Thrift Score: From America's Dairy Land With Love

I finally took a long overdo trip up to Wisconsin to do some thrifting. It was pretty awesome. I scored super-cute vintage dresses and found my new most-favorite-est thirft shop in the world. It definitely pays to go out of the city. I can't wait to go back but I won't be eating at Culver's again for at least a year (butter burger= ridiculous). Here are a few of my finds...

A darling 1970s floral cotton dress, 4$. It's long sleeved but very sheer and light. A great spring transition piece.

A Precious precious PRECIOUS 1960s butterfly collared baby doll dress 2.5$. It needs to be shortened. I want it to be above the knees. It's floor length right now.

A 1970s tweed vest-and-skirt set that fits like a glove 3$

Some 'Dillas 1.5$

A striped, sparkly-metallic 1970s sweater, 2$. The label says 'Organically Grown' but it's made from polyester and rayon. I guess that term didn't have quite the same meaning back then that it has today.

Some vintage ribbon, 1$

 And the BEST vintage skinny belt ever 0.75$

But thats not all. I also found a couple of vintage blouses, (i'm wearing one of them right now) another cotton dress that needs some repairs, and one of the best fitting vintage coats ever. It's light, more of a rain coat than a winter coat. I plan on wearing it today, and taking pictures.

I can't wait to style/wear my new stuff in the coming weeks. I'm dreaming of spring. Sometimes it makes me sad to live in Chicago where the winters are so extreme. I love the snow. But because I walk/take the train everywhere, I have to dress appropriately. It's hard to dress cute and stay warm. I get stuck in a wool-skirt-sweater-tights-boots or jeans-sweater-boots rut. Boring.

Does anyone else out there live where it is below zero half the year? How do you dress warm and keep it interesting?

Thrift Tips #4: Don't follow Trends, Let The Trends Follow You

I had a wonderful adventure in the snow today. I stumbled on to a thrift store, that I didn't even know about, a mile and half from my house. And I went to the multi-story fortress of photography known as Helix to get some more film for my Polaroid. Anywhoo, on to Thrift tips!

photo courtesy of Sally Jane Vintage

Once upon a time, in the late 90s, all the thrift shops in the land were absolutely filled with low heeled boots from the 80s that nobody wanted.

Then one magical day, a fashion-forward girl (or girls) decided she liked the cast off boots. She bought them and wore them, despite that fact that everybody else in the world thought they were ugly and outdated.

Suddenly, the world saw how awesome the boots looked on her. Next thing you know, other hip girls started buying them. Then Urban  Outfitter's Urban Renewal brand started buying them. Pretty soon, Designers even started making new versions of them.

Viola! A trend was born.

The moral of the story: Some trends are started by visionary thrifters who embrace "ugly" cast off items and make them chic again.So don't be afraid to embrace items from the thrift store that others wouldn't look twice at. Who knows? You may start a trend. Can you think of any other trends that started as a thrift shop cast off? I can... (COUGH!highwaistedpleatedshortsCOUGH!)

Things Are Tough All Over

The snow is falling softly this morning in big fat flakes. Days like this in Chicago remind me of the old Cheech and Chong flick "Things Are Tough All Over." Have you seen it? It's pretty cheesy. I'm not really recomending it (unless you love bad movies like I do). As a California child, I am still fascinated by the snow even after 5 years in Chicago. I've decided I'm going on an adventure today. Well, really just a long walk. And this is what I'm wearing (plus a scarf and gloves). I'll be back later with some thrift tips.

Raspberry beret: The kind you buy in a second hand store 3$.
Velvet Coat: thrifted 7$
Sweater: Ralph Laren, gift
Blouse: Thrifted 2$
Jeans: Levis (bought years ago don't remeber 40? 50?)
Boots, fleece lined: Thrifted 8$

Inspiration: Children of Le Belle Époque

My friend Pete inherited his father's collection of old photos and post cards from the turn of last century. For Christmas, he let me go through them and pick some out for myself. Here are a few that I got around to scanning.

