Outfit of the Day: Oh, This Old Thing?

 Do you ever throw on some clothes and then walk by a mirror and think, "oh, this looks pretty good!" I did that last weekend and decided it would make a good outfit post. I wore it all again today and realized that nearly everything I'm wearing is secondhand. Go me! It makes me happy that I'm successfully changing my ways and now a decent chunk of my current wardrobe is thrifted or purchased on Poshmark. I'm practically an eco saint over here. Or something. Anyway:

Okay, so I didn't promise it would be a glamour lewk or anything. This is just my usual work-from-home jam. The top is Lou & Grey and it's thrifted. I don't know that it's super flattering but I loved the color and the floaty goodness of it. There are a bunch of these available on Posh but if that's not your thing, this tee looks like a good substitute. 

I'm usually freezing so I added this cardigan which was a very nice gift from my friend Nina! It's an old J.Crew cashmere cardigan (circa 2011) that she passed on to me and I love it so much. So soft and warm! The perfect cozy work-from-home option. For something similar, this one is a dead ringer for my cardigan and this one is a bit more drape-y and looks nice and I love this ombre cardigan as well. Your cheap and cheerful option is here! 

Sometimes you just gotta admire your clogs, you know? I'll talk about those in a minute but first, my jeans. These old Madewell Boyjeans have been THE BEST. I wear them an obnoxious amount and they just get better. I definitely suggest seeking out a secondhand pair! (But get measurements - they can run big.) I prefer the mid rise style but the high rise version is super popular. Madewell just really does this style amazingly well. 

I'm still carrying my Lo & Sons Pearl crossbody more than any other bag and I'm still really digging my Madewell camera strap as well. (Y'ALL. Check out this Kule strap! Ahhh!) Now, details:

I'm wearing one of my Twist Style necklaces, made by my friend Maryellen. Her jewelry is really pretty and wearable! Definitely check her out. (And just to be clear - I purchased this with my own money! This is not a sponsored item,  I just really like her stuff. Support your creative friends!) 

Finally, my clogs. I have never been hugely into clogs but Birkenstocks are a slipperly slope to Clogtown and that's where I live now. I got these Sanita professional clogs at my favorite thrift store ($4!) and they're great. Super well-made and clompy AF. I mostly wear them around the house and now declare them perfect quarantine shoes. The end. 

Tutorial: Let's Go Thrifting For Fun and Profit! (Part Three)

Hi all! This is the third in my three-part series about buying/selling on Poshmark. (Here are part one and two.) This third installment is specifically about sourcing to resell but also includes general tips about thrifting for fun (because I certainly don't sell everything I find. Nope.)

First, a general note on thrifting: Never go in looking for something specific, just go with a clear mind and get into that zen state as you work through the racks. It definitely helps if you like to dig and enjoy the "thrill of the hunt" aspect of shopping. If you don't, this might not be for you because it really takes time and patience.

Also, I am pretty new at this! I used to thrift a lot in college but only got back into it a year ago,  so I don't consider myself an expert by any means. Mostly I am just giving you a starter's guide based on what I've learned:

A decent haul.

Find Your Honey Hole
First, you gotta find your best sourcing spot. In my area we have Goodwill (too expensive), Salvation Army (cluttered but much less expensive) and a few locally-owned thrift stores that are popular with students and therefore get picked over. There is also a "Bins" (aka Goodwill outlet) near me but I've been too scared to try it. (Apparently things get...aggressive at the bins.) For reselling purposes,  I don't like spending more than $4 on any item unless it's higher-end and immaculate.

At my favorite thrift store they have one day a week where all clothes are 50% off. Check around and find out what kind of deals/discounts your local shops run and take advantage of it! On half price day I usually hit the tank top racks and really go through them - I've found Lululemon, Lucy, Athleta, etc. They're regularly priced at $1.99, so at half price my cost per item is super low. Even if that tank sells for $12-$15, I am making a fair profit!

I can't resist leopard print. 

