Thrifty Tip Thursday: The Kiddos + Outerwear

This will come as no surprise. I went to Goodwill this past weekend to shoot for this round of Thrifty Tip Thursday with NO intention of buying a single article of clothing. Do you know where this is going? Right into my wallet. That's where it went. I caved and I bought some of my favorite finds to date!!! But, before I divulge all of my goodies, I must share the easiest DIY ever {it relates to kiddos, so it's fair game here}. I promise it's worth 10-15 minutes of your time to watch {this was recored on FB Live, so just a disclaimer}! :)

Back to business for this week's edition of Thrifty Tip Thursday: Kiddos + Outerwear. I primarily shop thrift stores for not only myself, but for my two year old daughter. I've done this since she was in the womb. HA! Children's clothes are NOT cheap and they outgrow items so quickly that it's hard to justify spending a bunch of money on an item that will realistically only be worn for a month or two (maybe more if you're lucky). I have gotten everything from onesies, to leggings, to jackets, to shirts + skirts, to jeans + shoes. Heck, I even buy a lot of her toys at the thrift store {don't worry, they get a good cleaning before use}. I'd say that nine times out of ten, the items I purchase for her are well-known children's brands: Carter's, Osh Kosh, Gap Kids, Old Navy, Gymboree, Stride Rite to name a few. Of course, just like with my clothing, not everything is name brand, but if you'll recall last week I said...

I have so many thrifted items for Emerson that I could honestly write an entire post, but that would also require me rummaging through bins of clothing from ages past {or like a year} to find it all. 

And honestly, I'm excluding a lot of tips for kiddos this week because next week's post is ALL about thrifting for the kids! I'm going to share what I look for, what to avoid, how to think ahead, how to buy for resale, etc! So, I thought for this week, just to hold you over, I'd shoot some items that I found just this past thrifting trip that would be examples of items I would typically purchase for her {I also included a couple of my favorite thrifted outerwear pieces for her since it goes with today's theme}.

Carter's Denim Romper

Carter's Embroidered Shirt
I don't shy away from short sleeves even in the winter. I just find ones that pair nicely with cardigans. 

Thinking ahead to Halloween next year {this is Carter's 3T}.

Gap apple skirt {again, thinking ahead to next summer-3T}.

I believe this was Gap as well. CUTE right?! I didn't end up getting it though
because it had pen mark all over and I wasn't sure it would come out/how long it'd been on there.

And now for the current outerwear pieces that Emerson uses that were ALL THRIFTED and all in mint condition!! I'm telling y'all...people just GIVE AWAY the good stuff. 

Old Navy zippered pea coat $4.99 (if I remember correctly,
I got this at 50% off because the sale tag was green that day)

Red Old Navy Pea Coat with adorable back!!
This is my favorite ever and it was just $3!

Cherokee heavy duty rain jacket $2 

Denim Jacket {can't remember the brand}

Target brand {Circo} Lightweight windbreaker $2

Now, when it comes to outwear for me and my husband, I tend to be a bit picky. I don't like anything too loose or too tight. I am picky about how coats {particularly winter coats} fit in the arms and under the armpits. I am picky about it being fitted in the back versus looking unnecessarily bulky. I'm a bit weird about the style of buttons or how it closes. I told you, I'm picky. BUT, I hit the motherland with my most recent trip. When searching for outerwear {which for the sake of this posts includes coats/jackets, blazers, vests, and scarves} I will only buy items that look basically brand new. Outwear is one of those things that needs to last not only in terms of duration of wear, but also in terms of the style, in my opinion. For example, I don't want to buy a new winter coat every winter, as that's unnecessary, so I'd rather find one that will be in style for years to come, while also fitting me well. Here are a few examples of peacoats that I found that were super cute, but not EXACTLY what I've been looking for. 

I'm not typically drawn to green, but I loved this Old Navy coat.
Had it been on sale for half price {which would've made it $3}, I probably would've purchased. 

This NY + Co. black pea coat had nice classic lines, but fit too loosely in the back for my liking.
 Also, I didn't love how it looked or wore when it wasn't buttoned.

