New Job, Used Pants

Last week, I started a new job! I'm proud this is my first job with a substantial focus on sustainability (ask me about jet fuel!).

That said, new job, new culture, and I don't even know: what is "business casual" these days? With the Pacific Northwest being generally casual, and having spent the last 12 years in tech, which is even more so, I now didn't know how to dress. In my experience, business casual includes a wide range from "jeans with a nice top" to "suit - no tie required". Insert panic. 

I wasn't worried about tops. In the last 3 years of work-from-home, I had perfected the Zoom work mullet: blouse on top, sweatpants on the bottom. However, I was pretty sure that I should own some non-denim pants, at least until I saw how my colleagues dressed. 

Of course, enter Goodwill. In-person thrifting is the fastest way to try on many brands all at once. 

I scored these charcoal slacks and paired them with an Alfani faux-wrap blouse from thredUP.

For a little bit of fun, I paired them with these Mia color-block booties (also thredUP).

I also picked up these navy slacks, and paired with a bright green cable knit sweater, and taupe booties.

All in all, I got 3 pairs of pants for just shy of $40.

The navy Nine West slacks run $48 new; the eggplant Gloria Vanderbilt brushed cotton pants also cost $48; and the charcoal George slacks ran $32. In total these would have cost $128 brand new resulting in a 69% savings. Not too shabby to quickly refresh the wardrobe, and with little risk if I were to discover that jeans are the norm. 

Sam Edelman Sneakers for a Steal

Who doesn't want an extra little pizazz when kicking around for casual errands? These grey velvet sneakers are a cute upgrade vs the typical Keds or Converse. 

And these black satin ribbon laces? <chef's kiss>

Sam Edelman sneakers typical start at $80, with a pair like this retailing for about $100 new. These were a happy find at just $13 at Crossroads Trading. 

Now that we're out of sandal weather, I'm adding more sneakers to my thrifting list!

Pretty for Pennies

After a few years of schlubbing at home in t-shirts (thanks COVID and WFH), I wanted to add some more flirty tops to my wardrobe. Maybe I wanted to prove to myself that I wasn't old and hadn't given up, but it was just the slump of not going out every day and *having* to make an effort. 

In comes thredUP (of course), and a purchase of a couple puff-sleeve, plunging neckline blouses. I love this green floral-print Topshop blouse. Maybe a little too plunging, I paired it with a camisole, but maybe I'll get brave for date night. :)

The back is also a deep V, as well as has a slit in the peplum, so it's essentially secured with a few cute buttons as the waist and a tie at the neck.

The detail is a little more visible in this listing photo. And what a steal at $19.99 (72% off)!

I paired the blouse with jeans (free from Buy Nothing), and sandals (free hand-me-down from Aunt T), for a comfy summer-day-out 100% second hand outfit. 

 What are you buying second-hand this summer to complete a new outfit?

Reused Rainbows 🌈

Folks, it's January. In Seattle. And in that winter dreariness, you just look for that rainbow to appear, which means there's a spot of sun through the clouds. T and I were driving around last week, and on our way home, we spotted the lucky double rainbow.

And immediately following that, I spotted this gem of a sweater in my size on thredUP. Soft, fuzzy, and bright, it will keep me happy and cozy for the rest of the winter. 

I love the subtle bell-shape on the sleeves. Between the shape and my short stature, these sleeves can easy double as mittens when I want to be extra cozy.

thredUP routinely has sales, so while this was already a great price at $34.99, it was a steal at just $19.24 (91% off) after discount code. 

Hope you're all staying warm and cheerful this winter!

Festive for (Nearly) Free

We all know how expensive the holidays can get, between parties, feasts, and gifts. It's a great time to look at second hand to be able to have those fun winter looks you want, with a little less impact on your wallet. 

It may be way too late for Christmas, but not too late for New Years and the rest of the season. If you're like me, you may be thinking about getting something sparkly for toasting in the new year, or maybe something indulgent and cozy, if watching the ball drop from the couch is more your speed. 

I brought home this jacket (cape?) as a statement piece for when I want to feel more put-together. At just $28 on thredUP, it was over 80% savings off its retail price. Black and white, it can pair with many outfits, but the super-sized houndstooth print and wide wing-like sleeves make for a bold style.

For a daytime or casual look, I pair the jacket with a simple long-sleeve cream colored tee, black chunky necklace, jeans (from Buy Nothing!), and some low black boots (good for some grip in this wet dreary season). 

