Thrifting Tips

Unconvential ways of shopping and saving money: 

We all pretty much know that mall shopping and clothing in retail stores are marked up to pay for their lease/rent, so prices in higher end malls usually tend to be higher, of course while you can always find deals by regularly checking in on clearance racks, warehouse locations and stores like Winners or TJMAXX - and spot further savings on their clearance racks - there are other ways to find great things for just a few bucks! 

*Try a consigment shop/boutique in a good well to do area, you never know what you’ll find, even high end stuff for a lot less. 

*One of my favourites is thrift shopping, even in places like goodwill, and the salvation army. Value village has locations all over the USA and Canada and is good except at times just a little more on the pricey side though they mark their vintage and pre 80’s clothes very very low so look there! Things like coats can be found at great value.

Sifting through stuff takes some time, so make a day out of it and if you feel more comfortable taking some latex gloves with you to wear, then do that! Store your purchases in a sealed bag and wash them as soon as you get home following label or fabric washing instructions. 

I guarantee you that you’ll spot new items from your favourite mall stores on racks that look like they’ve never been worn. In the fashion industry today new clothes are put out there every season and sometimes it’s just a little too much to digest, people often donate unworn clothing with tags on them because they just don’t have the chance to wear them. Thrift shopping is very economical and environmentally friendly, and if you don’t know where to start then maybe go on a hunt for some classics for your wardrobe: 

Here’s Mr. Tim Gunn’s list on wardrobe basics: 

http://womensfashion.suite101.com/article.cfm/tim_gunns_10_essential_elements

I’d also like to add that scarves and vintage scarves are PLENTY at thrift stores, so pick up some pretty ones that can add colour to your outfits or to accessorize your bags!! And before you head out don’t forget to check the jewellery counter, maybe you’ll spot a classic strand of pearls or a unique brooch that you can’t live without.

Finally don’t fret if you find a coat that’s missing a button or has ugly buttons all together, don’t put it back if the fit, style and colours are flattering, you can always remove them and replace them with totally new buttons that will change the entire look of the coat! And remember you can always have it altered, a 70’s maxi dress can be shortened to a cute mini and so forth. Check your garments well to make sure they’re in good condition and have no tears or holes.

Thrift stores are great for things like vintage buttons too, so keep your eyes open and you’re sure to find something great that you’ll feel so proud of. 

*Also next time you head south to vacation on the islands, pick up some accessories!! Things like jewellery made from lovely shells and local stones and minerals can be a cheap way to accessorize. Places like Cuba offer beautiful leather goods, so get some slippers, a pretty belt or even a bag or hat. Sure some of it is touristy and tacky but if you have a good eye you can spot something very simple, classic which can make any fashion forward outfit!

I hope I’ve inspired you to try your hand at thrift shopping, go alone or take your girl-friends, check out new stores in smaller towns, especially well to do areas and keep checking back in for new stuff before it gets picked over. 

Happy shopping!.

Jalabiyaat

Since we were on the topic of "clothes" I thought I'd share some lovely arabic styled Jalabiyas that many women wear on fancy occassions. There are simpler versions made of cotton and other fabrics decorated to certain degrees for wearing indoors, they're actually very practical and comfortable, still indoors many younger women and girls today have adapted more western wear (including myself ;)) like jeans, tops, skirts and sweatsuits. When visiting friends or relatives it's very much required to dress up, that's when muslim women have a chance to show off their fashion sense in all women gatherings and parties.

When I was younger I vividly remember this tradition every thursday, since in the Islamic world Friday is a holiday people often spend thursday nights as westerners do their friday night going out and socializing.


As early as seven years old I was very much involved in this tradition, the closest thing I can compare it to is an episode of "Pride and Prejudice" where the Bennet sisters run around in their slips whinning and throwing their clothes around trying to find a descent outfit for the occasion. And that is pretty much what went on in my house, I would spend the whole day after returning from school sorting through my closet trying to find the right outfit, accessories, stockings, shoes, hair clips, jewellery and handbag. It would take hours upon hours and my sister and I would ask each others' opinions over and over, then ask mom's opinion and I remember times when at the last minute before getting into the car I'd run back in and change my scarf or skirt, or grab another handbag after feeling uneasy about the one I had chosen earlier. Dad of course thought we were insane and he often rolled his eyes or shouted at us from the door to "hurry up!!!" and that we were only visiting friends and not preparing for a fashion show in Paris!

