A lasting home, a lasting closet— buying (mostly) only second hand things for my home and closet for one year.
My 2018 goal was to only buy second hand for my home and closet. Working in the apparel industry, I'm constantly surrounded my messages to buy, buy, buy. In the social media space and as content creator, there's even more pressure to constantly be messaging in a way that sells something. That sells a product, lifestyle, idea or product... Mostly products.
I wrote an entry reflecting on my own consumerism and why I set that goal for 2018 (check it out here). And even though my full time job is marketing products, I set an intention to really set my own patterns in consumerism and want to share the journey.
Das me! I've had a circular or oval mirror on my list for a while. I had an image in my head of it hung in my entryway curated with art I've made and found all in gold frames. This was the perfect find for that, and it was less than $7!
To achieve that vision, I've been slowly trying to find gold frames that fit the art that I already have. This frame was only a few cents at the Goodwill Bins. Here in Portland, we have a center for all things that haven't been bought yet at the Goodwill stores.... and everything is by the pound. The art inside my partner painted for me on canvas. I think it looks great and can't wait to bring more art into the mix with these two items.
I adore my apartment. It's a cute 1920's building that used to be a small hotel. Original wood floors, craftsman style white trim, and cute little built ins. One downside is the lighting. North facing windows shielded by huge trees in my neighbors yard and... I'm on the first floor. So, I've been determined to find lighting sources I can place around my apartment to brighten it up a bit. It's not ideal, especially as someone who relies on natural light for photos, all my plants and my own seasonal highs and lows. This is the first lamp in my search that is a great addition! The green plays well with all the greenery of my plants, and the brass base is just in line with the rest of what I love!
Plants! Plants. Plants. Plants. It's the season to start propagating and to add another dimension to all the terracotta pots I've been planting my new babies in, I wanted to find some gold or ceramic pieces to place them in to create a more finished look. This brass bowl I found for less than $4, and I just popped one of my philodendron babies!
As the season changes, I wanted to diversify my layering options with a couple great blazers. This is a thrifted mens wool blazer originally from Norm Thompson with the perfect brown, peachy tweed fabric and a light blue lining. I love the look of a good slightly oversized blazer, and for me its an easy way to differentiate my looks because I often wear the same thing over and and over.
Every year I get a pair of cheap sandals that last me just the one season. When the season is over, I've trashed them from daily wear to everything from work to the river. One of the things on my list is a pair of leather sandals that might actually last me past the one season. In addition, I'd like to find myself two options in hopes that letting the soles of one pair rest here and there will make them last longer. These style of sandals I love, my only hope is that the leather doesn't stretch so much that they get too big (it's happened to me with this style before).
Hope you enjoyed! I intend on sharing my journey this year in attempt to keep these all thrifted and second hand. Let me know what you think, if you've done something like this before and what you might what to see as part of this journey!
Yes girl, LOVE IT. #CelebrateSecondhand is my favorite way to live. So many beautiful treasures can live second, third, many lives beyond production. And, no matter how it was initially produced, buying secondhand improves the cycle immediately.
100% agreed!! so many pieces can have such a long life - and if they've made it to the thrift store, more chance its a piece that held up in the previous owners use, and will hold up in your use for many more years!
Excellent! Even before I began my adventure in mindful consumerism (#shopsmalllivebig), I have always either been really poor or really cheap - often both. That means that I have spent less than $200 to furnish my entire apartment. I take it a bit further than just shopping second hand, however. I like to go junkin' and watch for evictions, foreclosures, and even the dorm clean-outs since I live in a college town. I have gotten thousands of dollars worth of stuff for my house absolutely free. I'm a stickler for cleanliness on these items but overall they've served me very well.
Yess! Me too! I initially got into thrifting as a kid because that's where all my clothes came from. My family didn't grow up with a lot of money, and I went through phases of hating having to go thrifting because it wasn't "cool", but now I'm so appreciative of the experience and exposure to secondhand shopping!
I'm currently on the hunt for more home items, can't wait to share what I might find on here!
I love this! I also do soooo much second hand shopping, you can find so many things that are in great shape and hella stylish at a fraction of the cost. Honestly, it makes me never want to buy anything full-price again! <3
I know! Whenever I find something new that I really love I immediately put that on my list to score thrifted equivalents! It's so much more fun, rewarding and better for the environment.
Everything about this post is golden. You remind me of my mom. She loves plants and secondhand shopping.
Aww! Thank you! That is so sweet, thank you for reading!
That is so awesome! I have actually decided to do the same this year, although I really won't need anymore home stuff, so it will just be clothes and books for me. Enough charity shops in my town, so it should not be too difficult for me.
Yay! Thats awesome!! You should share, I'd love to see your finds!!
This is SO awesome. I wouldn't mind giving this goal a go myself! I've been hunting for/collecting thrifted gold frames for ages (or painting ugly ones gold) for my wall of family photos (we call it the wall of shame 😂 ).
I do have a hangup about thrifted clothing that I need to get over... I can't stand the smell... the thrift store smell! Do you have a way of removing it? I find that a simple go through the washer doesn't help much.
Anyway, awesome post. Following! :)
Thank you!! Honestly, I feel like some thrift stores have more of a smell than others. Like, here in PDX my experience is that goodwill isn't too bad, but value village reeks of weird dust, bleach, mold or something unidentifiable... But! Another option is shopping more curated secondhand / vintage shops. There are lots of small business ladies who do an amazing job curating their finds. For example, I love https://www.whiskeyandhoney.us/ on instagram whenever I have something specific I'm looking for and can't find it myself!
I have so many second hand clothes :D Some of my friends are disgust by it, but I love it :D
I love it too! Just keep at it and many more and more people will catch on and we'll all decrease our carbon footprint on the planet <3
Thanks for sharing! The mirror looks very nice ❤