Guest Blog: Fabulous Frugal Finds for Fall

Posted: August 4th, 2010 | Author: Tu-Anh | Filed under: fashion, guestblogger, shopping | No Comments »

Quarter Life‘s Lisa Rowan blogs about vintage and thrift fashion in the Washington, DC area. Today, she’ll be sharing some of her favorite local vintage stores and thrifting tips with us on Fashion Fix. Keep on reading, because there’s something to fit every budget!

If you’re hoping to refresh your wardrobe without breaking your budget into a thousand tiny pieces, there’s still hope. You can get ready for fall by shopping at our area’s consignment, vintage and thrift shops. They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure (because it’s TRUE), so here are a few of my favorite places to find some new treasures for yourself.

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Nifty and Thrifty: Montgomery County Thrift Shop
Located at: 7125 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD – (301) 654-0063
Plan to spend: $1-$10 per item

The giant thrift stores can be intimidating to shoppers new to the thrifting scene. If you want a taste of the hunt without getting overwhelmed, MoCo Thrift is a great place to start. The store is small, but there’s plenty of fun stuff, both old and new, from which to choose. The staff, mostly made up of volunteers, is friendly and helpful. And if you want to check out small household items or décor pieces, there’s a room for those things, too. Even if you’re not in the market for housewares, it’s often fun to poke around and see what others have left behind. Look for lightweight jackets, scarves, or boots to get ready for fall.

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Middle Ground: Current Boutique
Located at: 2529 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA – (703) 528-3079
Plan to spend: $10-$50 per item/set

Vintage clothing isn’t for everyone, but you can find quality clothing from today at a fraction of the price if you visit a consignment store. Current Boutique has a healthy selection of casual clothing, dresses, and my personal favorite: the rack of suits. If you’re starting a new job but don’t have that first paycheck in hand, you can still get enough suits or separates to get you through the first few weeks. If you’re looking for fall workwear, look for neutral tones that you can pair with pops of color you already have in your closet. Look for slightly heavier fabrics (put the seersucker down, ladies) that will keep you covered when the morning commute gets a bit chilly.

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Splurge: Annie Creamcheese
Located at: 3279 M Street NW, Washington, DC – (202) 298-5555
Plan to spend: Many prices start at $50, so bring your wallet. It’s worth it, I promise.

How many brands do you know that have a location in Vegas… and another in Washington, DC? It gets better: Annie Creamcheese was founded in DC, and expanded to Vegas. DC trendsetting? Could it be? (Yes.) The right side of the store has everything you could imagine adding to your closet for a vintage vibe. And just when you think you’ve had enough, turn around: the other side of the store has high-end vintage wares that can stop even the most seasoned of vintage shoppers in their tracks. If you’re looking to invest in quality pieces, Annie Creamcheese is the place to study up. After thumbing through the racks, you’ll be able to spot outstanding construction from across a store. On the right side of the shop, keep an eye out for jeans and beautiful vintage skirts. On the left side of the shop, look for a gown to wear to that big fundraiser on October.