Saturday, January 17, 2015

Attending The Ball

Megan recently asked what section of thrift-stores you enjoy shopping in the most. It's a good question because your answer reveals the clothes you like which further reveals your shopping aspirations.

My answer is the rack of prom dresses and formal gowns. The reason is my strong attraction to the heightened femininity expressed by such clothes. Designed for special occasions, they crank up the muliebrity dial.

I discovered this store-area is ignored because adult women don't look for prom dresses and, if they're going to wear a fancy ball gown, they buy new; they don't want a used one. With few shopping-competitors, I'm able to find terrific dresses at steeply discounted prices. Whatever premium is charged for these fancy clothes, thrift-stores have trouble selling them for more than $10 which is what I usually steal them for. The garments probably cost hundreds of dollars new.

Pictured below is a recent find ($9).  I love its off-the-shoulder sleeves, elegant shape and glittery edging. I strove to accessorize it right and spent a very long time on makeup.  (Today is a relaxed Saturday which I'm devoting to girly pleasures.)

What section of thrift-stores do you enjoy the most?


 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

38 comments:

  1. That dress was made for you. You look so gorgeous and so happy in it. Love.

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  2. wow! looks hot in a elegant way! your hair and makeup are perfect! well done!
    which rack? "trachtenstil"! have a weak spot for that and the quality of this garments are stellar in most cases.
    xxxxxx

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  3. What a stunning gown! The shape is wonderful. All the details are perfect. You can tell you put lots of effort into this. You look amazing! You are Red Carpet ready.

    Probably my favourite ensemble of yours.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  4. Wonderful dress! My first thought is that it's something I could easily imagine some of the big 50s bombshells like Jane Russel or Marilyn Monroe rocking.

    I have something of a set pattern I often follow when I hit thrift stores, especially larger ones (like Value Village): jewelry, dresses, handbags, gloves and scarves (they're usually in the same general area), skirts, cardigans, shoes and then everything else I have time to see. :)

    Have a terrific weekend!
    ♥ Jessica

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  5. OOOH, you look very glamorous! I can't cope with off the shoulders as I constantly tug at them (my vintage Frank Usher dress does this)
    I guess the dresses (day dresses) are my favourite second hand clothes shop item to look at!x

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  6. Smokin'! Super sexy and very flattering!!! Good job scouting a perfect dress. So funny because I'm such a casual slouch, but my favorite shopping past time is what I call "fancy dress shopping" and with my mom lolzzzz. A very close, VERY CLOSE, second is jewelry shopping. Damn but I love accessories!

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  7. You look FAB in that dress! I too have a set pattern when I hit the thrift stores. First I get my CART, then depending on the store, it's usually household first, then clothes. Tops, sweaters, skirts, dresses, pants, shoes, accessories...Hmmm, I guess ALL sections are my favorite. But, I admit that I don't frequent the gowns because I have no occasion to wear one. Good job on the makeup! You look so ALIVE and BRIGHT!

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  8. You look simply stunning! I have a favorite thrift store that I haunt regularly. I love that I find accessories & shoes for a fraction of the price, they are generally gently used and it's amazing what you can find. The one I go to also supports a women's organization called Women In Need or WIN. The money goes back into programming to help women who are struggling for various life situations. I scored a sparkly silver cardigan for my daughter to go over a dress she is wearing to her winter formal and for myself a lovely aubergine coloured leather wallet.

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  9. Love the dress, and your make-up looks really good!

    I have to admit that the formal/prom racks are usually my last stop in a thrift (and I go through EVERYTHING). However, when it's festival season (time for Faerieworlds, parades and the like) I pay a little more attention to those racks because they can be a good source for fairy tale-type gowns that lend well towards altering---say with a pair of sparkly wings :)

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  10. WWOOOT WOOOT that is one sexy hot dress.. yowzers!! gorgeous. I have never worn a dress like that before and bet you feel so awesome in it. It looks fantastic on you. Great find.

    As for me, I hit the scarves section, then the skirts and then the tunics/sweaters section. Then I go to the household section to see if I can find any funky things for the house :)

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  11. Simply stunning. Also I'm really loving your make up in this look. You look super femme and very ladylike. Almost like the hey-days of when wearing gloves to church or the opera was mandatory.

