Hello :) braving the waters...

After a lot of time lurking and longing to comment I decided I'd sign up.

I'm 24 and I hail from the South USA. I have two cats and live alone, gloriously, gloriously alone.

I'm not very sartorially inclined, although I am lately trying to actually obtain clothes I like. I'm extremely poor, and when I say poor, I don't mean "I have to save up to get a pair of Frye's," I mean "with my current budget Frye's are not and never will be an option." I have a firm thirty-dollar maximum for shoes (and sometimes even THAT makes me cringe) and considerably less for other clothes. Therefore, as you might imagine, I thrift a lot, and have gotten pretty good at it. My two most recent scores were a Nine West leather-ish handbag for 1.50 and a brand new (still tagged) New York & Co. dress for .99

So, I guess I am in the process of refining my style and supplementing it. My username is a reference to the way I dress--my boyfriend commented that I always dressed as though I was eight or eighty. I buy children's hair accessories but then again I also own a pair of cardigan clips and lust for a nice fur stole.

I have a strange body type, in that from the front I am pear-shaped, and from the side I am apple-y.

I'm on an on-again-off-again relationship with dieting. I lost 75 pounds a few years ago and kept most of it off but have about thirty to go before I'm down to a healthy weight (that would be 160 on my 5'10 frame, and about the thinnest I can go before I start looking weird, as I have very broad hips and shoulders).

I'm actually way less into style "rules" or even guidelines and flattering my figure than I am into just wearing what I like and to heck with it. I slum around in jeans and cardigans quite a bit, too. Like I said, I mostly signed up to comment, less to showcase any style journey of my own, although I am sure I'll pop in with questions at some point

So, basically... hello

16 years ago

Kristine

Veteran

Hi 8or80! Watch out, lurking here usually means starting a style journey whether you mean to or not!

Over the years I haven't spent much on clothing. I recently made a deal with myself to start spending a little more, guilt-free. If the budget you have is really what you have, then you have to work within it. But if it's a question of not allocating the money or spending it somewhere else, then maybe you can rethink it and give yourself a modest budget for clothing.

But no matter what, you don't need $300 boots to be stylish! Even on a very tight budget, accessories and creativity can go a long way! I have a small wardrobe, but I'm still learning new ways of combining things that were in closet all along.

Christie

Active Member

Hello!

I thrift a lot too; probably 80% of my clothing and shoes are thrifted. I wish I'd find as good of deals as you have found though! Its such a thrill to find those great items for cheap. I always think that items that are thrifted have proven how they will wash.

One thing I like about this forum is the range of budgets. Its not about price, but making it stylish.

Louise

Hi and welcome. Another cat lover here i live with (or should i say serve!!) 4 x

RoseandJoan

Hi 8or80, welcome to the forum.

I think we are all on a style journey whether we admit to it or not. Your style sounds quirky and fun and there are MANY budget shoppers on the forum to share tips on thrifting, consigning and fabulous deals.

You will also find MANY MANY cat owners on the forum.

All in all I think you will fit right in.

Julie

marianna

Welcome! I am also 5'10" and your weight loss is inspiring! I'd love to get to 160 too.

rae

(website)

Welcome! I, too, am a severely thrifty, cat-loving, lurker. I get 90% of my clothes for $1 a piece at a local swap meet (the nicer things I have were either gifts or funded by me selling off old clothes), so hopefully we thrifty gals can stick together and share tips -- very nice Nine West and NY&CO. scores, btw.

Kyle

Another member of the 5'10" club, here. Budget shopping? What's more fun than finding a seriously great bargain on something you love? Welcome!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

And another welcome from me! Congrats on the weight loss and high five all the gals who thrift around here.

When you're ready, we'd love to see a picture :0)

AlexSue

Hello and welcome! Congrats on your weight loss, and I look forward to you sharing your thrifty outfits and tips

cciele

Hello right back atcha! We have a lot of thrifters here. Hope to see some of your style!

Vani

Hello and welcome!Congratulations on the weight loss! Style is all about the wearer and in the wearing. I thrift too along with regular shopping. There's a great mix of very inspirational ladies here who thrift regularly! Hope to see more of you and your finds

rute

Welcome to the Forum!
Here in Portugal we don't thrift..It took me a while to understand what it was! Hope to see your findings!

8or80

Member

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone I'll try and maybe get a few pics soon, if I can.

Alecia

Welcome!

Hi 8or80! I enjoyed reading the meaning behind your user name! Just wanted to add my welcome as well!

Wow! Definitely start some posts on thrifting because the only things I have found for $1 are belts! There's this Goodwill near me that gets in great stuff but they never have 50% off days. (I guess because they know they have the goods!)

Congrats on the weight loss! That's a great achievement! You can also use this forum to help cheer you on for the rest that you want to lose.

Look forward to chatting with you again!

Lena

Elizabeth

Hey!! I'm a southern girl, too, Arkansas to be exact. And like Cricket, a good 80% of my clothes/shoes are thrifted. I LOVE thrifting...my mom and I go quite regularly. ; ) My clothing budget is pretty limited, too, but I think I'd thrift even if it wasn't. It's just too much fun! I don't post very often and have yet to even post an outfit or anything...I guess I'm kinda apprehensive about the feedback. Although I've never read an unkind comment here. Everyone is very sweet and supportive to each other.

taylor

So glad you joined us....you will be joining the style journey...hop onboard:)

MNsara

Welcome - from another cat-lover here. If you start looking at posts with pics, you'll see more than a few cats like to sneak their way into the pic . . .

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