Day 4. 361 days and $361 left to go.

Even though it was slightly large and slightly 70s, I knew that I must have it as the pattern was fahhh-bulous.

Day 4 - Before

Little side note about me – even though I was only around for a couple of months during this disco dancing, parted hair in the middle, Bee Gees singin’ decade,  I managed to absorb enough of its flavor as an infant for my entire lifetime.

After some mending to take the shirt in a bit, I decided to rock it out with a little ivory Nicole Miller vest which assisted in making the collar even bigger than I possibly could have imagined.

Day 4 - After

This is just the beginning my friends – can’t wait to embrace my love for the 70s this year!  I truly believe that my closet should have lived back then.

Day 3. 362 days and $362 left to go.

Today two of my most favorite people tied the knot.  A sunny California afternoon wedding followed by an early evening reception at the Pasadena Museum of California Art turned out to be a most magical day.  Since daylight savings brings in the night sky before 5, I figured wearing black would be just fine.  I grabbed a dress that I got last year at H&M and ended up creating a headband to wear along with. I found a sweater a while back for a buck that had the most amazing floral appliques.  The sweater was slightly heinous, but the beaded flowers on it were simply stunning, so I plucked them off.  I had held onto them thinking that I’d attach them to a skirt or something and never got around to it…until today.

Day 3 - Before

To make it wedding apropos, I ended up taking the two of the flowers and tossing them in a little black RIT dye. I wasn’t sure how they’d take as they’re completely sequined and beaded, but they got a little darker.  I pinned them to some black elastic and voila, instant head gear.

Day 3 - Finished Product

I got oodles of compliments as the beaded flowers in my hair gave the dress that extra flapper-esque kick, no pun intended.

Day 3 - After

Just using two of them, I still have a bunch left to play with.  Stay tuned as this won’t be the last time these floral puppies make an appearance.

Day 2. 363 days and $363 left to go.

What I loved about this piece was the ruffled collar, ruched sleeves, and buttons on the shoulder. It used to be a nightgown, but the potential for turning it into a kickass long sleeved mini dress was on the horizon.

Day 2 - Before

I picked it up for $1, performed a little altering with my trusty pair of scissors and chopped off the gown at the knees. Instead of hemming the bottom of the dress, I just left it with a raw edge (which can easily be done by anyone!)  Because the top was a little large, I cinched it a bit to make it more fitted.

Day 2 - After

I wasn’t down with nightgowns until now.  Looks like I’m officially on the hunt for more.  That’s right nightgowns, bring it. I got a lot more days ahead of me.

Day 1. 364 days and $364 left to go.

In celebration of my 30th birthday, I wanted to go with something that would look like I bought it specially for the night. I found a large-ish azure blue and black dress for $1 that had a worn out elasticized waist and fell a bit below the knees.

Day 1 - Before

To make it party ready, I took in the sides a bit and shortened the puppy up.  The excess fabric that I cut from the bottom of the dress was used as a belt. Blue and black are being worn together everywhere right now, making them the total “it” colors of the season.

Day 1 - After

First day, first dress, and turning 30 was a complete success!  Phew.  Just 364 more to go…

What have I gotten myself into?

So here’s the deal friends, I’m going to be spending the entire year without doing an ounce of traditional clothing shopping. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “this girl is outta her gourd”, and I completely agree with you.

I was having a personal creative-funk-crisis this year and needed a bit of inspiration. Maybe it was because I was in the midst of turning 30 or perhaps it came from being overworked in a job that I luckily got laid off from – but what was for sure was that I was in a rut.

And then a Saturday afternoon viewing of Julie & Julia changed everything.  Now I didn’t want to cook my way through Julia Child’s French cookbook – je parle un peu Francais, but coq au vin just isn’t my thing – however, I did want to do something that would get my creative juices flowing everyday. And then the aha moment came to me.

The thing that makes this girl happiest is scouring flea markets, vintage stores and garage sales for the perfect pieces to add to my wardrobe. I love finding vintage goodies that may not fit me perfectly or translate well with the current state of fashion and then make them work on me. (thank you Tim Gunn – “make it work” has become my mantra) I get out my trusty sewing machine to change hems, cut sleeves and tweak to transform a lowbudge piece that had it’s moment back in 1976 and give it another shot today, decades later.   I have to say that whenever I wear my handmade pieces, I always get complimented and the best part is getting to tell everyone that I bought it for $1 and just shortened it, dyed it or cinched it to make it chic and current.

So, that’s where my ode to no traditional shopping begins.  This year, I will be foregoing trips to Bloomies and Nordstrom for brand new gear. Goodbye to H&M purchases and accessory grabbing at Forever 21. And seeing the “must have” French Connection dress in People’s Style Watch will just have to suffice as a cut out on my inspiration board.

Instead, the only shopping that I’ll be able to do is that of pieces that have been used and worn already.  So long to mall trips and hello to sifting through piles of vintage pieces at flea markets and at neighborhood garage sales. Each day for the entire year, I’m going to introduce a new piece into my existing wardrobe that I’ve found from these places.  On top of this, I’m giving myself a budget of $1 a day.

One person’s trash is becoming my treasure this year.

365 days. 365 items of clothing. 365 dollars. And the blogging begins…