Happy March, (yay)!
Spring is finally near and I couldn’t be more elated. I recently moved into my first apartment, so I needed to do a little bit of spring cleaning earlier than usual. Naturally, I decided to clean out my closet first and thought it would be best to upcycle my clothes once again with Crossroads Trading Company, as I usually do it once every 2-3 months. My secret is finally out.
My beautiful relationship with Crossroads
I started upcycling my clothes at Crossroads in 2015. I found myself becoming bored with what mainstream stores had to offer and I also couldn’t afford their prices, once adulting started to kick in. Consignment shopping, granted me an outlet to be creative with my styling choices, as well as a solution to saving my coins. From my bronze silk DKNY mini skirt, to my 1970’s tanned vintage kimono, and Alice & Olivia summer dress, I’ve found hidden AND legendary gems while shopping at Crossroads Trading Company.
It’s not just about finding designer pieces for less. I cherish that feeling of finding pieces that are tailored to my personality. Nowadays, I’m straying away from “fast-fashion” and leaning towards secondhand clothes that are more memorable, unique, and that can also serve as a conversation piece. No more being #basic, ladies.
See you at the Crossroads, So Your Closet Won’t Get Lonely: (Bone Thugs & Harmony Remix)
Secondhand shopping can be a hit or miss, depending on the time of the day, week and season. But, I knew I struck gold at Crossroads when I spotted a brown pleated TRYB212 maxi dress. I thought the dress was fluid enough for both the spring and summer seasons and it wouldn’t be too long for my petite frame. Plus, how could I pass up the $20 price, knowing that this brand is sold at Neiman Marcus? I absolutely, could not.
TRYB212 Dress!
Next, I saw an adorable Banana Republic denim dress only for $15, that would be perfect for wearing to work and chic enough rock at a happy hour event! By the time I finished perusing the racks, I ended up with several strong pieces for spring for under $150 dollars. My TRYB212 and Banana Republic dresses were in good company with the following brands: ABS by Allen Schwartz, Topshop, and Bebe.
Banana Republic Dress!
Banana Republic Dress!
Gallivanting into a secondhand clothing store can be very overwhelming, especially if you haven’t done it before. Racks can be unorganized and overflow with gently-worn printed t-shirts and bright neon bandage dresses, but I’ve got some tips for you to push through and #SlayEffortlessly. Trust me, it’s worth it.
How to #SlayEffortlessly While Secondhand Shopping
Make a must-haves list. I’d suggest that you comb through the clothes that you already have and then make a mental note of the pieces you’d like to add, before stepping foot into a consignment store.
Snatch up alllll the clothes that catch your eye. The beauty about consignment shopping is, what you see is what you get. If you feel like the piece might not fit or not sure how to wear it, take a chance, you can edit through your selection later.
Prepare to get undressed. Stray away from wearing a jumpsuit with loads of zippers, lace-up sneakers, or any buttoned-down blouses. Pro-tip: Stick to wearing an outfit that you can slip in and out of to see how the potential items could blend in with your wardrobe. Think more separates and less dresses to avoid being on the struggle bus in the dressing room!
Always Triple-Check. Listen. Nobody wants to bring home a pair of ripped 7 For All Mankind jeans, without noticing the tear. But, it happens and I’ve been there. To make sure you are #winning at ALL times, do a thorough check of every item you bring up to the counter.
Don’t Buy It Just Because. I have made this mistake a few times. Often, I fall in love with the specific style, pattern, and texture of a piece but fail to visualize how it would fit into my wardrobe. Take a deep breath and think about what you already have in your closet and how this specific article of clothing might add to your collection, before you whip out your debit card.
Have fun! I’ve purchased my best items from consignment and vintage shops! The sky is really the limit. Happy #Slaying!
Share with me your secondhand shopping stories and pictures of your best thrifting outfits.