Roses and Pearls Vintage

New Blog (from Stephanie!)

2011-12-10T09:36:00.001-08:00

I know, I know, Ciara and I have been on that serious MIA. We probably won't be posting on this blig anymore :( But we both have exciting changes to share with you all and you can follow that on my new blog: http://ablackgirlintheworld.tumblr.com/.

Ciara is getting married and staying in PAris and I'm moving to South Africa! Its a very hectic and exciting time for both of us, and I'll try my best to post on my blog as much as I can for everyone! I will be leaving on Dec. 20th for Africa so I'm sure I will have many post for you all.

Ciao bella's!

Nothing Special

2011-07-18T14:29:00.000-07:00

Paris at night is the best!!!

Picnic time(dress thrifted)

Best hot chocolate and brioche EVER!!!

Random

2011-07-15T00:40:00.000-07:00

Love this picture!!!
Hope everyone is having a lovely week. My week has been rather busy but lovely :) Here are a few random pics. Enjoy :)

Dress thrifted

Blazer thrifted(went to Hard Rock Cafe in Paris and lets just say that was not a good idea in the least. Food was not good, everyone was speaking English, and the music left me with bleeding ears...well not literally but you get the point. Just a bad idea but the company was good and I can put it in my pocket as an experience.

Another beautiful picture to end this post. It was a beautiful day so I decided to snap a few pics.
Bisous

C'est Moi -Jeffery Campbell Sabine

2011-07-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

I could say sorry for the long pause again but really this was more than a pause!!! :(
Life really took over these past few months but I am back and very happy to be back in contact. (Hope you can forgive me and welcome me back like family)
Ok where do I start...Well how about with these new Jeffery Campbell Sabine shoes

Not quite sure why but I really like this photo :)

Roma!

2011-05-12T04:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!! So So Sorry for the gap in between posts, my boo Ciara is in France working and going to school, and I was in the middle of finals and work per usual...anywho my boyfriend and I just got back from Italy! It was such a MAGICAL trip, and of course I had to stop by at least one thrift store!

I have no idea the name, but I have the address if anyone is going to Roma soon :) As I noticed in Florence, this thrift store was full of designer labels that I couldn't afford! I did however find a beautiful high waist skirt for about $23 (I know a bit much).

The skirt is super comfy, and flowy, and will always remind me of my amazinggg trip!

I paired it with a $5 one shoulder tank from Wal-Mart :) I'll be posting a few more thrift store outfits I wore on my trip, ciao bella's!

Vintage!

2011-04-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

My Boobie and I :)

Hi! I know, I've been MIA! March was a bit hectic for me with school and work, my mother's birthday, my niece's birthday, then my 24th! I had an amazing time with my friends and family, and finally got to wear my Dorthy Danridge inspired dress to dinner :)

Also, I have the best boyfriend in the entire world (my boobie is picture, hands down. Period. He gifted me these GORGEOUS python Christian Louboutin's as well as my new obsession my Louis Vuitton Speedy 35 which I named Fatou :)

Clearly my brother was not worried about capurtuing the rest of my head...anyyywhoo I just love this dress, seriously, it is the best $5 I've ever spent (I paired it with my new Lubbies, and a thick suede belt from the thrift store in Florence!) The BFF. Hope everyone has a productive and blessed week :)

Velvet!

2011-04-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

This is an appropriate word for day since I am trying to find my "happy" in France. Now don't get me wrong, I am really really loving my time here but today I was just frustrated with by a lot and I needed to do a "woooh saaaa" lol ( I really do not know how to spell that or even if there is an actually correct spelling)
Its like trying to spell that random sound someone makes, you know it exists because you hear it but you have no idea where to begin when trying to spell the word....ok never-mind, I am so off topic! I kinda sneaked into a really luxurious apartment building and of course I had to get a picture of what I saw inside. Just to warn you before you see the picture. This is just the entrance....how lovely!

Let's just say things have changed...

2011-03-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

Thought this would be a great introductory picture. Snapped this picture while walking around with friends. So I finally remembered where the vintage store is located, so I made a mini trip inside. I found a few pieces but I must be honest, I was not impressed. A lot has changed with the vintage selection here in Paris. The prices have increased and the good selection has decreased. I found two dresses that I have not worn yet, but when I do I will surely post :) They may not look like much on the hanger but believe me they are one of a kind pieces!

Inside the Vintage shop

Upstairs, everything was 1euro

And the winner is.....

2011-03-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

I have been faithfully peering into the life of this fellow blogger http://justanotheramericaninparis.blogspot.com/ for the past year and needless to say I have been living vicariously through her. Not only are the posts daily but rather humorous and might I add, descriptively written. A week or two ago "Just another American in Paris" put together a scrap-book of her favorite Paris pictures(self-taken). Unfortunately the reason behind making such a wonderful book is not nearly as...well, wonderful. After treading the streets of Paris for what amounts to four years, she will now officially be an American resident again within the next few months :( tear tear!
Well after randomly picking a follower who posted a comment between the allotted time given she announced the winner!!! (c'est moi)
Yes Yes Yes, am I am tooo happy!!
So here is a picture of the book and my favorite page within.

Here are also some random pics of my Parisian life :)

made a pie with my 2 young french students(I am teaching them English)

I love nights like this, with good food, good wine, and good people :)

Another French Piece...

2011-03-12T08:09:00.000-08:00

LOVE this dress. I found it at Ciara and I's favorite thrift store in Paris in January, The sleeves are so luxurious! And it was $13, a little more than I'd like to pay, buts oh well its Paris :)

Keeping it Classy!

2011-03-08T03:01:00.000-08:00

(Wish I could truly capture the detail of this ceiling at the Pantheon, it was truly breathtaking!!)

Being in France has really helped me appreciate the eloquence of simplicity. There is something alluring about pairing simple yet classy pieces together. It really is timeless. I spent a lovely day with a friend simply just talking, eating, walking, more eating, and too much talking. I decided to keep it simple with a thrifted cardigan, thrifted dress, and pumps I purchased at a random shoe store in France. I also have been doing a lot of cooking so here are a few pictures to update you.
Enjoy
Bisous
sidebar-I was a little lost when I went on my vintage venture so I will actually get the address this time instead of trying to wing it from memory and I will have a wonderful post and youtube video for you guys :)

My new favorite salad lettuce with sliced apples, seasoning, and home-made salad dressing(not pictured) This lettuce is kind of sour so adding the apples really plays on the flavor. The dressing I made was balsamic vinegar, olive oil, pure Dijon mustard(the one that is organic and is full of seeds), honey, with garlic and white pepper seasoning. Extra tasty even to put over vegetables, you must try.

