Tag: thrifting

DIY

Frugal-nomics DIY: Varsity Letter Sweatshirt

Rihanna has been rocking them; Jessica Alba too….and I even have one packed away somewhere in a dusty box in my parent’s garage. What am I talking about? The whole varsity craze. Varsity jackets are hugely popular right now and cropping up everywhere, so I decided to drum up a bit of nostalgia in a quick and easy DIY, and make a Varsity Letter Sweatshirt!  The key to the whole look is the boxed lettering, so once I had that down pat, rather than using chenille (which requires a special machine…I thought I’d try some boucle fabric, but it wasn’t quite what I was going for), I used a little faux leather and wool to complete just as cool of a look.  Tell me…still have your jacket? Comment below.

SUPPLIES: old sweathshirt (I got this Gap one for .75 cents at a thrift store), Varsity Font on your computer (which you can download here), some white wool, faux leather, a pen, scissors, e6000 glue, and a plastic butter knife (optional) for spreading. 

HOW-TO:
In just 8 easy steps, you will be on your way in no time:
1. Pick your desired letter using the font provided here, print it on about a quarter of a page, and cut it out.
2. Once you’ve done this, go ahead and flip your white wool and your letter over, and trace your now backwards letter to the back of the wool (that way when you cut it out in the next step, your letter is facing the correct way on the wool).
3. Now cut out the letter you traced.
4. The cool thing about the font I found, was that it comes with a few different outline — making creating the different layers of the varsity letter, easy.  So now you’ll want to cut away the first (black) outline.
5. Repeat Step #2 with your now smaller letter — this time you’ll use your faux leather.
6. Cut out this new letter.
7. Add a little glue to the back of your letter (Note: I had a new bottle and it was a little messy, so feel free to use a butter knife, and don’t forget to use the glue in a well ventilated area).
8. Place your faux leather letter on top of the wool one, then place both in your desired area on your sweatshirt, and allow it all to dry for a few hours. Now, it’s ready to wear!

THRIFTING

12 Ways to Thrift Shop Like a Pro

Photo: iStockPhoto

You know, for a long time, thrift stores have had this stigma of being these dark and musty places that were merely a graveyard for all the bad polyester and moth-eaten garments of yesteryear. But today, legions of people are seeing them for their true potential and revamping their closets on a budget. Need a little help navigating this world of fashion treasures? Here are 12 thrift store shopping tips from a shopping pro.

1. THINK OF WAYS TO REPURPOSE:  I’d like to think that when you thrift shop, you are able to get some really cool and unique things if you put on your “creative goggles.”  If you have the foresight to envision those printed bell-legged slacks as a tailored pair of matchstick pants, or how that plain jacket would look with a set of military buttons, you’ll surprise yourself with the possibilities out there.

2. KNOW THE TRENDS BEFORE YOU GO: You don’t have to plunk out tons of cash to stay up on the latest trends. To find out what’s current, browse magazines and window shop to see what’s popular before you go. That way, you can see what’s missing from your wardrobe and shop accordingly. Whether it’s an accessory or a color that’s hot, you’re sure to find ways to implement the latest fashion into your closet at a fraction of the cost.

3. ASK IF THEY HAVE ANY SALES OR SPECIALS: In my area, a lot of times the thrift stores have a day designated for certain items to be on sale. So if you’re willing to wait it out for that particular day, you may be able to get an item for an even lower price.

4. BRING CASH: Sometimes you’ll find that thrift stores don’t have credit or debit card machines, so it would be in your best interest to take cash.  Also, with our recovering economy, I’ve found that you may get a better deal if you offer to pay for your purchase in cash, and save the store from incurring that fee for paying with plastic.

5. IF THERE’S NO DRESSING ROOM, IMPROVISE: In some thrift stores, there isn’t the luxury of a dressing room, so you have to get a little inventive with checking the fit. For things like pants and skirts, try the age-old neck-to-waist trick. Fasten the closure and wrap the waist around your neck, if you can just pinch the fabric together at the end with your fingers, then you know it works!
 

FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF 12 TIPS, VISIT MANILLA.COM

 
 

THRIFTING

Partnering with Housing Works

Hey there, and Happy Monday!!!!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend….I know I did. It was my birthday yesterday and I spent the day with people who love me –and I truly feel blessed.

Okay….now you all know how passionate I am about thrift shopping.  And, I’ve gone to the Housing Works BUY THE BAG Sale sooooo many times, and told EVERYONE I know about it (literally), that it was only natural for me to develop a relationship with those great folks, who are doing a really GREAT THING!

So several months ago they did a promo video and asked me to be a part of it as a Frugal Style Expert, and I am so honored to have been a part of such an amazing production.   Take a look at the video and let me know what you think below.

P.S. I’m at minute 2:43 🙂 Be sure to watch it in HD. Have a beautiful week and an awesome Thanksgiving