Thrifted Tippi Heart Me and a Shopping Rant!

Growing up, my family had a Black Friday tradition. My mom would pile us in the minivan and head to Woolrich, PA (not a far drive from my hometown) to pick through the irregular and discontinued items at the Woolrich company store. I hated shopping when I was a kid (a shocking and little known fact), but I loved the Black Friday trips to Woolrich (probably why I also love wool, tweed and plaid). We did this every year until the sales weren't good anymore. I remember my mom voicing her disappointment and piling us all in the car to head home without next year's winter coats. 

We didn't shop on Black Friday day after that, but the lesson my mom unknowingly taught me was lasting. The majority of Black Friday sales no longer feature the lowest prices, yet hype defeats rationale and the throngs of people who wait in line for a tv or toy on Black Friday are the same people who gave retailers the balls to open on Thanksgiving. Stay close to home on Thursday and Friday. If you must shop, do so locally and support your community, or stay in your pajamas, eat leftovers and shop online.

Now for serious business, I have been in love with J. Crew's Tippi Heart Me sweater in every color variation since 2011. I am not in love with the price of the sweater however, so when Forever 21 and Old Navy offered there versions, I bought a navy blue with red heart knockoff. Then, yesterday I was flipping through my favorite online yard sale, where I saw that some crazy person was selling a new with tags Tippi Heart Me sweater (a wool and cashmere blend) in navy with a kelly green heart for $6 (you can buy them on eBay for $50+). Before the day was out, the sweater was mine. Here's how I wore it:

Sweater: J. Crew Tippi Heart Me, $6

Shirt: Gap oxford, $9.99

Skirt: Gap, super clearance ages ago

Tights: H&M, this season ($12.99)

Booties: Lucky Brand, past season

Glasses: Derek Cardigan 7012 Brown Tortoiseshell (this season-use FIRSTPAIRFREE to get your first pair for the cost of shipping)

Bag: Coach, vintage Willis, $30 

Jewelry: Stella & Dot, all past season

$8 Buffalo Check Skirt

Every once in a while, I peruse eBay for random things that I like. For example, I open my eBay app (second in danger to my finances only to the Etsy app) and will type "Pendleton," "Frye" or "buffalo check." Then I end up watching five items and never buying them.

So, the other day on my lunch break, I searched for "buffalo check" in womens clothing. About halfway down the list of items was a classic wool buffalo check Gap mini skirt, new with tags, in a size 4 for $8 (buy it now). Shipping was only $3.

Do you remember Gap's 2009 holiday collection that featured a ton of classic plaids, including a perfectly impractical 3/4 sleeve buffalo check wool wrap coat? I still dream about that coat. Well, this skirt, I was pretty sure, was part of that collection. Without even questioning sizing (I can range from a 0 to a 4 in Gap bottoms), I bought the skirt. It arrived yesterday, fits perfectly and is indeed from the '09 holiday collection.

Score! How I wore it:

Shirts: Gap striped long sleeve tee (past season), American Eagle denim shirt (past season)

Tights: black knit, H&M ($12.99, this season)

Boots: black Frye campus boots 

Jewelry: Alice Temperley for Stella & Dot

Bass Saddle Shoes and Sandee Royalty Skirt

I have been smitten with saddle shoes since seeing Moonrise Kingdom. Suzy, one of the main characters, rocks some serious ensembles in the film, all tied together by her saddle shoes. Naturally, I began looking for deals. I started out by following my gut - Bass Shoes. When penny loafers were all the rage when I was a kid, this is where I (or, more importantly, my mom) turned. Surely, if you sell penny loafers, you're not messing around with saddle shoes either. 

Fortunately, my gut was right and Bass had a large selection of suede, leather and patent saddle shoes in a wide variety of styles. What sold me on the Bass Glenbrock? A nice little heel. As much as I love the look of a flat and admire them on others, I am a short girl who always loved playing dress up with heels. High heeled saddle shoes? They would be mine, although it would take several months of hemming and hawing and recommending them to a friend looking for shoes to go with a great dress before I finally bought them on sale for $29.99 (with free shipping) from 6pm.com (they are reduced even more now). 