Photographer for a day :)

2011-03-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

I know this blog is centered around Vintage clothing but since vintage in my book is "representation of the high quality of a past time", what better way than to feature historic works of art in Paris.
On this rather gloomy day I took a boat tour and played photographer for the day. Here are a few pictures I think you will enjoy.
Oh btw, I am going thrifting tomorrow and I am in much need of some thrift therapy so I will update you soon :)

Ahhh.....What a beauty :)

The French

2011-03-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

My sister-n-law made a wonderful vintage inspired blazer for me and I was finally able to wear it the other day. Unfortunately I did not get the best photos of it so I will try and take better pictures to post later. But, I wanted to update you on my life in France so here are a few pics of how "The French" do it big! :)

LA Vintage Part Deux!

2011-02-28T05:34:00.000-08:00

I was finally able to upload some photos I took while on my trip to LA in December! Like I said before, I was able to do some vintage shopping, and although 90 percent of the items were way out of my budget, I did find this great tuxedo-esque dinner jacket (that I have not stopped wearing) for $20 in Beverly Hills!
They had so many beautiful pieces in the thrift stores in LA, but the prices were a bit much...
$250!!
$198!!

A Bit of Plaid...

2011-02-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

Am I the only person who pulls out things that I've been meaning to wear but never have at the end of a season? It seems to be getting a bit warmer as Spring sneaks up on us and I found this skirt in a suitcase at my parents house. I purchased it about 3 years ago at the Goodwill for under $5 and have never worn it (imagine that).
I loved it! I love plaid skirts in general but this one is so comfy, warm, and looked great with this $3 blue turtleneck, and my camel leather boots from Paris :)

All Black Everything...

2011-02-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, I am still alive!! I purchased this black blazer before I arrived in Paris. I had no idea I would be wearing this blazer every day of my life but man oh man I LOVE it. It is perfect for jeans, slacks, skirts, dresses, and much more. So of course I had to share....enjoy. I also have been wearing my light gray high-waisted pants more than ever! More pics next post...I promise.

Florals in the Winter

2011-02-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

Here is another dress that I picked up for about $13 in Paris last month, its floral but its very appropriate for winter, I paried it with black tights, and 4 inch black pumps!
I LOOOVVE the way it cinches my waist, and the slimming effect of this dress, lord knows I need that right about now...anywho, I'm super excited to go thrift store shopping with my boo today, he's my muse :) Let me know if you guys have found some great finds for the men in your lives at the thrift store!
CIAO!

LA Vintage

2011-01-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

Like I said in the previous post, me and the boo went to LA to visit his family last month, and his fabulous mother took me to some thrift stores in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

My boo got me this vintage Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress, you know it was a gift because I would have never paid $60 for a dress, lol but I love it!! I feel so official with a designer dress in my closet, I think I caught that LA fever for a second, don't worry I'm back to normal :)

This Dress...

2011-01-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

I'm back from Paris...blahhhh. Anywho, I'm going to try to catch everyone up with all the fabulous pieces that I have purchased the last couple months, I've been lucky enough to have gone to LA with my boyfriend and Texas to visit my family, and of course I did the most and purchased way too many dresses, this one is a beauty I picked up in Texas, and it really reminds me of Dorothy Dandridge no?

It was $5, and I loveee it! I need the winter to calm down, I can not wait until Spring :)

Another day in Paris

2011-01-22T06:06:00.000-08:00

Bonjour tout le monde,
I just wanted to share a few pics and keep you updated! Stephanie left yesterday and went back to the states so I was feeling very down yesterday. :(
But we had a fulfilling week of thrift store shopping, great eateries, shoe shopping, drinks, and much more.

All black everything: Jeans thrifted($4Goodwill) and boots thrifted($15Paris thrift store)

Just getting into the apt: Coat thrifted($5Goodwill), scarf handmaid by sister-n-law.

Black dress thrifted ($5 Day Javu)

Black dress thrifted ($4Day Javu)

Black Blazer: thrifted($4Goodwill)

Paris!!

2011-01-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

Sooo.... Ciara Small and I are in France! My boo is moving here as she mentioned in the last post and of course I came along to help her get settled the first week :) We went thrift store shopping at our favorite spots, and I found that there was such a good selection, but thrift store shopping has become so much more popular than when I lived here in 2008...I used to be able to shop in peace but it was a madhouse yesterday! Like, I have never seen so many people in these thrift stores, its crazy, so were purchased a couple of pieces that I will post later today, but we decided to come back on a weekday morning lol, beat the rush of young and hip Parisians :) ...à bientôt!!

Filling you in...

2011-01-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

Life has been super busy guys, so I just wanted to check in and let you guys know we are still alive! I am moving to France for 7months next week and I still have not started packing....ridiculous..I know:(!!!!
I have the longest to-do list ever!! I will be posting a few amazing pieces I snagged thrifting very soon :)

Stick with the classic pieces...look great even on casual fridays :)

2010-12-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, you just don't want to put on the heels and tights, and dress....ok most of the time I love it, well more than most of the time...still there is 3% of the time I feel like just walking out of my house looking a little low-key. Its easy to still look casual but cute when you buy pieces that are easy to throw on but still gives you a great silhouette with clean lines.

A pair of black skinny jeans ($3 Goodwill), a plan form-fitting solid color tank or t-shirt ($5 H&M), Chunky sweater ($3 Goodwill), thick black suede belt ($12 Italian thrift store), and some knee-high or thigh high flat boots. With simple piece like these, you will never have to leave your house in pajamas or sweatpants when you do not feel like putting too much effort in your look!

Even throw on a watch, some pearls, a scarf, or a statement necklace to jazz it up a bit. Its important to know, looking put together on a day to day basis really depends on picking out key pieces that are classic and versatile.

My new pearl ring (from my unnecessarily growing collection) is my new most prized accessory from my boyfriend :) It def. has a vintage feel to it, thus integrating well into my wardrobe!

Its COLD!!

2010-12-13T09:52:00.000-08:00

Yes...It has gone from chilly to COLD! Anyone who knows me knows I hate the cold! But I do love boots and scarves!!! A good friend of mine brought me back 3 wonderful, thick, long scarves from Uganda and I now have no use for any other scarves in my closet! I wanted to show you guys the new way I have been wearing my scarf. (I thought it was pretty cool) What do you think?
Scarf-free
Blazer- I honestly can not remember :)

check out http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html for the video explanation. Its the 7th post on the page.

The Last Dinner in Italiaaaa!