First we have young Master Abraham Joseph Leon, age 3 in 1905. Then a beautiful birthday post card. Next is a fancy little (dutch? German?) lad with a stuffed dog. And the last is my absolute favorite. It is a French Easter card and it is perfect. I love their outfits, their angelic faces, the pussy willow bouquets. Everything about it makes me happy.

And these are just beginning. I will get around to scanning the rest soon. I will also be scanning the "Useful Birds of North America by Arm and Hammer Baking Soda" trading cards that my Grandma collected in the 30s. They are beautiful and should be shared.

layers

This is what I wore today. I didn't do much, ran some errands, went to the drug store. This is another completely thrifted outfit (Except the tights actually. Oh and I made the necklace)

My trusty black hat: Thrifted vintage: 5$
Coat (ilgwu made in the USA): thrifted/vintage 8$
Overdress (corduroy, Lands End): thrifted/vintage 6$
Sweater (Tricot Jolie): thrifted 3$
Skirt: thrifted/vintage 5$
Tights: target (dont remember how much they cost)
Shoes: thrifted 6$
Necklace by Wrens and Roses http://www.etsy.com/listing/61721416/vintage-locket-and-tiny-cameo-assemblage

Polaroid 360: Well, it Works

Remember that old camera from a couple posts back that I scored at the thrift store? I cleaned the rollers, did the rubber-band battery trick, loaded up a pack of film, crossed my fingers and it worked! It was strange. When the shutter clicked, it didn't feel like I took a picture, but after a few moments, I separated the paper from the negative and there it was, an image. Magical.

 The experience was so different from digital. It reminded me of the difference between digital and analog recording (the limited number of pictures, the linearity of  click+pull+develop=picture, the fixed nature of the final image). It also reminded me of field trips to the zoo in elementary school when I only had 24 pictures on my little Kodak instamatic. I will be taking more (hopefully better) pictures soon. I am in love with this camera. But I am also frugal with my precious, precious film.

Thrift Tips #3: Vintage Shmintage

Its Tuesday  and time for more Thrift Tips. This week, I want to talk about the non-vintage side of thrifting. Yeah, we all want to find that perfect vintage dress but sometimes the best finds are relatively current items.

For example, check out these two secondhand outfits: Both have vintage elements but they feature modern blouses...

English Countryside

This outfit is 100% thrifted including the boots and jewelery. Everything you see cost under 30 bucks!

Blouse= thrifted, 4$
Belt= thrifted, children's 3$
Skirt= thrifted, 7$
Boots= thrifted 8$
Tortoise Shell cuff= thrifted 2$
Beaded Necklace= thrifted 1$

Oh and I just joined chictopia. I'm a huge fashion voyeur. http://www.chictopia.com/wrensandroses is my profile page.

On a Windy New Year's Day

What I wore today: a 1930s inspired outfit which is almost completely thrifted.

Coat: thrifted/vintage
Silk Blouse:  Ralph Lauren, thrifted
Skirt: thrifted/vintage
Handbag : thrifted/vintage
Tights: handmade by Wrens and Roses
Shoes: thrifted/vintage
Hat: Urban Outfitters

Thrift Score: Polaroid 360 Land Camera

 

I found thee classic polaroid land camera at a thrift shop in Indiana yesterday for 4 dollars!!!! It is in amazing shape. The bellows are perfect, the case is perfect, there was only a little corrosion on the battery leads, even the leather strap looks like it has never seen the light of day.

Fuji still makes film for this camera. It costs about half as much as the polarid 600 integral film that was famously discontinued and brought back. I have two packs on the way, plus some lithium batteries that I plan on using to pull off this rubber band hack ...

 I can't wait to start using this baby! If you want to see some photos taken with a 360 check out this photo stream by idhawkdrvr on flickr