It seems like summer has been going on forever yet just got here. Does anyone else feel that way? Today is the third Thursday of August, and it’s time for another style challenge with my friends of Ageless Style! If you’re not sure what that means, I’ll tell you. Each month, one of us picks a theme, trend or idea. Then, those of us who are able to participate (life happens for bloggers, too) creates an outfit and showcases it on their blogs, Instagrams, or other social media. This month, Amy, of Amy’s Creative Pursuits, suggested fashion on a budget whether it’s by thrifting, discount stores, your own closet, or reconstructing you already have!Last month, Rosemary (Distinctly Southern Style) chose Summer Whites. Some of our themes have included going sleeveless, April Showers, May Flowers, ponchos, sweatshirts, Very Peri, holiday, and booties! If you’re curious, you can find some of my looks here, here, here, and here. Please do visit the other hostesses of the link party (oh, yes, there’s a link party) at their various sites! You can find them below!
Thrifting…yay or nay?
I am not a thrifter. I have bought glass jars at the local Goodwill only to find out I could have bought them at Dollar Tree for much less! I don’t enjoy the thrill of the hunt. I am not a person who even enjoys shopping at TJ Maxx or Marshalls. So, thrifting is a nay for me. I am always amazed at the wonderful things others find and am impressed at their persistence in sifting through the racks to find those bargains. But, that’s just not my jam.
Online secondhand?
There have been several times, however, when I’ve purchased clothing from eBay. I did my research and knew exactly what I was buying and checked the buyers’ ratings. I have yet to buy anything on Poshmark or similar type online resale sites.
Fashion on a budget?
Today’s outfit is comprised of some new items as well as things that are decades old! The vest, topper, duster, whatever you want to call it is a linen dress from Garnet Hill that doesn’t fit at the moment. I probably bought it in 2012 or 2013. The necklace is from Coldwater Creek so that means I bought it prior to 2014. I visited some rabbit holes on the internet, and it looks like that’s when Coldwater Creek first shut down. The shorts and tee? Remember how I packed up my closet and forgot to keep out daily living clothes? Well, I had to go shopping for some basics. I bought these at Old Navy and used rewards. I think both items were less than $0.25 together! The wedges were gifted from Sarah Flint (in exchange for my ambassadorship duties). So, my outfit definitely fits the criteria!
The Lewk!
As I said before, this necklace is an oldy from Coldwater Creek. The earrings are from early this year and are from J Jill. The wedges are the Mirjana 80s from Sarah Flint.
Affiliate links and such:
Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. I recently became a Brand Ambassador for Sarah Flint shoes. You can use SARAHFLINT-BAMARSHA for $50 off your first pair. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
While thrifting is not for me personally, I am all for it if you love it! So, while I do lots of shopping, I also keep my clothing for years (if not decades). I tend to buy what I consider to be classics so they will work for me for years. I sprinkle in the trendy things here and there to keep my looks modern and fresh. So, can we talk? Are you a thrifter? Do you like the thrill of the hunt? Or, do you enjoy buying new and enjoying it for years? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to respond as soon as possible!
Thank you!
Thank you so very much for reading my blog! If you’re a visitor, I hope you’ll subscribe so you can see all of my posts. If you’re a regular reader, thanks to you, too! If you’re a subscriber, I appreciate you immensely! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, Being a Wordsmith, and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I also host Final Friday Print Mixing on the last Friday of the month. I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
And, now it’s your turn!
Here are links to all of the lovely ladies in the Ageless Style collaboration. Please do visit them on their various media. Also, please join the party and click on the link below to share your favorite fashion on a budget look, gardening, cooking, crafting, or any other post! Link up with us, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two!
Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
Blog / Instagram /Pinterest / Bloglovin’
Cathy ~ My Side of 50
Blog / Instagram/ Pinterest / Facebook
Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |
Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style
This is such a cute look! I adore this outfit and I love the dress styled as a duster.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Thanks so much, Lovely!
That’s a great outfit – love the dress over the shorts look. I am such a thrifter, so much so that I probably purchase about 90% of my clothing from charity shops, and I’ve been doing that for a long time. Started because at one point I lost a lot of weight and needed to replace practically my entire wardrobe. And then being retired my pension is seriously not what it should be – I was never going to get old you see! So I think over the years I’ve really perfected my technique which is to look often and reject most and then POUNCE when you see the bargain of the century! I love that hunt too! And feel the adrenaline when I’ve found my treasure.
So yes, I am a serious thrifter! Thanks Marsha for hosting and have a great weekend in your lovely weather 🙂
Penny, you always get the best things at your charity shops. I wonder if they are different than thrift stores here. And, you gave me a chuckle about not growing old…isn’t it funny how that just seems to creep up on us? I need to find a good thrift store that will give me that adrenaline shot!!! But, I’ll wait until I’ve unpacked my boxes and rediscover what I’ve packed…about a week to go!
Thanks, Penny!
Marsha, you got the deal of the century on your shorts and tee! I actually really enjoy the thrill of the hunt at a thrift shop but I don’t like shopping for clothes at TJ Maxx or Ross – too much to sift through. I like shopping their home goods.
Great idea to add the linen duster over the shorts and I love your SF wedges!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! I think I actually combined Old Navy cash with rewards and got things for my son and Nigel. Some day, I will try the thrift store hunt!
I love to buy pre loved clothing. But not anything else, no shoes, no things for in house etc. But clothes, yes! I can buy Diane von Furstenberg pre loved!! What’s not to love!
Oh, well, if I could find a DVF dress…that would be amazing!
Thanks, Nancy, for coming by!
