PLAIN AND SIMPLE

 That pretty well sums up my fashion style - Plain and Simple.  This sweater is another piece I purchased at the 1/2 price sale at the thrift store last Friday.  It is comfortable and warm.  (I just eyed it and didn't try it ion.  It looked smaller than it wears!  The sleeves are long, so I just rolled them up a couple of times....).

Having spent $.50 on the sweater, I can turn the thermostat down a degree or two in the house and save more on today's heating bill than I paid for the sweater!  My style is "thrifty" in more ways than one.

Today I need to sew a button on the cuff of the red blouse I wore yesterday.  I pinned it in desperation before church.  Note to self:  Be sure item is in good repair before hanging in the closet!






Plain and Simple.

Sunday Denim

VALENTINE'S DAY

Red shirt from my closet,

Thrifted belt and necklace with gold earrings

Newly thrifted skirt (1/2 price sale for a grand total of $.50!)

This "Tommy" skirt feels SO good to wear!

It has side slits to make walking easier...

I love denim.

"MY CUP RUNNETH OVER"!

If you look closely, you'll see how much this sports jacket was priced yesterday.  THEN take 50% off!  That's right!  Fifty cents for a jacket that fits my husband like a glove.  The colors are unique but not unattractive...

The second one, a black and white herringbone pattern, has an almost indiscernible hint of powder blue in it.

My husband suggested this excursion yesterday.  A thrift store in Bryan, OH has very limited hours and is open only two days a week.  We seldom go.  But yesterday EVERYTHING was 1/2 off.  I'm not showing everything we purchased....but here is a deco ice bucket.  It only cost $.20.

On the way to meet my husband to go to Bryan,  I stopped at Bargain Box in Hicksville, OH.  I bought 2 belts for $.25@.  I'm wearing one of them in this picture over a denim jumper that I also bought there for $1.50.  A third stop at a shop in Bryan netted me a leopard-print scarf for $.75 and a pair of maroon tights for $.25.

What a great day!  Valentine Gift enough for me.

"HEART MUSIC"

I'm wearing this colorful pin on my jacket lapel this morning.  I'll be leading the hymn sing at Golden Years Retirement Home again.  I promised them a Valentine's Day treat the last time I was there, so I've bought some heart stickers and will pass them out (along with candy kisses) to the 40-50 residents who come to sing on Friday mornings.

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your HEART to the Lord..."  Ephesians 5:19.

I'm wearing my long, black corduroy skirt, a red/black/white print top,and jacket belted with a red elastic belt.  Yes, EVERYTHING was purchased at a thrift store.

MORE DENIM DIGS

Yesterday I saw a sleeveless denim dress worn open, belted, and  layered over a black long-sleeved T-shirt and black skirt.  You can see it here.) I was going to try that today but realized my denim dress had long sleeves.

I decided on this - belted with black patent leather belt and worn with black footless skinnies, and black stockings and shoes.  (I may go back upstairs and add a black T-shirt, but for now, I'm comfortable and  enjoying my first cup of coffee.)

THRIFT COMPETITION

I'm sitting in my recliner in a robe this morning while the wind whips the snow outside.  I have no plans to go anywhere - last of all thrifting!  I thought I'd take the time to expand on my last post where I mentioned that a customer had thinned out the 50 cent rack ahead of me...

I am only aware of the competition at this one smaller thirft store where all clothing with one color of price tags is gathered each Monday morning and put on a rack and sold for 50 cents .  I'd been there previously on Monday afternoons and noticed there wasn't so much on it, so THIS time I went early - just not early enough!  I couldn't believe the PILES of clothes being folded up and bagged for  the first customer!

I'm not aware of this currently happening at other stores (although years ago when I thrifted out of necessity for kids' clothes, etc. I DID know of one store where people lined up outside the door before it opened). At another store I frequent, I notice that many of the furniture pieces have "sold" signs on them.  It always makes me wonder if it comes out on a certain day, people know it, and buy up all the "good" stuff before I get there.  I guess I could ask.  I'm not going to stir the waters too much there because it seems no matter how large my pile is, the clerk smiles and says, $2.68.

I did finally get out of my robe and dress for a cozy at-home day.

TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

I got there 20 minutes after the store opened.  Already a customer had shopped and claimed at least half of what had been hanging on the fifty-cent rack!  Now I see I need to be there when they unlock the door!  I saw this blouse with its faded "Sears" label and though it looked like something one of my fashion gurus would have snatched up.  So I did.  I didn't try it on at the shop, but when I got home I couldn't resist seeing how it fit.  Here it is with the skirt I was already wearing and the navy blue belt I thrifted last week..  I think I can make this work!

I like everything about this thrifted jacked that has been in my closet for years!  The vintage style, covered buttons, color and fit....I'm wearing it with earrings (black & white stones) given to me by a friend..

Worn with this black & white patterned skirt and a lace top it brings color and warmth to my Sunday morning outfit.

Black belt and shoes complete my Sunday School teacher look.

DENIM JACKETS ON PARADE!

Today's denim jacket - another blazer type...

 

(I really like the weight and color of these glass beads.)
Note the unique wrist features!

There is a great rose monogram on the pocket, too.

Here's a not-too-wonderful photo of some of the items I thrifted yesterday.  $2.68 for all of this.  I was in a hurry or would have tried to deflect the flash better on the oil painting...It's colors are perfect for our bedroom where I have a collection of simple oil paintings in these tones.

Here's a closer look at the painting....the lighting STILL doesn't do it justice.

JUGGLING JACKETS

Having (unintentionally) posted two days' worth of denim jackets, I decided to extend the "parade" a while longer!

This one was discovered in the children's section of  a thrift store several years ago.  It is more "blazer" than jacket, I suppose.

Along with the black and white scarf, I've added the butterfly brooch to accompany the silver buckle on my belt.


I'll soon be off to coffee with a friend and we will thrift an hour or so before she needs to be at work.

Join me tomorrow to see what treasures I discover!

DO NOT CLICK TO ENLARGE THE LITTLE PICTURE.  I REPEAT:  DO NOT CLICK TO ENLARGE THE LITTLE PICTURE.  (The quality is pathetic and I know it!)

Decked out in Denim

I  wore this denim jacket over a tan top with my jeans to take a friend to the doctor for an eye treatment/procedure today.  I was happy for the faux fur collar because the waiting rooms were chilly!  The amber colored necklace echoed the color of the stitching on the jacket and highlighted the lighter colors in the collar.  I found this jacket at a thrift store during my "denim jacket blitz" days!  I think I must have purchased at least 5 - each $2 or less.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

I haven't worn this top since I thrifted it.  After yesterday, I was yearning for a little color.  So I pulled out a pair of black denim jeans to pair with the green and white stripes.

I may throw a blue denim jacket over my shoulders later. We plan to meet our daughter and her family at a restaurant near Mishawaka, IN to celebrate her birthday this noon.  Restaurants are often too chilly for me!

Maybe a triple strand of pearls, too???

Note  The Smile!
AND I found a better way to light my pictures!
What a day!

LET THE BIRTHDAYS BEGIN!

Today begins one Big Week of Birthday Celebrations.  Today is our daughter's (we go to visit her tomorrow); tomorrow my mother's (we'll celebrate with her and my two sisters & their husbands this afternoon), and February 6th is my husband's.

This black stretch top with flared sleeves paired with my newly thrifted jeans (well, thrifted last week) are what I'll wear to the party today.

I know it's dark, but I feel most myself in this outfit.  I hope it doesn't say anything negative about my personality!

A fine gold chain necklace and gold earrings are the only accessories I'll wear.