holiday party ready (on a budget)

holiday party season has arrived.

every invite is seemingly accompanied

by an ever-growing price tag and shopping list.

whether you're attending a black-tie dinner or ugly 

sweater gathering, purchasing a different

outfit for each event is expensive.

if you're like me, wearing the same blouse

or dress to multiple parties sounds less than

ideal. how can you dress (and shop) 

during the holiday season while adhering

to your budget?

i have put together a few simple tips!

disclosure: a special thank you to value village for graciously providing

me with the gift certificate used to purchase items featured in this post. as per usual,

all opinions are my own!

mix and match!

your statement clutch or faux fur vest

can be paired with a variety of skirt, 

pant, or dress options. a black vest, for example,

can be worn with a sweater and pants (as i did

in today's post), or over your favorite

long-sleeved dress.

thrift, thrift, thrift!

shopping at department stores

and local boutiques is greatly enjoyable,

but often comes at a cost (a high cost, too).

thrifting is a wonderful and budget-friendly 

alternative. grab your girlfriends and hit

your local value village.

wear a non-traditional piece!

your black ruffle shorts, metallic skirt,

or office pants? not items that necessarily

denote 'holiday party.' however, 

these non-traditional pieces can be styled

in a way that looks and feels festive.

pair longer, ruffle (or printed) shorts with

a dressy blouse, or wear opaque tights

and a sweater with your metallic skirt.

you can also easily dress up (and make festive)

your work essentials, such as black

pants. add heels, a scarf or necktie, and

faux fur vest to instantly make your

pants look glam.

take advantage of holiday sales

(and don't be afraid to scour the clearance rack)!

if thrift shopping is not your favorite

(don't be afraid to try!), check the sale rack at

your favorite stores. seasonal tops, dresses, and shoes

are typically on sale, and many 

retailers will continue to mark down prices.

now may be the perfect time to purchase

classic, staple items (such as black 

heels or a faux leather jacket) at a reduced cost.

my outfit breakdown:

sweater (topshop thrifted) -- $10

faux fur vest (old, macy's) -- $40

pants (zara) -- $29

ring (thrifted) -- $2

heels (karen kane thrifted) -- $8

purse (target thrifted) -- $6

total -- $113 (the average dress costs

between $100-300 at most department stores)

photos by karya schanilec photography

is your calendar also filling up with

parties and other holiday-related events?

i love this time of year and enjoy

keeping busy. it's time to put together more

festive outfits #merrythriftmas

xoxo.

celebrating halloween with value village

halloween is just around the corner;

it seemingly sneaks up on me each year.

costume planning (and shopping) is one 

of my favorite fall traditions. 

i may or may not want to admit how 

much time i recently spent browsing 'costume ideas' 

on pinterest during the month of october 

(my halloween board can be found here). 

blogs provide a great deal of inspiration, too.

 between pre-packaged and DIY costumes, 

a girl has a lot of options. 

disclosure: value village graciously provided me with a gift card

to purchase my costume. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

as september came to an end (and the weather

changed (or drastically cooled off)), pumpkins,

apple cider, and halloween costumes

were on my mind. i began asking friends and coworkers

for costume suggestions, but struggled to come

up with something original. i dressed as wendy darling

from the disney movie, peter pan, 

last year. my costume was entirely thrifted!

this year, i was eager to visit my local 

value village for a bit of halloween prep.

i had a few costume ideas in mind, 

but i find it helpful to begin your halloween thrifting

adventure with an open mind. after all, you 

never know what your local thrift store will have

in stock. additionally, i take a cursory

glance at my closet: do i have accessories

or a specific item i can style as part of a costume?

ears, a new makeup tutorial, or wig

are potential examples.

i tend to avoid the ready-made,

packaged costumes, as they lack originality. 

the costume 'section' can be helpful when thrift 

shopping, but can appear picked over. 

my strategy? walk the store. 

look at everything. consult pinterest as 

you find clothing, shoes, or accessories that 

can be used to create a costume. and

 most of all, have fun!

halloween is an wonderful holiday. 

celebrating all things spooky + costumes and 

candy galore?! that requires fun, laughter, and creativity.

