My Chic Thrift: Fall Fashion - Welcome back wardrobe!!!!

My Chic Thrift: Fall Fashion - Welcome back wardrobe!!!!: I realize that I've left my reading classes outside. I jump out of my chair and hurry outside to get them from the patio that has been my o...

Fall Fashion - Welcome back wardrobe!!!!

 I realize that I've left my reading classes outside. I jump out of my chair and hurry outside to get them from the patio that has been my outdoor living room for the summer.
I feel the cold air and the raindrops falling today and suddenly, I get chill -not from being cold but from the excitement that for the next few months, I get to wear my favorite clothes!!!
Autumn has arrived  and this can only mean one thing here in sunny San Diego!! It's time to break out the autumn wardrobe!!!!! Cardigans, black riding boots, berets... here I come. Hand maid scarfs, bright colored turtle necks, my cozy argyle socks... how I've missed you. What fun we will have together as I mix and match you together with a great penny loafer or a sleek black boot!!!

Now that we all agree that this is the season to truly be chic and flaunt your style because honestly -its about options and Autumn is  all about options. Layering is the key to creating a classic yet individual style!

My suggestion...hit the thrifts. Thrift stores are now starting to bring out their Winter stock. Now is the time to start looking for not only a great Halloween costume but also that perfect winter coat or a great pair of rainy day boots and slicker!!  You'll find those great looking long armed wool sweaters that will cost you $50 retail for about $5 . Trust me -great deals are there for the taking!
Love it!  Love it! Love it!

The Art of Re -Design!!

Re-designing? What's that? Re-designing is to take an article of clothing and change it so much that it  has now taken on a new life. I know that sounds dramatic but it truly can be ! I've taken a long lavender taffeta floor length skirt that I bought at a thrift store (of course) and turned it into a great hip fringed mini skirt. I could see the mini skirt as soon as I picked up the long skirt -the material was a great color and it had so much potential but the design was off. I could visualize the modern mini style.I'm sure this piece would have never sold at the thrift because taffeta and long skirts have been long gone in the fashion scene for a while!

Ladies, lets do this!
Go through your closet and pick out something you still love (because its still in your closet) but do not wear very often. You've kept it because you love the color,the buttons, how it fits you, etc. Next, sketch out the garment as it is now. Next step is to start taking off elements or adding in elements such as changing the sleeves, adding in some new texture, changing some buttons.. and so on. Think about dying the fabric. See what happens before your eyes. Let your creative side take over. Before you know it -you've redesigned your first garment.

Try it out.. and post your creations here. I'd love to see what your redesigns look like!!

My Chic Thrift: Where did we go?

My Chic Thrift: Where did we go?: Where did we go? Rosy Creative reporting for duty! So sorry to have disappeared, at least virtually from writing my blog. So much has happen...

Where did we go?

Where did we go? Rosy Creative reporting for duty! So sorry to have disappeared, at least virtually from writing my blog. So much has happened since our last entry.

No more interns for one. Loved them and miss their help but both our interns this summer, Alexius and Gina have returned to finish out their last year of high school.

On the team side -I've hired an project / operations manager. Her name is Kimberly Bailey and as she likes to say -she sparkles!! Perfect person for the job. Talented, organized, keeps the boss in check and has the perfect personality to work in this fast paced,chaotic business.

What's kept me from blogging has been our current workload. We worked very hard on our Fashion's Night Out project that was scheduled for September 8th!  Major fashion markets in the U.S.A were all celebrating fashion on one magical evening. Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista, CA was one of the local San Diego Malls that was participating in a BIG way. Rosy Creative was hired to do the art direction and before you knew it -we were knee deep in bringing the "essence" of New York City to Chula Vista through fashion, music, visual art and everything cool and hip. Who would have known that September 8th, 2011 would be the day that  Southern California experienced the biggest electrical blackout in history!!!

