Repost: Reader Request: Thrift Tips

Lovely reader N. sent me this question a while back:

I love the idea of thrift store shopping ... But I need to know how to do it successfully. I like the stuff I see at thrift stores, but most of them don’t have a place to try things on and I have been burned on fit with no refunds/exchanges. Can you suggest ways to analyze an item without trying it on to see if it’s going to work? Are there ways to tell what items would be easier to alter (and therefore less costly to alter)?

I've shopped thrift since ... well, since forever. I've never been squeamish about buying used garments, and the bargain hunter in me loves pulling treasure from other people's trash. What with the ban, thrifting has become my sole spending outlet and I'm definitely honing my skillz. I wouldn't deem myself an expert just yet - I leave that to Skye and Sharon Rose, among others - but I'm getting there. So I'll take a stab at this to get the ball rolling, and ask that any Mistresses of Thrift out there chime in with comments!

1. DRESSING ROOM FREE-ZONES
Very few of us can successfully shop unknown brands, items from eras long past, or garments meant for our quirkyest body parts without trying them on. Although many thrift stores have cottoned on and offer shoppers a handful of dressing rooms, some expect you to make decisions sans privacy. For instance, here in the Twin Cities, the Unique Thrift chain typically offers one broom-closet-sized fitting room and many full-length mirrors scattered throughout the aisles. On any given trip, you'll find folks in various states of undress squeezing themselves into potential purchases while scrutinizing themselves in narrow mirrors clamped to fixture ends.

Since very few thrift stores accept returns or exchanges, you need to be sure. If not sure that whatever it is will actually fit you, at least sure that you're not going to have a major coronary if you get it home and it doesn't. But there are a few things you can do to prepare for shopping in a dressing room free-zone:

• Layer: Wear a white or neutral cami under your blouse or sweater so you can try on cardigans, jackets, and anything that buttons or zips up easily and quickly.
• Skirt: You can slip a pair of pants or another skirt underneath the skirt you wore in and no one will glimpse your bits. You can also slip a dress on overhead and get a good idea if it fits, even plastered over a skirt. If you're in pants, which are typically bulky around the waist, gauging fit is much trickier.
  
• Leggings: I will never concede that leggings can pass for pants, but since they are made from actual cloth and are completely opaque, they can serve as MAKESHIFT pants in a trying-crap-on-in-the-aisles situaton. If you're really worried about anyone getting a peek at your ladyparts, slap on some leggings underneath your skirt and you'll be a paragon of modesty. Kinda.
• Slip-on shoes: If you're hunting for footwear, you'll want easy access to your tootsies.

2. EYEING FOR FIT
If you simply can't stomach getting quasi-nekkid in the middle of a thrift store aisle, you can train yourself to eyeball items for decent fit. You'll never be 100%, but a little practice can help hone your visual judgement. Pick out five perfectly-fitting tops from your own closet. Try to select from several categories of top, such as blouse, sweater, tee, cardigan, and/or jacket. Then pick out a top that is either very fitted or actually too small. Pick out a top that is either very boxy or actually too large. Set perfectly-fitting top number one on your bed, and place the too-small top next to it. Swap in perfectly-fitting top number two, three, etc. Then do the same thing with the perfectly-fitting tops and the too-large top. By the end of this drill, you should have a vague idea what a top that would fit you looks like. Repeat with skirts and pants. And just to reiterate: This ain't foolproof, but it should help.


3. MEASURING UP
Hauling a tape measure through a thrift emporium may make you feel like a prize-winning doofus, but at least you'll be a prize-winning doofus who saunters out with fantastic finds that fit. Measure your shoulder width, actual boobs, below boobs, narrowest part of waist, widest part of hips, and inseam. You can also measure garments that fit you perfectly - which is especially helpful if you prefer that your skirts and dresses hit your leg at a specific spot. Write your stats on a cheat sheet, bring your handy dandy tape measure shopping with you, and measure garments in the corresponding spots. If measuring flat, be sure to multiply by two. Now this method may seem like it should be foolproof, but it ain't. You are unlikely to get completely accurate measurements with your tape, and factors such as garment age and spandex content may confound. Truly, the only foolproof method is to actually try the dang thing ON. But checking the numbers will get you in the ballpark, and is somewhat more accurate than eyeballing.


