plaidtastic pants

I decided to write a post today for those who need a break from Uncle Bob or those in post-turkey coma. Let's be honest, a photo shoot tomorrow would be impossible as a)  none of my clothing will fit, and  b) I too will be in post-turkey coma.

So, Happy Thanksgiving! And brace yourselves for some plaidtastic pants (you're probably thinking Austin Powers or Clueless, but stay with me).Blazer: Banana Republic (second hand), $9.25. T-shirt: Hanes (dad's). Pants: Averrce (second hand), <$1. Shoes: Madden Girl (hand me down).

Not too bad for $10.Yikes, so among exercising (notice tension surrounding upper button), I'm going to add "expose self to natural sunlight." Pale skin aside, behold my church bazaar polyester plaid pants. Or simply, my plaidtastic pants. Technically I paid less than $1 for these high-waisted stretch pants, but I am beginning to find them both aesthetically pleasing and practical.See? Practical. Perfect for any activities that involve below-the-hip movement.For the record, Madden Girl has some cute flats/boots out and about in stores like DSW, Marshalls, TJ Maxx. Affordable and usually comfortable.
As you can see, the "three percent spandex" is intended for elasticity. So maybe after all these are the perfect pants for Thanksgiving day...

Next up: my mission to wear a $1 sweater skirt, otherwise known as the granny skirt, out in public.

-J

my DIY scarves (yes, there are two)

Et voila! A classic black (organic!) scarf from the remnants of my BBD, otherwise known as a big black dress.

[read previous post if this did not make sense]So, not bad for $1. Two mini-scarves and a crop top vs. the BBD.Mom, look! I have bangs reminiscent of my toddler days.

Sweater: F21, $13.50. Flannel: Gap (men's). Bag: Urban Outfitters, $13?. Arm deco (Mixit and Target).

More bazaar bag goodies to come.

bizarre bazaar and DIY

My apologies for the extended hiatus but I've been really feeling (and by feeling, I mean desperately seeking) A JOB. A job with a real person salary and benefits that will keep me from being indefinitely in debt to my dentist. In the meantime, I'll settle with handing out newspapers on the red line and shopping at my good ol' local thrift stores. Therefore, keeping you my dear reader, entertained with my shoddy wardrobe of used clothing!

And boy do I have some super thrifty finds for you my friends. It all started a few weeks ago when Jack and I ventured to a small church in Takoma Park for their annual crafts/book/clothing bazaar. Avoiding the $5 all you can eat pancake option, I came across a small corner of haphazard items. Little did I know, instead of endless pancakes I was offered a trash bag to stuff for a set price of $5. Five dollars. A volunteer explained that most people weren't filling an entire bag, and if I didn't find anything I would be returned some of my money (I'm going to compare this situation to my first experience in an all-you-can-eat dining hall).

While I did not fill my entire medium-sized kitchen trash bag, I collected a sizeable amount of random clothing items. For five dollars. Which means, the five items I found along with two pairs of brand new nike soccer socks cost me less than a dollar apiece.
Item 1: a little large/boxy black dress
I picked up this dress because I loved the stretchy cotton fabric (and it's organic cotton!). Negatives: too big in the chest area, extra material in mid-section, all around an unflattering dress on my already manly-figure.That's right, thumbs down. Sad that my first item was not going to be useful addition, I grabbed some scissors and snip, snip! New (very) crop top for future (gypsy/belly dancer?) outfits like below.I think we can agree this "top" may be a tad more practical come summer. Question remains: will it be worn more than the baggy-I'm a man!-dress? Yes.

Cardigan: Club Monaco (second hand), $4. Bag: Lancome aka makeup/perfume giveaway (second hand), $4. Eureka! The perfect travel/gym bag! Skirt: no tag (second hand), $6.

See, you too can be a preppy gypsy with a gym bag for only $14! All you need is a pair of scissors and a decent thrift store that supplies cardigans and plaid.This plaid skirt is just fabulous. Not only will I wear it as a skirt with blouse/cropped top/blazer/leather jacket, BUT also as... a dress! Could not be bothered to grab a belt or change up the  sweater, but just imagine the possibilities.

If you have learned one thing today, it is DO NOT underestimate the power of the church bazaar. Thus far you've witnessed my least favorite item, which ended up to be a fairly useful piece of clothing after all. Check back Friday/Saturday for another Bazaar bag find.

Any guesses to what I did with the rest of the black dress?

-J

all in the details

Thanks to Gen-XY Vintage, you have witnessed bright blazers, vintage dresses, and flannel-lined shoes that will keep you toasty through winter. CEO and founder of Gen-XY Vintage, Ashley, kept me on my toes with these last two "spicy" wardrobe pieces. By spicy I mean tops that will make your friends envious. Men will swoon. Your friends may or may not steal it from you eventually.

Top: "Jag," $17. No doubt you'll have moves like Jagger in this cheetah inspired top. The leather shoulder accents affirm your inner animal as you prowl your way through your evening.It was maybe 50 degrees, but I couldn't resist donning this flapper top. While there is no good reason for my belly exposure, this top feminizes whatever bottoms you're wearing. Grandma-sweater skirts included.

