Finding Fall Fashion – Sustainably AND on a Budget! | The North Shore Moms

laura-christensen

Today we are thrilled to welcome a new contributor: Laura Christensen, a local mom, personal stylist and owner of the small business, Thrift Me Beautiful. Laura specializes in sustainable fashion, wardrobe consultations, event styling and more! We asked her for some ideas on refreshing mom’s wardrobes for fall. Here is what she shared with us.

The house needs cleaning, laundry needs to be done and the kids need to be fed. Who the heck has time OR the energy for getting dressed in something other than leggings?! Being a mom a HARD! But I’m here to tell you that personal style doesn’t have to be. It can be easier by choosing smart wardrobe essentials and learning the most “effective” ways to wear them.

My first stop when shopping for clients is always a thrift shop. I don’t think people truly understand the treasures that await you in second hand stores! It does however take time and patience to find the good stuff (that’s where I come in). If you aren’t familiar with the thrift life, here are a few things to know.

  1. You CAN find current stylish pieces at an EXTREMELY affordable price.
  2. Second hand shopping is good for the environment! It cuts down on water and landfill waste. It produces less energy and decreases pollution.
  3. Thrifting does NOT equal that you can’t afford retail.

Now let’s talk “Finding your Fall Fashion”! There’s no better time to add some wardrobe essentials to your closet than with the changing of seasons. I have seven essentials for Fall fashion and I’ll explain why they are “easy” to wear.

1. Utility Jacket

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(Photo credits: Thrift Me Beautiful & Bright on the Day)

Outerwear instantly makes an outfit more fashionable creating dimension and interest to your look. This type of jacket is so versatile. It can be paired with many different looks. (As pictured!) You can find them in many colors but the army green and khaki are great for fall!

2. Motorcycle Jacket

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(Photo credits: Thrift Me Beautiful & fashion jackson)

Like the utility jacket, the moto jacket can be worn many different ways. YES, even with leggings (pictured)! It adds a level of style to any outfit creating the effect of putting effort into your look, when in reality you just slipped into it on your way out the door! I will often throw a moto jacket on over my gym clothes and BAM! Easy style.

3. Plaid Shirt

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(Photo credits: Thrift Me Beautiful // Bright on the Day // Putting Me Together // Indie Fashion Boutique )

What screams fall more than a good plaid shirt? They are comfortable to wear and come in so many color pallets. The collar lends a stylish element that needs little addition to “make” an outfit. Not only are they comfortable to wear, but (as pictured) can be paired with different pieces to create a variety of looks.

4. Floral Blouse

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(Photo credits: Thrift Me Beautiful & Pearls & Sports Bras)

A nice blouse that fits well is a staple in your wardrobe and this dark floral pattern is perfect for fall. A blouse in itself adds a flirty feminine touch to any outfit. Whether it’s trousers, jeans or leggings, a blouse will provide a touch of “chic” to your outfit.

5. Dark Wash Jeans

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(Photo credits: Thrift Me Beautiful & Styletotry)

Why do I love dark wash jeans? We are all moms here, so being 100% honest more days than not I end up with some unknown substance on my pants. So not only do dark wash jeans look extremely chic, they hide stains! I love me a great pair of high waisted skinny jeans (great for making legs look longer), but boot cut and flares are still having their moment.

6. An “Any Occasion” Dress

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(Photo credits: Thrift Me Beautiful & Betabrand)

Every woman needs a versatile knit dress! Dresses are one of the easiest outfits to wear. By adding different layers, shoes and accessories, you have yourself a dress for “any occasion”. I like to add a jacket to a dress like this with a pair of cute boots!

7. Boots (Ankle or Knee High)

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(Photo credits: Thrift Me Beautiful // Middle of Somewhere // Glam Radar)

Boots whether ankle or knee high are such a fall fashion staple. Picture it, frolicking through a pumpkin patch or apple orchard in your “new” thrifted fall boots….. see you need them! As much as I love my wedge sandals and white Keds during the Summer, by fall I am SO ready for some boots action. It’s amazing the level of style your outfit achieves from switching your footwear out for a pair of leather (real or faux) boots. Ankle boots lean more toward the edgy side of the spectrum where riding or knee high boots tend to be more polished. Either or, I love them all. Most of my fall boots have little to no heel and a major PLUS, they are perfect for chasing kids!

With these 7 Fall Fashion Essentials, you can create a core wardrobe ready for all the fall things! The best part is that all the individual clothing items pictured were found a the Salvation Army for under $10 each. A bonus with Salvation Army is that every day, yes EVERY DAY 4 out of the 5 colored tags are 50% off! Wednesdays at Salvy’s is “Family Day” where ALL colored tags are 50% off.

If you’re looking to rediscover your personal fashion, know that it’s easier than you think! I like to start my clients off with a questionnaire to find out what they are wanting to achieve with their wardrobe. It’s also important to me to work with people so they are comfortable with their budget, but still feel satisfied with the work we do. You can check out my Instagram (@Thrift_Me_Beautiful) if you are curious about my work. I post thrifted outfit inspiration, thrift finds and client work (with permission). Taking care of yourself and feeling great is a huge part of being a great mom, so start today with shooting me a message and we can get started on, “Finding your Fall Fashion!”

Follow along with Laura’s styling journey on Instagram at @Thrift_Me_Beautiful, Facebook at Thrift Me Beautiful. Or contact her by email at [email protected]. Laura is also running an Instagram Giveaway this week with fellow TNSM contributor, Jenny Radish.

Here are the details:
Win a “Fall Thrift Fix” box styled by Personal Stylist Laura Christensen & Style Writer/Blogger Jenny Radish! Winner will receive a thrifted collection of items styled after their favorite style inspiration. (Laura & Jenny will hash out details of what’s included in the box once the winner is chosen.)

To enter the giveaway, make sure you follow both @Thrift_Me_Beautiful and @jennyradish, like this post and tag someone who you think would like to win this GIVEAWAY. Additional tags = more entries to win! Share/tag BOTH Laura and Jenny in your stories to get additional entries! Winner will be chosen on Monday Sept. 23!

(Contest is not affiliated with The North Shore Moms or Instagram. Please see either Laura or Jenny’s Instagram account for full contest details, rules and winner announcements.)

 

 

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