4. WHAT NOT TO BUY
Everyone has their own rules about what should be avoided and embraced at thrift outlets. Some are more squeamish, or more crafty, or thrift for different purposes ... but I think these guidelines will be helpful to a thrifting novice who is shopping for 100% wearable items:

• Don't buy anything damaged that you can't mend yourself: Exceptions are gorgeous designer finds that can be salvaged with the help of a tailor ... but these are few and far between.
• Don't buy anything stained: If it's truly stained, that means permanent. So what's the point?
• Don't buy anything from Target, Wal-Mart, or other mega-retailers: It's only going to be a buck or two cheaper than new, and someone else has already worn it for much of its short life. I'm no brand snob, but I AM a quality snob. Something that has been made cheaply and worn for a while isn't going to fare well in your wardrobe. Exceptions happen - especially for things like coats, accessories, and other more durable goods. But generally speaking, there's no reason to thrift Merona and Xhiliration.
• Don't buy anything remotely intimate: Undies, socks, tights ... even slips and mufflers are suspect. I am one of the least germophobic people I know, but even I have limits! Dry cleaning can help, but dry cleaning is expensive, so just be sure to weigh that in.
  

5. TO ALTER OR NOT TO ALTER
I am not a huge fan of purchasing used clothes and then laying down to have them tailored, as the collective cost approaches buying new ... but sometimes it's worth it. Occasionally a nearly-perfect item presents itself, and if it's super high-quality, enlisting a professional's help to make it completely perfect is a good investment. I'm hoping that sewing experts like Ambika, Tricia, and Casey can help me out with this one, but here are my thoughts on features that make an item costly or difficult to alter:

• Avoid pleats: I hate pleats anyway, but if you're a fan, just be aware that these make tailoring tricky, regardless of garment type.
• Skirts over pants: Skirts are fairly simple constructions, generally speaking, and will be simpler to shorten, take in, or let out a skirt than a pair of pants.
• Avoid embellishments: Anything that sports a patterned fabric, embroidery, or embellishment of any kind near a seam is going to cause probs.
• Dresses are costly: A good dress is hard to find and the right one will be worth the dough, but unless you merely want a hem taken up, getting a dress altered is going to be laborious and expensive.
• Avoid coats: Tailoring a coat is VERY expensive. If it doesn't fit in the shop, don't bother.

6. ON THE LEVEL
Used clothing is sold at several levels, and you can adjust your price-range and quality-range by limiting yourself to stores that fit your personal parameters. Most large metro areas will offer thrifting at all of these levels, but you'll have to do some legwork to discover which are which on your home turf.

No-frills: The bottom of the thrifting heap - sometimes literally - will put you in an unadorned space stocked with unsorted racks or bins of clothing, shoes, and accessories. You are left to your own devices to hunt and peck. Here in the Twin Cities, this means G-Too/Values By the Pound, a Goodwill outlet also affectionately referred to as "Diggers." A dimly-lit warehouse where rejects and unsold merch from regular Goodwill stores goes to meet its final fate, Diggers features several person-high piles of stuff brought in by dumptruck. Clothing is sold by the pound. Not for the faint of heart, but fantastic for the scarce of money.

Slightly better: Racks are roughly organized by item type, but rarely by size or color. Stores at this level don't typically feature fitting rooms, and the offerings are in any state from broken-in to ruined. Twin Citians, think Salvation Army on Central Ave.

Good: Slightly more accurate and helpful organization of merch and a possibility of fitting rooms, these stores offer slightly higher price points alongside their improved facilities and services. Fitting rooms are still a hit-or-miss by location, but you'll find some brand new items sprinkled in among the oldies, and some bona-fide bargains ... so it's worth a trip. TC folks, I put Goodwill and Unique in this category.

