Thrifty Thursday: Buffalo Exchange

Who remembers the difference between thrift and consignment? 

...

That's right! Thrift stores feature donated goods in all manner of conditions, while consignment stores take only gently-used items, and they generally pay the donors. Consignment stores are usually more expensive, but because everything there is in good condition, it can be worth the upcharge. Can be. 

I used to frequent Plato's Closet, but their selection doesn't move me anymore. The clothes are too preppy and label-slavey for my tastes (though it's a great place to get jeans). For years, my favorite consignment shop was the branch of Psycho Sisters on Killian Hill, but it closed when I was in college. Their Little Five location is cool, but the clothes are more outlandish and very expensive. Little Five also features a Rag-O-Rama, which is always worth a visit, but legend has it that they are not great neighbors. Last year, Little Five got a new option: Buffalo Exchange.

Not all rompers are created equal.

This one was ADORABLE, and I really regret not buying it. WHAT WAS I THINKING?

I'm a star.

And you love me.

Starship Trooper Crawley, reporting for duty.

This dress is so sweet, but I need another vintage circle-skirted dress
like I need a massive stroke.

Thrifty Thursday: Vintage Sizing isn't Always Accurate

First of all, have you seen BuzzFeed's list of 24 Cats That Are So Single Right Now?

That little guy made me burst into tears. Man, I want a cat so bad. You know, I've never had a pet? Not one that didn't like in a fishbowl. There were some goldfish, and some snails, but that's it.

It's time to move on, though - it's Thrifty Thursday, not Kitty Thursday. 

Remember when I told you that vintage and modern sizing are not the same? In case you didn't believe me, here's proof.

As you can see, this dress is labeled a 10.

But it don't wear like one!

You can't really tell from the pictures, but it was about a size too big. Still, though, not a 10. This one had the same marked size:

It's ugly, but it fits!

See ladies? Size isn't everything.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!

Thrifty Thursday: Thrifty Disasters - Dresses

It's time to show off some recent Thrifty Disasters. This time, the theme is Dresses.

The seam straight down the front made me LOL.

First up, this little number, which seemed to be made from parachute material. I actually really liked the skirt's construction, but it felt like a trash bag against my skin. The sleeves are just magnificent - they're made from a totally different fabric, and are a clashing shade of red.

The really amazing thing about this dress is how stretchy the material was. Think spandex. 

See how crooked those buttons are? Not good.

I wanted this one to work so badly, but it was a nightmare. The seams were crooked, the lining rode-up, and the velvet was itchy. Believe it or not, it's from BCBG.

Adorable, right?

Wrong.

Written commentary is irrelevant; my face says it all.

Sassy little Mod number.

I very nearly took this one home. But it was made of WOOL, and after about 30 seconds I thought I might pass out. Fabrics are tres important.

The next one shall henceforth be known as The One That Got Away:

What a tease.

UUGH, just look at it, hanging there, taunting me! My heart skipped a beat when I saw it. The lace! The slightly ruched sleeves! The delicate lining! But when I tried to put it on, I couldn't even get it over my shoulders. Curse you, fabric with no stretch! If this were a cotton blend from Target, it would have fit like a dream. Sadly, not all dresses were meant to be. Hopefully, some seven year-old found this and wears it to church.

Umm...

Now I resemble said seven year-old. I considered - for a half-second - getting it so I'd have something to wear when working on messy crafts, but then I was like, "HOW TWEE," so I didn't.

Voila! Fashion disasters can happen to anyone - nothing to be ashamed of. Just make sure you snap some pictures when you're the victim so you can laugh at yourself later.

Fashionable Friday: Opening Night

Remember when I went to Clothing Warehouse? And I kept one of my finds a secret? Well, it's time for the big reveal. 

Drumroll, please...

Wild-eyed and windblown.

I put this on and I could not stop smiling. It's horrible - hideous, nearly - but for some reason I just love it. And it made it's first outing last week at the opening night party for Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. 

I got the best comments about it. Overall, the girls and gay guys loved it, and the straight men were appalled. In my book, that's a Royal Flush. 

Here are some pics from the party:

Rachel and Andrew Jackson

As a nefarious friend pinched my backside

With one of my wonderful sisters from "Taffeta Christmas"

With my actual sister - and a special guest artist

The dress underwent a mild alteration before it hit the party - I cut off the bottom ruffle. I need to hem the fabric (it's already fraying like crazy) but I like the new length. It's less "I just fell off the turnip truck," and more...no, it's still pretty ridiculous. 

