How Do You Stack Up?

Are any of you competitive? I don't typically think I am, but I have to admit that I like receiving my electric bill, which comes along with a statement about where I am relative to the "efficiency zone" and how I compare to homes like mine in my area. It's like an adult version of a "Good job!" sticker on your homework. :)

So I was thrilled to find out today that thredUP has launched a new Fashion Footprint calculator. You can walk though your clothing purchasing habits, such as how often you shop in person or online, how often you make returns, how you dispose of your clothes, and more. And you get a great summary to let you know how you're doing:

In the green? Pat yourself on the back! They also estimate how much your habits cost annually, so you can know just how important your contributions are.

If you would like to be doing better than you are (or just be an over-achiever), they then show the most impactful actions you can take. By far the most valuable thing you can do is source your clothing second-hand - just keep items in circulation longer.

As you go through the survey, they share tips and facts related to each of the questions. And they wrap up with "12 Ways to Transform Your Sustainable Fashion Journey". Perhaps my favorite is to install the Good On You app, a resource for when you purchase new clothing, which scores brands for responsible (good to people, animals, and planet) fashion. This saves you from having to sift through green-washing or deeply research the items you purchase. 

I'm loving this new resource, and the opportunity to compete, even if just with myself.

Sustainably Starry

I belong to a fun group that challenges you, for the whole month of February, to wear red lipstick. It's a nice reminder to let yourself shine, and enjoy the confidence that comes with a power red. It's also been a fun break during COVID where I've hardly worn makeup, let alone mask-incompatible lipstick. 

Also, a side benefit, it's hard to not also get dressed when wearing red lipstick. So for the month of Feb, I traded in the leggings and tees - it was almost like pre-COVID days, when I wore structured pants and blouses most days to the office.

I happily pulled together this fully thrifted outfit, with a new blouse from ThredUp, and previously thrifted Lucky Jeans and Club Monaco flats.

This Banana Republic Factory Store blouse thrilled me for $20.99. I've been on a star kick - it's fun, but still subtle enough to be professional, and is a good day-to-night print.

Want to show off your curves? Pair it with a glittery skinny belt, and trade blousey for a tapered waist. Keep with the shiny, sparkly look by pairing with silver studded flats.

Last but not least, complete the look with your favorite red lipstick, and some black rhinestone, star shaped earrings.

Previous savings:

Lucky jeans, paid $25, retails new for $100 (75% savings)

Club Monaco shoes, paid $15, retails new for $250 (94% savings)

New savings:

Banana Republic blouse, paid $20.99, retails new for $55 (67% savings)

Glitter belt, paid $0.99, compare to $19.00 new from Gap (95% savings)

Extend the Life of Your Footwear

I have a perfect pair of black heeled booties. They are the right height (a medium heel) for wearing with pants or dresses, have a classic black leather look, with stylish gold zipper and buckles. 

But the most important thing? They are comfortable. The arch is just the right height, to not put pressure on my feet after a a full day's wear, and the toe box is wide enough. 

Needless to say, they've gotten a ton of wear and were starting to show it. And I fell into a super common trap: "They weren't super expensive. I don't think they're worth the cost of repair." Fortunately, my friend Julie changed my mind. Not only is repair cheaper than buying new, and the sustainable choice, but her argument? "How often do you find a pair dress shoes that is actually comfortable?"

So I found myself a shoe repair shop, a small one-man shop named Vic's in Burien, and requested a few areas be improved. First, the toes, which were both scuffed and a little stained from the rain. Here is the after - he did a pretty nice job with polishing!

I neglected to take "before" pictures, but this is a pretty good representation of the level of discoloring. 

Next, the heels had two big issues. The leather on the heel was pushed up, exposing the white core, and the heel tip was unevenly worn. Vic fully replaced the tip and smoothed and glued down the heel wrap.

Again, not my "before" photo, but this shows a similar type of heel wrap peeling I was facing.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with the repairs. I paid $22, and probably could have invested a little more to fully replace the heel wrap. These Sam Edelman booties cost around $60 originally, meaning I can repair them 3 times before it would financially make sense to replace them, and more if they continue to be comfortable and supportive to my feet.

Thanks to Julie for reminding me about my priorities and saving my favorite booties!

In this era of fast fashion, what are some items that you've forgotten you can repair yourself or get repaired at a low cost?

Reduce, Reuse, Rent

With my frequent posts about thrifting, I haven't talked recently about how much love rental. 