Marsha, what a cute outfit! I love that you wore the dress open as a duster over an easy shorts and tank top outfit. I love my Old Navy rewards when I can get stuff for free! Actually, whenever I receive rewards from any store, I like to challenge myself to get something wonderful without going over the rewards amount. But I am also an avid thrifter as you know. I definitely have to be in the mood to sift through the racks though. There is no such thing as a quick trip to the thrift store. It takes a lot of time and I always find some really awesome stuff! In fact, my post today is about thrifty finds!
Shelbee
I usually try to combine my rewards with Old Navy cash if possible…always be saving, right? I just read your thrifty post. You are a master at it, Shelbee! One of these days, I will give it a try!
I think you can be just as thrifty without thrifting Marsha, (as you’ve proved here). The rewards with certain stores can be very helpful. I’ve gotten a wool overcoat for $6 that way in the past.
Love this look!!
OXOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I have lots of rewards at BR right now but am not finding anything I love. Luckily, the new program doesn’t have expirations dates!
Thanks, Jodie!
For sure, this is a thrifty look! I love it when I wear things that have been in my closet for years and still look good. And the dress is perfect as a duster: I have a balck one that I use in the same manner. Great summer look.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! It was definitely on the less expensive side that’s for sure!
Nope, I am not a thrifter either, I used to work in a consignment shop during college and found lots of great pieces since I could to through the stuff before it hit the floor but we no longer have any consignment stores near us and while I will shop TJ Maxx or Marshall’s I rarely actually do since I get annoying having to go rack by rack and item by item. Your outfit is super cute!
There used to be a consignment shop here, but it closed many years ago. I’d have to go closer to Indianapolis if I wanted to visit others. I just don’t know that it’s worth it. I do not enjoy TJ Maxx or Marshall’s either. I’m just not into that thrill of the hunt.
Thanks, Joanne!
You look very cool!!
Thanks so much!
Looks like you came up with a great outfit shopping your own closet. I love the comment “It doesn’t fit, at the moment” that’s a great way to put it! Put a positive, optimistic spin that it will fit eventually. ha ha. I have so many clothes right now that don’t fit me. I just moved them to another closet hoping someday I will be able to fit into them again. I love the idea of wearing the dress as a duster. I love shopping at TJMaxx and Marshalls, but I’m not much of a thrift store shopper…I can’t stand the smell.
Thanks, Amy! Yes, thrift shops have their own smell, don’t they? I wonder what it is because they all smell the same! I am really hopeful that dress fits next year! I need to shop my closet more often!!
I’m not really one to thrift/ charity shop buy as I never find anything! I know lots of ladies find absolute bargains!
My sister found an identical bracelet to one my hubby paid nearly £100 for, hers was £10!!!
Thanks for link up, have notes it now hun xx
JACQUI x
Thanks, Jacqui! I do like thrifting for items to DIY for the house, but I don’t do it for clothing. Wow, your sister got lucky!!
totally love your linen dress and how you style it
wishing you a lovely weekend
Thank you so much!! I hope your weekend is wonderful, too!
Marsha! FINALLY – someone like me. I am not a thrifter nor can I shop at TJMAXX or Marshalls. But I am so impressed with the finds of others!!! Great job on your shopping on a budget. Cute outfit and mission accomplished!
Oh, thank you, Cathy!!! I thought, maybe, I was the only one! It’s just not for me, but I really amazed at what others can find. I do like finding bargains when I do shop (just not at the stores you’ve mentioned)!
Cute fit! I do love thrifting although I am really not good at it. Lol. When I do buy thrifted clothes they are usually big comfy sweaters for sitting around in and not anything very stylish.
And, I love how you do your affiliate disclosures. I may have to copy your setup. Lol.
Thanks, Erin! I just thought doing the affiliate thing like that gets the job done! I am just too impatient to thrift, though!
Nice job shopping with those rewards! Those pieces look great on you and I like the dress you are wearing as a vest. I really like your neutral color palette here, too!
Thanks so much, Laura! I didn’t even realize how neutral the palette was until you pointed it out!
Well Marsha, you know I am a huge thrifter! love it. But I get where you are coming from, my best friend wants nothing to do with it. Love the outfit you put together as always. Mixing the old with the new is always a great way to create new looks.
Thanks, Meagan! The funny thing is I don’t mind thrifting stuff for DIY…I just don’t do it for clothing. Right now, I have to wait until we’re in the new house, and I’ve figured out what I’m going to do with what I already have. But, your blog has me craving creating something new!!
What a cute casual outfit! I like that you used the dress as a duster. I was trying to figure out why I like thrifting, besides the cost. I mean that’s part of it. I’m all about more bang for your buck. Part of it is the thrill of the hunt – as long as I can do it from my living room. LOL! There is a local consignment store that I visit, but I easily get enough of being in a shop with other shoppers. LOL! And I like that the items were not put in a landfill.
Interesting post, Marsha!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Hahaha!!! You love it for the same reason I hate it!! I do like looking for cool things to DIY for my house, though!
Thanks, Michelle!
Love this look Marsha! I like to thrift shop but only when I have time which is almost never. Lol! I once found a vintage pair of Gucci pumps that I still wear. So glad I kept at it that day.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Whoa!!! Gucci pumps at a thrift shop..wonder if someone made a mistake!! I haven’t really looked for a good thrift store around me, but maybe I should.
Thanks, Kathrine!
Hi Marsha:) Although I love the thrill of a good thrift I understand how it’s not everyone’s thing. I love what you’re wearing! and those Sarah Flint are beautiful! I just became a BA too! Thanks for linking xx
Congratulations on becoming a brand ambassador! I would love to go thrifting with someone who really understood how to do it. It could be fun, maybe?
Thanks, Lucy, for coming by!
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