For a dressier look (good for the office, night out, or holiday party), I pair the jacket with a longer black sheath dress, tights, and black heeled booties with gold accents. These are my favorite booties that I keep repairing because they are comfortable, go from day to night, and with dresses or pants.

It's kindof fun watching houndstooth regain popularity in the 2020s since last being big in the 1990s. What looks are you wearing this winter?

Tigers and Panthers, and Totally Second-Hand

Today was a good day for my wardrobe. I scored two pieces I was excited about this previous winter, but which were summery, and I finally got around to wearing them. First off, this black shrug from JM Collection (a Macy's house brand). It was new with tags at thredUP, but saved me 72%. It's lacy design means I can pair it with jeans and a tank like I did today, or even dress it up.

Next, a tiger patterned tank top. I maaaay have been slightly obsessed with and inspired by this Tigers and Toucans tracksuit from Brooklyn 99 (copyright of NBC). 

When I saw this episode, I was immediately drawn to the bold animal print, but alas, tracksuits are not my style. Instead, I went for this Old Navy tank.A bit more subdued, but I still get my tigers and palm fronds.

The tank was $15.99 (vs $27 new, 41% off). A cool feature is the convertible neckline. There is a simple hook and eye clasp, which when hooked, gives a more buttoned-up look with subtle keyhole. When unhooked, you get a great notched neckline, a little more flirty and casual.

I paired the sweater and tank with jeans, and of course, Rothy's flats for a casual, summer look. And the whole outfit was achieved as a #recycledootd. Both the shrug and tank were secondhand from thredUP, the Roebuck jeans were free from BuyNothing (a $25 value), and the Rothy's are my original pair that I've now been washing and re-wearing for years.

To keep with the big cat theme, I complete the look with some bejeweled panther earrings. These were $6 at Goodwill (compare at $40 new). Jewelry is one of the easiest items to clean and reuse, with either simple rubbing alcohol, or one of the several jewelry cleaners available.

In total, this outfit saved me $102.50 and... meow. I'm totally pleased with the tigers and panthers, even if they weren't tigers and toucans and gold tracksuits.

Deals on Dresses

Last week, Tats and I got together. Since COVID, our Wednesday art nights have mostly moved virtual, but every couple of months, I get to see my dear friend in person. Things have changed, with businesses still recovering, meaning most cafes are no longer open evening hours. I sincerely hope cafe culture isn't dead... 

But that means, we often swap our in-person gatherings to thrift shopping! The Capitol Hill Goodwill is open until 9pm, and 2 stories tall, it rarely disappoints.

This visit was pretty epic with me finding 2 amazing items and saving $300! The biggest item, you'll have to wait for (I found an amazing NWT gown as the foundation for my Halloween costume), but one of the items I'll share today.

Tats knows I've been on a critter print kick and found the perfect short dress for me. 

Navy with cream large cats, I can dress this up or dress it down. All business with the color scheme, but all party with the critter print.

I love the v-neckline in the back and subtley pleated a-line skirt. Perfectly tailored for a pear shape like me! And this neckline would be great to pair with a backdrop necklace.

Easy breezy for a summer picnic (and I'm appreciating breezy with this heat wave!), but I'll be pairing this with tights and Mary Janes to wear it year round.

The best part? This Australian brand, Sunny Girl, typically goes for about $75 AUD ($52 USD), and I paid just $8 at Goodwill. 

Have you had any great second-hand summer finds?

...

...

...

...

...

...

An outtake. T brought out his inner Zoolander and asked me to "show [him] 'angry'".

Posh Elephants

When my colleague, S, came into the office the other day, I was immediately drawn to her light, breezy blouse. It was tailored enough with roll-tab sleeves to look put together, and the round neckline was more feminine and comfortable than a collared button down. My kinda work blouse. And it didn't hurt that it was covered in elephant print. While I've been on a critter-print kick in general, elephants are near and dear to my heart.

So starting with an "I love your blouse!", we proceeded with 10 minutes if casual work convo, and then looped back to "but seriously, where did you get your top?"

Learning that the blouse was from Stitch Fix a few years back, I had enough info to start a search, and later that day had tracked down one in my own size for $18 (including shipping) on Poshmark. Compare at ~$40 new at StitchFix.