2010-12-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

We had our last dinner in Italy at a great little restaurant in the middle of Florence, so to celebrate the occasion I pulled out a dress I have had for three years almost, and have never worn! hmmmm imagine that...Anywho, its actually more red than what it shows in the photos and has a great overlay around the hips and but with a rose at the waist. I love it, its pretty much a showstopper :)

The end of our Italian meal! The best Tiramisu I've ever had in my 23 years on this earth. SIGH...

I purchased the dress for about $5 at the Goodwill :)

Finally...she is revealed

2010-12-04T15:56:00.000-08:00

I hope you guys remember the sexy black dress I purchased from a thrift store in Richmond this summer! Well if not, I do not mind refreshing your memory! I was doing a little thrift adventure while visiting my lovely aunt and imagine my "surpreez" when I walked across a 5$ rack outside a random thrift store (I still do not know the name). Of course the price screamed my name! Well I purchased my now favorite summer skirt and an amazing black dress. I was finally able to wear it while Stephanie and I were in Italy! We ate at a perfect Italian restaurant where the waiter was FINE and we made up imaginary stories of what we would say to him...

Pitti Vintage

2010-12-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

Here is another thrift store which we found while roaming the streets of Florence :) It's called Pitti Vintage and it is filled with some VERY extravagant (and super expensive) pieces. Nonetheless, I was able to snag two great shoulder bags for about $50 each, they fit all the stuff I carry around with me everyday as well as school books and my laptop! I love them so!

I think the owner of the store was quite fond of Ciara and I, he threw in a free men's silk scarf which I tied around my new bag!

Check out their Website, its pretty english friendly :) http://pittivintage.com/

Ciao Bella's!

Boutique Nadine

2010-11-30T02:56:00.000-08:00

So we ventured across another vintage store in Florence. Italy! This beautiful vintage boutique was VERY pricey (well at least for Stephanie and I)! I can not lie she had beautiful pieces but because all the vintage stores focus only on popular and famous labels it is hard to find a really good deal in Italy! But I did find some really cute accessories. They are Italian ties folded into a delicate rose shape, with a clothing pin attached to the back. I plan on adding this clip to my coats, skirts, blouses, and I am thinking of adding it to a necklace. Enjoy :)

Each piece was 10euros ($15)
While shopping around this is what we wore....

I wanted to keep in simple so I paired my Goodwill blazer $4 with my Goodwill skirt $3

Stephanie wore her new favorite Italian blazer from the previous post along with her favorite boots (purchased at a thrift store in Paris for 10euros ($15)
Then we decided to catch some lunch

If you have any thrift store pieces that you just love send us pics and we will feature you and the pieces on the blog :)
Send to-Pearls.roses@gmail.com

A Ritroso

2010-11-29T10:19:00.000-08:00

Sweater $2 Goodwill

Blazer $5 Goodwill

Scarf 1 euro Parisian thrift store(1.30USD)

So Ciara and I began our first full day in Italy by of course thrift store shopping! We had a list ready, and the first one we stopped in was in the center of Florence, on a gorgeous cobble stone street :) The owner was a young Italian woman who gave us some great deals! Don't get me wrong, there is NOTHING affordable about Italian thrift stores, but you can baragain with them for good prices (this does make us miss our Parisian thrift stores where bags are 10 euros and dresses are 15!) Nonetheless, although we spent MORE than we usually, these pieces were amazing!!

Purse 50 euros($65 USD)

Clutch 20 euros($26 USD)

Necklace 5 euros($6.50 USD)

Coat 40 euros($52 USD)

Blouse 25 euros($32 USD)

Our new Italian thrift store lady :)

Stay tuned for more Italian finds from other thrift stores we found, and some great vintage outfits we put together for the trip!

Ciao Bella's!

Molto Bello

2010-11-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

So to say that Italian men have been blowing our minds during our stay here in Italy is an understatement! I had to take some shots of this gentlemen's outfit, he is the quintessential European man, with that effortless vintage look, aged leather shoes, a great scarf, and an impartial look on his face...mi piace :)

The Voyage of a Lifetime :)

2010-11-25T10:56:00.000-08:00

So Ciara and I are in Italy! We spent our first full day thrift store shopping through Florence, and found some AMAZING pieces! I mean great purses, vintage jewelry, blouses, and coats! Florence is breath-taking, it is absolutely GORGEOUS, you are probably wondering how it compares to Paris, well it doesn't, Paris is its own entity in our lives but Florence is coming in as a close second :) The vintage shops here are really pricey (they are mostly just obsessed with labels here) but we will post all our goodies very soon, and we were able to make a video in a thrift store owned by a young Italian woman that we will post on our youtube page!
I wore my $5 black leather pencil skirt from Goodwill, a stretch black turtle neck, and pumps to travel from DC to Paris and then Florence.Ciara wore a vintage blouse that her Aunt gave her, some black pencil pants from TJ Maxx and her lucky ducky black pumps :)

We will be posting our Italian findings very soon guys! Stayed tuned!

Ciao!

Pre-ITALY!!!!

2010-11-22T18:01:00.000-08:00

So we fly out tomorrow to Florence,Italy!! So we have prepared a list of Vintage, consignment, and thrift stores to sift through! We are hoping to find a nice classic bag, pearls, Leather boots (preferably distressed), of course a few dresses. So here are a few of our random pre-Italy pics!!!

Rich Red

2010-11-21T05:31:00.001-08:00

Here are a few pics of another winter favorite! From Day Javu thrift store! This coat is thick, warm, and still fashionable :) But of course the price was extremely reasonable, $7!!!
I am also including my look of the day! This perfect black pencil skirt was also from Day Javu and it was $4! Considering I have tried to wear it everyday I think It was worth every penny!

A little bit of Everything!!

2010-11-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

Bonjour,

So I am trying out this whole "grow your hair out" thing lol! Well I am actually enjoying the new softer look and my hair is feeling amazing these days so I decided to snap a few pics.

Today I wanted to feature one of my favorite thrift store coats. This one has a nice neutral tan color but it has a classic look and is a lot thicker than it looks. We all know how I love buttons and this coat has great buttons. While doing some shopping for tights last night I found a very unique pair that I must share with you all!
Tights were 5bucks
Its funny because the coat was the same price at Goodwill.

Florence Italy....here we come!!!

2010-11-18T12:40:00.000-08:00

Bonsoir,

Today has been very busy with school but I am actually loving this sun-less day of sweet crisp air and the bountiful color palate of leaves tumbling everywhere!! Oh how I love this weather :) Last night my mind was everywhere and the topic my thoughts were centered on was "thrifting". I know you all are aware of how much we enjoy this "feel good look good" hobby and we really want to start giving others the opportunity to share in our finds. Stephanie and I have continually gone back and forth on opening an online vintage store with reasonably priced unique items. So this is something we are really working on making a reality. Just wanted to share that :) I mainly posted to share my thoughts but here is one of my new favorite pieces!

