Recycled Style: Part II

Hey guys, Ariel here. Alex is queen of black and white. She picked this cute Spring outfit out for me. I'm wearing white American Eagle wedges (sz 5, $12) that are really girly and delicate. Their feminine vibe contrasts the casual, boyish Johnny Cupcakes t-shirt (sz S/M, $12) but also matches the clean, white color. I've got a grey Black Poppy skirt on (sz S, $12), which shows off a lot of leg! I have a hot pink seed-beaded necklace, giving the look a pop of color.

 On my hands, I have three bracelets, a black and white glass striped one ($6), a wooden one (also $6), and a thin red one ($2). I have a glamorous peacock ring on ($10). Guys, peacocks are cool. Lastly, I'm wearing a nude-colored, knitted beanie with the cutest pom-pom on the back.
   

Recycling clothes is wise for the fashionista who also wants to stay on a budget. At Wicked Thrift, there are all these cool designer pieces that people trade in, and you get way better prices for them here. 

Plus, I feel like recycling clothes makes me feel more cultural and all that jazz, cause I'm getting clothes that have had so many adventures. Maybe it'll rub off on me. Happy Spring!

Zack agrees!

Recycled Style: Part I

    Spring is on its way! I'm sure you're looking for cool new clothes for the new season. Come on down to Wicked Thrift in West Dennis or Yarmouth, Cape Cod for inexpensive, awesome clothes. Every piece is unique unlike many of the generic chains at the mall. Check out this cute outfit that Ariel picked out for me!

   
    On my legs are Calvin Klein, size 6 jeans for $8 that are high-waisted and wide-legged, inspired by the pants of the 70's. Under the vest, I am displaying a peach tank top from home that brings out my natural skin tone. The pin-stripped vest (sz. s/m) has a waist-widdling effect and a dramatic collar. It is black and white which is a big trend on the spring runways this year. Also, pinstripes were very popular in the 20's and 50's. The necklace is a wooden round-beaded style that is inspired by the necklaces of the 20's. To finish off Ariel's look, I am wearing coffee and white polka-dotted wedge from American Eagle (size 7) for $12...black toes toes to match!

Wicked Thrift is awesome! (bad title, I know...)

Hi, it's Ariel. I'm interning at Wicked Thrift (as anyone within earshot of me probably already knows!), and every second of my experience here has been lovely... except for when my feet are too tiny for any of the fabulous shoes found at the shop. For those of you who are reading Wicked Thrift's blog without knowing what exactly what Wicked Thrift is, it's the coolest thrift store in Massachusetts! They acquire all of their merchandise by "trading" with the community (for cash or store credit). And when I say thrift store, I don't mean a grungy hole-in-the-wall shop with dust bunnies. I mean a bright, lively, colorful Narnia of clothing.

You walk through the front door of either of their Cape Cod stores and you're immersed in positivity. I don't know if it's Tammy, Lyza and Kaysi's chipper attitudes, the catchy music that you don't even notice until you find yourself humming along, the soft lighting that glints off the jewelry displays, or the seemingly endless racks of dresses, sweaters, skirts that envelops you and then spits you out a different person! Whatever it is, it's unbelievable.

I arrive at Wicked Thrift after school, looking haggard and feeling fed up with the world, but by five o'clock, the color's back in my cheeks and I'm chattering like a little canary again.

Alex, Lyza, and I, trying on dresses, taken by Tammy at Wicked Thrift

Besides improving my mood and outlook on life, Wicked Thrift and it's crew taught me to notice everything about a piece of clothing, because it has a story and you just have to open your eyes. Once you know what to look for, you can't ignore it.

For instance, nowadays I'll be in the mall, and I'll see a top or a dress, and I'll think to myself the cut of that is straight out of the'50s or '60s! ...or...I can see the Russian Revolution in that! 

And I learned that you can take all of those pieces and those little stories and make your own story. I'm being super cliche and corny, but it's true. Everything comes together.  And when you finally have that 1970s dress with those pumps from, say, a burlesque dancer and that necklace, the one that little old lady wore when she first fell in love, you feel like its something so much bigger. Wicked Thrift gives people the tools to find themselves.

In their stores, each piece was thoughtfully chosen. Wicked Thrift honestly wants their customers to feel happy and at ease, and leave happy- not like huge chain stores that spoon feed trends to their customers and tell them how to think. Wicked Thrift LOVES originality- the crazier, the better! Not one piece is the same in their stores. It's like being Alice in Wonderland with surprises and treasures tucked away in every magical corner.

"Fashion is a revolution of style ideas and trends, both past and present, which inspire us to define ourselves. This simple mandate sets Wicked Thrift apart,through our commitment to presenting modern & vintage thrift as a totally relevant and exciting fashion experience to haute, style-savvy, trendsetting women and girls" -- Wicked Thrift Mission Statement

The Wonders of Wicked Thrift!

Ariel & I expressing how fun it is to intern at a thrift store
(find more pictures here)

Quick! Discard the bad rumors about thrift! Tired of boring, old-lady thrift shops? Well, you have come to the right place! Wicked Thrift on Cape Cod is a giant second-hand treasure chest full of clothing from practically every era, including today.

