Let's Be Honest: Size Does Matter*

One of the things that we espouse on Operation Sparkle is the utmost importance of editing. Key to editing—being honest with oneself about the items at hand. This honesty revolves around many considerations that must be taken into account when deciding to go with the possible treasure you currently hold in your hands, or to let it loose, back into the thrifting wild. A major consideration is size. If something doesn't fit right, unless you can make miracles happen on a sewing machine or somehow magically change your shoe size from an 8 and a half to a six (I maintain that if I had one magical power, this would be it), it is usually best to let it go.

Difficulties arise, however, when a piece is so great and so close to fitting. These are often the pieces that I have the hardest time letting go of, and as a result, my closet it teeming with items that, due to their ill fits, never meet the light of day (or moonlight of night). Occasionally, I will break out of my comfort zone and force myself to suffer through an evening wearing a skirt that was way too tight to ever come home with, only to vow to rid my closet of it the next day. Despite such insistence, these items somehow cling on, until it is time for some serious soul searching and resulting closet cleaning. Thus, we have my next springtime purge piece—the pieces that, no matter what, will never, ever fit and thus must be passed on.

Now, there are some aspects of sizing that may fluctuate, though they often do in small increments. There are others that, no matter what, will never, ever change. The length of your torso is one of these measurements. I am coming to terms with this now, as I need to face the fact that this studded zip-up jumpsuit will never be able to achieve that classy, trashy comfort I long for as it rides so far up my nether regions that I may as well be sitting in a thong swing when I wear it.



I have a confession. Even as I am writing this, I am thinking about my current longing for more studs in my wardrobe and that giving up this number, despite its crotch crawling tendencies would be a major mistake. Maybe I could just cut off the bottom and have a really bitching zip-up studded sweatshirt/jacket thing! Maybe, I'll have to experiment tomorrow and will keep you posted. But see—this is how these pieces stay on! They will never die as long as there is some truly winning detail about it that convinced me to buy it in the first place.

Update: I just tried this piece on. My torso has not shrunk but I still can't totally come to terms with the fact that I'd rather have this riding up my butt all day than give it up. It is coming with me to Jake's apartment to prepare for the fair. There the final decision will be made, deciding the fate once and for all, of this studded zip-up jumpsuit.

As I previously mentioned, the fact that we cannot change the size of our feet** is proof that man has serious limitations. As I spend a lot of time on my feet, and rely on them for actual transport (the fact that this seems to be the exception to the rule in our society is more than a bit disheartening), I need comfortable, sensible (and cute) footwear. Key to achieving shoe perfection is a good fit, so you would think that by this time in my thrifting career, I would be able to accurately judge when a shoe fits.

It turns out, this is not the case. As chick lit and romantic comedies from 2000 to 2004 used this subject for whole plot lines and the basis of most jokes, perhaps it is true that a woman can't say no to cute shoes! While my opinion of what qualifies as "cute shoes" most likely varies greatly from Kate Hudson's character in any number of her award winning films, I can say that I have, on more than one occasion, convinced myself that a pair of shoes fits when it clearly does not. Such is the case with these amazing studded back moccassin-style boots. I have never seen anything like them! I had to get them! It didn't matter if they pinched everywhere on my feet! I was wearing thick socks! They won't be that tight with thin socks (or no socks)! They're leather! They'll stretch out!




These are the sorts of lies I tell myself when confronted with footwear that doesn't fit. And again, as I write this, I am making a mental note to try these on tomorrow and make sure that, yes, indeed, there is no possible way I will ever be able to sport these puppies for more than a minute.

Update: As it turns out, my memory was tricking me, just a bit. The boots themselves fit in terms of length, but there is some weird pressure going on on top of the toes. Therefore, I am going to try wearing these a few times (short trips only, never try out a new pair of shoes for the first time during a long work shift or on a day that requires a lot of walking where you won't get a chance to change footwear) and see how things turn out. I'll keep you posted.

And now for a piece that truly breaks my heart. It seems as though rust-colored denim is not in the cards for Operation Sparkle. As Laurie lamented when a volunteer refused to sell her a pair of rust-colored jeans a few weeks ago, I purchased this totally awesome pair of shorts with the understanding that I would "have to lose ten pounds" to fit into them.



