uhhh I am no good.

Clearly I am no good at doing this!? I wish i could be better, but I wish I felt like I had more time. I am always at school, at my internships, eating chipolte, shopping, going out with all my cool friends... Yea..right... no time at all?.

I feel like I may have talked about my Dad, saying you need to be a producer Madelyn, not a consumer. Well ya no what Dad, I like to shop. And I like to eat. And I like to drink so like uhhh shut up.  I will be a consumer.
But then, it came time for my last all school formal, and I am so sick of Urban Outfitters, being that the only decent non-thrift store in town. And even my beloved site Nasty Gal has been letting me down.
The only thing I could think of was THRIFTING.

So here is what I did. Well I should not say me. My cool boyfriend was in on it too.

We went to all the thrift and consignment shops in South Bend, trying to produce the best outfit. I had one proud and happy Dad...(asking for money for dresses is not one thing he likes).

In our journey, we found a super cool Jacket for my boyfriend, and nothing super cool for me, for this particular day. a few t-shirts and crew-necks never hurt anyone.
So I had to look else where.
Where I found my best options was at my house! My 32 year old sisters winter formal dress.

I thrifted in my own house and found all the dresses I needed for the rest of the year's formals and could not be happier or...cooler.

here are the photos of our cool producing outfits.

where did I go you ask? wait no one knows me so no one cares...

Well any way I will just tell you. This was a final project for a class, the class ended so like why continue right? WRONG. I think this is cool, thrifting, vintage and new clothes are cool and I'm going to talk about what I think still, ok? ok.

Over break I worked for about oh three or so days. Hard worker... I know. However, those three days were fun and I made a little money to spend on ummmm clothes, (please do not tell my dad), Miami (for the national championship, I like nd, sad.), and New York.

I did not do much shopping in Miami, nor did I have much time to explore the areas, so I can not even tell you one thing about the fashion scene expect for what I see on the Kardashians, ughhhh embarrassing I know, but whatever that was that.

In New York however, that was pretty much the extent of my trip. Well that and eating. My brother, Pete, and I walked all around Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He showed me all the cool vintage stores where I could not afford anything, being the college kid that I am, and all the cool thrift shops. The thrift shops is where I hit the jackpot, being that I only had 20 dollars in my pocket- thanks 2 chainz. Anyways, we went to one store recommended by his friend Aja, and we really found some gems. I got two awesomeeeeeee 80's sweaters that I have now worn three times. My brother found some windbreakers that had to have also been from the 80's. One was Illini, and he was pumped because that is where he went to school.

Ok, I will try to talk more about cool things I buy, I will also try to shop better and cooler, and will also post photos. So hopefully that will be cool, for me and whoever reads this?

my favorite(only) designer vintage pieces and my final thoughts?

So that's me, with my only designer vintage pieces. My Dior handbag, bought in Rome, and my Valentino leather gloves, also bought in Rome.
I was sitting on the Met steps so I could be like Gossip Girl, the only reason I know about the Met and one of the main reasons I wanted to go. Pathetic I know, but this was two years ago and I have since matured. Gossip Girl, is no longer my main concern... well expect for Mondays.

Anyway, since I think this is about my last blog, I will tell you what I learned. I learned that I need to find more vintage pieces from cool stores or boutiques instead of depending on Urban Outfitters or Nastygal. I need to do the work, and then maybe it will be cooler, and more fun for me.
 I also learned that I fall deep into a vintage trap, that if I think something is vintage I think it is cool. Next I looked more deeply into thrifting. I kind of started to feel bad about going into a thrift store for costumes and themed parties, because sometimes thrift stores are the only source of clothing for people.

Brooklyn, Brooklyn Take Me IN

Over the past two years I have been to New York every winter and summer break. Each time I have stayed with my Brother who lived in the Lower East side then moved to Brooklyn.
Both these areas are filled with boutiques and resale shops. Both of these areas are also filled with rich people, young people, and bumish people. So, both of these areas can reflect back to my blog.
Because my brother lived on the Lower East Side for most of the times I visited, I became very acquainted with the streets and the shops. I knew where my favorites where and I knew directly how to get there. I also knew how to get to soho like it was the back of my hand. On the way I would stop in store after store, many because I wanted to see what that had to offer, but also because I was alone while he was at work. During this process, I found one of my favorite stores ever. It is called a second chance, designer. This store is filled with bags of all of the top designers, it is kind of like a museum to me. However the designers might have drawn me in, it is the vintage that kept me in. The bags are all vintage and to me are the coolest things. here is a link to their website. If you are ever in New York, love handbags, and are anything like me check it out.
http://www.asecondchanceresale.com/
But Brooklyn, the name of this blog. Many I titled it Brooklyn, Brooklyn Take Me In because well I love that song (by the Avvett Brothers), but also because I am new to Brooklyn. The most recent trip I made was the first time I ever explored Brooklyn. To me it is a mix of the Lower East Side and Chicago, with maybe a little more hipster presence. There are stores on stores on restaurants on restaurants, but also the most neighborhoody feel I have ever gotten in New York.
I do not know Brooklyn like I do the Lower East Side, so I hope that Brooklyn takes me just like the Lower East Side did.
One thing I did do in Brooklyn was go to the Flea Market. The Flea Market was filled with thrift, vintage, and antiques. It also has local food venders and restaurants, and is a super cool thing to do. I can not wait to go back to Brooklyn and explore its vintage and thrift shops further.

