We have a winner in the “choose your color scheme for a bracelet”, which was so very generously offered to us by She-Beads. Dearest Anonymous, who choose “persimmon, heliotrope and emerald”, please get in touch with me at [email protected], so I can put you directly in touch with my friends who are going to make your bracelet!
Also, please let me know what your preferred wardrobe neutral is, so that I can start working on the wardrobe possibilities. I can easily see these colors looking smashing against navy, black, beige…
Persimmon, heliotrope, and emerald!
Also, please let me know what your preferred wardrobe neutral is, so that I can start working on the wardrobe possibilities. I can easily see these colors looking smashing against navy, black, beige…
I want to share with you an update to my vow to buy only second-hand this year. After doing laundry this weekend, I realized that my white jeans were… execrable… which is a great word, and an apt description of their deteriorated state.
So I hopped onto Ebay, and found a pair (at about 20% of the price of new jeans!) in about five minutes. I believe they’re exactly like the ones that I’m retiring, but they appear to have never been worn.
Anybody else having tons of success with their “gently worn” shopping?
love,
Janice
I second-hand shop quite often. I've found beautiful, barely worn shoes, trousers, tops and jackets. I would say about 1/4 of my wardrobe is pre-loved. My favourite (for the moment) buy is a pair of red small heeled Hush Puppies in red leather. Have fun with your bargain hunting. :)
I had my eye on a pair of white crops at Chico's, but before I could actually purchase them, they went completely out of stock in my size in all of my location stores and online. I found a very similar style from a previous season on eBay, never worn, with tags for about 75% less, and I love them!
Congrats to the winner!
I recently purchased some second-hand pearl necklaces. They feel like glass pearls; nice weight, great color (two being quite white and one being ivory) They were on the counter of a shop I was in to purchase a birthday gift certificate for a friend and I couldn't help myself. I chose three, as they were all marked $3.99 each, but there was a sale going on and I got each of them for $3 a piece. I know, not clothing, but even so. I am now loving something someone else was tired of.
EBay is my shop of choice. Especially when I consider the gas and time saved, it seems ecologically correct as well as economical.
I am curious what is your favored brand of jeans?
What a colour scheme is right. As a group, they remind me of the post-impressionists' works. I can see the dark warm greys, taupes, or chocolate neutrals being a choice this person might like, too (all with some acidic yellow undertones or accents) … I'm excited to see where these choices lead you, Janice.
And congratulations to the winner! I wish you many happy adventures wearing your lovely new SheBeads. : ) – Sue G
I am curious as to how this "only buying used" will affect your Parisian shopping trips……
Congratulations to the winner of the custom made bracelet!
I love to shop for clothes at thrift shops and yard sales. Most of my wardrobe is made up of $1 and $2 finds, often new with tags. My favorite buy recently was a beautiful gauzy overshirt in brilliant jewel tones of turquoise, indigo, and green, with fluffy threads, for $1. It is lightweight and non-wrinkleable (is that a word?). I thought it would be perfect for my Alaskan cruise coming up, because we will have two formal nights and I want to pack very light, and couldn't see taking a cocktail dress that I'd only wear for a few hours total.
I plan to wear it over black skinny jeans and a pretty tank top, with a handmade gold chain belt. Plus, I found a pair of gorgeous "statement earrings" that goes perfect with it, that I got for free using a $10 Kohls gift card. And, using glass beads in turquoise, indigo, and green, I made a matching necklace and bracelet set. I wish I could post a picture, because my words cannot do justice to the perfection of this $1 find. It's not something I'd normally ever wear, and I don't like to get all fussy for formal occasions, but this dressy overshirt was just the ticket. Take it off and I'm back to smart casual, put it on and I look like I deliberately dressed for a cruise party! I can see myself wearing it for holidays and New Year's Eve at a dressy place. It replaces umpteen "cocktail dresses", which I simply do not and will not own.
And a big thanks goes to "The Vivienne Files" for helping me learn how to put together a very lightweight wardrobe. All the ideas and examples on building a minimalist travel wardrobe were eagerly soaked up and used.
Some cruise lines do not allow jeans after 6 PM.
I am really looking forward to seeing the wardrobe you put together to match the winner's bracelet. The colours are smashing. My 2 Hermes scarves (encouraged by you) are from eBay.
