Kickin’ Off the Thrifty Six in PreLoved Shoes
I am so excited to introduce you all to a new collaboration among 6 international fashion and lifestyle bloggers and influencers called The Thrifty Six! We come from all over the world and span at least three different decades of life with our own unique and individual styles. The six of us are all fans of second hand shopping and we wanted to share a variety of ways to be stylish while doing a little something good for the environment.
With the fashion and textile industry being a major contributor to landfills and other environmental pollution, we decided to make it the mission of this little group to focus on second hand items. Every month we will choose a theme and share our styles with you to hopefully inspire you to shop more second hand and less fast fashion.
For me personally, I love scouring thrift shops for those unique and fun finds. I have been an avid thrifter since I was about 14 years old and the passion has never waned in 30 plus years. But I also do enjoy shopping for new pieces and I am no stranger to the addictions of fast fashion. I haven’t quite kicked my own fast fashion habits yet. But I am getting closer. As a result, my wardrobe is probably about 30% thrifted and 70% new. I am just guessing. I have never actually counted everything I own and calculated the exact numbers. But I do generally wear at least one thrifted item nearly every day…by pure chance of the statistics I suppose and not for any specific purpose.
I do want to give you a bit of background on how this group came to be. It was the brainchild of Nancy to create a group that focuses on styling preloved items. Since Nancy and I have successfully collaborated on two different series for almost the past 4 years, she reached out to me to join her in the entire process. I was more than happy to oblige her! And so we set about finding a versatile group of fashion lovers who all have some level of affinity for thrifted styling.
Let me introduce these amazing ladies…
The Influencers of The Thrifty Six:
- Emma of Style Splash
- Grace of Graceful Rags
- Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
- Lucy of Confessions of a Montreal Styling Diva
- Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
- Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge
Here is how the Thrifty Six will go about our business…On the third Monday of every month, we will all share a post featuring an outfit based on a theme that features preloved wardrobe pieces. That’s it. That’s all there is to it! No accompanying link party, just six thrifty gals sharing our favorite preloved wardrobes!
So sticking with tradition, we are kicking off this new group by featuring preloved shoes! Nancy and I began both of our other series, The Bad Buy Book and The Good Buy/Good-Bye Book, with shoes so it made perfect sense to start this new collaboration with our feet. Plus it works with the whole “kickin’ off” thing, too. All witty and cute and such.
When it comes to buying second hand, I think used shoes is the one item that probably deters people the most. It’s easy enough to launder a second hand blouse or pair of jeans, but defunking a previously owned pair of shoes is not so simple. And I have seen some pretty gross shoes proudly displayed in second hand shops throughout the years.
Don’t buy those. The really gross ones. Don’t even pick them up. Because they are gross. Instead scan the racks for the shoes that look new or newish. I have found lots of brand new shoes in second hand shops. I recently scored a pair of brand new, tags still attached, leather Born ankle boots for $6.99. In case you are not familiar with that Brand, their boots retail for around $100-150.
It’s a good thrifting day when I find brand new things with tags still on. But there is something really special about a quality pair of shoes that are perfectly broken in as well (like these preloved cowboy boots). When second hand shopping for shoes, I always make sure to wear socks because I do want to try them on before purchasing. When I get the shoes home, I generally douse them with Lysol and wipe them down thoroughly. Then I hang them off the fence in my backyard for a few days to air them out. I am not so sure my neighbors appreciate my fence decor! But what’s a girl to do? I need to fumigate the cute preloved shoes!
Anyway, I have rambled on quite long enough, I suppose! My combat boots in this post are a recent thrift shop find and I freaking love them. They are a menswear brand that I am unfamiliar with. But for $5.99, I couldn’t resist. I have been wanting a pair of plain black ankle combat boots anyway. I found these over Labor Day weekend and I have already reduced the cost per wear to less than $1. You can see them styled previously here and they will appear again later this week as well.
Other thrifted items in this outfit include my white denim skirt (another thing I had been hunting for and finally found), my black tunic, and my snakeskin bag.