Price free-(Given by my lovely aunt)sorry for the poor picture quality.
I love these buttons!!!
By the way Stephanie and I will be in Florence Italy for thanksgiving! We will have amazing pics to share!( we already have a list of vintage stores to sift through)

What's your all time favorite piece of thrift store clothing?

2010-11-11T05:47:00.000-08:00

So I wore my favorite dress to work yesterday, and I was telling my wonderful co-worker (hi sunshine!) how this is by far my favorite thing in my ENTIRE closet. I could wear this dress with tights and black pumps for the rest of my life! I'm sure our blog followers have seen this dress before, its seriously the only piece of clothing that I wear over and over again!

I purchased this dress for under $5 at Unique Thrift Store in
Chicago! What is your all time favorite piece of clothing from the thrift store? Send pictures guys! pearls.roses@gmail.com :)

What I am loving....

2010-10-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

Sidebar- I love my niece and nephew so I had to share this pic I took last week!!!

Bonjour,
Aujourd'hui a été très occupé (My day has been very busy)
So I was not able to take pics of my new purchases but I wanted to share a few pictures of items I am loving right now! These pictures were found randomly on the internet. Hope you enjoy :)
Love the color and the pairing with classic oxford shoes.

Everything about this outfit screams my name!!

This is my favorite :)

This is going to be my swimsuit this summer!

Faded Glory!

2010-10-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

I am guessing that by doing this second post you all see that I am back to posting on the regular :)
It is SO beautiful out today and the weather immediately puts me in a good mood! To bad I will spending most of the day in classes :(
Here is my outfit of the day! I entitled this post "Faded Glory" because recently, I purchased a pair of faded pale gray high-waist pants. These pants were on sale for 10bucks just for me! (well at least that's what I choose to believe)
I can pair these pants with anything and everything, but today I decided to go for one of my favorite blouses. I call it an antique rose color, and boy oh boy I could not wait to pull her out this fall.
Enjoy this day, and may it be a productive one :)

Purchased for $4 at Day Javu thrift store in WV.

I know you remember these fancy pumps!!!

Here is a closer look at the shoes! I started back my serious workout regimen this week and I am SO sore so lifting my leg like this really took some effort! lol

My AMAZING new addition

2010-10-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

So I did a little thrifting this past week and I was not as successful as the norm( i usually have to put items back because I have found so many). But I did score this amazing cobalt blue blazer with great gold accent buttons. I also found a perfect black pencil skirt, cranberry red thick winter coat(perfect for my trip to France in January), and a dark peach skirt. I will feature those item later but here are some pictures of my new favorite blazer. It was one size too big so I just moved the buttons over so it would fit a little better. Hope you enjoy :)
>

Blazer was from Goodwill for 4$

I just love these buttons :)

Patches

2010-10-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

I usually nap during my lunch breaks, but SURPRISE SURPRISE I went to the thrift store today :) I found this wonderful Ralph Lauren boy's blazer for $5, I am going to wearing it with my boyfriend jeans, cream stretch turtleneck, and my oxfords...I love fall, its my favorite.

The Trenches!

2010-10-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

I was in the men's section of my usualll Goodwill and found this amazing, amazing trench! Ok not recently, about two years ago, I was gonna give it to my boyfriend at the time, but it looked so good on moi! So I've had it ever since, and it has been so good to me :) It was $5 Thank you.

Now this one I found at Goodwill this weekend, it had the tag on it and eveything, its be Apostrophe or something, and I love it! Thats all. It was $6. As you can see I utilized my $1 brown belt to add a more vintage feel, I had to get rid of those blets that came attached to them, they were making me uneasy.

She's my favorite...

2010-10-13T05:19:00.000-07:00

I love this coat/jacket. I've had it since 2007 and have never worn it! I purchased it at the Goodwill in Frederick and have been wanting to wear it, but it seems so special I couldnt find a place that was good enough for this beauty to make its debut. Sooooo three years later, I am pulling it out again, with my lucky black pencil skirt and my $10 Charlotte Russe pumps :)

I tried to put a belt around it, but the material is too think, it does this weird bunching thing around the belt and makes me look wider than not. Oh, and this was a $7 investment.

Black is not somber...its sleek

2010-10-06T03:10:00.000-07:00

So, everyone knows how much I like black, and no its not a sad, somber color, its actually quite sleek and refind in my humble opinion, AND don't let me find a black TURTLENECK dress...I fall in love. As I did at the Goodwill last week when I found this dress for $3...yay

And my wonderful shoes are not thirfted but they are great. That is all.

Hi Pretty...

2010-09-29T01:56:00.000-07:00

I purchased this blouse in a thrift store in Paris last February. It's pretty, it remind me of myself :) I paired it with my lucky ducky pencil pants from TJMaxx...

6 euros, I miss Paris :(

Un Blazer :)

2010-09-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Ok seriously I admit, I am wrong! I have been MIA for way to long! But life is starting to make sense again so I am back! Even tho the weather is rather dreary and depressing today, I woke up feeling very happy and content with who is in my life and what I am doing with my life! I am beginning a lifelong affair of loving myself and being a better me and cherishing the people in my life who I know want to be in my life. I have to say it feels amazing! Anyways, enough about that.... and on to "mon blazer bleue" (french [my blue blazer] and I am obsessed with everything french so you will be seeing a lot more french words and hearing way more than you probably want to know about France) :)

I hope you notice the navy gold embellished double breasted buttons!

This blazer was purchased at Goodwill for $4

The pale yellow shirt was $3 at Goodwill

Jeans- Old Navy

Charcoal grey oxfords-forever21

Purple.

2010-09-27T02:31:00.000-07:00

A purple tuxedo jacket only comes around once in a lifetime, and yea I hope you guys are lucky enough to find one soon, I did :) This jacket is amazing, I love it, the only thing I might do is get it taken in around my waist when I get some time to see my alterations lady.

This pretty was $3 at a WV thrift store. I am going to give this to my future daughter, and yes I have a feeling she will love it :)

A little skin showing never hurt...

2010-09-24T02:00:00.000-07:00

I found this dress at one of my favorite thrift stores last week, I almost choked when I saw it was $15! But when I tried it on, It was a keeper, and the way my waist is exposed through the little cut out design is so unique I knew I had to get it! This is definitley the way I like to do sexy, its still classy and different and it shows off just enough :)

Slap a Belt On...

