THE CITIZEN INDEX

Sunday, April 28, 2013

SECONDHAND FIRST: Do It


The Vixen. The Palace. The Lady. They ALL do it. Do YOU?

Vix, Krista and Sara all took the pledge this year, to SHOP SECONDHAND FIRST. And you need to look no farther than their blogs to see the beauty and variety of a first rate, secondhand wardrobe. You can do it too. Shop your local Goodwill, charity, consignment and thrift stores, and don't forget you can also shop online, day or night, 24-7. The internet connects you to all sorts of great secondhand finds from all over the world.

For those of you who are not aware, there's a new vintage shop in town, and by town, I mean online. Which means, no matter where YOU live, you can shop there. Reasonably priced, and full of wonderful finds, handpicked by non other than our glorious goddess of bad-assery, Vix, the Vintage Vixen. Her rails can be found HERE at Kinky Melon's Retro Boutique. If you want to see how fine, shopping secondhand first can be, take a peek at just one of Kinky's many happy customers, Swedish glamour puss, Ulle Marie will take your breath away in her Kinky Melon cotton-candy colored vintage slip of deliciousness.



Lynn of Dylan's Dress celebrated her 50th birthday, and the icing on her cake was thrift store score in the the form of this dress.  Krista celebrates, I'm not sure what, but I want to hoot and holler at her in her amazing vintage Pendleton red cape. I pretty much want to hoot and holler at her all the time, but that might be because she has such an incredible eye for colorful vintage pieces. And if you want to see post after glorious post of great secondhand finds, go no further than Curtise's The Secondhand Years. She ticks it amazingly, time and time again, wearing cool vintage frocks for her everyday life.

Do YOU have somebody or something you'd want to share, that celebrates SHOP SECONDHAND FIRST? Let me know in the comments or email me (please see About Me page for contact info) and a future post just might feature your picks!

Take the Plunge and Make the Pledge: #SHOPSECONDHANDFIRST

And don't forget to take the pledge! 
The SHOP SECONDHAND FIRST pledge can be taken by clicking HERE


Linking up to the sustainably fashionable Patti for Visible Monday

21 comments:

Vix said...

You absolute sweetheart! Thank for the mention and the added crown.
Curtise, Krista and Sara are poster girls for looking brilliant and for clever shopping.
Doesn't Lynn look an absolute picture in her lace dress?
xxxxx

Unknown said...

Not to mention it's thrilling to snag a good buy, it's less stressful when you live UNDER your budget and it's awesome to shop in a store full of one-of-a-kind finds! Debbie @ ilovemylemonadelife.com

The Style Crone said...

Gorgeous bloggers who express second hand shopping genius. Both you and Vix have items to sell that are irresistible!

Krista said...

Your so sweet Bella, thanks for the shout out and love! If age has taught me one thing it's that I don't have to go broke to look cool! The more I learn about the fashion machine that cranks out disposable clothes the less I want it on my body or in my closet. It's about being conscientious in how you live.

Can't wait to see you soon. Looks like next month I head to Seattle. We have to hang. I want to meet this boy of yours:)
Xxoo

Lucys Lounge said...

hi bella lovely post for great ladies.

i love vix's shop . i nedd to check it out again. like now.

i'm off hunting.
kisses lucyx

Ofelia said...

Bella what a great group of cool stylish and lover of second hand fashions!
I took this pledge all the way back in the mid 1980's. I do remember when I first started to shop second hand, my mom told me not to tell anyone that I was shopping at the Salvation Army or at a thrift store because of what people may think.
We have come a long way!!!!

thorne garnet said...

After hearing about the fire that killed 300+ people in Bangladesh, maybe more folks will realize that those cheap fast fashion clothes aren't that cheap after all. Sorry if that sounds like I'm a Debby Downer. Shopping second hand not only save you money, it also provides jobs and training(Goodwill)and money for local charities (cat rescue, aid to the blind, shelters)and keeps tons of useful items out of landfills. Take the pledge!