Rental lets me try all sorts of new styles without adding to my closet. This has entirely curbed my boredom and impulse shopping, because I know I'll get to try something new in a couple weeks. Likewise, I hope it curbs others from fast fashion. 

How it works is: they sent you a package, you wear the clothes as long as you want, you return them (unwashed!), they wash them and send them out to the next recipient. So instead of me buying a blouse that I'll wear just a few times, and eventually donating it a few years later, and several other women doing the same, we all "share" one blouse. When the item starts showing wear and tear? They donate it to a thrift shop! What if I love the item? I can buy it at a discount.

I'm loving my outfit today. Both the floral ruffled blouse and the floral enamel earrings are rented and were in my box this week.

I paired my rental top half with some pinstripe pants I thrifted from Goodwill last year, and hand-me-down sandals from my aunt and fashion twin. 

Now, while renting reduces the waste from buying new clothes, it isn't waste free. Each package comes in a box, and with a plastic mailer to return the laundry. Fortunately, the boxes are very easy to handle. Try your local Buy Nothing or other local giveaway group. Through mine, I noticed my neighbor expressed interest every time I posted small boxes. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me, I inquired, and it turns out he runs a small Ebay business. Now I have a regular relationship with someone who takes all my rental boxes and bubble mailers. 

 

Feeling Fuschia

For those of you closest to me, you know that I typically avoid both floral (unless it's really bold and graphical) and pink. But one of the best parts of thrifting and the savings is that it makes me brave to step out of my comfort zone and try new styles and trends. At 72% off and no new materials used, even the brightest pink can enter my closet.

I found this cheery Madison West handbag at (you guessed it) thredUP. Classic black, with a fuschia, purple, and teal floral pattern, I can see wearing this in multiple seasons: with a casual summer dress as pictured, with white jeans and gold sandals, or dressed up in the winter with a black dress or slacks.

 

A black strap is soft on your shoulder, and a removable chain converts this purse from a crossbody to a clutch.

 

 

The main body of the purse has a small zippered pocket (a must!).

 

 

And the top foldover flap is also a pocket!

 

As usual, thredUP did not disappoint. This like new handbag typically retails for $74, but came home with me for just $24 (a 72% savings).

 

Reusing Ruffles

My quarantine secondhand shopping continues, courtesy of a nice birthday gift card to ThredUp from my aunt and uncle - thanks, Aunt T and Uncle B!

(Pro tip: Don't forget to tell your family and friends about your eco-shopping goals, and you may get a pleasant shift in gifts!)

For some reason, I was feeling super feminine, likely in reaction to all the sweats and tees I've been wearing while working from home. I'm eager for the days when I can dress up at the office or for a night out again.

Not quite ruffles, but I loved the ruched neckline and bold floral pattern on this Calvin Klein blouse. I can see pairing this with a blazer for client meetings. It was listed at gently used condition for $15.98 (73% off of $60 retail).

Next up, this new with tags Ann Taylor Loft blouse. I love the delicate ruffles, and plan on wearing this as a great day-to-night option. A steal for $21.99 (65% off $55 retail). 

Cute but casual, this mustard sweater from J. Crew is lightweight and good for spring or fall. Plain enough color to go with many things, but I like that the ruffles add a little feminine touch, so it's not your everyday cardigan. Like new condition, this was $31.99 (74% off of $110 retail).

Finally, I keep adding to my collection of "day to night embellished black flats". I love that the ruffle on these Francesca's flat is functional, securing the shoe to my foot. These were like new condition for $27.99 (48% off of $48 retail).

I'm all set now for when things start to reopen... or if I decide to up my game for my office video calls. :) 

If you've been laid off during this pandemic, don't forget online consignment as a way to make some income, as well as stock up on interview duds as you reenter the workforce. All of the above came to just under $100 in like new condition, or 64% off of the $273 retail value.

Secure Those Slipping Shoes

I got these cute flats off of Buy Nothing a while ago. I love the scalloped front edge detail, and they're generally really comfy. Except, with the first step, it was immediately evident I couldn't wear them all this. There wasn't just a little slippage - my full ankle came out with every step. I just knew that I would spend more time trying to keep these on by gripping my toes than would be worth it, so I needed to find a way to secure them or move on.

A couple You Tube tutorials later (Example 1, Example 2), and I had my method planned; I would add an ankle strap. You can do this to secure loose shoes, or if you just want to mix up the style.

