Every day I see countless people wearing jeans. Men, women and kids of all ages sporting jeans in all sorts of ways, all over the world, at any hour of the day. Jeans have got to be the most worn item in the world, and one of the largest money spinners in the fashion industry by sheer production volume alone.

So what would happen if we suddenly lived in a world without jeans? Total chaos! Half the population wouldn’t know what to wear. People would need to think much harder when picking an outfit in the morning. Shopping would be harder because stylish casual pants are hard to find. At least women could fall back on non-denim dresses and skirts. Blokes would have a much harder time of it.

As much as I love wearing jeans and enjoy sporting them regularly, every year I wear them less frequently than the year before. It’s quite liberating actually and definitely part of my style evolution. There is fashion and style life beyond jeans if you force yourself to choose other options. Could you live in a world without jeans?

Today’s post is written by long time Massachusetts YLF forum member, artist and college art instructor Jean (greenglove). I was lucky enough to meet Jean at the YLF gathering in Boston. She has blown me away with her killer eclectic style and a wardrobe that is almost entirely thrifted. Her creative, spunky and pulled-together outfits are always a source of inspiration and it really shows that she has fun with all things fashion. And I almost fell off my chair when she told me that she was in her 50’s! So without further ado, here’s stunning Jean on how to thrift like a pro.

I was flattered when Angie asked me to write this entry about my experience with thrift store shopping. It is not impossible to dress with style at an unbeatable price with a bit of patience, creativity, imagination and fashion advice from youlookfab.

My thrifting days started in college. I was a poor artist and cocktail waitress, but nonetheless found ways to express myself with fabulous finds. Secondhand and vintage stores lined the streets of the artsy town where I lived in Western Massachusetts. While in graduate school in Boston, I hunted in thrift stores for costumes to clothe the models I painted in my studio. I once traveled to New York City with a friend where we committed to spending $10.00 a day on food, and stopping at as many thrift stores as we could locate. We went to 36 stores in 2 days.

I have always been of the mindset that dressing well does not have to cost a lot of money. Style is very much like art. It is never about a single piece but can only be successful when all parts relate. Thrift stores help you affordably find items that can pull together existing wardrobes or create brand new ones. Creativity becomes a necessity when funds are limited, which is why street fashion has been such a huge inspiration for designers. Coco Chanel said, “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” Style is accessible to all.

When I started reading Angie’s blog, the world of thrift shopping became even more exciting. Using Angie’s knowledge and keen sense of current and classic style, I have become a more discerning shopper. Her ability to tenaciously remain true to her very specific personal style has been an encouragement for all of us who follow this blog. Her wisdom helps us to discover, broaden and refine our own style personas. Angie also consistently keeps us aware of current trends and has an uncanny knack for predicting which ones have staying power. Armed with more fashion savvy, I now thrift with increased confidence.

Over the years I’ve learned how to maximize my thrifting experience and I’d love to share some tips with you:

• Thrift during the week: Never expect to find much on a weekend. New stock does not get put out and much of what is in the store has been picked over. Ask the people working in the store when the most stock is available. Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings are usually the best times. I have spotted owners of vintage stores with shopping carts during these prime hours.
• Thrift often: There is a thrift store right next to a grocery store where I live. I hate to grocery shop and my husband loves it. When we do our weekly grocery shopping, I thrift and he buys food.
• Find a store in an urban neighborhood: Stylish people from many cultures often live in cities, which increases variety and flavor.
• Wear a dress: You can try pants on underneath the dress. Some thrift stores have dressing rooms but others don’t. Be prepared.
• Be efficient and ruthless: Scan the aisles looking for color and fabric. I only look at my colors. Many stores sort clothing by color, which saves a lot of time.
• Check very carefully for damage: Look under the lights. I only buy things that are nearly perfect. Do not bother with stains, even if you think you can remove them.
• Make sure it fits: I do not buy anything I think might need alterations.
• Focus on items that will have less wear: Jackets, coats, dresses, skirts, jeans, wovens, scarves, jewelry and bags often fall in this category. They are usually more durable.
• Avoid knits and sweaters. They pill and often show wear. I also never bother with anything white unless it still has tags (which does happen).
• Look out for shoes and boots: Secondhand peds are practically new! Haven’t you sometimes donated practically new footwear for lack of comfort or wrong size? My Dr. Martens were thrifted for $15.00 and I have found multiple pairs for my husband.
• Look at the Men’s Department: Men rarely shop in thrift stores. This creates a wonderful opportunity to shop for the men in your life. Men’s knits are often in great condition. My husband has a whole collection of J.Crew and Banana Republic sweaters found for $5.00 each. I even found him a Ralph Lauren linen blazer that was just perfect!! Be careful with sport coats though as they have often been altered and the size that is on the tag is not accurate. Tape measures help.

