Thrift Excursions: Buffalo Exchange

Source: Buffaloexchange.com

 

So I recently ventured into the thriftosphere, I have been on the hunt for thrifted gems all over Philly. Last week I decided to step on the other side of the resale counter and become a seller. I got tired of the bags of dresses and clumps of jewelry that I had rarely worn taking up space in my already packed-to-the-gills, miserably tiny closet. So what did I do? I packed up two dresses, two skirts, one pair of shorts and five pairs of shoes, along with two necklaces, one bracelet and a ring into a huge beach bag. I brought a friend with me and off I went to go negotiate. Here's how it works: At Buffalo Exchange , when you're trying to make cash from the wares you no longer wear, you just walk right up to the "sell" counter. A trained buyer will then have you lay out all of your items and inspect each piece. They then tell you what they would resell each piece for and give you 30% of the total. You have the option of taking cash upfront or receiving a store credit. For my bag of goods I walked away with fifty bucks, though I was offered a ninety-dollar store credit. The moral of the story, you can't be a stylish undergrad until you understand the value of thrifting and tap into the secret of selling things you no longer wear. Buffalo Exchange offers you just that!

Stay stylish,
-Tiff

It's Official

Hey, fashionable people. Stopping by during the summer downpour to say that I'm an official IFB member.





Stay dry, (fashionably of course)

Tiff

The Sunday Feature: Mary Jane's Closet

So I'm starting a new post series here at The Undergrad Style File, called The Sunday Feature. Every Sunday I will featuring any and everything style-related that has struck my interest. Up this week is Mary Jane's Closet, it's co-founder Jasmine Anderson, who I went to middle-school with gave me some insight into the brand and its inspiration.

Founders: Jasmine Anderson & Khadijah Hope Moore

Where did the inspiration come from? : "The idea started in high school, where I had a epiphany to make thrifting more modern. I myself like to thrift shop, but I know many people who dread searching through piles of others' clothing."- Jasmine Anderson

What is Mary Jane's Closet?: Mary Jane's Closet is an online consignment shop that provides vintage, stylish, and thrifty trends for below $25. We also do reconstruction, where we add our own twist to styles."-Jasmine Anderson

What kind of events have you done?:"Last year, we held our first fashion show, collaborating with Philly Frocks, entitled Flash Fashion. It was held right outside on Broad & Chestnut, with about 25+ models, 3 different scenes. We anticipate to have another one this year! We have been established for a little more than a year. "-Jasmine Anderson

Check out the pieces I ordered below: The skirt was oversized on me, so I have plans to take in the waist and belt it. The purse was recently featured in my post seen here. Mary Jane's Closet is not your mother's thrift, it captures urban expression with a modern take on vintage pieces, and as vintage/thrift lover, I love the blend of new and old style influences. Don't forget to check it out !http://maryjanescloset.bigcartel.com/

Geometric-Print Maxi Skirt ($5.00)

Color-blocked leather purse ($4.00)
 

Keeping It Classy: Sassy Short-shorts

Hey, undergrads and young fashionable ones. On this week's post I'm tackling the dreaded short-short. It comes in denim and all colors of the rainbow. On smaller frames they can be chic and showcase a good set of gams, but if you're like most of the population, you're body is home to a little more curve. It seems that the most popular stores forget that not everyone wants a short-short in the summer heat. So what do you do when the barely-there bottoms are all you can find? In the above outfit, I've taken a classically short, denim-short and turned it from too-much-cheek to street chic. I chose a black denim pair of shorts, almost everything looks chic when it's the color black. Add a blush pink, layered tank with a matching blush thong sandal. Top it off with some dual-toned small drop earrings and an owl necklace. I have a thing for owl jewelry. Don't judge me. And there you have another tacky fashion-faux paus transformed into a classy get-up. Don't forget the classic cat-eye sunnies. :)

xoxo Tiff

Keeping It Classy: Sassy Short-shorts by lashai13 featuring cateye sunglasses

The Fab Five: Top Summer Trends

Hey there,stylish undergrads and the fashionable-at-heart. Here's a list of my top five trends for Summer 2013, as part of the Independent Fashion Bloggers Project #100, seen here.

