BCBG dress 20 years old, $5.99

Notice: hips in this picture appear larger than they actually are.Joke. Well, the pattern does make one look bigger. But I do love the mosaic print of this cute BCBG dress, found for $5.99 at Canadian Thrift. I wore it with a hot pink knit bolero and sassy strappy heels.The neat thing: I work in Toronto's design district on Wingold Ave., where all the fashion brands wholesale to retailers. I walked into a cafe for lunch today and a woman said, "That's...

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Peep show

I kinda like these semi-lame, semi sexy shots in which I snap pics of myself in the mirror (not having a photog that follows me around all day, alas): they're somewhat illicit in my opin, a snapshot, if you will, into a life that's glanced at from behind.There's nothing especially thrifty about my outfit here. The skirt was a dress, purchased in a West Palm Beach gift shop, that I've pulled down and used as a skirt as the elastic is going, and the...

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Like, groovy shades, man

Peace, fellow groovy hipsters. I'm here with my $1.99 thrifted 1960s (70s?) shades to spread the word of harmony and happiness through thrifting. It, like, saves the world, man - I mean woman! I'm an equal opportunity thrifter! And I've been working all weekend so I'm in a bit of a silly mood - can you tell? And what do you think of my shades, b...

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Just beat the 99-cent bling deal

Two words: 49 cents.This 1970s gold-tone pendant reminds me of that retro Coke TV commercial with a bunch of people singing "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony" - there's a Christmas tree involved, too, but I can't recall if it's the people who form the tree or if there's an actual tree in the picture. Anyway, this pendant is like a Christmas tree and just evoked that memory in me.I didn't have a chain to put it on, but then I...

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We went; we modeled; we shopped!

Oh, the fun we had. My gal pal Marsha (pictured here in this lovely vintage dress and matching summer hat) and I had so much fun this past weekend at Toronto's Common Sort, a veritable treasure trove of second-hand and vintage clothing and accessories (with locations on Queen Street East AND West).Owner Nicole Babin has it bang on: not only can you shop like a crazed deal diva in her stores (the Parkdale Queen West location is larger and packed with...

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99-cent thrifting streak??

Nothing could beat the find featured in yesterday's post, but I have to show you another 99 cent find I dug up this weekend in the most unexpected of places: a bead and craft shop selling mostly imports from the Philippines, largely jewellery making supplies.But there's a section of vintage bibs and bobs in the store, mostly broken, that you're supposed to do something crafty with. Since I am not at all crafty, but rather a vintage bauble junkie,...

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Danish modern pendant for ... guess how much?

I saw this pendant hanging from a bunch of chains and baubles in a thrift shop, but it stood out amidst the junky stuff. I thought it was glass at first until I noticed its smokiness - definitely a stone. There was a signature on the back but all I could make out was "Sterling." I really liked the design, so I asked the gal how much it was.She said, "Two dollars." Poker face response on my side. Then in a heartbeat she said, "Ninety-nine cents!."...

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Look at the tag, I say

When thrifting, I follow these rules: feel the fabric, look for colour, style and tag, in that order. An item has to be in a colour and style that rocks on me, but if it's a crap fabric, I won't touch it. If all those points are met, I take a peep at the tag, and my thrifting spidey senses are normally rewarded.I'm never disappointed when I find the gorg microfibre dresses made by Toronto label Bionic Women. New, these frocks sell for $150 and up,...

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Ugliest, most perplexing thrift shop find to date

It may not be the most disturbing of thrift shop finds - creepy porcelain clown figurines, a raccoon head fur hat, underwear, and retro electronic sex devices beat this one out by far in the ICK department - but I must say that this plastic stool, replete with faux plastic roses and unexplainable plastic overlay, sure ranks number one for the ugliest of decor pieces I've spotted in a thrift shop to date. It was $6.99 - a deal! - at Canadian Thrift.It...

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Wool trench, Goodwill

It's been raining like crazy this spring - good thing I have a warm wool trench to get me through! I found this deep blue wool trench by Evan Picone at Goodwill for less than 10 bucks. I love it. Every time I wear it - which is frequent these days - I feel like I'm in France.I'm wearing it here with thrifted suede booties made in Italy ($14.99); this funky round leather purse made in Vancouver and found at Value Village for $12.99; vintage blue shades...

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I wanna be a cowgirl

Well, you always see me tired, at the end of the day, with circles under my eyes, but I had to show you the cowgirl  earrings I bought for $2 on the way home - yeehaw!I never wear earrings anymore, really. Perhaps it was because I recently interviewed a gal who is part of a Cowgirl Choir in Toronto - but hipster cowgirl style has been on my mind of late.They're silver and super light - see? A horseshoe, horse head and saddle dangling from -...

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Hipster nuts n' bolts pendant necklace - really

When I first saw this pendant necklace in the case at Goodwill, I thought, "Oh, that reminds me a bit of a Raphael", a Toronto-based jewelllery designer who was big in the 1970s and whose pieces are quite collectible.leWell of course I knew it wasn't a Raphael - his look is very distinctive and I'll show you the pendant I have by him sometime - but this piece is similar in tone as it has a rough-hewn, industrial look to it.More so than I thought...

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Sexy orange skirt (thrifted) inspires 100% thrifted outfit

Now that Blogger is working again, somewhat at least (it looks like they have deleted comments from Wednesday), I am going to show you today's outfit, 100 percent thrifted (excuse bad, flat hair).It all began with the tight sexy Femme Carriere skirt I thrifted at Goodwill for $4.99. I typically look straight as Olive Oil in this style of skirt but this one actually makes me look like I have some curves.The grey microfibre top by luxury retailer Holt...

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1980s necklace that will present a fun challenge!

I've admitted that I find 1980s plastic bib style necklaces oddly attractive, and that even though I am drawn to them I have mixed feelings about wearing them. Ditto for this 1980s necklace with painted blue, yellow, peach and gold detail, $4.99 at Canadian Thrift.Not sure what I'll do with it but I'll try to snap a pic when I figure it o...

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Steal of a boho ring

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...

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Million dollar life I could have with these thrifted vintage earrings

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...

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Pretty vintage pin for my mommie

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...

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How I wore my 'new' thrifted rocker bracelet

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 (gif...

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Coro pendant and an inspired blogging solution

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...

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

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...

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Church rummage sale booty

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,...

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