Hey, New York Times, Welcome to the Party

Read the dazzling news flash here.

Born again!

It has turned cold and wet in Southern California, which I love because it's a whole different season, like they have in normal places.

The cooler weather always makes my boots and other winter clothes happy because they can finally be useful. This outfit happened because I found these BRAND NEW Born boots in exactly my size for $15 ($10 with the discount from my fave thrift store checker at Out of the Closet, who also offered to father a child for me). The stripey shirt also came from there for about $3, the Max Mara jacket from the lovely Libby at a clothing swap, and the scarf was a gift from Kathlyn from when she spent some time in Abu Dhabi. I made the necklaces.

In fact, the only thing that was not given to me or thrift scored in this outfit are the jeggings, which I have come to depend on heavily in lieu of tights or bare legs or jeans. I know I will look back in agony in a few years when I see pictures of myself in them, but for now, jeggings are the ultimate platform upon which to build a wardrobe. Skirt too short? Jeggings. Sweater too long and baggy? Jeggings. Thanksgiving got you all bloaty ... you guessed it.

But I digress. But do go get yourself some jeggings. These are from Hue, the tights manufacturer, and cost about $25.

A Sustainable Wedding

I must admit, my darling reader(s), that I was in abject horror when I saw that the last time I posted on this blog was so very long ago. There was a ton of wedding planning happening, but I am very happy to report that we did quite a bit of ThriftScoring for our nuptials!

 Here are some things we did to reduce our footprint:

 1. A few weeks before the wedding, Holly and I hit the local Goodwill and bought China, as you saw in the last post. Really nice cake and dinner plates, all a little different but certainly not clashing. The came in around the same price as they would have been to rent them, but now she'll have them on hand for future events.

2. We created a website with ride-share information on it. As a destination wedding, there were a lot of folks who would be arriving and leaving around the same time, so we encouraged people to carpool. It worked! We also hired a shuttle to bring folks to and from the winery from the two main places people stayed in the town of Forest Grove. This had the added benefit of allowing people to celebrate a tiny bit more than they might have if they were driving.

3. We worked really closely with the caterer to ensure we served local, in-season food, including grass-fed beef and wild salmon. And plenty of veggie options, like the mushroom risotto. All the leftovers were boxed up and eaten the next couple days, or given to local guests. Of course, the wine was from the very grounds where we were. Likewise, flowers were from the farmers' market and a roadside sunflower stand.


4. For favors, we didn't want people to end up with junk they didn't care about. So we found a local jam-maker and bought tiny jars for each bag. We also included a wine glass with our wedding logo on it, and a packet of natural Immuni-C (which is like Airborne) -- things they could use immediately or after.

5. As for the dress: I looked on Craigslist, but between Little House on the Prairie and '80s poofy satin numbers, I didn't find anything. I scoured all my regular thrift stores. Finally, I found a wedding dress at a small outlet shop. It was incredibly inexpensive ($300) for such a gorgeous, well-constructed tiered-taffeta number that needed little alteration. The dark side is that it was custom made in Viet Nam for surely a pittance. The sustainable solution? I am wearing my gorgeous dress for every formal occasion here on out until it falls off in shreds, or I hand it over to a step-daughter or daughter.

The dress for the rehearsal dinner I scored for $6 at the Goodwill the day before. Paired with a pair of Tony Lama boots ($3.49 from Salvation Army five years ago), I was dressed perfectly to boss people around on a farm!

Home Plates

I see where I get this now. Not only is my mother, Colleen, a champion ThriftScorer, but my bonus/step mother Holly is too. How could I ever escape this fate?

We are getting married in August at Holly's winery and vineyard. And, in the spirit of being as sustainable and practical as possible, we added to her collection of beautiful restaurant/caterer plates to serve 100. If we'd rented them, they'd cost about 55 cents each. Which is about how much we bought them for. So now she can just keep them there and use them as she needs. I don't ever recall going to an event and noticing if the plates exactly matched ... The other great thing about ThriftScoring plates is that you can bring food over to people's homes and let them keep the plate as a gift.

21 Things You Should Never Buy New

 See #10 on the list

Loving this article in Yahoo Finance today, great info on WHY these particular items are better when you ThriftScore them!

I will add another:

#22. Jeans! Too insane to pay $200 when you could go to Crossroads and pay $20 for a very high-end pair.

Go It Alone!

Check out these handy tips from Earth Divas' blog on ThriftScoring, and I heartily agree with the one that advocates to go alone. You don't want someone suggesting ridiculous things for you, or to make you feel guilty for rifling through every last hankie just in case you find the perfect one.

