BUYING SECONDHAND FOR A YEAR

A lasting home, a lasting closet— buying (mostly) only second hand things for my home and closet for one year.

My 2018 goal was to only buy second hand for my home and closet. Working in the apparel industry, I'm constantly surrounded my messages to buy, buy, buy. In the social media space and as content creator, there's even more pressure to constantly be messaging in a way that sells something. That sells a product, lifestyle, idea or product... Mostly products.

I wrote an entry reflecting on my own consumerism and why I set that goal for 2018 (check it out here). And even though my full time job is marketing products, I set an intention to really set my own patterns in consumerism and want to share the journey.

Das me! I've had a circular or oval mirror on my list for a while. I had an image in my head of it hung in my entryway curated with art I've made and found all in gold frames. This was the perfect find for that, and it was less than $7!

To achieve that vision, I've been slowly trying to find gold frames that fit the art that I already have. This frame was only a few cents at the Goodwill Bins. Here in Portland, we have a center for all things that haven't been bought yet at the Goodwill stores.... and everything is by the pound. The art inside my partner painted for me on canvas. I think it looks great and can't wait to bring more art into the mix with these two items.

I adore my apartment. It's a cute 1920's building that used to be a small hotel. Original wood floors, craftsman style white trim, and cute little built ins. One downside is the lighting. North facing windows shielded by huge trees in my neighbors yard and... I'm on the first floor. So, I've been determined to find lighting sources I can place around my apartment to brighten it up a bit. It's not ideal, especially as someone who relies on natural light for photos, all my plants and my own seasonal highs and lows. This is the first lamp in my search that is a great addition! The green plays well with all the greenery of my plants, and the brass base is just in line with the rest of what I love!

Plants! Plants. Plants. Plants. It's the season to start propagating and to add another dimension to all the terracotta pots I've been planting my new babies in, I wanted to find some gold or ceramic pieces to place them in to create a more finished look. This brass bowl I found for less than $4, and I just popped one of my philodendron babies!

As the season changes, I wanted to diversify my layering options with a couple great blazers. This is a thrifted mens wool blazer originally from Norm Thompson with the perfect brown, peachy tweed fabric and a light blue lining. I love the look of a good slightly oversized blazer, and for me its an easy way to differentiate my looks because I often wear the same thing over and and over.

Every year I get a pair of cheap sandals that last me just the one season. When the season is over, I've trashed them from daily wear to everything from work to the river. One of the things on my list is a pair of leather sandals that might actually last me past the one season. In addition, I'd like to find myself two options in hopes that letting the soles of one pair rest here and there will make them last longer. These style of sandals I love, my only hope is that the leather doesn't stretch so much that they get too big (it's happened to me with this style before).

Hope you enjoyed! I intend on sharing my journey this year in attempt to keep these all thrifted and second hand. Let me know what you think, if you've done something like this before and what you might what to see as part of this journey!

#alastingcloset #ayearthrifted