Thrift haul at the Salv Boutique (loooong and overdue)

Hello friends!  I hope that you are keeping warm.  I live in Northern Ontario where the weather is like a sulky child....super deep-freeze cold one minute, then massive amounts of snow the next.  It's kinda like the weather is having mood swings.  Let's hope the weather eats some ice cream and lightens up.

Anyhow, I've been wearing a LOT of layers lately.  We're talking about wearing regular clothing (pants and a shirt), with thermal underwear and a long-sleeved tee under my shirt.  Then I'll top off the whole thing with an oversized sweater or cardi.

When I go outside, I need a parka, a hat, gloves, warm boots and a scarf to wrap around my face.  During deep freeze weather (about -40 Celcius with windchill) I have to cover up all my skin or I'll get frostbite.  

If you look at the amount of clothing the average person is wearing, the cost to purchase it can be daunting.  Some people scrimp by having a minimal wardrobe.  I can't do that, I like to have a large rotation of coats, office attire, and accessories.  The only way I can afford to do this is to thrift shop.

Last week the Salv Boutique (Salvation Army) had a terrific sale called "Mix and Match for $15".  This means that I could purchase any 4 items for $15.

Behold my thrift haul!  All the clothing was $3.75 each.

Bright coral cardigan

This cardigan was a hit at the office.  I wore it with grey check pants and a teal top.  My co-workers kept complimenting me on it.  This cardigan is Bianca Nygard, it probably originally retailed for $60.  It is unbelievably warm and snuggly.  I did have to do some minor de-pilling.  I used a manicure scissors to gently snip off the pills while I watched Storage Wars (love that show!).

Long-sleeved tee with stud and ribbon detailing around the collar.

Here is another Bianca Nygard piece.  It's a long sleeved tee with studs and ribbon around the collar.  I like tops like this because they look really nice layered under shirts and blouses....and we all know, cold-weather dressing calls for LAYERS!! This top looked brand-spanking new..I guess someone was cleaning out their closet after Christmas?

Long sleeved shirt

Close-up

This top is by INC Concepts.  I loooooove this shirt!  It has a touch of spandex, and it layers really nice under sweaters.  The stripes are variegated gold thread, which gives them a 3D feel.

Wool tunic with embroidery

I wasn't sure about this vintage, button tunic. It was in great, clean looking condition.  But it needed to be dry-cleaned as it had a faint perfume smell.  I threw it into my cart because at $3.75 I'm willing to gamble on it because of my home delicate, cleaning methods.

What are my home cleaning methods?  Gee, I thought you'd never ask :)  Wool is naturally water repellant, it also repels dirt.  You can give it a good brushing (as long as you are not smushing in a stain).  Back in the day, it was common for English butlers to brush down wool coats and hats.  This is how people kept their clothing clean a long time ago (before dry-cleaning).  

Step 1. Brush down the wool material.  Use a brush with thick, firm bristles. 

You can't throw something like this into the washing machine.  The interfacing and wool is likely to buckle.  This item is fully lined, so I turned this item inside-out and sponged down the lining with a damp sponge. The sponge was moistened with a very dilute solution of baby shampoo.  I gave the wool a quick wipe down too.

Step 2. Sponge down the lining.  Quickly sponge down the wool.

Then I hung it outside in the sub-zero weather for a couple of hours. The dry cold conditions make the damp evaporate almost instantly. And when it came back in, it smelled like the fresh outdoors.

Step 3. Hang outside in the fresh air.

Evan Picone dress

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When I got to this sale, I assumed the stuff in the "boutique" section wasn't included...until one of the friendly clerks came up to me and told me that the boutique section was included.  Holy cow, I dug into the racks with dire intensity after that.  I found a bunch of maxi-dresses from the 90s (perfect if you need fabric for a project), and this mint-condition Evan Picone dress.  I'm partial to neutrally taupey shades, so this dress will fit perfectly with my wardrobe.  I imagine this dress originally retailed for $80.  My price was $3.75.

The boutique section also yielded these new looking, boot cut Gap jeans.  The inseam is rather short, but so am I, so that works out well :)  

Gap jeans and my toes

Close-up

Next I found a couple of NWT shirts from Bass.  I love Bass.  I took one shirt and left the other for someone else to find.

NWT!!!

Close-up, check out the pin-stripes.

I love the subtle pin stripe and ruffle on this shirt.  It will look fabulous with the denim trousers below.

Gap flared trousers

Interesting finish on these trousers

I really liked the finish on these trousers.  The fading gives it a lot of texture.  Kinda like stars in the midnight blue sky.

Silk blouse with paisley pattern

Love the paisley!!

