100% Thrifted Outfit Challenge

About a month and half ago, I had an idea. I wanted to challenge myself to wearing an outfit which included shoes, jewelry and clothes, that was 100% totally thrifted. 

Now granted, I normally wear at least one thing everyday that's thrifted, it's just in my blood. But I began to think that it's pretty rare that everything is completely thrifted. 

but then I totally forgot.

So here we are almost 2 months later, and I still haven't blogged about it.

I think it's about time!

Oh, and for any confusion:

(especially since my computer keeps telling me I'm spelling it wrong)

Thrifting

verb.

The act of making a purchase of an item or article of clothing from a thrift store.

It's pretty simple. Everything, and I mean everything down to the shoes on your feet and the earrings hanging on your ear, must come from a secondhand, thrift shop. 

(ok, not literally everything. Please don't thrift your underwear... I gotta draw the line somewhere)

Here is my first outfit:

(note: I took these photos two months ago, when the weather still felt spring-y, now it's just hot!)

Jacket: old navy-via Goodwill

skirt: Ann taylor- Goodwill.

okay, do I need to keep saying that? We all know where this outfit really came from ;)

shoes: orig. Kelly and Katie

necklace, tank, and clutch: origin unknown

So how do you think my first outfit turned out?

Please feel free to join me on this challenge! I can't wait!

I'll Meet You at the Train Station, Baby...

When I saw this dress hanging on the rack at my local goodwill, I daydreamed about who had wore it last.

Maybe a mother baking a cherry pie in her kitchen for her lovely children just home from school...

Maybe a Businesswoman walking into her office, with her heels clicking against the tile floor, ...

Maybe a young woman waiting at a train station for her lover...

Maybe all of that is a big stretch.

But I love it, nevertheless. 

Dress: Goodwill

Hat, Shoes, Clutch: Yard sales 

I love the vintage feel,

the polka dots, 

the buttons. 

It makes me feel happy. 

and I like being happy. 

Weekend Finds

This weekend I seriously scored big. I found so many great deals, that I just had to share with you!

First, I'll start with Goodwill, since it is my favorite store.

I found two brand spankin' new belts for $1.99 each:

This one is so pretty! It is coral, despite what the picture shows. This will be perfect for spring

The next one is just plain adorable:

It's a metallic hot pink bow is what sold me! How cute would this be with a little black dress!?!?!

Next, I found this necklace! I had been eyeballing it at target a while ago, and to my surprise I found the exact same one at GW brand new! This was $3.99

These were my most exciting find! They are Carlos real leather/suede boots. I can't wait to pair these with a spring dress! They were $7.99

I also got this light sweater for $3.99. I loved the silver thread running through it!

If you read yesterday's post, then you saw those keds that I really wanted from Kohls. I didn't get those, but I did find these for a loft $4.99 at GW. I think they are awesome! They remind me of the 90's.

and that's everything I found at Goodwill!

Great trip huh!?!?

Next, I hit up Old navy!

I was armed with a 20% off coupon plus a $15 off $50 one too!

MY mom, friend and I found some great things!

There were lots of things that I wanted, but wasn't willing to pay full price. 

Especially because I find that old navy is constantly changing merchandise therefore things that are full price one week will be on clearance the next.

Take for example these flats:

I saw them when they first got them in, and wanted them.

I waited and waited and low and behold, 

they were on clearance 3 weeks later.

Yep, you read that right. $5.97.

Plus 20% they came to $4.78.

Pretty freaking awesome if you ask me!

But the finds didn't stop there:

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you, that does say $4.47!

plus 20% they came to $3.58.

For black wedges, people!! 

They are a stable in any wardrobe.

My most expensive item was this shirt:

This was seriously the softest, most comfortable shirt ever.

{it's a more vibrant green in person, and extremely wrinkly for some reason}

It was on sale for $19, plus the coupon

so it was really $15.20

but, combined with the things my friend got, we used the $15 off coupon,

so it was even less.

Next was Target.

I only got one thing, but it's such an amazing deal, I had to share.

