ReStyle with Rebekah

These Boots were made for Blogging.

2009-10-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

I love when women wear brown. Be it boots, sweaters,or coats. I rarely do and I am not exactly sure why. I suppose I just find black to be easier; black shirts + black boots = easy. There are so many shades of brown, and I have a hard time figuring out how to make them all work. I see brown worn beautifully by so many friends and women around me. But I never seem to be able to look good while wearing the earthy color. Part of it is my hair- my very brown hair. I feel like a giant dirt ball or something if I wear a brown sweater. Weird, I know.

But every now and then I will be wearing an outfit (I hate that word, btw.) and I realize it calls for brown boots. I have amazing brown, cowgirl boots (consignment store in Philadelphia- $40) but they aren't sophisticated enough for every outfit. (Ugh, there it is again. Is ensemble better?) So one missing essential in my own wardrobe is Brown boots. I resist purchasing them because I know how seldom they will see the light of day. They will be trapped- shoe prisoners in a closet full of black pumps, flats and boots. I wonder if brown shoes feel like a minority in New York City?

So imagine my delight when I found a pair of brand new, Banana Republic boots on a recent thrift store expedition. They have a lovely heel- not too high. And a deep, rich brown color. The part around my leg appears slouchy even though the fit feels secure. I love them! The price tag read $25, but it was "HALF OFF ALL SHOES" day; who knew such a glorious day existed?! So I took my new boots home without a trace of buyer's remorse.

1st Video Blog!!!

2009-10-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

Restyle with Rebekah in Action!

2009-10-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

THRIFT or TREAT!

I imagine thrift stores experience skyrocketing sales in October. I mean, where better to find those quirky accessories that complete your costume? For every pair of Prada shoes I find, there are dozens of tacky t-shirts, Lycra skirts, and tropical moo-moos.

My husband and I do not as yet have a Halloween party to attend this year. But that doesn't stop me from dreaming up ideas. This morning, as I perused the thrift store in my neighborhood, I saw this belt and my Halloween vison became clear. Me and Adrian need to be Mr. and Mrs.Beckham, aka David and Victoria, aka Becks and Posh. Call them what you will, they are perfect for us.. Because what is Halloween if not the opportunity to channel our alter egos? And who better for Adrian and I to personify then a world class soccer star, and his former Spice girl, shopaholic wife? All we need to remember is what seems to be their only rule of thumb: NO SMILING.(click for pic) Think we can do it?

Disaster Relief: Thift Store Style

2009-10-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Cathy recently lost a lot of her fall/winter wardrobe in a devastating flood in her basement. Worse than this, she lost valuable family keepsakes. Unfortunately, I couldn't help replace those, but the wardrobe? Well, that I could help salvage.

As you can imagine, the repair of their finished basement is going to cost some money, so the clothing budget was lower down on their priority list. But I knew we could do very well within a reasonable budget. I took Cathy to my favorite thrift store in NJ: Red, White, and Blue. Prior to meeting there, I bestowed to her my Thrift Store Shopping Tips:

1. Bring $100 cash

2. Wear a camisole under whatever you wear so you can try on tops. (I'm sorry, did you think there would be a dressing room in a place that sells shoes for $4??)

3. Wear leggings or a long skirt so you can inconspicuously try on pants.

4. Bring a list- very easy to get side tracked at a place that sells everything but the kitchen sink. Actually, I’ve seen a toilet there. No lie.

5. Hand sanitizer. Enough said.

We embarked with rapid fire as I had to catch a train back to the city within 2 hours. We briskly went through almost every aisle pulling everything that caught our eye. This process takes longer than people think. I had to actually leave Cathy with two carts of clothing that she still needed to try on! I felt awful, but I knew she would do a great job as she was very receptive to my tips along the way. Cathy and I talked a short while later and she gave me the run down of everything she got.

For $200 (She had to take out another $100 at the store's ATM machine) she got: (drum roll please)

6 shirts
3 sweaters
4 dresses
2 coats
2 pairs of shoes

Brands included:

Via Spiga
Jones New York
BCBG
Ralph Lauren
Halo
Liz Claiborne
Anne Taylor

Have you guys been shopping lately?? $200 is less than the value of the Via Spiga coat she found! I was so thrilled that she came away with things she needed and loved. Best of all, we spent a really fun morning together which is rare now that I live in New York. :( OH, and lest you feel sorry for me, I managed to find a pair of never worn Prada shoes for $24. Now, if that’s not worth the price of admission, (or in my case, the NJ transit ticket) than what in the world is?

AHOY!

