Gearing up for spring, fantastic finds of the day

Today is a perfectly stormy spring day.  I decided to go to the local charity shop and see what they had to offer.  This particular place is one of my favorites in the area, a place I have found many treasures and today was no exception.  The best thing about Community Thrift is that they donate to many different charities, when you donate your goods you can choose from a list of hundreds of great causes.   Being that it's raining today made for a great thrifting experience.  There were not many people out and the selection was spectacular.   

 My search for the perfect cream crochet dress is finally over.  I have been looking for months, all over the place, from online to vintage stores.  The ones I have found were always too long and too expensive.  This one is short, fits perfectly and has gold threads mixed in. The best thing is, besides needing a few simple repairs, it's in great condition. The thrifting gods were most definitely aligned today, just another reason to believe that the world is on my side.  Have I mentioned I am reading "Pronoia the Antidote for Paranoia"  By Rob Brezsny, a great positive book, I highly recommend it. 

I've also been on the hunt for some more summer dresses as the one I have been wearing constantly,  needs some company.  Today, I also found this long vintage dress from the 60's, it has a great fit in the waist and the colors and print are very pretty.  I also really adore the little pocket details and the exposed zipper down the front, metal of corse (a sign of the age of the garment).  The problem was the length and the sleeves.  As soon as I got home I grabbed the scissors and got to work.  I took a seam ripper to the sleeves,  cut a about a foot off the length and took in the sides in at my bust. The finished project is perfect,  I can't wait until this weather clears up to wear it.  It might just be my Easter dress, weather permitting!

Finally a crochet dress!

Before the alterations

Walllah......perfect!

Nooks, Crannies And My New Obsession!

I've been reading a lot of online decorating blogs lately which has made me really think about "my" style of decorating.  I have a very eclectic aesthetic, I like tribal, antique, folk, gypsy and boudoir.  I'm pretty all over the place but somehow I make it work.

Since living in San Francisco, I have purchased so many gorgeous art pieces from thrift stores.  I have managed to decorate my entire apartment with thrifted art that matches my taste and goes together.  It's really wild actually.  I believe that everything happens for a reason and if this collection is any indication, the universe wants me to be happy.  I have recently decided that I wanted to have a "animal" to collect.  You know how lots of people really love owls or frogs or which ever animal speaks to them.  I decided my animal of choice would be peacocks, I have always loved them.  The bright colors, the crazy huge feathers, it just seemed perfect for me to collect something so bold and eclectic.  A few months ago while on a wine tasting excursion to Napa I found a beautiful old metal peacock music box at a yard sale.  I'm pretty sure that sparked my interest, or at least reaffirmed it.  Since then I have noticed a few other peacock things around the house, unknowingly having picked them out.  I guess it's meant to be.

Yesterday I went to the local thrift to try to find more wooden hangers and managed to find some satin ones too, I came home with about 12 more and 2 amazing framed Vogue cover prints, one of which has a peacock.  Another sign that the universe gives you what you want!  This post is going to be very photo heavy but I wanted to show my collection of things I have managed to collect in San Francisco thrift stores by not spending much money!  Here goes........


Edit:  I looked up the meaning of Peacock in terms of symbolism!

Peacock: Fully aware of his own beauty, peacock signifies a new opportunity for spiritual growth and healing. Peacock's gifts bring confidence, stature and accomplishment to the dreamer. Peacock's feathers are ringed with eyes that contain the medicine of foresight and clairvoyance. On the surface, peacock spirit is boastful energy. The lesson is to watch our pride and beware of the ego. Thus, Peacock medicine is our ability to be noble, yet humble.

The new Vogue prints, I paid 8$ each for.

Vanity Fair cover 

Mucha, one of my Favorite artists

Another Vouge cover

Another Mucha, with some of my tin collection which is mostly thrifted, some are from Etsy. 

More tins and  new thrifted mirror, notice the peacock on the taller red tin.

The peacock music box that sparked my collection, I paid 1$ for it.

Thrifted horse picture, and the start of my collection of Hex Signs (both thrifted) these two symbolize peace.

