Rummage Sale Nirvana

Today was the annual St. Peter's Episcopal Church rummage sale and...well... "WOOHOO"! I had to be up a little early to drop my son off to take the SAT's. ***An aside from an educator and a mother: why do they schedule the most important test of a high school student's "career" at 7 a.m.? Is there some valid reason the tests can't be given a few hours later when the kids are actually awake enough to think? Back to the rummage sale: I arrived at 8:50, knowing the doors wouldn't budge until exactly 9:00 a.m., and managed to snag a respectable fifth place in line. I exited the church 27 minutes later, my arms laden with treasures and my wallet a paltry $20 lighter ($5 of which was my donation to the church as "penance" for the amazing "steals" I acquired).
Hubby is not an early riser on weekends, so he didn't accompany me on the first part of my shopping spree. The finale of this particular rummage sale is not to be missed, so John was ready & rarin' to go when we headed back to the church at noon for one hour of heavenly shove-everything-you-can-in-a-shopping-bag for $5 per bag. An hour later we bid a final adieu to St. Peter's and loaded our 6 bags into the back of my car. My favorite part: spreading everything out on the dining room table so I can absorb the full picture of the day's thrifting. There is something infinitely more satisfying about spending $50 for all of these goodies than there is filling my tank with gas. Agreed?

***Not pictured: 2 huge bags of fabric/ quilting squares, 2 pairs of curtains that match our bedroom decor perfectly (freshly washed & drying outside on the pool fence), 4 wool sweaters for hubby (washed and drying in the laundry room) and 2 full loads of "new" clothes (one in the washer & one in the dryer).

Seven baskets & a large batch of gorgeous dyed mohair

Six boxes of hand-dipped, "flower tapers" candles & eight boxes of "slim" candles

Fleece, felt & quilting squares

Brand new Ann Taylor patent leather wedge sandals, Softt clogs (one of my favorite brands) and 4 beautiful leather belts (in a cute tin container)

My FAVORITE find of the day: 4 pairs of vintage gloves in a sweet flowered box

Your Couture

I love Audrey Hepburn. It's that simple...I just love her! Her classic, yet unconventional beauty...her timeless grace...her quirky mannerisms...she just fascinates me. When I worked at "the shop", I would continually use Ms. Hepburn's style as an example of the basic foundation of a "good" wardrobe. Get back to the basics and work from there: a pair of black slacks (capris, wide-leg, Bermuda shorts...whatever suits your fancy & body type) paired with a black top (turtleneck, blouse, short-sleeved, tank). From there, anything goes in putting together a look that works for you.
~ballet flats & pearls...and you're off to a P.T.O. meeting.
~a chunky, brightly colored beaded necklace, an over-sized straw tote bag & a pair of funky sandals...lunch/ shopping with the girls.
~classic, black pumps, a tailored jacket & a lovely silk scarf...a day at the office or an important interview.
~the highest heels you dare to wear, huge dangle earrings, bright red lipstick & a handbag with a bit of bling...a night on the town.
~rhinestone accessories, a silver evening bag & strappy sandals...the company Christmas party.
~a baseball cap & comfy sneakers....soccer mom with a touch of class!
It's all about 1.) knowing your body & choosing clothes that fit properly, 2.) accepting your body as it is...not as it was (back in 1986) or how you wish it would be (after you "commit" to the fad diet du jour, 3.)building a wardrobe based on simple, classic foundation pieces (preferably ones that won't go in and & out of style by next year) and....4.) accessorizing! This is where your personality comes shining through. You don't have to spend a lot to completely change the look of a basic ensemble. Get creative...fasten a pair of vintage clip-on earrings to a pair of flats, use your favorite pin/ earring to hold a scarf in place, tie a silk scarf to the strap of your simple, black handbag, transform a brooch into a pendant by popping it on a simple gold/ silver chain. Have fun and think Audrey :-)
***"Your Couture" is the name of my small business that was an off-shoot of my experience working in retail. I go into women's home and help them sort through/ purge their existing wardrobes. From there, we work with what they have to rebuild & revamp.