Even Better: With guaranteed fitting rooms and stock organized by size and color, this is the level at which I thrift most comfortably and successfully. A few stained and torn items are mixed in, but merch is generally in great condition. Locals will find that ARC's Value Village and Savers outlets fit this bill.

Best: Now, "best" in this context means no flaws or damage to speak of, reputable labels, and helpful staff ... but it also means much higher prices. Consignment boutiques and upscale vintage stores fit into this category, and if you're hunting for true bargains, you should aim a few levels down. But if you're seeking covetable vintage (Via's) or upscale labels at slightly lower prices (Turn Style), this is the level for you.

What other tips would you offer to N.? Other thrift-expert blogs or resources we should all know about? Pipe up, my pretties!

(Image courtesy empracht)

Already Prettypoll: Favorites

This sweater is my favorite item of clothing. FAVORITE! I bought it off the back of a salesclerk in a boutique in Hobart, Tasmania, and at the time it was the most expensive piece in my wardrobe. And worth every penny. It's a bit frillier than my everyday style, but I am still 100% enamored of it five years after its purchase. It doesn't get worn much because it is both delicate and specific, but it's one of the only items in my closet that would prompt tears and wailing were it ever to be lost or destroyed.

Now you: What is your favorite piece of clothing, pair of shoes, or accessory? Why is it your favorite? Does it have a backstory or emotional significance, or does it just make you feel undeniably awesome?

The Visible Wardrobe

My dad made this necklace rack for me, and it's based on one he made for my mom ages ago. I admired hers, but it wasn't until I'd accumulated an enviable collection of necklaces that I recognized its practicality. Necklaces that are tangled in a knot and shoved in a drawer will never get worn. Necklaces that are tidily displayed will slip seamlessly into outfits, day after day.

Over the years, I've realized that seeing my clothes, shoes, and accessories is vital to making the most of my wardrobe. I subscribe to the "out of sight, out of mind" philosophy of house cleaning, which means that I have MANY junk drawers and broom closets packed with unloved miscellany. That philosophy spills over into my outfit-planning habits as well. If something is tucked away in a seldom-used drawer or buried under stacks of other stuff, it will be forgotten and abandoned in favor of the visible.

So I try to keep everything visible.

I roll my tights and set the rolls on their sides so I can see a bit of each color and pattern in the drawer. I use a hanging sweater storage unit so I can see each texture and tone peeking out. I hang my belts on a rack outside my armoire so I can see my options. I store my shoes on shelves and racks so I can see and select more easily.

Keeping clothes and accessories visible helps me with brainstorming. Seeing my options laid out sparks countless ideas for pairings and facilitates outfit creativity.

Is a visible wardrobe a priority for you? What do you wish you could display that you currently can't? Do items kept hidden get worn less? How do you display your clothing and accessories?

P.S. Yes, that is a stuffed wombat on my dresser. Wanna make somethin' of it?

A Touch of Boho

My style is generally pretty consistent: Clean lines, bright colors, lots of accessories, modern but with a dash of vintage. Yet, I like to dabble in other styles on occasion and feel like I can make them my own. I’m definitely inclined to do cowgirl looks when the weather warms up, and put my own twist on rocker when it cools off. But I also play around with Bohemian looks on occasion, and since this style of dressing is SO contrary to my usual, I thought I’d share my methods for making it seem natural and decidedly un-costume-y.

Whenever I’m considering an outfit with a touch of boho, I remember that I’ve got the tools I right there in my closet:

Floor-length skirts: I own tons of these, and love to wear them. They’re a natural part of my dressing patterns, but can also be styled to look quite different from my everyday style.

Platform sandals: Again, love these and own them in abundance. Depending on how they’re worn, they can look edgy and cool, or earthy and warm.

Bangles: Six or seven will do the trick. Wearing them up to my elbow or on both wrists just feels like overkill.

Floral patterns: Preferably warm, dusty, or otherwise muted tones. Bright florals or cold colors don’t generally work in Bohemian-influenced outfits.

Hoop earrings: 80% of my earring collection is comprised of hoops, and nothing says boho like a pair of oversized metal hoops.