Go Consistently
If you go often enough and really dig into the racks, you'll train yourself to spot the good quality items. My fingers usually know before my eyes have registered a good brand. Good quality feels like good quality, especially when it comes to knits, denim and athletic wear. I generally stick with the women's racks but have found some great men's stuff on the women's racks! Also, my best athletic finds are usually mixed in with regular clothes. Lululemon can be especially stealthy because the logo isn't always obvious. Once you know your store, you'll know it's strengths - spend the majority of your time on areas where you find the best stuff.

Men's jeans I found on the women's rack.

Find Your Best Sellers 
I love to sell casual current styles - jeans, athletic wear and cute tops do best for me. Skirts and dresses don't move and I rarely find shoes or bags worth selling. My best rule - buy what you like and sell what you like. I try to keep my closet "on brand" by only selling items or brands I'd wear (with a few exceptions.) Brands I will always pick up: Patagonia, The North Face, Madewell, Rothys, Tieks, Frye, Dankso, Birkenstock, RRL, J.Crew (mainly black label - if it's got two diamonds on the tag, it's Factory), Lululemon, and Athleta. To date I have not found Rothys, Tieks, Frye or Birkenstocks (edit: I have since found Rothys and Frye!), but I am always hopeful.

I love this cool blouse but the brand is a mystery.

Live Thrift!
Don't be afraid to stop what you're doing right in the aisle to look up a brand on Posh or eBay. Check the "sold" comps. I overlooked an RRL (Ralph Lauren black label) men's western shirt on three different trips before finally looking up the label and being like, Oh. I sold that puppy on eBay for $60! Anything that looks interesting or high quality? definitely look up sold comps and see if it's worth your time. I still make dumb mistakes (looking at you, mesh BR top) but I've definitely gotten better at buying things that sell. Also, there are some higher end brands that just don't do very well on Poshmark, so before you buy that $15 Joie top, check to see what similars are selling for. It might do better on eBay or it might just not be worth the effort.

This blouse was riddled with moth holes...I discovered after purchase.

Check and Check and Check Again.
I can't state this enough: before you get in line to purchase your great finds go find a well-lit corner of the thrift store and really look your stuff over, inside and out. For jeans - check the crotch, the back pockets, the hems, the waistband, and, very important, check the front for the dreaded elastic puckering:

This is bad.

If you're sourcing high end jeans, look for any signs that they're fake (sloppy stitching, spelling mistakes on the tags, etc.) For knits: look for holes and stretching. For tops: check the pits. For buttoned tops: check for missing buttons! I can't tell you how many times I've overlooked a missing button. For everything: check for stains and damage. Occasionally I've bought something with a stain that I was able to get out, but mostly I throw it back because it's not worth my time. I really can't stress how important this step is because I STILL miss stuff and it's incredibly frustrating.

That's it for now! Next week I'm going to do a post about your reseller toolkit - the items you should have on hand always. Whee. So fun.

Now, any questions?

Marianne's Exhaustive (and Exhausting!) Fun Denim Recs

For a while Adrien has been sweetly complimenting me on taking fashion risks, especially when it comes to denim. Now, I take that as she likely means it, which is as a compliment, but I know some people look at my jean choices with a wary eye. What can I say? Nothing edges up a basic jeans and a top outfit like those jeans being Fashion. And no, I don't mean like those clear plastic window jeans.

Sometime in the last year and change I got really tired of skinny jeans. I still have two pairs I wear sometimes, and my fave Target moto pants are a very skinny cut, but for the most part I'm just not feeling it. So I asked Adrien if she would like me to do a post on some fun jeans and she said duh, so here we are!

My absolute favorite jeans for over a year now are from H & M and man, I wish I could go back in time and buy a second pair of them in my size, instead of what I actually did which was buy a second pair in a size smaller which is JUST MEAN PAST ME.

