Thriftanista in the City

Sleeveless coats and blazers are popping up on the fashion scene this fall and I'm here to tell you that it's pretty easy and extremely pocket friendly to make your own. Coats are expensive. There's no way I'm going to spend beaucoup bucks on a coat that doesn't have sleeves. It's simple enough to make your own.

I follow quite a few bloggers who provide tons of inspiration for styling those thrift store finds. Nothing says style like making old clothes look fresh and modern. These women are doing it and doing it well!

Pairing denim on denim makes for very easy dressing. You will likely not ever find a perfect top and bottom match for color thereby making it extremely easy to get the Canadian tuxedo look just right.  Denim on denim looks best with a contrast in denim shades. On top, I'm wearing a lighter weight chambray style J. Crew button up. Thrifted, of course. On bottom, a vintage a-line skirt with a front split. I fell in love with it when I spotted it in Savers .

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. Whether going out or staying in this Halloween, here's a quick and simple diy costume idea for a brand new experience and couples fun. #KYTrySomethingNew I've known my husband 14 years. I like to tell people we met the old-fashioned way -- in a club. When he pulled out that flip phone to add my number, I had no idea it would lead to what we have today. Love, marriage, and a Violet.

DriveShop generously provided me with the use of a Mazda CX-5   for a short period of time. I'm excited to share my thoughts about an affordable car with amazing safety features. The opinions I have shared are my own. I love you Atlanta and I need to get something off of my chest. Driving out here scares the crap out of me. My week long adventure driving a 2016 Mazda CX-5 was the safest I've ever felt while navigating the traffic, darkness, and winding roads of my new city.

It's obvious I cannot quit jumpsuits. I know I'll be in trouble when it's time for a potty break but I still go forth and buy more adult onesies. This stretchy, polka dot number is from my Chicago thrift haul . No easy zipper back on it. It has a very complicated middle button back and requires assistance to get in and out of. 

This shop has been compensated by  #CollectiveBias  and its advertiser  #WoodbridgeWines  . All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.  #FallMoments  Ghost and goblins agree that nothing is sweeter than vampire blood punch. We living and breathing humans may be familiar with this delicious drink too. We call it a Kalimotxo! It's normally single serve but makes a great punch for Halloween entertaining.

I am absolutely about this 1970s vintage trend comeback. As you know, I like old clothes. I love high-waisted bell bottoms pants, butterfly collars , and  short a-line dresses . It's all me. I mix vintage with current trends. I may wear 70s jewelry with a denim on denim look or wear a 70s dress with a stunning heel. Sometimes I mix decades and never make it to current trends at all. The one thing I always wear with any trend is a healthy dose of confidence. It makes every outfit a good outfit! You can find more ways to style and profile the 70s revival in this Mode sponsored video from celebrity stylist Mary Gonsalves Kinney. FACEBOOK - TWITTER - BLOGLOVIN - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST

Family Dollar knows how to put on a Fabulous event, so I'm thrilled about this partnership that allows me to share a few facts about a great company and the beauty event of the year.  When Family Dollar reached out to me to attend their Fabulous event, I had no idea what was in store. I thought I was being invited to a wine and cheese affair. Those are two of my favorite things so I agreed. Little did I know so much more was involved.

No worries. I'm not going to abuse you with a piss-poor whip / nae nae dance. I just want to call attention to the horse print vintage dress from my last thrift haul . It's so hard to find true vintage in thrift stores anymore AND in such great condition. It must be polyester to survive and still be viable at this age but it feels like a woven fabric. I washed it too. No color loss either. Definitely poly.

Last weekend, I spent the weekend in Chicago. Of course, I made time for a little thrifting! First stop was Savers because I miss them so much. I also stopped at Old Faithful aka Goodwill since it was nearby. I spent $76 in Savers and another $10 at Goodwill. I was way over my $20 or $3 per item budget. I bought three dresses, two pairs of shoes, a coat and more. I paid more than would have been ideal but they're all worth it. The jacket alone retails more than what I spent. Goodwill was my third thrift shop of the day. I briefly checked out local thrift chain Wings Resale. I picked up a few books and DVDs for V but nothing else. I wasn't expecting to do much damage when I stepped in Goodwill.

I haven't had time to plan out my menu for the week. Luckily, I had all the ingredients on hand to prepare lentil sloppy joes in my slow cooker. It's easy and perfect for a meatless Monday meal. Also, a lifesaver when you're trying to ease back into the weekday schedule after a fun filled party weekend away from home.

Thrift store coats are the way to go when looking for stylish and warm coats for fall and winter. They are extremely affordable and a good one will last you several years. I've bought winter coats at the thrift store as low as $5 and have gone as high as $15. Certainly there's one to fit your budget and your style. The trick is knowing what's worth buying. You don't want to break the bank on a coat that originally came from one of the fast fashion stores. It's likely super trendy and not well made. Here's what you should look for and what you should avoid.