A few days ago it was in the 70's, which naturally meant that it was time to start trying on all the shorts I have been itching to break out for the past six months. You can imagine my joy when I put on these rust-colored beauts and they actually fit! My heart was jumping little jumps of joy that for a 50-year-old may have indicated a heart attack.

Then I turned around.

Let's just say these gave the phrase "cheek chillers" a run for its money. While I have a rather high threshold for clothing decency (years ago, it was shockingly high), I have to admit that there is no place other than my bedroom that I would feel comfortable wearing this shorts. It just wouldn't feel right subjecting the occasional child or creepy old man to my cheek hangage. So...they must go (insert sad face here).

Similar to the jumpsuit debacle, I need to part with these most amazing denim high-waisted shorts. It makes me so angry that I want to punch someone, but for the second time, I tried them on and realized that not only is the crotch ride-age so uncomfortable that I would look like I was riding a horse if I wore them out on public, but that the resulting look from such a fit resembles a diaper. In short, even though the braiding on these puppies is to die for, I must come to terms with the fact that these are both ill-fitting in look and spirit so they must be passed on.





Not all is lost, however! I had in my mind that I was going to be forced to part with these hats, as I am unable to shrink my head (as far as I know). I just tried them on and they actually, legitimately fit (well, the gray one is a bit snug, but it will do)!!!!! Life is good again! Happy day!




*WARNING: This was one of, if not the most difficult blog posts I have had to write for Operation Sparkle. As Laurie just explored here, it is really difficult to come to terms with the fact that you need to give up an amazing piece just because you can't remove ribs or cut off your bosom (at least not easily). Please keep that in mind as you read through what pains me to write (and admit).
**Foot binding aside. I am all for fashion, but, as this post indicates, I am all anti-pain. I'm also anti-forms of female oppression.

Beautiful* Things are Happening!

(Jake made this beautiful collage (he has a true talent for photoshop collaging) It is a sign of things to come).

Spring is here and the air is filled with excitement, mostly because in less than a week and a half, the public will be able to witness the most amazing show of spirit known to humanity. And no, I am not talking about the Olympics. I am talking about the unveiling of the Operation Sparkle/Fashionasty** booth at next week's Handmade Heartfelt craft fair, taking place on Saturday, April 23rd at the VFW in MPLS.

Yesterday, I got together with Jake Thompson at his gorgeously cute new apartment to "prepare" for the fair. In the five hours I was there, approximately 90% of these "preparations" included drinking newly-coined "Sweetie Darlings" (lemon/berry/basil vodka drinks), eating Mediterranean food, and talking about all the fun things we want to do with our booth. The other 10% included a very intense sign-making session, which you see documented here.



Jake's sign includes a felt hamburger, that will be smoking several cigarettes, a la Patsy Stone, while mine is a beautiful collage of all that 90's, 80's and Swedish fashion magazines had to offer. The signs are still in process, so get ready to be dazzled!

So mark it on your calendars, Twin Citians! Our booth will be the one that includes rugs, framed pictures of Keanu Reeves, positive thinking signs, all with an air of Kate Bush/Stevie Nicks/gypsy/"kitschy, Brady Bunch ABBA meets Vintage Miu Miu Kate Moss 1993"/faerie/Clarissa Explains It All to it. And of course, the clothes. I can promise you one blazer with a purple glove sewn on the back of it. You won't be able to miss it.

Laurie says this reminds her of her days back in college, when she did the fashion collective Fasten with Cortney and Vanessa. It is a bit similar, though Laurie actually made stuff and, from what I remember, there were a lot fewer rainbows.

In addition to our kick ass booth, Jake and Lisa of Yeti Records will be spinning some sweet tunes (the only thing keeping us from blaring Jake's "Language of Fashion" mix that is mostly just the Cranberries), Ashley of Evening Wood will be selling her sweet handmade wooden earrings, and I was also promised honey. There will be honey.

See you then!

*By "beautiful," I mean crafts.
**I just went to Jake's blog for the URL and he has pictures of Jane from Daria (my favorite 90's goth of all time), a nudie Rolling Stone cover of the cast of True Blood covered in blood (Team Eric), a video of Parker Posey dancing in Party Girl, and a whole post dedicated to my So-Called Life. Why are you still on here?! Go there now!