I won't lie, I was ever so slightly nervous to wear it. It's not exactly fashionable. But that doesn't actually matter.  The only thing that does is how great I feel when I have that silly thing on. 

The best compliment I can ever get (besides a friend telling me that I remind him of Amy Poehler) is "You really make that work." It's usually followed by a demure, "I could never pull that off..." but I promise you, you can. 

"Pulling it Off" has nothing to do with curly hair, or height, or weight. It's all about attitude. If you feel kick-ass in it, then you will pull it off. End of story. So forget everything you know about "dressing for your body shape," and swear to me that you will never worry about trends again. Promise that from now on, you will wear whatever you feel GREAT it - whether that's bandage dresses, or burlap sacks. I can't tell you how happy I was when I wore that dress - even though several people told me it was hideous. Style is 100% subjective, and yours is the only opinion that counts.

I had about eight more paragraphs typed about personal style, but I'll spare you that rant. For now.

Fashionable Friday: The Wearhouse

I love clothes. I really do. And there's this stigma against fashion as frivolous pursuit - which it might be - but I really don't care. For me, and for a lot of other people, getting dressed in the morning isn't just about being Not Naked. The clothes I don set my mood for the day - when I'm wearing something great, I feel invincible  So you can try to dismiss personal style, and you can roll your eyes and say that Smart Girls Don't Care About The Way They Look, but I will respectfully disagree. This Smart Girl cares, and she's proud to say so. That's why Fridays around here are Fashionable - this clothes horse wants to share her passion for dress-up.

Yesterday, I tried a LOT of different looks. As I mentioned, my roomie and I went to Little 5 Points and hit up one of the vintage stores, The Clothing Warehouse. While I'm a big thrifter, I usually avoid "vintage" stores. And while I found some good stuff yesterday, I'll have to stick to that policy in the future. 

Their Dress Shop, in all its glory.

In case you're not familiar with how used clothing is usually marketed, there are three kinds of stores where you can find pre-owned clothing: Thrift, Consignment, and Vintage. Thrift stores (like Salvation Army and Goodwill) feature clothing of all styles and levels of use; you can find things that are threadbare, alongside items that still have the tags. Consignment shops (Plato's Closet or Rag-o-Rama) have gently-used clothes, but the price is a little higher. Since these items are handpicked for their trendiness and good condition, there's a markup. Vintage stores (like Clothing Warehouse) are generally the most expensive. Vintage stores feature clothing that is at least 20 years old, and the items are generally priced regardless of wear or damage. This...can be problematic. I often find that the clothing at vintage stores isn't in much better shape than the stuff I find at thrift stores, but the prices are MUCH higher. For comparison, every dress at every Goodwill is $5.95; most of the items at Clothing Warehouse are around $40. But the great thing about a vintage store is that you won't have to wade through racks of mumus, nightgowns, and High School Musical footie pajamas. 

Though, why would you want to avoid this madness?

I am a cheapskate, so normally I can't convince myself that Vintage stores are worth the premium, but Clothing Warehouse is running a sale that lets you get 2-for-1 dresses. When I heard that, my little ears perked-up. Before I knew what was happening, Roomie and I were screaming toward Moreland. 

First, I tried some potential Gatsby Dresses:

In response to this picture, my friend Jeremy said, "If you wore that dress, I'd be so upset that you had a boyfriend."

Not a sheath.

So cute! But also not a sheath. And a LOT of sequins were missing.

20s style, 80s execution

Roomie is an excellent photographer.

And then, it was time to play:

Believe it or not, this is from Saks Fifth Avenue

Just...just the best.

Mmmmm...

Closer...

This is cute, but I've never been a fan of 80s wear, so it's a pass

Now THIS is what I'm talking about!

Playing with the hemline

Okay...

Amazing!

In all, I walked away with three dresses - the third will be revealed another day. 

The pain to my wallet was decreased by the sale, and one of the dresses was damaged, so I got it for half-price. Still, I paid $60 for my troubles. I was happy with all of my choices, but I just can't shake the feeling that I would have paid a LOT less at Salvation Army. I like Clothing Warehouse, but this Poor Kid will have to avoid shopping there until another sale arrives.

One last thing: TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY! For most people, the holidays officially ended four days ago - but not for me!