Poshmark is a great place to locate gently used, previous season branded clothes. It seems the crowd it caters to (for sellers) are those who want to rotate their closets and recoup some of the funds, so the clothes are often in better condition than those that are donated. The top is more white/cream than the color seen here - the orangey hue is just the evening glow from our deck firepit. Look at those cute elephants...

The dots in this pattern are just begging to be paired with more patterned accessories, so I added these Marquise earrings from Wenwen Designs.

Wenwen Designs is Frances Chang, a local artist from the San Francisco area, whose work I discovered on vacation. She "strives to make pieces... with the lowest carbon footprint possible". The wood surfaces are "sealed with organic beeswax" and "sustainably made... through material choices and studio practices". And don't forget, buying local is a great way to both support the local economy as well as save on fuel for transporting goods. I love how intricate the designs are, and at $70 they are a great deal for this level of handicraft and compared to semiprecious jewelry.

Overall, putting together this look, we saved $20 buying second hand and also supported a local artisan.

Sustainably Stylish, Head to Toe

I'm pretty stoked about this outfit. Not only because I continue to aspire to Noel Fielding's quirky fashion greatness, and lucked out with this bird print kimono, but also, this outfit exhibits 4 different ways to make great, sustainable choices. 

First, a close up so you can see the great bird print on this Noel-inspired purchase. The classic black and white makes this easy to wear day to night, and pair with color or keep a monochrome look. I'll show more detail below, but this is a Wet Seal kimono-style cardigan, purchased for $10 on Poshmark (compare at $25 new).

Starting at the bottom, the shoes I'm wearing are Rothy's. I've written about them before, but essentially, Rothy's are made out of recycled water bottles. You would never know - they feel like pretty standard fabric. This pair is about 5 years old, and they've still held up because you can throw them in the wash! Buh-bye sockless shoe funk.

Next, I'm getting plenty of wear out of the Mugsy jeans I wrote about in April. The skinny jeans style pairs well with the oversized kimono.

Moving to the top, there's something you can't see, and that's ultimately the point... the black tee I'm wearing has been mended more than once, to fix tiny holes. The mend is impossible to see unless you're specifically looking for it. For a tutorial, check out Brightly, and you'll also see how easy it is and how well-hidden it can be. 

Here, you can also see the full kimono, with the fun wide sleeves, which are both unique and super comfy. Pardon the restroom selfie - sometimes you have to take advantage of that full length mirror!

In total, this outfit demonstrates 4 ways to dress more sustainably: 

• kimono - thrifting saved us $15 and keeps fast fashion in circulation longer
• jeans - gifted through Buy Nothing (previously saved $108 when I received these)
• shoes - constructed from upcycled materials, these are an investment, but have maintained their value by being washable and durable
• shirt - purchased new, but mending extends the life
  

Healthy Feet, Healthy Planet

Buy Nothing delivers yet again! With many companies having 30 day return policies, if you aren't on top of it, you may be stuck with an item that doesn't work out for you. In my case, one shopper's loss was definitely my gain. They had purchased these awesome Taos sandals (for $125), and while labeled a size 10, they ran a full size small. Never worn, except to try them on, these premium support sandals are now mine for free! Taos are known for their support and comfort - just check out that molded footbed and arch support.

I love the fuller coverage of these sandals too, which give much more structure than a flip flop, and these just may be my go-to shoe heading into summer. Of course, now that we're heading into summer, you should pair those new sandals with a fresh pedicure (this polish is called "Sangria").

 

While working on that pedicure, consider incorporating Ella+Mila products. Ella+Mila prides themselves on being eco-friendly, vegan, cruelty free, and 17 chemical free (chemicals dangerous to humans). The first item I've purchased from them is their Soy Polish Remover, which I've found is just as effective as acetone and is both conditioning to my nails and has a soft pleasant scent.

Overall savings: $125, and I'm thrilled my feet are ready for summer!

Secondhand Steals and Conscious Comfort

Sometimes you hit the secondhand jackpot. This thrifted and gifted outfit was the perfect trifecta: a) new with tags or like new, b) brand name/high value pieces, and c) super soft comfort. 

With this blouse, I love the voluminous airy sleeves and eyelet lace. The body is a heavyweight but very soft jersey knit. It feels like wearing pajamas, but the embellished sleeves and ruched neckline give it it a more polished look than your standard tee.  

This J. Crew blouse was new with tags from ThredUp, and was just $26.99 (vs $80 retail, a 70% savings).