I love silk blouses.  I love paisley.  This shirt is a no-brainer.  Silk is an excellent insulator for keeping warm.  Sadly, in dry conditions it clings to the body and creates staticy hair.

Vintage hockey jersey

This mint-condition, hockey jersey was another no-brainer.  My youngest stepson has already snapped it up.  Wow, I wish I had the energy to go to the outdoor rink.  But I'm too warm and comfy at home...maybe next weekend.

As I strolled the aisles at Salv Ann, I found this fabulous American Eagle parka in brand spanking condition!!  The price tag was a very reasonable $14.  I debated getting this parka.  I liked it because it was a shorter length.  Ideal for when the weather warms up, which will happen....eventually (I hope).

Who gets rid of a new parka in the winter???

I kept putting the parka in my cart, then putting it back.  Then I had a stern talk with myself.  I convinced myself that $14 was a good price to pay for outerwear.  Since it was a nice piece to add to my springtime rotation, I put it back into my cart.

Imagine my surprise when the clerk told me it part of the sale.  This NEW parka was $3.75. Happy. Dance.

The best time to find a great selection of warm weather clothing is in the winter.  This sale was no exception.  This is what I found.

Oversized Nevada button-down

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This oversized button-down is made of light weight cotton.  Perfect for tying over a summer dress.  Nevada shirts retail for about $25 at Sears.

Sheer, patterned blouse with faux-leather cord

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Jessica sleeveless top

Lightweight, perfect for spring!!

RW strapless dress with abstract floral pattern.
C'est chic, non?

Jones of NY shirt

This will keep me professional looking and cool!

Talbots seer-sucker, pin-striped suit

I love thrift shopping because I get to try things outside of my normal comfort zone. I would never pay retail for this Talbots seer-sucker suit.  I'd be too afraid of looking like an extra on Golden Girls.  But for $3.75, I'll take a chance.

Oh, the 2 piece suit was $3.75 TOTAL.  That means the blazer and pants clocked in at less than $2 each!!

This suit set looked brand new.  I cleaned it using my at-home, delicate cleaning process. I can hardly wait to wear it when the weather warms up!!!

Another 2 piece set follows.  This is a lovely, drapey rayon skirt and blouse set from India.

Check out the embroidery!

Drapey goodness!

Close-up
There is a boutique close to where I work that sells clothing like this.  This 2 piece set would easily retail for $50.  My price was $3.75.

Banana Republic Lurex embroidered jacket

Lurex embroidery baby!!

 I am a total label whore (so sue me).  I love thrifting Banana Republic pieces, especially when they are quirky.  The low pricetag gives me the opportunity to wear something I normally wouldn't invest in.  I used my at-home cleaning method on this too.

I'll probably pair this jacket with a cream dress or tee and capris.

Did someone say "cream dress"?

More embroidery!!  Squee!!

Woo-hoo, an embroidered, lightweight cream-colored dress!!  Brand-spanking new...it prolly retailed for $50.

Aha, another dress!!

Apt 9 lace dress

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 This dress fits perfectly!!  It's another one of the many items that were new.  I'm lucky to live in a town where people do a lot of recreational shopping, then don't wear what they buy.  I think an Apt 9 dress would retail for about $30.

Embroidered hippie goodness!

Do you know people who go on vacation, and bring back handmade clothing?  Sometimes the clothing sits, unworn and unloved in a drawer.  Then it gets donated  to the Salv Army where I snatch it up for $3.75.  

Whew!  I think that is all the clothing.  I also picked up some accessories.

White sandals

These sandals were $7.  Very lightly worn.  I wiped down the inside and the soles with rubbing alcohol.

Nine West clutch

This Nine West clutch made my heart go pitty-pat.  It's new (the tags are intact).  But it has marker on it.  I think I'm going to cover it up with stick-on jewels.  $6.

Close-up

I debated about buying the purse for a couple of days.  Then I decided to snatch it up for $6. I like the bucket structure of this bag. 

Another Nine West purse

Close-up

Whew!  I still have a ton of pictures to share with you.  Stay tuned for more posts!!

happy thrifting

DIY thrift finds, and some nice vintage china and Pyrex

Hello fellow thrifters!!  I haven't been thrifting as much lately as I've been occupied with other stuff.  It thought I'd show you a couple of furniture projects.  I moved into my new house back in September.  Instead of spending big bucks furnishing and decorating it, I'm taking my time and trolling thrift stores and clearance bins looking for the perfect touches for my new abode.

My new house has only half the closets and storage that I had in my old house.  So when I found this cabinet I thought it would serve as the perfect storage system for my purses and jewelery.

