These boots were made for... purchasing produce?

So, I tagged along with Jared to Kroger, and he sort of laughed when I grabbed my camera. "Who are you going to see to photograph at Kroger," he said.

Rachel, that's who. I complimented her on her red hair, she complimented mine, and we suddenly, instantly bonded over the wide selection of canned soups. Crazy how these things work out. She was happy to put down her lettuce and Portabellos so we could snap a few good shots.

Photos and edits courtesy of The Jared.

We had to get a pic of her boots. "I got those at a TJ Maxx in Chicago," she said. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a pair of strategically-battered boots worn over the jeans. Maybe it's a throwback to my childhood days, riding horses and tromping through the mud puddles at the State Forest in Pike County. You can take the girl out of the hick-town, but you can't take the hick-town out of the girl.

 Oh, my friends, it was a PAIN to get a decent picture of this necklace. But get a load of that hunk o' turquoise. So worth it. I regret to say that we were so deep in conversation that I forgot to ask where she got her necklace. Fashion-blogger fail. D'you still love me?






She accessorized her simple jeans, T-shirt, and black leather jacket with a mustard-yellow scarf that SO works with her hair, a beige leather shoulder-bag, and that most essential of all accessories -- a great, big, genuine smile. The best subjects are the ones who are so clearly brimming with joie de vivre. Props, Miss Rachel. You rock.

The Thrilling Thrift Hunt

Beware if you decide to jump on the thrift-store bandwagon. It becomes an addiction. The good news is that I can tell you the location of every top-notch bargain hunter's paradise from here to Evansville, Louisville, Dayton, and Cincinnati. Value World, the DAV, Salvation Army, St. Vinnies, Goodwill... I'm an encyclopedia of thrift-tasticness.

The bad news is, thrifting has become like crack to me. Well, at least it's generally less expensive. But seriously. I learned from the best. My step-grandmother's been at it for the majority of her 88 years. My mom's been taking me thrifting since I was a wee child of about 7. You get GOOD at sifting through diamonds in the rough when you start at so tender of an age. I have a talent. A gift, even. Everyone wants to go shopping with me, because the Thrifting Gods favor me so.

The itch hit hard again on my way home from my dad's parents' home in Milan. (Milan, Indiana. Not the more-exciting Milan.) Suddenly, I spotted the Goodwill in Batesville. I was powerless to resist her sweet siren call.

Fortunately, I was able to pay for most of the resultant haul with grandparent Christmas money. (Bless you, grandparents of the world!) I also befriended a bargain-conscious duo of elderly ladies, who let me in on their secret: This particular Goodwill sells everything half-price to the over-50 crowd every Sunday. They adopted me as a surrogate niece for the next fifteen minutes, so what would have been a $96 haul was only $48.

Needless to say, this weekend I have made a HELLACIOUS wardrobe upgrade, courtesy of the Batesville Goodwill.

With some aid from Rag-o-Rama in Indy, where I found a sweet pair of Steve Madden snake-printed platform sandals ($16) for next season, and some platform gothic butt-kicking boots ($15) for RIGHT FREAKIN' NOW. Incidentally, they look fairly like the Demonia boots I was about to drop nearly $80 for. Oh, I am a happy girl.

The haul includes:

•  hand-knit cream-colored shawl
• a scarf to match
• two berets in black and oatmeal (You could say I was inspired by Andrea's recent beret-laden hotness)
• a knee-length black sweater-jacket, perfect for layering
• a perfectly-fitting oatmeal jacket for spring
• a divinely soft white New York & Co cowl-neck sweater
• two delicious chunky, angora cardigans in grey and black
• some grey suede flat midcalf boots (Perfectly timed, since my black pair needs replacing)
• a velvet pinstriped J.Crew blazer
• a SWOON-WORTHY silk-velvet Elie Tahari blouse. I saw similar on the Bergdorf-Goodman website for $250.
• The perfect little leather overnight bag for my next weekend trip

A haul of this quality gives you a ridiculous sense of accomplishment. I mean, any fool with a ton of money in the bank can just walk into Saks and grab the "right" brands in the "right" silhouette for the season. The rest of us need to be more resourceful and better at the hunt. What's my point? The point would be that there's no POINT in paying full retail. For anything. Also, I'm available if anybody needs a shopping buddy and/or personal shopper. Because there is nothing like the rush of a hunt like this.

Tweeds and stripes downtown

I tell you guys, if this blog ever successfully monetizes, I'm gonna have to put Jared on payroll. Here's some more of his sartorial observation. Check out the pics he got. I LOVE the coat!

Quoth Jared,

I ran into Jason S. and his sister at Au Bon Pain on the circle today. I asked where he gets most of his clothes, "Ummm, J.Crew, and a lot of thrift shops". He works for Angie's List downtown. His sister was equally well dressed but declined to be on camera. When I commented on her style, Jason noted "Yeah, she's my sister, so we come from the same tribe."

I wrote on a napkin your site's address and snapped 3 shots.

Hot style on a cold night at IndyFringe

My friend Jared and I were enjoying the IDADA First Friday Art Walk, but it was a very cold December night. So we were drawn to a particular crowd outside IndyFringe, gathered around a cozy-looking little fire. The group was warm, inviting, and engaging, so we took a few moments to warm up.

It was around this time that we discovered Awesome Coat Girl conversing with Awesome Scarf Girl:

I zeroed in on Awesome Coat Girl first, a vision of streamlined style with her military-inspired double-breasted coat, French braid updo, and sleek leather gloves.

Name: Cris J.
Home: Downtown Indy
Occupation: Information Services
Where'd you get the coat? "Macy's at Glendale Mall on Keystone."



Now it's time to meet Awesome Scarf Girl. She kept it simple with a gray skirt, black coat, and black boots, but distinguished herself with the feathered headband, impeccable scarf, and patterned tights.

Name: Breena F.
Home: Downtown Indy
Occupation: Account manager at MediaSauce
Biggest fashion vice: "Scarves!"
Where'd you get your coat? "I can't remember -- TJ Maxx, maybe?"