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, ebay, Craigslist, freecycle, a clothing swap, or anywhere else you find used clothing.
Today’s model is Joe, modeling some of his thrifty professional attire. You all know how excited I am to have a male model, so thanks Joe for letting me post this photo! And thanks to his lovely wife Karen for sending in the photo. Karen says their local paper recently ran a men’s fashion page with a bunch of guys dressed very similar to this, but the difference was that each outfit cost at least $600! Since their family of four spends less than that on clothing for an entire year, they’re a great inspiration for Thrifty Threads. Joe and Karen’s two sons are 11 and 13, and they all wear mostly secondhand except for undergarments, which allows them to stick to an incredible $75 per person budget. That’s just $300 for the whole family!
I love Joe’s casual yet professional look. My husband also sports the pen in the pocket on occasion, so I’m partial to that vibe. Joe and Karen live in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, so I’m guessing this great 100% wool overcoat is a staple for several months of the year. They found it at Value Village several years ago for just $25. The Levi’s “action slacks” they got for free on Kijiji, a Canadian online classified site like Craigslist. Karen says it’s even more popular than Craigslist in their area. The Eddie Bauer dress shirt was just $3 at Value Village on 50% off day, and the shoes were $7, also from Value Village. Incredible bargains! The whole ensemble would definitely be several hundred dollars retail.
Karen blogs at Abundance on a Dime, where she shares tons of recipes, meal plans, household tips, and craft projects. I love her tagline: Making a joyful, rich life a reality – on any budget. I also appreciate the concept of thrift she shares on the homepage: “Thrift is making the best of what one has in strength, time, or money; getting one hundred percent in one’s relations with life. Thrift is an appreciation and application of the accumulative force of little things. Thrift is a constructive force.” That’s a quote from Thrift in the Household by Dora Morell Hughes.
Hooray for thrift being celebrated as a positive concept, instead of as deprivation. Using your resources wisely doesn’t have to be a drag! It can be uplifting, joyful, and soul-nourishing.
This post on a Do-It-Yourself Spa Night that includes a facial, a moisturizing soak, and pedicure is right up my alley. Why should a spa visit be off-limits to those of us on a budget? My husband loves the mini-facial I give him while he’s soaking in the tub: it starts with an apricot scrub, then I apply a mask and massage his neck and shoulders, then I remove the mask with a warm wet washcloth, and rub his face and head with lotion (he’s quite bald on top). By then he’s nearly purring. I can share that embarrassing information because he hardly ever reads my blog!
For craftier folks, these tiny baby booties, hat, and mitten set baby gift almost makes me want to take up knitting again. And you might be inspired to give up your microwave after you read Karen’s Reflections on 5 Years of Microwave-Free Living.
Karen also shares some great recipes like Lemony Chicken & Spinach Pasta, West African-Style Baked Beans, and Cream Cheese Brownies. And I can’t wait to try her Sunshine Smoothies, which sound a little like a Pina Colada without the booze, and Roasted Chickpea snacks, because I’m always looking for delicious, healthy snacks.
Thanks Joe, for being not only a great example of thrifty fashion, but a good sport for letting me post your picture. And thanks Karen, for sharing it with us! Readers, it’s your turn. Put on your favorite secondhand outfit, snap a photo, and send it to me at barton.angela@gmail.com. Every time I get a submission I’m newly inspired by people’s creativity and resourcefulness. I really believe that secondhand is better in almost every way. In addition to saving a ton of money, it’s better for the planet and you don’t look like a cardboard copy of the latest hot trend. It’s like candy for the individualists, rebels, and creative types amongst us.
Do you shop secondhand, and if so, where? Please share your favorite tips, plus compliments for Joe in the Comments section, and make sure you check out Karen’s blog. And click here to check out previous installments of Thrifty Threads.
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