Frugal fashionista finds secondhand deals
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When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Turkmenistan, I had recurrent dreams about two things: shoe shopping and nachos.
I would be in a warehouse of clothes and I would suddenly find myself drawn to a pair of indigo blue, beautifully ornate heels with ribbons and bows galore.
And for some reason, I would wake up thinking of nachos and immediately write home, begging some generous soul to send me a bag of tortilla chips.
Of course, my dream shoes were impractical for the desert country and nachos were hard to come by in the developing world.
But the problem now is not the fact that these are inanimate objects and cannot return my adoration in any way shape or form — I have plenty of love for the both of us. Nor does my present location in rural Montana prove to be an obstacle — online Anthropologie is almost as tempting as the actual store.
The problem is my bank account.
I’m convinced that the ATM, correctly coined Another Twenty Missing, swallows my money and I have long held suspicions that my insurance company, the federal and state government and of course my beloved cell phone company have been assuming large sums for months now.
My need for nachos has been satiated easily time and time again for $8.98 at any south-of-the-border establishment, but my need for the indigo blue satin heels?
Not quite.
Simply, my blue dream shoes represent my need to hunt — yes hunt, for beautiful, affordable clothing, accessories and shoes.
And in an attempt to prove that Lake County’s most frugal fashionista can dress en vogue on a budget, I intend to spend the next few months shopping at local thrift stores that benefit good causes.
For my first attempt at frugal fashion, I chose my local Ronan thrift store, Twice but Nice.
Twice but Nice benefits Mission Mountain Enterprises, a non-profit organization that provides services to people with developmental disabilities. The thrift store also serves as an employer where people with developmental disabilities can work.
Normally, my senses are put to the test when hunting for steals at thrift stores. I dig and search to find my treasure — which only adds to the thrill of finding something truly unique and fitting my $10-or-less budget.
But this particular day was an exception.
At first glance, I found a navy blue dress for $6.50 that would look classically tempting with a large red belt, paired with brown boots and thick brown tights and … Bang! Modern sex appeal meets 1940s proper school teacher — a perfect outfit for work.
As I glanced back, I spotted a thick red belt hanging on the back wall for $1.50. Too good to be true.
Twice but Nice contains everything from furniture to records and new sales start on Friday. This Friday, the store will take 50 percent off all books and 20 percent of men’s clothing.
But, if in your hunt for deals, you find my blue satin heels — specifically in a size 10 — let me know.