2010-09-18T02:59:00.000-07:00

This dress was $1 from Goodwill, it had such a horrible shape, like I looked like an Amish baby nurse....but I liked the pattern and the crew neck so of course I purchased it and hoped a belt would give it a nice A-line shape...

I love love love it now!! I paired it with a thick chocolate brown belt from Goodwill and loved the results :)

ohhhhhhhhhh MY.

2010-09-17T02:03:00.000-07:00

Ok I know some people think I exaggerate everytime I say this but...SERIOUSLY this skirt has changed my lifeeeeee!!!!! How often does one find a soft leather, high waist, pencil skirt that fits like a glove? Like it has the perfect hip to waist ration for me, I do not know how this happened but I love it!

It was $6 at the Goodwill :)

She was Fancy before Fancy was Cool :)

2010-09-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

This mini-dress, is certainly mini lol. I will have to put this on hold until it gets cool enough to wear some black tights with it. Nonetheless, ummm yea its wonderful, exquisite, fabulous, so 80's, and I love love love it. I had to love it because it cost $12 at a consignment shop! Hello??? Yea I don't know who I am either, but it was so beautiful and it fits so well I could not leave it!

What's the most you guys have paid for a thrift store item??

When Life Takes Over!

2010-09-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

So...YEA...Life now a days is taking over big time. Both Ciara and I have been working and going to school full time, and we have been neglecting the blog! SHAME. We apologize and these pictures were taken during a conversation we had about how we have to get back to business with our posts! We have both been very upset with our lack of posting, so we promise you to do better guys!

Well this weekend I went to do some therapeutic shopping, you know the kind where you NEED to take your mind off of whatever crazy events are going on in your life, I scored big time at the Goodwill! Can you say leather high waist pencil skirt? Lavender tuxedo jacket? Please stayed tuned I will be posting my haul piece by piece :) The blazer I am wearing was three bucks from Goodwill!

Vintage Blazers :)

2010-09-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

Me and two of my best friends got to see a HILARIOUS play at the Kennedy Center last weekend and we all ended up putting on some great vintage blazers for the occasion:)

Mine was my absolute favorite black blazer with huge shoulder pads that I posted about a couple weeks ago it was $3 from the Goodwill

My beautiful boo Brianna had on a navy double breast little boys blazer from the Goodwill, $2

My boo Chei took a blazer that most would overlook with the bright busy pattern, but when paired with a sleek black romper, the colors are not overpowering, they actually compliment the ensemble very well:) This was another $3 purchase from Goodwill!

So Sorry!

2010-09-04T05:55:00.000-07:00

We are soooo sorry guys! The Fall 2010 semester has started for both Ciara and I, and between working full-time and living our lives we have been slipping on our usual postings :( Don't leave us though! We will be back in full effect after Labor Day for some Fall wardrobe videos and posts :)

Not sure how I feel about this...

2010-08-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

I am not one who believes I know how everything should be worn and what styles are best, even when it comes to myself on occasion. So here is the story, my lovely Aunt gave me this dress and it has such a different shape and look. I love the pattern and the feel of it (its extra comfortable) but I am not sure how I feel about it on me. I tried playing around with a few belts to see if I could change the shape a bit. Its snug on the hips and slouchy at the top. What do you guys think? How should I wear it? Do you think its just not a good look on me?

Original look

One of the belts I tried

I don't really wear shirts....

2010-08-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

But this shirt is legitimate, like its amazing! I guess since I wear dresses 85 % of my life, shirts don't really have a place in my wardrobe, especially since when I do wear tops with high waits pants, or a pencil skirt it is usually a really simple tank or tee, now don't get this confused with blouses, I love those, but shirts and tops like the ones found in abundance at Forever 21 or whatever is not what I'm about. This shirt I found for $1 at a thrift store by my parents home and the back had me at hello.

I paired it with a black bandage skirt I purchased in a Parisian thrift store two years ago and my lucky ducky black pumps

Summer....Stop what you are doing right now

2010-08-24T01:19:00.000-07:00

I want to punch summer in the face, this is preposterous! Its been hot and I miss my blazers, sweaters, wool pencil skirts, tights, and black turtlenecks. Anywho, it was cooler yesterday evening so I could actually wear one of my FAVORITE blazers, its long with exaggerated shoulder pads and I want to wear it everywhere, but its too hot so nuts to that. But this $3 beauty truly goes with anything, I decided to keep it simple with a white tank, $10 levi's, and some Charles Jourdan shoes cira my 2005 trip to Paris with my mom, they were a high school graduation gift and I have only worn them twice since! Ridiculous is what I'm about I suppose...What items are you guys excited to pull out for the fall?!

Outfit of the day

2010-08-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

Headed to school this morning, I wanted a casual chic outfit so I chose this ivory sleeveless blouse with a pair of high waist (jean like material) pants, paired with black and gold embellished sandals. Hope you guys enjoy! Have an amazing day :)

blouse $4 GW

Pants $4 GW

Sandals not thrifted

Ruffles....

2010-08-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

This dress was not a thrift store find, but I did purchase it for $10 on sale at Express...I actually have not been thrifting in like 2 weeks! I need to get on that soon! I plan on visiting NY soon, does anyone know any reasonably priced thrift stores in the city??

A weekend in Paris....

2010-08-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

So Ciara Small and I spend every Sunday having sleepovers where we laugh, talk about our lives, cry, watch movies, talk about Paris, and eat....alot o f eating. This weekend we put on our favorite summer thrift stores dresses and went to see Eat Pray Love, followed by a wonderfully authentice French Restaurant...it was greattt :) We both had on our "feel good" thrift store dresses, the ones that are easy to wear and flowly, both were under $5...

I am in LOVE!!

2010-08-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

Please do not judge me for the total love/lust/obsession I have at this moment! Has anyone every made a second seem like minute simply because they have trapped you? When I say trapped, I mean you are now willingly trapped, because you have seen what describes without words the very essence of you and now you no longer can be without them. The sudden thought or exasperated comment of them reignites your willing entrapment! Well...... that is exactly what these two items do to me! Well you guys know from my previous post that I have been obsessed with finding the perfect pump that screams "CIARA"! I have found her and named her Rose (hee hee), and she is accompanied by my favorite summer piece, and of course a pair of pearls :)
Pumps were not thrifted
Summer skirt thrifted in Richmond for $5
The pictures do not do these items the justice they deserve. :)

Our featured Thrifter :)

2010-08-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

Miss Toria claims she is a newbie thrifter...but it looks like she is already a pro with this ultra chic $4 dress from Thrift Town!! The asian detailing is so sleek, and the cut of the dress shows off her little hour glass figure! We love it!

