Thriftanista in the City

Here's how it goes for me when I have shoes that need to be repaired. Search for a cobbler online. Go take shoes to him. Ride around in search of an ATM because they don't take cards in this mom and pop shop. Take shoes back to cobbler. Pay $20. Wait about three days plus some extra days for me to find time to circle back to the cobbler which always seems be out of the way. Replacing heel tips at home saves time and money.

Remember how I raved about finding low rise jeans that work for me ? That moment has passed. I've lost some inches since then and had to thrift store hunt for replacements. My search led me back to deep love and acceptance of mom jeans.

Thanks to Schoola for making this sponsored post possible by suppling me with a generous, earth friendly gift. Today is Earth Day and it's a good reminder to be kind to the earth. A great way to do that is to donate gently used clothes instead of throwing them away. Earth Day was established to raise awareness of the environmental movement. We can all pitch in by doing the best we can. I personally struggle with living a more green life when so many other causes and day to day life competing for my attention. The one thing that can be done that doesn’t take a lot of time or effort is to donate unused clothes. Americans send 10.5 million tons of clothing to landfills every year . 

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older. #BlackBoxSummer I've been on a weight loss journey and one of the most difficult parts of my diet has been giving up my nightly glass of wine. I still indulge but I've limited myself to a 4 ounce pour once a week. That leaves a lot of unfinished wine. Wasting wine is just wrong. Now that summer is coming and barbecue season is upon us, here's how I'll make sure that not a drop goes down the drain. Wine is good with meals, in meals and enjoying in a 4oz pour.

I finally found a warmish day to break out this vintage dress from a thrift haul last year. Dolman sleeves and purple candy stripes are what attracted me to this lovely. It's perfect for an easy Sunday. It's airy and comfortably broken in. Surprisingly, it managed to hold on to its unique braided belt too.

I can't say I possess all of these qualities and habits in my day to day life but when it comes to thrift shopping, I stay pretty consistent in the hunt for fabulous treasures. 1. Patient  Amazing pieces aren't beautifully styled on a mannequin for you. Thrift shopping requires you to spend some time sorting through racks and racks of stuff. You have to carve out at least an hour of time for a good session. Seasoned thrift shoppers enjoy the search. Sometimes they bring music and dance in the aisle.

So very typical for the belt to be missing on a thrift store dress. I usually don't stress about it but I saw that this particular dress had a surprising yellow belt. A replacement had to be made. Of course, you can thrift store treasure hunt and find the perfect belt at an affordable price. Sewing a simple fabric bow belt doesn't take a lot of time though especially when you have all of the tools in front of you.

I received complimentary product from Orvis for this review. I like to keep it casual yet put together even on weekends. I went to my weekly brunch date with the family feeling quite stylish and sophisticated in a vintage floral print maxi skirt and a classic denim shirt from Orvis. Denim shirts are so versatile which is why I always keep one in my closet and why it should be a staple in all closets.

One of the hooks that drew me deep into the world of thrifting was finding vintage. Back then, there was more to choose from. Fast fashion hadn't completely taken over the scene and you could still find true vintage on the racks with ease. 

I love thrift shopping in all forms. Not only is it good for the environment, it's also a great way to indulge a passion for fashion without breaking the bank. Clothes swap parties one of the most economical ways to thrift. You trade in your old clothes for new ones. New to you. Just like at thrift stores, brand new clothes can be found. The dress I'm wearing is from a swap party I attended 2 years ago in Chicago. It still had the tag attached. Retail price $138. Swap party price FREE!

I'm going on vacation so instead of doing the sensible thing of unpacking my warm weather clothes, I went thrift shopping. This is how my closet grows out of control. I end up buying a whole new wardrobe before getting around to the bi-annual task of sorting through summer and winter clothes. Not to mention, I simply love to thrift. This haul is a petite one. I found 4 dresses, a camisole, and a t-shirt. I paid $31 but the retail value is over $300. Here's what I found.