Surprising Find

My "bonus mother" Holly is a champion ThriftScorer. She has this stuffed rabbit named Ginger, and when she went to buy her clothes from the local Cornelius, Ore. Goodwill, she found something in the $3 bag of baby clothes: A diamond ring.

Nice ThriftScore, Holly!

Pretty and Easy Chair Revamp

See what Blue Cricket Design did with a ThriftScore chair!

Hot Junk

My great friend Natalie works for Coldwell Banker, which has a lovely charity. Her office held its annual auction not long ago. Sadly, for the charity, it wasn't too well attended, but happily for me I snagged a bunch of great deals.

One table had offerings of jewelry collections -- you could bid on groupings of seven or eight pieces. It wasn't fine jewelry, and some of the pieces I just sent straight back to Goodwill. But a few pieces I loved -- and won for my solo $10 bid -- like this Indian silver necklace. There was also a gold bracelet with tiny turquoise beads.

Love this ThriftScore!

NYT Crowdsources ThriftScoring

Amanda turned me on to this NYT crowdsourcing feature on ThriftScoring! Great idea. And hey, don't forget to send me your thrift scores for this blog!

Thanks, A!

Vintage Finds From Around the World

A recent article, Prospecting in Manhattan’s Richest Vintage Veins by Sarah Maslin Nir, and a related slide show featured some of the best vintage and thrift stores in New York City, and what could be found there. Readers uploaded photos of their favorite vintage clothing and accessories, shared why they love these items so much and what they paid for them. >>> READ MORE

Celebration Benefits Free Clinic & Thrift Store

Wow. Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. Very waylaid what with planning a wedding and tons of work. But here's something you should know about.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATES FAMED EAST SIDE FREE CLINIC WITH 
“SILVER LAKE STRIP ON SUNSET” THIS WEEKEND

Reopening of Beloved Thrift Store, Margaritas, Bingo and More Mark
Neighborhood Festival to Honor, Support Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic

Businesses on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake will join forces with residents from across the city for Silver Lake Strip on Sunset, a weekend of celebration and community pride today through May 2. The three-day confab is designed to raise funds and awareness for the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic and its newly refurbished HSFC Thrift Store (aka Berda Paradise, located at 3506 W Sunset Blvd.).

Among the festivities planned along the “Sunset Corridor” (between Edgecliff Dr. and Silver Lake Blvd.) in commemoration of the HSFC Thrift Store’s reopening are a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the resale shop (4/30, 11:30am); a “Feel Good to Give” open house at Body Bar Spa (4/30, 6pm); a party and social at Tarasco’s Mexican Restaurant (4/30, 7pm); the launch of lifestyle store Mercado’s “designer market” annex (5/1, 12pm), which will spotlight 10-12 new apparel and jewelry designers each season and will donate a portion of its proceeds to worthy causes (starting with the HSFC); a bingo party at furniture boutique Living Room (5/1, 7pm); a closing-night party at Where: Meet Mix Mogul (5/2, 5pm); and assorted donation drives, raffles and other initiatives at boulevard businesses, some of which will offer discounts to customers who donate to the clinic.

In addition to raising money for the clinic directly, Silver Lake Strip organizers hope to elicit donations of clothing and other used goods for resale at the HSFC.  More information is available at hsfreeclinic.org/silverlakestripevent.htm. Parking will be available on Saturday and Sunday at Micheltorena Elementary for a $2 donation.

Established in 1968, the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic, located at 3324 W. Sunset Blvd., is a nonprofit provider of health services to low-income, homeless and otherwise economically vulnerable residents of Silver Lake, Echo Park, East Hollywood and neighboring Los Angeles communities. Patients need not have health insurance to receive treatment; HSFC clocked some 85,000 patient visits in 2009. But the Clinic has been hit hard by budget cuts, with 65% of its California State Program funds slashed, and is currently struggling to survive – prompting local merchants to organize the Silver Lake Strip extravaganza.

“Long before the media frenzy about health care, our community had an institution that put human needs ahead of corporate medicine,” said Living Room proprietor Steve Melendrez, an organizer of the event.  “We’re proud to salute the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic as a model of compassionate care in the heart of Silver Lake – and we invite all of our friends, families, neighbors and customers to join us for a big block party in its honor.”

Businesses participating in Silver Lake Strip on Sunset include Abaya Alterations; Alegria On Sunset; Bittersweet Butterfly; Body Bar Spa; Casa Victoria; Dusty's; Danish Modern L.A.; ERGE; Everitt Interiors; Franky’s; Funkie Town; Gogosha Optique; The Hive; Isaac’s Orchids; Lacuna Presents; Lark Bakery;  Living Room; Madame Matisse; Maintain Skateboards; Mas Boutique; Mercado; Mesh & Lace; Millie's; Stark Waxing; Sumi’s; Tarasco's; Where: Meet Mix Mogul.