In between FNO work was a cover shoot for My Home Town and prep for a fashion truck show for MOUETTE -one of my favorite boutiques for elegant   evening wear here in San Diego.Last but not least was a  local fashion  TV spot on Good Morning San Diego.

Glad to be back and have time to stay connected with other thrift store champions and fashionistas!! ROSY CREATIVE is back!!!

I'm saving clothes... one garment at a time!

As a "thrift store champion" - hitting the racks and having the opportunity to display a piece of clothing that otherwise might fall through the cracks makes me happy! Here are some items that were on the 75% rack which means one more day or two and they get removed and sent back to the warehouse! Rosy Creative will display them at the mychicthrift boutique and smile as we seem them get sold. That's what its all about -finding that piece of clothes that you know the minute someone sees it displayed and its all put together for them, they'll buy the whole darn outfit!! HOBO CHIC!!!!

Shop and Stock!

It takes some mental effort for me to get in the mood to shop for clothes... but for me when I get to go stock the boutique for the weekends... It seems effortless. Why? because I get to shop for other people! I always have a hard time shopping for myself. My knack is finding clothes that remind me of people and knowing that what I choose for them would look great. I will often see a dress for  my daughter or a jacket for my friend and just know that the color or the pattern would suit them well. This is way I personal shop for my boutique. I grap a shopping cart at the Thrift and just go for it! Clothes just start calling my name or someone else's and into the cart it goes. Stay tuned for some new shots of today's thrifting adventures...maybe I'll find something especially for you!

Summers here !

Great days for me are spent working at the mychicthrift.com boutique putting together the displays and finding what I call treasure!!! Part of the reason for the boutique is to find items or clothes that are falling through the cracks at the thrift stores. These items  may not be displayed properly or just haven't caught the eye of an employee. Most managers at thrifts have been trained to spot vintage items and they know how "HAUTE" these items are to true collectors or fashion stylist like me. Its just that so many items come through these stores on a daily basis that "cool "clothes just slip through. That's why I'm here. I get so happy when I find an item that didn't make it to the "Retro" section of the store and I rescue it from the everyday ready to wear racks!!!

Here are some new shots of the boutique and our new displays!

My summer color for this season is going to be the GREEN!! Summer is here and its time to get outside and be inspired by the environment. Green is an energy color and with all the fun stuff to do outside -why not add to the elements. Check out the new opening display for some great visuals on great green hues! My color palette is all over the place and that's what I like -push all the colors at one time. I'm all for matching but mix it up and try out a few hues of your signature color at one time!!!

My Chic Thrift: Bring out the cool hats and the killer glasses!

My Chic Thrift: Bring out the cool hats and the killer glasses!: "Here are some cool combos of vintage hats/jackets and new designer glasses! Mix it and match it people -thats what 'Hobo Chic' is all ab..."

Bring out the cool hats and the killer glasses!

Here are some cool combos of vintage hats/jackets and new designer glasses! Mix it and match it people -thats what "Hobo Chic" is all about -old and new make a very haute you!!!

Up Coming Event!

In mid July, I will be having a thrift store fashion show! My interns and I are planing it to be fantastic, All clothes will be hand pick and styled to perfection. You will be surprised what great treasures are even at the thrift store in the first place, Super excited! We are also showcasing Halloween costumes, its a great time to come and get super cool costumes for your children or family members. I'll keep you posted on other up coming events and I will be posting new pictures for everyone to see.

Ladies -save the date

Hope to see some mychicthrift.com fans at the show!

More to share from mychicthrift.com

In order to keep the boutique stocked with my personal shopping choices, we hit the store at least three times a week so I can pull the clothes that catch my eye. We  have incorporated a children's section and a men's rack ! Love the vintage stuff that's popping up for the cool  male hipsters. I'm really drawn to the checkers, pearl button shirts and anything that's form fitting polyester. Stay tuned for some new pics of what every  "cool cat" should be sporting this summer.
The shots above are new items we know are "haute" and should be worn immediately but a women with some "haute" taste! The gold bag is incredible and the knit dress is just perfect for a great nite out during the summer. I added a few household items that caught my eye! Anything you guys want to see more of...comments are welcome!