Anyway! H & M is a good place to have some fun with denim. When I'm looking at cuts, here's what works best for me: I have a big butt and wide hips but skinny calves, so often times when things fit my butt they are naturally looser in the calf. So for me, straight styles look looser/more flared in the calf. I know for some of you straight styles fit closer to skinny jeans so take these recs with a grain of salt, etc. I like the look of these distressed jeans:

(I love these WITH that floral top and I also love her hair so maybe I just want to be her.)

(A lot going on here I know but these are outfit makers. I'd wear with a simple white top and slides on the weekend like some goddess of the farmers market.)

That said I continue to try and find a wide leg jean that works on my particular body. I feel like I'm getting closer! I need them to fit very snugly in the hip and the crop is key--in general if I'm not using a skinny jean to highlight the skinniest part of my leg (calves/ankles) then I need a crop to show a good 2-3 inches of ankle estate. These aren't exactly super wide legged, but they are the Conscious line and look like good quality:

Now let's talk white jeans! White jeans are not exactly groundbreaking, I know, but my favorite pair are again--not super skinny, have some distressing, and the perfect crop. They are from the Gap and yes I wish I had bought more than one pair. And I wear them allll the time without spilling all over myself, including when I'm traveling. I like to live dangerously (and I keep Tide pens on me, they work). I'd like a backup pair, so I'm currently eyeing:

(These look the most similar to my current pair, down to the raw cropped hem.)

(These are challenging for sure and not likely to work, but if they DO work they will be amazing.)

Can't do distressing? I personally am fine with distressing and obviously still wear distressed jeans, as evidenced from the above. However, there are times that I want to wear cool jeans to work but don't want them to literally have holes in them, because while my workplace is creative and casual there are times when you don't want holes in your jeans! This is a good time to consider patches. They give your jeans a little something without that something being your leg skin showing. My current fave are these:

which I got for cheap after Christmas. They have a lot going on and NO stretch so they are a challenge to get on and move and have organ function in...but they are COOOOOOL and I feel cool in them. These are an easy way to try this trend:

And these aren't from H & M, but Pilcro just fits me so well and I think they are fun without being CRAZY. I might have to buy these:

WOWWWEEE That was a lot of denim talk and I didn't even get very far. But I want to know--where are you guys on denim these days? Are you clinging to your skinnies? Did you never give up bootcut? Are you full-on normcore mom jeans? I am not lying when I say I really want you to tell me. I love talking about jeans.

Cheap 'n Cheerful

My very lovely Crossfit buddy Christine posted something on her Instagram account last week that I really liked:

Winter cold feels cruel to me and casts everything in gloom and grey. I employ mind tricks to keep things interesting, one of them being a bright lip color. Does it seem silly? I don't know: I see it as the difference between walking by a ghostly and pallid face in the mirror and thinking, "C'mon, you old turkey, a few more hours until bed" ...and glimpsing bright pink lip and thinking, "Oh! She has places to go and things to do! What's next?" Also, I'm reading this terrific book about creative living and there is a part in there about how getting gussied up may help attract ideas and inspiration to you when you are feeling particularly discouraged or blocked, and I think there is something to that.  

I like a bunch of lip aids, but one of my favorites these days is these Wet n Wild Balm Stain Moisturizing Lip Color, partly because they are only $3: they do the job and don't make me feel terrible if I misplace it. 

Well! You don't have to tell me twice. I scrambled right out to the drug store and picked up two of the Wet n Wild Balm Stain Moisturizing Lip Colors. My initial instinct is always to go with the plummy color "Lady and the Vamp" (which I did) but I also bought a bright pink called "A Stiff Pink" because it looks so cute on Christine.

I tried the pink first and it looked really good...and then it went kind of fuchsia on me which is an issue I often have with pinks. I don't know if it's my lip pigment or a chemical thing, but it was REAL bright. I kind of liked it though. I layered the plum color over it and had a very intense, bright lip all day. And hey, $3 a pop! Plus, the cap snaps on so it won't come loose in your bag. It's the perfect cheap 'n cheerful pick-me-up on a cold winter day.

