so i have wanted to do a post like this for a while. no its not a haul, its a tips and tricks post :) if you know me well enough you know that i LOVE shopping at value village, and most would say i have mastered the art of doing so. its not really all that easy. so i am going to share with you what goes on inside my head as i shop for bargains in vv boutique!! :)
TIP 1)
so first things first, unless you have to, i dont suggest you go in looking for something specific, 9 times outta 10 you wont find it. i go in with an open mind, sort of picturing the items i already have in my closet, and search for items that might pair well with what i have.
TIP 2) leave yourself a good chunk of time in the store if you want to get some good shopping done. i can spend two hours in that store, easy. but thats because i have learnt to be thorough and patient when i shop.
TIP 3)
so then there's exactly that, be thorough and give yourself time to find the good stuff. i have tricks for each item of clothing you shop for, so lets go into detail
3.1 casual tops- when shopping through the knit tees and blouses in your local value village there are two things you need to pay attention to when pulling back EVERY ITEM (yes, trust me if you do it right it really doesnt take that long) you need to pay attention to FABRIC and COLOR. why those two?? well when you are looking at a shirt on the rack, without even touching it yet, you can see the color, and whether or not it has been over worn and washed too many times. while you sift through the clothes you should pay attention to the way the fabric feels between your fingers. chances are if you dont like the way it feels between your fingers, you wont like the way it fits either. another thing i find useful is to pay attention to brand names. some names like gap, xxi, american eagle, you name it, just dont look good on the hanger, so if you love the brand name, try it on anyways, all you have to lose is a few seconds in the change room, and all you have to gain is a cute new top at a GREAT price.
3.2 jeans- ok so when i shop for jeans i always go from the end where i can see the but pocket first, if that makes sense. the but pocket is just about the most important thing you can gather from a hanging pair of jeans. the next important thing is the wash and then the stretchiness. if you have a smaller but, you dont necessarily want bigger pockets, but i do suggest you look for pockets with a bit more glam. if you have a pretty average sized but, youre safe going with pretty much whatever. if you have a larger but like me, try to stay away from pockets with too much glam, it can over emphasize the part of your body that speaks for itself. when looking for wash and stretchiness, its really just preference. i prefer darker washed jeans with just a TAD of stretch. (also word to the wise, DO NOT BUY POCKET-LESS JEANS... unless its for some destiny's child costume, those have absolutely no business being on ANYBODY's bum. no. just no.
3.3 hoodies/sweaters- ok so hoodies are really up to you, but personally i am really picky when it comes to hoodies, cuz if theyre not a good brand i find they twist and wash funny. so if i can, i go with a lulu lemon or american eagle hoodie. they do tend to be more expensive, but like i said this is really just personal, since hoodies are a little looser fitting, the fabric is less important. :)
3.4 shoes- when shopping in a thrift store like this, always shop your size, and a size above or below your size, because often times sizes are very wrong.
3.5 purses..?- hahathis isnt really a section, and its very rare one actually finds a good purse at a second hand store, but remember when looking at clutches or pleather purses, dont be afraid to get crafty. i found this nude clutch once in a thrift store for like a buck and thought "those ugly white stripes can be fixed with some spray paint and painters tape :) so i painted em gold!! and here's what i got :)
yay!!! so i guess now its on to the change room section of the tips. and these apply to all stores... haha
TIP 4) if it doesnt fit over your shoulders or hips, DONT FORCE IT.... you will get stuck..... hah not cool.
TIP 5) if you dont like it in the store, dont buy it, you will regret it. (unless its like one or two bucks and can easily be recycled, then youre safe.
TIP 6) if youre like me and tend to find lower cut pieces at value village, i suggest you bring a neutral under shirt and maybe some leggings or spandex or something for items that are a bit more sheer. and if you have found an item that would look better with a belt, then find a belt similar to one you have at home, or even look for a new belt, there can be some good finds in there!!!
and thats pretty much it for the tips!! hah if i think of something else i will update the post, but for now thats it!!
OOH and here are the nails i told you guys about before, except the reinforcements didnt work very well because the neon is a cheap nail polish and takes forever to dry so it was hard to peel off the sticker. i free handed it and they turned out SO GOOD! see for yourself :)
and yes it is just nail polish, no gel or acrylic :)
and thats it for today :) later guys!!!!