This black Old Navy pea coat was adorable, but a tad too small. At $4, it would've been perfect.

Clearly, I have been on the hunt for a new pea coat. I have been searching thrift stores for about 2 years now waiting for the perfect one. I have one winter coat now that hits at about my waist and is navy blue with a hood. It's from Old Navy and it's cute, but I don't wear it that often because it fits me oddly under the arms and is loose in the back. BUT....behold, my $4.50 H+M Gray Peacoat that is perfectly fitted everywhere and hits a little above the knee {so a different look from my navy blue one I mentioned}. *Hallelujah chorus* I have been EXTREMELY patient in waiting for the right coat to come along. I knew I wanted to try to find a thrifted jacket because they're SO cheap and I have found tons in excellent/perfect condition. This one was the final one because it was neutral like I'd been wanting, fitted in all the right places, and the length was great.

When searching for outerwear, keep a few things in mind:

1. Can I wear layers under this and it still be comfortable?

2. Does this make me look larger than I actually am because of how it fits in certain areas {arms, the back, and the length}?

3. Is the color going to work regardless of your choice of pant, skirt/dress, or shoe?

4. Is the style one that will live beyond this year? 

5. Does it show signs of wear {pilling, missing button, stains, etc}? Is it an easy fix or one that will always be noticeable {in which case, leave it behind}?

6. Possibly the most important, do you LOVE it?

I have found that if you question an item in the store {whether thrifting or not}, then you're likely not going to wear it. If you love it in the store, you'll love it at home when you pick it out of your closet.

Here are some more outerwear garments that I've found and/or purchased from the thrift store. I've never paid more than $8 for an outwear garment while thrifting.

Old Navy puffer vest for $3!

A blazer is a great way to bring some shape to a casual outfit. It can obviously be dressed up too!
This blazer with missing tag, but otherwise in terrific shape. It came home with me as a half priced item making it $3!

I actually liked the style of this Forever 21 blazer a bit better than the one above,
but this was much too tight in the arms/armpits. I wouldn't be able to move my arms much. haha.

This is more of a casual, lightweight sweatshirt material jacket. It was $2 a while back.
{Ignore the grump photobomber-haha!}

Thrift stores always have lots of scarves and usually for $3 or less.
This one wasn't my style with the neon colors, but I really liked the thickness and the design.
I've gotten a smaller scarf {meant for an adult} and Emerson has worn it! Just a little hack. ;)

I died over this faux leather jacket. It wasn't on sale, so I didn't buy it, but I totally regretted it once I got home.
 I went back later in the day to get it and it was gone. :(

I often look for pullovers for my husband, and occasionally myself.
This Eddie Bauer polka dot workout pullover was adorable, but a tad bit small for me.

Do NOT skip the kids sections or the outerwear sections at the thrift store!! I find SO many treasures in those two areas alone. Be sure to come back next Thursday as I break down how I find so many articles of clothing and shoes for Emerson at more than a fraction of what I'd buy them new! You literally won't believe your eyeballs. :) Have a wonderful rest of your week. See you soon!

Thrifty Tip Thursday #4: Dresses + Bags

When I open my closet, I am reminded of memories. Memories of countless thrifting adventures where my money has gone twenty times farther than it would've had I shopped at some big name store. Don't get me wrong, I still shop some of my faves like Target, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Walmart, etc, but like I've said, the majority of my wardrobe is thrifted. I'm extremely proud of that. Some items that I don't wear a lot, especially in the colder months, but still LOVE to buy are dresses. I like finding dresses with versatility. If I can wear a dress all 4 seasons, I consider that a win in my book. I've incorporated dresses that have ALL been found at the thrift store for $6 or less. They did not all come home with me because some weren't my size + others weren't the sale color {which I usually try to only shop the sale color to save additional money}.

You may remember this leopard print swim coverup that I doubled as a dress with leggings + a tank underneath.

This was really, really flattering on me except in the chest area. It was much too large in that region
and kept falling down, but otherwise I totally would've snagged this dress. It could have worked in all 4 seasons, especially as wedding attire {with a sweater of course in the cooler months}.