Deb from Vancouver
Congratulations to the winner, how lucky. I have been shopping second hand for years. Love the "treasure hunt". It can takes time to build a wardrobe this way. I agree with Diane that it gives me a way to afford excellence in my clothing. I only buy natural fibers, and am trying to only buy American, European, and Canadian where I know ethical conditions and fare wages are employed. If there is not a secondary market for these clothiers then they will not survive. I also save up to buy a few full price garments from my favorite makers. I considerate my mission to show the way for my younger female relatives, to expose "fast fashion" for what it is. As a nation we are waking up to fast food and we need to translate that into our wardrobes. Love what you do. You inspire me and stopped the madness in my closet. Will always be grateful to you.
That bracelet will be gorgeous!!
I just added to my summer wardrobe with a visit to a thrift store I enjoy but hadn't visited lately – I went to find measuring spoons for my husband to use in his shop but came home with Eileen Fisher black linen trousers, some khaki Talbots linen trouses, JJill white linen shorts, and some Ex Officio bermuda shorts. And measuring spoons for my husband, and a new vase for when my hydrangeas bloom!
Congratulations on your new-to-you jeans! I like secondhand because it allows me to experiment with high-end brands I wouldn't be able to buy otherwise. A warning: it can take more time than traditional shopping if you're not careful to limit your forays online or in thrift stores. Thanks for your question. Just last week at a church-ladies thrift store I bought a blue Hermés Les Domes Celestes for $15 that is gorgeous and may even be real, as it has many of the proper marks identified by eBay folks: hem rolled toward the image, depth in color and images, the proper signature sign, etc. And I had just dropped in to try to replace a linen shirt. Now to figure out how to wear the scarf.
Love the winning color scheme, too.
You All:
thanks for the congratulations, it's been decades since I won anything (clock radio–I know that shows my age)! I thank my late mother for instilling in me colors that are "still" and "unobtrusive" —"shibui" in Japanese.
since I really have no color sense at all I am relying on Janice and you all for wonderful ideas.
have a wonderful summer, everyone.
anonymously Carol in Los Angeles.
Dear Anony, congrats on the win! I believe we're all excited to see what our darling Janice suggests for you. Best regards, Julie
I buy used all the time! I go to St. Vincent de Paul stores, two independent thrift stores, and a store run by a charity that helps low-income women get clothes for job interviews (they sell all their donations that are not suitable for those interviews, many of which are donated by wealthy people). I probably go to one a week, sometimes two… no more than that. I found brands and stores that I would not normally be able to afford but that fit me, so sometimes I go to those stores now and look for clearance things that I can afford. My favorites are a gorgeous long dark green linen skirt by a famous maker I can't recall right now, a black Ralph Lauren dress for $3, and an Ann Taylor ice blue linen shirt with tiny tucks down the front for $4. Last week I got a great pair of black linen pants that will go with everything all summer long and into fall for $1 on a clearance rack at the store for the charity! It's fun, especially now that I know what colors and what kind of garments to look for, and it's guilt-free. If something was a bad choice and only cost $3, so what? I have some a mustard-colored linen pants that look good as an extra neurtral but I just don't like that color, and a really lovely embroidered and beaded linen skirt that I get compliments on when I wear, but is just too frou-frou for me. I'll wear them this season and retire them if I don't get used to them… and neither one cost more than $5 so that's fine!
I buy used all the time! I go to St. Vincent de Paul stores, two independent thrift stores, and a store run by a charity that helps low-income women get clothes for job interviews (they sell all their donations that are not suitable for those interviews, many of which are donated by wealthy people). I probably go to one a week, sometimes two… no more than that. I found brands and stores that I would not normally be able to afford but that fit me, so sometimes I go to those stores now and look for clearance things that I can afford. My favorites are a gorgeous long dark green linen skirt by a famous maker I can't recall right now, a black Ralph Lauren dress for $3, and an Ann Taylor ice blue linen shirt with tiny tucks down the front for $4. Last week I got a great pair of black linen pants that will go with everything all summer long and into fall for $1 on a clearance rack at the store for the charity! It's fun, especially now that I know what colors and what kind of garments to look for, and it's guilt-free. If something was a bad choice and only cost $3, so what? I have some a mustard-colored linen pants that look good as an extra neurtral but I just don't like that color, and a really lovely embroidered and beaded linen skirt that I get compliments on when I wear, but is just too frou-frou for me. I'll wear them this season and retire them if I don't get used to them… and neither one cost more than $5 so that's fine!
What an interesting color scheme! Can't wait to see what you do with this Janice! Congratulations to the winner!