Gina here again

Hello! its Gina again, Today was an interesting day for us. We started to day early, going to the thrift story and organizing the clothes and seeing what sold and what didn't. The last time we went to the thrift store, I tried to pull more summer clothes ( summer dresses, shorts, nice shirts, etc.) I liked to experiment with different jackets, purses, belts, etc., that added more of a visual for the customers. The thrift store provided some manikins for us, so that was very helpful and customers were just taking the clothes right off the manikins. It was really interesting to pick different outfits and to accessorize them, summer time is almost here so try picking cute dresses. I really enjoy experimenting with color, It could be yellow, red, pink, white, etc. Also a nice lit jean jacket could really bring out a cute dress, and if you like purses, try to match it to the buttons on the jacket or pick a nice color on the dress that you really want to bring out.  So don't be scared to go crazy with the nice bright colors! well that's all for now...till next time.

Gina.

sneak peek from MyChicThrift boutique

Here are some cool images of some of the vintage clothes and ready to wear garments we have picked out!

Thrift store tips!

I  started my first week of having interns at the studio! Hard work keeping up with young ladies who aspire to have careers in the fashion industry. Their energy and excitement only fuels my fire! They both have shopped  at thrift stores before since they both enjoy redesigning clothes. Yesterday's adventure was a different experience for them. I let each intern select some dresses and ready to wear clothes that I would consider for the mychicthrift boutique. As I went through each garment they selected, I explained  basic thrift store law!
1) Find a used garment that looks new!  - Though one man's trash  is another man's treasure -old clothes are old clothes.
2) Check zippers, buttons, hems,look for spots! - people usually give away nice stuff because it doesn't fit anymore  or something is wrong with it.
3) Try on the clothes - things have been shrunk after several wears so it may say its a  large but might be a medium now.
4) Start off on the sale racks! Thrift stores have great sales too! I always find a great piece that just wasn't noticed by anyone. If the item in on the 75% track -it means they will move it to another store location to see if it will sell there.
5) Lastly, before you start shopping -ask if they have any in store coupons for the day. Yes, thrift stores have coupon days too!

Gina Here!

Hello! My name is Gina, I'm also one of Rosy's new interns. I hope to be blogging more and sharing my amazing times working here! Today Rosy, Alexius and I will get an early start and go to Buffalo Exchange, which is a nice thrift story in Hillcrest, and start pulling cloths to redesign for a big fashion show we are working on. I'm so excited to be also designing a dress because it would be such a good learning experience. We also have a photo shoot today, which is for a new store RVH Studios is working with called Tannis. Rosy and I put on a small fashion show for Tannis and they loved it! I'm so excited to be working with the store and help them grow. As a little girl, I never put that much thought into what I would wear, but as I got older, I got more into fashion and how to put a cute outfit together. My personal style is more simple and classic, I don't like over doing myself and I want to be comfortable. Yesterday, Rosy, Alexius and I went to the thrift store to pull clothes and also see what kinda of style we have. It was really interesting to work with Alexius because we have different styles and we mix well together. I'll be blogging more to let you know what we are doing! Till next time...

Intern take over!

Hey mychicthrift.com followers!, My name is Alexius and I am Rosy Vasquez's new intern. I am so excited to be more involved with the Mychicthrift pick's. Hopefully I will be able to blog more often and let you guys know whats up!. Today Rosy, Gina and I picked some new vintage/modern pieces. My specific picks seemed to be too "old lady" (according to Rosy), but at least I would be a very stylish old lady. My fellow teammate  noticed I was attracted to the shoulder pads and pieces that can be re-designed. Because my dream is to become a fashion designer,  my ideas are always for pieces that could easily be put together with something else. Once I was able to figure out what would appeal to our chic customers I then was able to pick more accordingly. I ran around the thrift store like a little kid in a candy store and found very stylish wearable clothes that I wondered why they were given away in the first place.

check this out

http://myhometownchulavista.com/

Check out my work  in My Hometown Magazine's May Fashion Edition!

