Hey, Look! I did it!
I made a Halloween costume from secondhand plush toys. Ta Da!
Savers invited me to create a Halloween costume from items I found at my local Savers thrift store. I wanted to create something that might make people smile. We all need an excuse to smile nowadays. Amiright? I pitched the idea of creating a Nick Cave-inspired costume using secondhand stuffed toys. I half thought that they’d hate the idea, but they totally dug it. Woo Hoo!
Thank you to my son, Douglas, for modeling the costume.
As I said, I took inspiration from the artist, Nick Cave. I love his work! Years ago I created a costume that was an homage to his sound suits. This time I was inspired by his recent show at MASS MoCA and his costumes made from stuffed toys.
There isn’t much in the way of instructions to share. I was allowed to pick out $75 dollars worth of plush toys from Savers. I hand sewed them all together into this shape. Once I got going it was a welcome therapeutic distraction. It was good for me to ignore chores and screens and focus on a creative project.
It the end, I think it accomplished what I hoped. Watching my son jump around in this suit made us both smile. Happy Halloween Everyone! And thank you, Savers, for the creative challenge.
I got to play fashion stylist for the weekend and I loved it! Savers reached out to me to write a blog post using items purchased at Savers. The concept I pitched was of a young woman returning to college for her senior year. My friend, Maya, agreed to be my model. Savers gave us a wardrobe budget of $150.
We planned the outfits in advance.
jeans and a t-shirt for attending classes
an outfit for her work-study job at the library
everyday pieces for late night study sessions
a chic ensemble for art openings or an evening out
a pant suit for presentations and interviews
I found these vintage Lee jeans in the men’s section. I cropped them and washed them to accentuate the fringe. The slides were actually slingbacks but I cut off the straps and turned them into mules. Remember to check the men’s section for plain white t-shirts. These thick cotton boy-cut t-shirts are a nice alternative to the tissue tees that have been popular for too long. The red bag is actually new but the shot needed a pop of color so I included it. It’s a Jelly Retro Basket from Lisa Says Gah. I’m obsessed with it.
Cinch the waist of your jeans with a thick black belt for that 90s look.
The perfect pair of vintage jeans is not easy to find. Be patient. The inventory at Savers turns over quickly. If you don’t find a pair on the first visit, go back again in a month. Trust me.
For a more studious look, pair a silk secretary blouse with a classic wool skirt. We added a vintage watch for a bit of analog bling and a quality trench coat for chilly Fall days. Personally, I am keeping my eyes peeled for a classic belted trench coat so I can pull off this look by Reese Blutstein. Follow Reese on Instagram for great style inspiration.
Turtlenecks and high-waisted pleated pants are a comfortable choice for late night study sessions. Layering is key for transitional seasons and drafty old buildings.
This thin turtleneck sweater dress can be dressed up with simple accessories making it a smart choice for an art opening or an evening out. Funny story — we couldn’t find a handbag that spoke to us so we opted for this basket from the home goods section instead. It’s a fun alternative to a traditional bag. The cowhide slides help make the outfit feel unique and memorable. Judging by Maya’s reaction, I think these slides were her favorite find of the day.
Sculpture: Arcangle, 1984, granite and Carrara marble by Gary Haven Smith located at the University of New Hampshire Dimond Library
We opted for minimalist jewelry. The jewelry selection at Savers is insane. You can achieve just about any jewelry trend with the options they have. I know that sounds very sales-y but it’s true.
We scored a quality Ann Taylor pin stripe suit that fit Maya like a glove. For this shoot, we paired it with a vintage camisole but for an actual interview or presentation I would recommend a classic button down or silk shell top. Death by Elocution has great inspiration for updated classics like that.
Again we opted for slides over pumps. Block heels are easier to walk in and they offer a nice juxtaposition to a traditional suit.
How’d we do? Let us know in the comments.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Maya lives 3 hours away from me. It was a challenge to find the time to shop and shoot together. She arrived on Saturday night at 7 pm. Savers closes at 10 pm. We rushed over and treated the experience like a reality tv show. We split up and loaded up our carts with options. She tried everything on and quickly determined the best pieces. We dove back into the racks to find more pieces. When we went to cash out we discovered that everything we had still only added up to $130. We had to go back in and spend another $20!
The next morning we planned the outfits. There were a few pieces that on second inspection didn’t work well for our shoot. I blame it on us having to rush. I decided to swap out the items that didn’t work with items from my personal wardrobe that I actually did buy at Savers, just not on this trip. We swapped out ankle boots for the slides. We swapped out a big blazer for my vintage Lee jeans, and we swapped out elastic waist pants for the wool skirt.
That was fun! I want to do it all again. I hope the takeaway is that you can get quality pieces secondhand. It’s better on your wallet and on the environment. Next time you feel like your wardrobe needs a refresh — think secondhand first! xo jam
Funny story — we couldn’t find a handbag that spoke to us so we opted for this basket from the home goods section instead. It’s a fun alternative to a traditional bag. The cowhide slides help make the outfit feel unique and memorable. Judging by Maya’s reaction, I think these slides were her favorite find of the day.
Again we opted for slides over pumps. Block heels are easier to walk in and they offer a nice juxtaposition to a traditional suit.
RECOVERGIRL 