I'm really into layering lip colors to make my own shade (Clinique Super Strawberry is a great base for this) so this morning I layered my Honest Beauty lip crayon in Mulberry Kiss over Lady and the Vamp and here's what I got:

Instantly more cheerful. It's all about a bright lip to keep your spirits up through winter.

Cheap Thrills: This and That.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Pressed Powder
My favorite Benefit powder finally crumbled into sadness so I needed a new compact for my bag. I never liked the small mirror in the Benefit compact and didn't want to spend that much to replace it. My compact requirements are thus: decent mirror, attractive compact, separate compartment for the brush/puff, must not cost a million dollars. I checked out some reviews and this Sonia Kashuk compact got high marks:

It fills all my requirements and only costs $10. Hooray! And it's nice powder - translucent and finely milled. One thing I'm not crazy about is the brush,  which feels a little cheap and flimsy. (I'm using the brush from my Benefit powder instead.) 

Nip + Fab Energy Boost Body Wash
I finally ran out of my favorite Kiehl's body wash and I cannot justify replacing it. I went to Marshalls to see what I could find and they had giant bottles of the Nip + Fab body wash for $3.99!

Even full price it's not very expensive and it smells really good - zesty and citrusy without smelling like floor cleaner. It won't change your life, it's just liquid soap, but it's nice-smelling liquid soap in a cute container that doesn't cost very much.

Old Navy Lounge Shorts
My pajama situation was looking pretty dire so I recently bought a couple pairs of Old Navy lounge shorts for a ridiculously low price (sale + code, of course.) I wasn't expecting much but I am really happy with them! Cheaper than Target, really cute prints and a comfortable fit.

I don't expect them to last forever but they are cheerful and cheap and the striped pair makes me extra happy. 

Banana Republic Scarab Pendant

Banana has a 40% off code today and I really dig the sale jewelry, especially the pendant necklace, which I was fondling in-store over the weekend:

With the code it's under $14 and it looks much more expensive! There is also a really cute scarab bangle if you want to be matchy-matchy.  I'm a little obsessed. 

Cheap Thrills: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush Review.

I’ve been getting free samples from PINCHme lately and one of the things they sent me was the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

I'm a foundation brush.

This is not an expensive brand and I was like, “Eh. Cheap brush. Pass." because this is the kind of terrible person I am. Then I decided to give it a try anyway and holy crap, this is a really good foundation brush. I generally just slap my foundation on with my fingers and call it done, but the finish I got using this brush was beautiful. I even took a selfie to try to capture it:

#nofilter

Obviously this is not the best quality brush I’ve ever used so I have no idea how it'll hold up over time, but for that price, who cares? It gives me a perfect, even, poreless finish and my foundation seems to last longer. It’s a game-changer! It’s available on Amazon (25% off) which is nice. Real Techniques has a whole line and travel kits, so if fancy brushes aren’t in the budget (or even if they are) I’d check these out.

Just to be clear, PINCHme sent me the brush along with some other samples - I was under no obligation to write a review of any kind but this brush impressed me and I like to review inexpensive things that impress me. 

Adrien: Cheap Thrills, Old Navy style.

Over the weekend Old Navy lured me back in with a promised 30% off everything (through tomorrow! Run!), but I really didn't need anything. This was a recreational shopping trip, just for the fun of maybe finding something awesome for next to nothing. And I think I did. I mostly combed the sale section and though I didn't find anything amazing, I did find a pair of super-soft thin lounge...crops? Knickers? I don't know what to call them but they have POCKETS FOR MY CHAPSTICK. Check it:

Worn here with my usual around-the-house gear: an inside-out paint speckled t-shirt and Reef flip flops. White hot.

I also bought a necklace that I'd fondled on my last visit but didn't buy, because, though it was nice, it had an element I didn't like. But, for 30% off, I was willing to dust off my jewelry pliers and remove said element. (I am so annoyed that I can't find stock photos of either of these purchases.) Anyway, see that red beaded necklace hanging on the right?

That would be it, minus the weird silver discs that I removed. You'll see it again later this week, I'm pretty sure.

What's your latest cheap thrill?