thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

The Thrifty Six are Veiled in Velvet & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #245

October 18, 2021 / 64 Comments
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

“A throne is only a bench covered with velvet.”

Napoleon Bonaparte

While I have never sat upon a throne of any sort, covered in velvet or not, I have been obsessed with the luxurious fabric that makes a bench a throne for as long as I can remember. In fact, velvet is probably the first fabric that I differentiated from all other fabrics at a very young age.

I remember my mother surprised me for Christmas when I was 12 with a handmade quilt that she made for me out of dark emerald green velvet. The quilt backing was constructed from shiny gold satin and the whole blanket felt amazing when I wrapped it around my body. I recall taking that comforter off to college with me my freshman year but I don’t remember exactly when it met its final demise.

That luscious velvet quilt was used, abused, snuggled, hugged, and cried upon. Probably some snot and a lot of sweat eventually became part of its chemical make up as well and no amount of laundering can remove all that DNA! Eventually, my favorite velvet blanket was reduced to nothing more than a pile of threadbare rags through years of love and overuse. That is the sign of a great quality fabric…when it can hold up for years against the systematic abuse of a teenaged girl.

The plush softness and rich texture appealed to my overly delicate cutaneous senses and continue to do so today. Actually, the older I get the more heightened my skin senses become and the more sensitive I am to how a fabric feels against my body. A good quality soft plush velvet never disappoints and my senses are always pleased. But not all velvets are created equal.

thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

According to Wikipedia, there are 18 different types of velvet varying in the way they are woven and the surface finish of the fabric to the assortment of fibers that may be used in the weaving process. Velvets can be constructed from silk, cotton, microfibers (polyester), nylon or rayon blends, viscose, or polyester spandex blends.

Cotton velvets tend to lack the luxuriousness of other velvets and also do not hold the deep rich colors that I have always associated with this regal fabric. However, cotton velvet is a highly durable fabric. Silk velvet is more expensive than cotton velvet but it is also much softer and shinier.

The other fibers used in velvet are synthetic but can provide the same silky soft plushness of natural silk velvet without the higher price tag. Microfibers are lightweight and have a higher resistance to stains while rayon and nylon blends as well as viscose have the same drape and feel as silk velvets but are less expensive and much easier to care for. The polyester/spandex velvets, also called stretch velvet, have the extra advantage of stretchiness.

I don’t check the fabric content tags on all of my wardrobe pieces so I am unsure which velvets I have a preference for, but obviously the softer the better. But if I spot velvet anywhere in any store, I am immediately drawn to it and will have to touch and feel it to see if it agrees with my senses.

Since velvet has been a favorite fabric of mine for my entire life, I have quite a bit of it in my wardrobe from jackets and blazers to dresses and skirts to scarves, hats, gloves, and shoes. If they make it in velvet, I likely have something in my closet!

thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

When Emma revealed the velvet theme for this month’s Thrifty Six style prompt, I had quite a bit of preloved velvet in my closet to choose from. Sometimes when I have too much to choose from, it makes the choice too hard. So I quickly settled on a very old favorite velvet blazer that I found at a thrift shop nearly 15 years ago for less than $10. I have worn it every fall and winter season since I have acquired it. I love the deep purplish burgundy color and the soft cotton/spandex blend. A little bit of spandex in a blazer goes a long way so I appreciate that particular fiber despite its nasty synthetic status.

This thrifted blazer is the Dress Barn brand. I tried using various different dating formulas with the RN number on the garment tag to determine when this blazer was manufactured. But that system seems to only indicate the earliest date which a garment could have been made. So after my calculations I know that this blazer was made some time between 1977 and 2006 (approximately the year I purchased it). So that’s not at all helpful. However, I have had this blazer for about 15 years already so it clearly has some staying power in both quality and style.

