Beauty is in All of Us

If you have ever been to Kansas City, you know that the best thing to do on a sunny spring day is explore the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Today was one of those days, but beforehand a friend and I decided to have a picnic at Rosedale Park and check out the murals and play.

 I am wearing a Ralph Lauren denim zip up that was my moms in the 80s. Borrowing clothes is a good alternative for those who are uncomfortable with wearing clothes that belonged to strangers, but still want to avoid constantly buying new clothes. Next, the grey Reebok crop top is from a Goodwill in Columbia, MO that I snagged last year.

  
 Needless to say, it was the perfect day and great start to the weekend. Hope you can say the same for your beautiful Thursday. ❤

Spring Has Sprung

Although it is technically Spring, the weather hasn’t quite made a full transition from Winter. Even with that being said, I can’t help but feel that the change in my demeanor is because Spring is in the air!

Today I am wearing my favorite oversized Zeppelin sweater that I bought around six years ago at Red Racks in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. It was probably around $5.00 and I never imagined I would cherish it as much as I do. The thing I love about my big thrift store sweaters is their versatility. I not only wear them around the house, I also pair them with jeans and boots to wear out and about.

The jeans I am wearing are from a company named Lucy Marie. I discovered Lucy Marie when they were at a collaborative boutique at MADI Apparel. After trying on the jeans I fell in love and the company founder let me take a pair free of charge. Not only are the jeans perfectly form fitting and comfy, they have a patent pending  “Lucy Lift.” This gives your behind extra support like no other jeans you’ve worn before. They’re a KC native company that makes all their garments in the USA. Here’s a link so you can check them out for yourself! Your booty will thank you.

http://lucymarie.com/

 

Luck of the Irish

Happy St. Pats all! I hope everyone is enjoying their day and partaking in all of the fun festivities. Today I am in Kansas City and I finally got the chance to catch the parade. While I was there, I spent most of the time people watching and checking out everyone’s outfits. I was impressed to say the least and although I wish I could have inquired where everyone got there unique outfits, the fast pace parade left me with time to ask just a couple.

This lovely lady said that she found this awesome vintage outfit in the attic of her new house. Secondhand at its best.

My soon to be roomie, Daniel, is wearing his thrift store KC St. Paddy’s Day shirt. Perfect for the occasion.

Here’s some more documentation of the wonderful day!

day22

A few weeks back, MADI had a collaborative event in the store. One of the boutiques that was involved was day22. Created by a daughter, mother, and grandmother, the online store specializes in offering adorable products that are ethically made. They have everything from jewelry, throw blankets, and leather wallets, to lotion, candles, and body spray. I got the opportunity to look at a lot of the items they offer and I was really impressed. Nearly every product they carried was of superb quality and was hand made. A lot of the merchandise included touching stories, explaining the impact the product had on the person’s life who made it. One of my favorite parts of the boutique is the inspiration for the name. It takes just 21 days to create a healthy habit, so the 22nd day is an improved person. day22 seeks those who want to carry on that healthy habit as a lifestyle.

Here’s a link to day22 so you can see for yourself. ❤

http://day22boutique.com/

 

Double Denim

Something that amazes me is how long I keep my thrift store clothes versus how long I keep my clothes from major retailers. In most cases, garments that I buy from Forever 21 and similar stores are given to consignment stores within a matter of months. The whole process turns me off from snagging the latest trends because I know my desire to wear the item will fade shortly thereafter. This is not so with my old used clothes. Holding on to them seems a bit ironic, but I like to think it’s because they aren’t trendy, they’re just me.

This button up shirt was purchased at what is now a Red Racks in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. I got it around six years ago and surprisingly still find a place for it in my wardrobe. I have it paired with plain, high-waisted shorts that are the same color denim. Although to some, denim on denim is a fashion faux pas, I think it works if you do it right. Beer attire on the other hand might really be a fashion no no, but not in my book. I found this baby at Maj-R-Thrift in Kansas City, Kansas about a month ago. It was only a few bucks and I figured it would be perfect for the lake this summer. Collectively this whole outfit costs under $20.00 and each piece can be worn countless ways.

 

Where the Heart Is

Over winter break, I spent a lot of time looking for an internship in hopes that I would find one before the start of the new semester. At the same time, I was researching brands that were ethically sound and admiring their missions and work they had done. I of course wished I could become a part of these companies, but it seemed that they were all way too far from school. This led me to believe that I wasn’t going to be able to work for a sustainable company, with a strong mission to help others, as long as I was in the midwest. Then, one night I was up late searching and I came across an internship position for MADI Apparel. It seemed too good to be true! Since then, I have been fortunate enough to be on the MADI team for about a month now!

MADI Apparel is an acronym that stands for Make A Difference Intimate Apparel. The concept is that for every intimate you buy, a pair of underwear is donated. These underwear are donated to places like domestic violence shelters, rape clinics, and homeless shelters around the Kansas City area. What’s even more amazing about these donations is the dire need behind them. Underwear is the most under-donated, yet most needed, item of clothing in the United States.

Now about the panties…these underwear are not only beautiful, but they are extremely soft. What makes these undies so comfy is that they are made from viscose from bamboo (right in Kansas City!). There are six different styles to choose from, which come in black and ivory. Also, a new sleeper top is being added to the apparel collection as well!

MADI is located at 1659 Summit, Kansas City, MO 64108 and is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-6 pm. You can also purchase online at MADIapparel.com

Come see me and spread the love! ❤

 

 

 

leftover leather

One of my favorite things to do is go treasure hunting in thrift stores and vintage boutiques. The downfall of shopping this way is that it can be very hit or miss. This week however, I managed to get my hands on this little Moroccan Magic purse for $15.00. Right when I saw it I knew I had to get it to go with a Saxony leather jacket I found a few years back for just $8.00. Each of these items are genuine leather and were a steal. I bought the jacket from a Salvation Army in Lee’s Summit, Missouri around five years ago. The purse, on the other hand, was found this week at Maude Vintage in Columbia, Missouri. Each of these purchases was so satisfying because I knew that they were quality items that would last a lifetime. Unlike faux leather garments that you would find in stores like Forever 21 or H&M, these guys will withstand the test of time, and they already have. Both the jacket and the purse were most likely made in the 60s or 70s and are still in great condition. Another piece of my outfit that was bought secondhand is the red and black flannel. Flannels are just about the easiest thing to come by from thrift stores and never go out of style. Lastly, the bracelet being worn was also found at Red Racks in Lee’s Summit, Missouri around two years ago. The bracelet is silver and has a koi fish engraved. I was immediately drawn to this item because I am a Pisces, so I’m always on the look out for fishies!