Sources:
- Blouse – Thrifted
- Skirt – from L.
- Boots- Steve Madden Intyce
- Earrings – hand-me-down from sister M.
- Bracelet – gift from S.’s mom
- Denim Jacket – Gap
- Bag – Crystalyn Kae
- Aviators – Banana Republic
Endnotes:
While visiting L. last weekend (so we could watch a friend run the Boston Marathon) I scored several new-to-me items. L. was in the process of cleaning out her closet to get ready for a clothing swap she is organizing, but she let me have first dibs! I came home with a few great things including this beautiful black pencil skirt. I was running out of light when I took these pictures so you can’t see its lovely texture or the great kick pleat in the back. The skirt was too long on L. but is the perfect length on me.
This fun patterned blouse is also new-to-me. I picked it up at a consignment shop in Boston (the one purchase I allowed myself to make, despite the many tempting shops L. and I wondered into). It’s not at all my typical style: it has a bold (non-stripe) pattern, puffed sleeves, a tie at the neck, little bead buttons on the shoulder, and a bib front. But, for some reason I was really drawn to it. I like the funky modern pattern mixed with a more vintage cut. Both L. and E. agree with me that this has quite an S. vibe
And, as I’m a rediscovering my collection of large earrings, I emphasized the drama of the graphic pattern with these big cut-out black earrings – a hand-me-down from my little sister. This outfit gave me a much-needed boost of confidence for some not-so-pleasant meetings on campus.
I like that the blouse is a bit playful even with its more severe and formal cut. I emphasized the playful/casual side by choosing boots instead of pumps and my denim jacket instead of a trench.
I have always loved hand-me-downs! When I was little my mom used to come home with bags full of clothes from a friend at work who had two girls, each just a year older than my older sister and I. We were always so excited to dig through the clothes and pick out what we wanted. Their clothes were always much trendier than what my mom bought (which had to be timeless enough to pass through 5 girls). I didn’t even mind hand-me-downs from my sister since she was older and cooler (plus, as I’m the second oldest, my hand-me-downs only came through one sister). I still love getting my friends and sister’s unwanted items.
What about you? Where you a hand-me-down kid? Are you still?