26 Oct

Posted at 08:05h in Looking FLY on a Dime by
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Earlier this month I told you guys about my awesome new gig as the Savvy Shopper reporter for New York City's Pix 11 News. I give daily reports on budget fashion, beauty and lifestyle tips to keep people looking fly on a dime. If you're not in the NY-NJ-CT area and can't catch me on your screen every weekday, I've included some links to my recent Savvy Shopper segments.Savvy Shopper tours the remodeled H&MSavvy Shopper talks sample salesSavvy Shopper gives the dish on Uniqlo's flagship storeAnd for my...

24 Oct

Posted at 07:11h in shopping, Thrift by
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Housing Works Buy the bag, thrift store haul

This past Saturday was the Housing Works Buy the Bag {$25 for all you can stuff in a bag) sale and as usual, I racked up. I met a few of you there and it seems everyone walked away with a bag {or two} full of goodies. As usual, it was crowded inside, clothes were everywhere and the crowd got a bit rowdy when additional bins were put on the sales floor, but the majority of people were super sweet. I didn't take pics inside {I was too busy shopping}, but the clothes were eventually pulled out of the bins and everyone was walking over the garments and one woman even lost her shoe in the clothing avalanche.I managed to stuff a total of 30 items in my bag, so at $25 for a bag, that averages out to 83 cents per piece. Considering I found some vintage items, including Armani, I'd say that's a thrift store score.This sale always has a ton of blazers and I snagged with six of them. A bit excessive, I know.

vintage blazers, housing works sale

21 Oct

Posted at 09:00h in shopping, Thrift, Thrifty Threads 365 by
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I know this is super last minute but I'll be having an Adventures in Thrifting meetup tomorrow {10/22}. I didn't think I'd be able to make the final Buy the Bag sale from Housing Works, but it looks like I can. You guys know what Buy the Bag is, right? It's the warehouse sale by Housing Works where you can get an entire bag of clothing for just $25. Yup, $25 for all the clothes you can stuff in a bag.I'm on the hunt for cute tops and...

19 Oct

Posted at 08:11h in Looking FLY on a Dime, shopping, Thrift by
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Esther Woo Vintage, vintage shopping tips

This summer I briefly introduced you guys to Esther Woo Vintage, the online shop with unique, affordable pieces. Well, I wanted to chat with the owner, Beverly Edmonds, and give you some vintage shopping tips from the woman who's made a career out of fashion."I've always loved "old stuff" and have been into fashion since I was very young. I've worked in retail for years and have been shopping in thrift stores for just as long," says Beverly. So a little more than five months ago, she started Esther Woo Vintage. The e-commerce site is fully stocked with funky purses, statement blazers, ladylike dresses, skirts and blouses.If you're a little unsure about vintage shopping {sizing, how to identify a vintage item, etc}, Beverly has some quick and easy tips.Q: How can you tell a garment is vintage? A: Zippers can tell you a lot about a vintage item. A metal zipper on a dress {versus a nylon zipper on a modern piece} can be an indication of an older vintage piece. Also, look for tags that specify a location. Most of these tags will mention a popular city or state. A union tag or "Made in the USA" label is also a good indication. The Vintage Fashion Guild is a great online resource for dating pieces.

vintage union tag

17 Oct

Posted at 07:40h in Deals & Steals, Looking FLY on a Dime, Thrift by
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Goodwill fashion show, looking fly on a dime

{I'm making a weird face, but everyone else looks amazing!}

Earlier this month, Goodwill contacted me about participating in a fashion show for disabled workers. Of course I jumped at the opportunity. You guys know I love Goodwill {my favorite locations in NYC are the 23rd St. Gramercy store and the Goodwill Outlet}. But I also love that the secondhand chain employs individuals with disabilities. October is National Disability Awareness month so Goodwill teamed up with NYC's Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities to put on a show.Goodwill wanted myself and four other bloggers to create looks for disabled employees. We pulled clothes from local Goodwill stores so the workers could have career appropriate attire. I shopped at the three-story Goodwill in East Harlem {2231 Third Ave.} to dress my two models, Craig and Yesenia.

looking fly on a dime, thrifty threads

One of Craig's favorite colors is blue so I wanted to put him in a bright top, dressy slacks and a patterned tie. And Yesenia preferred black pants, which are totally work appropriate, but I  gave her a stand out top, some accessories and nude pointy toe pumps.