SPRING PURGE/ETSY STORE PREVIEW: Even My Skinny Ass is Not Fitting in to These

The most universally tragic reason for permanently editing sweet finds out of your wardrobe boils down to one dark moment. That instant that may not come for weeks, or even years, after buying something, but inevitably comes. When you finally admit to yourself that you do not now, and will probably never, fit in to something, because it is just too damn small for you.

I find that this happens a lot with thrifting due to the fact that over the years, the sizes have become, shall we say, more generous. I generally run in the size 4 range. If I had a nickle for every size four skirt that I have found that could nearly halve my torso under the pressure of the forced closure of a waistband, I would be a millionaire. I also find that these things tend to be SUPER CUTE, because very few people are that tiny.

Here are a few things that are about to get Etsy-ed because I am finally facing the fact that I am not going to have cosmetic spleen removal to make these things fit me.

First up is the denim pencil skirt to end all denim pencil skirts.


Look at that waistline shape! And all that seaming!!! Once again, the tag says size 3, but on what planet, I do not know. That waistline creates on me what can only be described as a gruesome muffin top effect. WARNING: for teeny tinys only.


Next are these so incredibly perfect and iconic high-waisted GUESS jeans shorts with tacked rolled cuffs and button fly.


I LOVE THESE SHORTS SO MUCH!!!! They could single-handedly rock my entire summer wardrobe, if I could get them on. I picked them up in Austin a few summers ago, but have yet to wear them, ever. Despite the fact that the tag clearly says "27," and I am generally a 26, it is physically impossible for me to button these all the way up.

Have they also made inches bigger over the course of the last decade? Or perhaps the previous owner shrunk them in the dryer. Either way, I would recommend these only to someone who is normally a size 2 or smaller.


The perfect little back pocket GUESS triangle logo....twist the knife a little more.

Then there are the issues that come along with tops. Especially for chesty girls, the world of woven tops can be a very difficult one to navigate. And while my 34B's are hardly anything to complain about in this department, they have still bust a few buttons in their day. For example, this little gingham number that I hate to part with. And purely coincidentally, is the perfect companion piece to the GUESS shorts.

This top is ADORABLE, 100% silk, and made in Italy. It is a real deal find. But for whatever reason, it is all I can do to keep those top few buttons buttoned, and resultantly, I feel very porny Daisy Duke while wearing it. I say "for whatever reason", but by that I mean by that is it is a size 0, which I am not, by any means. So I guess that answers that question.

Three more pieces sent to the ever-growing etsy-bound collection of thrifted goodies. Stay tuned for more!

(Sort of) Special Trip: Washburn, WI Part I

As we initially conceived of Special Trips as documenting our thrifting adventures to places we have not explored in the past, I hesitate to suggest that the next few "Special Trip" posts I will be doing are, indeed, "special," as my friend Mary and I have been treating ourselves for several years to the joys that are thrifting on Lake Superior. Still, nothing quite beats traveling to the sleepy town of Washburn, WI during a cabin weekend to find deals, deals, deals! So...I present you with:

THRIFTING IN WASHBURN WISCONSIN, HOME OF SOME OF THE GREATEST THRIFTING DEALS KNOWN TO (WO)MAN!

There is a magical place that resides in this town, called the ABC Thrift Shop. This is exactly the sort of store I imagined when I first envisioned Special Trips—a small, cramped space, filled with beyond cheap items that are a mix of true trash and true treasures, all overseen by the sweetest, strangest Northwoods elderly women you have ever met (in the past, we stumbled upon a bag sale, during which the volunteers were helping us bag up our treasures as we threw them across the room while instructing us to "not drop [our] ovaries on the floor!" We must have made quite the impression on them, because when we returned a year later, they remembered us*).



The sign outside ABC Thrift Store—notice the local, independent hardware and pharmacy signs? This town is hanging on!



"Peace" signs that adorn the light poles along the main drag in Washburn. Keep in mind that we were there in March. This means that either the town is full of pacifists or that they are really lazy when it comes to removing holiday decorations. Either way, it is a good sign.