The first step is the add a loop coming up from the back of the shoe to feed the strap through. Now the inside of my shoe already this small piece of elastic inside. If you're doesn't you can still do this project, but you'll need a sturdy needle to sew through the back of the shoe. With this in place, I can secure my loop to this piece of elastic instead.

Next, I feed my loop material, a strip of black material about 2-3" long, through the elastic in the back, and sew a couple stitches to form the loop. The length of the material depends on where you're securing it on the shoe and how far you want it to stick up (that is, how wide of a strap you'll be adding). The material also depends on the finish of your shoe and appearance you want. I chose a black elastic from an old bra strap!

Add a couple more stitches to secure your loop inside the shoe. You can see how it sticks up about an inch past the top of the shoe.

Then, simply feed the strap of your choice through the loop, and secure around your ankle! Some people choose a true ankle strap with clasp. I've chosen a piece of ribbon that I can tie in a big floppy bow. Alternatively, you could choose something embellished like a pearl anklet.

If you choose something like a nylon ribbon, you can finish the edges by holding a lit match to the edge for just a second. The heat will melt the edge and prevent it from fraying.

Since we didn't secure the ribbon to the loop, you can swap that part out as you like, changing it to fit your style of the day. Or if you started this project just for style (not to secure the shoe in place), you can remove the strap entirely, and tuck the loop into the back of the shoe.

With this 10 minute fix that costs less than a few dollars, you can save a pair of shoes that were not usable and even change the look to give them the value of several pairs of shoes.

Thrifting, Quarantine-style, Part Deux

Last week, I shared with you the online thrifting I've been doing to keep some sort of normalcy while the world is anything but normal these days. Well, the remaining items of my shopping spree arrived this week, and I couldn't be happier.

First, I got this sheer, gauzy, ballet-inspired skirt from Lularoe. Seafoam with metallic gold accents, I'm sure I could wear this to either a night at the theatre or a mermaid ball.

And last, these black slacks from Talbots. These were a pleasant surprise. From the pictures on the site, I couldn't tell that they had the khaki tuxedo stripes. Fortunately for me, I've been seeking tuxedo slacks for a while. Not into surprises? No worries, thredUP has a return policy (usually site credit).

For both of these, I paid $42.98. Compare at $147 new, and I saved $104.02 (71%). 

I can't believe these like-new quality clothes were given up. Others' loss is my gain, and I can't wait to show off my new spring wardrobe on my video calls, or when we eventually return to being out in public.

Shopping while Self Quarantined

These are certainly interesting times. One of the things I miss most while being stuck at home is my regular thrifting outings. I want to keep my life as "normal" as is possible given the situation while also being a bit conservative (because who knows what will happen to the economy).

Not only can we continue to support the businesses we love, but we can also keep our regular browsing and shopping cadence while stuck at home, and still keep our eco values while brick and mortar thrift stores are closed.

If you have been laid off or had a reduction in hours, you can use your unexpected free time to do some spring cleaning and get some income. Online sales are a great way to keep things going while keeping your distance from others. You still have a customer base with some of us stir-crazy folks. Direct sales (through sites like Poshmark) will get you the most, while consignment or second hand  sales (through sites like thredUP) will give you less but take some of the work off of you.

Last week, I occupied some time with "browsing the racks" at thredUP, and ended up with quite the good shopping cart. I ordered 5 items, and here's what's been delivered so far:

First, this great short elephant kimono. What? I don't like elephants (says the girl with an elephant pendant). Having loved some of the kimonos I rented from LeTote, I knew I wanted to add this style to my wardrobe. Cool and lightweight, it's an easy way to dress up some of my basic tees.

Then, this floral blouse, which was new with tags! This can be worn from day to night, from the office to date night. With these voluminous sleeves, I'll plan to wear this with heels to balance my proportions.

Fortunately, I also got some great heeled boots! Three-toned black, navy, and grey, these booties will go with most things, and I can see wearing them with pants or dresses. I love the chunky heel for comfort and stability, and they coordinate with the other items in my basket.

Things I like about shopping on thredUP: they measure the clothes or tell you if they are showing "default sizing". Note: sometimes they measure flat instead of around, so you need to make assumptions or move on if the size looks too small.  They also provide condition. I often select items that say "You might confuse this with new!"

They've been running a lot of promotions recently. Everything I bought this week was an extra 35% off.

Total, I paid $44.97 for these 3 items, compared to $140.99 new, a $96.02 (68%) savings!

