thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six

The Thrifty Six in Creative Cover Ups

July 19, 2021 / 38 Comments
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six

For this month’s thrifty prompt, Lucy originally chose kimonos and kaftans but after some discussion amongst the group, we decided to broaden the theme to include any type of cover up piece that could be layered on top of an outfit. And so we ultimately settled on Creative Cover Ups.

If you have been visiting my blog for even a short amount of time, you might be aware of my great fondness for kimonos. I have a collection of these dramatic topper pieces that is nearing 100 if I include my ponchos and ruanas and other toppers as well. Now you might be wondering what the heck is the difference between all these types of topper garments…kimonos, ponchos, ruanas, dusters, wraps, and shawls, oh my. Well, I wrote a entire post about the Great Topper Confusion two years ago so you can go have a read if you are interested in understanding the differences between all these types of cover up pieces.

But I will be honest with you, even after researching the different types of garments and what characteristics are specific to them, it is still kind of confusing. So I basically refer to any flowing open front garment that is constructed from a chiffon, lightweight cotton, or other silky type of fabric as a kimono. If it is a long flowing open front knit or sweater, then I usually just call it a duster or a cardigan.

But back to the original prompt pitched by Lucy. When she first said kimonos, of course I got really excited because of my lifelong obsession with this style of garment. And then I realized that I don’t have very many preloved kimonos. Either they are just not that popular or the people who buy them love them as much as I do and never donate them to thrift shops. I very rarely find kimono styles of the sort that I love in second hand shops.

thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six

Then I remembered this beautiful mossy green polka dot kimono that I picked up at the Salvation Army thrift shop back in February when my sister visited. I saw it hanging on the end of a rack all by itself, totally out of place because there were no other kimonos to befriend it on the rails. It was priced at $5.99 but was 50% off that day so I scored this pretty little number for just $3.

I was first drawn to the gorgeous shade of green and I have always been a fan of the whimsical and dainty appeal of polka dots. Then when I picked it up and noticed the dramatic bell sleeves, I was completely sold. I also really love the different sizes of polka dots on the back. It keeps the interest going for 360˚.

This little polka dotted kimono is the only preloved piece in my outfit, but everything else was shopped from my closet. The self-imposed rule of this group is that whatever garment is fulfilling the stated theme for the month has to be preloved…meaning it could have been purchased at a thrift or charity shop, a yard sale, a resale website like Poshmark or eBay, or handed down from a friend or a family member. Simply put, it has to have been owned by someone else (not a retail store) before it came into your possession.

thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six

So the rest of my outfit includes things that have been in my closet for at least two years. I picked up this ivory romper 2 years ago when rompers were all the rage. I like it well enough but it is really, really short and you can totally see my underwear up the leg openings if you are the right angle. In fact, I usually wear it with tights because of that. You can see how I styled it with burgundy tights and cowboy boots for a totally different vibe from this super feminine ensemble.

I have some really adorable mossy green flat braided sandals that were the perfect match to my dotty kimono, but the flat shoes and the super short hemline made my legs look thick and stumpy. I admit my legs are thick and muscular and I love them very much for what they are, but stumpy they are not and I will not have them appearing as such if I can avoid it. So I needed a little lift to eliminate the stumpy factor. These forest green wedges were the perfect shoe.

I picked up these green wedges 2 years ago from some weird fly by night website that no longer exists. They are very cheaply made but actually really comfortable. The straps are just all uneven and don’t secure tightly around my ankles. But I just ordered a belt hole puncher from Trendhim that I think will fix the problem up nicely. Previously, I have styled these shoes with matching green tights which created a cool leg elongating effect which I always desire.

The romper has its own matching fabric belt, but I changed it out for a white and tan straw woven belt for some more contrast. And since the top of the romper is too low cut for my full coverage bras, I added a light green and white cameo brooch to secure the top and cover my bra. I am getting more comfortable with showing off some cleavage, but now I need the proper bras so I can do just that. Doesn’t the brooch just sort of look like a floating pendant necklace? I finished the look with pearly drop earrings that remind me of the polka dots on my kimono.

thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six
thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six

I was really pleased with the final outcome of this combination and it only incorporates six pieces total for a cohesive and stylish look…romper, kimono, belt, shoes, brooch, and earrings. When you have a few dramatic topper pieces in your wardrobe, it is easy to take basic wardrobe pieces and make them so much more interesting.

Now let’s look at how creative my thrifty friends have gotten with their preloved cover ups.

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

Style Splash
Emma of Style Splash

“I found this jacket in a charity shop, and although I already own several black jackets, I couldn’t resist this one with the cute flower buttons. It’s from Marks & Spencer and was only a few pounds. I paired it with yellow trousers to match the buttons. The black vest underneath is also from a charity shop. The bag was a gift from my stepmother – she found it in her shop in Madeira.”

Emma

Grace of Graceful Rags

Graceful Rags
Grace of Graceful Rags

“I really struggled with this month’s theme! I don’t own any kimonos, and the only thrifted jackets I have are too hot for the sweltering summer heat. So, I opted to play around with this pretty blue scarf that belonged to my grandma. I tried tying it as a top several different ways (I’m not cool enough to pull off that look) and finally settled on draping it over this white dress—a cover-up of sorts for brunch, dinner by the beach, etc. I wasn’t sure about this outfit at first but quickly loved the dramatic movie star vibes once I started taking pictures!”