Because this is a post about thrifted style, I decided to pair my velvet blazer with this newly thrifted Banana Republic dress in olive, dark red, and black. I found this dress a few weeks ago at a thrift shop, new with tags, for $8.99. If you are familiar with Banana Republic prices, $8.99 for a brand new unworn dress is basically a steal. I did the RN dating thing on this dress as well and it was made some time between 1974 and 2021. Haha. But I am betting this piece is much more contemporary than my velvet blazer.

And because this is also a post about velvet, I brought my bold burgundy velvet knee high boots out to play. All the shades of burgundy weren’t exactly matching in tone and hue, but I still liked these colors paired with olive green and black for a rich fall look.

thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

“Expect nothing and life will be velvet.”

Lisa Gardner
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

And now let’s check out all the luxurious preloved velvet looks from my thrifty friends.

The Thrifty Six is a group of international fashion influencers who meet once a month in our little space on the internet to share our thrifty outfits. On the third Monday of every month, we will all share an outfit based on a theme that features preloved wardrobe pieces. Shopping and reselling preloved clothing is so much better for the environment and you can find some of the best fashions in thrift or charity shops. The Thrifty Six are here to inspire you to shop second hand! 

The Stylish Thrifters:

Emma of Style Splash
Style Splash
Emma of Style Splash

“I love wearing velvet in autumn and winter as it’s such a luxurious fabric. I have several velvet jackets – almost all of them preloved. This deep red one only cost a few pounds from a charity shop. It’s a great way to dress up jeans and boots!”

Emma
Grace of Graceful Rags
Graceful Rags
Grace of Graceful Rags

“I knew right away when the velvet theme was announced that I wanted to style this gorgeous, fish-like dress. When I first saw it hanging at the end of a clothing rack in my favorite thrift store, I thought it was the funkiest looking piece – and not necessarily in a good way. But then I tried it on… and absolutely fell in love. It fits perfectly, is incredibly flattering, and has a mix of so many fun details – sequins, mesh, and velvet leopard print. Someone please give me an excuse to wear this out!!”

Grace
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade

“Velvet, gateway to the fourth dimension…Gaze into the depth of a velvet gown and feel its intensity…the dramatic absorption of light is total and absolute…it holds secrets – a gateway to the fourth dimension? Sumptuous, regal and luxurious, reserved for the twilight hour…its a mystical enigma desired and cherished throughout time…Can you tell I love it!!!!”

Jane
Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi
Lucy Bertoldi
Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi

“When it comes to garments and fashion, for me it’s primarily about texture, print and pattern. This fun quilted, velvet jacket has it all! I found this gem at an estate sale where the lady in question had 2 of these magnificent 80’s jackets. I only turned around a moment to let my friend know where I was that one of the jackets had already gone-before I could even glance at which one I’d prefer! I guess this was the one meant to be. It’s a tad big on me, but I make it work! It has to work!”

Lucy
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
Nancy’s Fashion Style
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style

“I really had to dig deep into my media library for something thrifted in velvet. I knew I had a dress but I wasn’t sure if I had ever photographed it because I actually didn’t like the dress at all. And I sold that dress years ago. So I could not find a photo. I scrolled through all my photos and finally….finally……there was this dress with velvet polka dots on it! That’s all I have in velvet. I don’t like velvet, it feels weird and, well I just don’t know, I don’t like it. Never have and never will. But I am glad I found a bit of velvet on this gorgeous wrap dress.”

Nancy
And Me!
thrifted style, velvet, velvet blazer, velvet boots, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

“I found this burgundy velvet blazer at a thrift shop about 15 years ago and I have worn it every fall and winter since I acquired it for just a few dollars. I cannot remember what I paid for it but it was less than $10. I have definitely gotten my money’s worth on this piece! My dress is a recently thrifted acquisition that worked perfectly with my velvet blazer and tall velvet boots.”

Shelbee

Are you a fan of velvet?

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Shelbee

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Outfit Details: Blazer (Dress Barn) and Dress (Banana Republic)-Thrifted / Turtleneck-Charlotte Russe / Tights and Clutch-Old Navy / Boots-Shoe Dazzle / Hat-Kohl’s / Earrings, Brooch, and Necklace-Old

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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