I hope this helps those who want to venture out into the world of thrift shopping. Feel free to add your own tips in the comments. I’d love to hear them. Also, if you have further questions on the thrifting pastime, I’d be happy to answer them.

Here are a few outfits that are thrifted from head to toe! The only exceptions are the gold turtleneck, gifted long pearls, copper necklace and earrings.

Be sure to also take a look at Jean’s website to see her beautiful art. I treated Greg to one of her wonderful London impressions for his birthday last year and we love how it’s gracing the walls of our home.

Hot off the press, and a great classic basic for $19.99. (14.95 Euro). Generally, I’ve found that V-neck cardigans are better all-rounders because they layer particularly well and add a neat, elongating touch to your long lean line. Perfect over sleeveless dresses, knitted tops and silky blouses. I tend to like the style best when the sleeves are scrunched because it adds a nice textural  dimension to your ensemble.

They’re made of a soft, non-itchy cotton-spandex mix and available in plenty of colours. The shades across the continents will differ slightly though. You’ll find purple and teal hues amongst the assortment in the US, and cobalt and coral shades in Europe. Remember that H&M sizing is small so size up if you prefer a roomier fit.

H&M’s quality is often hit or miss, which we have come to expect from all budget retailers. But I was pretty impressed with the drape and substantial weight of these cardigans when compared to Old Navy’s Spring cardigan, which is longer but thin and flimsy. H&M wins this round.

This is a concern that arises frequently with my clients. They want to step up their style quotient, but they don’t want to look too dressed up because it invites questions like, “why are you dressed up?”, “where are you going today?” or “are you going to an interview?”.

Why do people ask these questions? Why does it make my clients uncomfortable? And what can they do about it? I’ve thought about these questions a lot.

I think that the root of the issue is that human beings are very good at identifying differences and sometimes these differences make us uncomfortable. In the case of my clients, there are two main reasons that are driving people to ask about their new style:

1. They are dressed differently to other people in their environment
2. They are dressed differently to the way they dressed before

If you are dealing with this issue, it might help to think about which case is the most relevant to your situation.

Challenging the Environmental Norm

A typical example of the first case is the professional technical woman who would like to be more pulled together at work. But the rest of her colleagues, male and female, dress very casually (to put it politely). When she reveals her new style, she will stand out. People will notice her.

Another example is the stay at home mother who would like to look fashionable and cute. But she’s surrounded by women who wear jeans, t-shirts, hoodies and Dansko clogs. When she fetches her children from school in a casual empire cut dress, denim jacket and ballet flats, she too stands out and people notice her.

In these situations my clients have a decision to make. Should they dress down to the norm at work and on the playground, or should they be different? I would love it if everyone could dress exactly the way they pleased, but there are realities here. If dressing up too much will reduce their effectiveness then they need to think carefully about this decision. One thing to do is look at other people who have a higher style quotient than the norm. Are there role models who are effective and stylish?

Changing your Individual Norm

The second case is easier to deal with, and is actually more often than not the real reason for my client’s discomfort. People notice the new her. They see the change and they are curious, or even envious. Here it has little to do with the environmental norm, and everything to do with her metamorphosis. She is changing her individual norm.

In this case, the answer is clear. Persevere! She just has to get through a temporary period of adjustment – for her and the people around her. Most of the time, my clients persevere like troopers and I’m so proud of them as they establish a new norm for themselves. People settle into their new style, expect them to look fab and pulled together, and the questions fade away.

I’ve never been asked why I’m dressed up. I guess that’s one of the joys of being in the fashion industry. People let you off the hook when you’re “dressed up”, no matter what the occasion.

Do you deal with this issue? How have you dealt with it? Do you purposely dress down in order to fit in? Or do you stand your ground and set the stylish example?