If you would like to be our next fellow thrifter featured on the blog, email us at pearls.roses@gmail.com with your name, pictures, price of item, and name of thrift store if possible :)

I love cobalt blue, its my fav :)

2010-08-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

I love cobalt blue, I just needed to make that clear lol. This mini-dress was $2 at Goodwill (circa 2008) and I love and adore it! I paired it with red bow pumps from steve madden, and a gold necklace from Forever 21 :)

Floral Obsession :)

2010-08-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hello,
It is a gorgeous day and I so wish I had somewhere spectacular to go to show off my amazing dress! This is one of my Goodwill boutique finds from a few weeks ago! I am totally in love with the pattern, fabric covered buttons up the front, cinched in waist and of course the back!!!

Featuring another fellow thrifter!

2010-08-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hello, I am finally back!!!
Ms Jasmine recently visited her local Goodwill after seeing a few of me and Stephanie's pieces on the blog, and she scored high with the purchase of this ravishing floral dress! Not only does it hug her waist and curve around her hips just right but the pattern is rather unique.

Shoes are also thrifted for $4
dress $4

I do love an A-line overlay...

2010-08-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

Sorry if you guys are tired of seeing my mug all over this blog this week, Ciara's MAC is being fixed so she will be back in full effect over the weekend:) Anywooooo, I'm sure you guys remember this shirt from an earlier blog post, it used to be a dress that I purchased for 50 cents, well I made it into a shirt because the bottom half of the dress would hardly fit over my butt, I was a little too packed into it for my liking, soooo did what I always do and got crazy with some scissors :) The bottom is a stretchy white mini skirt I purchased in Paris for 10 euros...

I really think this is another example of how you can shop at the thrift store and still look youthful and flirty!

Who says you can't find a hot dress for $3?

2010-08-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

I'm very serious when I say shopping retail is a waste of time. You can find ANY outfit for ANY occasion at the thrift store, and avoid the awkward encounter with the girl wearing the same American Apparel/Forever 21/H&M dress in the bathroom...believe me its happened to me once before, and NEVER again. This gem was actually spotted by a wonderful friend of mine at the Unique Thrift Store in Chicago for $3....oh and for all my DC area thrifters, according to some of our fabulous youtube subscribers there is a Unique Thrift Store in Silver Spring....must go soon....

The Perfect Black Dress

2010-08-02T03:00:00.000-07:00

You may think I'm crazy for the level of love that I have for this dress, but its wonderful! Its simplicity is great for statement jewelry/statement pumps or an extravagant belt, and I love how its not too snug but not too loose

Every working girl needs a dress appropriate for work and those Friday evening happy hours, this $3 Goodwill find will be a great transition piece from day to night :)

A Mini Trip to Goodwill :)

2010-07-31T17:02:00.000-07:00

So here I am being VERY good about my thrifting habits, if you can believe it, before today it had been almost 3 weeks since I have been thrifting! Well one of our lovely youtube subscribers sent me a message telling me about a 50% sale at a Goodwill not so far from me....well that was enough for me! Luckily I only spent $11 and came out with three great dresses. This one is my favoritttteeeee! Its a little stretchy, it has that a-line overlay, and it cinches me at the waist....just divine, AND it was $4 :)

Shoe Obsession!!

2010-07-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

Ok so I am seriously having a problem! All the pumps I want are simply too expensive but I NEED them in my life!!!! Here are a few I have been eyeing...

I am dreaming of long walks in the park paired with amazing vintage wear and all of these spectacular heels. I would even pair these with tights during colder weather.

2010-07-28T08:01:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I took a mini trip to Richmond and of course I stopped pass a few thrift stores. I wish I could remember the name of the vintage shop that I picked up this amazing sultry black dress! It was hanging outside on a rack for $5 and I felt like I won an award when I picked it up and it was my size!!! The mid section cut outs is black lace! Hope you guys enjoy :)

Oh and the black suede heels are new to my closet, one of my other purchases from richmond, although they were not thrifted.

Another fellow thrifter! :)

2010-07-28T05:16:00.000-07:00

Miss Tia Bural sent us her lovely pictures featuring a deep mustard yellow nautical sweater dress. When I pulled up her pictures all I could say was "I LOVE THIS DRESS!". This piece is amazing and definitely a vintage dress that could be worn for years to come, and with the price being only $5, could you get any better than that?! All I can say is, "go Ms B!" If you would like to be our next fellow thrifter featured on the blog, email us at pearls.roses@gmail.com with your name, pictures, price of item, and name of thrift store if possible :)

I need to go somewhere...and wear this

2010-07-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

Uhhh yea, am I the only person who falls in loves with pieces and gets obsessed with them? I am PRESSED over this jumpsuit and I can not believe it was just lying in the Goodwill screaming "STEPHANIE KIMOUUUUU", it was, I looked around in my surprise and knew I had to purchase it. The bottom part of the jumper is a nice pencil slack, while the top is a great stretch material with exaggerated shoulder pads.

Change of Heart

2010-07-24T16:14:00.000-07:00

So I found this jumpsuit in my closet today, I tried it on and loved it alll over again!! I knew that I wanted to share it with you guys :) But then I noticed how the material hugged my bottom half, it left nothing to the imagination, every curve on my body was on display, and I felt if I wore it in public some booty shaking music video producer would try to hire me lol

It was a tad too much for me so after much contemplation, I decided to make some minor alterations lol.....

I made it into a cute little top and paired it with my lucky ducky black stretch pencil skirt, wrestlers belt from Paris, and forever 21 pumps. The jumper was $2 from a Church Thrift Store.

All white with a touch of color!!!

2010-07-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

It is almost 100 degree's today with high humidity and I need an outfit to compliment this weather, without forsaking a stylish look! So I pulled out my "lucky ducky" white linen pants with a simple white tank, grey pumps, and a grey blazer for the cooler air inside!

Linen pants were thrifted

Blazer Banana Republic

Pumps Steve Madden

Tank ( I have had it so long who knows at this point)

Peachy-Keen :)

2010-07-23T02:51:00.000-07:00

I am on a mission to wear more of my clothes, this little pale peach number (looks great with gold accessories) is ANOTHER dress I found in my closet during my futile attempts to pack my things for the move....$3 at Deja Vu Thrift Store :)

She's a Lady

2010-07-22T03:40:00.000-07:00

One of my bff's told me this weekend...."you aways look like you are going to a tea party" she was making fun, but thats ok cause I like looking like an over dressed rich woman, even though we all know the truth lol....Anywho I found this gem of a dress in my closet this weekend, tag on it and all, $4 from the Goodwill. It definitely is lady like, but hugs in the right places to give the dress a little edge....

