June 4, 2009

Thrifty Threads

Welcome to another installment of "Thrifty Threads," AKA "Most Stylish Compact-y Outfit," where readers model their favorite secondhand clothes.

A Compact-y outfit is anything used or recycled, from the Goodwill, a thrift store, or consignment shop.

Today's model is Kristen, who blogs at The Frugal Girl. What a cute photo! I know many of you love her blog as much as I do. If you haven't visited yet, you're in for a treat. If you want to bake your own bread, she not only gives you the recipe and leads you through it step by step, she posts PHOTOS of what it should look like.

Kristen is also the first person (as far as we know!) who started photographing her wasted food each week in an effort to waste less. Her creative approach to being accountable was noticed by Jonathan at Wasted Food. And now every week hundreds, or maybe thousands, of people are taking photos of rotten food and documenting their efforts to cut down on food waste one family at a time. Check out Jonathan's blog to learn about how you can make a difference for the environment on top of saving money by trying not to throw out food.

There are so many great features about her blog it's impossible to list them all in this short blurb. Another thing she posts are meal plans and photos of what she got at the grocery store each week. And get this: she shops for a family of six on an $80 per week budget! Kristen manages to make raising and homeschooling four young children along with preparing homecooked meals and running a household look easy, but not in a "Martha Stewart- I'm better than you are" way, more like your wise older sister or the girl you wished was your best friend. She's a pleasure to be around, and that's why people love her blog.

The Frugal Girl also writes about refinishing furniture, simple gardening, and the pleasures of frugality, including shopping at the Goodwill. Which is where she scored this fabulous summer dress. Isn't it cute? Kristen paid $6.50 for this fabulous find from the Gap, and she often comes across great deals like that for both herself and her kids. The photo was taken by her 9-year-old son, but I think he had a little help from his mom because Kristen is also a fantastic photographer and sometimes shares photos of her beautiful children on her blog, as well as having a photography blog called KK Photography. There are similar styles on The Gap's website right now that are selling between $40 and $60. Kristen says she loves this dress because it's lightweight and comfortable, and it can be dressed up or down depending on the footwear she chooses. She also offers the tip to look through the Juniors dresses section at the Goodwill because teenagers often discard items before they're worn out and they're usually very stylish.

Thanks Kristen for sharing that photo. You look great! Readers, it's your turn. Put on your favorite thrift store score, snap a photo, and send it to me. You can find my email address on my profile page. And you don't have to be young and thin and beautiful. We want to see ALL kinds of women wearing their fabulous finds. I know you're a creative bunch, so show us what you've got.

And click here if you want to check out previous installments of Thrifty Threads. Do you wear secondhand clothes? What's your favorite thrift store score? Tell us about it in the Comments section.

7 comments:

calimama @ compactbydesign said...

Now that my pregnancy is coming to an end, I know I will need to do some clothes shopping. (I'm actually much better at paring down the closet than adding to it!).
I am both intimidated by the prospect of buying ALL my clothes used and encouraged by what I see others getting.

Thanks for the inspiration. I hope my local stores are full of great scores!

Angela said...

Calimama- I can't wait to get a photo from you! You'll be an inspiration to women who have just had a baby and feeling less than... desirable?

Also- let me know what you find. A long time project will be to gather a list of the best thrift stores in L.A. to share.

Thanks for commenting!

Alea Milham said...

"And you don't have to be young and thin and beautiful. We want to see ALL kinds of women wearing their fabulous finds." So you knew I was reading and thinking, "over my old, fat, DEAD body!" :)

I am actually more likely to buy clothes at a thrift shop after having a baby than at any other time. I tend to go through several plateau periods and I don't want to spend tons on a size that I am only going to stay at for a month or two, but I don't want to walk around in the old "tents" either.

Angela- When I lived in SoCal. one of my favorite towns to thrift shop in was Ojai. In the summer they have lots of theatrical and music events. We would go an hour or two early and stroll through the thrift stores before attending the event. It has been a few years (or 7), so it might have changed since then.

tammy said...

Love Kristen's photo

Her blog makes me HUNGRY....

Angela said...

Alea-
Oh, I wish you would send a photo! It's funny because the photos have to look good enough to be inspirational, in the sense it makes you think "hey- I'm going to check out the Goodwill to find a dress like that!" But then since all the models have been so pretty I think it's intimidating if you're not - as I said- young and thin and beautiful. I wish I would get a photo of someone older or heavier looking great.

Tammy- I love the photo too. It's so adorable. And yes, visiting her blog always makes me want to bake. I'm on my way to make granola now... (Because it's raining in Southern California in June- yay! We usually have 6 months without rain between may and november.)

Angela said...

whoops- I forgot to say- Alea, thanks for the tip about Ojai. I love to go there and it makes sense that the thrift stores would be good. There's a certain amount of wealth there, but a sort of creative/artist community. Of course I think it used to have a lot of hippies. When I was little I wanted to grow up and be a hippie because I liked the way they dressed- beads and flowers and fringe...

Jinger said...

Austin has so many wonderful
thrift stores that make thrifting is so much fun. I always find something I need for just a few dollars. Often, name brand clothing for pennies on the dollar. Last week I bought a bag of yarn, 6 skeins, brand new, for a quilt I am knitting, for $2.98.