Brown: I know that plenty of earthy looks are black-based, but I associate brown very strongly with Bohemian ensembles. I’m much more likely to reach for wood jewelry, caramel-colored leather shoes, and other brown accents than the coolness of black.

The photo above shows an outfit that is most boho I’ve gone in years. Generally speaking, I will deploy two to three of the above items or techniques at a time and keep all else aligned with my everyday style. Bangles and a long skirt, but with a close-fitting solid-colored tee. A floral dress and platform sandals, but with modern jewelry and my hair slicked back. That way, I can feel the influence of this laid-back aesthetic but still look like myself.

So! Who out there is a fan of boho? What do you consider to be the tools of the style? Do you agree that brown is a better choice than black? Are you wont to go all-out, or do you prefer to add a touch of boho now and then, like me?

Manfashion Interlude: BOOTED

Over the course of the past two years, Husband Mike has picked up several pairs of truly awesome dude shoes, and we agreed that these purchases were worthy of a Manfashion Interlude. So prepare for some manly thoughts about manly footwear ...

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Mike's beloved Montgomery Ward Work Boot, Circa 1980
(Yes that is a VW hubcap on my face)

See these boots? I loved these boots. I got them for a dollar at a garage sale in the pouring rain. I didn’t even try them on; I just bought them. I feel very manly wearing boots. Something to do with the clomping, I think.

I had these boots for at least 5 years and they were about at the point where they needed to be resoled when The Ex started to nag me about getting rid of them.

She nagged me for a couple years and I finally relented and bought a new pair of boots that she liked. She talked me into throwing away the other boots. If I'd had a spine back then, I would have said, “I will wear these new boots more often, and this beat up pair can go into the closet for awhile, but it’s not your place to say when I throw out a pair of shoes.”

Would you ladies ever let your dudes tell you when to throw out a pair of shoes? Keep this in mind if you start to think about telling your guy to through things out. Anyway…

I spent years looking for a replacement pair of work boots. The soles never looked right. I went to every Sears and Chet’s Shoes around, and nothing came close to the awesomeness of my 1980’s Montgomery Ward work boot.

Recently I found these Timberland Chukkas

Timberland Chukka

These shoes are great. Not too heavy but very sturdy, and still nice enough looking for a Saturday in public with Sally. (Seems that was the Ex’s problem with those boots I was tricked into getting rid of.) I’d wear these every day. I’d wear them with shorts, but I won't since I feel a bit fashionably self-conscious about that. They cost over $100, but tax return money is free money. Plus, did you know you can search for coupons online and save yourself some money? Sally taught me this recently.

But can a person really only have one pair of boots? Yes. But I have more than one. Love them all.

Pair #2 are my John Fluevog Classic Shiny Leather Combat Boots.

God bless you, John Fluevog!

These are my favorite. These are the ones I’ll be taking to Iceland with me since I know that I can walk in them for hours and hours without my feet getting tired. They are really heavy, but it doesn’t seem to be a problem for me. The rubber soles are gooey. That must be it.

These were not a tax return purchase, but I must have been flush at the time since I bought these boots with another pair of Fluevogs at the Downtown Chicago Fluevog store. It's really an awesome store--the chairs are classic velvet movie theater chairs. The sales clerks all had tattoos. These boots were also a symbolic purchase since this was my first attempt of living in Sally's world of quality and fashionable shoes.

Which do you like best? How many pairs of boots do you have? Come on! I told you how many I have. Would you or have you every asked your significant other to get rid of a pair of shoes?

Next? Motorcycle Boots.

What Belting Can Do for You

Even after years of deployment, I still feel like a bit of a newbie to the world of belting. Therefore, I will quite happily refer you to Audi's fabulous guest post on how to break into belting for a comprehensive guide to wearing these amazingly versatile accessories. It's gospel, as far as I'm concerned.

But I realized that a refresher on how belts can be worn and how they affect your proportions could be beneficial. And I'm such a visual learner myself, I figured some photographic examples might help!

