How to Have Great Style on a Budget

I often get complimented on my outfits and my style. I take great pride in the fact that I am able to look stylish and put together for next to nothing.

You don't have to spend tons of money to have great style - no matter what your style is. I work in theatre and despite the fact that I have a very enviable wardrobe, in reality I have a very limited budget for clothes. About 85% of my wardrobe is bought second hand, either from a thrift store, Etsy or a local vintage shop. 75-80% of what I buy second hand is cheaper than you would pay for a similar item at the mall.  The other 15% of what I buy is new and about 5% of that is expensive investment pieces or something special I can't live without.

Looking great on a budget is about having an intimate knowledge about your personal style. This is key to finding killer second hand pieces that fit seamlessly into your wardrobe. . It's taken a lot of trial and error, but I now know what I like and over the years have come to know what will be worth spending money on for my wardrobe- whether it's $5 or $500.

If you're still figuring out what your personal style is start a Pintrest board with looks that inspire you  (or go old school and rip out pages from a magazine and tape them to your wall) . What do they have in common? Go shopping and find similar pieces (Check out this post for tips on turning those inspiration photos into outfits from your closet).
Now is the time to experiment and thrift shopping for your wardrobe is a great way to test out a look with little investment. Make mistakes and take risks in your wardrobe. It's just fashion, not brain surgery. But no matter what, wear what makes you feel amazing. No matter how much you paid for what you have on your body that feeling will shine through and make you look incredible. Confidence is the best accessory (did I just write that?! how cheesy..lol). But seriously. It's true.

I'm a huge advocate for second hand shopping, but the key to having style is to mix it up and pair thrifted items with new ones. Retailers like Joe Fresh, Forever 21, Zara, Winners and Marshals all offer great clothes at incredible prices.

Accessories. Invest in them. The right accessories - new or second hand - can elevate an outfit instantaneously.

If you are going to spend money on anything in your closet, make it a great, functional purse you can use every day of the year that matches most of your wardrobe. I bought mine at Winners for $150 a year and a half ago. It's Italian leather, I still love it and use it almost every day. And it still looks like new. Worth every penny. Here it is:

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Please don't forget about hair and makeup. This is the icing on the cake of your look. Learn how to do your hair and apply makeup in a way that makes you look and feel amazing. I am a firm believer that great hair and makeup and some eye-catching accessories can elevate jeans and a t-shirt into something you could wear anywhere these days.




Here are a couple of outfits from past posts with a mix of thrifted and new items. I've broken down what I paid for each item and where I got them.


This is a great fall look. I wore it out to run errands, but it could easily translate to an office setting, or a date. The sweater is cashmere from Club Monaco, but I found it at a thrift store. The skirt is vintage. It's is wool and is lined. I always look for luxe fabrics in good shape when shopping second hand.

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Sweater: $7 @ thrift store

Flower Brooch: $1 @ Ricki's sample sale

Belt: $10 @ retailer

Skirt: $5 @ thrift store

Shoes: $20 @ retailer

OUTFIT TOTAL: $43

Here is a summer look that I love. The dress is vintage. I bought it on a sale rack at a vintage shop because there were a few popped seams here and there. Nothing my sewing machine couldn't fix. The bag was a bargain at a thrift shop on a sale day. It was also in need of some love. I had to stitch one side of it back together with some twine. Good as new. I'm pretty handy with a needle and thread, so I'm never afraid to take home something which needs a bit of work. Experience has taught me what I can fix and what I can't.

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Vintage Dress: $15 @ vintage shop

Flower Brooch: $1 @ thrift store
Belt: came with another dress
Bag: 50 cents @ thrift store
Shoes: $9 @ thrift store
OUTFIT TOTAL: $25.50

And a winter look. The coat was a thrift store purchase. The leopard print skinnies were from a retailer. I watched them diligently until they went on sale and snapped them up from their online store. 

