21 Oct

Posted at 09:00h in shopping, Thrift, Thrifty Threads 365 by
0 Likes

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
0 Likes

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
0 Likes

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.

28 Sep

Posted at 07:37h in Looking FLY on a Dime, Thrift, Thrifty Threads 365 by
0 Likes

{with Nate and fashion expert Dannielle Kyrillos}

By now I'm hoping you guys saw my appearance on last week's Nate Berkus Show. I gave you the behind the scenes look two weeks ago and I can't tell you how awesome but kinda weird it was seeing myself on television. I was nervous watching the show but pretty calm while I filmed. Strange, huh?On the show, I matched high end designer looks with finds from my favorite thrift stores in NYC {Salvation Army on 46th St and Goodwill and Housing Works on East 23rd St }. And then I dressed three women in head to toe thrifted outfits. The ladies wore items from labels like Ungaro, Tahari and Diane von Furstenberg, with their looks coming in at less than $20 each.One thing I didn't get to discuss was my outfit. A lot of you commented on the ruffled dress I wore so here are the details.

looking fly on a dime, thrifty threads

21 Sep

Posted at 12:52h in Looking FLY on a Dime, shopping, Thrift by
0 Likes
From emails to tweets to comments, I tend to get the same questions related to thrift shopping. I've done posts on most of these questions but I wanted to compile a FAQ {frequently asked questions} post for you guys. Here are my top five frequently asked questions related to thrift shopping.Q: How do I find a good thrift store in my area? A: Thrift stores aren't created equally, so it's really a matter of trial and error. It takes time to find the store that's best for you. Take a drive or walk around your area to scope out secondhand shops, ask friends for referrals and visit websites for national chains like Salvation Army and Goodwill to find a location near you. And be sure to check out The Thrift Shopper, it's a national directory of resale shops.Q: I live in a small town, will I find good stuff at my thrift store? A: Some people tend to think only major cities have awesome thrift stores, and this is so not true. Though I'm in NYC, I've come across some really crappy stores. Sometimes, it's the smaller cities that have better merchandise: vintage pieces and the stuff isn't as picked over. If you don't think so, check out what I found while thrifting in a small town in Ohio.