CINCH YOUR WAIST

The most obvious use, in many ways, but well worth mentioning. Cinching draws attention to your waist, and if that's your goal, belts can help you get there.

BRING DOWN A WAISTLINE

If you've tucked in your shirt and the waistline of your skirt or pants falls ABOVE your natural waist, belting an inch or so below can draw the eye back down.

Hip-slung belts aren't fabulous on my bod, but they are a great way to bring they eye even further down. If you want to create balance in your figure by making your hips appear larger, a low belt will help!

BRING UP A WAISTLINE

Alternately, if you'd rather give the appearance of a high or empire waist, belting above your natural waist is just the thing.

ADD A POP OF COLOR

Although many belts are neutral, it's easy enough to hunt down colorful ones, and they are a simple, fun way to add color to your ensemble. Even muted tones that contrast the rest of your outfit can add interest.

ADJUST FIT

Belts are no cure-all. Ill-fitting clothes will always fit ill, no matter how beautifully belted. But a shirt, dress, or skirt that is just a bit loose around the waist can be adjusted easily with the addition of a belt. The dress pictured above is a great example from my closet: Too loose on its own, perfect when belted.

COVER EXISTING DETAIL

Don't go thinking that self-belts must be worn, or that waist detailing must be shown. If an item of clothing sports waistline detailing that you loathe, belt over it! This dress is darling, but has a weird flappy bit at the waist. I'll be belting it from this day forward.

ADD DEFINITION BENEATH LAYERS

It's kind of amazing how this optical illusion works. Even if you've got on a boxy or loose outer layer, belting your inner layer will make your waist appear more defined. MAGICAL.


Are you a fan of belts? How do you wear yours? Do you use them to adjust proportions or fit? Are you prone to belting above or below your natural waist? Anything else you'd like to know about how belting works?

My Organizational Wishlist

I feel like I've got a few clever ideas about how to organize my closet, and plenty of fun contraptions to store my shoes and accessories ... but there are a few items that have eluded me thus far. I daydream about finally ponying up for these gizmos and making my wardrobe sigh with neatened relief!

Wooden Drawer Dividers, $11

My layering drawers are packed tight with tanks, tees, and leggings. These items stay fairly neat on their own, but I long to keep them tidily in place with something structured. Some cut up pieces of cardboard could do the trick, but those slapdash versions of organizational tools never look or work quite right, in my experience.

Sock Drawer Organizer, $7

I don't really care about my actual socks, but my tights? They're a nightmare. A large, multicolored, morass of a nightmare. I haven't actually found my ideal organizer, which would be just like the above but include that mesh basket. How awesome to have two stackable levels of tights in one drawer? Ahhh, bliss.

Acrylic Shelf Dividers, $18

Not for my sweater shelves ... but for my handbags. Which are currently in a giant dogpile atop my armoire, mocking me with their disorganization. I don't have many, but I'd love to set them neatly between these dividers.

Closet Dividers, $9

OK, now I'm letting my OCD shine through a little. And yes, I could totally make these myself from cardboard, too ... but I'd rather have these sturdy ones with swappable labels. My shirts are organized by sleeve length, body length (as it relates to my bottoms, meaning pants-length shirts together, skirt-length shirts together), and color. However, stuff gets mixed up all the time when I'm in a rush. I'd just love to have these dividers to keep me in line.

What organizational tools do YOU daydream about? Share links if you've got 'em!

All images courtesy Amazon.

Reader Request: Effective Inventories and Honed Style

Beautiful reader Elisabeth wrote in with this fabulous request:

I'd love to see your interpretation of this kind of exercise for women (like me!) who keep buying the same black cardigan and long sleeve T over and over again. If I (or anyone) were to make an inventory of the clothes that we own, what kinds of questions should we be asking ourselves after the list has been made?

My personal issue is that I love clothes and get inspired by what I see on on other women and on fashion blogs, but I always end up buying things that do not make me feel stylish. My desired image does not match what is in my closet. And it's not a matter of finance - I don't have expensive taste in clothes or shop too little or too much. I just don't know how to assess what I really want to add to or discard from my wardrobe. So, I was thinking, as a style-savante, you might have some tricks up your sleeve for training your readers to know their own personal style-sense a bit better, and suggesting how to decide how to buy new clothes or use the items we already have to create the look we want.