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Beret: $4 @ thrift store

Scarf: $10 @ retailer

Coat: $17 @ thrift store

Leather Gloves: free - a gift

Pants: $20 @ online retailer

Boots: $20 @ retailer

Purse: $7 @ thrift store

OUTFIT TOTAL: $78

For more thrift shopping advice check out these thrifting tips I posted earlier this year.


AND Here are two articles I love with some great advice on style:

• 50 Fashion Rules to Break
• 7 Reasons Why You Don't Need Money to Be Stylish

Lisa.xo

See You in a Month!

I'm still alive and well! I seem to have inadvertently taken a little blog break in the last few weeks. Work. Again. You know the story.

I'm actually tired of shopping. Seriously.  (photo source)

Just to give you a flavour of my life right now, my weeks are playing out like this:

Sunday: Two show day for Cock & Bull (I'm home before 10pm thankfully)
Monday: Shopping for TV series from 9-5 (day off from Cock & Bull)
Tuesday: Shopping 9-5. Drive to the venue. Prep & Performance for Cock & Bull 5:30 - 10:30pm. Drive home, write show report, do show laundry. Fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow (12-12:30ish).
Wednesday: Repeat of Tuesday
Thursday: Repeat
Friday: Repeat
Saturday: Morning & Day off. Performance for Cock & Bull in the evening.


My next ACTUAL day off is October 5th. And on the 6th I start prep for my next stage managing job (while working my last week shopping for the TV series). I'm already running on empty...I've discovered I'm now too old to work two jobs at the same time. This may very well be the last time I do this to myself....always gotta learn the hard way, don't I?!


So I'm officially calling it a mini blog break and I'll see you fine folks in about a month when I've recuperated.


I'm posting regularly (almost daily) on Instagram if you miss my face. I miss you guys, but I've got nothing else to give right now...


Lisa.xo

I Was Bad, But It's Good News for You!

If you follow me on Instagram you may already know what I'm about to say.
I've been shopping again friends.

My spidey senses got tingling and I had to hit up the thrift store...and as usual, my spidey sense was right on. I took home a nice little collection of 30's/40's purses for my collection, a pretty pink slip and a 50's faux pearl necklace.

And I broke and bought the Jenny skirt with Burlesque print from Pin Up Girl Clothing. I just had. to. have. it. *sigh*

Habits are hard to break and I really like thrift shopping. It relaxes me. It's my alone time. What can I say? Vintage is my drug of choice.
In some ways I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I couldn't keep myself from shopping in the last few months, but on the other hand, this challenge has kept me from shopping too much. I've been relatively good in comparison. Baby steps.

So this is what I'm getting at. I've bought some clothes, but I've also decided its time once again to let go of some of the things languishing in my closet. And instead of selling them to a local seller (like I always do), I thought I would offer them up to you first. I've got a big batch of dresses and other bits I'd like to pass along to their next home. I'll be putting them up for sale on my other blog Butterflies and Daisys Vintage Closet. I take PayPal payments and if you live in Winnipeg we can meet up to save you the shipping cost. I'll give you all the dirty details next week when I start posting stuff.

In the meantime, here's a little preview of some of the things I'll be selling.

Lisa.xo

Wishlist: Trying So Hard Not to Shop

Online shopping is haunting me...

I am desperate to add these two cute, kitchy pieces to my wardrobe:



Thankfully the Jenny skirt in Burlesque Performer print (by Micheline Pitt!) is not for sale yet, but like a true shopaholic I visit the webpage every few days to say hi.

A local musical theatre company is presenting the Broadway version of The Little Mermaid this August and like a true fangirl I've already bought my front row ticket. I kinda want this tee so I can wear it when I go...like the dork that I am. 

buy it here

So far I've resisted the temptation...we'll see how I do....


Lisa.xo

Confessions of a Vintage Addict

Yup. I bought some clothes. *sigh*

It was a little relapse...ok, two little relapses...one leading to the other. 

I'm back on the no shopping train again. For reals this time. 