Every time I go to ABC Thrift Shop, I do not leave disappointed. In fact, I always leave with tons of items that cost so little, I may as well have stolen them (I did not). This trip was no exception. While our favorite ladies were not volunteering that day, the ones who were exclaimed that we found "some really good stuff!" (they seemed surprised that such things even existed in the shop). While we were shopping, they also had an extended conversation about how they could listen to John Denver "all day long."




I always find great tops at the ABC Thrift Shop. Priced at $1, you can come away with a ton of shirts that will come in handy someday, even if you only marginally like them(I speak from experience on this matter). This red knit sweater top is one that I was a bit "eh" about, but decided that the sweet coloring was worth it. Now I am glad I bought it—I know it will be one of those pieces I end up getting a lot of mileage out of.




I actually love this top. The color blocking, the buttons on the shoulders and the tag?! The tag/label "Colors That Fit" is so genius that I might have bought this for the tag alone. It was only fate that allowed me to have all the other things with it (though, really, I wouldn't expect anything less than pure awesomeness from a brand called that).

I find belts to be one of the most elusive things to thrift. There are always tons of them at thrift stores, but it's always hard to sift through them and most of them are usually crap. When you do find one you like, it is often hard to untangle them from the other belts, and even if you do find a good one and manage to free it from the jumble of belts, there is a very low likelihood of it fitting where you want it to fit on your body. So imagine my excitement when I found not one, but two, totally bitching belts that actually fit around my waist (not my hips, a la 2001)!



This skinny brown leather belt has seen better days, but it doesn't bother me in the least how beat up it is. I can never, ever find "go to" belts, the ones that are simple and can be the perfect subtle addition to an outfit. This one fits the bill (and, as an extra bonus, I am wearing it right now).



Isn't the buckling device on this belt amazing? Definitely a bit more hardcore than the skinny belt, but just as great of a find. The best part? Each of these only set me back 50¢!




Testament to how there is not much thrifting competition in these parts, Mary remembered this skirt from the last time we were at the shop, six months ago. This time it really caught my eye. The tie, double snap and elastic combo at the top sealed the deal for me.

I ended up walking away with all of this, plus FOUR other tops for about $8. Nothing could beat that! Or so we thought...stay tuned for more Washburn deals!

*True story.

Springtime Purging: When Mulitiples aren't a Good Thing

I have a secret fantasy—a fantasy that, with my line of work, obsession with thrifting and Geminic tendencies will never, ever become a reality. In this fantasy, I breeze through life with a single outfit—bottoms of some sort, a base top layer, maybe one additional top layer, a coat, some jewelry, a headpiece of some sort, footwear and a bag. Each of these pieces is the most BITCHINGLY AWESOME thing you have ever seen. The whole outfit somehow encapsulates everything that I am and reflects my best and truest qualities to the rest of the world.

Perhaps this is really what I'm aiming for in my countless thrifting trips—that amazing piece that fulfills everything I have ever wanted in a jacket, shoe, etc. The One.

Well, I haven't found the One, but I've found lots of possible Ones. I've also found that once I get on a role with a possible One, I find other possible Ones that are very similar to the first possible Ones and before I know it, I have a whole closet bursting at the seams with possible Ones that are alike. This really throws my whole One bitching outfit fantasy out the window.

So, in the spirit of spring cleaning, I present you with the first of my fashion purges—items I got so excited about without realizing (or maybe just not consciously acknowledging) that, duh, I already have something shockingly similar to it (and no, unfortunately I have not accidentally thrifted two tie-dye jumpsuits). Not that all is lost. Despite my fantasy, sometimes it helps to have an extra set of tall brown boots laying around the house, should you (horror of all horrors!) ruin or misplace one pair. Sometimes the intricacies of one item fits the Best Outfit for the Day better than another. These items I am purging (to be thrown back into the world of commerce through our booth at the Handmade Heartfelt fair and our upcoming etsy shop) I have had around for a long enough period of time to know that they would be of much better use to someone else.

As they say, if you love something, you should let it go.

First we have the oversized wool Navajo print jacket. I think I looked so hard for one of these that when I found a second, I naturally thought that I needed it just as badly. I don't.