It all seems so silly thinking back at it now, but it was fun and though we've tuned down a lot since then and especially because it is so much harder to visit relatives while living in the west, everyone seems farther apart, busier and people just don't make the time, and even when they do there isn't that sense of "culture" and hospitality that I've become so accustomed to growing up in the middle east.

*sigh* That's what I really miss, the holidays, the weekly visits, the socializing in it's own special way, I believe that will always stay with me and I hope to properly present those traditions to my own guests and friends.

Visiting the Emirates mall in Dubai I saw some exquisite jalabiyaat, and amazingly even in Yemen at the Aden mall. I could not resist so I picked up a really traditional looking one with a beautiful copper and turquoise beaded bodice for around 16,000 YR (it was on sale!), I thought it was well worth my $80 though most local Yemenis would not share that opinion and they tried so hard to discourage me or at least laugh at me when all else failed. Regardless I walked off really happy with my new Jalabiyah which I look very much forward to wearing whenever a suitable occassion arrises.

Below is a selection that I picked out from a womens middle eastern fashion forum, many of the garments are sewn and hand-done in India giving that south east asian feel.

Simply beautiful ....

More Jalabiyas sold here

Abayah trends

What's up with the new Abayah trends? I had to comment about this because .. isn't this getting a teeny tiny bit out of control? You judge for yourself!

Abayah is the lose garment worn by muslim women outside the home (particularly in the arabian gulf), it is commonly black however a jilbab may come in a range of colours from Navy blue, green, beige and the like. Abayah is petty rare here in the west and with all the different cultures and nationalities you rarely see a true khaleeji abayah. Myself I used to like the shami fitted type of jilbab, my aunt used to bring some really nice ones back from her trip to Lebanon.

It wasn't until I travelled to Dubai and then I saw some truly outrageous patterns/colours/designs, some are just hilarious!

I love Abayah, don't get me wrong. Beading and embroidery were always around but in modest colours like black on black and so forth. The new trends now are all about colour, huge patterns, beading, crystal, gold, silver, sequins, fringes, rhinestones, tafeeta, feathers, chiffon, lace, you name it, they got it!!

What happened to modest Islamic plain black Abayas?? They're almost non-existant or extremely rare to find.

While browing on flickr (love that place!) I've discoverd yet the most shocking desing, the sheikh of UAE himself was on an abaya sheylah nicely displayed on the plastic model behind the glass at a shop at Wafi City. The sheikh's entire head was hand-done onto each side of the sheylah using silver sequens !Not to mention the pricey posh designer Abayas by Villa Moda, check out the pictures below, as the photographer exclaimed "abayah or party gown?

Forget the Paris Abayahs with the heavy price tags that will burn a hole in your wallet, even the others can be way over priced. When I was in Yemen, just before heading to Dubai I was off to the STC Mall looking for a descent Abayah that would live up to the Emirati 'standards', the Abayah I wore around yemen was a plain saudi kind I had picked up back in Canada, way too worn out to fit the "Dubai scene". My time was really limited and becuase of my height I began to wonder if I'd ever get my hands on one.
Thankfully, after some searching by the shop keeper he offered me "simpler" design which had a strip of beading running around the hem and cuffs, even around the bottom hem. The length measurement was good and it was fully black, at least lacked colour feathers and what not. I quickly made up my mind and grabbed the garment and handed over the 21,000 YR even though I didn't think it was worth my $100.

The Abayah has now pretty much lost it's purpose, from what I've seen it being used as a lose dragging shawl on top of the trendy tight tops and designer jeans, accessorized with the latest fashions in flashy handbags, sunglasses, makeup, mobile phones, jewellery, heels and accessories with the small sheylah worn on the head. (If you think muslim women aren't stylish then think again!! Believe me, I've seen it, they take only the finest)

Next time I get invited to a party or wedding I won't bother digging around in my closet because I might just consider......... the Abayah. ; )