There are a few questions floating around in there, so I’ll tackle them one at a time!

TAKING INVENTORY
For the record, I have at least four black cardigans myself. Sure, they’re a staple, and all of mine are made from slightly different materials and cut to slightly different proportions, but still! That’s a LOT of black cardigans. I think most women are inclined to purchase similar or same items, over and over again. Trends may come and go, but the foundations of personal taste seldom shift … so when you know what you love, and what works for you, you gravitate toward it.

But that can get costly, redundant, frustrating. You don’t want a bunch of sameness, you want options! And taking inventory of your current wardrobe can help you avoid unintended multiples. But how do you effectively inventory your goodies? What are some good questions to ask yourself as you pore over your belongings?

1. How often do I wear this? Frequency of use is, obviously, the first sign of a favorite. If it gets worn twice a week, you might consider doubling up so you'll have a backup when the first wears out. Twice per month is still a great record, and means it's a keeper. Twice per year and you need to figure out if it just has limited application, or if it doesn't suit you.
   
   
2. How does this make me feel about myself? If you pick up a skirt and it makes you feel ugly just looking at it, or if it reminds you of a difficult time, or if it no longer fits with your style or lifestyle, that's very important information. If you pick up a skirt and it lifts your spirits, or if it makes you excited at the prospect of getting dressed, or if it boosts your confidence in your gorgeous figure just hanging there, also important. Clothing that makes you feel badly in ANY way is not worth keeping around.
   
   
3. Is this comfortable? Everyone has a threshold for discomfort, and everyone hangs onto clothing that crosses that threshold. Some are worth the sacrifice, but most aren't. Everyday togs should fit to your body without squeezing, and cause minimal discomfort. Period.
   
   
4. Is this current? Now we're getting onto shakier ground, I realize. But I'm not saying that you should ditch anything that's six years old, or abandon anything that doesn't conform to current trends. I AM saying that there's classic and there's outdated, and you probably have a better sense of the difference than you realize. Evaluate and decide.
   
   
5. Is this how I want to look? Again, a tall order. Especially if you're not entirely sure how you want to look. But start by taking each piece and asking yourself, "Does this suit the current me, or the ideal me?" If it suits the ideal you, can it be merged into the current you? Can you build three to five outfits around it using your personal wardrobe staples? Look for items that have a little bit of aspiration in them, but can still play nicely with the look you're sporting this very moment.
   

BEFORE YOU MAKE A WISHLIST ...
Anyone in transition is going to have a hard time discerning between object lust and pragmatism. And I'm loathe to give general advice about creating a targeted, effective wishlist since every woman’s needs will be different. But here are a few exercises that might help someone who is dying to make a transformative wardrobe wishlist, but has no idea where to start.

• Define your ideal style. Somehow: Make a collage of images, write a paragraph or two, pick a celeb icon or a person from your life whose style you admire. You may not be able to articulate your aspirational style exactly, but take a stab at it and don’t worry about being precise. You’ve gotta start somewhere. (For more on this see Style for the Lost, and the other recommended posts listed below.)
  
  
• Define your current style: Make a list of adjectives that describe your wardrobe and style, jot down phrases that others have used to describe your appearance, stand in your closet and write whatever comes to you. Trust me, you have a better idea of what you dress like than you realize. You just need to focus on it to wring out that description.
  
  
• Make outfits from what you own: Focus on creating looks that combine elements of your ideal and current styles. Pull out your favorite pieces and challenge yourself to build five outfits around each. Pull out items you love but seldom wear, and do the same. Grab your wardrobe orphans and think creatively: How can these difficult pieces be styled with your other garments? Now think about how you've defined your style from the previous steps. Do the outfits fit with your newly-created parameters? If not, how can you make them conform?
  
