Stripes for a Steal

 

It seems like the weather has finally started shaping up here in Seattle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

For all the complaining that I do about our gloomy weather, it is all worth it in the end for the beautiful summers that we have here. Keep that on the down low though, Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, and we just don’t have any more space for people here.

 

 

 

With summer making its way to Seattle, I’ve of course been lusting after all things sundresses. I gained about fifteen pounds when I started my office job a year and a half ago, and have had to say goodbye to a few of my summer favorites. I’m not going to change the kind of job I have any time soon though, and since I lift weights, I’m going to go ahead and assume that I’m not going down in size any time soon (gimme those gainz!). So instead of stressing about losing weight, I’ve just been keeping my eye out for replacements for my favorite summer pieces. Self acceptance has always been a really hard concept for me, especially when it comes to my body. So for me, this is the healthiest route to go. That is definitely another topic for another day though.

 

 

The actual thing I wanted to talk about is something that I am pretty passionate about. A reoccurring theme in my blog is affordability, and accessibility. I started this blog because I wanted to see a fashion blog that focused on those two things, and contained fashion that people of all budgets could relate to, and obtain. I couldn’t find one (they are out there though), so I made my own! Another fashion related topic that I believe in is investing in pieces that will last. That means that sometimes I am ok with just splurging on those nicer boots, or more expensive item because in the long run I am saving money by not having to replace my clothes and accessories every year.

 

 

However, I fully acknowledge that it’s not always possible for everyone just “decide to invest in a ‘nicer’ piece”. Which brings me to the point of this post (it only took me four paragraphs, right?), and that point is shopping second hand.

 

 

When you shop second hand, you are able to invest in clothing and accessories that might have broken the bank for you if you had decided to buy them new. Whether you are consignment shopping, thrifting, or raiding a friends discards, it is a great way to get quality pieces in to your wardrobes, and on top of that it is far more sustainable than shopping new!

 

 

Lately, I’ve slowly ( well maybe not as slowly as I should be), but surely been replacing all my cheaper clothes with the original higher quality pieces that I wanted in the first place. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until a recent trip to the mall. I was in a store that I won’t name, and looking at all their pretty summer clothes, and just couldn’t bring myself to take anything to the dressing room. All the fabrics felt cheap to me, and even on sale, it was just too much for something that I would only get about a season’s worth of use out of.

 

 

 

How are you managing to replace all your old clothes, you might ask? While I do get a lot of things from thrift and consignment shops, the top way that I have been finding quality clothes to add to my wardrobe is by shopping on Poshmark (note: this is NOT a sponsored post, I just really love them). For those of you that aren’t familiar with Poshmark, its basically an online (and app based!) based consignment shop. You plug in your sizes, then search for pieces, and brand that you love. The results are all clothing that people are selling, and the items listed are automatically in your size! You can scroll through and “like” the items that catch your eye, and if the seller lowers the price, the app will send you a notification (I love/hate this, the advertising totally works on me). You can also make offers on pieces that you love, but maybe can’t quite afford, like bartering!

I’ve managed to fill my wardrobe with brands that I always drool over, but can’t quite afford (I’m looking at you Madewell!). On top of that, I have been able to get my hands on pieces that fit that “investment” criteria, while not breaking the bank!

In this look:
Dress: My dress is by Madewell, purchased from Poshmark | Similar: one, two, three
Hat: My hat is from Forever 21 and sold out | Similar: found here
Sandals: my sandals are Saltwater Sandals
Bandanna: my bandanna was a gift and I have no idea where its from | Similar: one, two
Purse: My purse is a vintage Dooney & Bourke bag purchased from Poshmark | Similar: one, two, three
Sunglasses: Sunglasses are Ray-Ban’s Round Metal Frames purchased for a steal ($60!) on Poshmark | Same: one, two | Similar: one, two

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Photo credit goes to my sister, Kiersten.