    My favorite section - skirts! But I never buy. I adore browsing. Where I spend most of my $ - cardigans. I buy them by the bin full.

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  12. Ally, you look phenomenal! I love every aspect of this look. You did a fantastic job on your make up, nails and accessories. Your muliebrity is definitely cranked!
    p.s. Thank you for providing the link to definition. :)

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    1. Thank you, Lisa. And I like using obscure words but don't make it hard for people to learn their meaning so I've decided to add a link when I do.

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  13. OMWord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The red carpet was certainly waiting for you in this ensemble ... You look absolutely amazing.

    We generally don't have thrift shops in South Africa so when I do eventually come to America I am going to have to make thrift shopping part of the agenda.

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  14. Really lovely. And your body language is lovely too. I like how you are holding your hands. Beautiful hair and makeup! And that split...yowsers!!
    xo JJ

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    1. Thank you, buddy. I put a lot of conscious thought into what I do with my hands, similar to the study I used to perform in childhood on male posture.

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  15. Oh, that dress is so wonderful! What a find! I can't believe it was only $9! That last picture especially is so nice, loving your pop of colour on the nails!

    Have the best day,
    -Kati

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    1. Me, too. I'm rarely able to paint my fingernails, so it was a treat to do it. I also like how it looks.

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  16. That is an awesome dress on you - the off-the-shoulder is perfect, as is the thigh-high sexy slit! Wonderful job on your make-up too, Ally!

    I was so excited to hear that you're coming to the Vancouver blogger meet-up! I can't wait to meet you!

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    1. You won't have trouble finding me -- in that crowd, I believe I will stand out. :-)

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  17. Wow wow wow! You look seriously amazing, Ally! That dress was made for you! Gorgeous.

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  18. You look STUNNING in that dress! I seriously can't believe it was only $9...oh, how I love thrifting for that very reason. One of my favorite looks you've posted.
    xx,

    Paisley

    paisleynotplaid

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  19. I usually stick to the blazer/jacket area because I usually find great stuff and I can try things on easily. Most of the thrift store I go in don't have dressing rooms.

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    1. Even when stores do have dressing rooms, I don't feel allowed to use them when shopping for female clothes. I have to guess if something will fit.

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  20. What a dress!! This looks fantastic on you! SO sparkly and fun! It depends on the day when I thrift as to what my favorite section is. In the summer it's skirts and dresses but in the winter it's sweaters and pants. And I always hit up shoes and bags!

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  21. Gorgeous. Love the sparkly, neckline and sort of wrap-slit hemline. Looks great!

    "Today is a relaxed Saturday which I'm devoting to girly pleasures." -I'm not even that 'girly' but sometimes that is the perfect sort of day to have. It looks like you enjoyed yours.

    Any vintage clothing usually draws my eyes in a thrift store.

    Also the 1990s jumpers (the dress style in US -not 'sweaters' as in UK slang), which remind me of my childhood, I guess...

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  22. That dress is stunning. The slit really shows off your legs (which as I've told you before, are a-maz-ing!)

    I love looking at the evening dresses as well as the coats. There are always so many fantastic statement coats--people just don't make great coats anymore!

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  23. The neckline of this dress is perfect on you! The whole look is gorgeous. I love to thrift shop, although I don't have the time to devote to it that I would like. I tend to gravitate towards the coats, but that could be a Seattle thing!

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  24. i think this is THE cut/neckline for you! the dress looks amazing on you.

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  25. I agree - it was made for you! It's so glam, and you're so glam in it. Perfect cut.

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  26. While thrifting my favourites are dresses followed closely by bag and accessories.
    … and i like the dress !

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  27. That gown is stunning on you!

    You are going to laugh -- I like the mens shirts section of thrifts.
    But when it comes to sketching, I love sketching gowns!
    Maybe it was all those years designing poofy Barbie gowns.

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  28. I came to revisit this post because I wanted to go and see your mermaid post again and I saw this post title in the list of favourite posts and didn't remember it. I see my comment from last time but I just wanted to tell you you look pretty!

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    1. Thank you, Kezzie, for the compliment and visiting an old post. I do that sometimes. It's flattering.

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