I’ve been working on this article for a long time. As someone who enjoys thrift-shopping tremendously and has gotten quite good at it over the years, I decided to compile the most extensive guide to thrifting, ever!!!

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” – English proverb

If you’re short on cash, need clothes, or just looking to experiment with style on the cheap, second-hand stores are the way to go. There are many misconceptions about thrifting: that it’s dirty, only poor people go there, the clothes are old and worn-out. None of these things are necessarily true – I, for one, consistently find stuff that’s new, like-new, and even with tags still on! Most fashionistas I know enhance their wardrobe with thrift shop and flea market finds, and enjoy looking for hidden treasures.

Thrifting not only helps you save money, but also opens your mind about style and possibilities. Here are some tips on how you can avoid the common mistakes and thrift like a pro!

DO be open-minded. Everything here is one of a kind and has potential if you’re willing to look hard enough.

DON’T expect to walk in and see a bunch of things you like, right away. Thrifting requires digging, so be mentally and physically prepared for it. I find it immensely satisfying to walk out with a Betsey Johnson dress and a cashmere sweater at a fraction of the price after 40 minutes of digging. :)

DON’T expect everything to be clean and perfect. Most things here are pre-owned, which means they’ll need to be laundered or dry-cleaned. Most thriftstores will reject stuff that’s unsellable and downright dirty, so you have nothing to worry about.

DO check for rips, tears, spots or moth holes. Some spots can be dry cleaned, some can’t – it’s a risk that you take while thriftshopping. Take any wool & silk fabrics to dry cleaners immediately – in case of a hidden moth contamination, you don’t want your whole closet to get eaten.

DO factor in dry cleaning costs and/or time spent fixing an item into your decision-making. These are the hidden costs that can really sneak up on you if you’re not careful.

DO find out when your local thrift store gets in new stock – you’ll get first dibs on the best stuff!

If you brought a shopping buddy, DO separate and agree to meet up at the cash register in an hour. The higher your concentration levels, the better the results.

DO go thrift-shopping while traveling. Larger cities like New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles offer amazing second-hand shopping that can’t be beat. Ask what the best places are and go, go, go! One of my favorite places is the Fairfax High School flea market in LA – I found so many cool things!

If you have time, DO open yourself up to experimentation – try new styles, patterns and cuts you wouldn’t normally wear. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

DO skip out on brands like Gap, Old Navy, and Abercrombie & Fitch. You’re here to search for gems, not clothing for the masses!

DO learn how to spot expensive fabrics – the most efficient way to look through racks of stuff without getting overwhelmed. Search for colors and patterns you know you like, and zone out the rest.

DO try everything on if you can. Just because it was only $5 doesn’t mean you want to end up with something that doesn’t fit! (Trust me, I’ve stepped into that hole more than once.)

DO wear easy on/off clothes – flip-flops, a t-shirt and a long skirt with an elastic waist work best. Larger, more established thriftshops like Goodwill will have fitting rooms but smaller places may not; a long skirt allows you to try on pants without flashing strangers. If push comes to shove, you can create a make-shift fitting room by hanging long dresses on racks around you – or ask a friend to hold up a dress while you change in the corner.

DON’T buy it if it doesn’t fit or requires major fixing. I once got a jacket knowing full well it was too big, and it just ended up sitting in my closet until I finally gave up and donated it back to Salvation Army.

NEVER buy something just because it’s cheap. As tempting as it might be to buy that scarf for $2.99, if you’re having doubts, it’s probably not worth it. Leave it for someone who really wants it.

DO donate often – recycling is good for the environment and will make you feel good about not being wasteful!

Deerlings: Do you believe in thrift-shopping? What is your favorite item you found in a second-hand shop? Share your tips with us if you have any!

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Last time a denim jacket was cool was some time in the 90s, probably worn by Alicia Silverstone. Soon after it became an ultimate fashion faux pas and the must-have attire of soccer moms. (Even the reign of plain blue jeans, that have been in style for years, was tested in the recent years by their skinny-cut, dyed counterparts.) In other words, the denim jacket has become so unhip, it’s hip again!