1. Cat-eye sunglasses: A hint of retro-flair mixed in with a devil-may-care demeanor.

2. Lace shorts: Offer a refreshing, and girly alternative to the denim short.

3.Maxi Dress: Bum around on the beach then bump up the accessories for night time.

4. Neon & Neutral: Get a small dose of this trend by featuring it in a colorful sandal.

5. Vintage-Inspired Swimwear: A modern twist on timeless classics.

The Fab Five: Top Summer Trends by lashai13 featuring high waisted shorts

Keeping It Classy: Chic Clubwear

Introducing a new series on The Undergrad Style File, called "Keeping It Classy." Where I will feature a new Keep It Classy post each week that will taken a trend or item of clothing that is usually in a college student's wardrobe; one that can often come off as more tacky than classy, and show how to turn it chic. For my first post I featured club wear. The quintessential college girl's going out get-up. Normally this is done through barely there body-con skirts and heels that guarantee scary feet in the future. Time to nix that! I've featured three different kind of club or party-goers if clubs aren't your thing. For the "conservative clubber" I've featured pants and a t-shirt for comfort. But they get a little more fun for nighttime in a bright red hue and an open-back T-shirt. Black patent leather wedges have the same effect as sky-high heels without the side-effects. The "risk-taker" or the barely-there club-goer gets a little fancier with a tight-fitting low-cut black halter dress and red pumps for a pop of color. If you're the girl in the middle of these two, try a lacey-effect sweetheart illusion-neckline dress. The cut of the dress is still figure friendly, without tempting sketchy people to try and get friendly with your figure. Sequin pumps give the outfit some edge, silver hoops and a winged eye bump up the outfit from "nice" to nighttime. To keep it classy, if it's the right club you don't need to bare skin to get in and you can go out without hanging it all out. How would you chic-up your club wear?

-Stay stylish,
Tiff

Keeping It Classy: Chic Clubwear by lashai13 featuring skinny pants

Everyday Chic: Bumping Up the Basics

Hey undergrads, I decided to do a post about how to bump up your everyday style basics, at the request of my friend Ashley. Here I've featured a sort of style uniform that can be adapted to your own personal style. College students often struggle with how to make an outfit both more amped up then just jeans and a tee, and to make it multi-task for different settings. I hate math, so I'm going to give you the only formula that matters: a FASHION formula. One stepped-up standard outfit: here I've swapped out typical skinny jeans and a white t-shirt for sleek black skinnies and a white- collared blouse. Now for each setting from class, to work, to running errands: ADD color. Unless you're Bella from Twilight, having little to no color should not be your signature. Next, accessorize, you don't have to have bangles, bling and bags, if that's not your thing, simple pearl studs are always chic and can work with all the outfits. Finally, have a standout shoe. You'll notice that all the shoes featured are one notch up from basic shoe styles we all own. Instead of black Converses try bright white ones, instead of a black ballet flat, try an edgy studded pair, and as classic as tan oxfords are live a little with the white perforated style above. Fashion shouldn't be boring. Bump up your basics!

-Tiff

Everyday Chic: Bumping Up the Basics by lashai13 featuring converse

Blog Reboot

Hey fellow undergrads and those who are still young at heart, you may or may not have noticed my recent absence from the blogosphere. Just like the bright-red skinny jeans I just had to have, there's a good reason for my absence. I'm currently working on rebooting the site, formerly xoxoFierce&Luxe, I have changed the site name to The Undergrad Style File. In observing the plethora of other fashion blogs out there, I noticed something, many of the prominent fashion bloggers are either in their teens or working women in their thirties. There has yet to be a site that features budget finds and real-life stlying geared specifically to undergrads and young professionals. Which is the perfect lead in to my personal fashion philosophy. I believe that fashion is an artistic expression, what you wear is who you are, but just like art it changes with the mood constantly. Fashion is about chic accessibility, big-name labels and stilettos mean nothing if they don't represent who you are and you don't feel good in them. If I pick up a skirt at a thrift store that makes me want to twirl then it clearly belongs in my closet. Okay, I'm done blabbing. My style in three words? Chic. Eclectic. Classic. If you can't afford it, don't buy it and if you don't love it, don't wear it. What's your fashion philosophy?