the tailored shirt with rolled sleeve and pencil skirt create a sophisticated look

My love affair with consignment stores goes way back. I simply adore them, probably because they make the budget director voice inside of me SO happy.  The first time I walked in Designer Finds I met Rheem Acra’s Mom(the incredible designer of Jill Biden’s inaugural dress) and I was COMPLETELY hooked.  When you walk in Designer Finds, it has great space.  It is neat and orderly; the clothes are separated  by color and by type of clothing. Honestly, IT IS FILLED WITH DESIGNER TREASURES–Gucci Boots, Tori Burch pants, BCBG shoes and so much more.  If you hit it right, like we did, you can find discounts up to 50%.

the camisole and jacket work together

Liza and I thought it would be fun to ask the closet organizers, Tina Adams and Rebecca Thompson, to meet us at Designer Finds and work their magic.  I asked my walking buddy Amy to meet us at the store and be our model for the day.  Amy has your classic  girl- next-door look, and in fact, she is my girl -next- door (she lives 2 blocks from me.) It also doesn’t hurt that she’s got a fantastic figure at about  5′9″.

Here was our challenge to the Closet Girls (my ENDEARING name for them): put together 3 outfits including accessories for under $100. We wanted to see a career look, casual look and a DROP DEAD evening outfit.

The playful earrings and clutch complete the look

For those of you who are not familiar with Tina and Rebecca, they are closet organizers extraordinaire. For a nominal fee, they will meet you in your closet, pare down the things you don’t need and create tons of outfits from your existing wardrobe.  I can attest to their expertise since I invited them in MY CLOSET.  Here are some of their pearls of wisdom which once again were emphasized during our visit to Designer Finds:

Don't you just love the ruffles and neckline of this dress?

• Invest in  a good camisole as it makes your clothing lay flat and look better
• Jeans must fit well and be the right length as they are a key component in your wardrobe.
• Accessories truly FINISH the outfit.  Don’t hold back and don’t be too “matchy-matchy”.  Use accessories and shoes to add contrast to an outfit
• There are always more clothes.  Don’t settle for clothes that don’t feel good or don’t fit perfectly
• Don’t buy an item without considering  how you’ll use them in your wardrobe

The end result of our shopping trip: 3 outfits under $100 including accessories. And as an added extra, Tina and Rebecca took the evening outfit and created a TOTALY new look  for perhaps a day at the Steeplechase.  Tell us about your favorite consignment store and your finds.

Accessories give the same dress a different look

Designer Finds

Gallery at Green Hills

2210 Crestmoor Road

Nashville, TN  37215

Ph:  615.279-1994

I had dinner with one of my BFFs a few weeks ago.  As we drank mojitos and watched the lightening roll in, we lamented nightwear. Her husband hates her Roberta Freymann pj pants with long- sleeved tee that she is forever pairing at bedtime.  He claims it sends a certain vibe which screams, “This is MY side of the bed which I will only share with my CATS.“  meeoooooow! For the record, they have no cats.

But, let’s be honest, don’t we all have this same outfit that we reach for most nights? Mine is a pair of long and comfy yoga pants, an ETC cami, and sometimes my husband’s long sleeved tee on top of that.  I do have a “His is Hers” nightshirt from Claridge and King and it is honestly the first PJ thing that has gotten an equal thumbs up from both my husband and myself.  So, the point I’m getting to is that what HE wants and what SHE wants is well divided in the nighttime wardrobe dept.  I’m not about to don anything with lace, ruffles, garters or bows.  And, I want to be able to pop out of bed in the morning with my kids in the room.

Since my only luck has been Claridge and King, I decided to go back to that brand to find something else.  Jamie is now carrying the line and it’s apparently doing quite well there. And, with the newest additions to their collection, I have found my new favorite PJ’s that once again gets an equal thumbs up from my hubby.  Here is a picture of my newest find.  Do you think with a wind machine I could look as good in mine?  Inside scoop: they run small.  I ordered a size medium and I’m a solid 8, sometimes a 6.  I like the medium, but it is snug.  Mine is black and I promise with a pair of spanx I might be tempted to wear it to dinner!  It is super soft and runs long.  It may be too long on someone under 5′4″.  In that case, order the mid-length.

These come in 3 lengths. Each is made out of 65% bamboo, 27% cotton and 8% spandex. Super soft. The shortest is basically a long tank for $42; The mid-length is $72; This long length (my favorite, but I'm really tall) is $92

So, now you, too, can send a good vibe that is neither “come hither” nor “go-away”.  It’s just a strong woman vibe…and that’s always a good thing.  For the record, I have a cat and he sleeps in the bed with us:-)

Head to Jamie or Rebekka Vaughn and check out the new collection.  OR, order online here.

Half of the Claridge & King lives in Nashville (Liz King), so you are supporting all sorts of local when you buy this brand at one of these stores!

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Last week the closet girls, Tina Adams and Rebecca Thompson, paid a visit to my closet. What I wanted from them was not a complete wardrobe overall, just a lively collaboration session– a little fun and  another set of eyeballs on my wardrobe.  I love the art of collaboration because it ALWAYS yields wonderful results, and in my case, our brainstorming created another 10-15 outfits for this season.

They pointed one thing that was woefully missing from my closet: a pair of vintage cowboy boots. I bought one pair from a consignment shop in Aspen, but the pros said I needed some in a neutral color with a higher heal.

As it was the third weekend of the month, I wandered around the flea market this past weekend not thinking the least bit about my need of cowboy boots. I was preoccupied for a while over my harried negotiation with a jewelry vendor which I LOST.  As I began negotiating, she VERY CURTLY said

Kim at the Nashville Flea Market with some smokin' vintage boots

to me, “Honey, I don’t stay up all night putting stickers on this jewelry to give you a discount.” (Well, OK….but, I thought that negotiating was what you were supposed to do at a flea market).  Well, since I didn’t get the dang piece, maybe she lost!  Rude!

Happily, I turned a corner and found my old friend Kim Brewer.

There she was surrounded by boots, boots and more really COOL boots. She has over 600 pairs!  Why, she even had a pair of turquoise boots lovingly named the mermaid boots. (In my trying on frenzy, I forgot to snap a picture. Dang it!)

Aren't these the best?!

Quickly, I relayed to her the closet girls suggestions and voila–there they were: my new boots.  What do ya’ll think?

Kim is a vintage queen.  She sells only men’s vintage clothing and cowboy boots at the Flea Market. However, at her booths in the Downtown Antique Market on 8th Avenue and in the Tennessee Antique Mall on Wedgewood, you will find a complete line of vintage clothing…. and oodles & oodles of boots!  You’ll never find a nicer and more gracious person to do business with in this town.  She loves finding the perfect boot for you and your taste.  Cowboy boots look great with shorts, skirts, sundresses and your favorite jeans.  They are the perennial trend that lingers in NashVegas for obvious reasons.

Give Kim a call or email her.  She’ll find you some of the hippest cowboy boots around.  Promise.

Important Info to acquire boots:

The Nashville Flea Market is open every 3rd weekend of the month.

www.tennesseestatefair.org/expo/fleamarket/dates.asp

Kim’s email:  kimvintage@comcast.net

Kim’s cell:  578-4693

The closet girls:  Tina Adams and Rebecca Thompson:  tinaadamsandrebeccathompson@yahoo.com

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