I’ve been seeing a lot of of denim on the runways and in places like Top Shop (who can say no to to this adorable floral number?). Of course this doesn’t mean you have to buy brand new. With the popularity of all things DIY, I found a way to breath new life into my old jacket and make it exciting again!

What you’ll need: a denim jacket, sewing machine, contrast fabric, latex (wall) paint.

Step 1: Find a well-fitting denim jacket. Check thriftstores – they always have plenty!

Step 2: Decide on the contrast fabric. Thick, denim-like materials work best!

Step 3: Pin fabric in place and stitch onto the collar with sewing machine.

Step 4: Cut out a fabric applique, pin, and zigzag-stitch anywhere you like. I put mine on the front but the back would be nice too!

Step 5: Paint the buttons – try lighter colors for better contrast. (Don’t forget to pin the pocket flaps up while you paint). Let dry overnight. You may go over the buttons and rub them down lightly for a cool ‘worn’ look, but it will probably happen automatically after some use.

Voila, you have a brand new jacket! Stay tuned for tips on How To Wear a Denim Jacket. :)

Deerlings: Would you wear a denim jacket?

And, before I go, a quick poll:

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Owning a business can be fun – your ideas, your ways to implement them, your results. But it is also a big responsibility and a stress-generator that sometimes makes you wish you were working at an office. Of course, I know myself too well to even for a second think I could be happy in a cubicle, so running a business is my only option.

As someone who’s been dabbling in entrepreneurship since the age of 14, I’ve come to discover that entrepreneurial ability entails a very specific set of skills and a mindset. I’ve compiled my thoughts on what I think makes a good entrepreneur, spiced up with some of my own real-life experience.

• Act Upon It
  

“Sometimes it’s easy to have ideas, but somebody has to find a way to do it. Often those responsible for finding a way don’t have the idea.” – Karl Lagerfeld

More often than not, a good idea is hidden right under your nose.

An entrepreneur spots a niche and springs into action to produce a good or a service that will, hopefully, be profitable. I noticed that many people have that initial idea, that ‘light bulb above their head’, but few follow through. Just like many more perhaps have the opportunity to implement it, but not the idea. An entrepreneur has both, the idea and the drive to see it to completion.

For instance, I loved bright makeup but couldn’t find it in stores. I saw that people enjoyed my tutorials using intense colors and thought there was a good chance they’d like to buy them. Turns out, I was far from the only one obsessed with color!

• Be ready to make decisions, big and small
  

A business owner makes decisions which determine the direction of the company every day. Such decisions may range from simple ones (“Customers like product X – let’s make more of product X with additional variety”) to more difficult  (“Product X bombed. How do we recover?”).

My example: One of the toughest decisions I had to make involved my lipstick formula. In order to keep the colors bright, we had to make it slightly softer than your standard lipstick. I was worried that customers wouldn’t like the unusually soft texture. I was relieved to find out most did in fact like it and some even described it ‘moisturizing’. I understand that not all my business decisions will be good (humans are error-prone after all) but I know I must continue making them, for better or worse.

Try new things, even though they may not work!

• Innovate

No matter how original your idea may be initially, if it’s a success be prepared to face competition sooner or later. Time and again I’m learning that the only way to say ahead is to continue innovating. I’ve seen many young entrepreneurs get devoured because they’ve failed to reinvent – when competitors popped up, they had nothing new to offer up their sleeve. A good entrepreneur is constantly on the look out for what to roll out next. The thing to remember about competition is that it’s not evil. It’s natural and only an indicator that you’re doing something right. So to stay afloat, be prepared to move onto the uncharted waters again and again.

My example: I knew I wouldn’t be at the frontier of the bright eyeshadow trend forever. Other companies began offering intense colors and about 6 months into my business, I decided it was time for our next move. I chose to make lipstick for the same reason I did eyeshadow – I couldn’t find one that’s opaque and in colors I wanted. It seemed like a great opportunity that was consistent with my own wishes and wants – an approach that has yet to fail me. Always listen to your instincts above all – even if they go against the ‘numbers’, they are your best guide!

• Be prepared to take risks

Taking on a risk is a big part of entrepreneurship and is the reason why so few people do it. You risk:

• Your time
• Effort
• Reputation
• and of course, money! (Sometimes not just your own but others’ money as well.)

