What I’m Reading: An Interview with Sophia Amoruso

Sophia Amoruso Refinery 29 interview GIRLBOSS Nasty Gal Vintage founder
Need some motivation on this fine Monday?  Check out this interview with the founder (and “chief troublemaker”) of Nasty Gal Vintage, Sophia Amoruso. This quote really caught my attention:

My dad said at dinner the other night something that I really loved — he said, ‘Hope is not a strategy,’ which is so true. The best things happen with not only hope, but ingenuity, self-awareness, and a lot of elbow grease. That’s when the real magic happens.

Her book #GIRLBOSS comes out tomorrow. Looks like a fun read!

Have you read anything inspiring lately? 

 

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Oh, Overalls

So, apparently overalls are making a comeback.  Not kidding!  I’m all for the vintage/retro attire but I don’t quite know how I feel about overalls. Certainly they’re cute and easy to wear. Very spring and summery.  I think it’s perhaps that I still cringe recalling wearing very over sized overalls from Gap back in middle school and high school. With a tube top.  Very classy, I know.  But this pair from Topshop seems pretty unassuming for casual Saturdays out running errands or picnicking in the park.  Don’t forget your white Keds!

topshop overalls

What say you about overalls? Love ’em or hate ’em?

Poshmark

Have you heard of Poshmark? Maybe you’ve seen the sponsored ads on Facebook? A connection on Instagram suggested I look on Ebay or Poshmark to find a sold-out top she took a photo of, and since I was on a buying spree, I figured I’d check it out.

I now realize this was a mistake as I’m completely obsessed.  Not only is Poshmark a website, but it’s an app, too, so I have the pleasure of constantly checking my phone to find goodies.  Oh dear…

Essentially, Poshmark is a place where users can sell their clothes, shoes and accessories for [mostly] deeply discounted prices. And some sellers are wiling to negotiate prices, especially if you “bundle” multiple items from their closet together to buy in one transaction, and some are even willing to trade if they like anything you’re selling. You don’t have to be a seller to be a buyer, though, which is great.  Makes me feel like a closet stalker without having to open the doors of mine to anyone…(not that you actually take photos of your closet….gosh, can you imagine? ugh.)

I’ve found some great items during my hunt for all things vintage and J.Crew, and if they were in my size, let me tell you — I’d snatch these up in a heartbeat!

Poshmark Flats Roundup StickGirlJAM

1 | Glitzy vintage gold flats. If only they were bigger…sigh.
2| Sweet white oxfords with dainty cutouts.
3| Persimmon patent bow flats, perfect for summer!
4| Everyday brown loafers (they look so comfy!).

Other fun finds:

This amazing paisley J.Crew shift dress. So lovely!

Kudos to the lucky lady who scored these fierce leopard print Stuart Weitzman stilletos for $40. That man, Stuart, really knows how to make a shoe!

And, try not to be completely devastated when you stumble across something that’s impossibly awesome but already sold. As I was when I saw this dress.  Waaah!

If you’re a bride-to-be and happen to be a size 6, how about this delicate dress for a rehearsal dinner or shower?  So chic!

And, I’ve also made some purchases I’m thrilled about…

  • An Anthropologie dress for an upcoming wedding ($20!)
  • A pair of woven flats that I’d been swooning over (you know me, grandma chic style and all…$7!)
  • And, my favorite, a darling J.Crew blazer…I mean seriously, check out these elbow patches! I die! ($30 and I’ll need to pay to have it taken in a bit)

Usually I’m not a great negotiator or haggler but since it’s pretty much the norm on here, I’ve been giving it a go.  Especially if the item has been listed for a few months. I find the trick is asking for a little less than what you’re actually willing to pay and usually you’ll end up about where you planned. Don’t be a jerk and offer ridiculously low prices for awesome stuff, though, okay?  That’s just rude.

Alright then, friends, happy shopping!

I’ve Been Busy…Buying

Lately, I’ve been buying a lot of stuff. A lot. What can I say? I’m in a good mood, it’s spring and I love clothes.

A lovely lady I know named Lyndzee (I love alliteration!) has fabulous style and is an incredibly impressive thrift shopper. Lucky for me (and you, though I’d rather you not like her stuff so that I can keep scooping up her fun pieces without as much competition), she has started selling some of her finds on Instagram in a lovely shop called Thrift Archaeology. It’s been quite fun following her posts, albeit a bit distracting as I anxiously refresh my Instagram feed all day. Last week I was the lucky winner of this plaid skirt, this vintage bag, and an amazing beaded cocktail dress that I cannot wait to wear! So excited. And feeling the buzz of finding good thrifted clothes but not actually wanting to go out and hunt myself (though it is one of my favorite things to do), I hopped on over to Etsy and discovered a darling vintage shop called secretlake, which just so happened to be having a moving sale with all the merchandise marked down 30%…yay! I picked up this fabulous cobalt dress (you know how obsessed I am with cobalt. see here and here) and this wool coat (what I like to call “grandma chic”…read: totally my style).

But I haven’t just been thinking of myself! My mom loves to wear lace tops with skirts to work — they’ve gotta be comfy and simple like throwing on a t-shirt but chic enough to look like a smarty pants at the office. I got her two from Banana Republic, though I’ve also been swooning over this one from Madewell (found via DesignLoveFest).

And, wait, there’s more.

I haven’t just been buying clothes. I promise. I bought my Dad some awesome dog books for his birthday, I got my mom some lipstick in a totally fierce shade (which I’ll wrap up with those blouses for mother’s day just around the corner), and picked up some of my favorite loose mineral powder (which now reminds me I need to invest in new makeup brushes…).

Lastly–and maybe my favorite–I scored an awesome dresser on Craigslist that is in such great shape I can hardly believe it. The guy I bought it from said it’s been in his family since the early 60’s! Love it. It needs to be cleaned up a bit but I think I’m going to keep it just as it is for now before I do anything drastic like painting it.  It’s made of real wood (read: it’s heavy), has a beautiful color tone and wood grain, original hardware with an awesome patina, dovetailed drawers, and the larger drawers have built-in wood dividers which I think are just so neat. I was going to say “they definitely don’t make furniture like they used to!” but that’s probably not true. I bet a lot of places and people make furniture of such great quality, it’s just I can’t afford any of it. Thank heavens for Craigslist, right?

Here’s a closeup of the hardware and details…

vintage craigslist dresser.jpg

 

 

P.S. How quickly I forget…I also bought this adorable dress from Madewell and wore it to a bridal shower on Saturday. The colors are so pretty and it fits like a dream. Even the girls at Anthropologie asked me where I got it when I stopped in to buy the bride a gift. Best compliment ever, I’d say.  And I’m super excited for our trip to Havasu in two weeks so I splurged on this gorgeous paisley swimsuit top from my favorite, J.Crew (found via A Cup of Jo). Goodness me, that’s a lot of stuff I’ve been buying.  Please don’t judge me. And don’t tell Mumbles. 😉

madewell silk floral dress.jpg