This one wasn't totally my style with the brightness, but it was a nice fit
and would've been great for anyone that loves patterns.

I SO wish this had worked out. What you don't see here is that I'm actually holding this
dress up in the back because again I had issues with the chest region. WHY GOD, WHY!?

These Old Navy + H+M dresses were above the knee and both adorable.
They weren't sale tags, otherwise they both would've come home with me
as I could've easily worn these year round  by mixing and matching with other attire for the season. 

The back was super cute, so I had to document.

Loved everything about this Forever 21 dress, but it was a size too small. Darn it.

Again, with the cute peek-a-boo back.

Not my size, but new with tags Loft dress for $3.

Another very flattering knee-length dress from Loft that could've worked year round.
Unfortunately, it was not in my size.

This was MUCH too short for someone my age,
BUT it would've been so cute paired with leggings and a sweater.
I'm kind of mad I didn't get this, actually.

If this had been my size, I would've snatched it up in a heartbeat even though it wasn't a sale tag.
This Merona dress looked brand mew and would've been a great year round dress.
 Plus, the stripes just attracted me like a magnet.

Now when it comes to dresses, thrift stores have lots usually. It takes some sorting through the wretched floral, button front, jean jumper hideousness to find the gems like the ones seen here. They are there, you just have to be willing to search through the not-so-cute to find them.

Another hidden treasure is bags. I once found a Coach cross body purse (still have it) for $3 in mint condition. I looked it up online and found a similar one that retailed at $195. Um, what?! I have found beach bags, purses, totes, cross-bodies, duffle bags, and suitcases. You name it, I've seen it and probably bought it. I will say this as a disclaimer, purses are fewer and farther between than most other items. Many are torn or have obvious wear and tear, but sometimes you find a gem hidden in the rubble.

Like this one. It doesn't have a tag, so I'm unsure of the brand, but I LOVED it.
I'm kicking myself for not buying it. Like I have bruises. ;)

This was a bag from the Bahamas (it said so on the other side),
but turned this way it was super cute and would've made a great beach tote for the summer!

Don't forget, when shopping for dresses, search for versatility and function. The more often you can wear it, the more bang for your buck. Think about if it would pair with a sweater in the fall or leggings in the winter. Could you wear it by itself in the spring and summer, with sandals or boots? See what I mean? When thrifting for dresses and bags or anything really, sift through the not-so-cute and I promise you'll find some hidden treasures. :) And remember...

Next week, we're going to chat outerwear and how to thrift for the kiddos! I can't even lie, I'm obsessed with buying Emerson clothes, toys, and books, so the cheaper, the better. Y'all won't believe some of the items I've found for her. Until next week...

Thrifty Tip Thursday: Walmart Swag

Thrift stores get a bad rap mostly because people haven’t stepped foot in one. Walmart gets a bad rap because too many have stepped foot in one. Ha. I happen to love both places. Well, “love” may be a tad strong when it comes to Walmart, but I do really like shopping there lately because I get killer deals and cute items that don't break the budget. It’s only fair that I write a post about my Walmart finds because in recent months, I’ve found myself browsing the aisles for far more than bread and coffee creamer. I’ve found shoes, clothes, pajamas, jewelry, accessories, and the like. I have been pleasantly surprised and I think it’s only fair to share that with you.

First up, CLEARANCE RACKS and clothing! This is always my first stop whether I’m at Walmart, Target or other large stores. I always hit the clearance racks. I RARELY buy anything full price. The great thing about Walmart is that things go on Roll Back literally all the time, so even if it’s a $2 savings, hey, it’s still a savings! I shop Juniors and Women's departments. If you shop Juniors, just size up 1-2 sizes. Just yesterday I found these two gems for $3 each on the clearance racks. 

I'm thinking I'll pair this with a cardigan for Christmas.

How cute is the back of this shirt???
Also, I haven't ever looked at my arms from this angle. Weight lifting is paying off.

This is a really versatile dress. I can wear it year round!