can you guess my costume? sandy from

'grease' meets 1950s pinup girl. a bandana, 

high-waisted bottoms, and a glass bottle of coke

were essential. i had so much fun putting

this look together!

when browsing the racks at value village,

i was hoping to find high-waisted 

shorts and a gingham or polka dot shirt. 

unfortunately, i was unable to find shorts

but fell in love with this polka dot top. i also

stumbled upon this gem of a jacket on

my way to the shoe section. i purchased it

to wear IRL (in real life), but it seemingly goes

well with my costume, too! 

the finishing touches were a sleek pair of

heels, a bracelet, bandana, and loose curls.

photos by karya schanilec photography

t-shirt, bracelet, heels, and faux fur jacket: c/o value village.

leggings: american apparel, bandana: fred meyer

you can see previous halloween posts on my

blog here and here. i absolutely love celebrating

halloween (any excuse to dress up and eat chocolate, 

right?). do you have any fun plans this year?

what is your costume? if you haven't begun

planning, make sure to visit your neighborhood 

value village for costume ideas and essentials!

xoxo.

weekends were made for rompin' around

weekends were made for wearing rompers

(and ripped jeans, and cropped tops, and leggings,

and pretty much everything else you want to

 but can't wear to the office), right?

whether spring, summer, or fall, rompers are one

of my favorite styles. as they weather changes, 

adding a pair tights, ankle boots, and an

 oversized sweater can make rompers 

seasonally appropriate; rompers with long sleeves 

are a great cool-weather alternative, too!

my office requires business professional attire

monday through thursday, but blue denim can be

worn on friday (sadly, my super ripped jeans are not

acceptable, despite trying to sneakily wear them on

one or more occasions). rompers are another no-go,

which means i am drawn to these items first when

heading out on the weekends. who doesn't 

love a romper for brunch or ripped jeans and

flannel while running errands?

this weekend, sleep is a top priority!

work, school, babysitting, and adjusting

to the change in weather kept this girl particularly

busy. that, and attempting to unpack in order to get settled

in my new home; i have been a nomad for the past

several weeks, bouncing back and forth 

between different houses while my new, permanent 

home was being worked on. alas, it is just

about ready!

do you have any fun plans this weekend?

if the weather cooperates, i am hoping to also

take photos for my blog, go for a walk with a girlfriend,

and stop by a local pumpkin patch (oh the photo

opportunities at the pumpkin patch!).

photos by karya schanilec photography

romper: nordstrom (old; similar here), rings: forever 21,

purse and wedges: thrifted (via seattle goodwill)

i have a slight confession. amidst moving, i 

packed up the majority of my shoes, purses, and other

accessories and put them in my storage unit. 

when putting together an outfit for this planned

photo shoot, i didn't have much in the way of

end-of-summer or fall attire. i thought

this romper would be fun to style, and i challenged

myself to thrift pieces to wear with it for less

than $30. as you likely know, $30 can go

a long way when thrift or consignment shopping.

unfortunately, the brand has worn off my 

adorable fringe bag, but the cost of the purse

and my franco sarto sandals was $25!

thrifting for the win!

xoxo.

thrifting with thredup

as many of you know, the majority 

of my wardrobe is thrifted; if i were to guess, i would 

estimate around 75 percent of my clothes were

thrifted or purchased on consignment. that isn't

to say i don't enjoy purchasing new items;

zara and nordstrom, i am looking at you!

as an aspiring fashion blogger,

keeping on trend, while rotating pieces in my

 wardrobe (with high frequency) is not cost effective.

 i simply can't afford a new dress or pair of shoes 

when they cost $75-100 apiece. a girl can only

spend so much. and why spend that amout

when i can thrift an entire outfit for 

much less!

disclosure: thredup graciously provided me with a store credit used

to purchase the dress photographed here. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

earlier this month, i was selected as one of thredup's 

insta-gals and kindly provided a store credit. 

i purchased the off-the-shoulder dress i am wearing today,

as well as a more casual topshop dress!

this black, asos-brand dress still had original tags (!!!),

and cost $12. #steal

if you are new to thredup, it is an online

consignment marketplace. they offer previously

owned (new and gently used) clothing, shoes,

and accessories for women and children. prices are 

often more than 90 percent off what you would

pay to buy the item new! brands include (but are

not limited to) anthropologie, banana republic, 

j.crew, nordstrom, zara, and more.