Top: "Flapper," $16.
In case you needed further convincing, here is a close-up. Wear with a long-sleeved shirt and high-waisted pants to keep warm.

Sadly, this concludes my photo shoot feature on local online retailer, Gen-XY Vintage. Big round of applause for photographer Adam (Simms City Productions) and Ashley for their enthusiasm and creativity. Make sure to check out their websites: Gen-XY Vintage / Simms City Productions, and follow them on Twitter/Facebook to keep up with new products.

So get shopping! And stay tuned early next week for a peek at my latest thrifty buys.

a plus!

faux fur and Furstenberg

I hope you all really enjoyed yesterday's feature on Gen-XY Vintage, a local e-commerce company specializing in all things vintage and second hand. After all, where else can you find Furstenberg for under $25 and a faux fur coat for $20?

Check out a few more photos from our little fashion shoot (compliments of Adam Simms of Simms City Productions). Items are going fast, so grab these great vintage pieces before someone else does (like me).
Coat: "Polar," $30 (on sale from $42). Warning: I am seriously considering this purchase, I'll give you until tonight to snatch this up before me. Jeans: Mixit (second hand), my own. Shoes: "Gone Hiking," sold.
On me: blue dress, "Working girl," $20. I chose this cerulean blue dress because I loved the length and broadness in the shoulders. Not to mention, the material feels like being draped in a sheet made of silk. Maybe have a belt on hand to make the style a bit more flattering, but this versatile piece is perfect for work or any fashionable occasion. Bold jewelry and over-sized clutch optional.

On Ashley: skirt, "Furstenberg," $24. The colors in this pleated skirt bring any outfit to life. Did I mention this is vintage Furstenberg? Trust me, this won't be on sale for long...
My new favorite color. Also, the website lists this dress as a size 7/8, but it would most likely fit anyone who is normally between a size 2-8 (depending on how tight you want it to be).
Who would have guessed that black, blue, purple and red would make such a perfect palette? This skirt reinforced my need for a worn denim jacket and brown ankle boots. Et voila! A nice little fall outfit.
Here is a better shot of "Polar." An ideal fall/winter jacket for an evening on the town.
But wait. There's more! Tomorrow, make sure to stop by for the last few pictures of our pas cher chic and Gen-XY Vintage collaboration (my favorite outfits yet).

-J

introducing Gen-XY Vintage

Allow me to introduce Ms. Ashley Tyrus, CEO and founder of Gen-XY Vintage. Ashley's e-commerce website launched on October 1, 2011, with the dream of sharing her personal style and vintage vision with the world. The site contains a variety of pre-owned, vintage, and second hand pieces with an affordable price range and great selection. My favorites? Jag. Polar. Emerald. The majority are pieces you won't find in more than one place.

Ashley and I crossed paths at a local street market in Silver Spring, where her colorful pieces and passion for her work inspired me to feature her company and products. Catch a full interview with the style-savvy CEO at the end of the post, but first, make sure to check out some of her clothing below. Photos were shot by our talented boyfriends: Jack, with my astounding Fujifilm, and Adam Simms, of Simms City Productions.

Note: Since doing the shoot, Gen-XY Vintage pieces are selling out fast! If you have any questions about products, you can contact Ashley directly on her website at www.shopgenxy.com.Ashley, above. Yellow blazer: "It's Always Sunny," $24.

On me: Red top, "Chica," $16. Jeans: Mixit (second hand), my own. Brown ankle boots, "Gone hiking," $18.

On Ashley: High-waist denim shorts and black rider boots, her own.






I would wear these shoes every day. Maybe it's just me, but flats are not conducive footwear for temperatures below or near 50. The flannel lining and flat sole make this shoe practical and tres chic! AND pas cher chic!

Interview with Ashley Tyrus of Gen-XY Vintage

1) When did you first start thrifting/second hand shopping?
I first started thrifting when I was in college and wanted some variety from the commercial mall selections that all of the students frequented. I began buying for myself here and there, and when people would ask me where I got stuff from I wanted to be able to share my personal creativity and style with others. I also used to get a lot of vintage pieces from my mom's closet as I grew up and those became pieces that were dear to my heart and really triggered my love for classic vintage pieces.

2) How would you describe your personal style?
Eclectic, individualistic, and yummy!

3) Any fashion role models/inspirations?
My biggest fashion role model in terms of being a daily inspiration to me is definitely Rachel Zoe. I love her because she really gives me the drive to just step out there and live my dream. She was a Psych major at George Washington and then completely transformed her life into what she really wanted to pursue, which was fashion. I idolize her because I absolutely LOVE the aspect of styling in every sense, and there are so many times when I watch her show or read something about her and even though I'm not that big yet, I feel like we're going through similar feelings and emotions with our love and passion for fashion and our businesses. I also have a girl crush on Rihanna because her style is AMAZING and so bold and daring and she follows her own fashion rules. Kudos to her stylist!