  
• Fill in the blanks: After you’ve cooked up some outfits with your current clothes, you’ll have a better idea of what you want to purchase to complete your desired look. Focus on versatile pieces and basics. Even if an 8-inch floral brooch would look amazing with that one dress-blazer combo, think about how ELSE it would get worn. Anything on this list will have been thoroughly vetted, if you've done all of the other steps above, so you're unlikely to end up with a group of brand new items that twin what you already own!
  
  

HONING YOUR PERSONAL STYLE
Well, that’s a whole other ball of fish. I mean kettle of wax. Whatever, it deserves to be more than just a footnote, and I’ve actually cooked up a few posts on this topic in the past.

• What Do You Want to Look Like?
• How to Hone Your Style
• Building Your Style Through Basics
• Transitional You

Do you find yourself buying the same black cardigan over and over again? How do you manage the urge to duplicate what you already own? Do you inventory your stock on a regular basis? Does it help? Any other tips on honing personal style, or resources for identifying pieces that work within a specific style?

Image courtesy BrittneyBush.

Repost: Wear Everything All the Time

We're having a leeeeetle holiday here in the U.S. so I'm gonna repost a classic today. Happy 4th, Americanos!

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When I wear white, I eat spaghetti. Or drink coffee. Or munch on Cheetos. Or write with Sharpies or open cans of motor oil or serve grape juice to passing children or basically do any and everything possible to STAIN THE LIVING BEJEEZUS OUT OF MY CLOTHING. But I wear white anyway because what’s the point of owning it if it doesn’t get worn?

I am trying to apply this philosophy to my fancy and special-occasion garments, too. I mean, that floor-length, shiny, beaded, chocolate brown bridesmaid dress with the spaghetti straps? I’m not completely sure I can pull that off for work. But my fabulous hats from Audi’s shop, my long thrifted taffeta skirt, my Lily vest, and my brooch necklace? Why should those languish just because they’re flashy, or dressy, or stylized, or a wee bit more delicate than my standard boots and tee-shirts? As many have said before me, none of my clothes are "too good" for me to wear them. If I own something, it should be fair game. Period.

But how on earth can flashy, dressy, stylized, or delicate items get worked into daily outfits?

1. Don’t worry about them: I am an EXCELLENT worrier. Just ask Mike. Or Trinknitty. OK, or anyone who has spent more than 15 minutes in my presence. But I do a decent job of living my life despite my worries, and not allowing anxiety to make me an agoraphobic shut-in. I do my best to apply this philosophy to clothing, too. If I am so worried about ruining something that I won’t ever wear it, I might as well not own it at all. It’s relegated to closet candy and what they hell good is that? If something gets worn and damaged, it can generally be repaired somehow. If something gets worn and ruined, well, them’s the breaks. I realize that’s some tough love, especially when we might be talking heirloom garments or investment pieces … but you hear me, right? You might as well have set your money on fire if you’ve bought a garment or accessory only to let it gather dust.
   
   
2. Create balance: Whatever your superspecial item may be, make sure it’s the only superspecial thing about your outfit. This is particularly important if you’re dressing down a formal garment. Balance is created when you pair that sequined bustier with jeans and a black blazer, or when you wear your gigantic rhinestone bib necklace with a simple tee and black pencil skirt. Make sure there is plenty of casual and commonplace to counteract the jolt of formal and unusual.
   
   
3. Keep rotation light: Although I’m making a goal of utilizing my fancies more often, I’d say one a week is plenty. No matter how dressed down they may be, special, delicate, or formal pieces are BOUND to stand out a little. And I like to stand out, but not every day.
   
   
4. Layer, layer, layer: The more stuff you've got on, the more a formal or flashy piece just looks like part of the mix. And even in summer, lightweight layers can help tone down a loud item. A mondo necklace is much less mondo when it's peeking out from a button-down shirt with a shrunken corduroy blazer thrown over it. A slinky formal dress becomes a sassy skirt when you pile a cowlneck sweater and cozy wrap on top. Those special occasion pieces will be far comfier if they have a wide variety of OTHER pieces to play amongst.
   
