Le Rat de Champs: Small Town Thrifting

Recently, I've gotten to be both a city rat and a country rat. Do you know the story of the city rat and the country rat? It's really quite enchanting. Let me acquaint you with Monsieur Jean de la Fontaine. Here's where you say Enchanté* to him and Merci* to me for introducing you to such a fine fellow. He's responsible for all sorts of famous fables about animals, like this one that forms the basis of the plot behind A Bug's Life. Yeah. He's that big. Disney big. He's like France's Mother Goose, but with clear morals and meaning. Not that it isn't interesting to theorize on whether anthropomorphized eating utensils running off together while a little dog, moon-jumping cow, and fiddle playing cat are hanging around is simply pure nonsense, a poor translation of ancient Greek, or a clever way to eternalize the scandalous relationships of European nobility. It's just not very meaningful. La Fontaine gives you meaning.

Pardonez-moi* for the long digression. Back to my story. First, I was a country mouse. I went small town thrifting. And got some amazing deals. Like this DKNY skirt for $2.50, this goes-with-everything-feels-like-silk tank from The Limited for 99 cents, and this sequin bedazzled top for $2:

 Skirt, Top, Tank: Thrifted / Cardi: Ross (BCBG) / Tights: TJ Maxx / Shoes: Maurices / Necklace: Elder Beerman / White Light: Midday Sun

Yes, those prices are sans error. In fact, I didn't pay more than $2.50 for anything save this fancy (do you see those bejeweled buttons?) velvet jacket, which was $3. I got the skirt that's paired with it for $1...

Jacket, Skirt: Thrifted / 3/4 Sleeved Top: Down East / Sleeveless Top: Gap / Boots: Ross (Apepazza) / Bracelet: Vintage / Earrings: Gabes (1928)

I also found this jean skirt from AE for $2.50...

Skirt: Thrifted / Button-up: Gap ($7 steal!) / Cardi: NY & Co. (also a $7 steal!) / Shoes: Sperry's / Necklace: AE

...and I nabbed this casual skirt from Old Navy, also for $2.50...

Skirt: Thrifted / Belt: J. Crew final sale / Top: F21 / Shoes: Sperry's / Necklace: AE

Made out like a bandit in Tiffany's, I did. Okay, maybe not a Tiffany's. Maybe more like Jared's. (Nothing against Jared, though their commercials do bug me a bit.) But still.

I really must give props to the Husband. We were killing a bit of time before a movie when he pulled into a lot to turn around and saw that the shop's name was Sequel and there was women's clothing in the window. I took little notice, but my dear husband said, "Hey, that looks like a thrift store. Do you wanna go in?" And I did. And it was amazing. Like, the very best from Goodwill but in a cleaner and trendier environment. And with unbelievable prices. I found a new frequent haunt. Yay :)

Up next: a post about my turn as a city mouse, thrifting in Portland!

P.S. I acknowledge that I totally lied on my first post when I said the next one would be about the purge of my closet, but here's a photo to prove that I have actually commenced! I've turned our guest room into donation central. It's still a work in progress. I've yet more to add, and a post to come describing the painful process, but here's what I have so far:

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*enchanté = nice to meet you; merci = thank you; pardonez-moi = pardon me (bet you knew that ;)

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Polka Dots and Mardi Gras

 Polka Dotted Skirt: Gabes (Limited Too) / Cardigan: J Crew Factory / Scarf: France / Shoes: Gabes (Prediction)

Today’s been dubbed Polka Dot Day by the ladies at Everybody, Everywear. It’s also Mardi Gras! So how perfect is it that the only polka dotted article of clothing I own is adorned with green and blue dots? We’ll just pretend those blue dots are a hue of purple, I’ll throw in some gold beads, and I’m set. I’m the holiday-dressing teacher I promised I’d never become...but hopefully, a bit more stylish. And sans beads, as you can see. You didn’t really think I’d go that far, did you?

I had quite the difficult time deciding whether to participate in Polka Dot Day considering that a) this skirt is from a children's brand and the design is a fair tell-tale sign of that fact. I think it’s better pulled off by an adult in the breezy summertime. It was a challenge to appropriately winterize it, but I think I did all right using the 'it goes' rather than matches trick; and b) this is now the first official post on my new style blog, which I wasn’t planning to unveil till I had my fabulously not-yet-created header and buttons up and a terribly witty commentary for my first post. But who wants to miss out on Polka Dot Day? I’ve recently become a bit obsessed with polka dots, and have tried in vain to acquire more of them in clothing form. Luck has not been with me, but I have a trip to Portland this weekend and am hoping to satiate my longing for spots at some great thrift shops.

So, there you have it. My first post. I’m actually glad I did it now, rather than waiting to perfect my blog design. I’ve got several draft posts ready, and I’ve also begun the process of creating a more workable wardrobe, starting with Kendi’s Purge, Assess, Organize, Shop, and Remix tutorial, which I’d like to document in case I { I should probably just say “for when I”} experience a relapse of poor shopping/wardrobe building decisions.

Up next on Rue Ceri: Proof that I’m serious about this working wardrobe thing. I’m still in Phase 1: The Purge. It’s wicked difficult. In the meantime, have a spot of tea with your spots and enjoy this fine day to celebrate such a fine trend! Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I have this thing where I wish I were British. Old school British, apparently. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum. 

Bon Mardi Gras!