store because it's always clean and I usually see a couple ladies from my church who volunteer there. I think they get a kick out of seeing me buy a bright pink skirt and wear it to church with a sweatshirt. However, because the store is run by volunteers, they don't stay open late. I got to the store at 4:43p.m. and the store closed at 5p.m.. By 4:51p.m. I was at the cash with this cape (brand new, heck yes!) and a charming but horribly hand-knit mustard sweater. I'd say it was a little skill and a little luck...

What did you thrift this week?

This Week I Thrifted...

Skirt? Thrifted Sweater? Gap, thrifted Belt? Thrifted Necklace? F21

What? A Cashmere/wool skirt. It has no brand label attached but the finishings and the hand of the fabric speak of luxury. And you know I'm fancy...
Where? Talize
How much? $7.99 minus 10% and a donation coupon.
Why? I'm horrible at making big life decisions. I just stew ideas, grind my teeth and turn the same things over and over in my head. So this weekend I went to Talize to think. Maybe that's weird but there is something peaceful to me about searching through racks of potential. Not only did the little thrift trip clear my mind, it was also the most successful thrift trip I've had in over a month. I cleaned up.
This skirt is perfectly on trend with its longer hem and vibrant colour and the quality is top notch. I wish you could feel how soft the material is. It's as soft as Kyle, our softest cat... I now wish you could feel how soft Kyle is. But you'll just have to believe me...

Oh thrifting, thanks for being my therapy... again.

What did you thrift this week?