Thrifting in Tennessee

THRIFTING IN TENNESSEE!

Just over a week ago, I flew to Tennessee for a little mini-vacation! I was excited to check out some local thrift in the Chattanooga area, and what I discovered were some neat items that were priced fairly consistently with what you might find in Michigan thrift store—or should I say, “Tharift Stower”? Hahah! I loved hearing the southern accents and interesting stories behind some of the items I ran across…from creepy dolls in bell glass to crazy fur hats!  Below you’ll find some items that I bought, and some that I didn’t but wanted to share with you! My prize find was the Gant Gaither signed silk Tiger dress below. It was only three dollars!!!! How epic is that tiger? Seriously? Another highlight for me was an excellent vinyl haul and some adorable purple suede Fiona booty heels.  Thanks for tuning in…see you soon for an outfit post!

I was too scared to dig through the vinyl in this row for fear that I would appreciate too much of it.





NOT a thrift item; my boyfriend's awesome monkey posing next to a vintage globe. People are scared of him apparently...but they just don't appreciate his splendor, I think.

Clockwise, from upper left hand corner: An overpriced vintage globe, recap of the outfit I put together with some $3 purple suede Fiona booty heels purchased in TN at a thrift store, the impromptu outfit I put together with a thrifted $1.50 sweater (another TN find), and my vinyl haul from the trip (probably my favorite--especially the instrumental Shaft soundtrack. SO BAD ASS!)

I had to throw in a few shots of the gorgeous spot we hiked to at Fall Creek Falls. So pretty!



This little gem was carved into the paint on the state park bathroom stall:

Dooney, Bourke & Stripes!

 DOONEY, BOURKE & STRIPES!

I posted a little while back that I had admired a vintage Dooney & Bourke at Regeneration thrift store in Detroit (check out my review, article and the handbag here!) but the price just wasn't right for me. To quote myself:

"They had a great selection of vintage and thrifted designer bags. I REALLY wanted to take this Dooney and Bourke home with me....and looking at it now, I regret leaving it behind! However, it was marked $15 and I just get a bigger thrill out of finding them on my own for cheaper."

Well, I'm pleased to say that I not only found ONE Dooney and Bourke recently that is almost the identical replica of the bag I wanted at Regeneration, but TWO! I'll show the other in a blog very soon, but I bought each of the handbags for only $2, totaling $4. I'm featuring the one that is most like the bag in the blog linked above...check it out! Remember from the article that they D&B had been marked $15...more than I was willing to pay!

Sometimes it really pays to wait when it comes to thrift. I almost never regret passing things up...but I sometimes regret buying. I know this might not be true for everyone, but it's a practice I like to exercise as often as possible...and this time it paid off!

I'm doing my D&B handbag with a thrifted Gap 3/4 striped knit, long black thrifted skirt, *brown boots, *brown woven belt and brown faux snakeskin cuff/leather band. (Starred items are not thrifted). I LOVE black and white stripes and brown together!

 

Snow Blooms

SNOW BLOOMS: Blue floral denim and snowflakes

Flowers in the snow: it seemed like a fun idea! In reality, the harsh Michigan wind and constant snowflakes were BRUTAL for photographing outside. Being that I hate the cold weather AND indoor photography, you might be piecing together why you haven't seen much of me lately! But rest assured...I've still been thrifting, hoarding and styling...and I'll be giving you a sneak peak into some of the thrift treasures I saw while out and about on a recent trip to Tennessee in tomorrow's blog!

Today's outfit is 100% thrifted: the dark blue fitted floral jeans, vintage brown and black suede zip up blazer, vintage wicker handbag and heels were all thrift store finds totaling no more than $10 for the entire ensemble! I really love blue, black and brown together because I feel it's so unexpected.  The cheap purple statement ring was a dollar treasure that seems (oddly enough) to go with everything I wear! Do you have a piece of jewelry like that? Leave a comment below and tell me about it!

What do you think of my smoky eye makeup? Let me fill you in on a few of my tips and tricks:

This is the basic technique I used, though I substituted more of a neutral/nude tone for shimmery peaches and whites, and blended with grey/black. Basically, I changed the color palette and also went for shimmer rather than a matte look. However, I used the same basic shading/liner techniques shown below. (Click the image to view the blog/tutorial at Style'n).

What I've learned over the years:

1. Do your eye makeup first. Sometimes it can be difficult to get a feel for whether or not you "love" what you've done with your eyes when the rest of your face is naked. To be honest, for many years, it was the opposite of how I did my makeup. I mean, who doesn't start with base first? However, when you are working with high pigments and amounts of liner/shadow, especially contouring with black, it WILL get everywhere and ruin the base you have.  Do yourself a favor and do your eye makeup first...but leave your mascara for VERY last, so it doesn't get powder/blush/etc on it.

2. Get brushes. If you want a "pro" look, you'll need brushes for application and especially a blending brush! I honestly can't live without any of my eye/eyebrow brushes (especially my exacto brush for eyebrow shadow application) and I only spent about ten dollars on all of them together, because I use E.L.F brand. They are synthetic hair but an amazing value for the price and my brushes have held up now for THREE FULL YEARS through washings, which is truly spectacular when you consider they were only one dollar a peice!