When I signed a contract with the factory to make 20,000 crazy-colored lipsticks, it seemed absolutely crazy. There was no telling for sure if I could ever move them (aside from a VERY enthusiastic response from my blog readers – thank you!). I understood the dangers of taking on the risk but did it anyway because as an entrepreneur, you must…

Believe in your idea

• Persevere

Having faith in your project means not giving up easily, even if things don’t go your way right away. It’s not about banging your head against the wall and doing the same thing over and over until you see different results, but finding different ways to achieve the same goal.

When a buyer at Henry Bendel’s told me to give them a call when I had more wearable colors, I found myself at the mental crossroads: on one hand, I was dying to give my customers an opportunity to try Lime Crime in person, on the other, I didn’t want to compromise my message. In the end, I decided to stick with the unusual colors – believing that somewhere along the line, someone will want to carry them. A few months later we got an offer from SpaceNK and the rest, as they say, is history!

There are so many things to enjoy about running your own business – getting to decide what product you’ll be rolling out next, how you’re going to market it, getting feedback. Most importantly, you get to be your own boss and do what you love every day! As friend of mine put it, “When your job is doing something you love, it’s no longer a job – it’s part of your life!”

Deerlings: Have you considered entrepreneurship? Have question? Please ask, I’m happy to answer!

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I saw these marvelous Sonia Rykiel pearl sunglasses and fell in love! Time for another DIY project!

What you need: round sunglasses, flat-back pearls, glue gun.

I picked up a pair of plain black ‘bug-eye’ shades on St. Marks Place in NYC (Top Shop has them too) and some cabochon pearls on Etsy (mine are 8mm). Sonia’s version has plain white pearls but I went for an assortment of pastels just to make them a little more ‘me’. It was very easy – glue the pearls around the edge & the handles and voila, you have an updated version of trendy shades this season!

The lipstick is Cosmopop, by the way.

Deerlings: will you try this? What sunglasses are you sporting this spring?

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Photo: Annie Leibovitz

This Saturday, I’m throwing my very first tea party. Of course, it won’t be your typical prim-and-proper gathering where the air is so thick with tension, the guests are afraid to utter a word. This will be the kind of a tea party that makes Mad Hatter… go mad!

With Alice In Wonderland being a popular theme these days, I thought you might want some tips on how YOU can throw your own Wacky Tea Party!

• Pick a Theme

No party is complete without a theme. Themes allow people to relax, not to take themselves too seriously, and just have fun! Being inspired by grandmas – especially the batty, eccentric kind that live in houses resembling wonderland – I knew that quirkiness bordering on senility was the way to go! I once read a story about an old lady that lived in a house full of birds – cages piled up to the ceiling, birds flying everywhere, utter madness. This is the kind of stuff we’re talking about!

Whatever the theme, you’ll want to decorate my house accordingly. Excess is the key, as you want your decorations not just to reflect the theme, but to exaggerate it! Luckily, my mom has a collection of quirky antique china and utensils…

• Invite some Colorful Guests

“You won’t be bored with me, but you will be embarrassed,” my friend Leon once told me. I’ve invited friends from all kinds of motley circles – from musicians to marketing analysts to puppet-makers. Some hosts may wish for subdued guests but I like mine to be a little out there – they make for the most interesting conversation!

• Dress Like a Mess!
  

Do I even need to mention that the loopier the outfit, the better?! With me, it’s always ‘dress to impress’ – even if the only person impressed in the room is yourself! I firmly believe that better times are to be had when you’re wearing something outlandish – you effectively become a character stripped of all your insecurities, there to have fun. Besides, who can resist wearing a huge party dress?!

• Fun-tivities

Having interesting guests plays a big role in the success of your party, but they alone won’t be able to provide the necessary entertainment. Engage your guests in some kind of activity – games, story-sharing, or – in our case – baking and decorating cupcakes! Each guest will be given an opportunity to deck out their own cupcake to fit their personality  – or, rather, persona they’d adapted for the night!

Deerlings: what would you wear/do for your Wacky Tea Party?

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