Good morning friends!
I’m writing to you on a Saturday for a very special reason…
I’m just so excited about this new blogging series, I couldn’t wait any longer before pulling back the curtain and revealing The Gathered Home’s newest venture!
You see, I never thought I would be a fashion blogger because:
A) I hate posing for the camera and I tend to strongly dislike photos of myself.
B) I don’t like spending time on my hair and makeup.
and
C) I’m not really all that into fashion.
That seems like a pretty cut and dried case for steering clear of the fashion blogging world. If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen, right?
However, I still felt the pull to diversify topics on The Gathered Home and begin to share more lifestyle content. I may not be a fashionista, but there is one area of apparel and accoutrement I am equipped to cover, because – if you’ll pardon the slight boast – I’m kind of an expert in the field.
Introducing…
What I Wore Thrifting
I know the challenge of putting together an outfit that can take the challenges of digging through dirty piles, hauling furniture, and also says, “Hey! I can bargain hunt with the best of them!”
And I’m sure we’ve all had those moments where we’re anxious to head out the door for some treasure-hunting, but feel like we have absolutely nothing to wear.
“What I Wore Thrifting” will be a semi-regular column sharing REAL outfits I’ve ACTUALLY worn thrifting, to provide you with ideas and inspiration for mixing and matching functional thrift-shopping outfits from your closet staples. This will play perfectly into my role as one of your Thrift Score Thursday hosts – because nothing prepares you for treasure-hunting success like the perfect base wardrobe!
To kick things off, I’m sharing two looks with you today, as well as a fun peek into my every-day thrifting purse…
Look # 1: Comfy Casual Classy Messy-Hair-Bun Chic with Bust
Shop The Look:
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Keys To This Style:
Pair a simple v-neck tee (A.) with the comfiest pair of jeans you own (B.) – no shaved legs necessary!
These second-hand jeans are stylish, yet stretchy enough as I squat for finds on the low shelves and reach for the high ones. Make sure to choose a tee that’s long enough to give you a comfortable full range of motion – unless you’re jumping on that exposed-midriff trend, in which case, more power to you!
Broken-in high tops (C.) are perfect for both indoor aisle-pacing and outdoor sales and their naturally distressed style contrasts with the crisp lines of a thrifted Greek bust (D.) I recommend a pair that’s about seven years old, personally.
A messy bun keeps your hair out of your face, and don’t forget an extra elastic hair band around your wrist for emergencies – it doubles as a fashion accessory!
Look # 2: Comfy Casual Purple Punk Preppy
Shop The Look:
[show_shopthepost_widget id=”2563380″]
Keys To This Style:
On cooler thrifting excursions, layer a graphic tee (A.) under a comfy knit blazer (B.). This “vintage” Relient K top (one of my favorite bands in high school) was a Salvation Army find and really pops under the blazer’s more-traditional lines – but with a cozy twist in its soft sweatshirt material!
These acid-wash grey jeggings (C.) are high on the comfort and functionality scale – the faint all-over pattern hides any and all thrifting dust and debris!
If you have long hair, try sweeping it into a simple and smart side-braid. Your local thrift-store associates will fondly remember you as the “braid girl” (everyone needs a signature look, right?) AND with no hair in your face, you’ll have unimpeded peripheral vision so you’ll never miss a hard-to-see thrift score!
Top off the outfit with an iconic and ubiquitous red-printed “Thank You Thank You Thank You” bag (D.) – available anywhere bargain-goods are sold!
What’s In My Bag?
Who else loves getting a peek into their stylish friend’s purses?
Anybody?
Nobody?
This fun bag in my favorite color (A.) was a Target clearance find with pockets to hold everything from a dizzying array of peach-color lip balms (F.) to thrifting essentials like the uber-useful tape measure (G.)!
My wallet (B.) has seen better days, but it has plenty of room for all those pennies (C.) that thrift store prices continually produce.
Bonus: 22 pennies adds a nice amount of weight to your purse, which means you’re building muscle while engaging in your favorite activities!
Inside my wallet, you’ll also find my thrift store reward cards (D.) – gotta rack up those points, week by week! – and an ungodly amount of thin, faded, and crumpled thrift store receipts (E.)
As someone who hits multiple thrift stores in one day, often making small purchases at each, I end up with a ridiculous tangle of receipts that I smush down into my wallet/purse until finally one day the straw breaks the camel’s back and I force myself to go through and purge them.
Why such absurd receipt hauling?
Part laziness, pure and simple.
