thrifted

You know what time it is, y’all! That magical day that comes smack in the middle of February to brighten our bleak winters with the prospects of love and romance (or cheap consumer goods, if you’re a cynic). It’s Valentine’s Day, if you haven’t already caught on, which means plenty of us are planning on going on some sort of date to take advantage of the increased levels of hopeless romance. Are you wondering what you should wear on such a date? Well, that’s why I’m here, isn’t it?

If you’re like me, then you treat every outing as an opportunity to debut a new outfit creation, so I was inspired to create some dazzling outfits with unique vibes that I’ve never worn before. They all have touches of some sweet pinks as an ode to the holiday that has us all swooning for our sweeties.

Check out my outfits below:

Bee Sweet, Bee Kind, Bee Mine

I really wanted to channel a fun, childish spirit with this look. I paired a pink, glittery sweater that features a bee embellishment with a whimsical, full mini skirt for a super fun and playful look. I finished it all off with some slides that feature rhinestone stars over a backdrop of gold and purple bugs, making it the perfect pairing with the bee sweater. And this purse is shaped like a camera- can you get much cuter than that?

Gray Mock Neck Top (Under Sweater) & Heart Choker- Forever21. Glittery Sweater- H&M, Thrifted from Buffalo Exchange. Skirt- Oak & Fort. Shoes- Circus by Sam Edelman. Purse- Betsey Johnson.

Black Is the New Pink

If you’re not really the pretty in pink type, and don’t own many looks that are the frilly, romantic type that Valentine’s Day demands, don’t worry! There are still plenty of cute options that fit perfectly with the spirit of ~love!~ like this little black dress with a trompe l’oeil pink collar and pink and purple cuffs. There is just enough sweetness for it to be the perfect date night look. I paired it with an oversized flower hair clip for a little extra special touch of romance.

Dress- ModCloth. Hair Clip & Boots- Forever21.

Bohemian Glam, Thank You Ma’am

I had so much fun putting this outfit together because I was just like “what else can I add to this to make it just a little more interesting?” First of all, this shimmery, frilly, pink top is such a dream that it makes any outfit a ~look~ and I paired it with some ’70s-inspired wide leg jeans and some platform clogs (both of which are also show-stopping pieces on their own). I accessorized with a crystal headband, a pearly fanny pack and a zig-zaggy Twin Peak’s necklace that my boyfriend gifted to me, making it the perfect accessory for a Valentine’s Day date outfit! All of these over-the-top elements really came together to create a look that totally fits with the fantasy aspects of this lovely, little holiday!

Top- Zara. Wide-Legged Pants- Forever21. Platform Clogs- Derek Lam, Thrifted from Buffalo Exchange. Fanny Pack- Forever21, Thrifted from Buffalo Exchange. Necklace & Headband- ????

I hope these few outfits inspired you to think outside of the box for your next date outfit, whether or not it’s for Valentine’s Day. Have a great holiday and don’t forget to shop all of the sale candy on the day after! And, as always, keep your eyes peeled for my next editorial~~~

Enjoy this funny, candid bonus pic from the shoot:

valentine's day cute quirky unique pink date outfit ideas editorial style fashion the young eclectic

Thrift, charity, resale, vintage, second-hand, hand-me-downs- no matter what you call it, thrifting is when you acquire something that has been owned and used by somebody before you. For some, this may not seem like the most appealing idea and I, too, held this opinion at some point in my life because I was averse to the smell of thrift stores and often felt like the items were dirty. But, sometime while I was in high school, I changed my tune after discovering a ton of “thrift haul” videos on YouTube (thanks @grav3yardgirl!), which basically just entailed the YouTuber showing off their thrifted finds. I was always so entirely impressed by all of the things these vloggers were able to find, it almost instantly became an obsession of mine, and my wardrobe ballooned in size with all of the pieces I was finding for what I felt like were nickels and dimes.

Being someone who had no money and loved new clothes, my transition into thrifting seemed obvious and inevitable, especially after I realized just how many completely unique and charmingly-fashionable items were really available that people were just throwing away. I’ve acquired so many vintage blouses and quirky sweaters that I would have never been able to find in stores that had a level of quality that I would never be able to match for the price. It has so completely informed my personal style and attitude towards fashion, I can’t imagine finding a bulk of my clothing at regular retailers. In fact, if I’m shopping at a regular store, I often think “I could just thrift something like this,” if I come across something I like that seems too expensive.

Not only is thrifting a great way to find seemingly one-of-a-kind pieces to add dimension and flavor to your wardrobe, it’s also one way you can reduce your environmental impact. Fast fashion retailers like Zara, H&M and Forever21 may be cheap and accessible, but they pollute so much and create a ridiculous amount of waste, not to mention rely on underpaid workers to create their pieces. If you still want a cheaper option for clothing that doesn’t have such an impact, thrifting is an amazing way you can do this- and it doesn’t even have to be at places like Goodwill and Savers, which rely solely on donations, so their stock is not always the best. Resale stores like Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange buy people’s used clothes, so they stock quality pieces that are in line with today’s trends. (I highly recommend Buffalo Exchange! *cough cough* please sponsor me 🙂 )

I didn’t mean for this to be so long-winded! I’m just so passionate about thrifting and want as many people as possible to know how magical and vital it can be!

Check out some looks I created below, which are styled entirely from thrifted finds:

Grungy Gal

This turquoise and purple flannel is honestly one of my favorite layering pieces in the winter- the colors are just so eye-catching! I paired it with a grey mock-neck sweater and denim midi dress, with my Derek Lam platform slides finishing everything off!

Flannel, mock-neck sweater and denim dress are from Goodwill. Derek Lam platforms are from Buffalo Exchange.

Chic in the City

I usually don’t dress this ~chic~ but I wanted to show off this incredible skyline sweater that is my favorite thrift find of all time! I dresses it up with a plaid mini, knee-high socks and some basic black boots.

Sweater and boots are from Goodwill. Plaid skirt is from Buffalo exchange. Socks are from Forever21, unfortunately not thrifted, but who thrifts socks??

Denim Daze

There is literally never a bad time to break out the double denim looks, especially since this oversized denim shirt is one of my favorite layering pieces because it goes with literally everything and will make you look like an effortless cool girl. The shimmering, cropped sweater is a gorgeous vintage piece I couldn’t leave without, so here it is- I thought it would look good with my sparkly party boots (was I right?).

Denim shirt is from Goodwill. Jeans and boots are from Buffalo Exchange. Vintage sweater is from a vintage booth at a city-wide garage sale event in Austin, Texas.

Business Meets Pleasure

So many fun details in this outfit- a blazer covered in pastel motifs, overalls I thrifted from a friend’s closet and customized by cutting the calves open, and a vintage white blouse with a pearl-embellished collar- too fun and so practical! I could definitely wear this to the office and feel like a professional with a fun side!

Blazer from Goodwill. Vintage blouse from Savers. Fanny pack and platforms from Buffalo Exchange. Overalls from a friend.

I would love to see your thrifted looks! Tag me @annkatpip on Instagram and I’ll check them out and give you some love! Stay tuned for my next editorial shoot!