Hunting For Treasure:Thrifting Works

It's no secret that I love to shop. While I confess to being a shopaholic, I wholeheartedly believe in getting the best bang for the buck. Let's face it, most of us work hard for our cash and, if we're honest, can't necessarily afford to keep up with the celeb stylings flooding our timelines/social media feeds.  While I love seeing the great outfits they (or, rather, their stylists) put together, I would much rather keep my paper in the bank. I believe a number of you feel the same and want to be smart with your money too. There's nothing cute about being "fly" and broke.  At the same time, however, we want to look good and feel stylish too. So is it possible to be both fashionable and financially responsible? Absolutely! Thrifting and consignment shopping are a GREAT way to achieve both objectives. The key is to have a keen eye, go to the right spots and know what to look for.

When thrifting, I tend to look for both classic pieces that can be worn for years without ever going out of style; functional pieces that can be easily mixed and matched with multiple pieces to stretch my wardrobe. But I also love to find trendy or unique pieces that make a statement. This particular look is a blend of both approaches.

The recent unseasonably warm weather presented the perfect opportunity to pair a lightweight classic white blazer found at Salvation Army ($12), simple cotton tank from Forever 21 ($8) and a knit pencil skirt with an eye-catching pattern, found last year at a local flea market ($30). The leather Aldo clutch was found at one of absolute favorite spots, Plato's Closet (www.platoscloset.com) for just $14. The nude kid leather Aldo pumps were bought years ago for about $50 and continue to be on trend. The effect is a classic look that can be worn to work, church or out to lunch, all within a modest budget.

Now, I know there are a lot of people who feel some kind of way about the idea of wearing used goods. They think it's creepy or beneath them. I've never seen it that way. I actually love the idea of finding good, quality, sometimes designer pieces that would ordinarily be beyond my reach, all well within my budget. With 2 kids in college, I HAVE to shop smart. So thrifting works for me. I've even taught my daughters to do it and at a young age they're quite thrifty and frugal as well. No shame in our game. As they say, "One (wo)man's trash..."

Tradesy, Poshmark and The Real Real are a few popular online consignment options, featuring fabulous authentic designer wares at great discount. Here are a few great thrift store, consignment and eBay finds I've been blessed to come across:

Barneys New York leather blazer

So, if you're a person who loves fashion but doesn't want to break the bank in order to be stylish and on trend, know that there's hope and lots of resources out there for you. I hope this post encourages you to be fabulous and work within your budget. Happy treasure hunting:)