OOTD | Comfort in Check

Lace Top - thrifted via Uniting Church Thrift Shop / highwaisted check shorts - thrifted via Salvation Army / tote - handmade via Uniting Church Thrift Shop / loafers - second hand via Shag Vintage / bent spoon pendant - Noosa Antique Upcycle Artisan / sunglasses - Sportsgirl

If you're not in Brisbane, or Australia for that matter, let me inform you that it has been sweltering hot these last few weeks. Jess and I are rather big fans of iced black coffee, not only to keep cool but it's a bonus, and I wore this on our last coffee date. I found these shorts a week ago and am so obsessed with them. They are ridiculously comfortable, light weight and the perfect size. For $2, I would buy a pair for every day of the week if they  existed. I am contemplating investing in the creation of one or more duplicates; but we shall see. 

The rest of my oufit is just me attempting to stay as cool as possible. I love how this lace top lets the air through but isn't see-through and doesn't show too much skin. I found both the top and the tote bag in the same thrift shop many years ago and it remains my favourite store to this day; the location a secret to most of my op shopping friends. 

I hope you're all keeping cool and staying out of the sun. 

Happy Sunday! 

Erin xx

OOTD | Rekindled Love

Shift dress - Can You Keep a Secret / Anorak - Gorman / Belt - thrifted / Loafers - Shag Vintage / Bangle - gifted and not branded

Hello spring, it's ever so nice to see you peeking around the corner. I wait all year from this kind of weather and it's very slowly creeping into the end of winter.

I am again rocking my favourite loafers which I hope to get as much wear out of before it's too hot for leather shoes in the summer. 

The denim anorak you see is from my favourite designer, Gorman, and has seen far too little wear since I purchased it. It is a little bit too oversized and can be kind of awkward to wear but it still has me head over heels for it's casual-chic charm. It's been too cold to wear it this winter but I will definitely be letting it see more sunshine when spring rocks around. 

I picked this simple summer dress up in a sale at my favourite vintage store, Can You Keep a Secret? a few months back and have never really worn it either. Ditto for the belt which I think I found thrift shopping one day. 

I will definitely going to make more use of these garments, especially the anorak, this spring. I love the combination of a light block coloured jacket with a cutesy print like the gum-nut/eucalyptus on this dress. 

Happy hump-day! 

Erin xx

OOTD | Collected Comfort

Light-wash waisted and cuffed jeans - thrifted / white collared button-up - thrifted / embroidered pink cardigan - vintage via Ra Ra Superstar / 'Grandpa' loafers - vintage via Shag Vintage / The Jackson Sunglasses by *MKL Accessories - Karmaloop

Here I am again presenting you with the epitome of my style, all totally second hand (minus the sunglasses). I think I will again try to convince you of how well shopping second-hand can suit any, and every, human and their individual style. Aside from the very obvious societal and environmental benefits (reduce, reuse, recycle people!) there are major benefits in regards to personal styling efforts. 

OOTD | Sea Me Horsing Around

Blue Seahorse Embroidered Blouse - Thrifted / Pink A-Line Skirt - Barkins / Brown Belt - Thrifted / White Bobby Socks - eBay / Brown Loafers - Shag Vintage / Sunglasses - Sportsgirl

How I wish I was horsing around at this time of the week. This shirt is one of those garments you discover, fall in love with, can't live without but hardly ever wear. When I found this piece in one of my most rummaged thrift stores I could not let it go. The fabric is beautifully soft, light and well made. The embroidery is equally as stunning with what looks to be delicate beads that have lasted quite well (although, I haven't worn it a whole lot). Also, the buttons down the front are gorgeous gold seashells tying the marine theme of the item together very nicely. 

OOTD | I French You Not

Striped Polo Neck Top - Thrifted / Black Jersey Maxi Skirt - Barkins / Brown Leather Loafers - Shag Vintage / Brown Leather Belt - Thrifted / Black Leather Messenger Bag - Thrifted / Red-Heart Pendant - GOGO PHILIP / Sunglasses - Sportsgirl / L'Absolu Rouge 151 Lipstick- Lancôme

Oh Winter, you always come around too fast. There never seems to be a long enough gap of glorious weather between Summer and the season of frozen fingers and toes. In today's OOTD I'm taking serious advantage of this weather. It's still warm enough to wear a thin maxi skirt but its also cool enough that I can wear three a quater sleeve, polo neck, all black and not combust. 

OOTD | Surprising Comfort

Oversized knit top - thrifted / Cuffed patterned pants - thrifted / Loafers - Shag Vintage / Amethyst pendant - Corky Saint Clair / Messenger bag - thrifted / 'Over' matte lipstick - Illamasqua / Sunglasses - Sportsgirl / Snake thumb ring - Tree of Life

As my wardrobe is developing as I age, I realise the high percentage of it that is second hand. Today's outfit is a darn good example of that. Jess and I recently went an op shopping trip and ended up with a haul of 20+ items between us. The knit top and pants are two of the items I found and I never thought I'd be making an outfit for the blog from them. I popped them on this morning out of a desire for extreme comfort and was pleasantly surprised with how nicely they complimented each other. 

Walking in someone else's shoes

There are a few boxes that shoes need to check before I will buy them. A few is probably an understatement too. I'm of the opinion that shoes need to be comfortable, practical, and stylish but plain enough to work with most (if not all) of my outfits. They also need to be appropriate to wear all year round. As you can probably guess, I don't have the largest collection of everyday shoes. This small collection (of about five or six) has a limited colour range of browns, tans and blacks. They all get loved to within an inch of their lives and half of them have had previous owners.

There seems to be a certain stigma surrounding second hand shoes. Be it for orthopaedic or hygienic reasons I just can't jump onto that bandwagon. There is a reason why the person handing them onto you (via family or resale) and not throwing them in the bin as a lot of people tend to do with their old shoes. There is something incredibly moving (pun intended) about putting on shoes with a history. My favourite pair of shoes found in Paddington Antique Centre, is a well battered (even more since my purchase) pair of classic black Doc Martens. Hidden in the middle of an overfilled clothing rack, these pre-loved shoes were in my uncommon shoe size and softened to perfection. Since this find four years ago I have been a lover of second hand shoes; always on the hunt for a pair in my size. 

My most recent find was the week before Christmas (Christmas miracle anyone?) They were found on the same trip that I found my true (amethyst) love. Sitting unassumingly among many outgoing pairs of shoes on the floor of Shag Vintage in Centreway Arcade, my eyes locked on, and in love with these shoes I fell. Not only were they in my size (the ultimate decider) but they were loafers. I have been searching for a suitable pair of loafers since last Summer. I found them. The next pair for my small yet versatile collection. Being on a budget, my heart skipped a beat when I handed over $79 for second hand shoes but it was only momentary when I thought about how long twelve months is in 'shoe hunting land'. 

These shoes will serve me well all year round, blister free (fingers crossed). They check all of my boxes and a few more I wasn't even aware of. Its finds like these that remind me of how satisfying vintage shopping is. The one in a million chance of finding the perfect shoe that comes to me like a novel half finished. 

What are your thoughts on pre-loved shoes? 

Erin xx