Outside of thredUP, I was also glad to have Goodwill remind me about their online presence. Most of their listings are auction style, so you can spend quite a bit of time checking out what is about to expire as well a never ending rotation of new items.

Best wishes to you all, and hope e-commerce helps you sell or shop safely from your home.

New Year, New Clothes

A couple weeks ago, my friend Mariko messaged me to plan a thrifting date, and I jumped at the opportunity. I never need an excuse to go shopping, but I knew going with someone else would lead to some different shops, and I was excited to see if fresh eyes would lead to some fun finds.

Where I tend to focus more on budget basics, Mariko has a passion for vintage. In fact, she is a collector of vintage Pyrex, classic cookbooks, older editions of Agatha Christie novels, and collectibles. Those she is willing to part with, she'll bring to markets like the SoDo Flea Market, or post on her Etsy shop.

So, adding a couple vintage shops to my usual haunts, Mariko and I headed out, and powered through 5 stores in 2 hours! Capitol Hill has *many* shops, and you could easily make a full day out of it. We hit: Lifelong Thrift (donated/thrift), Crossroads Trading (consignment), Revival Shop (vintage and boutique), Goodwill (donated/thrift), and Pretty Parlor (vintage and boutique).

Right away, I found success: these Calvin Klein skinny boyfriend jeans fit like a glove and were in great condition at Crossroads Training.

They were on half-off special, so I took them home for $12. Compare at $70 new.

Next stop, I found this great skirt at Lifelong Thrift. With a gauzy outer layer, it was perfect for a night out on the town. (I wore it to the theatre this Saturday, and my friend Jeni exclaimed, "It's like an adult tutu!")

A lucky find, this skirt was new with tags, costing $136 retail, and I scored it for just $7.

I'm sad to say I missed capturing the best moment of the day: Mariko didn't go empty-handed. She took home a comfy and colorful vintage muumuu in varying shades of blues and purples from Revival Shop.

At the end of the day, I spend $19 and saved $187 (90%), all while having eco-friendly fun with a friend.

Shoe Sister

Remember when you were younger and had a bestie or roommate, that you were lucky enough to wear some of the same sizes? And you would share clothes or shoes and automatically double the size of your closet?

Let's bring that back! You're never too old to have a wardrobe buddy. For me, I'm lucky to have an aunt who's a stylish gal, and likes to give me some of her hand-me-downs. A recent closet cleanout meant that I could be the recipient of some sweet summer shoes:

bøc sandals, compare at $50 new.

Crocs sandals, compare at $30 new.

Born sandals, compare at $80 new.

Overall savings $160, and I have some great comfort sandals to take me through the next couple summers. Thanks, Aunt Tricia!

Seattle Recycled Arts Festival

This past gorgeous sunny Saturday in Seattle, I decided to check out the Georgetown Carnival. It's a pretty sweet street fair, featuring vendors, food trucks, a main stage for musicians... I headed over because I had heard about a recycled fashion show. Turns out the fashion was just one part of a larger Seattle Recycled Arts Festival. They "define 'recycled art' as art created using at least 75% reclaimed materials", and their craft vendors and juried art made up a substantial part of the carnival. The festival is one day only, but the featured artisans below can be found online or at other shows year-round.

Some of the highlights:

Fashion Show (Pardon my low photo quality. I wasn't as close as I wanted to be!)

This stunning crochet dress made from reclaimed laces by Kim McCormick of Kimmi Designs. In addition to her Etsy store, you can find her work @KimmiDesigns on Facebook or Instagram, and at Pretty Parlor on Cap Hill in Seattle.

This tank made from a purse and wrap skirt made from a *shower curtain* by Staci Bernstein. Also @spellcasteraggiev on Instagram.

Top and pants also by Staci Bernstein. 

Dress from vintage tees by Edie Everette

Artisan Booths

Upcycled yard art by Simply Quirky Yard Art. Bonus points to Julie and Carline for sending my purchase home in a reusable shopping bag. The piece I brought home above, and a sampling of their other pieces below.

Jewelry made from recycled chandelier crystals by Capable Father. Also @capablefather on FB and Instagram. I love the green and gold necklace I brought home (pictured at bottom) and the other red and white pendants on display (top). The colors? These are "handmade papers [he sources] from a women's cooperative in Nepal that uses sustainable non-tree methods".

At $45 for the yard art and $35 for the necklace, you would pay similar prices for commercially-produced alternates, but I was happy to support small businesses using upcycled materials.