^^^ and sometimes you stop mid-photo shoot for a macron break.

lady yum just opened across the street from my office; dangerous! ^^^

shopping with thredup can feel somewhat

intimidating; the variety of products and brands

they carry is seemingly endless! i recommend

searching by brand (example: zara). if you know 

that particular brand fits you well, you are likely

to find an item(s) to purchase. you can also narrow 

down offerings by size, color, style, price, etc.

additional tip? the app is incredibly easy to shop.

it is addicting, too!

if, like me, you tend to rotate items in and 

out of your closet, request a 'clean out bag.' mail

in your like-new and gently used items 

to receive cash or store credit.

photos by karya schanilec photography

dress: asos (c/o thredup), sandals: topshop,

purse: nine west (via tj maxx), bracelets: brighton,

rings: forever 21

have you shopped using thredup?

do you enjoy consignment shopping?

as i prepare to move, i have a growing pile

of items i will soon mail in for store credit

(let's be honest, this girl loves to shop!).

xoxo.

coffee dates & leather jackets

not sure what to wear? need an additional layer?

is your outfit feeling a bit drab? grab your nearest leather 

(or faux leather) jacket! i was inspired by fellow blogger and friend, 

julia's post (from style and cheek) discussing the importance, or perhaps

necessity, of owning a leather jacket. it seemingly goes with 

everything in your closet, from jeans and a t-shirt, 

to a floral print dress or skirt; a leather jacket 

will make a statement and instantly pull together your look.

i picked up my faux leather jacket last summer, 

and while it was too warm (and then too cold) to wear it,

i've worn it repeatedly over the last several weeks - with dresses to work,

 a blouse and black denim for brunch, and of course, 

paired with a graphic t-shirt and ripped jeans for leisurely weekend 

activities. i think my favorite look, however, is wearing my jacket with more

feminine pieces, such as this long-sleeved, floral dress.

my jacket is very light weight, so i can wear it over sweaters 

and not feel uncomfortable. the studs and zipper detail are fun 'pops' as well.

life (and fashion) is a balancing act, don't you think?

while a leather jacket, particularly a genuine leather jacket, 

is an investment, you can wear it with more budget-friendly items.

my dress, purse and ankle boots were thrifted, 

so i don't feel quite as guilty about paying more for my jacket.

a leather jacket won't go out of style either, like other more trendy,

seasonal pieces. although, i must admit, i seldom experience 

buyers remorse; please tell me this isn't just me?

photos by bailey makaimoku photography

jacket: nordstrom (similar here and here), 

dress: astr (thrifted via buffalo exchange), rings: forever 21,

boots: thrifted (via buffalo exchange), purse: thrifted (via seattle goodwill)

and sometimes, when you're taking photos and mentally

planning blog content, you need to enjoy a delicious iced coffee.

i am slightly embarrassed to admit that i have a new coffee obsession. 

the starbucks cinnamon almond milk macchiato is beyond

delicious! it's refreshing and instantly satisfies my sweet tooth

(and caffeine addition). have you tried it?

xoxo.

the annual 'spring-cleaning itch'

we experienced a brief glimpse of spring last weekend

(i think a full 24 hours sans rain!); the sun even poked her head out,

albeit brief. the city seemingly comes alive when we transition from 

winter to spring, and i must admit, i couldn't be happier!

with temperatures in the low 50s, i was beyond eager

to ditch my heavy coat and all-too-familiar rain boots.

each year, as spring approaches, i experience a rather intense

desire to purge my closet. i want it all gone. and clean. and organized.

 i am done with everything warm, thick, waterproof - 

anything that reminds me of winter. black jackets and sweaters? goodbye!

 i want to chuck everything i have lived in for the past several

months and welcome lightweight, colorful and vibrant pieces.

disclosure: value village graciously provided me with a gift card used to purchase some of the 

items worn in this post. as per usual, all opinions are my own!

