THRIFT STORES are your Friends!

Simple Outfits can look great on anyone and be made easily from Thrift Store shopping.

Thrift shopping can be daunting. So I have provided these 5 basic Steps/Rules to Remember!

1. Choose the best thrift store for your needs. There are Goodwill's, and Village Thrifts everywhere, but the best ones to go to will be the ones located in or near more affluent neighborhoods. Now this may be a little more out of your way than a quick trip around the corner to your normal thrift store, but it can be more rewarding in the long run. The thought to remember here is that if someone in a more affluent neighborhood throws out clothes to a Goodwill, they will most likely do so at the one nearest to them and where they live. not necessarily the one closest to you... that being said you are more likely to find high quality, lightly worn goods, that may even be name brand items you wouldn't other wise find!
2. Go in the store with a plan. The worst thing you can do is wander around aimlessly for an hour and leave disappointed! Start off with a budget, (mine is usually a round $25-35 for about 4-5 pieces). Budgeting is always a shopping must! If you don't set restrictions on spending it is easy to go over broad fairly quickly!
3. Think next of what you want to get, like you normally would before a trip to the store. Are you looking for a cute dress, or a casual top with shorts? Comfortable flannel button up or a trendy skirt? All are possible to find in thrift stores it just takes a little practice. Don't be discouraged by the rows of sizes small and medium, there are often tons of options in larger sizes as well!
4. Make sure to try on clothes you are considering! (Most thrift stores have no return policies, you'll just have to re-donate the item). The dressing rooms maybe a little smaller compared to normal retail stores so, its a good rule of thumb to wear a cami/undershirt and leggings on thrifting trips; that way if the dressing room curtain shifts no one would see anything.
5. And lastly, GET CREATIVE! Who knows what you may find! Mix and match colors and prints; try a few looks you may never have before! Check out a few retro looks, or maybe dress up in a skirt or dress you wouldn't normally try. Remember, the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity!

Sometimes all an outfit needs is a little something else to set it off. For example this dress that I scored for $7.00 at a thrift shop, while it looks great on its own, it can look more casual with a blue jean vest (which I got for $3.00 at Goodwill, and have had since high school which still looks great!). The small blue belt that came with it works great to accent my waist and shows off my lovely curves! Some white sandals would compliment and finish off this out fit perfectly!