Next, shoes! I’m not a snob when it comes to shoes. I know that a lot of people only want the best in shoes because they’ll last longer. I get that, I do, but I just tend not to care about that. I’m not super hard on shoes, so I usually get a lot of wear out of mine, even if they’re “cheap”. Regardless of cheap or not, these are cute, comfy, but more importantly they’re pretty affordable. I've included some comparisons that I found when I simply googled "booties". It's pretty unbelievable how similar they look, but how drastically the prices differ.

Compared to Walmart

Compared to Walmart

In this picture, I'm wearing the booties pictured above. They're super comfortable!

Compared to my $26 Walmart Booties seen below!!

Compared to Walmart

                            

I wanted these so badly, but they didn't have my size. The search continues...

These flats are adorable and perfect for the winter. They reminded me of my plaid sneakers.

This entire outfit is Walmart style. This sweater was like $12 and was SO soft and LONG!
I'm in the Walmart dressing room. ;)

 I also LOVE accessories. They can make or break an outfit, much like shoes. I love accessories far too much to spend a lot of money of them. I’d be broke as a joke. With that being said, I don’t typically buy cheap earrings simply because I have sensitive ears, but aside from that, I’m all about arm and neck candy, including scarves! I also have found great sunglasses, tote bags, weekender bags, wallets, and hair accessories. Walmart has majorly stepped up their game in this department. I HIGHLY recommend checking it out next time your in the store. All of the following came from Walmart for $10 or less (most less than $5).

My favorite bracelets ever! I stack these on my arm every day!

I have a thing for watches, so I buy lots of cheap ones mostly from Walmart.

Statement necklaces for $10 or less

These were each like $2-3.

Because they're cheaper, I don't mind her playing with them! The more the merrier, right?

Floppy wool hat from Walmart $13- They sell it in black, camel, grey, and burgundy.

Army jacket $26 {last year} and blanket scarf {$10} both from Walmart

I shop a lot for Emerson at Walmart: leggings, pjs, bows, shoes {lately I’ve found 3 pairs of boots for her for under $15}, etc. Kids outgrow things SO quickly and/or they destroy just as fast as you buy it, so when you can score fashionable, yet super affordable items for them, you have to jump on it. I highly recommend Walmart clothing especially for the holidays (themed shirts and whatnot) and for spring/summer attire. I got SO many adorable dresses for Emerson this past summer for $6 or less. The shoe section is definitely worth checking out, not only for yourself, but also for your kids.

Play shoes and easy on/off!! $7

Probably going to snag these once it gets a bit colder. She has a pair of lace up boots from Walmart too.

Emerson has these. THEY ARE SO CUTE! They also sell them in a deeper pink. $12

I’ve literally bought everything from Walmart. From the hats and hairbands on my head down to the socks and nail polish on my toes. Oh, and everything in between. I cannot speak as much about men’s clothing as I haven’t purchased much because my husband mostly wears Clemson attire, but I’m sure there are some jewels just waiting to be discovered in that section as well.

Much like thrifting, you have to weed through some of the junk to find the good stuff. But when you score a really cute top, or a super soft pair of leggings, or a workout tank, or a pair of booties, or a blanket scarf for super cheap, all of the weeding is worth it. Plus, if you just hate going into Walmart, you can always shop online {though I’ve noticed not everything in stores is online}.

Super adorable plaid cardigan in multiple color combos, I just liked the red.

This is on my Christmas list. It's long, so you could wear it as a tunic with leggings or a dress!

Lots of holiday attire at a reasonable price! I thought these two lightweight sweatshirts were pretty cute.

Not gonna lie, I'm probably going back to buy this soon.

So that's my speed on Walmart attire. They have some super cute decor too, if you again, can weed through some of the junky stuff. I know a lot of people strongly dislike stepping foot in Walmart because it's a stressful place, but in my opinion, it's worth it! Next time you're just running in to "grab a few things", check out the sections I described in this post. I guarantee you'll leave with one item that was not on your list. ;) Have you ever shopped at Walmart for things other than groceries and toiletries? What's your favorite Walmart find?

* This post is not affiliated with or sponsored by Walmart. All thoughts and pictures are my own simply because I like what I find there. :)