Dressing from the Ground Up

More often than not, I build an outfit around my shoes. In this case, a pair of Stuart Weitzman spectator-style pumps I scored at a yard sale.

Paired with a Guess skirt I got from Mia at a clothing swap and a shirt from Santee Alley, I felt good to go for hardly any dough.

Fun at the Office

 

I ThriftScored this dress, a little silk number from Built by Wendy (retails around $200) for $8. But my favorite part of this outfit is the retro black nylon slip with the fringe at the bottom that I found for $1. Paired with my gold and black Timberlands, I feel very Moulin Rouge.

I will be Japan through March 10, I'll post if I find any good ThriftScores there. Sayonara!

When in Vancouver ...

"During a lull on a train from Amsterdam to Paris, it hit me. A group of Canadian backpackers was chatting with the Belgian conductor, and inevitably the subject of Canada's southern neighbor arose.

The predictable sighs about American foreign policy were balanced by compliments about Americans' general good-heartedness -- until one of the Canadians offered a scalding criticism of American tourists' wardrobes.

'Oh, please,' I thought. 'As if Winnipeg's such a fashion capital.'

Then I looked down. He was right: my outfit was baggy (jeans), backward (hat) and blousy (shirt). I was a sartorial simp."

>>> READ MORE @ Vancouver's secondhand stores: a real treasure trove - chicagotribune.com

Designer ThriftScores

Los Angeles is lucky enough to have many Council Thrift Stores in and around its environs. My friend Erica and her teenage daughter make regular pilgrimages to the Westside to score there.

If it's important to you to shop for labels, this is one way to do it -- cheap. The goods have been vetted by shrewd volunteers and put away for the Best of the Best sales, which happen periodically through the year.

Best of all, your designer duds help those who really need it. Here's the mission: "Because of your generosity to Council Thrift Shops, NCJW/LA is able to give away more than 30,000 items to 2,000 needy individuals each year through the 20 social services agencies that partner with us at the NCJW/LA Annual Clothing Giveaway. NCJW/LA provides these same agencies, as well as its own clients, with free clothing vouchers that can be used by individuals who may be returning to the workforce or who need back-to-school clothing for their children."

Hunt and pounce

I saw this shirt, which is from a designer named Donna Lou, a few weeks ago at my local Out of the Closet. But it was pretty pricey at $8.25. I held onto it longingly, and then let it go.

Last week, it was 30 percent off ... still a little more than I wanted to spend. But Sunday, it was half off, and I pounced. I knew it wouldn't make it to the $1 rack next week.

Paying the extra $2 isn't that much in the scheme of things, especially because I really like this shirt and would have even paid double digits if it were new.

But sometimes, just sometimes, it's about hunt.

ThriftScore: Skirt!

This particular ThriftScore was a milestone for me. The purple H&M skirt cost $1 at my local Out of the Closet. Upon getting it home, I realized it was a size or two too big, and not quite flattering (if you consider wearing big purple barrels unflattering, as I do). It sat in my closet, and occasionally came out, only to be returned moments later after a look in the mirror.

For Christmas I got a sewing machine, and made a stab at taking in the sides of the skirt. I know I didn't do it exactly the right way -- it's a little clumsy if you look closely -- but I did manage after a few passes to get the line right.

One of my normal rules for ThriftScoring is not to buy anything you have to do anything to -- after all, what's your time worth on a $3.99 pair of pants or whatever? But in this case it was a way to practice my sewing, and also to turn something I would end up returning to the cycle into one of my favorite pieces of clothing.

Karma Points

 

Several years ago I lived with a man, who, at one time, was a great adventurer. He was a fierce martial artist and had lived a year in Antarctica. He'd made it a habit to climb sheer mountains, and spent summers as a fire watch in a solo cabin in the mountains. I'd somehow fallen in love with the man he used to be, and didn't recognize the one who was spending more and more time on the couch. When I'd get home from work, the TV was on featuring one judge or another. At night, he'd fall asleep in his clothes on the couch, while the ads for Cham-Wow and ambulance-chasing lawyers and Hits of the '70s compilations went unobserved.

I finally said one too many snotty comments about the TV, and right there, with the neighbors over, he unplugged it and put it on the curb.

A tentative peace returned to the kingdom, but of course, that peace would not stave off the inevitable implosion of the relationship. He left, and I lived in my home alone, happily catching my two favorite shows, The Office and 30 Rock, on my computer.

Then a lovely guy at work learned I had no TV and he felt so sorry for me that he gave me one that had been in his spare room. The parrot had bitten through the cord, but nothing a little tape couldn't fix. I accepted this TV, and used it for many years. 