It started with a yard sale last weekend in my neighbourhood. The cardboard sign with the words written in black sharpie scrawled across it reading "Vintage Sale" was too hard for me to resist...it was only 3 blocks from my house. I resisted that sign for 3 days and on the fourth day I submitted to the urge and went. At first I was relieved to find the house (the sale was inside) full of housewares - those I admire, but easily resist. Then I got talking to the couple hosting the sale. I asked if they had any clothes for sale, they said "no". I was secretly relieved. Then one of them said "Oh! but wait, we have some hats in the basement". All I thought was "crap!" 

So they brought up a box full of lovely hats and a pair of amazing full length lurex glove. I had $17 in my wallet, picked my favs and offered him the sum. 

This is what I came home with:

A 50's turquoise and brown sequinned Juliet cap, a 50's turquoise feather headband and, of course, the lurex gloves!

I forgave myself the purchase, considering the bargain and decided that would be the last of it - one tiny little slip. But like any good addict, these accessories were only the gateway to a larger purchase I made yesterday at the grand opening of the Echange Uporium Pop Up Shop. Patti Henderson has her incredible wares on sale there and again I couldn't resist. 

I broke down and bought another dress. 

Incredibly light cotton early 60's floral border print dress. Fits me like a glove. 

The adrenaline rush after shopping was palpable. Followed by a strange, heady mix of guilt and excitement over my purchase. 

Hello, my name is Lisa and I'm a vintage-aholic. *sigh*

Lisa.xo

Shop Your Closet: Take Inventory

So far I've avoided shopping. It's not that hard when I'm at home for weeks on end, but I start work downtown a short walk from some of my favourite vintage shops next week, so that will be a game changer.

To help battle the urge to fill my closet and empty my wallet simutaniously I've decided to take inventory of all my recent purchases. How recent? Anything I've bought recently enough for it to feel new. Anything with tags still attached (thrift store tags count). Timeline will change from person to person.

If you're following along at home you don't need to photograph all your purchases like I did (I'm doing it for blog posterity), make a list, or lay them all out together on your bed and admire them. Try them on if you'd like. Whatever floats your boat.

I bought this gauzy summer dress for a song (less than $30 with shipping!!) trolling through Etsy this winter (I may or may not have been in the middle of calling I show when I bought it!). For all of my frivolous vintage purchasing (and there's a lot of it!), summer dresses will never be in that lot. I live in them in the hotter months and I predict this dress will be worth every penny spent. 

Speaking of frivolous vintage spending! I bought this pretty late 40's/early 50's taffeta party dress from a local antique dealer for $20 while I was prop shopping for Ivanov. The colour is not so day-glow in person, I had a really difficult time getting a good picture of it. In person it's much more deep pinky-red. Really pretty. I just couldn't resist the pretty beading - all intact! The fact that it has its original belt and IT HAS POCKETS! 

Bought this LBD for $14 at a Value Village at Halloween. I was looking for a sweater for The Boy's costume and snapped this up (literally. It was hanging in the end of a rack as I walked by - I barely stopped as I grabbed it). I'm dying to wear it out somewhere. It's stunning in person and fits me like a glove.

This summer dress was one of my most recent purchases. I bought it from the Osborne Antique Market while out with Daphne from Vixage. I am so excited about this dress. Polka Dots!! Seriously. Oh, and it has pockets. Noticing a trend yet?

This Scottish kilt jacket was a gift from a friend. I fell in love with it at Vintage Glory, but couldn't afford it, so he bought it for me. Isn't that amazing! I'm excited to wear it with jeans and heels. I think it's gonna look so freakin cool. 

This dress is also from Vintage Glory. Looks like a bag on the hanger, it's stunning on. I'll be wearing it when it gets a bit warmer out, before it gets too warm for sleeves.  I'll try and remember to photograph it so you can see how beautiful it is. 

A hat from Vintage Glory. Love the feathers. Looks amazing on. 