Miss Simmonds Says said...

It's great to celebrate these wonderful ladies, they all look great... I can't get enough of Vix's dress. I've been shopping second hand first all my life, great now but not so much fun at school when I had no money for new fashionable clothes that would stop me being picked on

Curtise said...

Thank you for the mention, Bella. Secondhand shopping is a way of life, I can't imagine doing anything else.
Vix, Krista and Lynn are already favourites, but I don't know Sara, I'll be checking out her blog now! xxx

Anonymous said...

With you all the way, Bella!

You picked some incredible ladies who are stand-up examples of great vintage style! Been doing second hand/vintage most of my life (except for a few years in my thirties when I lost my mind and drifted into the insanity of retail). I'm going to your link and confirming my commitment now. Keep spreading the word, sister!

Kelly-Ann Maddox said...

So much inspiration here :)

I am stupidly excited about Kinky Melon - they have such great stuff and lots of sales already!

Tea For Two

vintage honeybee said...

I love shopping second hand, its the best. I love Vix and I will for sure check out the other ladies. I'm going to turn 40 this year and this blog makes me not dread it. All of you are still workin it and I hope I will be able to also.

Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com

Becky said...

Vix's Kinky Melon boutique is so amazing! I hope somebody buys that 50s blue/silver lurex dress quick because it's kind of driving me crazy!
Becky :)

Lynn Hasty said...

Bella, thank you so much for including me with these beautiful and talented ladies! I love all of their blogs already and feel humbled to be in such great company! I appreciate you for your efforts to create community and encourage others!!

xoxo
Lynn

The Dainty Dolls House said...

All of these ladies look stunning & I enjoy each of their styles as well :) I think it's important to highlight people who shop second hand first as most of the time it's stores that get highlighted by blogs and these stores end up having crazy work conditions and use materials that aren't so good. I have been taking up your challenge more and more. I've been buying more vintage & going more into my charity shops first before I go anywhere else. Plus, one charity shop I go into has greeting cards in there now, so I don't even have to go to the card shop anymore, haha! And the money goes to help children, so I'm even more pleased with that!! Keep up your great work doll - it & you are awesome!! Have a great week :) xx

Patti said...

You and Vix have fabulous shops, and really know how to find the treasures. Thanks for profiling all these fab women, and for sharing with Vis Monday! xoxo

Intrinsically Florrie said...

Loving these fabulous vintage ambassadors! I already adore Vix's style and I shall have to check out the others.

I absolutely love second hand shopping. Every week I'm sure to look round the local charity shops on the look out for lovely pieces and any vintage My Little Ponies hiding in the childrens section. I think the thrill of the hunt actually makes it more fun in many ways than normal shopping when you manage to find a gem. Plus I like to try and get my books second hand too from the point of view of sustainability. Then with lolita fashion shopping there's a huge second hand community and we're always buying off each other in the UK- you can get really lovely pieces without any nasty customs tax surprises.

Florrie x

Anonymous said...

I've taken the pledge (now if I could figure out how to get Wordpress to put the button on my sidebar correctly..)

We are having a fashion show for our church Mother Daughter Breakfast this month. Secveral local mall stores will give discounts and you wear the outfit in the show. I'm trying to talk them into allowing me to wear a Thrifted outfit instead of a retail one!!

Sara Kristiina said...

Thank you for this post! So awesome to be in the same post with these lovely women! :) Second hand first, definitely.
Just bought new high heels today, second hand as always ;)

Unknown said...

I'm consigning tomorrow, and will see what our newish local place might have for me! I keep looking!
Congrats, all ladies above. You all make our world a better place and more beautiful at the same time!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love seeing the amazing way you gals buy secondahnd first and the incredible outfits you create. I will be honest, this is a new step for me, but at least I'm trying. I'm taking baby steps but granted, at least I'm stepping, (one foot at a time).