My name is Alex, and I'm currently an intern and regular customer at Wicked Thrift.  Some people believe second-hand clothing is unsanitary, but the cool and unique thing about Wicked Thrift, is that they buy all their inventory from customers, not from local shops, or from garage sales. Customers know they get credit for the things they bring in, so all items are significant and clean or they won't be accepted.

Me expressing myself through floral patterns
(check out their facebook page)

Every piece of clothing has a story behind it, and it's up to us to unravel it. It is nearly impossible to walk out of this store empty handed. Personally, I believe that helping small businesses is very important especially, because the winters here on Cape Cod are not so busy.

Once you walk into the Wicked Thrift, you are pleasantly welcomed with bursts of good energy. Everyone that works there is so kind, which is one of the reasons I became interested in interning here...not to mention their giant selection of prom dresses during prom season! Speaking of the prom dresses, their inventory is very unique and interesting. In their West Dennis location, there are two buildings: the original store, the barn, offers modern clothing for women and juniors, and then there's the main house, which offers their Swanky Joe's Mens Shop, and their Retro Rad vintage clothing for men and women.

Wicked Thrift's mission is to inspire people to express themselves through fashion and style. One's own personal fashion definition is most often expressed with revolutionary items from the past. History typically repeats itself and that is one of the many reasons why vintage is so important. Not only that, but today, being able to afford big brand names isn't easy...and many people aren't ready to give up $50 for a pair of jeans that everyone else already has. This creative store makes buying awesome clothes a cool, fun and affordable experience, because buying secondhand clothing isn't walking into your grandmother's closet anymore, it's trendy!

Stella McCartney's Spring collection 2013

    Stella McCartney, daughter of  Paul McCartney, is one of the few well-known vegan designers of the fashion world. Her new Spring 2013 collection is eclectic and fun, each piece exhibiting diverse traits but still maintaining the feminine feel that the collection ties-down so well. 

One of the pieces (left, the Colorblock Pliss Dress), a simple loose-fitting orange and white dress, caught my attention. To be honest, it kind of reminds me of a orange creamsicle, but that's what makes it awesome! It's clean cut and simple, yet the yellow-orange color, which is slightly childish, keeps it from looking too harsh. This dress is spring embodied. It makes me think of bright cheerful marigolds in window boxes, or an egg served sunny-side up at the local breakfast joint, or sitting on the front porch while the sun rises, while peeling a clementine. McCartney paired it with neutral, simple shoes to keep the basic, neat vibe of this look.

This dress (right, the Printed Organza Overlay Dress), also from Stella McCartney ,is quite different than the orange creamsicle masterpiece, but no less beautiful. It's a bit more fluttery and intricate. The print of the dress is busy and fresh. The endless shades of blue and green remind me of the ocean. Also, the twist of pale fabric around the waist gives the piece motion, like rolling waves.  

This dress has a high neckline and a hem below the knees, so it obviously isn't meant to be sexy. It's more playful and carefree, I think. It's paired with high heeled shoes of the same colors, so as to direct the attention onto the dress. When looking at this piece, I can almost feel the cool, salty sea breeze dancing across my skin and the waves lapping at the shore. It's relaxing colors and flowing silhouette make it calming and lovely to look at!

 Similar to the previous piece, this organza McCartney dress (left) is also made from a busy pattern, but instead of having mostly green and blue tones, there's more peach and orange here with the blue. Orange and blue are contrasting colors, so the print really pops. I love the tropical vibe, like a school of fish flitting around in a coral reef, or a cold drink under the hot sun. The neckline is a bit lower and the hemline a bit higher, making this dress a lot flirtier than the other pieces. The collar is really intricate and beautiful; I feel like it's what makes this whole piece special. It's made of strips of fabric, making it feathery and delicate as it kind of creeps down the models collarbones.

Also, there's a cutout along the waist that shows a tiny peek of midriff, which is super cute and cheeky. The shoes are of the same pattern as the dress. I've noticed that McCartney didn't do much accessorizing in this collection, but that only makes it more admirable, because the pieces can stand for themselves without leaning on belts or bracelets to make them stand out. 

Another busy pattern! This long-legged romper (right, Printed Strapless Jumpsuit) is rocking the black and white trend, but instead of a large, blocky print seen in other collections, the print is small and fizzy. I almost feel like it's cheetah print, but not really. It's strapless and it goes down pretty low, showing off some major collar bone. It's loose fitting and casual, and the waist isn't really defined.

This romper also has a beachy feel, and I can see it being worn with a big floppy sun hat. The print on the sides of the pant-legs is bolder and heavier, which gives the piece a little dimension. It's sparsely accessorized, paired only with brownish, olive green wedges. Like the other pieces, it's jovial and laid-back, very fitting for the warm spring weather.

This dress (left, Blue Spring 2013) relates back to the color-blocking that we saw with the creamsicle dress. The halter top has a white border and a white strip at the waist which goes with the white shoes that the model is wearing. The blue is a striking, pure color, like the True Blue crayon from crayola kinda. It's the color of blue bell flowers and Easter eggs.