50's taffeta, flocked striped midi skirt from Vintage Glory. $25 and was worth every penny. I've worn it at least half a dozen times since I bought it in November. I dread the day when internet prices for vintage invade this city. 

I've also bought a small collection of t-shirts I've bought second hand in the past few weeks. Some of mine bit the dust and I needed some "new" ones. The grey one has become a staple already - the stripes are sparkly!!

And this pretty pink cardigan. $3 on sale at Goodwill. It's incredibly soft and I love the pattern. 

Vintage rhinestone bedazzled sweater I picked up at Value Village for $5. It's very cute on with a skirt or high waisted jeans. 

More clutches and a purse for the collection (is there a Vintage Purses Anonymous I can join?).

Picked up these cute wedges second hand this winter too. 

And some brooches I've picked up second hand and on Etsy recently as well (not the ones in the tray).

And I've also picked up these things new from the dreaded mall in the last few months. A peplum top bought on sale ($19) from Le Chateau, a green polka dot sweater from Ricki's and new black skinny jeans from Forever 21. This post is actually a pretty good representation of how much new to second hand clothing I buy. It's staggering really how much of my wardrobe comes from the thrift store. 

I wanted this list to be pretty exhaustive, I didn't really want to leave anything out (and I think I have). I had convinced myself that I hadn't done much shopping this winter, when in fact I've added a lot of things to my wardrobe and I didn't really realize how much until I started photographing everything. 

This exercise had done two things for me 

1. Reminded me that I have A LOT of new things in my closet - many of which can be worn now and into the summer months 

2. Was another wake up call as to why I am taking on this "Shop at Home" project - to curb my spending. Yikes. I did a lot. 

I'm really glad I did this before I start work downtown next week. Spending time looking through my closet for newer items has cemented in my brain further that I do not need to buy more clothes. I'll try and remember that when I'm tempted to stop into the vintage shops on my lunch break. Wish me luck!

Lisa.xo

Shop Your Closet: Getting Inspired

As a long time shopaholic I know how easy it is to talk yourself into buying new clothes because you're missing something for that "perfect outfit".

But, as a long time shopaholic with a closet stuffed, I also know (deep, deep down, much to my dismay) that my closet is fully stocked and ready to tackle any inspirational outfit.

So for this week's post on shopping your own closet I've compiled some amazing looks I've been coveting on Pintrest and replicated them from items in my own closet - the key is interpretation.



The first look is all about the hat for me. I love my raccoon fur hat and have been on the lookout for ways to keep wearing it this spring.

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My interpretation is similar. I've duplicated all of the major elements to the best of my ability: the black jacket, the burgundy pants(in my case, red) and black and gold accessories. The biggest liberty I've taken with my interpretation is in the scarf. I opted for a vintage floral scarf instead of black to give my outfit some more interest. 

 * Vintage Raccoon Fur Hat: Canadian Costume Museum Gift Shop * Vintage Floral Scarf: was my Grandma Cotton's * Black Blazer: Ricki's * Black Stretch Belt with Gold Buckle: was my Grandma Nelson's * Red Corduroy Skinnies: Forever 21 * Black Suede Boots: Ragpickers * Vintage Persian Purse: thrifted *

The next outfit is from Nora Finds. This is a great look for spring. I love the green and red colour combination - it feels fresh without looking christmas-y. 

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I opted for a dark teal cardigan instead of green. None of my green cardigans looked quite as good as Nora's. I rarely ever wear scarves as headbands this way and I forget how cute they can look. I also threw on two co-ordinating bracelets - once I had everything on I felt I was lacking some jewelry. I also felt a bit strange not wearing a belt (I wear one every day), but am surprised how nice this look still is without one. Proof that interpreting outfits can stretch your comfort zone and get you thinking about your wardrobe in different ways. 