Part penance for my role in such mindless wasting of paper. If a tree died for this cause, then by George, I will honor its life by carting around its remains with remorse.
Part validation, in case I ever need to wave concrete proof of my crazy claims of “I got this for a dollar! A DOLLAR!” in someone’s face.
Part proof to myself that see, my little shopping habit is just that – little. All these receipts, yet such a minimal financial layout! No big deal, really – add all these up, and they barely make what I imagine to be a typical good old-fashioned shoe shopping spree… In the movies… Where the high-schooler comes home with arms full of tote bags from the mall…
Yes sirree, just look how frugal I am in comparison!
I have the proof – just check my receipts!!!
Coming Soon:
- What I Wore Thrifting: Dress for [Secondhand] Success
- What I Wore Thrifting: Glasses vs. Contacts – the treasure-spotting winner just might surprise you!
- What I Wore Thrifting: Stylish Shoes for Swift Shopping – and the one type of footwear that is thrift-shopping Kryptonite!
- What I Wore Thrifting: The Best Brass Animals to Pair With Any Sweater
- What I Wore Thrifting: Pajama Edition
……..aaaaaaaannnnnnnnndddddddd………
With love from the girl who still doesn’t feel any calling towards fashion blogging, but is willing to enlist the help of her sister for a goofy photoshoot and share two very real thrifting looks and just a little bit of malarky with you today…
My April 1st blog post is one of the highlights of my year and I always have so much fun creating something zany! You can check out 2016 (Hot New Curb Appeal Updates: Painting the House Pink), 2015 (Bunker Sweet Bunker: DIY Apocalypse Prepping) and 2014 (The Gathered Home + Buffy: a blog about home decor and vampire slaying) right here:
Introducing: The Gathered Kitchen
Read More
Hot New Curb Appeal Updates
Read More
An Exciting New Project
Read More
A Small Announcement…
Read More
i knew when i saw the post appear in bloglovin because by now i know you and your april 1 blog posts!!! you crack me up!
Haha, you know me too well! I always have too much fun with these!
Ahh, you look great. What to wear to an estate sale or swap meet is a different story. Comfy shoes as you pointed out, not too stylish. Estate sale: dress really plain, I often wear work shorts (I’m an artist, paint smeared everywhere) and an ok t-shirt. I don’t overdo the dressing down or they will think I’m a burglar 😉 and they will follow me around the whole time (annoying). For a swap meet I just dress like crap, never fails.
Haha, such good points! 😀
For the good deals, you’ve gotta dress down!
MUCH FASHION.
SO STYLE.
ICON.
BEST. COMMENT. EVER.
LOVE your brown sneakers. They look so thrift and otherwise ready 🙂 Loved all your outfits and I will definitely refer back to your guide in my own upcoming thrifting adventures 🙂 Happy 1st!
Thank you Katja! I really do love those sneakers – I’ve truly had them for 7 years and I think I will cry when they actually fall apart (they are starting to!). Fingers crossed I come across another pair like them some day!
Um, but for real, I freaking love your sneakers! What kind are they? Thanks!
Thanks Tara! They were from Aldo, but that was 7 years ago and I’ve never come across another pair like them since! I really hope I do someday, because I think I will cry when these finally fall apart!
LOL, I always wait for your April’s fool post! Love this one. My favorite photo is the one with the slight smirk. So funny and you are really stylish
Hahaha, I couldn’t keep a straight face! My sister was cracking up taking these photos too – you should see the outtakes! (But the internet never will!)
I would read all of those fake fashion posts. 😉 And my purse contents look the same as yours except with a squished up Lara bar for added style. 😛
Oh yeah – you cannot forget the thrifting fuel for those times when you reeeaalllly need to eat, but might miss out on something awesome if you give up and go home! 😀
Love It! As a thrifter myself I always look to your cool fashion sense when planning my thrift style. Definitely pinning this guide for future thrifting outings! 😉
I’m so glad it could be inspirational to you! ;D
I love that you can have fun and share it with your readers!
Thank you Tina! I so enjoy planning the April 1st post each year! 😀
Hahahahaha, that was awesome. But dude, you should have seen what people were wearing to antique Round Top! I felt like I was at Coachella or SXSW — women schlepping around in high heeled boots and expensive necklaces and hats. Man, you wear shorts and a T-shirt to go junkin’. Could not believe it.
Thank you Randi! 🙂
I can imagine! I’ve seen some pictures from this year! I’m with you – practical, comfy clothes all the way!!