Here is the shirt I bought:

Prabal Gurung For Target Lace-Front Blouse

Which is still sold online for full price at $34.99

now, you may be thinking

"that's not a good deal" 

oh you just wait, my friend.

While flipping through the 70% off clearance section at target, I stumbled upon, yes you guessed it, this shirt:

I saw the lace and instantly stopped to look at it closer. I also remember seeing it on other bloggers pages, so I had to see why it was on clearance.

This is why:

Apparently someone bought it online and returned it, and for some odd reason they marked it down to 75% off. 

but, hey, I wasn't complaining!

Lastly, I went to Kohls.

I bought this dress

for $28.60

which isn't that great of a deal, but I loved it, and I had some money saved up, so I splurged.

 but I did find a necklace at a fabulous price:

I paid $2.08 for it. 

I'm noticing a trend, though. I think I found a lot of neon this week.

The flats at old navy, the lace blouse at target, and then this necklace at kohls!

Anyways, those were my finds!

What have you scored on recently? Have you found any great deals that I'm missing out on?

Tell me in the comments below!

Weekend Wrap-up: Carrot Cake, Goodwill and Glasses!

Happy Monday, Folks!

Today, I'm wrapping up my weekend for ya!

Friday night:

I had a date with this slice of carrot cake and dateline.

My two favs.

It was awesome.

Saturday:

I had to return something to target, so of course I turned it into a two hour trip

because how could I not!?!

I really, really, really wanted to take this home with me.

{I have a slight addiction to peter pan collars}

but I refrained.

Sadly.

Then, I went to kohls just to "browse"

ha.

{This was the dressing room}

Lets just say I left with a few too many things that I intended.

{one of which included that lace/blue dress}

But I was most excited about the spring shoes they had!

I loved these keds

and I really liked these sandals!

Then, we refueled with pizza.

{which seems like a trend}

So good.

I also found my glasses from middle school.

I kinda feel like a sexy librarian minus the sexy part.

I just don't know if I could keep that up ;)

I'm too lazy.

hehe!

Sunday:

My family and I spent the majority of the morning cleaning and watching a millionaire matchmaker marathon {what a mess}

After, we broke our two week hiatus from this lovely store.

{I am going to do a separate post of everything we found!}

These are the wonderful sites you see when you travel to Goodwill.

and this picture doesn't even do this car justice.

The bumper and mirrors were literally falling off!

man, I feel blessed to live the life I do.

and I concluded the weekend with a chocolate banana milkshake form mooyah!

yummm

That was my super duper exciting weekend.

sarcasm

How was yours?

Linking up here:

In which I pay retail: Designer Clothes for Goodwill Prices

I hope you guys had a fabulous christmas! Mine was filled with love, laughter, family and lots and lots of peanut butter balls.

yumm....

oh wait, where were we?

oh yes, 

retail.

Something I am not a fan of.

I am cheap.

and by cheap, I mean I buy the majority of my clothes at secondhand stores like goodwill.

But I also have general things that I refuse to buy secondhand.

things like underwear, bras, socks.

cause that would be gross.

but my cheapness doesn't stop when I walk into a department store or the mall.

I think I would die if I actually had to pay full price for something.

I either 

A. buy things on sale

B. use a coupon

C. buy things on clearance

or

D. buy things on sale, on clearance, and with a coupon

(this is the best)

So, with the holiday sales so great these past few weeks, I thought I'd share a few deals I snagged up at actual stores

not goodwill.

and share a few tips with you on how to save money while shopping retail.

Tip #1:

Shop Outlet Stores

this is the best way to save on designer/ name-brand items

Now, I am lucky enough to have a ginormous outlet mall close to my house.

If you don't know if one is close, google your area to find one.

(Stick around even if you don't, most of these tips can be used at regular places too!)

Outlet malls are great.

Stores will generally have things that didn't sell out, or with minor imperfections at a discounted price.

Plus, on top of the already marked down price, they usually have sales.

You can score some amazing things.