* Vintage Silk Scarf: Ragpickers * Dark Teal Beaded Cardigan: Reitmans, thrifted * Red Embroidered Bustier: Suzy Shier * High Waisted Jeans: Forever 21 * Bracelets: thrifted * Hot Pink Ballet Flats: thrifted * Vintage Bamboo Purse: thrifted *

You know I love a casual outfit. I don't know why, but this next look speaks to me. So I knew I had to add it to this list. 

unsourced via Pintrest

My biggest dilemma in replicating this outfit was that I don't own a 'Coke' t-shirt or anything else with a logo on it. So I took some inspiration from the colour and went with this striped tee that I own. Again, the look felt a little sparse without some accessories, so I added a large red flower brooch and a leather braided belt to make this look my own. I usually wear this tee with red flats, but I love how it looks with my black and white brogues. This look is a definite keeper. 

I've saved the best for last. I've coveted this outfit for quite some time now. I have several shots of it from different angles pinned on Pintrest. This stylish lady was part of the Tweed Run in London. This look is all about the pattern mixing and bold colour combination. 

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I decided to make my outfit more monochromatic due to the selection in my wardrobe. I focused my interpretation on texture and pattern play. I'm eagerly awaiting the opportunity to wear this outfit out before it warms up too much. 

* 60's Faux Croc Hat: Ragpickers * Vintage Fox Stole: gift from Kim * Velvet Blazer: thrifted * Pink Cardigan: thrifted * Vintage Lace Camisole: thrifted * Vintage Leather Belt: thrifted * Black Skinny Jeans: Forever 21 * Vintage Burgundy Snakeskin Clutch: gift from Jen * Purple Booties: Steve Madden *

I had fun examining my wardrobe, comparing it to these inspiring images and playing dress up in my closet. As you can see, inspiration photos can be a great way to help you see your closet with fresh eyes. The trick is to avoid the trap of wanting to replicate an outfit to the letter and instead let the colours, the patterns or the silhouette help you when you construct your own version.


Lisa.xo

Shopping at Home

The sun is out today and I felt the itch...to shop. For all the things I think my wardrobe is in desperate need of. I always go on a little shopping spree in the spring. It's never planned, one purchase leads to another, leads to another...then I find myself browsing online. "Oooo! That's a cute top. I could use that. And shoes...I probably need more shoes.."

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Yikes! In reality, I have so many clothes that all of my racks and closets are packed. I am running out of room to store almost everything.

Conclusion: I have enough clothes.



So I'm going to shop my own closet this spring. Stick around as I post weekly about shopping my own closet. Or join me! Shop your own closet this spring and let me know how you're doing!

I predict more of this in my future

The game plan:
Mend and alter a few things I've had sitting around (a blouse and two dresses come to mind at the moment).
I also need to do some spot cleaning on a few items. (I've got a tutorial planned to share with you).
And a small pile to go to the dry cleaners.


And now that I've said all that I will throw in one caveat. I, in fact, have 2 holes in my current wardrobe that I will try and fill this spring. Two items on the shopping list only:

1. a cute pair of navy or black high waisted sailor shorts. I've always wanted a pair and every summer I wish I had remembered and bought some when I had cash.
2. navy flats. mine died when I went to Israel and I haven't replaced them since. 

These will be the only two things I am allowed to buy (except socks and underwear). And only if I find the right ones. 

I think this is going to be a tough challenge for me. I've already decided in the last two minutes that "this will be easy" then immediately after thought "no, this is going to be hard", as I thought about a cute pair of patterned flats I saw at Joe Fresh a week and a half ago....no, they weren't navy...damn.


Lisa.xo

Wishing for Snow Seems So Wrong...

But I'm dying to wear my new-to-me vintage winter coat.

I have always wanted a green fur trimmed vintage wool coat, but when I find them they are miles too big for me or are too worn for me to consider buying them.

Until yesterday...I was hunting at Value Village for Halloween costumes (no, not vintage for the hoard collection...actual halloween costumes for The Boy and his brother) and I found this coat. I was afraid to try it on...I really couldn't afford it this week, but it fit like a glove and I couldn't leave it there...it's my vintage dream coat people!!