I paired the blouse with a pair with Mugsy jeans. These had no tags but were like-new quality. These were free from Buy Nothing, and retail at a $108 value. Just like the blouse, these jeans are ultimate work-from-home cozy, but work-from-office cute. Even from the Mugsy website, they pride themselves on comfort: "With super stretch, breathability & cloud like softness, our high-tech Mugsy Denim is so comfortable you'll feel like you're wearing sweatpants."

I've always been nervous to wear navy tops. You aren't supposed to wear navy with black, but then you pair with jeans and you're all blue... we'll the good news about a monochrome base is you are then free to accessorize with bold prints and patterns. Add a dramatic floral scarf or a bright handbag. We ease into it here with a green striped belt. 

Between the blouse and jeans, this outfit cost $27 (an 84% savings off of $188 retail price). 

Going to work in total comfort? Winning!

Prom: the Second Time Around

I'm always down for a costume party. If you haven't caught on from my Halloween posts, I'll take any opportunity to dress up for a theme or as a character. So when my friend A texted that her friend was having a 90's Prom themed birthday party, and did I want to be her date, it was an easy yes from me. 

A couple years ago, my friend L had invited me to her daughter's princess-themed birthday party, and I acquired this dress, but didn't end up getting to go to the party. I was thrilled to have another chance to wear it. Somewhere between lilac and dusty rose, this tulle gown is not a color I would typically choose, but it's perfect to be a pretty princess or attend 90's prom.

The dress was new with tags, orignally $45 from Charlotte Russe, but just $15 at Goodwill.

To add to the 90's look, I added frosted lip gloss, fully lined and smudged eyes, and a deep side part with butterfly clips.

Of course, it wasn't the 90's without a choker, and I acquired this beaded choker at House of Vintage (SE Hawthorne, Portland) for $13. 

Not pictured is A's outfit. She went the more goth/grunge 90's route with a black spaghetti strap slip dress (thrifted from House of Vintage) and Doc Martens (borrowed). SE Hawthorne was a great street to make a day of shopping, featuring multiple vintage, thrift, and antique shops, ranging from clothing to furniture to housewares.

Overall, it was super fun to dance the night away, with the nostalgia of classic prom attire and music.

Dress: $15

Necklace: $13

Getting to relive prom: priceless

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)

Conscious Coordinates

If you're like me, you probably look at your over-stuffed closet frequently and feel like you have nothing to wear. I feel this way most often when I go to dress up, whether it's an celebratory dinner or a night at the theatre. And then I wonder, how is it possible I can't find anything I want to wear, when I've bought some amazing pieces? 

Well, there was my answer: I had bought some amazing pieces, but couldn't complete the outfit. Most notably, I have acquired several tea length or midi skirts over the years, but it turns out the length and shape of tops that I wear most days with pants or jeans don't compliment the skirts well. On the average day, I go for looser tunics that hit at the hip. With the shape of the skirts I'm wearing, I need a more tailored top that hits closer to the waist, in order to not look frumpy or make me looker shorter than I already am. 

With that realization, I could intentionally shop for pieces that would pair with those skirts and leave me with complete outfits.

First win, this Zara short sleeve black sweater, which is so soft, I feel like I'm wearing pajamas. 

 

 

I love the added gold button detail on the back, a minor detail, but adds a touch of dressiness. 

This Zara sweater was $10.99 at Goodwill (in like-new condition) but would cost $29.90 at Zara.

Next up, this embellished Adrienne Vittadini blouse.

The quilted pattern and bust darts create a lot of structure that really makes this blouse stand out from most of the comfort clothing (read "t-shirts") I can get away with working in tech. 

And I *love* the bejeweled neckline that eliminates the need for jewelry. 

This Adrienne Vittadini blouse cost $9.99 at Goodwill, while the average Adrienne Vittadini top goes for $48.00 at Macy's.

Between both of these blouses. I saved $47.92 (69.6%), and also enabled myself to get some use out of these skirts I love, but which were collecting dust. 

So first step if you are stuck with "nothing to wear" is do an audit. Do you have items you never wear? Do you dislike them for some reason? If so, move them to the donate or alter pile. Do you like them? If so, what's holding you back? Do you need something to complete the outfit, eg. the right height of shoes, or a sweater to pair with a sleeveless top? If so, prioritize your next purchases!