Back to School for Girls!

It’s been a very long time since I’ve been shopping for school clothes and supplies.  Back in my early school days, I had mostly second-hand, hand-made and hand-me-down items.  Back then I found it to be a little off-putting and wanted all new clothes.  Today, of course I’m all about getting good clothes at an enormously reduced price.

School supplies are costly enough, but add in new clothes, and you’re putting a big dent in your pocket.  As a parent, you want the best for your kid, and as a kid you just want the coolest clothes. It’s a part of the social environment to have your own style, but you want to wear what’s popular too.

Well, my trusty mother and I struck out to see if we could find trendy outfits at Goodwill.  Of COURSE we were successful.  Mom is actually way more aware of what is popular in today’s younger generation than I am!  So we put together a few outfits for various ages, and fitting trends.

First, you can always use a dress in your wardrobe.  Turquoise and brown have been a famous color set for a while, and this simple, sweet dress with a little glitter is great for school. Price: $2.99: Angela Frost.

This $5.00 outfit is simple, yet colorful and sweet.  Pink and black are another trendy coupling that doesn’t seem to be losing its flair.  Great for fall.

Leggings under a skirt is all the trend (I used to wear that back in the 80’s!).  Jean skirts, cammo shirt, and you are looking snappy!  This outfit is a mere: $7.00 and can be worn so many other ways.  And, if camouflage or jean skirts go out of style, it’s not a major loss.

A timeless classic, the knit top and jeans (yes, I’m noticing these drop pockets in jeans making a comeback), with a little flair and simple vest, this is an every-day more classic look.  Price?  Chump change: $8.00.

I always save my favorite outfit for last, and this is no exception. A little clash in color actually creates a very stylish look.  Turquoise skirt, with a striped t-shirt with a wide neckline and a teal cable knit sweater is what I’d wear on picture day!  And at $7.00, it’s a steal!

$35.00 for 5 outfits is such a great price!  Even way back in the 80’s, I was paying $35.00 just for a pair of jeans or shoes!

- April

Good day at the Goodwill 50% off sale

Bragging rights!  I brag when I can about my fantastic finds.  Today is going to summarize my superb additions to my wardrobe from my great shopping trip at the half off Goodwill sale!

1.  Ralph Lauren wayfarer like sunglasses.  $3, normally go for at least $100. I LOVE this type of sunglasses.  I really didn’t think Polo sunglasses went for that much!

2.  Guess knit long sleeve shirt  off white and soft and just a few sparkles.  I got it for $2.50, and I know it would normally go for at least $30.

3.  Enzo Angiolini Slides, normally over $50. I got them for $3!  I love Enzo’s shoes, and he definitely has fashion and comfort in mind with this lovely pair.

4.  True Religion jeans, normally at least $120 – I got ‘em for $2.50. The  zipper needs to be fixed, but that’s not hard. I’m not even sure they’ve ever been worn. (I need to get to the tailor NOW!!)

5.  Coach Slide sandals, so comfy and cute in black! These normally go for over $90. Only $10 for me.

6.  Cuoieria Fiorentina Italian Leather purse. This brand is extremely popular in Italy, but we here in the USA are not very aware of the label. Normally this might go for over $100 USD, and I got it for $5.00.  I love the fact that I now own an obscure purse from Italy.  Brand new, I could smell the leather on it!  Mmmmm…nothing like the smell of leather couture for a low price…

Yard Sale purchase wins: (I had to hit a few, and one was a block wide sale, which is where I scored even further!)

1.   Black House White Market faux fur/suede off white coat.  LOVELY!!  Feels wonderful on.  Normally over $120, they were asking $20, I offered and got it for $5.00,  I feel rich and luxurious in it.  And fall is just around the corner….cough, cough!  Not here yet though!

2.  Broncos T-shirt, I’m not much of a sports freak, but I do want to sport supportive clothing when I attend a game.  This was pretty interesting, because I was purchasing it from an ex-Broncos Cheerleader!  She had never worn it because she had so much other Broncos paraphernalia. So I now have an original Tee that was made for a Broncos Cheerleader! Cute!

What I purchased this weekend would have cost me over $520 if I had bought everything brand new.  Instead, I spent a whopping $32!  What a savings, and I’m so in love with what I purchased, I can’t wait to go out and sport my new garb!  See why I’m bragging?  I know, you’re jealous!

Ready, Set, SPARKLE!

My mother, bless her soul, has provided me with an inspiring quote when I’m feeling down or am doing something I’m nervous about.  She says: “go out there and sparkle!”  It’s a good reminder for us to remember the beauty that resides within each and every one of us.  We all have fabulous virtues that we should take the time to appreciate.  With that said, I want to take a good look at sparkling!

Sparkles have weaved their way into regular, everyday clothing. Ed Hardy had a lot to do with that, I think.  Thanks to him, embellishing t-shirts is more the norm than the exception (at least in Vegas)

There are quite a few different ways to bring sparkle into your wardrobe and express your personality. Sparkles, however, don’t have lasting power.  They tend to fall off clothing after use, so you either have to be extremely careful (not me) or be prepared to only have so many uses before you say good-bye.  I never buy clothes that have sparkle to them new, I thrift for these little gems and I can easily say hello and goodbye without ruminating over the price I paid for something fleeting and fancy.

I fell in LOVE with this Harley shirt and it is already losing some of its gems, but that is because I wear it all the time! I could live in this stylish yet classic knit jersey.  Perfect for Colorado.

In addition, this t-shirt for $1.50 is going to get plenty of use, and will rival the Ed Hardy “protect the forest” shirt I’ve been living in.

Green Apple is my favorite color of the season.  I have loved turquoise for a while, but this green has been all over the place and I’m in love with it.  This sweater has rhinestone buttons and delicate iridescent beads and pearls sewn into it.  It can dress up any outfit and it is soft and luxurious.  Beads are already starting to come off, but that’s okay.  I accept it, I am a destroyer of beading, sparkles and rhinestones.

I also found some fun going-out shirts that I haven’t yet had the pleasure of wearing and destroying. They are both going to Greece with me as that is the place to sparkle!

And I usually don’t love pink, so this is a little daring for me, but I still thought it was cute.  I will have to find the perfect time for it.