Now let’s see how my thrifty friends styled their preloved shoes! But before we do…can you guess which feet belong to each of us? You already know mine, of course…
Here’s me…
“I recently found these adorable combat boots at my local Salvation Army Thrift Store. They were $5.99. The brand is Vito Rossi which is an Italian men’s shoe line. But they were my size, the price was right, and they are so darn cute, I couldn’t resist. Other thrifted items in this outfit are my white denim skirt, my top, and my snakeskin bag.”
Shelbee
And here are all the rest of my fabulously thrifty and very stylish friends!
Grace of Graceful Rags
“While I’ve never purchased a pair of shoes at an actual thrift store, I do have quite the collection of hand-me-down pairs—which is just another form of thrifting! I was so excited when a good family friend decided to give me these brown peep-toe wedges on a whim. They are the perfect transitional shoe as we start to enter fall!”
Grace
Emma of Style Splash
“I bought these shoes in a charity shop for just £1! They’re really good quality and super comfortable. I’m guessing they were quite expensive new so I got a real bargain!”
Emma
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
“Cinderella’s Diamond Slippers…I found these beautiful gold and diamond party shoes on eBay and it was love at first sight! A while back, I wore them for a really glitzy night out and I felt like a princess…I stayed at my friend’s house but the next day I had to work and in my rush to get ready, I left one shoe behind. I was devastated when I realized it was missing but all was not lost…My friend’s brother (who I fancied like mad) drove all the way to my house to return the shoe. And guess what – he asked me out on a date! We had a few dates but sadly he wasn’t my prince charming – good Cinderella story though eh!”
Jane
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
“I actually bought these boots especially for the kick off! Because I didn’t have any pre loved shoes! I was a bit afraid of wearing them, but these are not worn! Haha, yes I am a daredevil! They are from Tamaris, my favorites shoe brand! And I think they are real sitting shoes! And having said that, the circle is round as these series are the third that Shelbee and I host, and we started off with sitting Shoes, 3.5 years ago!”
Nancy
Lucy of Confessions of a Montreal Styling Diva
“Bling is my thing- so when I saw these cute (brand new for $7!) Aldo mule-booties at my local charity store, Nova- I just had to get them! And then I remembered having a little silver gem of a dress in almost the same shimmer! The dress is vintage late 60’s and super cute. This glitter girl is super thrilled with the combo.”
Lucy
Are you a fan of thrifted styles and second hand shopping? What do you think of our new little group? I am so excited to see what direction we go next month!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.
Shop my look…
Outfit Details: Boots, Skirt, Top, and Bag-Thrifted / Tights and Scarf-Super old / Necklace-Good Life Gift Shop
37 Comments
Nancy
Congratulations my dear friend, with the start of our new series! I love this already! Such a great group of such different women! Fabulous!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Yay, Nancy! I am so excited! I just woke up and am making my rounds now to see all the posts that are live!
xoxo
Shelbee
Mónica Sors
I like your style, dear!
xx
Mónica Sors
MES VOYAGES À PARIS
NEW POST: ZEBRA PRINT DRESS
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Monica, thanks so much! Have a fabulous week!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kellyann Rohr
Congrats on the new collab! I have a hard time with certain shoes so when I find some comfy ones, I have to buy. Since Tom’s is no longer making the open toe booties I love, I had to turn to Poshmark and garb a pair. They’re like new!
xo,
Kellyann
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Kellyann! I am so glad that you found a pair on Poshmark! I got a really great pair of suede boots from Poshmark that were like new as well. And I have sold about a dozen pairs of shoes on Poshmark, too, so people definitely buy preloved shoes! I am super excited to see where we head next month with this fun group! Have a great week, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 16.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you, Dee, for always hosting such a fun link party!
xoxo
Shelbee
Melody Jacob
ok, did she say thirty-six, oh wait she doest look it at all?
You look, great darling.
