Thrifty Thursdays: Buying Lingerie Secondhand

Let's talk about lingerie. Thrifted lingerie (also swimsuits).

You're probably freaking-out right now; you're probably having a panic attack. Well take a deep breath and half a Xanex, because this post is HAPPENING.

I'll admit it: I buy lingerie at thrift stores. Definitely more than I buy it from Victoria's Secret. I don't really go in for the padded bras you find at, say, Frederick's of Hollywood. I much prefer unlined pieces - I think they're more flattering to my figure. But good luck finding totally unlined bras in the wild - they're pretty rare these days.

But that's not the the elephant in the room - that would be you, tearing your hair and screaming, "BUT THE GEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRMMMMSSSSSSS!!"

This is what you look like.

http://theanimals.pics/elephant-baby-pictures/22/picture-mother-baby-elephant-5-mother-and-baby-elephants/
Ahhh, see, you're afraid of catching an STD. Good news - when bacteria is exposed to the air for longer then 24 hours, it dies. Just like you can't get chlamydia from a toilet seat, you also can't get it from a night gown. And consider this: if you've ever tried-on a bra or teddy at Victoria's Secret, you can be nearly guaranteed that someone else has tried it on, too - making it "used." Also remember that you can always remove the little liner inside any bottoms - particularly in swimsuits. But if you're still really, really worried about other-people's-germs, Oxy Clean or vinegar will do the trick. Add a cup of either to your laundry and when your clothes are done spinning, they will be clean and happy.

Plus, guys, you should wash everything you get from a thrift store as soon as you bring it home. ALWAYS. Don't you dare buy something secondhand and then wear it without washing it - I don't care where on the body it belongs. Not because you'll get the AIDS, but because you might get a cold. Cold viruses can live on hard surfaces and fabrics for up to a week. Wash your clothes. Wash everything. MOSTLY YOUR HANDS.

Okay, let's go back to the lacy bits.

If you feel like you can't afford cute lingerie, I'm here to tell you that you're probably wrong. Even if you have a five-dollar lingerie budget, you can buy something like this.

After a little Google searching, I dated this nightgown to 1974. And I think it's just as lovely and romantic today as it was when it was first created. I adore the diamond waistband, and the delicate embroidered flowers along the neckline. It's pretty, simple, and it cost four dollars.

During my Day Camp weeks this summer, I needed a bunch of swimsuit options, and I found two at Goodwill for three dollars each. They fit well, flatter my body, and didn't cost eighty buck like the (admittedly amazing) ones from ModCloth.


And I get it - most of you are still probably squicked-out by used neglige. That's okay - we all have our limits. But I hope, if nothing else, that you're not afraid that you can catch an STD from a used teddy. Misinformation leads to stigmatization, and no one who has (or once had) an STD needs to be looked down-on. Don't be afraid of the things you needn't fear - be afraid of the truly dangerous stuff.

Like this psycho killer

Thrifty Thursday: Vintage Disasters

Sometimes, I find amazing, adorable vintage dresses at thrift stores.

Sometimes this happens:

A beautiful, summery pastel dress. That wouldn't zip and made me look like a vampire.

Yes, that IS my bellybutton.

Fashionable Friday: What to Wear When You Meet Matthew Morrison

Brian, this one's for you.

Tomorrow night, I'm performing at the Human Rights Campaign Gala. Myself and a few other cast members from Hair are singing a medley just before dinner service begins. Matthew Morrison is the keynote speaker - that means he'll be in the audience, watching me belt G's. 

I don't know what to wear!

It has to be a formal, black dress. I have too many options! Which one should I choose?

(NOTE: I was not wearing make-up when these photos were taken, so I've covered my face.)

I adore this dress. I bought it in high school from the late, great Psycho Sisters. There's still a PS in Little Five Point, but back then there was also one in Lilburn near my parents' house. My mom and I used to go there about once a month, and we'd get lost in racks and racks of vintage clothing. The only problem is that this dress isn't fully black - it's hard to tell in the photos, but there's quite a bit of burgundy in the lace. Since we need to wear all black, I don't think this really fits the bill. 

This one is black and sparkly, but it makes me feel like a sack of potatoes. People tell me that it's cute, but I have a hard time believing them. I don't want to feel self-conscious when I'm licking Matt Morrison's face. 

Well, this ain't a sack, I'll tell you that. Unfortunately, I think it's also too silvery. 

This one is probably my favorite. It's definitely all-black, it fits well, and it has a cutout (in a strategic location). 

It's a black-tie event! This wouldn't be out of place!

What do you think? I need votes!

Thrifty Thursday: Katy K's Ranch Dressing

The first thing I saw when I stepped into Katy K's Ranch Dressing was a big ol' black dog. I didn't notice what breed it was (I was trying not to have a panic attack), but my Very Excellent Boyfriend fell over himself trying to pet the puppy. I'm afraid of big dogs, so I hustled into the hallway, but Very Excellent assures me he was a sweetie, and doesn't like to eat curly-haired bloggers.

While the boys got to know each other, I moved from room to room looking at clothes - both vintage and new. I saw dresses by Stop Staring! and Bettie Page, two of my favorite ModCloth brands.

Speaking of Bettie Page, I just do not understand what all the fuss is about. Seriously.

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.

Thrifty Thursday: Saddle Up!

I read enough vintage stories as a kid to desperately want a pair of saddle shoes. It had something to do with nostalgia, and something else to do with being a strange child. I had a few fantastic Mary Janes, but never got the saddles I wanted.

Until now.

Gotta get some white shoe polish

They're sixes, and I wear fives, but I don't care! Add a heel insole, and they fit like a charm.

I also found a pair of tap shoes - for $3!

Children's tap shoes.  

My friend Anna started teaching a tap class this week. It was so nice to dance again, and she's a really good teacher. But my taps are character shoes - a.k.a., heels. I was losing my balance like crazy. It'll be a little silly to wear a pair of kids' shoes, but it'll be better than falling over all the time.

You know what they need, though? Laces.

Intentionally youthful shoes

Now, they say, "Look! I'm Shirley Temple! I am wearing kids' shoes on purpose!"

Sometimes, the best way to fight an undesirable trait is to embrace it. 

The saddle shoes got a makeover, too. 

I like the maroon ribbon, but it doesn't feel quite right. I want to experiment with some other styles - maybe something blue?

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!