The Thrifty Six in Autumn Outerwear
This month’s theme for the Thrifty Six was chosen by Lucy and she went with the seasonally appropriate topic of autumn outerwear. Outerwear, meaning coats, jackets, or other garments that you would wear on top of your outfit, is probably the most thrifted category of items in my wardrobe.
I live in a place where we experience winter-like temperatures for approximately 9-10 months out of the year. So over the course of a decade living here, I have managed to amass quite an extensive outerwear collection. When you combine the local weather with menopausal cold flashes, this girl needs all the warmth I can get from October through June. I also have a bit of an obsession with coats and outerwear and since they tend to be high ticket items, I have consistently relied on thrifting (and end of season clearance sales) to keep my coat budget low while keeping my coat inventory high.
I have a bunch of preloved outerwear that makes much more of a statement than this classic trench coat in a pale shade of taupe. But a classic trench in a neutral color really does go a long way in one’s wardrobe. I thrifted this Talbots coat nearly a decade ago. If my recollection is accurate, I paid $18 for it and an additional $12 to have it dry cleaned for a total of $30. Most Talbots outerwear currently ranges from $150 to as high as $425 so $30 for a timelessly classic trench coat is really a steal. Not only is it better for my budget, but most thrift store purchases benefit charities and it is so much better for our planet to buy preloved than brand new. That is the whole point of this thrifty group! To show you how to be stylish by shopping secondhand because every little bit that we can prevent from ending up in landfills helps our environment!
Since my trench is rather boring, I used this opportunity to showcase a newly thrifted dress by Zara. The dress made the statement while the coat just kept me warm.
I found this geometric patterned dress the last time I went thrifting (which was a few months ago) and I picked it up and put it back about 3 times before deciding I should just try it on. I was uncertain if I liked the print or the color palette and I definitely was unsure of how the fabric would feel against my skin. But my mother always told me that if something on a hanger catches my attention for any reason, it never hurts to try it on. So with much hesitancy, I added it to my pile of try-on clothing and headed to the fitting room.
Much to my surprise, when I put the dress on I freaking loved it and the fabric didn’t really bother me at all. Even more surprising, out of the giant pile of things that I unquestionably loved when I took them into the fitting room, I only ended up buying this dress, a kaftan style top, a pair of Zara ballet flats that were new with tags, a tie dye tee shirt dress, and a super awesome vase for my dining room (all for under $50).
Because the print on the dress is so bold, I kept the rest of my outfit fairly plain and simple adding a black cloche hat, a pair of black tassel earrings, a thrifted necklace (which is actually mala beads), and black over the knee boots that I bought on a Shoe Dazzle season end clearance sale last year for under $20. While I am unsure of exactly how much I paid for all the pieces of this outfit, I am certain that the whole look including all of my accessories was under $100.
I did keep this outfit on to run a few errands after Archie took my photos but I will admit that the dress isn’t all that comfortable for my daily routine of staying home. But I will hang onto it for those rare occasions when I have a reason to get dressed up. And if I find no occasion for dressing up any time soon, my wardrobe will get cut in half again and who knows what will make the cut at that point!
That is all I have to share for this October edition of The Thrifty Six featuring our preloved autumn outerwear. Do you have a coat collection or do you rely on just a few basics?
Now let’s see the preloved autumn outerwear that my thrifty friends have styled!
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 Thrifters:
- Emma of Style Splash
- Grace of Graceful Rags
- Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
- Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi
- Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
- Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge
Emma of Style Splash
Grace of Graceful Rags
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
And Me!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.
Outfit Details: Dress (Zara), Coat (Talbots), and Mala Beads (Story & Myth)-Thrifted / Boots-Shoe Dazzle / Hat-Kohl’s / Earrings-Old
26 Comments
Lovely
The dress is beautiful! I love your trench coat and it is a great deal at that price.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Lovely! This trench has definitely proven its worth! I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
You look amazing in this dress Shelbee!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Jennifer! I was surprised by how much I liked it once I put it on!
xoxo
Shelbee
Grace
Love this outfit, Shelbee!! I can see why you were so excited to share this dress – that pattern is super cute and the colors are perfect for fall. Interesting for me to hear that your most thrifted item is outerwear! I don’t have that many secondhand jackets but the number is definitely growing. My most thrifted category of clothing is without a doubt dresses – I’m a sucker for thrifted cocktail dresses, even though I have nowhere to wear them, ha! Love your hat, too. So old fashioned.
