All posts tagged: thrift store fashion

“All that glitters” outfit

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Sequins. Once to me the very definition of standout, of stage wear, of sexy. For all seasons. Lately, I’ve been staring at the thick of sequins in my closet, wondering, “Where did that girl go?” Lately, my tastes run a bit more up close and personal. To catch the gleam of the gold threading in the white flowers of this lace. To see the iridescent sheen of the transparent beads on this Christian Dior belt. To see earrings made of cotton candy pink enamel and gold dragonfly wings. I suppose I no longer want to demand—glittery style-wise—people to look at me. I want to draw them in. Or just amuse myself, alone. Liz Claiborne gold threaded lace top – $1 (sale), ReStyle thrift store | vintage Christian Dior iridescent beaded belt – $5, Repeat Boutique consignment store | vintage Pride & Joy blush rose pants (made in U.S.A.) – $1 (sale), ReStyle thrift store | Damiani (made in Italy) bronze & gold sandals, $5, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store Cheep, cheep.

“Tenenbaum Tennis, Anyone?” outfit

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In honor of the Olympics, I wear the outfit most closely resembling any sort of sporting thing. Apparently, my only reference point seems to be the tennis scenes from The Royal Tenenbaums. Suffice it to say, perhaps I am not an athlete. But I know how to sport a look. Buttons orange & black striped white tennis dress – $5, Idaho Youth Ranch | Recycled rubber, cable & wood black studded biker bag – $7, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Guess black patent leather with gold buckle stilettos – $11, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store Cheep it up, Olympians.

“Becky with the Good Hair” outfit

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Kinky hair, don’t care. I found this Rachel Roy dress at a thrift store this Sunday, and all I could think of was that buzz when Beyonce’s affair-anthem “Lemonade” came out—circling around the sexy fashion designer, an ill-fated Instagram, and an onslaught of bee and lemon emojis. Then, for the following 3 days, the line “Better call Becky with the good hair” has been playing on repeat in my subconscious. It’s like mental water torture. Juicy dress, though. Rachel Roy coral & black banded dress – $8, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Kate Spade nude wedges with gold studded bow – $70, ROSS Dress for Less in Portland (originally $300) Free bonus Opal sighting. Cheep it up.

“Cosmic Connections” outfit

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If I made a dating app, I would call it Cosmic Connections. It would be designed with vintage 1992 graphics and the spokesperson would be Aunt Cleo. If you swipe up, she’d pop up like a soothsayer Carl Sagan with a shot from outer space, as if to say, “the universe is infinite and we all be stardust, so don’t you worry man.” Dating reality check. Thanks Aunt Cleo. Anyway, I realized when I joined Tinder for a brief spell (review: You feel like the Bachelorette for several weeks, until, after several elimination rose ceremonies, you realize most of the guys there are just as douchey as most of the guys on the Bachelorette), that I had no actual outfits to wear on dates that didn’t send up immediate weirdo red flags. So this is my version of a date dress. It’s like, so cosmic man. (And like “normal,” right? Right? Riiiiight…). Jonathan Martin cosmic stripes on black print wrap dress – $8, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Damiani (made in Italy) bronze & gold sandals, $5, Idaho Youth Ranch …

“Bicycle Race!” outfit

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Better hold on to your handlebars. Tonight, I co-hosted/creative directed—alongside the inimitable Boise Bicycle Project rock-star Jimmy Hallyburton—”I want to ride my bicycle! Stories on two pedals“—a special storytelling show inspired by Queen, Boise’s elite Car for Bike traders, and the freedom of free-wheeling stories that come from putting the pedal to the mettle. Time after time. Ambiance Apparel sheer black & rose print tank – $3.75, ReStyle thrift story | Step In Style pink & black art deco-ish dress – $35, Eyes of the World | Black & gold arrow banded belt – $0.94, ReStyle thrift store, DKNY platform wedges – $20, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | 1920’s Afghanistani silver and colored glass necklace – $350, Armor Bijoux vintage jewelry dealer Vinyl of the Day: “A Day at the Races” by Queen Cheep!

“Rust Belt” outfit

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Down in the shadow of the penitentiary Out by the gas fires of the refinery I’m ten years burning down the road Nowhere to run; ain’t got nowhere to go Born in the U.S.A., I was born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A., I’m a long gone daddy in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A., born in the U.S.A. Born in the U.S.A., I’m a cool rocking daddy in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen [Brief programmatic pause to wave a red handkerchief for Bruce Springsteen’s backside.] Sami New York purple silk camisole – $3, ReStyle thrift store | hand-knitted (the word “hand-knitted” is the only extant label) turquoise vest, $3, ReStyle thrift store | Rampage woven brown leather belt – $2, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Jones New York rust silk skirt – $4, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Kate Spade nude wedges with gold studded bow – $70, ROSS Dress for Less in Portland (originally $300) | Gold leaf earrings – gift to the girls from the bride, Linnae, at her beautiful wedding this weekend | Green agate stone three strand necklace, 8,000,000 Turkish …

“Tropic Heat” outfit

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I was just lying in bed—nearly extinguished from a a real scorcher of a day—mulling over that burning eternal question. Should I take off my prickling bra, or bust out a fashion blog? Hot topic. (But not the one at the mall.) vintage Paradise Style Hawaii, $5, Restyle thrift store | Red belt with leather and brass cross section, $2, Idaho Youth Ranch thrift store | Steve Madden red leather kitten heels, $7, ReStyle thrift store Cheep it up. (PS: The bra went up in flames, metaphorically, seconds after this picture was taken.)

“Cruel, Cruel Summer” outfit

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“The city is crowded | My friends are away | And I’m on my own It’s too hot to handle | So I got to get up and go  It’s a cruel, cruel summer | Leaving me here on my own | It’s a cruel | It’s a cruel cruel summer | Now you’re gone | You’re not the only one” – Bananarama Amulet black and dried-blood-colored dress, gift from BFF (She bought it in Berlin from “Marcello, my vintage Italian dealer,” which is one dealer you want to have on speed-dial) | Banana Republic twisted black and tan leather slip-on heels, $4, Gold Mine thrift store (Ketchum, ID) | WCM New York genuine python tan belt $4.75 – Idaho Youth Ranch Cheep!

“Tiptoe Through the Tulips” outfit

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“Knee deep in flowers we’ll stray | We’ll keep the showers away | And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight | Will you pardon me? | And tiptoe through the tulips with me” – Tiny Tim Gap acid yellow & purple gray blouse | vintage, handprinted tagless grass green wrap skirt, free, ladies’ clothing exchange | Cindy Says green-gold hells, Piece Unique, $I can’t remember but they were half off    Cheep!

“Summer Puddle” outfit

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Iridescent sheen and murky waters. Sami New York purple silk camisole (that you can only really see when up close), $3, ReStyle | Banana Republic pale green sheer linen tank (ribbed for her pleasure) | vintage Pendleton brown plaid light wool jacket, gift from Bend, OR-thrifting-based BFF | Anne Klein II tan silk skirt, $4, ReStyle thrift store | Cindy Says green-gold hells, Piece Unique, $I can’t remember but they were half off | Green agate stone three strand necklace, $8,000,000 Turkish lira (in 2004, this was like, $6), Istanbul street vendor Cheep!