My first find, the best coat ever, the coat to end all coats, as I discuss here. I should have known better to try to recreate it with this one:



Thing is, if I didn't already have the best coat ever, this would probably be my best coat ever. The color is great, the buttons are amazing, it is heavy and warm. I need to come to terms with the fact that I don't need to hoard both of these, so my second (found during my feverish thrifting with Jake) is being sent back out into the wild.

In the same vein, we have the strange color combo oversized Navajo print sweater. Having similar sweaters is not nearly as extreme as having similar jackets, but sweaters do take up a lot of room in my closet, so one has got to go!



My first find, from the Halloween bootique last year. Despite the neck verging on being a mock turtleneck (vom), I am in love with this piece.



Chris found this while we were thrifting in Ironwood, MI earlier this year. I couldn't pass it up—love the bold colors, chunky knit, and, of course, the print. I've only worn it once though, which mean it gottsa go!

Now to the truly embarrassing point of this post—my hoarding of black leather booties. I know that at some point in my life, I had zero black leather booties. My only defense is that this time of my life must have been so traumatizing that once I started accumulating them, I couldn't stop.





These little numbers were my first. Actually found at a resale shop in Portland a few summers ago, I fell in love with the back zipper detail, the wrap around buckle and red inner workings. Since they are heels, I had to continue my quest for something a bit more sensible. So...




I found it totally justifiable to get both these lace-up booties and my buckle booties while Black Friday thrifting with Laurie (notice how there was a good year break between the purchase of these pairs and my first? Even more fodder to explain my obsession).



I picked up these numbers at work. I had to—they zip all the way to the back of the boot and have tongues. Pretty much the most insane understated black booty you could ever want.



So with all these amazing sets of black leather booties, why would I go for yet another pair? Well, I did, in Ironwood. I couldn't stop myself—something about real leather, the folded tops, the sensible heel...it was all too much. But, every good addict knows when to stop, so it is time for these to go.

The scary thing is, purging these multiples is just the tip of my springtime purge—stay tuned to witness further lapses in judgment, be it due to my belief that I can somehow change my shoe size or momentarily forgot who I was! Things are gonna get wild!

The Great Pre-Spring Closet Purge and ETSY STORE PREVIEW

What I am about to reveal may seem impossible, or at the very least, unthinkable, considering the topic of this blog being entirely, all the clothes that I (and Holly) buy. It is something that I generally prefer not to talk about, or admit to, but I feel that lessons can be learned from letting it be known. So here goes nothing....get ready for it....

I do not have a closet. I have not a single closet in my apartment. Not. A single. One.

That's right, none. You know, those compartments that generally come built in to any human dwelling (in the Westernized world) available to rent or buy, that vary in size, but generally have a bar from which to hang clothes, and perhaps shelving. You know, those things? I DON'T HAVE ANY. And I, quite evidently, have an F-ton of clothes.

That being said, what I like to call "wardrobe management" is nearly a full time job. In place of closets, I have two modestly sized wardrobes for hanging clothes, a standard dresser, and many cunning storage methods. Hiding things in plain sight is an art which I will boast, I have nearly mastered.

Last weekend, a standard session of wardrobe management (mainly, the handwashing of new thrifted garments, trying to figure out where the hell to put them, and not being able to) elicited a deep feeling of disgust at the absurd amount of clothing that I possess, most of which I never wear. Before I knew it, I was digging through every hidden stash of clothes around my house, and ruthlessly editing out the dead weight.

What follows are some of the pieces that got cut from the starting line up, and the reasons why. They will soon (-er or later, whenever we finally get our shit together) be featured in our Operation Sparkle Etsy shop. I am hoping that, by sharing my experience, I can help others with clothes-hoarding tendencies, to let go. To be honest with yourself, let go, and move on, without regrets. So here we go.


First up is a piece that I very vividly remember picking up in Green Bay with Holly, a good two or three years ago. I was drawn to the print (which is completely fantastic), but very much doubted the circle skirt/tulle underskirt/shoulder bow detail as something I would ever really wear. Holly insisted that it was a great find and that I should buy it. I let her sway me, but deep down, I knew that these things were not really "me." During The Purge last weekend, I faced that fact, and decided to let go forever.


