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Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Steal of a boho ring

Posted on 19:12 by kumar

Thrifted vintage costume jewellery can be such an inexpensive way of not just getting that retail thrill on but also expressing the essential you. Perhaps that's why I'm such an addict: a ring bought at the thrift shop, such as this $5.99 vintage mega cocktail ring, allows me to express my burgeoning boho style ethic in a cheap, yet forever chic, way.


I'm really pleased that places like Value Village over price the mass market stuff and under price vintage finds such as this ring - perhaps they know the masses go for all the mediocre sterling stuff and contemporary costume bling in the case, and realize there's only a niche sort of customer that would find this ring attractive.

But if H&M suddenly decided to knock off this ring, it'd suddenly become all the rage. Do I sound cynical? Perhaps. But the pricing system of these places, generally, benefits me and feeds my particular style whims in a way that's wholly conducive to my budget. So how can I complain?

What gems do you find in the thrift shops that tend to be, in your opin, woefully under priced?
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Posted in Bohemian, Costume, Deals, Jewellery, Thrift Style, Value Village, Vintage Jewellery | No comments

Monday, 9 May 2011

Million dollar life I could have with these thrifted vintage earrings

Posted on 17:05 by kumar

Dah-lings! I'm so busy leading a fascinating life in my new thrifted earrings that I can barely stand still for you to seeee them!!


Yah right. The look says it all, my thrifty pals. And though I am no longer an earrings person - I reserve all my bling thrifting exploits for pendants and the occasional brooch - I simply could NOT resist these absolutely GORG vintage earrings I found in the Value Village showcase for - wait for it - $5.99!!

Deal!

Does it matter I don't lead the kind of life these earrings (not clip on but the screw on kind) surely merit?

Not really. I could play dress up with them in my apartment, introduce them to all the lovely glam thrifted dresses I never get a chance to wear ....


Mmm. Let me think. Or I could somehow manufacture a glam Grace Kelly type life, and jaunt around the French Riveria in some flashy sports car convertible with the top down - with the earrings, of course.

Only thing is, I'd need to make a million dollar life for myself, all because of these $5.99 thrifted vintage earrings.


Perhaps I'll see if I can integrate them into my existing life and wardrobe before doing anything too drastic?

What do you think? Hi-low dressing has been all the rage for years now - do you think I could mix them up with skinny jeans, or perhaps some wide leg pants?
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Posted in Jewellery, Thrift, thrift ideas, thrift shopping, Thrift Style, Value Village, Vintage Jewellery | No comments

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Pretty vintage pin for my mommie

Posted on 07:24 by kumar

I always seem to pick up pretty vintage pins for my Mom, this gorg purple floral cluster pin being no exception. My Mom actually wears the pins I give her too, so I hope she'll find a way of integrating this one into her wardrobe as it is just such a beaut; I couldn't leave it behind.



It isn't signed, but all the stones are intact and they're prong-set. I just loved the purply hues and the design of the piece, and I think she will too!

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there!
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Posted in Costume, Gifts, Jewellery, Vintage Jewellery | No comments

Thursday, 5 May 2011

How I wore my 'new' thrifted rocker bracelet

Posted on 19:52 by kumar

I show you heaps of bling but rarely document how I wear it! Here's me wearing one of my most recent thrifty acquisitions: the chain bracelet with the big black stone. I rocked it out, as you can see, with some skinny jeans (new but cheap at Costa Blanca), booties (Nine West, thrifted), tunic (gift), tank (new) and rocker necklace (gift).
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Posted in Costume, Fashion, Gifts, Jewellery, New, Thrift Style, Wardrobing | No comments

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Coro pendant and an inspired blogging solution

Posted on 18:22 by kumar

This pendant isn't really my style but I loved it on sight and thrifted it for literally a couple bucks. I was really attracted to the blue. Got it home and flipped it over and saw it is signed Coro piece. Initially I was going to find a gold chain and rig it up, but then I Googled "Coro blue stone pendant" or some such thing and came across this lovely blog, Oriental-Rose.

Can't believe my haphazard Google skills found the very same piece! Now if you scroll down from the original link, you'll see that the designer fashioned a lovely pearl and gem-like necklace for the pendant.


Mmmm. That got me thinking. I took a rummage through my Tickle Trunk and dug up one of my first costume jewellery finds from my university days, a sturdy 'pearl' necklace I don't really wear anymore as it's too staid for my style. I actually almost got rid of it recently but some sixth sense - or perhaps my semi-hoarding instincts when it comes to bling - made me hang onto it.



Well, hell. What's the use of reading blogs if you can't take some inspiration from them? I'll have to find a jump ring or something, but that's all the pendant needs to transform it into a true statement piece!



I'm just so thrilled about the idea - now hopefully it won't take me five months to find the ring. The cool thing is the pearls can be worn long or wound around the neck twice for a choker effect. The strand does the Coro piece true poetic justice - so much better than a boring old gold chain, don't you think?
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Posted in Coro, Costume, Jewellery, Thrift blogger, thrift ideas, Thrift Style, Vintage Jewellery | No comments

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Warm weather is coming so (thrifted) dresses on the mind

Posted on 19:44 by kumar

Ever blow-dried a "new" dress with your blow dryer just so you could wear it out, clean? That's just what I did with this thrifted dress Friday night, found at Value Village. It's a heavy microfibre dress made in the USA (becoming a rare tag, just as the Made in Canada tag is), which in my mind indicates good quality.


I wasn't sure about it at first as it fits loosely around the waist - and I do look a bit shapeless here - but it is a classic shirtwaist without the waist, in colours I like that look good on me. Plus summer is coming and I need to prep myself for dress season - it will come!

PICS snapped by pal Parmjit Parmar of Montana Ridge Enterprises.
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Posted in Fashion, Thrift, thrift shopping, Thrift Style, Value Village | No comments

Sunday, 1 May 2011

Church rummage sale booty

Posted on 10:52 by kumar

I'm writing an article on rummage sales in midtown Toronto for one of the magazines I write for, so my gal pal Marsha and I set off bright and early yesterday to hit the hallowed halls.

Marsha got some pretty good booty. Thank God I was too busy interviewing and snapping pics of people; you and I know I don't really need anything.


Of course, even while working I simply could not not check out the jewellery table. I hit the bling table immediately, along with piles of others. People always go for the bling straight off and the jewellery table is typically a madhouse. I didn't find any real loves, but this carved sandalwood piece with green stone won my heart for a whopping 50 cents. I strung it on a leather cord to max out the boho effect.



Another bohemian type necklace pendant for a few bucks. Marsha picked this one up for me and she was right about it being my style.



This chunky modernist ring: a buck.



A pendant of Queen Elizabeth I: only a twoonie ($2). People may be going ga-ga over Kate, but I'm a fan of this daughter of Henry VIII.

Jewellery tables at rummage sales are pretty brutal. You need to decide which type of shopper you're going to be: the pushy elbowing type, or the stealthy type with long arms and fingers that can slide in between gaps and and pick up what you want. Guess which type I am?



This silver-tone pendant (which I strung on a long box link sterling chain I've had forever) is a bit odd, but sometimes it's the oddballs I'm attracted to the most. It actually looks good worn low on a long chain. Would rock with jeans and a simple white tee.

All in all, not bad for $7.50.
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Posted in Church Sales, Costume, Friends, Jewellery, Thrift Shopping Midtown, Toronto | No comments
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kumar
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