Thrift shopping tips

Thrift shopping tips:

Thrift shopping is great for getting a bargain. Here are some tips to help you make the most of thrift shopping and looking great.

1-Make lists

List what you need to buy so you narrow your search and don't over spend.

2-Buy what you love

If you fall in love with a piece think how much use the item will give you. Putting it back can be risky as it can be sold to another. Remember it could be returned later.

3-Buy what looks good on you

Items look different on hanger than on you. So, try before you buy. Get a friends opinion or ask someone in the shop for a friendly opinion. (best not a shop worker as they just want a sale).

4-Shop Often

Different stock is put out regularly. One day you might find nothing and next week you find 3 pretty outfits. Consider thrift shopping as a fashion treasure hunt.

5-Hoarding?

Consider how the item will take up room in your home. Is there space for another [insert item here].

Do you already have 5 similar to what you are thinking of buying? Maybe swap with friends and family or sell items to make room for this new purchase.

6-Be prepared

Many stores only except cash. Look in hidden places in store like at the back or high up...never know what gem you'll find. Check for sales regularly. Also when trying on lots of clothes, wear something easy to put on and take off. A slip on dress for example with ballet flats and no fiddly buttons and belts or laces. 

7-Customize

You might see a blue plain dress you think gives you great figure but it's not exciting so add some bows or buttons (some personality to it). Make clothing shorter and use cut of fabric for matching bag or headband. Many other ways...some vintage clothes have cute patterns on so you can cut the fabric to turn into other items or for other projects. DIY your finds.

8-Location

Google where shops and markets that sell thrift style items are in your area. Look at car boot sales, markets and stores selling second hand or vintage items (even some antique shops). 

Not just look in highstreet or mall but, in quirky hidden away places. OR TRY A CHARITY SHOP.

9-If in doubt

If you are unsure if you wish to buy it then try it on if it's clothing or try to picture what you'd use it for and how many times you'd use it.

Try to picture the full outfit the new clothing will go with. Or imagine how the furniture will fit the room it will go in.

9-Check quality

Turn items inside out to see if they will last or are fraying for example. Furniture, you should check all draws and hinges to see if it is good condition. 

Look at items from all angles before you buy it. 

10-Haggle

If you're in a market or charity shop or buying a lot of items try to get lower price by using your charm and haggling. 

The Tip of the Top Hat

What really happened to the Top Hat? We never really see anybody wearing those anymore. Sad. They used to be an eye-catching accessory in fashion culture. If nobody has really known this, you can make a top hat very stylish. You can add embellishments and such. They are truly a statement and that brings us to the Steampunk Fashion Era.
 Make a statement with these hats! The hats are decorated and look so unique. They are really an eye-catching piece now! With these top hats heavily decorated, it adds to being goth a bit. And, there is nothing wrong with that. Just something special! Anyway, back on topic. The tip of the top hat is now the bottom believe it or not.

Back then, yes, in the olden days, the top hats were worn with sophistication. Worn today, they can be a bit vintage and playful.

Steampunk fashion is bringing back the trend of the top hats slowly. We see them coming into view little bits at a time. If we are patient enough, we may see them make a major come back. It would be wonderful to see the tip of the top hat again, instead of the lowly bottom.

How to Look Great in a Pencil Skirt

The Pencil Skirt was a hit a few years ago, but today you can still make the pencil skirt look great! Solid and bright, bold colours make the skirt one to wear today. It is quite a simple look yet it shows positivity and is just calling for some fun!

The Vibrant Pencil Skirt: 1) Cobalt Pencil Skirt, Glamorous; 2) Mint Sequin Pencil Skirt,Topshop; 3) Tomato Leather Zip Detail Skirt, Miss Selfridge; 5) Yellow Asymmetric Peplum Skirt,River Island. For more, visit: www.femside.com

Pencil skirts in vibrant colours are fun to wear! Brighten up any dull office day. Just look at those colours. How bright and fun! 

Unlike the Skater Skirt for 2014, the Pencil Skirt should be styled, 'solid with solid.' Pair a solid top with your solid skirt and add a cute clutch and necklace in addition.

These skirts are really jolly to wear and I can't wait to try one for the spring/summer season! As I figure out a shirt to pair with my skirt, maybe I will link a picture in the comments of myself and my look. So, be sure to stay tuned! 

Have any questions? Need help with anything? Be sure to comment. We would like to help you. Have something you would like to say? We love to hear positive feedback! Thanks. :) 

Lace sock are the new girly thing.

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There is something unfashionable about the socks and sandal look but, the socks with heel look works really effectively. I guess it depends on what type of shoe you go for.
The lace sock however remarks to be delicate and makes a shoe more comfortable to wear.
The vintage type of style works best for this type of sock. That's just my opinion. Not dissing the goth/emo lace sock look that can create amazing combinations of clothing.

The whole "socks in sandals" look is seen as a fashion don't, right. Switch the sock to a lace one and you have a very girly look  and can work with a sandal too, just not in a flip flop or on the beach.

If you're a goth, indie kid, vintage etc you can add a lace sock to your everyday look and it will not stick out as if you've added a lace scrunchies to your leg. It will compliment the look. It all depends how many patterns and other lace elements are in the outfit.

I'm always reminded by the childhood white socks with the band of lace on top when I see lace topped socks. Like these:

Then again they are becoming very stylish to wear in a heel shoe. They're pretty for evening decoration in an outfit.         

Are shorts getting too short?

I know it is still cold and if you're anywhere like me in England then wet and windy too but, I'm hopeful for warm weather to come.

Like the photo on the left, teenagers are wearing shorts so short in some cases that they show butt cheeks. Really to me that's not "classy".

Of course you can get shorts that don't show your bum but the patterns available are harder to find. You go into a shop and want a pair that's not going to be getting men eyeing you up and perving on you. Then you find a tone of tiny ones that would give you a wedgie.

They can also be called "hot pants" but I don't think much is hot about them. I think they're another way of girls attracting guys attention but, to me it's the wrong kind of attention.
What do you think?

 Typical Hipster "short" shorts. 

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That is the type of stereotype that this short short trend is based on. Typically worn by teenagers and young adults. Hipster style is one of the most popular type out there. 

Here is how to be hipster http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Hipster 

A typical outfit and my favourite one of the hipster style wearing far too short shorts. (Yet, I'd wear it with shorts that are a little longer). 

Long pendant and open shirt or cardigan look. 

Examples of what I think are inappropriate for young adults or teens to be wearing out in public:

   When I see girls in the tiny shorts I think this:

I'm not saying shorts and the hipster style is bad. I'm saying that a lot of people wear the shorts that hardly cover your behind. That length of them I'm saying is not appropriate to wear. I don't want you to feel bad by this but to think about if it is suitable. Yes wearing shorts is fine and can look really pretty however, to have them showing of your bum like your wearing denim underwear is not on. 

Anyway bring on the hot weather so we can get our legs out wearing nice shorts that actually cover our behinds he he.