Then today, my current boyfriend brought his TV over. It is bigger and better and stronger than the last one. So the old TV went out onto the curb, and on Craigslist for free. Within a half hour, someone had taken it.

The EPA tells us are 27 million televisions, 205 million computer products, and 100 million cellphones thrown out every year. Only 16 percent of those are recycled.

It takes energy to recycle, and even that creates waste. When we can extend the life cycle of a device, especially if we give it away, we earn karma points not only for ourselves, but for the environment.

To date, I've never, ever bought a TV.

ThriftScore: Boots!

When I saw these boots in my local Out of the Closet, I thought there had been some kind of mistake. They were brand new, with the paper and cardboard still in them. They were my exact size. They have this beautiful gold embossed leather over the matte black leather, with three-inch stacked heels. And they're Timberlands, which retail at $120+.

ThriftScore = $9.

Even after I paid, I felt like I stole them.

Beyond Basic

If I saw this Benetton blazer in the retail shop, I would likely give it a look and then pass it by. But it was a $1 ThriftScore, and it fit perfectly, so I scooped it up. Imagine my delight to learn that the herringbone colors matched my Rocket Dog shoes EXACTLY!

Which brings me to this: ThriftScoring allows you to branch out and coordinate your wardrobe in ways you wouldn't normally think about. And the more stuff you have, the more you can match!

(Also pictured: Halogen jeans for $4 from The Blues estate store in Redlands.)

Soles for Souls

I am very, very American. I have a great job and lots of friends and tons of wardrobe choices every day. When I go ThriftScoring, it is mostly because I want to. It's fun and cheap and ecologically responsible. But I don't want to lose sight of those whose choices are limited. Like people who have suffered great disasters, in Haiti and after Hurricane Katrina. People who HAVE to take pre-worn goods.

There's a great organization called Soles for Souls that collects gently worn shoes and ships them to the people who are the most in need. Right now the focus is on Haiti.

So I ask that if there are any shoes you don't want, need, or have simply tired of, please consider donating them. It's easy to find a location near you.

Very Important Message About Jeans

 

I'd like to talk about a subject very important to many of us. Jeans. They are the little black dress of pants. 

Jeans are solace when you're facing another long workday. Top off with a blazer and step into a sexy demiboot, and you can walk into pretty much any office and not feel schlubby. 

My favorite jeans are a pair of Lucky's that my neighbor Amy passed to me. They always felt good and fit perfectly. They were so favored that a few months ago holes appeared in the thighs. I'd patch one and another would go.

So began the search for jeans. For months. I don't know if it's my long legs and thick waist, but I have had a devil of a time finding the next great pair. Sometimes I'd ThriftScore jeans that initially fit well, only to find that the magic stretch properties made them slink down my hips as the day went on, and I felt like myself in third grade, always hiking up my tights with the dirty knees.

This weekend I went to Redlands, a town way out in the middle of California's Inland Empire (why they call it "Empire" I will never know. I would like to meet this Emperor). I found a couple pair of jeans during a quick dart into a vintage shop called The Blues (the owner cherry picks estates and puts the hot stuff in this store, and the rest goes to Redlands Thrift). The pair in the photo is a flair-leg pair of Miss Me Jeans that retail for $98 at Nordstrom. They fit well, feel good, stay up, and rock that Hendrix vibe. ThriftScore: $6.

'Scuse me while I kiss the sky.

Low Risk - High Return

This brown skirt fit well but was just too dang short to wear to work. I'm learning to sew and had some leftover blue shantung silk from a DIY headboard project, so I just figured I'd tack it on to extend the skirt.

It was a low-risk move because although I'm a novice seamstress and had a high probability of completely bungling this, the brown skirt was only $1 at my local Out of the Closet. And I wasn't wearing it anyway.

I did have a little misalignment on where the seams meet, so I made a little flower from more of the silk and just pinned it on there. 

ThriftScoring is a great way to practice your skills, without worrying too much about wrecking something if it was super cheap.

Tah dah! Now let's just hope that it doesn't all unravel in the wash ...

Garage Sale Bonanza

 

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This weekend I went to a garage sale. I happened to mention to the very nice woman in charge, who happened to be my size, that when I have a garage sale, I let people fill up a bag for $5. Well she thought this was grand and let me do the same. Two of the items I ThriftScored were these two skirts, which I reorganized into two retro aprons.

The issue I have with garage sales is that you generally can't try clothes on, so you have to be pretty good about knowing what size you are in which brand. However, if you manage to score a ton of clothes super cheap, you can still repurpose them, or hand them over to a friend. Or, of course, your local charitable thrift store.

She also sold me a pair of nearly new Stuart Weitzmans for $2.