Here is the finished cabinet which I painted blue (it was a wood laminate).  I purchased this item for about $40, and I spent about $50 on primer, paint and brushes.  Now it holds my jeans, purses and jewelery.  This unit serves double-duty as I use the purses to hold my tights, leggings, knee socks and thick woolly socks.  The top two shelves hold a bunch of white plastic containers - this is how I organize my jewelery.

This unit holds a ton of stuff!!

I happened to be walking into at the Salv Army when I spotted this antique Singer sewing table.  Someone had recently donated it, it was still outside in the donation pile. The table was missing the sewing machine, and the wooden panel that covered the front.  It was also missing the drawer pulls.  I thought it would be the perfect thing to hold my keys, mail and miscellaneous mess that clutter up my hallway.

I managed to snag this piece for $20.  I purchased knobs for $10.  Here is a picture of the cleaning supplies and drill I used on the table (the nooks and crannies were really dusty!!).  

Here is the finished product.  A nice looking hallway table.  It holds pens and stationery.  With some thrifted decorative items on top.

Hallway table!!

Last week I managed to score 6 teacups and saucers, with sugar and creamer for $5!!!  Originally the price was $10, but I had a half-off coupon.  This fine, English bone china is Royal Albert.  

Here is the vintage Fire King Lustrewear that I got in Duluth last month.  Six teacups with saucers for $4 each.

Two vintage Pyrex finds, they were $3 each.  I'm always on the lookout for Pyrex nesting bowls in great condition.  The selling feature for the casserole dish was that it came with a lid.  I'm really hoping to find blue and Jadite Pyrex...they are my favs!!

happy thrifting!

Cold weather haul!! 50% off at Value Village

Well the weather outside is frightful.  Plummeting temperatures have reached -25 degrees Celcius.  And that isn't even talking about windchill (believe me, if you have never heard of windchill then you are a lucky person).

This type of weather calls for layered dressing.  My office can be quite cold, thanks to the proximity of a loading dock and capricious heating.  I like to look nice, so dressing professionally can be a bit of a challenge.  Layered dressing means I can bundle up, nice and warm, and peel of layers as required.  Loose layers also mean that I get a bit of insulation as the layers trap warm air against my body. 

Here are some pieces I got at a 50% off sale at Value Village.  They have great layering potential.  

Dim, dark days call for a bit of sparkle.  The dusty pink blouse and the sleeveless blue top have tiny sparkly beads.  The grey sweater has silvery, lurex thread.  

$5 and NWT!!

This lovely sheer blouse still had the tags on it.  It's a dusty pink blouse from Sears.  The pin-tucks have beads on them.  Add a sheer, long-sleeved tee underneath, layer a cardi on top, and I'll be warm as toast!!

RW top, $5

I love RW.  But it's a tad pricey when you pay retail. This cute sleeveless top has nice beading along the neckline and arms.  It is sheer up at the collar area, with lots of flowy, layers on the bottom part. I plan to pair it with high-waisted wool slacks and a cozy cardi. 

NWT sweater, $17

This sweater was a tad pricey.  The original tags were on it, it originally retailed for $90 at Sears.  Wow, I'd never pay that much.  This oversized top is going to get layered over a couple of long, sleeved tees.  Perhaps I'll pair it with a pair of high-waisted pants, or a skirt.

Ear bling, 50 cents a pair.

                 

Banana Republic, $3

Long, waterfall cardi in a mauvy shade of purple.  Made of fine, Italian, merio wool. 

Long sleeved, lacy tee

I think I paid about $3 for this tee-shirt.  It'll get layered over a couple of long-sleeved tee, or layered under a vest or sweater.

Floral print sweater, $5

A sweater to layer under a cardi, or over a shirt.

Turtleneck tunic $4

This tunic was a steal.  It is a vintage Linda Lundstrum, make of warm wool and acrylic.  I can wear it as a tunic over leggings.  I love the pattern!!!

Lambswool cardi, $5

I seriously debated about getting this long cardigan.  It's made of the softest lambswool, by IB Diffusion (a fab, quality label from the 1980s).  I put it back on the rack because I already have 4 long, beige cardigans.  While my purchases were being rung up, I went back for it.  I lloooooovvve the shaggy collar and cuffs!!

Silk blouse $4

This silk blouse has a nice length to it.  Long enough that drafts won't go whistling up my torso.  Plus silk is a great material for keeping warmth close to my body.   Hey, these considerations are important.  Winter is all about staying warm people!!

I like clogs since I can slliiiiddde into them without bending down to do up buckles, laces etc.  I like Clarke's clogs in particular.  They are quality items that look fab.  They are also pricey.

Witness this shoebox with the pricetag of $130.  I bought these shoes on sale for $89.

I bought this pair of Clarke's for $6.50.  They were brand, spankin' new!!

