How to get a $2000 or more new wardrobe for $300 or less

Go to Goodwill and other thrift shops.

Gap jacket retails for about $98-120 paid $5

Ann Taylor dress $120 paid $5

Gap pants retails for about $40-60 paid $3.5

Ann Taylor shirt retails for about $25 paid $3

Wool jacket










Apostrophe pants retails for about $40 paid $3.5

Banana Republic top retail for about $60 paid $3

Apostrophe Skirt retails for about $40 paid $3

Banana Republic top retails for about $40 paid $3

Wool pants

Gap top retails for about $40-60 paid $3

Express pants retails for about $ 60 paid $3.5

Boston Proper top (real rabbit fur on a %100 silk)
retail for about $200 paid $3

Alfani top retails for about $50 paid $3

cute old navy dress

J Jill linen dress retails for about $120 paid $5

David's bridal dress retails for about $98-150 paid $8

New yorker's apparel dress

Apt 9 dress retails for about $50 paid $5

Ann Taylor loft dress retails for about $89 paid $5

Anne Klein dress retails for about $140-180 paid $20

Donna Ricco new with tags retails for about $140 paid $8

Eddie Bauer top retails for about $50 paid $3

Ann Taylor dress retails for about $98-120 paid $5

Ann Taylor dress retails for about $98-120 paid $5

Why second-hand-

I know to most people the idea of going to a second hand shop is something you would do only if you had to because you can't afford anything else. Not me. Ever since I had a say in where I shopped I went to Goodwills. I love having a disposable wardrobe and spending 1-10 dollars instead of 20-40 dollar on a piece means I can. I also like having lots of clothes to choose from.

About second-hand shopping-

I believe that if someone else bought it once than why wouldn't I like it too. There are things I don't buy second hand: underwear, sportswear, running shoes, swimsuits, PJs, lingerie and socks. And Shopping second hand is not for those who hate shopping. This collection took maybe fifteen trips to stores over four months. You always have to be on the look-out for something good within long racks of okay stuff and junk. I enjoyed shopping with my sister while in Ca. She made it easier to go through the piled on shopping carts of clothes. That's another thing, you have to like to try things on. It's one thing if you have a favorite store and you know your size in it. But second-hand every brand's sizes are different. I can be in a size six in one thing and a size twelve in another. I actually fit into a pair of size four shorts once (I've never been a size 4). Don't be afraid of going out of your style. You never know what you will like and what will look good on until you try it.

About my new clothes-

I have a lot of clothes. Most of them are in England waiting for us. My goal was to get rid of most of them because of space and cleaning them will be a challenge once we get there.

So why did I buy more?

Talking to my sister, who's friends have lived in Europe for the last few years, only Americans wear jeans and t-shirts as casual wear. I needed to update my clothes from not fitting me college/ after and during babies clothes to smart sophisticated, I look good, feel good clothes. I think I did a pretty good job.

You may ask why so many dresses?

I do admit I have too many black and white dresses in similar styles. It is hard to pass up a nice dress that looks great and is only $5. I do like wearing dresses and it's easy to put on in the morning and not decide what shirt looks good with what pants. I did get more shirts then pictured. Tim was nice enough to take the pictures and I didn't want to push my luck with more.

Pearls?

All my clothes were not meant to be worn with pearls. It just so happened to be what I was wearing at the time. Anything could be dressed down with different accessories.

Pictures-

Anyone that knows me well knows I'm not vain. I did enjoy having my pictures taken for this but I'm not a big fan of posting them all. I'm very critical of myself and would rather have had them laid on the bed but it wouldn't have done the clothes justice. In fact the bright blue tight dress in the picture, Tim saw it before I tried it on and thought it was a joke but loved it after I had it on.