WHITE BUTTON-UP SHIRT
I have never purchased a brand new white button-up! As a teenager, I used to dip into my dad’s closet, shout out to JR, and then as an adult, I’ve always thrifted them. Trends within a white dress shirt change too over time, and the variety of white shirts at thrift stores is never ending.
Tip: Look for fun collars, flared, un-flared shirts, and don’t forget to look through both menswear and womenswear
Diy: Brighten your white shirt with vinegar! In a basin filled with water and a cup of vinegar, let your shirt soak for a few hours. You’ll never have to use bleach again!
BLAZERS
The quality and cost factor is the number one reason I will always buy a blazer second-hand. A really good quality blazer can run you hundreds of– if not thousands of dollars. And of course you can always find a cheaper fast fashion version, but that’s not going to last you very long– and it’ll make the planet very unhappy.
Tip: My number 1 rule for blazers is to start with the men’s section. Don’t be afraid of the two-piece suits; I’ve got some fun things we can do with the pants– we can talk about that another time, but don’t let the two-piece deter you from a perfect blazer. A great way to tell a quality blazer is the material, knowing what a wool blazer feels like, looking for natural materials in the tag. A great quality blazer will always be lined. If there’s no lining, that’s a flag that this isn’t a quality piece.
Diy: A great way to freshen up the blazer, so no one knows you bought it second hand is to 1 hide the price tag, unlike me, I keep tags on EVERYTHING, and 2, swap the buttons. Changing the buttons on a blazer can change the entire look of it. Take the blazer to a tailor and have it fitted to your body. Or not, right now we’re still that oversized 80’s blazer/boyfriend blazer look, so you’re perfectly on trend.
DENIM JACKET
I really hate to say it, but they don’t make denim like they used to. I will tell you, that’s the sign of good denim, be it jeans or a jacket. I can touch denim, eyes closed and tell you how old it is.
Tip: You want to look for stiff, heavy denim. That’s a jacket that’ll last you a long time, and wear it well. You also want to make sure you look at the stitching on the jacket itself, look at/under armpits, and around the buttons to see if the seams are intact. Typically on jeans, you’ll find rivets which are meant to hold together and support high traffic creasing and bending in the jeans. In a denim jacket, you want to look for rivets and the condition of the seams. Typically you’ll find rivets on the pockets, holding seams in place so that they won’t fall apart over time with use. And if you’re seeing weakened or unraveling
seams, know that the quality just might not be there.
Diy: An excellent DIY for denim jackets is to find a kids denim jacket and cut the sleeves off to create a cool denim vest! I know these were all the rage in the 90s because I wore them all the time, just saying! (B roll and Jules is wearing one- I think)
BAGS/CLUTCHES
I love a big oversized bag; I’m always running around with my kids, dog, and diy tools. I need something that can take a beating, something I won’t feel guilty about scratching up a little. They’re great to buy second-hand because they’re usually worn in nicely, and the fixes are usually minor. Let’s be honest, how often do you use a clutch in everyday life? I will always thrift a clutch because I know it’ll be an effective cost-per-use value.
Tip: When it comes to mending a leather bag, or bags in general– know that this is a whole other beast and can run expensive. The machines used to sew purses are very different, which adds to the cost. SO when you’re looking at bags, keep an eye out for tears and rips–these will be expensive to repair. Of course, you can always go the route of visible mending and make the tears look intentional.
Diy: To help restore the shine to a leather bag,remember that we want to keep our leather moisturized. So first, we’ll take a slightly damp cloth and wipe away any debris along the surface. Then we’re going to take some olive oil or baby oil, and a q-tip and gently work the oil into the scratches. Use a tea towel to target the whole bag. And a quick tip for stubborn zippers, apply some olive oil and let that baby rip! Saving the planet, and saving some money at the same time!