Thrift Week 2012: Half Off Sales! (Also it was pay day.)

First post of Thrift Week 2012: November Edition: 50% Off Sale Edition: Ridiculously Fantastic Boot Edition.

These boots are what heaven looks like, if heaven were real and maybe a half-size too small. I have been desperately wanting a pair of flat brown leather ankle boots, preferably not a hundred dollars, preferably not too shiny and fancy, preferably vintage, preferably pointy. What a dream come true!  And, half off their 19.99 original price to boot! (huh huh) 

+ Thrifted men's leather ankle boots

+ Old Navy Rockstar Jeans in Ruby

+ Thrifted Alternative Apparel men's waffle-knit long-sleeve tee

+ Thrifted vintage London Fog Aztec-print wool coat

Screen Cap-tivating: The Daily Show

One of the "gifts" Obama is giving to constituents for voting for him - thanks Jon!

Screen Cap-tivating: Mad Men

Just started season five of Mad Men this week. After not bothering to keep up since season four ended, it's good to be back! Could have screen-capped the whole episode, but this was the first and only gem I decided to save. Oh, there will be more.

New items on Milk & Amber Etsy Shop

Well, it took most of my afternoon and early evening, but I managed to upload quite a few new items on my Etsy shop. Pop over to check out all my items, including this neat stuff!

*Remember, if you're on PEI, I offer 30% off your purchase if you'd like to do local pick-up. Making Islanders more stylish one vintage item at a time, haha...

Gossip Girl Screen Caps: The Beginning

I can't believe I only realized this now, but I can totally get screen caps of stuff I watch. I mean, holy fuck, I have never bothered to think that before. This is life-changing! Or at the very least, might spice up my blog a little. You better believe I'll be screen-capping more Gossip Girl.

Like such:

Lily was KILLING IT in this episode. Retro 60's-style dress (that BACK), hair, earrings. KILLING IT.

DIY slouchy vintage sweater

Usually when I DIY, and even worse, when I try to DIY something with my own idea, it is really not something I ought to do myself. I burn my DIY home scents on the stove, my DIY earrings fall apart, and let's not talk about cooking and baking.

HOWEVER, I must say, this particular DIY was not as doomed as its predecessors. All I want these days, thanks to Pinterest, is a perfect slouchy sweater. But a vintage/men's/oversize sweater does not necessarily a perfect slouchy sweater make. No, there must be something of an art to it. It needs to be cut a certain way, to hang a certain way, to be too big in just the right way. Furthermore, the less slender you are, the more the sweater can just look ...baggy. Or dumpy. Or some other word that no 'curvy' girl needs to describe her apparel with.

My efforts to find said slouchy sweater have brought me many-a vintage men's sweater, so, feeling bold, I decided to get choppy with the neckline (one of the big obstacles in achieving that perfect sexy-slouchy look, a too-high crew neck) of this thrifted vintage men's Aztec/Navajo-patterned knit sweater. And, who'da thought it, it worked! No disastrous DIY here! WOOOO.

Here are a few After pics. (I didn't bother with Befores because of my aforementioned history of DIY fails). 

Day-Off Thrift Adventure

Today is just great. It's mid-November, sunny, with a high of - wait for it - SEVENTEEN degrees. You better believe I went out and enjoyed it!

I found these Vera Wang Lavender Label jeans at work the other day. I'm not used to wide legs anymore, but after about eight people told me how much they "slimmed me down" (as if you can tell in this hasty photo), I decided to give them a chance. (I guess those Rockstars aren't exactly made for my shape, but whatever.) They have a nice mid/high waist which gives them little bit of a retro feel, which works with my tastes better than a plain old trouser jean.

On to Value Village. Found lots of neat stuff, including this sweater, which I eventually passed on. Might have to go back for it, it is awesome. Peach, mint, cable-knit, vintage, made in Bermuda. Yep, that ticks off a lot of good boxes for me. But it was $9.99, which for PEI thrifting is blasphemous. We'll see!

Now for the goodies I did buy!

Woven Indonesian fruit basket ($1.99), teak Indonesian incense holder ($0.99), handmade wooden Prince Edward Island spoon-holder ($1.99). Wood!

And then we have this awesome vintage milk glass canister, complete with retro flowers and a sunburst lid. Delightful! And only $1.99!

Also picked up these great thick woven Navajo-inspired patterned cushion covers, for $1.49.

 Lastly, these vintage gold sunburst/floral clip-ons with Aurora Borealis rhinestones for $3.99 - just lovely!

Hope this inspires some thrifting adventures of your own - happy hunting!