Some of my favorite pics ever!

When we first started throwing around the idea of My Chic Thrift -I would doubt myself ! The team would go out and shoot and after a long day of being on location, getting sunburned and feeling starved -I'd run home and hope that the shots from the day would be waiting in my inbox.  Would they be good? Did we get the shot I saw in my mind? Were my ideas "too" outta of the box ?  I'm posting 2 of my favorite testing shots from back in the day... these pics always inspire me..they remind me that you do not need designer clothes or an exotic locale to shoot a great look and create art! Enjoy the shots - the red flower was on a Christmas present I received and the pink hat I picked up at an estate sale for $5 bucks. Gotta  love Hobo Chic!!

Even the stars are rycyling designer vintage looks!

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b236510_fabulous_eco-friendly_stars_go_glam_in.html

Check out this article about how even the richest celebrities are recycling amazing vintage fashion .Everyone is feeling the pinch right now so why not raid the vintage vaults. Frankly -there is nothing like fashion styles from the 50's and 60's! I love to find a great retro dress to shoot . I  update the look or dress with a great pair of new heels . Add in some great current bold jewelry and you're set!

On a mission to find the perfect outfit!

Even Fashion Stylist have trouble finding  the perfect clothes... for themselves! Though my personal style is more " HOBO CHIC" -casual with a bit of flare -I try and stay true to my love of vintage and recycling. I'm not a perfect 6 and being only 5 Ft tall doesn't help the situation. Here's one very good reason to shop thrift stores. ! I hate going to buy  a  brand new  pair of pants only to have to chop off the bottoms. What a waste of money!!!  If I shop at the thrift -cutting and  hemming them  doesn't bother me as much. I saved so much  money on a great pair of pants  You can't loose when you shop thrift! All this week I'll be documenting my personal shopping for Spring!! Its that time - I need to update my summer wardrobe -  white anything, striped shirts, light pink and mauve, the perfect summer dress, some cool sandals and of course -the awesome  beach hat are all in my sights! If I find something for you... I'll be sure to photograph it so that anyone who sees what they like  can go down to the store I found it at and  snatch it up!

Remember -Tips for Thrift Store Shopping -
Introduce yourself to a staff member or even the manager. Let them know what your looking for. If you have something specific in mind, they can help locate it easier. They also have access to the belly of the store -shipping and receiving. you'd be surprised of all the cool stuff they just have hanging in the back. Until there's room on the store floor -these great clothes just have to wait their turn. I'm lucky -I have backroom access !!!
Find a store that has a good floor layout -some thrifts are too hard to shop even for a thrift store champion. If the floor layout is messy, you'll just get frustrated trying to work your way through the maze. It's not fun to shop this way and you will miss a great find. 

Keep an open mind that you might walk out the door with more than you came shopping for. You just might need a pair of jeans but if you find a great leather jacket for dirt cheap or some great riding boots, buy them!!! You 'll be saving money no matter what..... its about the finding treasures!!!!

My Home town Magazine shoot in the can!!!

Finally a moment to post after such a long break! The magazine layout is finally shot and edited. The process of editing photos for print is difficult. With so many specifics to worry about -lighting, cropping, garment placement and finally -all around great composition - after hours of eye wrenching looping... I am happy to report that My Chic Thrift is "over the moon" with  the pictures. We shot Couture, ready to wear, children's and vintage. We even threw in some original Tye Dye pieces by some young local designers!!!
Now the waiting begins to see which shots and looks the editorial time selects! I didn't have any favorites because I loved all the shoots we did but as a vintage lover -the shots themed around the Great Gatsby are my choice for the cover!!!!

