40 Bucks & a Thrift Store
For some, like my roomie Ashley, shopping at thrift stores can be a nightmare. The hassle of searching through every rack; the awkward stain on that one of a kind jacket you wanted; and don’t get me started on that smell you can always rely on when you walk into any thrift store, I actually hate it myself, but I know for certain pieces thrift stores and consignment shops are the place to go. Ashley expressed her hatred for thrift stores, so she gave me $40 and this is what we came up with!
We walked out with 7 pieces and was able to create 4 different outfits in total and we didn’t even hit $40. The main things I keep my eyes peeled for when raging through racks are:
Staple Pieces = $11.97
Basics that never go out of style that can be worn with multiple outfits, like every woman’s little black dress or blazer! Ashley walked out with a pair of Bordeaux ankle pants for $3.99, a sleeveless black turtle neck $3.99, and a wool knee length pencil skirt for $3.99.
Outerwear = $9.99
We found a long tweed hounds tooth Chanel inspired jacket, that only cost $9.99!! Thrift stores are like a winter coat MECCA, whether it be your favorite team’s old varsity jacket or an old Ralph Lauren pea coat, this is a good place to get a nice winter coat for a good price.
Statement Pieces = $14.97
Statement pieces are unique and eye-catching wardrobe items that mirror your personality. They are usually quite bold but not necessarily brightly colored or oversized. We found 3 statement pieces for Ashley; a long crochet skirt for $4.99, a crochet top for $5.99, and an Emporio Armani blazer for $3.99.
With a grand total of $36.97 before tax and 7 pieces we came up with 4 different ensembles that Ashley can wear to places like the beach, work, or a night out on the town.
The first outfit includes the Armani Emporio Blazer and the black sleeveless turtleneck, paired with a pair of funky leather panel leggings and suede wedges. The different textures and exaggerated lapels on the Armani blazer are just enough to keep it funky for a night out.
The second outfit includes the crochet skirt and shirt. Ashley fell in love with these pieces on site. So I felt we had to get them. If you’re happy in it BUY IT!
The third outfit includes 2 of her staples that we dressed up with a Ralph Lauren sweater. We reused the black turtleneck to show that staple pieces can and always be worn different ways! I was so in love with this gray wool skirt, I may have been more in love with it than Ashley but it’s not surprising to find good quality work clothes and staple pieces in thrift stores!
The last outfit is my favorite!!! The entire ensemble is from Mega Thrift and cost less than $20!!!! (Except for the shoes which are also Ralph Lauren.) Again we reused the staple pieces, combined it with the Chanel inspired jacket and the Bordeaux pants for a pop of fall color!
