My father grew up in the Great Depression. During the Seventies, my mother refused to let the economic crisis limit her designer intake. My mother passed down her thrifted Dior and shopping secrets to me: how to “fix” broken jewelry, how to upholster bar stools with mink coats, how to dress “one size fits all” and how like fine wine, clothes are better when marked “vintage.”

I learned the secrets of extreme shopping on an extreme budget.
After spending three years living in six cities and four countries, I know how to fill closet space with quality clothing on poverty wages. Quality clothing isn’t about brands. Like art, quality clothing is about craftsmanship; well-crafted goods can be found in the sale bin at Goodwill or on a sidewalk at the Vienna flea market.

For one year, I will not go “retail shopping.”

This means I will not buy any dresses, skirts, shirts, boots, handbags, belts, perfume, headbands, tights, kitten heels, socks, gloves, jewelry, etc. from a store that sells never-worn, new items.

Instead, every item I wear will be something I’ve purchased from a second-hand thrift shop, vintage boutique, flea market, pawn shop, garage sale, Goodwill, Ebay etc. (or something I already own.)

Through it all, I’ll chronicle the best shops, the best finds, and tips for turning pre-owned goods into true treasures. Note: Some of my finds will be hard to believe. You may question my honesty when I post pictures of Ferragamo shoes that sell for $3.00 resale. Please feel free to doubt me. I don’t need the competition at Goodwill. But even if you’re a non-believer, you can still be a do-gooder. Not only do second-hand ReDressions help your finances, they also help the finances of many charities and struggling shop owners! It truly is guilt-free, green shopping.

This is a second-hand, recession-friendly, guilt-free ReDression. Enjoy your quest and happy hunting.

I am neither a stylist nor a trend-setter. I’m an “unemployed” writer who worships 1950s film and frequents thrift stores across America and Europe.

I don’t claim to know the first thing about what’s going to appear in next month’s Vogue… I tend to follow my frugal-yet-stylish mother’s advice: “Do not dress to be envied; dress to be remembered.”

Envy may sell fashion, but style is not for sale. Personal style can be built with items from Goodwill if chosen and worn properly.

In addition to building your own style, buying resale stops the guilty feeling that comes with over-consumption, over-indulgence, and credit card debt. Buying vintage, high-quality items from countries with clean human rights records is not just good for the pocketbook; it’s great for your conscience.

I always find it amusing to see 16 year-old girls getting manicures before prom. What a waste of ten dollars!

For less than you’ll pay on the polish, you can invest in the item that will set you apart at a black tie event:

Evening gloves…

…There’s a few go-to places to find perfect vintage gloves. I’ve picked up some beautiful French lace gloves at flea markets in Vienna and Cannes. I also bought a bulk package of pairs in every neutral color on Ebay from a nice elderly lady in Palm Beach; she sold her entire collection for $5.00, bless her. But buyer beware: invest in a good fabric or you’ll look like a cheap holiday Barbie. Don’t buy gloves from a store. No one has made a decent pair of evening gloves after 1965, so go Grandma or go vintage.

Ladies, it takes grace and a little bit of courage to wear gloves with formal wear. (People will notice and make comments. Remember, it’s classic and rarely done except at Deb balls where the girls are almost always wearing store-bought ones.) But I guarantee you’ll be the belle who stands out and saves money over the years.