Seeing double

You know you've hit the jackpot when you're able to find two of the same item of clothing in one thrift trip. Usually thrift stores are run on whatever people happen to drop off and donate, and usually people don't have two of the same thing. My sister Monica and I came home anything but empty handed after luckily finding the same pair of H&M leather shorts in different colors in our own respective sizes. If this doesn't call for a collaborative photo shoot I don't know what does.

 As you can see, the shorts are almost identical but worn in such different styles. Pleather is easily dressed up or down depending on how you accessorize it so leather shorts and tights are a perfect starter for any kind of outfit you put on this winter.

blouse: delia's

cardigan: abercrombie

shorts: h&m @ buffalo exchange

belt: sears

earrings: mode land bijoux

tights: payless shoes

flats: sears

sweater: target

necklace:  ny & company

belt: wet seal

shorts: h&m @ buffalo exchange

tights: urban outfitters

boots: flea market

sweater: tommy girl

belt: marshall's

necklace: ralph lauren @ buffalo exchange

leg warmers: wet seal

boots: burlington coat factory

Here is a master outfit that can be worn with either pair of shorts.

Get yourself into another layer of (fake) skin; the weather now calls for pleather (;

- nali xo

One Love

I'm a huge fan of statement tees because they add a little sass to an otherwise straightforward outfit, but they can also broadcast a good message if you're willing to showcase your beliefs on your chest. 

Anyone who knows me knows I am one thousand percent supportive of human rights. I believe that it doesn't matter who you are, who you love or what you believe in, a person is still a person no matter what and should be treated as such. I hope that one day gay marriage will be as common and accepted as interracial marriage and that another day not too far behind, they will both just be called 'marriages', without a need to specify who. That's why I was psyched when I found this American Apparel tank at Buffalo Exchange this week while probing the thrift scene.

My favorite thing about this shirt is the fact that it was originally sold at American Apparel. This casual clothing company has been around since 1989 when it was created by Dov Charney, a t-shirt specialist and an American culture aficionado. Now, the vender has since won "Retailer of the Year"at the 15th Annual Michael Awards for the Fashion Industry along with many other prestigious awards, and continues to be one of the fastest growing companies in the world. Not to mention that the company's target (young adults) is infatuated with the company because of the status AA has created for themselves. Companies like AA delivering social messages through their products (gay rights, immigration reform) tell teenagers who have not yet made up their minds about hot button issues that it's cool to support them. Status in the fashion world is HUGE and gives so much power to the people who hold it. I only wish more companies would use their influence like American Apparel does to help convince more people of what they, as humans, should be standing for. We're all here for the same reason, why make it harder for someone else on your team?

necklace: claire's

pants: bebe @ buffalo exchange

denim shirt: american eagle outfitters

sneakers: no name

hat: scoutmob.com

Easily paired casually or a little more sophisticated, this shirt is sure to make a pop not only with the words printed on it but also with the bright color of it.

shirt: reckless @ pac sun

shorts: sans soucy @ marshall's

boots: sm @ sear's

tights: t.j.maxx

bandana: michael's

Take the extra step of support and throw on a pair of heart printed leggings or tights to drive home the message of honest love.

skirt: forever xxi

cardigan: piazzitalia

moccasins: target

Express yourselves and your beliefs and think before you speak. You may not be able to change the world (or the government) but having an opinion matters. If your opinion is against someone's rights as a human, you're entitled to that, but reconsider before calling something 'gay' because you don't like it. If 'straight' were used a negative connotation, you wouldn't be too happy, so don't rain on someone else's parade just because they were born different from you. And for all you supporters out there, even if you just buy a t-shirt that says 'legalize gay' or get more educated on how far gay rights have come, it matters. Keep learning, and teach others around you about what they might not know. When it comes down to it, we're all in this together and I can't wait for the day that everyone realizes it.

- nali xo

SamZARA of a denim shirt

First off, happy Halloween all you little ghosts and goblins! I hope you get enough candy today to rot all your teeth!


Samsara: (n) Buddhism  the transmigration or rebirth of a person.

All thrift stores have a Buddhist style to them don't you think? Each item of clothing that has some kind of story to tell is passed from person to person, each time being reborn and given new stories to tell from the people who wore them. Someone may have had the best night of their life in a pair of jeans that they eventually give away, one day becoming someone else's favorite pair of jeans. In my opinion it's quite magical all thrift shoppers are so closely connected without even realizing it.

For my thrift find of the week, I ventured into the men's section again and was lucky enough to stumble across an item of clothing from Zara. Not only is 10x cheaper than it would've been in the actual store, but it's something so simple that it can be worn many different ways, and yet so ornate in the casual design of it.

tank: forever xxi

pants: bdg @ urban outfitters

boots: de blossom collections

pants: target

belt: vintage

boots: sm @ sears

socks; christmas tree shop

 NOTE: Halloween 'trick or treat' socks should only be worn today and no other day. Side effects of wearing Halloween socks on days that are not Halloween may include, but are not limited to, pointing and laughing from strangers and a feeling of low self-esteem.

suspenders: macy's

pants: one clothing @ marshall's

boots: target

 Denim and corduroy, united in perfect harmony. Not too much corduroy that it overtakes the simple button-down denim design, but just enough to make it so the shirt isn't just another denim button-down design. How many more reasons do you need to start shopping for men's clothes?

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(taken from http://www.chris.com/ascii/index.php?art=holiday/halloween)

- nali xo

Anything boys can do, girls can do better

Before this post's title starts world war 3 between all the men and women who read this blog I want to clear up that this line is only in reference to fashion (for right now). Any smart man will take a woman shopping with him to pick out clothes so he knows he will look good, and any man able to buy stylish clothes for himself is even smarter, more on a woman's level of intelligence. But separate from stereotypically having good taste in clothes, women have the ability to take a man's wardrobe and wear it themselves better than he can. I often find some of my favorite articles of clothing in the men's department rather than the women's, and that's exactly what I did for this week's thrift find.

A sweater is a sweater for the most part, but it is up to you and how you choose to wear it that determines how good of a sweater it is. If you find a gorgeous vintage Benetton sweater and wear it with plain jeans all the time, that's officially considered a waste. If you find a simple solid color sweater from the Gap or Old Navy and dress it up with shorts, leggings, tights, boots, jewelry, etc. etc. you're giving that simple sweater royalty status. Take this Buffalo Exchange recycled Hugo Boss sweater for example. It's just a basic two-faced green and navy sweater, which on it's own is already more original that a solid colored sweater. But pair it with the right patterns and other colors and instead of being the only focal point of an outfit, it becomes one of many charming aspects of one. 

collar: forever xxi

pants: target

shoes: wanted

pants: jennyfer fr

shoes: steve madden @ marshall's

beanie: michael kors

necklace: forever xxi

earrings: forever xxi

ring: forever xxi

skirt: forever xxi

scarf: collection eighteen @ macy's

boots: italian flea market

bracelet: macy's

See what I mean? It's a beautiful day to hang out your dirty laundry along with your disinclination towards subtle cross-dressing. Ladies, give the men's department a try and gentlemen, who knows, maybe man skirts will come around one day too.

- nali xo