2009-09-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

I found this necklace at the thrift store a couple weeks ago. I've been hesitant to wear it, but finally rocked it today. Seems strange to me that I was nervous to wear such a large anchor around my neck considering I have a larger one tattooed on my back. You see, long before they were über trendy, my girlfriends and I decided anchors would be a symbol for our friendship. Having become the posse we are now during adolescence, we were indeed anchors to one another. So, when I saw that necklace in the display case, ($4) I picked it up to purchase as a reflex. Anchor = for me.

The chain is heavy, it is clearly not real silver, and there is a kitsch factor to it that precariously rides the line between cool and tacky. But today it felt right and so I wore it. And wouldn't you know, I got more than one compliment! I miss seeing my anchor. It is on my lower back and there is just no easy way to stare at it- I've tried. At least now I can see this one every time I glance down-and feel a little like a Rap star at the same time. Love that.

WARDROBE EDIT # 1: Tiffany Himes, Astoria, NY.

2009-09-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of purging a friend’s closet. At her request, we "edited"- or took a good, long look at what she had, (a lot) what was missing, (a few key things) what she loved and what she didn't. We went piece by piece and made an immediate decision for each one:

DONATE or CONSIGN

MEND/DRYCLEAN

TRASH/ USE AS RAGS

Forcing yourself to put each item QUICKLY into one of these categories is important to keep the momentum going. If given too much time, we can all find a reason to keep the amazing pink dress that we never wore because it never fit!

I was very impressed by Tiffany's ability to let go. I expected a tug- of- war scenario at least once. "I WANT TO KEEP THE TENNIS DRESS!" "BUT YOU DON"T PLAY TENNIS!" etc. When all was said and done (two and a half hours later) we were left with two large garbage bags of clothes ready to find new homes, and one large basket of great items that just needed some TLC. Keep in mind we went through her ENTIRE four season wardrobe- it takes time!

We also came away with a list of things missing from Tiffany's closet. (Stay with me: this is the fun part!) According to my list of essentials, this is a sample of what Tiffany is missing or needs to replace.

1. Great wrap dress-black or brown.

2. High quality sweater dress- black and/or brown.

3. Black camisole for layering.

4. V-neck cotton t-shirts- esp. white.

5. All things vintage! (Tiffany gravitates towards vintage and can really pull it off- we will be keeping our eyes peeled for really unique pieces that will mix up the basics she is acquiring.)

6. Ballet flats

7. High quality stretch jeans- they exist, we just need to find them. Tiffany finds most denim uncomfortable and therefore doesn't wear it much. This is difficult for me as they are practically my uniform, but I am convinced we will find the PERFECT JEANS for her; WE WILL TRIUMPH. (French Kiss starring Meg Ryan, anyone?)

8. Long cardigan sweater.

9. Black turtleneck.

10. Dressy "going out" tops- preferably with built in "shelf bra."

11. Black skirt.

12. Mini- Dress- must show off her legs!

13. A pair of great boots that will go all of the above.

Does this list make your stomach queazy? Do you just see dollar signs as you add all that up? It can seem daunting, but when done intentionally, with patience, and a healthy dose of ambition, this is very doable- WITHOUT spending a fortune. It may take a little longer, but if Tiffany and I keep this list in our bag as we shop thrift stores, sample sales, and consignment stores, I am positive we can find everything she needs. Sure, she could march into Bloomingdales and hand the list to a personal shopper, but where is the fun in that? I know, some of you are thinking, "that sounds VERY fun" but I assure you that the thrill of the hunt- the feeling of victory when you find IT at a fraction of the cost is far more satisfying, and is what motivates me to do what I do!

During our excavation of Tiffany’s closet, one of the most fun and surprising moments occurred when we encountered an amazing vintage dress- hand made by her mother-in-law. For sentimental reasons, Tiffany wanted to keep the dress even though she wasn't sure how to make it work. I loved everything about the dress- the colors, the pattern, the care that was taken in creating it. But it did present a few challenges. It was short, bold, and something between a tunic and a dress. I decided a belt was what was needed so we added it to the list.

Lo and behold, we unearthed the PERFECT belt at the very bottom of a pile. It worked perfectly with the dress, and crystallized for Tiffany the look I was going for. Sometimes you needn't look farther that your own closet for something new to wear, people! Love that.

If editing your closet seems like something you would like to do- but are afraid to attempt on your own, please send me a message if you are in the NYC area. Perhaps you have already purged your closet and you’re ready to shop! I am happy to accompany you on that journey as well- my goal is to maximize your money, your beauty, and your time! Restyle with Rebekah was born from the idea that there is an alternative to how you currently shop. Sometimes you have to shake up how you look at things, or WHERE you look FOR things. Take a hiatus from the mall. Explore a thrift or consignment store instead. Wander through a flea market instead of heading straight to Pottery Barn. Or better yet, see what lies inside your OWN garage, basement or attic. The very thing you are searching for might be right under your nose. (Who knows, you may even found that overdue library book as well!) JOIN ME ON THIS QUEST FOR CONSUMER REDEMPTION.