the spring purge doesn't mean throwing away clothing,

shoes and accessories (not in the literal sense). instead, 

i separate what i no longer wear or need into distinct piles:

sell, give, and donate. i plan to do an additional blog post detailing

this process (as it has become quite methodical). in general, however,

i choose a few items that are newer and perhaps more 'trendy' 

to sell at local consignment shops. i also have a pile

that i offer to my roommates, coworkers, and of course, my mom.

lastly, i donate the remaining items at value village

(you can find the donation site nearest to you here).

and it seems my attempt to purge and de-clutter my closet this

season was futile; unfortunately, i rarely drop off items at value village 

without also bringing one or two (or sometimes, several) 

'new' things home. it's a vicious cycle, i tell you.

while i may have gone into the store several

bags lighter (with a more organized car, bedroom and closet!), 

i came out with a new spring-inspired outfit.

'you're only going in to drop these things off, megan.'

this is the mantra that runs through my head upon entering

my local value village. whether or not this repeated mantra actually

works is still up for debate.

photos by karya schanilec photography

blouse: daniel rain (c/o value village), jeans: american eagle,

purse: steve madden (c/o value village), shoes: converse (c/o value village),

bracelet: gift from my parents after their recent trip to mexico, rings: forever 21

and while my meager attempts at keeping my closet

clutter low are seemingly futile, i know that both 

shopping and donating at value village makes a difference.

last year, they kept 650 million pounds of textiles and goods

out of landfills. that's quite a feat! 

have you experienced the annual spring cleaning itch? 

how do you stay organized, and what do you typically

do with items you no longer wear or need? let me

know in the comments, and happy cleaning (and donating!).

xoxo.

current obsession: the bomber jacket

here, there, everywhere - bomber jackets are making an appearance!

whether you're browsing pinterest, or looking through the racks of your

favorite department store, bomber jackets are a fan favorite. 

while i appreciated this particular style of jacket last season, 

i have to admit, i didn't purchase a bomber jacket until earlier this year, 

when an army green style arrived in my monthly stitch fix

(in case you missed it, i recently styled the jacket on my blog here).

whether it's paired with a light sweater, wrap dress, or a simple tee,

let your bomber make a statement. i like the versatility of my 

chic, green coat, but the embroidered floral print makes this jacket 

(and the rest of my outfit) pop; remember, it's all about the details!

i picked up these distressed, patched jeans at the zara

end-of-season clearance earlier this year, and while i typically

prefer darker denim, i love this light wash for spring. the boyfriend

style will be perfect with sandals (if the weather ever warms up -

i'm beginning to lose faith!).

in true seattle fashion, it absolutely poured rain when trying

to take these photos. thankfully, the very patient and talented karya 

suggested we pop over to the sky-bridge between nordstrom and pacific

place. it was a much appreciated reprieve from the rain and cold temperatures.

 #photochallenges

photos by karya schanilec photography

jacket: zara (thrifted via seattle goodwill), t-shirt: j.crew,

jeans: zara (similar here), purse & sunnies: forever 21, 

shoes: nine west

and believe it or not, i thrifted this bomber at my local goodwill

for $15! if you're eager to try a new trend, but don't want to 

burden your wallet, be sure to check a nearby thrift store.

you can likely find a jacket (and other items, too) from last season,

at a fraction of the cost! i've linked a few additional jackets i'm

lusting after below:

1 // 2 // 3 

who else is ready for the weekend?

this week has felt especially long. my birthday is on sunday,

so i'll be over here eating far too many donuts, cookies, and 

cupcakes galore. after all, you're allowed to eat all your favorite

treats on your birthday, right?! thankfully, these boyfriend jeans have a bit 

of extra room, as i'll certainly be needing it!

xoxo.

thriftaholic: tips & tricks for your next thrifting adventure

if you've been a reader of diary of this girl for some time, 

then you know i am a thriftaholic! many of my clothes, shoes and handbags

 were purchased second-hand (including these flats, this sweater and 

this dress). thrift and consignment shopping is a 

passion of mine - i love the thrill of thrift shopping; you just never know 

what you'll find! 

putting together outfits to share on my blog is a wonderful hobby,

but keeping up with current trends, while also providing new

content (and thus, new outfits!), is expensive. i can't always

justify purchasing those new ankle boots or that faux fur vest.