3. Don't get hung up on expensive shadow if you can't afford it. There's honestly no doubt that some brands like MAC have THE BEST eyeshadow...it's true! And some "dollar store" brands are absolutely awful. However, if you are looking for high pigment brands that are actually cheap AND work well, I'd suggest the following: Wet n' Wild Color Icon eyeshadow kits (very high pigment and great contouring powders), N.Y.C., and L.A. Colors shimmering loose eyeshadow with brush.  I also really like E.L.F. eyeshadow.  I have an eyebrow shadow kit by NYX Cosmetics that is fabulous and only cost around three dollars. I don't do falsies (fake lashes are way to much work for me and I'm terrible at applying them) and I love my drugstore mascara: L'oreal Voluminous is honestly my favorite brand ever! For black liner, I prefer Mary Kay for my cream liner and I really love my InColor Fabuliner liquid eyeliner pen as well. Another product that I can highly recommend is the E.L.F. eyeshadow primer! And finally...one of my best tips is to try creating your own eyeshadow creams. In order to get extra "oomph" and staying power from some of my less expensive eyeshadows, I will sometimes create a basic cream from the powder using simply water or a bit of my favorite moisturizer that I know is safe for the eye area. Try it out!

Feeling a little "teal"!

Yesterday on the Thrift Trick Instragram!    Sweater is thrifted, of course! :)

FEELING A LITTLE TEAL

I felt like throwing an extra special "pop" of color onto my eyes this last Sunday and, being that I was wearing a teal-ey sweater, I decided to go with blues, teals and aquas!

By no means am I the tutorial queen. In fact, I'm throwing a super cheesy hand drawn diagram in the blog today! (No jokes about the funky eyebrows on my cartoon eyes). Yet, I think this explains what I did fairly well! No worries, though, for those who may find my minute-art less than aesthetic, I'm throwing in some REAL tutorials today from the pros who actually take the time in preparing quality instruction!

In addition to application, are you wondering what colors may compliment your eyes best? Check out the diagrams below on eye color and shape, and choosing dazzling shades/application based on your personal hue and anatomy!

Enjoy!

WHAT I DID:

1. I lined my eyes in a sideways, cat-eyed "V" with blue liner.

2. On the middle of the lid, I applied a bright shimmery aqua/teal color.

3. On the outer crease of the lid, inside the "V", I applied a dark black shadow. You could also use black liner but limit it to the very inside of the "V" to allow for blending out.

4. I applied a white "shimmery" powder to browbone area. (Like my sparkles in the drawing? HAHA)

5. I applied a different shade teal liner to the inner crease of my eye, blended the colors together, lined the inside of eyes with blue, and applied mascara!

SOURCES: 

http://servicesbyleshell.blogspot.com/2011/06/eyeshadow-color-chart.html http://morgans-boutique.blogspot.com/2011/08/corrective-makeup-on-different-eye.html

(A) TEAL AND GOLD tutorial: Click here (very similiar to my look) 

(B) GOLD AND TEAL tutorial: Click here

Vintage Navy Shirt Dress

VINTAGE NAVY SHIRT DRESS

OUTFIT DETAILS: Shirt Dress: thrifted, Hope's Outlet Belt: thrifted, patent leather Anne Klein Shoes/earrings were new (and cheap!) purchases.

Who doesn't love a shirt dress? They're easy to find...easy to wear...functional, durable, stylish. There are also many ways you can style them!

--- Belt them
--- Add a scarf, cardigan, or tie
--- Try a statement necklace under the collar or brooch/pins on the collar
--- Try wearing bottom open with slip or entire shirt dress open with another dress underneath!

And check out this article from Refinery 29 on 
more ways to style a shirt dress!

 

From Instagram earlier! Follow me @ThriftTrick!

The Ugly Skirt Challenge

THE UGLY SKIRT CHALLENGE

Last summer while in Mackinaw City in Michigan on vacation, I was second hand shopping with my mother. As we pored over the thrifted racks meticulously (a mother daughter tradition), I looked up to see mom heading towards me with something on a hanger. She held up the skirt shown in the pictures below.  "It looks like you," she said.  I took offense to this comparison initially, because it was one of the ugliest skirts I had ever seen. "Whoah, mother..." I replied. "That is honestly too hideous of a print for even ME to wear."  She shrugged and started to file it away again when I said, "Wait."  I took a second look at the ridiculous blue and white pattern. Its squiggles and triangles seemed like they would be at home on a button up worn by Tom Selleck as Magnum PI.

"Hand it over." I squinted my eyes and held up the Bombay china dish inspired design. Was this skirt made from a nautical themed bed sheet that once fitted over Candace Cameron's twin mattress? Did Natalie from "Facts of Life" wear this skirt on a first date? Was it possible that Clair Huxtable wore this as a cape? (She WAS after all, a superhero...but I doubt she would don anything so God-forsakenly hideous).

"I'm accepting this as a challenge," I stated indignantly. "It's so ugly that I have to have it." I paid $1.50 for the cobalt and cream abomination and tossed it into my shopping bag.

Once I returned from vacation, I hung the skirt in my closet for six months...until yesterday. Because of "blizzard-y" conditions here in Michigan at the present time, I wasn't really able to shoot outside yesterday, and the daylight hours began to slip away from me.  Therefore, I found myself shooting inside after dark, which is never the BEST idea. To make matters worse, my camera fell off my tri-pod and my 50 mm lens was damaged, destroying the auto-focus gears inside. 

Was this skirt cursed with the cranky spirit of Judith Light on "Who's The Boss?" 

I'm not sure. However, I DO know the skirt is somehow actually starting to grow on me, and when combined with some fun vintage jewelry, a vintage Samsonite tote and Micheal Kors heels...I actually began to appreciate the ridiculously loud print.

I think I JUST MIGHT wear it again. MAYBE. Do you think I'm crazy? If so...I hope it's crazy AWESOME crazy...like Rose. Yes...I'm speaking of Golden Girls. 

Thank you for reading the blog today. And THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND.

OUTFIT DETAILS: 100% Secondhand and thrifted. Kors heels were a consignment purchase.