   
5. Remember that you're worth it: Again, none of your clothes are better than you. Who exactly owns whom, I ask yas? If you've laid down your hard-earned cash for a piece of clothing, it had better earn its keep. It's something you liked, something that fit your figure and suited your personal style, and it's something that made you feel good. So allow it to make you feel good more than just once or twice in your lifetime. YOU'RE gorgeous and special, beautiful and luminous. Why not wear the items you own that make you feel that way?
   

Do you make an effort to wear your most beloved pieces as often as possible? What are your tips for making such wearings relatively stress-free? Any specific ways to dress down formal items that weren't covered here? Anyone TOTALLY averse to incorporating truly special pieces into daily wear?

SUMMER BLACK-OUT 2010: The Round-up

I am still just FLOORED that so many amazing women decided to participate in the BLACK-OUT challenge!

Just to review the parameters, from Monday, June 7, 2010, to Monday, June 14, 2010, participants were forbidden to wear black clothes. No black pants, black skirts, black dresses, black shirts, black sweaters, nada. Official rules of play:

1. Black shoes, accessories, and jewelry were fine.
   
   
2. Workout/gym duds got a pass.
   
   
3. Black could be IN patterns but could not be the BACKGROUND of a pattern.
   
   

Many chose to take it to the next level and omit black shoes, accessories, jewelry, and patterns. I'm did so myself for the duration of the week. I asked those who participated to send me images of or links to their favorite BLACK-OUT ensembles, and got an amazing response. If you missed out on submission, please post a link in the comments here so we can see your best BLACK-OUT wear, too!

Now prepare for a whole bunch of colorful eye-candy, kittens ... here's the 38-lady roundup:

Angela, angelavicente.com

Terra, Stylish White Female

Scholar Style Guide

Biba, Angels and Blossoms


Kristin, Bird on Your Shirt


Ann M., Großstadthimmel


Erica, Brickhouse of Style


Della, Della Grace's Life


Angela, RiAnge Creations


Cathy, Austin Slave to Fashion


LSM, Somewhere in the Suburbs (LSM, where are you!)


Taylor, Taylor Wears Everything


Megan, Daily Waifu Snapshot


Kiki, What I Wear in a Little Town


eek!


Courtney, Loving the Reflection


Rosie Unknown, Through the Wilderness


Zeynep, Zeynep's Corner


Laura, 90 Days Without Shopping


Iris, 260 Days No Repeats


Flitryss, Adventures and Mishaps


Breanne, Bella Vita


Katie, Interrobangs Anonymous


EvaNadine, Stumble Into Style


Closet 365


Excavating K's Closet


Sara, Orchids in Buttonholes


Frances Joy, Mad Dress Game


Andie, What Andie Wears


Dorky Medievalist, In Professorial Fashion


Emma Clark, My Daily Clothes Fix


Tat, Rate My Outfit


Stacy, Stacyverb


Style Underdog


Rebecca, Minnchic


Fashion Flirt


Cynthia, Magpie's Hoard (Lady, the links you left me are broken ... let me know if you had a different outfit in mind!)


Angeline, The New Professional

Will you get a load of the creativity, bold pattern mixing, and inspirational style that was showcased across the board? Each woman interpreted the challenge through the lens of her own style, using pieces from her own wardrobe, and a group of absolutely amazing outfits resulted. I am in awe. Seriously.

Now, don't laugh, but I actually got kinda teary putting this post together. I mean, just look at all those gorgeous women, stylin' it up! They live all over the world. They're working from every spot along the budgetary spectrum and sporting a wide variety of tastes and styles. They're all ethnicities, sizes, ages, and shapes. And they all look RADIANT! I challenge anyone who has looked at this round-up to tell me there is only one female figure that pleases the eye. Is your eye not pleased by every single participant? I can say with certainty that my eye has seldom been more pleased. Every woman who participated in this challenge looked remarkably beautiful and, if the facial expressions in these images tell us anything, they all felt beautiful, too.

Huge, HUGE thanks to everyone who participated - bloggers and non-bloggers alike. I hope this challenge was fun and eye-opening, and look forward to running it again next year!