Thrifty Threads

Welcome to Thrifty Threads, AKA Most Stylish Compact-y outfit, where readers model their favorite secondhand clothes.

A compact-y outfit is used or recycled, from Goodwill, a thrift store, a consignment shop, a yard sale, craigslist, ebay, a clothing swap, or anywhere else you find used clothing.

Today’s model is Jane, from beautiful London, Ontario, Canada. Jane is wearing a gorgeous black sweater that she FOUND – lying in a puddle (!) – in the parking lot of her condo complex. Jane says she walked by it a few times before stopping to investigate. Upon discovering it was a size small Alfred Sung silk/cotton blend, she gave it a gentle wash, put it in the dryer a few minutes, and laid it flat to dry. It turned out great, and now it’s a favorite. It works as a casual outfit like this, or with a gray turtleneck, gray skirt, black tights, and heels for work. The Bluenotes jeans in this photo were bought for under $10 at a local secondhand store, and the blue t-shirt was a hand-me-down from her daughter, who used to receive free merchandise when she worked at a clothing store.

Jane blogs at Life DOESN’T begin at retirement – it begins NOW! She’s on a quest to move to Prince Edward Island and has a four-year plan to do it. It sounds like a fairytale, but I’m betting she’ll make it a reality. Jane started out in banking, switched to teaching, and now is looking forward to a 3rd career when she moves. She doesn’t know whether her new vocation will be raising goats and chickens, throwing pots, opening a B&B, or being a beach bum, but one thing’s for sure, she won’t be retiring from life.  Jane says, “The Four Year Plan is unfolding as it should and nothing, not debt, not hard times, nor bum knees are going to get in my way!” What an inspiration! Click here to check out more.

I love this photo, and when I complimented Jane on her great haircut, she told me she cut it herself! She says she’s saved hundreds of dollars over the years since she starting doing that, and she’s never gotten so many compliments. I can see why.

I just love that sweater, and in fact I wish I had one exactly like it because I have a lot of black sweaters, but not one perfect one. A la Goldilocks, my black sweaters are all too long, too short, too thin, or too thick. Jane’s black sweater is perfect. And it was free. I assume if it belonged to someone in her condo complex, they would have accosted her by now.

Thanks Jane for that fabulous photo! Readers, it’s your turn. Put on your favorite secondhand outfit, snap a photo, and send it to me at barton.angela@gmail.com. Don’t be shy, we all love to see the creative outfits everyone is putting together these days. The Thrifty Threads models are an inspiration to me. I haven’t bought a new piece of clothing in almost two years. And between a yearly clothing swap and a couple of local consignment stores, I don’t think I’ll have a problem continuing that trend.

Do you shop secondhand? Please leave your shopping tips and compliments for Jane in the Comments section. And click here to check out previous installments of Thrifty Threads.

Comments

  1. says

    Jane’s “found” sweater looks wonderful on her! What a frugal outfit all around. We call items that my daughter passes on to me “hand-me-ups”. :)

    I love Jane’s philosophy! I am looking forward to reading her blog.

  2. Susanna says

    I love Jane’s blog! I’ve been following it off and on – mostly on! – for over a year now! Great pictures and such a zest for life that it’s happy reading! I was reading it when it was titled ‘Life Begins at Retirement’ then it changed to it’s current name!

    • Marie-Josée says

      It is actually the name given to a group of Canadian downhill skiers who became famous during the 70’s and 80’s. They were fast and kind of reckless. I misspelled the word, it should read Canuck; and yes, the term has stuck and Canadians are often referred to as ”Canucks”.

  3. says

    Prince Edward Island makes me think of Anne of Green Gables. That does sound like a fairy tale life. I aspire to remain spunky in every phase of my life. She rocks!

  4. Lilypad says

    What I love about Jane’s look is her beautiful gray hair! Mine is about 10% gray now (getting more every day thanks to my son! 😉 and I’m never going to color it. Whenever I see women with gorgeous gray hair, I always compliment them. She’s rocking the natural look!

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