Thriftanista in the City

Los Angeles has some of the best thrifting I have ever experienced. Even in the sketch part of town there was good thrifting. It was a good reminder for me to not judge a thrift store by what it looks like on the outside.

Caftans are the perfect cover up at the beach. They're also super cozy as loungewear or a casual maxi dress. I thank Ms. Roper on Three's Company for the trend. It seems to have made a resurgence lately. I'm seeing them everywhere or maybe I'm just looking for them everywhere.

Color me excited to participate in this compensated post for I Love To Create Tie Dye Your Summer campaign where I get to experiment with and share tie dye techniques with you. All opinions are mine alone. Craft themed parties with alcoholic beverages are kinda my thing. Over the weekend, I invited my mom friends over for an afternoon play date of food, martinis, and tie dying fun. Should you ever need a play date with your friends, here's a guide to help you plan including techniques, tips and free party printables from I Love to Create.

I love how vintage can transport you back to special moments in your life. I hate to call this retro romper vintage because the 90s were yesterday, right? When I laid eyes on this one at Runway Boutique in Los Angeles, It brought back memories of high school..and crushes..and picnics..and summertime..and being awkward. I had to have it. It's my childhood.

There are so many t-shirts in the land. Sometimes we buy them. Sometimes we get them free. Somehow we end up with a stash of huge shapeless ones that don't fit very well. If you have a few laying around, refashion them into a trendy new fringe crop top this summer. 

I've been pretty obsessed with caftans this summer. My pinspiration is a dress worn by  The Fancy Pants Report . She's wearing an H&M dress. I loved the basic shape and that's why I thought of it when I made myself a caftan.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about how I'm uncomfortable wearing clothes that expose my shoulders, back, and arms because I'm extra meaty on top. It was last year when I wore a t-shirt underneath the dashiki dress . This year, I'm not even wearing a bra! My fabulous and forty self esteem is up (ha) and that's really all that matters.

In my big ol' stash of sewing things, I found a button cover tool. Rediscovering the kit, led me to make button earrings with scrap african fabric. I was so impressed by my ankara top button that I wanted to make more. Making earrings was just the diy to ensure I wasn't making in vain.

Blue jeans are so easy and multipurpose that I end up throwing them on frequently. That's rather boring which is why I've been on a thrift hunt for gray denim. Still easy and multipurpose but cooler - literally and figuratively. 

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quick message to invite you to add a fun activity to your summer calendar. Visit Macy's next Sunday, July 14th at 2pm for  Camp Macy's . As part of their American Icons campaign, Macy's is hosting a super fun day of readings, storytellings, BINGO, snacks, crafts and more. Shop AND keep the kiddos occupied! Click the picture to see if your town is listed.

I rarely go to 50% off days at thrift stores anymore. The crowds are not worth the hassle. On Memorial Day, I threw caution to the win and decided to check out the sale at Park Ave Thrift. Not only did I score some major finds but the store wasn't super crowded either! My total price was $22 and I found vintage sequins, Joe's Jeans, and more! I'm under my thrift store $3/item budget and my haul has a retail value over $200. Let us review.

Not only is selling your clothes good for the environment, it's also a great way to clean out your closet to make room for a brand new crop! Plus, there's the added benefit of earning a little (or a lot of) cash. Here's a simple guide to help you prepare for your next closet sale.

It's rare for me to end up wearing just one piece of thrifted clothing but that's exactly what happened when I decided on the  Plenty skirt purchased a month ago . Due to all of the fun elements going on in this mini, I wanted to stick with a black or white top. Started out with a white tee and it was rejected. Black is the better option. It almost looks like a dress.