Also, the blocks of blue are kind of rounded, which balances everything out. Sometimes, color blocking can turn out too harsh when done with sharp lines and bright colors, so the rounded edges are a beautiful touch. Also, the pure blue, a color that isn't traditionally feminine, is softened up to the accentuated waist of this gown, creating interesting contrast.

Gucci 70's inspired

Seventies fashion is an acquired taste. Neon colors, psychedelic patterns, shimmery fabric, flared sleeves and bell-bottoms!  There's no denying that 1970s fashions embodied the freedom and self expression that ran rampant among the young people of that era. The crazier, the better! People were dancing their hearts away at the disco and social movements were popping up left and right.

   In Gucci's 2013 spring collection, there's immense amounts of influence from the seventies. One piece, a neon pink gown, has flared sleeves almost identical to that of a jumpsuit in an advertizement from the 1970's, as well as the same low V-neck and embellished collar. The Gucci advertisement in Elle magazine features pieces in an orange/coral/pink peony print, that has a kind of oriental vibe. And guess what? A popular print from the 1970's was bright, bold, orange floral print. Moral of the story: everything comes back! Just like history, fashion repeats itself.


Wicked Thrift has racks of awesome 70's pieces! Here, I'm wearing an authentic, groovy 1970's ruffled blouse (sz S/M, $18) with the bell sleeves seen in the Gucci pieces as well as bold floral print that was so popular. I accessorized with a bold, simple, over sized white purse, made of genuine leather ($20), and white beaded earrings ($3). I think with the white accents that bring out the crisp, clear red and green colors of the top, this look is really cool and easy to wear. I'm wearing my jeans and my shoes, because my feet are so tiny that I basically have to wear kid's shoes.


Another cool piece from the 70's that I found in Wicked Thrift is this awesome maxi dress, with sheer black sleeves (sz S, $35). It has the same smooth, silky fabric that the Gucci jumpsuits were made from, which feels so amazing and soft, with billowy sleeves and, yet again, gorgeous floral print in warm colors. I used a big, robin's egg blue ring ($8) to pull out the cooler colors in the piece. Blue eyes pop in this dress, because of the contrasting orange and intensifying black.

Today's blouses are surprisingly similar to blouses from the 1970s. This one, a floral blouse ($15) with puffed sleeves and a pussy cat bow, is cute and casual looking, while still carrying off the bold floral print and a deep V-neck with an embellished collar, as seen in some of the vintage photos of Gucci's inspiration. I've also got a handsome little burgundy leather 1970s purse ($35) by Etienne Aigner. My jeans and shoes. I really feel like this look is casual and subtle but the bright print of the blouse keeps me from disappearing.http://www.facebook.com/wickedthrift

Chanel: 50's Inspired Classy Cruise Wear

  

    Along with lifestyle, fashion was changing as well. The 1950's fashion was evolving from the Peter Pan collars and tight necklines of the 40's, woman began to flaunt what they had. Necklines dropped to boldly to show womanhood while still being classy, and the ladylike silhouette trend became big in every household. Housewives were found in every home to teach the children, provide food for the family, clean the house, and do just about everything but work outside the home.

   In Chanel's new cruise line for 2013, she continued to represent the bouclé suit on the outside. Digging deeper into the outfit, Coco Chanel created a blue, form fitting dress that poofs out slightly at the waist and ends just above the knees. With mock pedals on the chest, it creates a very vintage look, but is still modern-day with its halter-like neckline. Around the waist, before the poof, is a baby blue thin belt for emphasis. The dress also has accentuated hips with the same mock pedals as seen on the chest. Her heels are a baby blue and silver leather with a closed toe style. On her head, she is wearing a beautiful rain scarf that is completely 50's inspired with a headscarf underneath. To complete her look, the model is wearing a thick medal baby blue and gold bracelet on each wrist...how cute! To bring back vintage styles is very important to today's fashion.

    At Wicked Thrift, I found a few outfits inspired by Chanel's Cruise line. In the first look in the photo above, I am wearing a white blouse with ruffles for $12 (sz. s/m) which is similar to the ruffles on the Chanel model.  To go with that, I am wearing a tan and ivory bouclé skirt ($12) to compare to Chanel's blue bouclé jacket. On my head is a simple white headscarf that I twisted and tied above my ear for extra detail. Around my neck is a simple pink beaded necklace...a little goes a long way! To finish off the look, I found a pink pair of platforms that matches the necklace because everyone needs a chic pair of platforms! For look number two I discovered a vintage 1950's ribbon-woven rare tank top for $40. The skirt I found is a simple accordion-pleated black skirt that falls just above the knees. At the bottom, to match the shirt are some blue, closed toe, sandal-like shoes. Last but certainly not least I found a FULL yellow and white 1980's bouclé suit by Herbert Grossman. Chanel was the original creator of bouclé and ever since, it has been a beautiful trend among many famous and not so famous designers.

    Without access to past styles, designers would have a difficult time being inspired to create today's beautiful trends.