Wearing: Free People Ruffle Tube, Madewell High Riser Skinny Jeans, Cape Robin Flat Mules, Celine sunglasses
It should come as no surprise that flat mules are my favorite footwear as of late. I have worn them in quite a few posts, like here and here. This pair by Matisse is my everyday go-to pair. They are SO comfortable. I actually wore the first pair out and had to toss them. When we were in Hawaii earlier this year, Rob said they weren’t coming back with us because they were so worn. And by worn, I mean they were starting to smell. I know it is gross but we were like cracking up about it.
There’s been a few on my radar that I have yet to pull the trigger on, like this tropical pair by Schultz. They are so fun for summer! I should probably get them soon or I am going to miss my window. Though the pink ones are a bit more wallet friendly. *Insert thinking face emjoi here* Which ones are you favorite?
Wearing: Nasty Gal red bathing suit, Vintage wrap skirt, Dolce Vita Booties, Madewell tassel necklace, Jenny Bird Crescent Moon necklace, Vintage silver rings
Once we booked our trip to Marfa, I knew this skirt was the one piece I for sure wanted to bring. Specifically for the pool. It just screams “Wear me around water.” I get such a thrill out of finding the perfect vintage piece to add into my wardrobe, especially ones that don a unique print like this. Truthfully, I’d die to find this print in wallpaper form. It’d be the perfect office accent wall!
Since I have been featuring so many of my vintage pieces on the blog, I wanted to share some of my tips for thrifting and vintage shopping. My love of vintage can easily be dated back to when I met thrift queen (and close friend) Rebecca Wright. Her outfits are fire! Seriously, you’ve never seen a vintage wardrobe as magical as hers. She taught me everything on how to hunt down the best pieces and I think my vintage shopping skills are at an all time high!
Go Often
This is key! All the time, I hear “You find the best stuff at thrift stores! I never find anything good while thrifting.” I’ve also said it a hundred times. To Rebecca. And every time she tells me, “I go all the time.” Find the places in your city that always have something that attracts you, and then frequent that place. Chances are, you will start to find more as they bring more product in. You can even take it a step further and ask when they get shipments in. Early bird gets the worm!
Make Friends with the Employees
This really applies more to vintage or antique shops, but talk to the employees! They know what is in the store if you are looking for something specific AND they know all the good vintage shopping spots around town to find other treasures. I recently bought a hanging lamp at my local antique mall, and I struck up a conversation with the employee who helped me get it down. He ended up clueing me in on FOUR different places around Fort Worth to find cheap mid century modern furniture. Score!
Be Ready to Dig
Sometimes literally. The skirt above was found in a warehouse with piles of clothes as tall as I am. Rebecca and I spent a summer picking vintage for an online shop we briefly ran (RIP), and we spent many days waist-deep wading through vintage clothes. While vintage shopping will rarely be that dramatic, do be prepared to have to hunt for the perfect piece. It wouldn’t be a hidden gem if it were out in the open.
Know Where to Look
There are sections I know I am going to hit as soon as I walk in to a thrift store. Likewise, there are ones I know I am going to skip. I like to go through the dresses, skirts, blazers, lingerie (love little silk shorties), bathing suits, and jewelry (look for silver!). I usually skip blouses, pants, jackets and shoes. Rarely do I have an amazing T-Shirt find at a thift store, but sometimes I’ll give it a go. I usually prefer to go through tees at a vintage shop instead of a thrift store. During the winter, I will sift through coats and sweaters as well. That being said, Rebecca likes to hit it all, but she has more stamina than I (and it pays off).
Look for Textures and Prints
When you’re staring down racks of clothing, it can be daunting to know where to start. You certainly can’t look at everything. To help sort some pieces out, keep an eye out for interesting prints or unusual textures. I like to use thrifted or vintage piece to add variety to my basics and contemporary clothing, and I know that fun textures and prints will help me achieve that.
Don’t Skip the Home Goods Section
The home goods section is honestly my favorite spot to search! Some of my favorite home finds include a hanging macrame lamp/planter combo, a vintage What-a-Burger glass & pitcher, a peacock chair, and so so much more. You can easily be breath life back into these pieces with a little spray paint or an afternoon of sanding and re-staining. Make sure you give this section the once-over next time you thrift!
I hope you found these vintage shopping tips helpful! Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see more like this in the future!
Wearing: Vintage Shorts, Madewell shirt, Vintage Levi Denim Jacket, Alaïa heels, Madewell scarf, Cape Robin mules
Full disclosure, since I put these rainbow stripes on, I’ve worn them three times. I’ve had these shorts for years but hadn’t worn them until now. I guess you could say I am catching up for lost time! I have always thought these shorts had a bit of a “clown factor,” but somehow that was offset by adding more stripes. Or maybe not, you can be the judge. To my delight, the size and spacing of the rainbow stripes matched the ones on this Madewell shirt, which definitely helped create a more cohesive feel.
I didn’t realize this until I started to document my outfits more regularly, but I hate wind. The wind is now my ultimate nemesis. I can’t tell if it has just been extra windy the past few weeks or if I am just more aware of it now. Either way, it’s driving me crazy! On this morning in Marfa, the weather was surprisingly cold and windy, so that’s why my hair is all over the place. The wind literally blew my bun right off my head! I am praying for a wind-free summer.
On another note, how amazing are these external marble walls? I was completely dying over them!
Wearing: Reformation dress, Cape Robbin mules, Alexander Wang bag, Vintage rings
We had such an amazing time in Marfa! There’s nothing like a long weekend away to reset and refresh. We stayed at El Paisano Hotel, truly one of the dreamiest hotels I’ve visited. It is best known for hosting the cast and crew during the filming of the 1955 movie Giant, including James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor. I will put together a full Marfa travel diary together in a later post, but this old-world hotel (and dress!) deserved its own moment.
Marfa’s landscape, pastel buildings, and El Paisano’s retro feel acted as the perfect backdrop for this dress. I snagged it from Reformation a few years ago and it has been in my rotation ever since. I am convinced that Reformation can do no wrong at this point. They’ve mastered the modern it girl meets ultra feminine aesthetic. Given the chance, I would happily build an entire wardrobe out of Reformation and Madewell pieces.
And let’s talk about these shoes for a minute. I got them from Amazon for TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS. I kid you not. Go get them immediately! They are so comfortable, go with a lot more outfits than you would think, and cheap as hell. Plus, a lady at the hotel said, “I like your slippers, you wild thing, you.” Seriously, there’s not a reason not to get them.
Wearing: Nasty Gal red bathing suit, Vintage wrap skirt, Dolce Vita Booties, Madewell tassel necklace, Jenny Bird Crescent Moon necklace, Vintage silver rings