4) Fashion blogs you read?
Well yours of course! Really great if you're into fashion, thrifting, and finding awesome bargains in the area. [thanks Ashley, you didn't have to say that out of politeness]

whowhatwear.com - Gives great info on how to wear different items and how to style outfits, cool stuff about what celebs are wearing too.

msvintagevirgin.blogspot.com - love this blog because it specifically focuses on vintage clothing and can give some styling ideas if you're unsure about how to wear something!

5) When was Gen-XY Vintage born? Why?
Gen-XY Vintage has been an idea in my head for quite some time now, I'd say about three years or so but I really started to truly pursue it in January of this year and didn't officially launch the site until October 1, 2011. I created the vintage boutique because I really wanted to provide my style and fashion sense with the world. So many people say they sell "vintage" but when you start browsing, it's really just racks of old clothes. I aim to bring a timeless variety of vintage, vintage-inspired, and pre-loved clothing to all of my customers.

6) Where do you hope to see Gen-XY Vintage in the future?
I see the company growing and expanding. I work hard to make sure that each day one person that didn't know about us yesterday, has learned about us today. We are working on doing at least two events per month on the East Coast and in the DMV area. We are also launching some new, exciting projects that you can check out at www.shopgenxy.com!

7) What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job has to be doing what I actually LOVE. I'm big on living your dream and I encourage everyone to follow their hearts and do what truly makes them happy. I recently transitioned from working a 9-5 to working almost full-time for Gen-XY Vintage. Now when I wake up my thoughts can be fully consumed with how to make the company better and new ways to make my customers happy. It is truly a guilt-free and liberating feeling!

If you want to learn more about Gen-XY Vintage visit our site and join our newsletter to get dibs on on all the new info. Also, follow us on Twitter at @genxyvintage, we love new friends!

Dancing post shoot. Stay tuned tomorrow for Gen-XY Vintage outfits round two.

In the meantime, I highly, strongly, suggest/advise you to do two things:

• "like" Gen-XY Vintage on Facebook


• check out www.shopgenxy.com (buy yourself an early christmas/hannakuh/thanksgiving gift, you probably deserve it)

-J

vintage online: mini-preview

A few weeks ago I met a young woman, Ashley, with a passion for vintage-wear and second hand clothing. About to end her full-time job, she is pursuing her dream with an amazing online collection of second hand/vintage goods.  Her personally bought items range from current brands to authentic vintage pieces, all affordable and ready to ship (to you, your friends, whoever!). This is a great opportunity for women who maybe don't have the time or energy to shop second hand. In this case, Ashley has sorted through masses of clothing to bring you the best. Think of a personal shopper with serious taste, and affordable prices.

We were inspired to do a collaboration, showcasing second hand products at their finest.

Check out the images below for a behind-the-scenes look of our photo shoot featuring Ashley's products. Ashley's boyfriend, Adam, did a fabulous job of shooting professional images (check them out Wednesday, here on pas cher chic!). For today's post, my Fujifilm pictures will have to suffice.

Most importantly, you will want to return for an interview with Ashley and more information about her company (I promise to share, I just can't have you buying all the things I want).

Sneak peak below of things to come!

After being asked politely to vacate the parking garage, we settled at a local parking lot in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Assessing the damage. Another thing Ashley and I have in common aside for our second hand/vintage appreciation? A strong dislike of photo posing!

But Ashley was obviously just trying to make me feel better. Psst, that skirt may or may not be vintage DVF. Who will buy it first? Depends on if I beat you to it.

Instead, I use my favorite "there is something interesting on the ground pose." I was also thrilled that the sleeves actually covered my monkey arms.

Showcasing my modeling skills.

But we had fun!

Headed back to our respective cars in the Whole Foods parking lot.

Thus, my dear reader, please visit tomorrow (Wednesday), for an introduction to Ashley's online store (where I promise to disclose the name and website address). Adam's professional pictures will be featured, a nice change from my janky Fujifilm camera.

And finally, a big thank you to Adam, Jack, and Ashley for their help putting this together.

-J

fall layers

During my year abroad, I quickly became a fan of Mango. Originally established in Spain, Mango designs are similar to H&M or Zara, with a comparable price point.

While I wouldn't refuse to pay the original prices, I would be just as happy to pay $3 for a practically brand new shirt. The last item from my trip to the Opportunity Shop, the cut out Mango top below, is more of a summer shirt.
Yet a few layers later, this top will work just fine for this winter.

Sweater: Kensi (TJ Maxx). Shirt: MNG (second hand), $3. Skort: F21, $14. Belt: Zara, $20. Boots: Aldo, $99.


Excuse the skort wrinkles, but I can't say I'm a huge fan of ironing.

It's hard to see in either picture, but the cutout neck design goes from shoulder to shoulder. The shirt is unfortunately a large, but tucked in and hidden behind an over-sized sweater does the trick.

Next up: since the Opportunity Shop, I've made two little trips to the Village and a local bazaar that allowed me stuff a trash bag full of clothing for $5. This may or may not involve plaid pants, fur neck-lined coats, and sweater skirts.