Thrift Store Shopping: Housing Works
I didn’t think I’d get a chance to get any shopping in during this NY trip, however I fit in a little stop to Housing Works before the Tony’s on Sunday. I’ve been wanting to head to their Buy the Bag store in Brooklyn for a while, so I suited up with my pals for a quick visit.
Housing Works is amazing organization. They have about a dozen thrift stores across NY and the proceeds from their stores provide funding for New Yorkers directly affected by homelessness and HIV/AIDS. Their Buy the Bag location is a little different from the rest as you get to sift through bins of clothes and fill up a shopping bag of goodies for $25.
We hopped on the subway and got to digging!
Bins and bins and bins and bins!
Claire’s NDAD Creation
I love creating pieces for special nights out or celebrations and this piece that Claire came up with was something she made for a vacation with her family. I always associate what I wear with what I’m doing, so right off the bat I knew that this would be a special piece for Claire.
I’ve given away a lot of clothes recently, since the majority of my summer clothes, while still functional, were at least 5 years old and no longer a perfect fit for one reason or another. So, when I found this (enormous) dress at the free store on campus, I hoped it could make a pretty new sundress, especially since it didn’t cost me anything. The answer to how to recreate it came to me when I put one of my dresses on the giveaway pile, a grey Hawaiian-print number that I’d loved to wear when it fit.
Claire – Before
I took some notes on how it was made, adjusted the measurements to fit, then started cutting away!
Michelle’s NDAD Creation
Happy weekend! After some flight delays and LOTS of turbulence, I made it to NY (yay!!). It’s 2:53am and I’m pretty soaked from my trip into the city from JFK (love the airtrain), however I couldn’t be happier to be in one of my favorite places!
Wet hair selfie in Duane Reade grabbing things I forgot to pack!
I thought today’s piece was perfect to feature because Michelle is a NY-er and is putting her splurge of a sewing machine to work. Check out what she did…
I’m scraping by trying to make it in New York. My last big splurge was on a sewing machine, which I’ve since used to alter some little splurges into better bits. This is the first one I’ve felt confident in submitting to your blog! It started as a dress I bought at Pay Half and wore once to a party, but was ultimately too short and too strapless for my modest style.
Michelle – Before
I feel like this is always an issue that comes up for me – I’ll buy something that I like because it’s on sale without really being jazzed about the fit or how it looks. I can’t wait to see what Michelle does with her too short dress. (Blow the Whistle!!! …a little Too Short shout out, for all those TS fans!)
Thursday Giveaway: Leah Duncan Sketchbook
It’s Thursday!! Can you smell the weekend yet??
I’ve been furiously preparing for my NY trip and I’ll be leaving in about 24 hours. Aaaahhhh, where did this week go?? There’s been lots of gathering pieces/tweaking pieces/sewing pieces at Casa Marisa, but I have a stash of back-up vintage “no sewing necessary” goodies to bring with me if I don’t get everything completed in time. I’ll be documenting everything (my Instagram feed is going to be blowing up like never before) because this trip is heavily Broadway themed with a little bit of work sprinkled in. I have tickets for a few shows with friends in them and then, ahem, I’m hitting up the Tony Awards Sunday night to cheer on my fab, nominated pal, Charl Brown!! (This “what to wear” moment is giving me anxiety… I’ll be coming to you for help right before!!)
So while my home has garments strewn all about, I’m keeping it tidy on NDAD, offering a giveaway of two of my favorite things. A Leah Duncan sketchbook and a golden-y shimmer Max Factor lip gloss.
Win Me!!
To win, leave a comment below with some sort of travel tip – maybe it’s a pre-trip ritual? Do you pack way in advance? Do you take a packing break to get a mani/pedi? Do you just take a nap and then give yourself 30 minutes to make it work? Do you get an awesome friend to give you back rubs while you pick out what shoes to bring? I can use all the defrazzle-ing help I can get! I’m such a last minute gal that I’m usually up all night packing, however that turns me into a total crankster. Nobody likes a crankster 
White Pants Revamp with Crystal Light Liquid (…& a Visa Gift Card Giveaway!)
Today’s remake is a fun one: I partnered up with Crystal Light Liquid to use their new flavors to inspire a brand new outfit! Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s take a look at the before shot.
BEFORE
I started off with a pair of white trousers that had been gathering dust at the bottom of my pants stack for years. They had a few little spots on the front…
Coffee Spot!
…and somehow maintained a life, albeit a less than thrilling one, in my wardrobe. Today, these pants are getting a face, er, pants-lift inspired by three of my favorite Crystal Light Liquid flavors–Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Bellini, and Blueberry Raspberry.
Crystal Light Liquid flavors!
After seeing how gorgeous these drinks looked after combining the liquid drops to my glasses of water…
Corresponding Colors!
…I just had to drink wear them! These pants needed a vibrancy overhaul, so I found the appropriate matching shades of RIT dye in Petal Pink, Scarlet, and Purple to begin the transformation.
Coordinating Dyes!
Nothing like adding a little bit of color to a slightly flavor-deficient garment to really make it fun and exciting. I was now ready to begin on the craft-cation from Spot City to Color Capitol!