Next up is a piece that I really hate to let go of. I really love it, and it has SO MUCH potential, but it is just too big for me. It is a 90's Limited Brand grey heather ponte knit sleeveless blazer, size 12.


I am certainly not one to shy away from tailoring something too big to fit me, but the logistics of this one are just too tough. To take it in would involve removing and also tailoring the armhole facing blah blah blah who cares. It's out the door.


And then there is this cropped button down rolled sleeve pink pinstripe top that I picked up in Buffalo last year. As I write I am very much reconsidering getting rid of this one. There are just so many good details...and I don't really have a legitimate reason to let it go...I guess sometimes love just dies.


The super spaced apart pinstripe, the button cuff tabs, the mini button collar, and it's cropped. That is a tough act to follow.

Last but not least is a piece that I picked up during the great 90's floral print enthusiasm that has broken out over the last year.


The floral is very nice, it's a button down, and short sleeved, which is hard to find. But I think, for me personally, it is the color combo that does not work. The navy blue and mauve just remind me too much of certain 90's home decor color schemes that I would rather not be reminded of.


And because of my weird color associations, this one is yours, world!

The lessons to take from these eliminations are as follows:

1) Even if something is a sweet find, and super cute, it may not be "you." Let go.
2) Even if something is a sweet find, and it doesn't fit you, and to make it fit you is beyond your skill or ambition, let go.
3) Sometimes love just dies. Let go.
4) Sometimes, loathed color schemes from your childhood irrationally effect you for the rest of your life. Let go.

Overall, I managed to clear enough space to eliminate an entire under-bed storage container, which is a very proud moment for me, even though my boyfriend didn't notice. More lessons to come! Get that spring cleaning going!

Family Jewels: Other Jewels

Oh man, it has been a while—it seems as though that with spring has come the awakening of life, which also means seemingly fewer hours in the day. But have no fear—we have some truly great things coming up in the next few weeks for Operation Sparkle—in particular the purging of our closets for spring cleaning and the opening of our etsy shop. Possibly even more exciting? Jake from Fashionasty and I will be selling some of our best thrifted items at the upcoming Handmade Heartfelt fair, to take place on April 23rd from 11-6 at the VFW in Minneapolis. These items need new homes, mostly because I have run out of room and it is time to make room for more treasures (Don't tell Chris this. Or Tara, our roommate, who called me a "hoarder" the other day, after which I may or may not have had a truth moment).

With all that going on, you probably are thinking that we won't have any time for more thrifting (or sharing our treasures with the world via the internet). There is, however, no such thing as not having time for thrifting! Stay tuned to see my awesome finds from my trip to Washburn last week, as well as (hopefully) some great pieces that will (fingers crossed) result from a marathon thrifting trip tomorrow with my great friend Jackie.

In the meantime, here are some of the other beautiful jewels I have thrifted throughout the years!



This is one of my new favorite rings. I picked it up in the fever that was thrifting with Jake and somehow forgot to photograph it (I actually find myself forgetting about jewelry I thrift a lot, so that makes this post all the much easier!). I love the colors and the weird zig zag. I mean, come on! Where have you seen a turquoise ring like this before?



I have to admit, I am not a huge fan of bracelets, but I couldn't pass up this chunky shell one. It's hardcore and soft at the same time (nothing is better than contradictions in jewelry).






You were probably just saying to yourself, "whoops, Holly just accidentally posted two necklaces in a row," but you would be wrong because this piece is reversible! WHAT? I am partial to the more colorful, spotted side, even though I think the black, blue and yellow swirly side is supposed to be the "real" one.




The only thing that could have made this fortune cookie necklace more awesome would have been if it came with an actual fortune (and for all I know, the original owner got one with it). One of my most favorite thrifted necklaces, I am beyond saddened by the fact that the pendant has started to break from years of wear. Maybe I will just glue it (why not?).



I got this beaded necklace as another birthday gift—but this time as part of a "jewelry grab bag" (well, technically a "jewelry grab vase") that my friend Mary D. gave me a few years ago. She picked it up at Saver's and, man, what fun treasures! Many of the pieces were broken or super random, but there were some unexpected gems. AND you can always use broken jewelry for things like making headbands like I did here.