It was +20 Celsius today...which is unseasonably warm for October in Winnipeg and all I can think about is snow..I just want to wear this coat.

Lisa.xo

Halloween Haul

It may seem a little early to be mentioning Halloween, but this is the best time of year to shop for vintage.

Thrift stores who deem anything vintage a "costume" flood the rack with beauties from bygone eras for low prices. I'm in a thrift store at least once a week this time of year.

I ventured out yesterday and brought home these goodies.

Three amazing dresses. The pink one and shiny one don't fit me, but the black and white one fits perfectly!

I bought the men's western shirt to sell, but I'm thinking about making the kimono jacket my new housecoat. It's a large, but looks kinda cute belted on me. We'll see...

The embroidery on the men's shirt is in perfect condition!

Perhaps the best haul of the day: a tooled leather purse! I may also sell this one as I have one I love already. The bamboo clutch I'm keeping for sure though. It's amazing! 

Lisa.xo

A New Home with Me

Last week I did some thrift shopping with my friend Leyan (she's a thrifting newbie, so I was showing her the ropes!).

It's been a while since I've been (not working in the summer means I have to curb my spending) and naturally, I came home with a few treasures.

We hit up one of the Value Villages in the city (the one on Pembina Hwy for anyone residing in Winnipeg). I think it's one of the best VV's in town. You can usually find very gently used designer clothing for a fraction of the cost and it seems to be riddled with vintage.

That being said, this time around I walked away with only a few small items. I've really been wanting a pair of leopard print flats and there was a pair sitting on the shelf ready and waiting for me!

I also brought home these lovely vintage evening handbags. I'm pretty sure the black one is 40's/50's. I have an abundance of black evening bags, but I love the brass closure and the size. I have a hard time fitting my iPhone in some of my vintage clutches and purses, but this one has room to spare!
The silver one is clearly late 60's/early 70's. I just love it's metal handle. Adorable!

We also hit up Ruby Slipper at it's "new" location on St. Anne's Road. I say "new" because they've been there for a year, but it's on the opposite end of the city from where I live and I am rarely in that area with time to spare for shopping. Last thursday was my first visit since they moved
(Keep an eye here for an update on my Ruby Slipper review! Coming soon!).

There were a few dresses I liked, but not enough to buy. And I was very tempted to take home a shortie mink coat with opera collar, but I wasn't feeling it enough either. Ah well..

I did buy some accessories. Two berets: one cream coloured and one blue (which I forgot to photograph because I already put them away in storage with my other berets).

I brought home this lovely carved celluloid and rhinestone bracelet (the green one was another VV purchase that day). No chips, no missing stones. It's absolutely perfect.

And my favourite purchase of the day (and you thought I couldn't top the bracelet?!). These sea turtle scatter pins.
I only wish they'd photographed better. The blue is so deep and rich in person - like the bottom edge of the largest pin. I adore them!! I can't wait to wear them. :)

So those are the latest finds! What have you brought home recently?

Lisa.xo

Impulse Purchase...

I found out a week and a half ago that I'm able to make purchases through my Etsy account app on my iPhone...dangerous!!

I was sitting in the park at the St. Norbert Ruins during the show waiting to call a cue and checking my blog reader when the latest shop update from Dear Golden came through.

Well, this beauty called out to me, was in my size and with barely any hesitation I bought it on the spot. It was truly meant to be considering the blog post was called "Much Ado" and I am working on a Shakespeare production...I was working on the show at the time of purchase...I mean really...how can you say no to logic like that?! Well I can't...  ;)

It arrived last week and the pattern is more lovely in person that it is in the images. The dress arrived in immaculate condition: clean,  pressed and exactly as described in the listing. I was so happy!

I am totally smitten with my purchase! You'll have to wait for the final reveal..she's off at my tailor getting some minor adjustments so she fits me better.
This may be my new favourite summer dress!

Lisa.xo