Miles of smiles,
Grace
gracefulrags.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Grace! I have had to stop myself from checking the coat racks when I go thrifting now because I have so many there’s no room for more! Dresses are probably my second most thrifted items though. I find pants and shirts in thrift shops to be too overwhelming and often don’t even check those areas unless I am hunting for something specific. But I always scour the dress racks and the designated Zara racks. By the time I am finished in those two sections I have already broken my budget!
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
That is a lovely dress! I think classic trench coats are classic for a reason; they really do go with everything.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Joanne! Trench coats really do go with everything. They even work for every style aesthetic: preppy, business, punk, grunge, vintage, boho, casual, dressy.
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
I love the geometric print dress! The classic trench coat looks great with it!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Emma! As soon as I saw this dress, I thought of you! It is definitely a dress that you would totally rock with your cool vintage style!
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
I realised that I hadn’t read this post yet, sorry. And that while I loved this look so much. The coat is such a elegant classic, but the dress is totally me! I love the colours and the print, fabulous.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Nancy! Isn’t this dress cool? I immediately thought of Emma when I first saw it, but it definitely has Nancy vibes, too!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
You may think this is a boring look, but I think it’s chic and expensive looking even if it wasn’t. You have such an amazing eye for clothing, Shelbee! I love it!!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Awww, thanks so much, Marsha! I really appreciate that! And you! I have always loved playing with clothes. I was so excited that blogging became a thing in our generation. It is perfect for sharing my passion in my own way!
xoxo
Shelbee
Suzy Turner
I love just how different you all went with this challenge! isn’t Jane’s faux-fur red jacket amazing?!
I love your outfit though, Shelbee. I once bought a thrifted top in a similar print and colours because I had the exact same reaction as you. I put it down, picked it up, put it down, picked it up. And when I tried it on, I loved it!! You just never know what might look amazing, right?! I always tell my friends that, and we always have fun trying on stuff that we wouldn’t even dream of trying before.
I love the addition of that hat by the way. You look gorgeous!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Suzy! Jane’s red jacket is freaking fabulous! Her whole outfit is so super cool. I wish I had try-on friends to go shopping with! I have never had a fun shopping girlfriend like that. I usually just play dress up with the sales people!
xoxo
Shelbee
Michelle
I love the retro look of this dress! Your styling of it is perfect. 😀 My collection of outer wear us growing as I become more accustomed to what I need here. But it’s still a work in progress.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Michelle! I was really digging that retro vibe, too. You will definitely be needing some cold weather clothes now! I have a few lightweight jackets set aside to bring to you in February as well!
xoxo
Shelbee
Alexandra
I just LOVE your hat! I must get one, but with a hole at the top for my bun to fit through. Might have to make it.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Alexandra! I have a few cloche hats. They are one of my favorite hat styles! You should definitely make yourself a bun hat! How cute!
xoxo
Shelbee
Rosemary Davis
I love your dress today, Shelbee!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Rosemary! I really appreciate that!
xoxo
Shelbee
Gail
You find such wonderful items! This outfit looks so high end and wouldn’t be out of place on a runway thanks to the great styling (love the hat). I seldom find anything worth buying when I go thrifting. Thanks for linking
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Gail, for such a lovely compliment! We have some really great thrift shops near me. I don’t think I have shopped and not found something to buy!
xoxo
Shelbee
Carol
I like how your trench coat makes a classic statement with its long and flow-y silhouette. It seems that trench coats never go out of style.
Thank you for sharing this post in the Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 38.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Carol! Trench coats are such a great closet staple especially for the transitional seasons!
xoxo
Shelbee