I paired it with my lucky ducky 4 inch black suede pumps :)

Look of the Day

2010-07-21T05:20:00.001-07:00

Hello :),

Me and Stephanie Kimou had a little pow wow last night and I am once again feeling refreshed and happy! Nothing like girl talk to motivate you to make moves towards your goals! Today I am featuring my signature summer pattern once again (Polka dots) This was originally a skirt I purchased from the Goodwill last fall. I didn't try it on and when I got home I was disappointed because it made me look rather frumpy. I now realize elastic waists are not flattering on me! But as a dress this skirt blew my mind! I just tied my favorite grey $1 goodwill scarf around the waist in a flirty bow and put on my bcbg heels and the outfit was complete.

skirt- thrifted $5

polka dots!

2010-07-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

Ok so occasionally I go thru spats where I am completely stuck on a pattern or color! Well so far this week I have pulled out polka dots! I really feel like it turns any simple dress into a statement piece! Well my latest Goodwill purchase was $4 and I could resist the urge because man oh man the color purple is lacking in my wardrobe and every girl needs a "walk in the park" dress. So here is my look of the day. Enjoy :0

Be Confident in Color!

2010-07-19T02:00:00.000-07:00

I have noticed that many women, especially women with darker skin complexions, are scared of a bold print, or an attention grabbing color. I understand, even shopping for my dark brown complexion I can be a little picky, but don't use your fear of standing out make you prone to look dull and drab. Summer is the time to find that great print and bright color and make it complement whatever complexion you may be! If you are apprehensive just try easing into color, maybe a colorful skirt with a solid white tank top, or a white sundress with big, bold, and colorful statement earrings.

The bold and bright dress can be a little much, but paired with a nice nude heel or simple gold sandals, and a simple stud earring, it works well no? It was $3 from Deja Vu Thrift Store :)

Another fellow thrifter! :)

2010-07-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Miss Ibyl sent us lovely pictures of some of her thrift store finds and we definitely appreciate these one of a kind blouses."My desire is to find that unique piece that I think stands out. But I will still aim to find thingsI will feel comfortable wearing."- Ibyl

She paired her thrifted blouse with an Old Navy skirt and heels. I personally love the deep blue blouse against her deep rich complexion. If you have created a vintage outfit from the thrift store please send us pictures so we can feature you here on the blog.

pearls.roses@gmail.com

$1.92 (Can you believe this price)

$2.92

Vintage Skirts!

2010-07-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

I do love my vintage dresses, but I must say the skirt section of my neighborhood Goodwill has been calling me lately. Here are a variety of skirts in my closet that are fun and flirty and of course less than $5...ENJOYYYY my fellow thrifters :)

Outfit of the Day

2010-07-16T05:39:00.001-07:00

Hello, I woke up today feeling fresh and happy so I planned my outfit according to those happy feelings :) I want to discuss a topic today, Do you feel thrift stores can provide outfits for work, play, date nights, casual, and dressy occasions?

Here is my outfit of the day! Happy friday :)

You may remember this blazer from our second post, it was $4 and the skirt was $4

Another Featured Thrifter!!

2010-07-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

Here is another wonderful fellow thrifter! Jamese is wearing a dress from her neighborhood thrift store for....50 cents!! This is our kind of girl! That pattern on her skin looks fabulous, the belt is a fantastic touch and cinches her waist, and of course our favorite accessory is that amazinggg hair of hers! She looks edgy, yet polished and we love it!

If you would like to be our next featured thrifter email us at pearls.roses@gmail.com :)

Off to work....

2010-07-14T03:28:00.000-07:00

I am really liking my new job! I especially like how I do not feel so restricted when it comes to what I can wear, of course it business attire, but I don't feel like an alien when I wear some of my vintage dresses and what not. I decided to spice up my luck ducky cream pencil skirt (Goodwill $3) with this great vintage blouse, its so intricate and feminine, and the coral pinkish hue is divine. This was another Goodwill find for $5!

Our Wonderful Fellow Thrifter and Follower!

2010-07-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of some recent thrift store purchases from Ms. Felicia! She is a fellow thrifter and can be found on youtube via her vintage channel http://www.youtube.com/user/feliciajuly!

All of the items below were purchased at her neighborhood Value Village.
Pic 3- a dress circa mid 1970's, $12.
Pic 2- Bally bag -circa late 70's early 80's, $3.50
Pic 1 - Vintage flower pins - Each $2.

These pieces are definitely one of a kind and fabulous! Thank you so much Ms. Felicia for sharing your vintage finds with us. If you would like to show some of your vintage pieces to be featured on the blog email them to pearls.roses@gmail.com :)

Don't forget to check us out at our unbelievably entertaining youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/rosesNpearlsvintage! Here you can follow us during our thrift store excursions!

Like Mother like Daughter :)

2010-07-12T03:17:00.000-07:00

My mother is thebomb.com. Seriously, when I look at pictures of her back in her youth living in Paris or when me and my brothers were growing up in Cote d'Ivoire, its clear (as if is today) that the lady has a style all her own. Because she is so international now a days, it hard to steal her old clothes, but over the weekend I found a wonderful green skirt cira the early 80's in her trunk. Its extravagant, a tad obnoxious, and completely luxurious.

Yellow is the color of the day!!!

2010-07-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

So one of my thrift store finds this past Wednesday was this bright yellow dress that did not blow my mind on the hanger but once on......took my complexion to higher levels! Comfy, casual, and cheap price! $4 at Goodwill!

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination."

2010-07-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

So I am starting the countdown until I move into my first apartment at the end of the month...first step, get rid of the clothes I love but that just do not fit into my life anymore...you guys know how weird I have been feeling about my clothes as of late. Nonetheless, I've been looking online today for some inspiration on what I would love my new style to be based on, and I have found it! Its the Fall 2010 Armani line I think, but I love it, and I am slowly going to build my wardrobe to imitate this lady like style on my thrift store budget of course :) Oh and I am so ready for Fall and Winter, the summer is so severe and tiring, and I do not like summer clothes, they make me feel uneasy.....