RVH Studios upcoming Art Direction for My Home Town Magazine

http://issuu.com/fountainmedia/docs/mhtcv_0311_web2/26

Above is the link to My Home Town Magazine that provides the city of Chula Vista with a quality magazine featuring all that  is WONDERFUL about our city!!!!! The Editor Michael Minjares has asked us back this year to create a new and exciting fashion layout for the magazine's May edition.

The Studio team is hard at work scouting locations and shooting fashion editorials! We will feature fashion inspired by visualizing what Chula Vistians will  and should be wearing this upcoming season! Of course, there will be alot of vintage  looks  for spring! We've added children's fashion as well. We'll be showcasing clothes from my favorite thrifts, UPC and also some of the hottest new stores from Otay Ranch Mall. We are excited to report that we will also be showcasing some great new designer Tye Dye garments created by some local young artist!!

CHECK OUT THE MAGAZINE!!!!  stay tuned for the MAY FASHION EDITION!!

Sharing some of our most recent shoots with you!

It takes alot of creative ideas and great garments to be able to produce quality shoots with recycled clothing! I am often asked as we are shooting on location, "where can I buy that or how do you get your clothes and ideas?"  This is why I went into partnership with the thrift stores -soon you'll be able to purchase the garments after I shoot them! Being a Thrift Store Champion means I'm always on the look out for a great garment to recycle. These following shots are great example of pulling together several pieces and creating an new feel to them as they are paired with other recycled accessories. Enjoy!

List of United Cerebral Palsy Thrift Stores near you.

List of United Cerebral Palsy  Thrift Stores near you.

Chula Vista

405 Broadway

Chula Vista 91910

(619) 426-6446

 

Lemon Grove

7875 Broadway

Lemon Grove, CA 91945

(619) 668-1480

Pacific Beach

1454 Garnet Ave.

Pacific Beach, CA 92109

(858) 490-6400

City Heights

4341 El Cajon Blvd.
(at Fairmount Ave)

San Diego, CA 92105

(619) 285-9014

All these stores are  great! Remember $.80 cents of every dollar goes back to the charity!!

My Chic Boutiques coming soon!

Part of my collaboration with United Cerebral Palsy Thrift Stores in San Diego county will be realized next week. My Chic Thrift will be designing "in store " boutiques that will allow customers the opportunity to buy clothing and accessories that I use in my photo shoots and videos. As we move forward with RVH studios projects, anything you see that you like can be yours if you go to the boutiques. For instance, all the garments you see in these new photos will be for sale next week at the Chula Vista location. All four stores will have My Chic Thrift boutiques that will feature all "ready to wear ' outfits that I have personally styled. I have put together outfits for day wear and evening looks. I have helped the customer by already accessorizing the outfits so all you have to do is check out the boutique and walk out with a great polished look. I selected a range form great vintage leather jackets to the perfect " little black dress"! Please see the list of UCP Thrifts in your neighborhood and tell  them Rosy from MY CHIC THRIFT sent ya!!

How to prep for Photo shoots and clothes pulls

RVH Studios will be supporting our local youth by helping with costumes for a PSA announcement focusing on the perils of smoking. Today, I'll be going to UPC Thrift Store in Chula Vista  to  PULL (select clothing)garments for this video. My Specs (details ) are as follows -I need 1920's garments and accessories to set the stage. All characters will be middle class and have a "working man's" feel as far as wardrobe. I've given myself 3 hours to pull all the looks together and also find props to add  a little extra to the set. The shoot starts today so wish this Thrift Store Champion luck!

Here we go!

As of today -I will be posting on a regular basis as My chic Thrift starts to take flight. Our website is almost ready to launch ! We are in full creating mode as our studio is shooting a fashion layout for My Hometown Magazine. We will be featuring redesigns from My Chic Thrift as well as showcasing our partnership with UCP thrift stores. Remember, I only use recycled clothing for all my projects!! Stay tuned for more elements to my partnerships with Mannyman Studios and UPC!

