1. Where did you thrift your outfit and aprox. how much was the cost?


The dress was purchased from Salvation Army. It was 3.00 The Headband I am wearing in the picture was free; it was a scarf I had had along time. I probably purchased at a yard sale for a quarter. The necklace in the picture has a heart on that was a gift my church from the ladies retreat. The pants (unseen) were 2.00 purchased from Salvation Army. The belt was 1.00 – purchased from salvation army.


2. What was the inspiration behind your outfit?


The dress was found by my good friend, she picked it out for me, and I tried it on and loved it. So I had just found little things to go with it and I was excited to wear it.


3. What did you enjoy most about thrifting?


Thrifting gives me such serious joy. I love it because it’s a challenge for me. Growing up, my mom had been a lover of yard sales, second hand stores and I do to. I’m a plus size women and clothes for us are so limited and there all ugly and they think we all want to dress like we’re old. Thrifting gave me a whole imaginable world to create so many different looks, I can’t imagine trying to find in regular stores. It’s for me an adventure also because I scout out vintage designer pieces a lot, and I have to know going in what I’m doing. I’ve been Thrifting since I was 16. I am now 24, and on a small budget living in the 3rd largest city in America, so I know how to use that to my advantage I work in retail, I don’t purchase the clothes I sell, because they aren’t unique to my tastes. Thrifting provides me with my style and it allows to me to push boundaries most plus size women wont ever push because they’re too conventional with what society tells them. I continue to thrift and break standards and look at it a whole different level.


4. What advice would you give first-time thrifters?


1. If your paying in Credit/Debit – Make sure they take it (ive made this mistake like 10000x’s!
2. Take time To Look- Don’t “Whine I cant find anything” You have to have much patience -its important to comb through every section you step in. (that’s how i do it. i look carefully).
3. I go in there sometimes thinking i wont find something i like then boom I find something i love.
4. If they don’t have a dressing room (which my favorite doesn’t). Try it on and find a mirror (even if people are watching you)
5. look if its stained/torn ( i typically sometimes buy torn things knowing i can get them fixed). – and if its Non Fixable or your not good at sewing (find a friend or just do not purchase)
6. If you think it’s real, (at Goodwill if its not behind a counter its not/ sometimes at Salvation Army (depending where it is it could be real my 2nd Gucci Purse i purchased was thrown in a group of bags. I’m very much into telling real from “fake”. I made sure to look to see 100% before i purchase (believe i made mistakes before)- if your not sure consult.
7. If there’s no price most likely – they wont sell it you, find a manager and ask- (believe me my favorite one in Chicago the manager knows me personally so he knows Ill ask if I don’t find a price)
8. Grab it while it’s there. This is the hardest one I’ve learned is to get it while it’s still there. I’ve gone back to thrift stores a day later and things have been gone. Don’t set things down, and go away from them, sometimes people will take your items (some lady did this to me, something i was looking for i walked to the next isle and she took the bag i wanted even though my coat was by it).
9. When buying bras/underwear/intimates – (believe you might be thinking WTH? gross!) Most of the items i have bought were new and un-used. I typically don’t buy that kind of stuff there but if i do its *NEW*
10. Have fun, with thrift store shopping, (a lot of my friends say its gross) but you can have loads of fun and find unique-one – of a kind items. (people i see all the time even in fashion shows , and sometimes celebrities say they go vintage and its the best ever!).



5. Why do you deserve the Grand Belt of Honor?


(Note: I didn’t win –but that’s ok)
There has been a lot of change going on in my life as of recently, and I want to really show people like me who are struggling in this economy that you can look great on such a small budget. That you don’t have to have Anna Wintour dictating to you Buy this next years Herems birkin or buy Alexander Wang Cape shoes. I read a ton of style blogs, I’m caught up with all current shows. I’m a hard core street style reader. I know what’s out there; and it would be amazing to have a special title knowing I can pass this knowledge to people who struggle and who don’t know how to deal with finical budgets. I think for me since I work in a major shopping area where people drop 300.00 on clothes and I watch people make millions and blow it on clothes, It really gets to me that they could find so much amazing stuff for so little, when you have so little realizing that when you can use your money wisely is so much more satisfying. Yeah I would drop major money if I had to buy my most coveted hand bag, but even if I had all the money in the world you can better believe I would be still shopping thrift. Because it’s just that great feeling that you cant find in a Gucci store.



6. Do you have a website that you would like to share with everyone?


You can follow me on twitter @alexandriareene
Watch my drawings @ doodleflow.tumblr.com
Or read my personal blog @alexandriareene.tumblr.com
Or itsybitsyjoy.blogspot.com