Grace

Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade

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

“Hidden in plain sight…We’ve come a long way since the bathing machines of the late 19th and early 20th century…yet many of us still feel naked and somewhat vulnerable in a swimsuit. Do you reach for cover when you rise from your lounger, or emerge from the pool? Typical beach cover-ups are completely sheer and offer little or no visual barrier to protect our modesty…But they’re a holiday essential – suitcase never to be zipped without that brightly coloured veil of gossamer. Here I am in just one of my scarcely there wisps of fabric – this one scarlet with white polka-dots to match my bathing suit – how cute!!! It must be psychological, a chiffon comfort blanket if you will…We’re still visible, flesh is on show, we think we’re hidden but the reality is, we’re in plain sight!!!”

Jane

Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi

Lucy Bertoldi
Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi

“I love Cover-Ups and I cannot lie! Especially when they come in the form of vintage dusters! After rummaging my wardrobe to find the right piece to style up for this month’s theme-I noticed that this duster collection of mine is slowly taking over in containing my funnest go-to styling pieces. This one’s from the 50’s and way too cute to save for the bedroom- seriously though.”

Lucy

Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style

Nancy's Fashion Style
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style

“Well, this was a hard one for me as I am not a fan of kimonos or ponchos. But a cover up can also mean a jacket right? And the creative part is mixing three prints! The jacket is preloved, was part of a skirt suit. I love the huge buttons and the short sleeves, and the print, pied de poulle, has always been my favorite! Ever since I saw my grandmother, when I was about 7, wearing a pied de poulle coat! So elegant. She wore patent black pumps underneath with a bow! Perfection!”

Nancy

And me!

thrifted style, romper, polka dot kimono, wedges, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge, The Thrifty Six

“You all know that I am a huge fan of kimonos, but they are scarce items in second hand shops. I rarely ever find kimonos of any sort. So I was really excited when I was thrift shopping with my sister back in February and I found this amazing mossy green polka dotted kimono for just $3. I paired it with an old ivory romper and some funky green wedges for a sassy second hand summer look.”

Shelbee

How do you keep your wardrobe and personal style interesting? What kind of unique completer or topper pieces do you rely on for that little bit of extra?

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Outfit Details: Kimono-Thrifted / Romper-Kohl’s / Belt-Torrid / Shoes-Online shop that no longer exists / Brooch and Earrings-Too old to remember

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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38 Comments

  • Kellyann Rohr

    July 19, 2021 at 8:54 am Reply

    What a score – $3!!! I can hardly believe how well the shoes go with that kimono, I’d have never thought to purchase the moss green shoes thinking I’d never wear them. Kudos to you and your foresight that some things are worth grabbing and keeping for just the right time. I hope you are able to get an extra notch in those shoes to make them more stable – they are so cute on you.
    Looking terrific my friend – your hair is getting so long and is just gorgeous!
    xo,
    Kellyann

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 19, 2021 at 9:17 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Kellyann! I actually do wear these shoes more often than one would think for moss green shoes. They are comfortable, too, except for the loose straps. It will be nice to fix them up with some extra holes in the straps! My hair is so crazy long! I haven’t had it cut in over a year but I am supposed to go next week. I think I probably have to lose about an inch of two of it to get it back to healthy! Stay tuned!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Kathleen

    July 19, 2021 at 11:19 am Reply

    You look amazing! I’d kill for those long long legs! I look forward to your posts. Keep up the hippie vibe! xo

    Kathy

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 19, 2021 at 3:15 pm Reply

      Thanks, Mireille! There are definitely specific items that I find a ton in thrift shops while others not so much. I just went thrifting again this weekend and found some of the coolest, super unique pieces. I need to photograph my thrift shop hauls when I go but I always wait until I style the pieces. I hope your week is off to a great start!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Ellie

    July 19, 2021 at 3:31 pm Reply

    I so love this Kimono, the color is such a gorgeous shade of green and then the polka dots!! I agree it’s nearly impossible to find Kimonos at second hand places, I’ve been wanting to try one but don’t want to spend a lot of $$ and I’m probably not getting too much wear out of them, but I’ve not found one at a thriftstore.