Preparing for the future!

Today is HUGE!!! I will be signing the documents needed to seal My Chic Thrift's partnership with UCP thrift Stores! This relationship is vital to MCT!!! Can't wait to report on the progress of the this collaboration and all the cool things I will be doing with thrift store products! Stay tuned to see what a "thrift store champion "is all about!

Thrift Store Champion

Meet the Thrift Store Champion

Fashionistas Rave:  Hobo Chic!!!

I’ve been a fashion stylist for over 20 years! My pleasure comes from helping a typical “fashion-confused” damsel find the right thing to wear at a price she can afford!  After styling hundreds of fashion/ model test shoots – I’ve come to one conclusion: Just because you might be pretty, tall, skinny and rich doesn’t necessarily mean you automatically inherit the “fashion gene” or the “style gene.”  It just means more clothes will fit you! The true work of the fashion stylist is to take any body shape and each person’s own fashion sense and meld “tried and true fashion” so that women feel beautiful as they represent themselves through their clothing choice – or my choice for them!

I grew up eating and drinking in the flavors and taste of Vogue and Mademoiselle. I grew up not being able to leave my house unless I had some Bonnie Bell Lip smacker in my pocket and my hair perfectly feathered. I swore allegiance to Sergio Valente and wanted to name my daughter Liz after the great Claiborne.  I normally wore one of kind handmade long dresses made by my aunt Eva.  It was the 70’s so anything was possible!! She could sew like no one’s business and had a great imagination for pattern free sewing.  My sisters and I looked a million bucks!!  On the contrary, we didn’t have money for fancy department store clothes but you wouldn’t have known it!  It was the start to understanding that being thrifty or shopping thrift didn’t mean a lack of fashion!  My aunt Leoni was a fashion forward maverick, who would travel to Europe to purchase the inventory for her women’s fashion boutique in the 70’s!  If I was lucky – my mom would leave me with her.  I would then get to listen to her (stories) telling me where and when she found this “elegant, ready to wear” sweater and watch her as she finessed a sale to a woman who probably couldn’t afford it but NOW needed to have it! 

My mother always dressed elegantly, even when she was in the kitchen.  Her aprons reflected her style and grace, and of course she always wore the right earrings to match!  You see –money and style don’t always go hand in hand.  Money helps, but without style and elegance –you have nothing.(a mess!)

Do you need lots of money to spend a fortune to develop a style?  No – of course not!  If your developed style seems to demand pricey clothing wouldn’t you like to find the right stuff at a great price, without spending too much money?  You can shop your true style by THRIFTING!

Ahhh –Thrifting!  Just saying it gives me joy!  You know the perfect thing you always wanted is out there waiting to be bought at a price that does it no justice. The perfect leather jacket, the fedora that once was worn by a real cool cat, could be yours – if you go to the right thrift store on the right day!  A true thrift store champion wakes up knowing that there is someone else out there who has your same taste, and if they love you –they will give it away so that you can buy it at two thirds the cost of what they paid for it!!  A true thriftier knows this treasure hunt is going to take time so you better drink a “red bull“ or “coffee it up” because this kind of shopping is not for the weak or uninspired!

The worst that could happen is, you go shopping and don’t spend all your money but what you did spend money on was the best bargain ever!  It can be so much fun to find the perfect “little black dress” that you know no one at the party will have because your dress is from the 1960’s.  It has lasted so long because it was so well made!  It’s a classic cut that every current hot designer would love to copy this year but you’re wearing the original before it’s released!

I call this fashion style “HOBO CHIC”! You’re only a “HOBO” in the sense that you are wearing a great find that you barely pay for and “CHIC” because you’re ahead of your time by re-winding or RE-FINDING a style!  You knew where to get and how to wear your updated classic.  Be the only one standing out! It cost you nothing but the treasure hunt was priceless!!

Any “Hobo chic” champions want to join in on this treasure hunt?