green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge

The Thrifty Six in Tropical Paradise & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up #280

The Thrifty 6 in Tropical Paradise
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge

The Thrifty Six are back and it was my turn to choose our style theme for this month. I have to be honest with you, I had the dress in the mind before I chose the theme making this much less of a challenge for me. But I found this vibrant green tropical print slip dress on a winter thrifting adventure and it was begging for an occasion to be worn. So I made up a theme that went with the dress and I ran with it. My thrifty friends didn’t seem to mind though because they brought out some of the prettiest preloved outfits perfect for a tropical paradise.

Although I don’t really know what would be perfect for a tropical paradise as I have never been to the tropics in my life. I have visited subtropical regions but have never ventured deeper into the oppressive heat and humidity of the tropics. And I am not sure that I really want to. While I am certain there are astonishingly beautiful places to visit in the tropics, I have never much had the desire to go to any of them. I always have been and apparently will always be much more of a cold weather gal than an overheated mess of sweat. But give me some mild summer weather and I am all about a tropical inspired outfit.

green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
platform slide sandals, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge

Let me tell you about this dress. The day I discovered it on the thrift shop rack, I also found a whole bunch of other brilliant things that I didn’t really need. This is a common theme during my thrifting adventures. I give myself a budget that I always end up breaking. Since it was in the middle of winter, I nearly put this dress back on the rack in favor of the more wintery items I had in my cart. But something about the color and the bold floral print were irresistible to me. Also I have been wanting to add a few more slip dresses to my summer wardrobe. So for $5.99 I decided I should keep the dress and save it for warmer weather.

And then warmer weather seemed like it was never coming. But spring temperatures have finally arrived just in time for the summer solstice! And finally I can bare my shoulders, my legs, and my toes…for brief periods of time before I get too chilly. That’s where my extensive kimono collection comes in handy as well as my overabundant hoard of socks.

I chose my tropical print kimono in white and green because I loved the contrast of floral prints together and the colors were all perfectly coordinated as well. My kimono was purchased at retail from Target a few years ago. In fact, the only preloved item in my outfit this time is my dress. But that’s okay because that’s the only requirement for this style series…at least one piece, the part of the outfit that fits the chosen theme, must be thrifted or preloved.

green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge

The dress had two fabric strips attached on each side of the waist that could be tied in either the back or the front. Except the placement of the ties was more aligned with my hips and looked incredibly awkward no matter which way I tied them. So I cut them off with scissors and tied them into my braid instead for a coordinating hair accessory.

Then I added my starfish necklace that I purchased at a cute little boutique in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, a few years ago. While starfish can be found in every ocean of the world, I tend to always associate them with tropical coral reefs. Then I added my Mystique earrings that were gifted to me from Big Earrings. I specifically chose these earrings because they are crafted from tagua nuts which grow from a palm tree in the tropical rainforests of Ecuador.

A colorful straw bag and platform espadrille slides seemed to fit the tropical vibe as well and complete my look for a Northern New York temperate paradise.

green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge

And there you have it…an outfit suitable for any paradise, tropical, subtropical, temperate, and even the warmer months of sub-polar regions.

Now let’s check out my thrifty friends in their Tropical Paradise looks.

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
“I bought this kimono jacket on eBay years ago but rarely wear it. I don’t know why because it feels so comfortable and I love the tropical print. I will challenge myself to find more ways to wear it over the summer!”
-Emma
Grace of Graceful Rags
Graceful Rags
“Since I live in a landlocked state, I didn’t want my outfit to come off as too costume-like. I opted for this tropical, yet subtle, halter top that was a hand-me-down from a cousin. It came with a matching flowy skirt, but I chose to pair it with mom jeans instead (and a subtle flower hair accessory) for a cute date night look. The matching ensemble would make the perfect island vacation outfit, though!”
-Grace
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
“Paradise under grey skies…This month’s Thrifty Six theme is ‘Tropical Paradise’…immediately I reached for these 1970’s palazzo pants in all the vibrant colours of a parakeet! Styled with vivid yellow and opulent turquoise, it’s a dangerously intense look…on a sunny day it’s nothing less than resplendent! I wanted sunshine for my pictures; I waited and I waited but it never came so here I am on this cloudy day…still smiling as my outfit radiates ‘Tropical Paradise’ even though the skies are grey…”
-Jane
Lucy of Lucy Bertoldi
Lucy Bertoldi
“Ahh the tropics and that hot, delicious sunny weather that all Northern girls crave…Le Sigh! Even if I can’t get to a tropical island for a get-away, I can still get dressed up for that sunshiny vibe anyway! A girl can dream and play the part even in hot sticky Montreal. Here’s me with Jamaica on my mind in a totally pre-loved look.”
-Lucy
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
Nancy’s Fashion Style
“Tropical Paradise Cocktail! That’s what I represent today! Lol. I shall explain. Years ago we went to Ibiza every year with friends. And in the evenings we always drank the Mediteranee there, a cocktail of pina colada with pineapple juice. Every evening my girlfriend and I were looking forward to drinking that delicious cocktail! And we drank a lot of those! We often made it ourselves afterwards at home! And look, today I am the pineapple! The green top is pre loved, bought at Vinted. Beautiful color huh. I really liked the whole color combination of my outfit!”
-Nancy
And Me!
green floral slip dress, floral kimono, thrifted style, Shelbee on the Edge
“I found this green slip dress with a big bold tropical floral print during a winter thrifting adventure so this is the first chance I am getting to wear it. It had ties on the sides to cinch the waist except the ties were oddly placed on the hips. So I cut them off and tied them in my hair! I styled it with a non-thrifted kimono and platform espadrille sandals for an easy breezy summer look.” -Shelbee

Have you ever been to the tropics? Maybe you live in the tropics? I would love to hear what kind of style you would wear for a tropical paradise.

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Outfit Details: Dress-Thrifted / Kimono-Target / Shoes-Steven Madden (DSW) / Earrings-c/o Big Earrings / Necklace-Gift shop in Jim Thorpe, PA / Bag-Burlington Coat Factory

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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