Thrifted Moroccan lamp and wooden box, I painted the lamp shade and plant holder

My mom sent my this peacock wall hanging recently before I even told her I was collecting peacocks.

Thrifted silver tray and vintage mirror and brushes from etsy. 

Abundant vintage

I went on a targeted thrifting excursion today.  I hadn't been to any thrift stores in San Francisco this year.   I wanted to find a few new things to wear to work.  I managed to get some great black pieces that will be perfect for the ol' job.  

This is what I wore out

Necklace-Thrifted in home town over the holidays (love)

Shiny textured shirt-Thrifted in SF

Tank-Marshals

Gold metallic crazy jacket-Thrifted in hometown over the holidays

Jeans-Vigoss I've had for many years (recently altered them to be skinny jeans)

Boots-New from Etsy

And now for the loot.......

This Motorcycle jumpsuit is so perfect, 100% silk, perfect condition and going in my store soon! It has zippers at the bottom to peg the legs (seen) which you can also take out to be more straight. Size SM/MED

This 50's dress is a gorgeous print and a perfect fit with fabric covered buttons all the way down.

What a cute little dress, another perfect fit.   I am selling one very similar with long sleeves in my store right now.

This vest is so modern looking but is vintage, I can't wait to iorn it and wear it.

This might be my favorite piece today, its the perfect ballerina shape with a bell shaped skirt.  There is lots of structure in the bottom hem so it really poofs.  (it was hard to get a good photo)

Last but most fun are the new bracelets I found, the brass colored one is perfect for my necklace above!

Quick outfit shot!

I went to the thrift store today to try to find some cute holiday decor but there wasn't anything great for the holidays.    However,  I found some other amazing things including a Diane Von Furstenberg dress for 7.99$  It fits perfect and is the perfect gray and black combo for work.  I also found a great wooden box and lamp at another store I stopped in on the way home. I am a fan of unique, foreign and tribal looking things for my living room so the box and lamp are a perfect fit right next to the cozy, big pile of pillows on the floor for lounging. 

Outfit details

Dress-vintage (cropped it about 6 inches)

Velvet blazer-vintage (I added the vintage button too)

Mini belt-vintage

Tights-Marshals

Boots-Etsy, vintage

Feather earrings-DIY

One of the best finds recently the DVF dress for 7.99$

The cool Moroccan style lamp and wooden box used as a side table for the futon/pillow pile.  I still need to get a proper lame shade but for now I put the metal thing (on top) that I also found at the thrift store today.

The "infinite dress"

I found a crazy looking thing today while out shopping for my store. It was a nice fabric and looked really weird (two of the usual things that make me swoon). I couldn't tell what it was while it was on the hanger but a trip to the dressing room revealed it was a dress that could be worn many ways. I looked it up (from the tag "infinite dress") and it's totally a "infomercial" dress. I purchased it for 5.99 not knowing what I was going to do with it, maybe a DIY or just see how it can be worn. It seems a bit too long for my taste so I might shorten it, It also seems a bit large too, so perhaps I will take it in too. Did I forget to mention this thing costs 200$ on the website, wow. I guess I scored a great deal too. I just tried out some new more modern ways to wear and, I can tell this is going to be a fun addition to the closet.

Found!

I've been on a mission to find the perfect brown summer shoes. I finally scored today after taking a bunch of clothing to crossroads to sell. I sold a ton of stuff and didn't find anything I wanted in trade, so I just got the cash. I then headed up the block to the thrift store which happened to he having a 50% off everything sale. It was there I found these early 90's gladiator shoes from Wild Pair, they are super comfy too, which is great. I have a hard time wearing heels because the comfy factor is usually not there. The hunt is over for now. I Love thrifting! It's like you send out a message to the universe and it answers your call. It's always been like that and I love it. THANKS UNIVERSE!!

What I want now!

I tried on some similar pants to the ones below (worn by the glamourai) at the thrift store the other day and didn't get them. Now I am thinking about them all the time. The problem with that is when it's something from the thrift, it's most likely gone now. They were perfect too, black with small white polka dots and a great fit, they even had a matching halter top. I am kicking myself for leaving them behind.

