Dress For LESS and Have FUN!!!!!!!

With age comes wisdom. Or at least that's what we hear.
I have come to believe it's true in how much I spend on fashion.
Or maybe it's the fact that I can't afford to spend thousands like I once did.

I really believe it's because I have come to realize that you don't need to dress in designer clothes. Most people can't tell, after all the label is on the inside.
Unless its a designer handbag, and then it could be a fake.
Women feel the need to ware designer clothes for their own insecurities.

From my own experience, designer clothes or having more clothes than I could ware gave me a sense of being important. Of having arrived, never being looked upon as the little girl in the hand made dress.
What we carry with us from childhood to our adult life can shape how we feel and live our lives.
We know that from many of us struggling with being over weight.
Obesity that we started out with, or that we developed . Usually brought on by feeling of loneliness or depression. A feeling of not being worthy.
I don't want to knock our families, but many of us carry baggage that started with someone or some event from our formative years.

So now you want to know where am I going with this?

My life in a nut shell.
Country girl, not much money, poor. But did have all the elements I needed to achieve.
Broken home, raised by Grandparents.
Smart but naive. Felt my back ground , where I lived wasn't as good as the rich city girls..
Worked hard to over come. Got top grades, always trying to be the best. Wanting to be the one that fitted in.
Cheer leading, modeling, still didn't fill the void.

In a miss guided way thought material wealth would be the answer.
After two failed marriages, knew all the material wealth would not give me the inner peace and confidence I desired.
I had to find my own way. Couldn't rely on someone else or some article of expensive clothing to give me happiness.

Ditched the corporate job , expensive clothes.
Started my own business. Moved to a relaxed , laid back beach lifestyle. Found I was comfortable in shorts, flats, jeans and t shirts.
Maybe I was just a country girl at heart.
I still enjoyed fashion, but it wasn't as important. Gradually I came to enjoy the fact that I didn't have to dress to impress. When the occasion arose, I knew I could pull it together.
My daughter and I found the outlet stores. Some of the consignment shops. looking for pieces that could enhance our wardrobe.
The fact that I could find a $300.00 dress for under $100.00 was thrilling..
Of course today for me to spend #100.00 for one item would be outrageous.
But back then I had handbags that cost over #1,500.00. I probably had a small house sitting on the selves of my closet.

Jump ahead to early 2000, weight was piling on like long lost relatives after you win the lottery.
I had no interest in clothes. While wearing 1X all the way to 5X, I dressed just to be covered. It might has well have been a blanket. fashion was the last thing on my mind.
That changed in 2010. I embarked on a weight loss journey.

By the fall I had to buy smaller sized clothes. These were to be transition clothes, until I reached my goal weight. I then planned a huge shopping trip.

I went to the Goodwill, found some lovely clothes. As I continued to lose, I would need a smaller size. I would return the ones I no longer needed.
I started to wonder why I would want to spend department store prices for clothes when I could dress in the fantastic items I was finding?

In some of my earlier blogs I have pictured some pieces, believe
me they are very nice. Some items I find, still have new tags on the,. By buying most of my major pieces at thrift stores, I am able to shop Victoria Secret and a few other places to buy something the thrift store doesn't have.

In early February this year, I started to think Spring fashion. as much as I love the fall season, I had had enough boots, sweaters, bundled up in coats, hats, scarves. I wanted bright colors, light fabric's. New styles.

I started to look through my fashion magazines, check the designers for what te Spring/Summer colors and looks were trending.
Here's what I read:

The top 10 fashion trends,

1. Pretty in Pink. Number one color for Spring 2014 is pink., blush, radiant orchid , all shades of pink, but no neon pink. Unless you are a small child, or it's a stripe on your athletic shoe.
Seems there is a shade of pink flattering for everyone. Whatever the age, skin tone, hair color, when in doubt go pink.
But there is also orange, pale blue, green even yellow, the usual pastel colors.