I kind of pride myself as being that person who has an outfit for everything, and the Bass Glenbrock shoes deserved their moment...in the form of my favorite skirt from Sandee Royalty. I can think of about seven Sandee Royalty skirts that would look amazing with these shoes, too, which may have me already thinking about my next purchases. Her skirts are so well made, fully lined, perfectly pleated and come in fun prints (on gorgeous fabric). 

Outfit details:

Sweater: Gap, last season

Belt: Banana Republic, old

Skirt: Sandy Royalty, past season

Shoes: Bass Glenbrock, 6pm.com

The Accidental Fitted Coat

Two weeks ago, I went away for a long weekend of rest and relaxation with my best girls. I spent one night at my parent's house, and in true me form, left one very important item at their house when I left - my dress coat. Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, except on Wednesday, I accepted an invitation to a gala for Friday night...Friday as in two days after Wednesday. Gala equates dress coat. Shit! This called for an accidental purchase (falls outside of planned budget). 

Not one to shy away from a challenge, I spent my lunch break on Thursday at the local mall trying to find the nicest, cheapest dress coat. I tried on several between Forever 21 and H&M, where I settled on a gorgeous sale item. Their Fitted Coat (what they actually call it online) is a gorgeous dark blue with gathers at the front and back that highlight your waist. There is also a surprisingly non-offensive pleather belt included. The jacket normally retails for $79.95 but I snagged it for $34.95 (thanks to a winter sale). 

For the price, the coat is lined, tailored quite well and completes any look (according to my constant wearing of it/highly scientific research)! Definitely wish they had this in other colors. Love how happy I am with this accidental purchase! The rest of today's outfit details: 

Bag: Vintage Coach, $30 (online yard sale)

Glasses: Derek Cardigan 7012 in black-fade, this season ($9.95, code FIRSTPAIRFREE, coastal.com)

BON JOUR Fingerless mittens: Forever 21, this season ($5.80)

So...what did I wear to the gala? In 2003, I bought a BCBG layered tulle gown to wear to a fundraiser that I had helped organize. My date stood me up and married a lunch lady (not that night, but eventually - not that anything is wrong with lunch ladies, just stating facts). I have zero pictures of myself from 2003 in the dress (never keep evidence of tears shed over a guy), but happily have some photos of me putting the same $400 dress to use 10 years later! 

Yelling at Myself: Stop Buying Vintage Bags!

My recent obsession with vintage crossbody bags has reached maximum levels of ridiculous. Since August, I have been looking for a vintage 80's Coach crossbody (preferably Wallis). While searching on what is proving to be my downfall, an online yard sale, I found one for sale, new in its box! The price the seller was asking? $30. MINE! 

Isn't she pretty? Vintage Coach bags in varying condition can be found on Etsy ranging in price from $30 (a lot of scratches and flaws) to $85-$100 (and up for bags in excellent condition). I haven't stopped carrying this since I picked it up a few weeks ago! 

Funny story: I picked this up at the seller's house before I left on a trip and she offered me pancakes at her house. Hilarious.

Banana Republic Leather Jacket for $25

I have been looking for a black leather jacket since the seasons started to change. Motorcycle jackets are everywhere, which is great, and I love them, but I refuse to invest in a fad. Last week, I logged on to my online yard sale site to list some shoes that I no longer wear. I wasn't looking to buy, but saw a post from a seller with a plain black leather jacket with pockets. I asked for some more details. Black leather, Banana Republic, given to the seller when her sister moved to warmer temps. The size? Extra small. The price matched at $25 (Banana Republic jackets usually run around $298). I organized a meetup, tried it on and exchanged cash for coat. Really funny, the seller knew my grandmother's neighbor. Such a small world!

Next up, last night, I was walking home from dinner when I saw a "free stuff" sign next to the road. Of course I had to walk by! Most of the stuff was junk, but there was a really cool handmade wooden chinese checkers set, which I took home, cleaned up and now have sitting on my coffee table. Another man's trash...