{ Thrifted! Red velvet vintage dress from Treasure Trove Vintage on Park Avenue. }

GET

look good

THRIFTY

feel good

THIS HOLIDAY

#shoplocalroc

{ We have to do something for ourselves. Especially during the holidays. And we still want to save time + money, feel festive + fabulous! That’s why thrifty shopping in your holiday routine spices up the season, adds value to your time and money, + lets you do you. Something fierce. }

Get Thrifty.

HEART
And by heart, I mean appearance.

Appearance is the outward expression of our hearts. These 3 looks + 3 thrifty shopping spots show you how to save + feel flippin fancy while doing it.

#PROTIP: “Vintage” is defined as 20 years back. { 1994 is vintage! }

Rest of my dress! Adorable back { butt } bow. (Not pictured.)

THE LOOK: MAD MEN – Pin-Up. Vintage Boutique.

WHY VINTAGE

1. Quality. Vintage is higher quality. Better fit. Better wear. Bottom line.
2. Affordable. The imitation is too expensive! Especially if you seek quality comparable to the original.
3. Trend Factor. You want to look great, but you don’t want to go crazy on some trend you might never wear again. These pieces have stood the test of time for a reason! And, you can afford to buy more than one or get fancy with all the fixin’s.

THE PLACE

• Treasure Trove Vintage: 121 Park Avenue, Suite 10 (Facing Meigs Street)
  • Dresses + Jewelry
  • Coats + Fur Coats
  • Jackets + Blazers
  • Hats + Gloves
  • Boots + Heels

{ BONUS: Owner, Morgan DeLapa, walks-the-walk, talks-the-talk, + can dish really sweet make-up recommendations! }

Louboutin at Panache.

THE LOOK: BEYONCE / OLD MONEY – Glam. Consignment Shop.

WHY CONSIGNED

1. Designer. Champagne tastes on a { fancy } beer budget? Panache accommodates + dazzles.
2. Variety. Row upon row upon row of flat, wedge, heel, boot; fur coat, blazer, shurg; wristlet, clutch, bag. It’s never-ending .. and all so inviting!
3. Fashion. Fashionista’s paradise. Whether you like vintage, disco, ’90’s, or now – Panache has your number. { Flower City Fashionista would know! }

THE PLACE 

• Panache Vintage + Finer Consignment: 1855 Monroe Avenue (Near 12 Corners)
  • Dresses + Blouses
  • Skirts + Blazers
  • Fur Coats + Shrugs
  • Boots + Heels
  • Purses + Jewelry

{ BONUS: Designer-Designer labels. We’re talking Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Coach … you name it. }

Brand name wrap dresses from VOA on Lake Avenue.

THE LOOK: STREET STYLE – Trendy. Thrift Store.

WHY THRIFT

1. Quality. Thrift stores don’t take garbage. Know what you’re looking for, keep an open mind, + you will find gems that you boast about the rest of your known life.
2. Get the Look. Create 3-5 new looks, easily, for less than the price of 1 at retail. Who doesn’t want a new holiday: skirt + top, dress + shrug, pant + blouse with matching shoe + bag for each?? With styles that cater specifically to the look you want.
3. Price. Pay attention to tag sales + deals of the day so you know how to optimizes these options + still capture rock bottom prices.

THE PLACE 

• Volunteers of America: 12 Stores Around Rochester (Find the one Nearest to You!)
  • Dresses + Jewelry
  • Skirts + Blouses
  • Coats + Blazers
  • Shoes + Purses

{ BONUS: $.89 of EVERY DOLLAR goes toward VOA initiatives like the VOA Children’s Center + various Community Outreach. … Plus they have crazy low prices + incredible sales. }

OTHER GREAT SHOPS:

• Far Out Vintage: 633 Monroe Avenue (Between Goodman + Oxford)
  • Check out the stores’s Instagram to see what I mean!

With bff Laura (nee Reardon) Wagner, in 1950s handmade replica Bette Davis dress from film “All About Eve.”

#PROTIP: Don’t be scared to purchase gifts at consignment, vintage, + thrift stores.

HOME
Home is where the heart is … make it look good + feel good!

There are innumerable reasons I shop thrift for home goods + wares. And even more for why we all should thrift for holiday home goods + wares. Here are my top 3 reasons + spots:

Cheers! … with a hint of charm. Wine glasses from Panache.

KITCHEN UTENSILS

1. Serving Spoons. Potato Masher. Tea Kettle. These are just some items I find at almost every thrift store I go to.
2. Bye-Bye Big Box. Why go to a big-box when you can easily find what you need, for less?
3. The Character Factor. Come on. Who doesn’t want a story behind their kitchen ware??

{ BONUS: Check-out any local thrift store. One of my favorites is Ruly on Monroe Ave. }

• Ruly: 270 Monroe Avenue (Between Union + Alexander)

FESTIVE DISH WARE + GLASSES

1. Unique. Find glasses + mugs, place settings + cake plates that you just won’t find anywhere else.
2. Host + Gift. What better way to decorate a holiday table than to allow guests to take home their glasses at the end of the eve?
3. Mix + Match. Get creative with your decor when you can pair several different pieces for an occasion with your unique stamp.

{ BONUS: Panache has a Home + Design store, too! … With 3 designers who curate. }

• Panache Home & Design: 1855 Monroe Avenue (Just adjacent to Panache Vintage + Finer Consignment)

STATEMENT PIECES

1. One Time + Timeless. You don’t have to feel guilt about using these pieces just once! Go crazy + buy the trendy piece. Or, at the same time, find a classic vase or candle holder + relish that it can be used any time of year or every holiday season.
2. Love Each Room. Deck the halls, y’all. All of them. No need to feel proud about just the mantle over the fireplace or just the “Christmas Tree Room.” Get your deck on the whole house through!
3. Get a Lil’ Funky. It’s okay to experiment. Add a pop of color with a thrift store pieces – and the fear associated with “failing” completely melts away. It’s true.

{ BONUS: Hidden gems exist. Rochester has them … and I also love Canandaigua! }

• Main Street: My fav antique shop closed! (But Main St. Canandaigua has some true gems.)

Brande new glass ornaments from Panache. Great for party favors!

be merry, be bright

Make a Pledge to You. Treat yourself this holiday. And give back to your community. This can be your Shop Local Rochester pledge!

#getthrifty

#roc the holiday

#shoplocalroc

XO.