OMG I saw these gloves at a thrift store in Paris in February and passed on them....5 euros!! I'm an idiot
'

Can you say cream suit with an a-line cream jacket and cream pencil skirt? This can def. be re-done at the Goodwill

I am going to get rid of my leather bomber jacket I purchased for $7 at Goodwill and put a leather blazer-esque jacket on my to buy list for this fall, I have seen some at Salvation Army's in NY for $15....and a chocolate brown wool pencil pant is def. "findable" at the Goodwill

This is divine, I will have to add a tweed Chanel-esque suit to my Thrift Store wish list...again I have seen tweed suits at my neighborhood thrift stores so I'm not worried :)

Coats are ALWAYS in abundance at the Goodwill or Salvation Army, I will be looking for one with a dramatic collar this season

Def. love the strapless cream look....how divine...this might be a little tricky to imitate, but I do like the shape, a strapless below the knee dress that is form fitting and comes in like a pencil skirt at the bottom...yes I think I can find this.

I could probably remake this outfit right now, with its cow neck blouse which I own in every color (Goodwill $3) brown pencil skirt, and now all I need is a great cream or tan wool blazer...(adding to mental thrift store wish list)

GW boutique :)

2010-07-09T04:13:00.000-07:00

All I can say is "oh happy day"! Man oh Man did the GoodWill Boutique show its strong arm two nights ago! Well after a splendid day at work I decided to hit the local Boutique (hee hee) and see if I could find a little bit of everything. What I had in mind was a business "Ciara like" outfit, some casual dresses that scream "Ciara you must buy me" and a summer blouse or two....ok maybe three! Well I found all of the above plus more!!! I can not spoil the fun and give them all to you in one blog post but I figured I would show my head to toe business appropriate outfit that I have to say looks better in person than in picture! Nonetheless here it is! Enjoy :) and please feel free to leave many comments.

Perfect Ivory blouse with lace neck $3

Black skirt $4 (previous Goodwill find)

Amazing black pumps $4

Blazers for $1.50!!!

2010-07-09T03:02:00.000-07:00

I scored at my favorite thrift store during a 50% off sale, $3 blazers for $1.50...divine

The Boyfriend Trouser

2010-07-08T17:42:00.000-07:00

I'm telling you, the men's section of the thrift store has a ton of hidden treasures! My favorite thing to pick up are mens trousers, they are long and for us curvier girls, they are a perfect alternative to $70 high waist trousers from places like Express or H&M. They can be a little tricky, especially around the waist, but with a good belt you can look polished and hip at the same time :)

Oh and please excuse the mess in the background, its the middle of the work week and I'm tired lol, anywho these wonderful grey slacks were $3 in the men's section of my neighborhood Goodwill :)

I have found her....

2010-07-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

And by her I mean the dress I am going to wear when I move to Paris. Yes, my dream is to move to Paris to live a wonderfully international life filled with travel, pastries, and socialized healthcare. In the meantime I know what I am going to wear when I arrive to my new Parisian home. This dress. She was $5 at Deja Vu Thrift store :)

Grey is definitely the new black for me!!!

2010-07-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I know I have been MIA for a bit and I have no excuses other than I was just having a bad week! But things are looking bright now so Im back with a new vintage piece! Here is my oh so favorite dress of the week! It is light in fabric, glides across my shape ever so wonderfully :), and is a perfect shade of grey! It was $4 from goodwill and I delicately tied my one of my favorite $1 scarves around the waist to give it a little more shape. Oh and I cut my hair, after a bad week I needed a change! :)

Doesnt this dress have a great back!?

The Kitten Heel

2010-07-01T03:29:00.000-07:00

The kitten heel is a great addition to your shoe repertoire....and for some reason they are always in abundance at my neighborhood Goodwill! These two are my favorites, they are bright and great with a crisp white summer dress or some cream pencil pants like the linen ones Ciara bought at Goodwill (pictured in a blog post below)....I might have to steal those pants from her....

$3.99

I am in a rut :(

2010-06-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

I'm in a serious rut. I don't know how it happened....but I think I need to totally re-do my entire wardrobe. As I told you guys before I am a thrift store hoarder, I will keep things I purchased from like 3 years ago and now I feel like my wardrobe is a mix of all types of outrageous colors, patterns, textures....it just seems complicated, and at this point I just don't need a complicated wardrobe. I am in a place in my life where everything is going so smoothly because I have learned to simplify alot of things, I have put what matters most at the forefront and I want my closet to reflect this!!......I say all of that to say this....I need to get rid of about 40% of my closet, there are great things but I want more classic pieces, more of a timeless silhouette, a much more simplistic wardrobe....maybe I'm just in one of my moods......excuse me while I vent :) Nonetheless, I am gonna have a very large portion of my wardrobe on sale in the next month or two (maybe for the fall season?) so you can have you way with my closet very soon.......

Has anyone ever done a massive overhaul of their closets?

Lucky Magazine re-creation with Thrift Store Items...part 2

2010-06-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

Here is another $200 outfit in lucky that I recreated for $5....I like this look because I think everyone can go to their thrift store and find a high waist skirt and a mens button down and come out looking polished and edgy at the same time....seriously try it out...let me know how it goes :) Skirt was $3, the mens button down was $2.

What does Vintage mean to you???

2010-06-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

Today I reflected on how therapeutic it is to shop for irreplaceable clothing for cheap prices! That one thought guided my thinking to how amazing and remarkable it is to find another who finds true pleasure in not only thrifting, but thrifting with me! So I want to take a moment and dedicate today as the post of bragging. When I say bragging, I mean how my love for thrifting bought me to meet an amazing woman who not only shares this blog with me, but her incredible friendship! One could not ask for more! So today this is what Vintage means to me.......A hidden pathway of great shopping, memories, friendship and the beginning of forever! What does vintage mean to you?

Snip snip......

2010-06-26T14:45:00.000-07:00

I found the most divine dress: beautiful pattern, great shape around my neck and shoulders, gorgeous colors, and the price was right of course ($7) but it was soooo long! So I did what I always do, I took some scissors and snipped away. Now, you gotta be careful with this, always start cutting with caution or you will end up with a mini dress (I have ruined many pieces this way)....even better, if you are skilled with a sewing machine just tuck the dress in and sew it up.....but I say all of that to say this.....don't let an awkward length stop you from a great piece, especially when length can be so easily altered!

I am complete...

2010-06-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Simply put, this dress completes me, I may now function as a member of society because I own it. Thank you for your attention.

$6, Goodwill in Hampton, VA

Our featured Thrifter :)

2010-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sharon was so kind to share with us one of her favorite Michelle Obama/Jackie O dresses from her neighborhood Salvation Army for.....$5!! Its elegant, classy, and a beautiful color against her complexion, not to mention her hair and make-up give this vintage look the perfect touch of femininity.....oh how we love our fellow thrifters

Thanks Sharon!

Remember to be our next featured thrifter send us your photos in your best thrift store outfit to pearls.roses@gmail.com :)