For example:

This J.Crew sweater

So, the original price was $75

(crazy! who would pay that for a sweater)

it was marked down at the outlet for $54.97

(still crazy)

the store was having a 40% sale which brought the price to $32.98

(getting better)

AND,

when I walked into the store they handed me a 20% off coupon in addition to the already 40% sale.

(This is where it gets good.)

so, with the coupon it came to $26.39

THEN

I had store credit from a return which brought my total to...

$10.27!

for a nice (and cute) J.crew sweater!

that's 85% off!

now, granted not everyone will have store credit,

but still, at $26

that is a great price.

Tip #2: Take advantage of Coupons, and stack them with sales!

I probably wouldn't have purchased that sweater if I didn't have that extra 20% off. $32 is a lot to me to spend, but since I stacked that coupon with the 40% off sale, I walked away with a great deal on an adorbs sweater.

I also scored this scarf from J.crew for $11 with all the same deals.

After J.crew, I went to one of my favorite stores

The Loft.

Crazy expensive normally, 

but at the outlet, 

I can afford.

which brings me to

Tip #3:

 Skip the regular priced items and head straight for the clearance section!

This particular Loft outlet has a normally priced section with everything you'd find in the regular store

and a clearance/ outlet section

I got this blouse:

It was on clearance for $19.99

and the outlet was running a 30% off sale.

I got this top for $13.99.

and in my opinion, that's a great buy!

also I got this tee

I love final sale stickers.

this means that this is the lowest price the store can offer.

and the best part is, the precent off also included the final sale items

I got this shirt for $8.94

and the last stop I made at the outlet mall was to

American Eagle Outfitters.

I love this store, but they are expensive.

Following tip #1 and #2, I scored big.

I found two dresses.

I fell in love with this one.

I loved the peter pan collar and the vintage feel.

It was on clearance for $29.99

and the entire store was 40% off.

I got this for $17.99

that's around 55% off.

This next dress is amazing:

This dress was not on clearance.

and it was expensive.

I know, I know, I broke my own rules.

BUT.

I absolutely loved it.

Tip #4: Know when to splurge (and save on those splurges!)

It was a really good quality, heavy material.

It could be dressy or casual

It can be worn year round for every season 

when styled accordingly.

I loved every single aspect about it

the bow, the cut-out, the color.

I tried it on and it fit perfectly.

  Keeping all these things in my head, 

I knew the dress would get worn often, 

and it would be worth the splurge.

and....

It the 40% off sale was even for regular priced items.

that was the icing on the cake.

I got it for $29.97

So, it was more than I'd normally spend,

but I loved it 

and it was on sale.

which leads me to 

Tip #5:

Find something you love? Wait for a Sale (or even clearance!)

Okay, say you don't have an outlet mall near you.

Do not be afraid my friend!

I still snag some great deals at regular stores

Example:

Old Navy

Love the store, but without sales, things are way over priced.

I had been eyeing these pants for a while,

but refrained from buying until they were on sale.

They did, in fact, go on sale for $19

I still felt like that was a lot for jeans that wouldn't last that long 

(old navy's quality is questionable.)

So I waited even more.

and I am so glad I did.

Literally the day after the sale ended, 

they went on clearance for $16.99

and with old navy's  40% off (one day only) christmas sale

they came to $10.19

ahh, much better, no?

and if I wear them twice and they wear out,

I will feel better knowing I'm only out ten bucks, rather than $22!

and my final deal of the day came from Khols.

I either can't find a single thing I like there, or I find a lot I love.

Nevertheless, they always have great deals and almost always have a coupon available.

I found these maroon/purple-ish jeans on the 90% off clearance section.

(which by now you should know is my favorite section of the store.)

They were originally $48

I found them on sale for $4.80

which is an amazing deal by itself,

but all the clearance merchandise was another 20% the lowest marked price

which brought them down to $3.60

and the best thing is

I had a 20% off anything coupon!

The total for my jeans came to

$2.70!

Thats around 95% off!

See, I told you I'm cheap.