I say this phrase frequently, with one of the following endings:
A)a yard sale
B)a thrift store
C)the clearance racks
Because finding pretty things on the cheap is what I do. It's what I've always done. My mother schooled me in the value of the secondhand in my early years, as her mother had instilled Depression-era conservation in her. But my mother discovered the fun in "a good find", and taught me to take thrifting beyond the realm of necessity (though with our limited finances, it still was). For us, thrifting is a hobby, a skill, and a point of pride.
The thrill of a good find is exquisite. Sometimes it feels like the item is finding you, peeking out from a pile of dingy plastic toys or stained ill-fitting tank tops, whispering "Take me with you". Abandoned by their former owner, longingly waiting for you to recognize how wonderful they are. This is my mother's favorite realm of thrifting. Rescuing a worn, one-eyed teddy bear or a slightly chipped antique crystal bowl gives her a high that would put illicit drugs to shame. I love these unexpected discoveries, but my thrifting specialty is THE HUNT.
THE HUNT begins with a point of inspiration - an item that ignites material puppy-love yet offends your cheapskate sensibilities with its astronomical price tag - and ends with a better-than-the-original find. First, I scour my favorite magazines and websites, creating a mess of dog-eared and bookmarked pages. Then I head off to Salvation Army with my monthly allotment of $50 and go to town, spending hours going through racks and shelves. This process takes determination, a large chunk of time, a discerning eye, an open mind, and a bag containing wet naps and a full water bottle. But every time I leave with a garbage bag full of awesomeness and a feeling of satisfaction you'd be hard-pressed to find in any mall. And every time I call my mom, proudly proclaiming, "Guess what I found!??!?!?".
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
New Year, New Goal
So, yes, I realize it's a couple months into the new year, but I've recently had a revelation that a good wardrobe is built upon well-fitting basics. Years of watching "What Not to Wear" should have taught me this already, but I apparently didn't notice until now that many of my most necessary clothing items (i.e. bras and jeans) fit horribly. I've tried, I tell you, I've tried. But I have two curses:
1. My breasts are huge.
2. I have a very round ass and a deep curve in my lower back leading down to it.
These problems are exacerbated by the fact that my budget for clothing is small. Tiny. Wee.
To sum it up, I have constant shopping struggles. I attempt to find bras that keep the girls secure while not appearing as if they are a)a straitjacket or b)stolen out of a grandmother's closet. I desperately try to locate jeans (pants in general, really) that don't leave a huge gap of fabric at the curve of my back and still accommodate the rest of my lower half. All the while sticking to a budget and a conscience that won't allow me to spend more than $50 on an item of clothing.
But I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
A couple weeks ago whilst browsing through my local Marshall's I noticed a cute teal bra in MY SIZE. This was an initial victory for the mere fact that a bra that might fit me was not black/nude/white. I took that baby back into the fitting room and behold - fit like a glove. Or two gloves. Whichever. Two weeks later, this bitch is still going strong. Not once have I had to readjust it throughout the day. And the best part is the bra retails for $30!!!! That's it!!!! For similarly large-chested women, I offer you the Playtex Secrets "Silken Luxury Underwire".
Bolstered by my new perky tits, I decided to take on the elusive jeans. After two weeks of searching with a few especially discouraging moments (there may have been tears at one point), I found them. The jeans of my dreams. The apple of my eye.
At Forever 21.
For $19.80.
I bought two pair (one in medium blue wash and one in charcoal grey) and am seriously considering going back for more today. The jeans are low rise but comfy, stretchy without losing all their structure, and have a leg that lies somewhere between "skinny" and "straight". They make my short curvy legs look thin and long(ish). And the gap? Nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, they don't have the jeans up on their website, so I can't share them with you all.
So today I come to you a new woman with good essentials in her closet. Which makes enjoying these non-essential $4 shoes I got from Payless all the more enjoyable.
1. My breasts are huge.
2. I have a very round ass and a deep curve in my lower back leading down to it.
These problems are exacerbated by the fact that my budget for clothing is small. Tiny. Wee.
To sum it up, I have constant shopping struggles. I attempt to find bras that keep the girls secure while not appearing as if they are a)a straitjacket or b)stolen out of a grandmother's closet. I desperately try to locate jeans (pants in general, really) that don't leave a huge gap of fabric at the curve of my back and still accommodate the rest of my lower half. All the while sticking to a budget and a conscience that won't allow me to spend more than $50 on an item of clothing.
But I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
A couple weeks ago whilst browsing through my local Marshall's I noticed a cute teal bra in MY SIZE. This was an initial victory for the mere fact that a bra that might fit me was not black/nude/white. I took that baby back into the fitting room and behold - fit like a glove. Or two gloves. Whichever. Two weeks later, this bitch is still going strong. Not once have I had to readjust it throughout the day. And the best part is the bra retails for $30!!!! That's it!!!! For similarly large-chested women, I offer you the Playtex Secrets "Silken Luxury Underwire".
Bolstered by my new perky tits, I decided to take on the elusive jeans. After two weeks of searching with a few especially discouraging moments (there may have been tears at one point), I found them. The jeans of my dreams. The apple of my eye.
At Forever 21.
For $19.80.
I bought two pair (one in medium blue wash and one in charcoal grey) and am seriously considering going back for more today. The jeans are low rise but comfy, stretchy without losing all their structure, and have a leg that lies somewhere between "skinny" and "straight". They make my short curvy legs look thin and long(ish). And the gap? Nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, they don't have the jeans up on their website, so I can't share them with you all.
So today I come to you a new woman with good essentials in her closet. Which makes enjoying these non-essential $4 shoes I got from Payless all the more enjoyable.
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