2. Everything coming up floral; The flower trend is everywhere. dresses , shoes, tops, pants.

3. Mix patterns. just stay in the same color range.

4. Mules rule. Open toed mules freshen up a summer look. Gladiator sandal's, canvas espadrilles, any wrap ankle or buckle shoe, hot.

5. Go sideways. Horizontal stripes are hotter than ever.

6. Sparkle, shine. Metallic are major. mixing metals , like gold,silver, very in.

7.Fringe, used on purses. Some trim on clothes, but don't over do.

8. Black and white . Never gets old. spice it up with bold accessories. Zebra is hot.

9. Animal prints, still trending. but more subtle. one piece, blouse, pants, shoes. not an entire outfit.

10. Maxi skirts, dress. Angle hemmed, or straight. Not too full, no broomstick skirts.

I did an inventory of what I had for Spring/Summer 2014, quite a lot. But tired of some pieces, so donated back to Value Village.

Here are some fashion trends :


The maxi skits. Black white tops. Pink clutch bag, cost $695.00 Blush pink heels, cost $165.00 .Orange pants, yellow,pink,orange sheer top. carves, hats, bags, in Spring pastel colors, of blush, pink. green. blue.

Here are some of my thrift fashion buys.


Pink Orchid leather jacket. Cost was $359.00, I paid $15.00.
Pink bag, $.99, blush wedges, $2.00. hot pink sandal's, $2.00. pink shoes, $3.49
Jewelry , Designs by Tisha.

Pink leather vest, $3.99
Pink floral dress, $5.99
Dark pink top.,$2.00 worn with skirt I already had bought 2 years ago for $3.99



maxi blk/wh skirt, has polka dot edge at bottom, found a polka dot top to ware.
Skirt $3.49, top $2.00. Of course can ware a multitude of tops with skirt.
Skirt with a print top. Mixing prints, stay in same color's.
A group of black and white items . Bag was new, original cost over $100.00, I got it for $2.00. Shoes anywhere from $2.00 to $4.99. My jewelry.
Mules, 2.00, orange, #5.99, Kenneth Cole metallic wedges, $2.00. Chinese laundry brown heels, $2.00, red Guess heels, $2.00, bright red wedges, $2.00.
I posted the red high heels and bag before but here a better photo

Black with blue/green floral is lovely at $4.99. Paired it with a white Dress Barn jacket, $3.99. To change it up paired it with a black jacket I had.

The black white zebra print top.


Orange denim skinny jeans, brand new, $3.99, tee, $1.99, jean jacket had cost me $ 4.99
lands End swimsuit, still had tag, really nice, $5.99
Sketchers, shape ups, Fantastic to walk in. $4.49
Animal print tops, anywhere from $2.00 to $4.49. Green clutch, $2.00.
White heels, $2.00.
Gorgeous sheer coverup. $2.00. Can also be worn over a tank with jeans, to go out. Make great resort wear.

And last but not least the beautiful red Jones of New York leather jacket that had a tag of $399.00. I got it for $15.99.

It's nice to have a good choice of clothes to choose from. Nice to separate the seasons so when you do want an item it's easy to find.
You can dress in the best of clothes but you have to feel comfortable in what you ware. .
Find a style, build on it. Keep items in good condition.
Nothing looks worst than ripped seams, pins holding something together.
Keep all your accessories in good shape. no run down heels, scuffed toes.
Don't have to match handbags with shoes, so get adventurous.
Clothes don't make the person but how you present yourself says it all.

I am wearing the maxi skirt tonight to a ladies night out dinner at Outback.
The floral dress will wear on Easter. If cool. black jacket. Warm day , white.
I hope you all have as much fun as i do shopping and experimenting with fashion.
Most of all my fantastic thrifty buys are found at Value Village. They have a colored 50% off tag every week. on Thursday the color of tag changes. Any items that was 50% off and still not sold can be bought for $2.00. On every Wednesday there is 40% seniors discount. Sometime it pays to be 72. Smile!!
Peace and Love.
Tisha