Thrift.

In other news, I have made some recent clothes shopping trips to a few thrift stores.

I've never been much of a thrift store shopper. But boy, have they changed since I was in high school. It used to be racks and racks of stupid message T's with armpit stains. I'm not above a message T--at all--but come on.

Now, in all the stores I checked out, the merchandise seems so much nicer and better organized.

I am really starting to pull together a nice professional wardrobe, for very, very little money. This is awesome because I was really starting to get a little depressed and disheartened by what I could find in retail stores. (I can't be spending in excess of $100 an item just so I can look professional and stylish! Agh!)

I found a nice, autumnal denim dress with cute little snaps down the front and an embroidered collar. I also got a few really cute button-down shirts, and a nice pair of striped brown pants.

I have a sexy (but appropriately modest) brown wool pencil skirt that stops just below the knee. It shows no signs of wear at all. I looked up the designer online (Doncaster) and the skirt would cost about $175 new. I paid $3.99.

Today, I went to another thrift store and made another great coup: a stunning V-neck, below-the-knee, little black dress from Talbot's with a beautifully flattering silhouette, in a knit fabric that hangs perfectly on my frame. Besides the original price tag being missing, I honestly cannot detect any evidence that the thing was ever even worn. I think someone must have bought it, worn it once or twice, and then just given it away. I went on the Talbot's website. Average price for a dress like this? $149.00 My price? $5.99

Now that's much better.