    I love this one paired with the ivory romper! It’s true they always appear to be so short and loose so I don’t own one of those either. They’d probably make good beach coverups too though as we’re less likely to care when we wear a swimsuit underneath and strolling along the beach!
    Ellie
    Ellibelle’s Corner

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 19, 2021 at 7:17 pm Reply

      Thanks so much, Ellie! This shade of mossy green is one of my favorite green shades. But I do love any shade of green. I wonder why kimonos are so rare in thrift shops. But you can find really reasonably priced ones on Amazon and other online sites. As for the rompers, they are cute but they are so totally impractical. Especially this one because it ties at the back of the neck and then I belted it and added the kimono on top so every time I have to use the bathroom, I have to completely disrobe accessories and all. It’s very annoying! But sometimes cute wins our over practicality! I hope your week is off to a great start, my friend.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Lucy Bertoldi

    July 19, 2021 at 6:11 pm Reply

    I love your take on this cover-up! Like you I’m nuts abuot kimonos…and the definition we’ve all given to this type of garmet can be so confusing! Like you anything flowy, light weight worn over, works for me as a kimono too. Love yours! It’ s so feminine and flowy- love! This collab of ours has us all so creative in our take of the theme! Have a great week xx

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 19, 2021 at 6:49 pm Reply

      Thanks so much, Lucy! I am seriously obsessed with cover ups of the kimono sort! I wear them nearly every day during the warmer months. I even throw them on top of my nighties if I get too cool at night. This is such a fabulously fun group! We always bring so much creativity to these style prompts. I adore you ladies!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Nancy

    July 19, 2021 at 6:21 pm Reply

    What a bargain! And such a pretty colour, and those shoes!! Love those! I like the way you styled the kimono a lot, looks perfect with that romper. Funny isn’t it, that kimonos are hardly seen here, in Europe. Its really a US thing.

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 19, 2021 at 6:44 pm Reply

      Hehe, thanks, Nancy! I was so pleased with how this outfit turned out. But you know, rompers are hugely inconvenient for any purpose! I wonder why kimonos are so scarce in Europe. To me, they seem like the perfect dramatic piece for any European village!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Sheila (of Ephemera)

    July 19, 2021 at 6:31 pm Reply

    Such a great and eclectic mix of toppers here! I love it!

    Your green outfit is awesome, Shelbee! I love the shoes and the dots, and the jewelry is so perfect.

    I noticed your wonderfully strong legs right away! Wow, I’m so impressed by your awesome muscle definition! I would rather have strong limbs and muscles than skinny legs/arms. I think strength is so much more attractive than thinness. You are rocking your strength!

    I am not a personal fan of cleavage-o-rama in daily outfits, but if it’s a fun outfit or I’m going out (drinks, party, etc.) then all bets are off. Bring out the girls! Boobs ahoy!

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 19, 2021 at 6:41 pm Reply

      Haha, thanks so much for this super fun comment, Sheila! You crack me up! You are right on about the cleavage bit! I suppose it’s totally okay to flaunt it on a night out. But all the boobage overflow is just not for me on the daily either! You know, when I was a kid I was so self conscious about my muscular legs. I was a competitive swimmer so I was constantly comparing the circumference of my legs to my peers. In general, most of the girls from my high school and college swim teams had thighs that were smaller than my calves which made me feel like the hugest girl on the team. In hindsight, I know I wasn’t but I also know that the strength in my thick, muscular legs definitely made me one of the fastest girls on the team, in the state, and in the entire conference. So ya, my legs have done great things and I will never be ashamed of them!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 20, 2021 at 10:16 am Reply

      Hehe, thanks, Jodie! I am a bit obsessed with my kimonos! I really should do a post with all of them! Like wear just a simple black base layer and photograph every kimono I own. It would be A LOT of photos to share though but it might be fun to see them all in one place! Hmmmmm…I will have to consider this idea…

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 21, 2021 at 10:02 am Reply

      Thanks so much, Amber! This is one of my favorite shades of green. I was sold on the color and the all the other little details were just extra bonuses for my $3 well spent! I hope your summer is going well, my friend!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 22, 2021 at 10:16 am Reply

      Thanks, Michelle! Oh, yes, greens are incredibly difficult to match. This was just a very serendipitous pairing. I dug around the closet for shoes to wear, spotted these, held them up against the outfit and they were perfect! Otherwise I was going to wear my nude braided sandals from this outfit. But they were not as good as the green shoes!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

  • Claire

    July 25, 2021 at 6:45 am Reply

    I love this look so much, Shelbee.

    You know how much I love my polka dots and your shoes are gorgeous 🙂 What a great colour.

    Thanks so much for linking up to Creative Mondays. I hope you can join us again tomorrow 🙂 #CreativeMondays

  • Grace

    July 28, 2021 at 5:12 pm Reply

    This is one of my favorite outfits of yours, Shelbee!! I’m not usually a huge fan of kimonos on me (gasp) but I absolutely LOVE this green polka dot one. It’s so unique and so summery paired with the white. I love the little flutter sleeves, and that sage green color is all the rage this season! I think rompers are super cute, but I always struggle with them being too short as well… ugh. Your shoes are super unique, too! Love everything about this look!

    -Grace

    gracefulrags.com

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      July 29, 2021 at 1:11 pm Reply

      Aw, thanks so much, Grace! This outfit was a favorite of my husband’s as well! I did feel very pretty and kind of sassy wearing it. I am loving this sage green color right now! It is such a fun kimono and for $3 I had to have it!

      xoxo
      Shelbee

    • shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com

      August 6, 2021 at 9:43 am Reply

      Aw, thanks so much, Suzanne! These are pretty fabulous shoes! I bought them from some fly by night online store that disappeared before I ever wore the shoes. I am just happy that I received the shoes and didn’t get scammed out of my money! Haha.

      xoxo
      Shelbee

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