a year of thrifting

denim jacket - car boot sale, turtleneck crop top - charity shop/ diy, tartan trousers - charity shop, earrings - primark, ian the rabbit - farmer's market

So September's here (already) and with that marks my year of thrifting! I was already shopping in charity shops for three or four years previously, but last September was when I made the concious decision of quitting the high street altogether in terms of clothing. I originally set myself the challenge for a month, and the reason behind why I started doing it was simply money. I was beginning to seriously househunt with my best friend (and now housemate) and I knew I just wouldn’t have the money to sustain my throwaway high street fashion habit much longer. However one month turned into two months, two months into three, and now here I am a year later! I can safely say that restricting myself to solely second hand items has opened my eyes to the possibilities of clothing in terms of altering and personalising clothes. I also think I've become a lot more confident and adventurous with my fashion choices, too. I don't think I've ever had as many items of clothing as I do now either, thanks to the discovery of 50p rails and £1 rooms (here's to you, Salvation Army!). At one point, I did think I might start high street shopping again after a year, but after going charity shopping yesterday and getting three dresses and a (cat print!!!) shirt for £7.50, I'm not sure I'll be going back anytime soon.

Anyway - onto the outfit. I kept seeing this style American Apparel turtleneck crop tops all over blogs and really wanted one. So I hunted down a normal turtleneck top (this one was £1) and hacked at it and sewed it until it resembled something similar. I do like it in this outfit but I kind of feel like I'm being strangled when I'm wearing it so I don't know if I'll wear it again. Ian liked it though. It matched his fur.

Laila x