however, when purchasing items second-hand, and at a

much lower price point, i feel like i'm being kinder to my wallet.

while i typically find fun pieces when thrifting, there are days 

i come home empty-handed. unfortunately, it all depends on what's 

available at your local thrift or consignment shop. some days are better

than others, and it's important to go back (again and again!).

a few areas of the thrift store i always make sure to check?

shoes, handbags, sweaters, skirts and dresses! 

if i have extra time, i also look through the shirts

and blouses, and i sometimes browse the men's section

(some of my favorite flannels were purchased in the men's department).

when thrifting, allow yourself plenty of time!

thrift and consignment shopping requires patience. you often

have to dig (and dig!) through the racks and of course, try on any 

items that end up in your cart. check for major holes and/or snags. 

minor adjustments, such as hemming skirts

or pants, can be made. i've also bought tops that were 

missing a button because this is a quick and easy fix.
additionally, don't be afraid to look at items outside of your usual
size range. for example, i like to browse sizes small through large,
as vintage pieces are generally sized larger (and fit smaller)
 and clothing may or may not be mixed up.

photos by elizabeth kathryn photography

and now, for a few of my favorite thrifting destinations!

seattle goodwill:

for years, i have been an avid supporter of goodwill. while i 

have found great designer items at a variety of goodwill locations, 

the redmond store (located here), the ballard store (located here)
and the capitol hill store (located here) are where i typically
have the best luck!

buffalo exchange:

located in the university district, buffalo exchange

is where i often sell gently-used items from my closet. while i'm
waiting for the staff to look through my clothing, i subsequently browse 

(and often purchase!) from here as well. 

gigi's closet:

when visiting my parents on weekends, i make sure to 

stop by gigi's closet, located in mukilteo. it's a small, locally owned

consignment shop for women. their merchandise varies, 

but i've found several pairs of shoes and jackets for work.

crossroads trading:
crossroads trading, located on capitol hill (not
far from urban outfitters!) is full of vintage, gently-used
and new clothing, shoes and accessories. i can spend forever
looking through everything, and my favorite pair of distressed
madewell jeans were purchased at crossroads!

value village:

my love for thrifting began in college. we would

visit the local value village for vintage sweatshirts and

halloween costumes each year. i soon realized everything else value 

village had to offer, and my loyalty has continued!

i prefer the lake city, lynnwood and redmond locations.

where are some of your favorite places to thrift

or consignment shop? i'm always looking for new places to visit!

xoxo.

p.s. the jumpsuit i'm wearing in the photos above is a thrifted find 

at goodwill by my photographer, elizabeth!

merry thriftmas!

merry thriftmas, everyone!

it's that time of year - time to dig out your ugliest 

(and tackiest and most ridiculous) of sweaters to wear for your 

upcoming holiday celebrations. 

don't have one in your closet?

you can do what i did and visit your local value village.

i found some terribly tacky (but equally wonderful) sweaters

in both the holiday and general sweater section. 

^^^ this particular sweater has a cottage, hearts, flowers, snowflakes, 

a snowman, and a christmas tree all in one! i don't think it could 

be any more festive! ^^^

while i could have emphasized the tackiness even more (perhaps

pairing the sweater with printed leggings or red and green tights), 

i decided to go a different route by wearing my favorite tulle skirt

and chambray. this allows the sweater to be the focal point of my outfit.

photos by kerouac photography

dress: target (similar here), chambray: nordstrom, sweater & heels: c/o value village

when planning my recent trip to value village,

i made sure to first clean out my closet. it was in desperate need

of a thorough clean, and i was eager to donate my unused

clothing, outerwear and shoes - and as per usual, i brought home more

then just my ugly sweater when thrifting. the store closest to my house

always has the best selection!

do you have any ugly sweater party coming up?

what do you plan to wear? tulle, sequins, or faux leather

leggings would be a fun, yet stylish addition to your outfit!

and of course, if you're shopping for a fun (and tacky!) holiday sweater, 

don't forget to shop value village. their new and used holiday items 

are half-off december 18 - 24th; happy thrifting!

xoxo.

**this is a sponsored post. a very special thank

you to value village for providing me with the gift card

used to purchase this sweater. all opinions are my own!