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, ebay, Craigslist, a clothing swap, or anywhere else you find secondhand clothing.

Today’s model is Margit, who has found my blog all the way from a small town in Norway called Sandnessjoen. It’s close to the Arctic Circle, and Margit says secondhand shopping isn’t always easy when it comes to finding clothing. Margit’s dress is what I would call recycled, and a great show of creativity and resourcefulness, right in line with the Thrifty Threads mission. She says it’s an example of how a dress can change according to the circumstances.

Here is Margit’s story about her outfit, in her own words: “I bought the black cotton dress 10 years ago in an eco-friendly online store. It was on sale, and I have used it hundreds of times, both at work and in parties. This special occasion however, was an outdoors pirates event that a small community on the island where my mother was born over 80 years ago, organizes for the kids every summer. It is a full day of play and fun and good healthy seafood, and everyone volunteers. I am the pirate’s queen! The dress is perfect! My headband is from Cambodia where I work with poor mothers and their babies, and I always buy some produce there to support the local economy. My golden clogs are a birthday gift from many years ago, and they are still with me.”

Margit’s fabulous red bike is secondhand. She keeps it at her summer house, where it works perfectly on the hilly and nearly car-free roads.

What a gorgeous photograph! The beautiful mountain range is named The Seven Sisters, and if anyone is inspired to travel to Norway, Margit recommends the website Visit Helgeland  to give you an idea of their landscape and how they live. She says the tourist agencies offer lowcost travel by cayack and bike, as well as “adrenaline kicks” like deep sea rafting. That is definitely a trip on my lifetime travel list (I dislike the term “bucket list” for more reasons than I’ll go into at this time.)

Thank you Margit for that wonderful photograph! I love everything about it: your dress, your bike, and the gorgeous landscape. Readers, it’s your turn to send in a photo of how you’re wearing used or recycled clothes. Send your submissions to barton.angela@gmail.com and be sure to write “Thrifty Threads” in the subject line.

Have you ever worn an item more than 100 times? What about making items you already own into a costume? I don’t think I’ve ever in my life bought or rented a costume for Halloween, so I guess I’ve been somewhat of a Compact-er all along. It’s just so much fun to put together outfits made from old clothes.

Please leave your ideas and advice, plus compliments for Margit, in the Comments section.