Aldo scarf, $1.50

Last but not least, a long cotton scarf with a cute needle-point, floral print.

Stay warm everyone.

happy thrifting.

4 Shorts in 6 months

Old Man Winter has made an early appearance this year. He held a party a few nights ago with lots of snow and gusty winds.  All that blowing snow made it tough to see.

Driving home was an interesting challenge as the snow covered the lane markers.  Shovelling out my driveway was even more interesting as the wind swept the snow I shovelled back into my face. 

What else does chilly weather bring?  Why great bargoons on summer clothing of course!

Witness these four pair of shorts, recently purchased at Old Navy for less than $2 each.

 I won't be able to wear them for another 6 months.  So I packed them away until spring.  Before I packed them away, I put together a thrifty outfit.  

The pink lacy sweater was about $4 at a 50% off sale.  The shorts were about $2.  The moccasins were $3.  This thrifty outfit costs less than $10!!!

I know that when warmer weather rolls around, I'll be dying to bare my legs.  There is nothing sweeter than feeling a breeze against legs that have been encased in thermal tights all winter.

Behold my next thrifty outfit. 

Lace dress, NWT (thrifted for about $5)

American Eagle cowboy shirt (thrifted for about $4)

Long Liz Claiborne cardi (thrifted for about $5)

Leather ankle boots (thrifted for about $6)

Blue beaded necklace (clearance for $5)

This outfit comes to $25.  Because of our capricious spring weather, long warm layers such as this cardigan, as still necessary.

Stay warm everyone!!

happy thrifting.

Up a hot fudge sundae

I recently toyed with the thrift gods and lost.

Here is my story, gentle reader.

Yesterday after work I popped by Value Village.  This is the same Value Village where I had previously found my fabulous Pendleton hobo bag for a mere $15 plus taxes.  As I scanned the racks of purses, my eye fell on a beige beauty, tucked in amongst other purses.  I caught my breath as I saw the beaver logo.  Could it be?  It was!!  A genuine suede Roots handbag with a cute tassel trim.  It was priced at $12.99.  I checked this bag inside and out and it was in immaculate, new condition.  

I took the bag to the cash register, where I saw the sign.  Tomorrow there was going to be a sale, everything would be 25% off.  I wrestled with myself internally.  Should I purchase the bag now?  I could gamble that it would be there tomorrow and save a few dollars.  I'm on a pretty tight budget, and a few dollars goes a loooong way.  So I decided to put the bag back.

This is what happened the next day.

I woke up to find a big dumping of snow.  I was late getting to work, so I didn't have time to park for free and walk 1/4 mile to work.  So I had to park in the parkade next to my work.  Parking is $4.25 (down $4.25).

Then I got to work, and started a usual, long grueling day of answering IT requests and fixing problems.

During the day, I mentally pictured my gorgeous handbag...would it still be there?

At the end of the day, I discovered that parking was free that day!!  Yay (up $4.25).

I zoomed off to Value Village and made a beeline to the purses.  I eyed up other shoppers near the purse area  to make sure they casually didn't spot my suede beauty.  Breathlessly I got to the purses and scanned the racks quickly. Sadly, my purse was gone.  Oh well, at least I didn't spend the money (up $10).

Then I went home.  I was famished and I was looking forward to the Montreal style, smoked meat sandwich I was going to have.  I had prepared the sandwich meat in advance, so all I had to do was pop it into the microwave, and then into my mouth.  When I got home, I discovered scraps of plastic on the ground, and my dog with this expression on her face.

Sugar, the wonderdog.

Turns out I had left the smoked meat on the counter in a baggie, and Sugar helped herself.  I'm sure she hesitated before devouring my dinner.  I'd like to think that she is a dog with high moral standards. Wow, am I delusional or what???  (Down a dinner)

I prepared myself to eat a bowl of canned soup, or go out and buy a fast food meal so that I'd have the energy to shovel the piles of snow in my driveway.

Hungry, and somewhat grumpy, I texted my boyfriend.  I told him what Sugar had done. He instantly replied inviting me over for dinner.  He had made a delicious crockpot roast and had more than enough leftovers after his brood ate dinner.

I went to his house and chowed down on dinner.  I also took a doggie bag home for the nefarious Sugar (up a dinner).

After my darling boyfriend came over and snowblowed the driveway (and showed me how to use the contraption).  He had to speed off to look after his brood.  I decided to treat myself to a hot fudge sundae at McD's (up a sundae).

And so gentle readers, this is what happens when you dance the dance of waiting for sales at the thrift stores.  Sometimes you win, and come home with a ridiculously inexpensive, quality item.  Sometimes you come home to a guilty dog.  Sometimes you end up with ice cream.

It's all good (dog).

happy thrifting.