Granny’s here with some of her favorite things *cue Sound of Music soundtrack*. Sure, rad clothes and accessories are important, but so is affordability. Looking cute doesn’t mean you need to make your wallet cry.
A huge thing I like to look out for are certain details in the design unique to the product, whether it be a particular cut, the buttons, the zipper alignment, embroidery, pattern, or even the history behind it. If it tells a story, snag that item quick.
Power Pants
When an item of clothing makes you feel like power is coursing through your veins, it’s doing it’s job. I picked up these pants for $2 at a Salvation Army during an afternoon out on the prowl for some top notch threads.
Cool features:
- the cut of the pant is straight legged, but with a thinned waist for a snug fit around your hips, accentuating them so much you have to be careful not to knock someone’s eye out when walking around.
- The black and white floral pattern is gorgeous. It reminds me of cut black paper on a white background, playing with your perception of positive and negative space. A work of art that leaves the viewers speculating.
Dress to Impress
This dress is a total show stopper and was basically free. Thrift Trader is deals central. If you have any unwanted clothing festering in your closet, TT can fix that up for you right quick. Just drop them off and collect trades that are applicable to clothes, accessories, records/tapes, shoes, and loads more. It’s like the recycling of the fashion world. Save and look good doing it.
Cool features:
- The floral print is so beautiful, it’s almost imposing. You’re like this grand flower taking the natural world by storm. Self confidence and self love are your sun, water, and soil.
- The gold buttons lining the front of the dress might be my favorite part of the piece. Though the dress does require some maintenance from time to time, such as sewing a stray button back on, it’s worth it. It’s similar to maintaining an older model car with beautifully tailored parts specific to the car itself.
You Shoe-d Look Out for a Pair of These
Another steal from Thrift Trader for a measly $5. These shoes called out to me among the sea of used clothing treasure and I was sucked in.
Cool features:
- Happiness comes in the form of canary yellow heeled Doc Martens. The color almost gives daffodils a run for their money. Though they’re a bit worn, these sunshine shoes are no joke.
- These shoes will have you skipping, and not in the way you’re probably thinking. Your silly college student body will feel inclined to dance, skip, run to class. This pair of beauts are the perfect way to take your school day by storm.
Piet Mondrian’s Bag
This cool piece is a new granny favorite to keep her yarn and candies in. The hook up is real at Pack Ratt Records along El Cajon. Every time I walk in, I walk out with something infinitely cooler than the last. This bag is no exception.
Cool features:
- This isn’t really Piet Mondrian’s bag, but if he somehow rose from the dead and came out with a new sensible bag line, this would be the product of his work. The pattern absolutely kills, almost water color-esque with those yellows and muted greens and greys.
- Aside from the color palette, the zipper on the front might be one of my favorite details. The diagonal cut really adds to the composition. It hits “sensible and handy work of art” on the nail.
*End Sound of Music soundtrack* I hope you dug some of these pieces, because I know my closet is one happy camper. Going out and compiling your wardrobe should be an adventure, a quest for style. Nothing beats the satisfaction of finding something rad after a hard day’s work of digging through your local thrift store. So hey, if you ever see me around town, give me a holler and we can go find some goods together.
Thrift Trader:
2947 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA
4879 Newport Ave
San Diego, CA
1416 Garnet Ave
San Diego, CA
Pack Ratt Records:
4952 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115