It was my turn to choose our thrifty theme and I settled on Unbuttoned. Because the word has various meanings and is subject to interpretation, I thought it would be an interesting sartorial prompt for this budget friendly group. According to Merriam-Webster, unbuttoned can mean simply that something with buttons is “not buttoned” but it can also mean that there were no buttons to begin with. A third definition of the word unbuttoned is “not under constraint : free and unrestricted in action and expression” which really relates to my style aesthetic as well as that of most fashion forward people. Unrestricted expression is at the heart of how I dress, how…

Jodie presented us with this month’s theme, Bloom Where You are Planted. But that doesn’t really work for me since I was planted in Pennsylvania but I am blooming in New York. I guess I am blooming where I have been transplanted! Lucky for my thrifty soul, Pennsylvania and New York are both homes to a plethora of amazing secondhand shops that tend to always be blooming with all sorts of gorgeous floral prints. I have always loved floral prints. The bigger, the bolder, the brighter, the more I am drawn to them. And thrift stores are generally abundant with blooming florals. In fact, I have so many different preloved…

Sally said, “Nautical Vibes for June!” And Shelbee silently replied inside her mind, “Ummmmm.” Every now and then, I have been known to enjoy a good Breton stripe, a comfy pair of boat shoes, a cute pair of sailor pants, or a red, white, and blue color palette. And once upon a time, I did have a nice collection of preloved blue and white striped shirts and dresses that were perfectly nautical. But with my recent style aesthetic being much more woodsy boho than coastal chic, I have purged most of those things from my closet. I am certain there are some ocean inspired pieces that remain in my wardrobe…

Jane chose this month’s thrifty theme and it was like a sweet song for my bohemian soul. A crochet revival! Yes, please. I love the inherently relaxed vibe created by crocheted items, flashing us back to the antiestablishment countercultures of the 1960s and 1970s. It was a time of modern bohemianism, a rise in hippie mentality and an increase in openly alternative lifestyles. Crochet became an iconic fashion trend that represented the generation which gave birth to Xers like myself. In traditional Gen X style, we do like to revive old things and make them new, creating a sustainable way to remain fashionable on a budget. Because we have lived…