Shoe Decide

I was getting dressed and asked my boyfriend to take some quick shots.  He decided he didn't like my shoes and said I looked like a space woman.  I asked him what shoes he thought I should wear he pointed and I put them on.  I then told him to take more shots, of the new shoes, I actually think he was right, funny!  

Outfit details

Dress-vintage thrifted

Leggings-vintage thrifted

Velvet jacket-vintage thrifted

Gold boots-vintage etsy

Black and Silver boots-vintage from Red light in Seattle (finally fixed the heel recently)

Belt-vintage thrifted

Bow hair clip-vintage via etsy

Earrings-dollar store

Successful thrifting today

I went to a couple of my local thrift stores today and found just what I was looking for.  I must wear black/grey/white to work and I get bored easially, luckily black is huge now so it has been easy to find interesting black pieces around. 

 Today I got these amazing (studded with zippers on both sides) 80's vintage ankle boots, I was so thrilled that they fit me, when I first found them I had major doubts and was going to get them anyway to put in my Etsy store.   I was so blessed that they fit me.  I put some comfy insoles in  and now they are good to go. 

The rest of the outfit is also thrifted today except for the HnM lace leggings.  I only spent 11$ on this whole outfit minus the leggings. I had to alter the skirt a bit because it was too small, I just cut the top off and remade the waistband. The shirt is really interesting with a built in top layer that drapes down and goes around the waistband as well. 

New dress

I did another trip to buffalo exchange yesterday.  I traded in some costumey things and some things that didn't fit properly.  In exchange I got 2 dresses, including this vintage beauty as well as 2 awesome tunic style shirts to wear with all my new latex looking leggings.  Unfortunately its not cold enough for the leggings yet and I'm going insane having to wait.   The vest is thrifted originally from the limited, and the shoes are blowfish.  Sorry about the bad quality of pics once again, soon we are getting a tripod, which will help so much!

Outfit for saturday night

This outfit is almost all thrifted.  I got the shorts a while ago but had yet to wear them.  The blouse is amazing black lace that I found a few months ago, it's very old.  Belt is from etsy seller Daisy fairbanks, and its quite amazing as well.  The boots are also from etsy (candy shoes).

The sweater coat is new as of last week and thrifted as well.  The only new thing I am wearing are the tights I picked up at marshal's a couple days ago.  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Loot from thrifting

I almost forgot the things I am wearing today that I found thrifting earlier.  I got a bunch more bangles at the thrift store today you can see the one with the dangling beads, some are gold and some are silver.  The cute blue floral shirt was picked up today as well. It was hard to get a good shot of it all so I am in a strange pose.  I braided my hair today, I like the way it turned out.  I just did 2 french braids down the sides in the front then connected them in the back. 

Loot from thrifting

I had a great day thrifting today, I found a beautiful 50'd dress that fits perfectly, the picture doesn't do it justice. It was funny as this particular thrift store prices almost all the dress at 9-12$.   I found this one in the regular dress section, not the vintage section and I couldn't find a tag on it. They called the guy from the back and he sid 8.75$. I thought that was a great deal because even the terrible 90's dresses were 9$. Then I got home to try it on and found the tag inside marked at 7$.......oh well, I still got a great deal and this shop is all for charity so its goes to a great cause. I also found some great 60's shorts that I think originally were a swimsuit. They are super cute and will be going in my etsy store as they are too small. The shoes I found are a perfect fit and vintage hand tooled leather. Then the vintage brocade clutch, I still haven't decided if I will keep it or sell it im my store. The great 50's winter coat  is very interesting as it buttons only on the bottom and the top is held together with a built in scarf that goes over the shoulder, it looks amazing on. All in all a great day thrifting.

front of the coat

back of the coat

50's dress with great front details

Detail of front

Crazy 60's shorts with cute bows on the sides

Hand tooled leather shoes

Brocade clutch with chain handle