New post:
https://www.melodyjacob.com/2020/09/what-would-have-happened-to-me-at-atlas.html
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Haha, thanks Melody! Actually is the Thrifty Six focusing on thrifted items! I am actually 46 not 36! I hope you have a fabulous week!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
Those boots are in amazing shape!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
They really are, Jennifer! And they are incredibly comfortable. I am wearing them again today! Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
xoxo
Shelbee
mireille
What a fun collab! I am looking forward to seeing what you all come up with each month! I am hoping to do more thrifting next year once I get back to shopping. Today I am wearing a thrifted denim jacket and a hand me down skirt. Don’t think I have ever thrifted shoes though. These featured ones are all really cool. Will have to drop by everyone’s blog!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Mireille! I am super excited to see where this group heads as well! I have loved thrifting since I was in high school so this is so much fun for me! I am okay with second hand shoes but I definitely look for unworn ones and really fumigate the previously worn ones! But there are so many great things to be found second hand! I am wearing these combat boots again today! They are so comfortable and practical and cute. Have a great Monday!
xoxo
Shelbee
drha.pw
Congratulations my dear friend
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much! Have a great day!
xoxo
Shelbee
Tamar A Strauss-Benjamin
What a cute outfit! Perfect transition from summer to fall!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Tamar! There is a definite chill in the air now!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lucy Bertoldi
This is so fun and I’m excited to be part of this!! Am loving those combat boots- what an amazing find!! I practically live in combat boots from fall through winter and even early spring- they just have such a cool look and style up with almost anything.
Thanks for your care and sanitizing tips!! I actually would love to get a sneak peak of that fence lol!!! But it’s true…thrifting shoes can be gross and I too will for the very most part only buy the almost new ones on the rack! Love your post!!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Lucy, thanks so much! I have been wearing these combat boots almost every day since I got them! They are so comfortable and practical and cute. They will be appearing in my post tomorrow as well! This was so much fun and I am so happy we have a lovely group of women collaborating. I am loving your whole outfit, too! I need some sparkly booties like yours! Next time I fumigate footwear on the backyard fence, I will have to take a picture! Haha. Have a fabulous Monday!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
Fabulous boots Shelbee! There are some great bargains in charity shops here in the UK at the moment – a lot are selling shoes for £1. I think everyone has been having a clear out during lockdown and now charity shops are open again they have a lot of stock to shift. This has been such a fun first theme…I can’t wait for the next one!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Emma, thanks so much! That is amazing that you are finding preloved shoes for so cheap! I do love the thrill of the hunt myself when it comes to second hand shops! I am super excited for the next theme!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
What a fun theme! I love your outfit, and that scarf in particular. Beautiful!
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Michelle! I have this scarf in another color as well. They are so old I have no recollection of whence they came!
xoxo
Shelbee
Lizzie
The polka dots are great!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I know, Lizzie! I am dying over Emma’s fabulous black and white dots! Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Looking very nice. Love the contrast between the jean skirt and the bright blue tights. So very nice.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you very much, Patrick! I hope you are having a wonderful week!
xoxo
Shelbee
EMMA
You are very beautiful. Thanks for sharing Kickin’ Off the Thrifty Six in PreLoved Shoes idea. I really like it. xoxo street style fashion for women
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Emma, thank you so very much! I really appreciate this lovely comment.
xoxo
Shelbee
Grace
These booties are such a steal, Shelbee! And I love how much you thrift. Even if 70% of your closet is “new”, I think how long you’ve kept those pieces also plays a factor… If the majority of your stuff was bought new but are things you’ve been wearing over and over again for years, you’re still doing better than contributing to fast fashion all the time! I would definitely say the majority of my closet was bought new, *but* I’ve mostly been reworking the same pieces (with of course, the occasional new purchase!) for several years. 🙂 Love the environmentally-conscious theme of this collab, and I’m so excited for the next post + theme!
Miles of smiles,
Grace
gracefulrags.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Grace! I chuckled at the part in your post where you talked about your first thrifting experience because I was probably right around that same age when I first discovered the wonders of thrifting! I wonder what the whole thrifting experience will look like 25 years from now. It is much different now than it was 25 years ago. It was a thing only the really alternative fashion people did or people who simply couldn’t afford to buy new. But now the focus has shifted so much to the environmental benefits of second hand shopping that it makes it a more mainstream thing to do. And that makes me happy! And yes, I wear things for years before getting rid of them, so I suppose it’s a plus. I am so excited to see where we go this fun group!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jacqui Berry
What a fun challenge Shelbee – would love to copy this one! Thanks for sharing today. Jacqui x
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jacqui! This is going to be a fun group! I have so many thrifted things to showcase!
xoxo
Shelbee
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