Searching for the One.

2009-09-17T18:58:00.000-07:00

I must be preparing for imminent homelessness. I have so many bags I could probably fill them with the entire contents of my apartment. I can’t seem to help myself, and because I never spend an exorbitant amount on any of them, adding one to the collection always seems easy to justify.

Lately though, I have been looking for something special. I guess you could say I am looking for The One. I am tired of settling. Sure, I have a reliable black bag, but it’s just not that exciting. Of course I have a super cute clutch for going out, but it isn’t at all practical! I need my ~~man~~ bag to encompass all that I want and need, as well as be able to hold it! I mean, on any given day I have these items in my bag:

1.Large portfolio style folder with legal pad and head shots (great for looking important)
2.wallet
3.blackberry ( great for feeling inferior to iphone users)
4.calendar/planner- still not proficient on the BB
5.current read- most recently “Those Who Save Us” by Jenna Blum
6.pashmina or hoody as the weather changes into Fall
7.small umbrella
8.small cosmetic bag
9.baggie of crayons
10.scrap paper
11.vanilla milk- that’s my magic potion for Gabe when he has had enough of the subway.
12.gum- the other magic trick
13.various bibs and bobs

As you can see, I don’t travel lightly. I am ready to commit to one bag. You know, seriously- to have and to HOLD.

THE STATS.

I am looking for a black, well made, high quality bag. It needs to have a cross body strap, look chic and feminine like a women's handbag, but smart and functional like a man’s messenger bag.

So, HOW did I end up with a GIANT white patent leather Marc Jacobs tote ? Well, it was at the thrift store for $20. TWENTY. DOLLARS. I snatched it before anyone had the good sense to change their mind. I don’t think this bag is the one, but he it will do for now.

I could sublet this thing.

2009-09-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

DESTINATION THRIFT
PART 1: Portland, Maine

* As always, before heading to a new destination, I scour the internet looking for thrift and consignment shops in that area. The following is the first in what will be a series I like to call DESTINATION THRIFT.*

One of the highlight’s of our trip to Maine this summer was a day spent whale watching in Portland. (We didn’t spot any whales, but my later find alleviates this disappointment.)

Portland is a beautiful city, though the sidewalks are annoyingly uneven. After a circuitous walk with a few wrong turns, we end up where I wanted to be: “Second Time Around- Resale goes Upscale.” Upon venturing in, I am pleasantly surprised- the store is bright, clean, modern, and well stocked. Certainly not the L.L. Bean castoff center I was expecting. I was mostly looking for a bag, maybe some Fall sweaters, but I certainly wasn’t looking for a Vera Wang strapless gown…I guess you could say IT found me. At my sister in law’s request (Ok, she is not yet my sister in law, they are just engaged, but “my brother’s girlfriend” just doesn’t do her justice) I tried it on. All my usual protests began- “Where would I wear it?” “It’s too fancy” “I have black dresses”, etc. Heather responded without missing a beat: “To my wedding,” “It’s beautiful” and “Not like this one.” I kid you not, when I pulled open the curtain of the dressing room, the song “You look wonderful tonight” began playing. I half expected fans to materialize and start blowing my hair around. But no, mostly I just got weird stares from conservative Maniacs echoing my insecurities; “Where is she gonna wear THAT?” “It’s so fancy…”

But the difference is I live in New York City, and I can make up/find/buy/create a reason to wear this dress! Good gracious, I could wear it to the grocery store and nobody would take note!

The price was steep- more than I usually spend in a consignment store- definitely more than I spend in a thrift store. It was $160, but the dress is brand new with the tags still attached. I didn’t see the original price, but I estimated that it would retail for around $400-$500. I decided this is too good a deal to pass up, and at some point there will be an event for which I need just this dress, so I decided to consider it a FUTURE investment…

After a quick google search, I was delighted to find the dress actually retails for over $700. Any guilt I felt for spending that much money on a non- necessity soon dissipated. I roped my husband into playing photographer and did a silly photo shoot with the dress. See photos below. I know, I know, I missed my calling as Ralph Lauren model…sigh.

Check back for more amazing finds ‘cause that’s just what I do!

*click on pictures to enlarge*

A small fortune.

2009-08-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

It really is true. Have you trash picked on Park avenue lately?

I was waiting for the perfect way to introduce myself to the blogosphere- portray myself and ideas just so...and then this fortune comes tumbling out of my delicious cookie, and I can see no better way to state my mission than this. Stay tuned for more.