Red Balenciaga...

ughhhhh the red Balenciaga.

Since it being soooo close to Christmas I figured I would share something that has been on my list for maybe 10 years.

As far as I can remember my Christmas List consisted of clothes, a dog, and a younger sibling. I was never a normal kid asking for toys. No, I knew what I wanted and it was to have the coolest clothes.
This was easy for me because I had the coolest, trendiest older sisters and brother, and they taught me everything I needed to know. (I think I was wearing Urban Outfitters as a 10 year old, or trying to at least).
 My brother had a serious girlfriend for a long time. She was almost as cool as my sisters, and may have been more trendy. One day, when I was about 11, she walked in with a bright red Balenciaga she got for Christmas. It was love at first sight, me and that bag, and I knew that one day I would have one just like it.

Here comes the problems. Red Balenciaga's have been retired for years now and the only way to get them is from ebay or resale shops. Also, Balenciaga's go for around 1000 to 10,000 to 20,000. Alsooooo everyone wants this red balenciaga so my chances are pretty slim, or more like I do not have a chance/ will not ever have a chance.

How does this apply to my blog? Well duh... you can only get this bag from a resale shop. Also if any reader ever sees one, BUY IT (for me).

But then if you think about it, why does anyone ever need an accessory that costs that much? especially when thinking about why people need thrift shops.

 so then I guess if you ever see one, just do not tell me. Leave it for someone who can afford it.

so pretty right?

How about we compare… Nasty gal? Urban Outfitters? Salvation Army?

Nasty Gal… an online shop selling all things trendy. This is my favorite website. I spend hours on this site looking at all the new clothes and all the new accessories. They just seem to sell the most perfect pieces, complimenting my style completely.

What is so cool about this website is that it is not only selling what is new. Nastygal.com also has vintage.  Vintage pieces coming from all different periods of time, but I think it seems like its mostly from the 70’s and 80’s. The pieces that they have are usually designer but sometimes you can find a random item that is from a company not so brand name. Usually nastygal’s prices are not something I can afford, I admire from a far…

Urban outfitters.

Urban’s vintage pieces are more affordable than nastygals, but way more than any item you would find at a salvation army. I feel like urban directs more of it merchandise to college students therefore making their prices more affordable. Urban has more pieces you could find at a thrift store rather than vintage store, but tends to mark them up. Urban has something called urban renewal, which takes thrift store items for their store, changes them a little and sells them for more.  Although this might sound annoying it can be cool when the urban you shop at spices up a shirt that could be found at your local thrift shop. Urban renewal can help the consumer come up with creative ideas for their very own t-shirts. I believe Urban Outfitters vintage, has a fun way to combine both vintage and thrift and is able to make it affordable, to uhhh maybe someone like me???

Also Urban Outfitters has some expansive, designer pieces, so like if you can afford it, Urban has it too.

Salvation army

Salvation army is both religion and government based. Their mission is to provide clothing for people in poverty from donations of others. They want their store to provide items that people need at a lower cost, so that everyone can afford them. It is a store that wants to help. This thrift store’s mission is too focus on the poverty around them and give to them what they need.  They sell clothes given to them by donations and take almost anything given to them.

I think this is an awesome store because they are helpful to people and the store benefits a community.

 I also like Salvation army because it is cheap. Also because I think it is cool to look at the old clothes and the old accessories.

This store does not have many designer vintage pieces, and if it does it is not sold at what Nastygal or Urban sell their vintage pieces for. This might be because the clothes are donations, or because the people are unaware of the value of the item.

Wait, can I be all three?

I am like the poster child for this blog this week.  I am a college student, so I like to get cool things for as cheap as possible, I am needy (in a very small small sense), and I have some vintage pieces that I can not wait to wear to a formal party this weekend. All three of these ideas are the basis to my blog and the platform to everything I am blogging about.

Me as a college student…

Here I am sitting in Spes, like I have been since Sunday in a 1994 authentic Limited Jeans sweatshirt, stolen from my 32 year old sister (sorry linds!). These next two weeks are jam packed with work, and I can think of nothing better to be dressed in the warm, cozy, old sweatshirts, leggings, and warm boots.

I feel like this is the ideal stressed college girl outfit. She wakes up ready to do her work, but doesn’t want to think much about her outfit. She wants comfort in these stressful times, not to add more stress thinking about putting together an awesome outfit. And why should you have to? Who are you going to see? I don’t think the Sartorialist is coming to Saint Mary’s anytime soon.

only pic I can show you so far... My 1994 Limited Sweatshirt, cool huh?

Me as needy…

Now, I know I am the farthest thing from really being in need; so saying that I am needy can seem really ignorant and insensitive. I realize that I have clothes to wear, food to eat, and a home to sleep in, however, I am pretty much out of money. From many this is a major issue, but for me I know that if / when the time comes, I have some one to go to for help. Something many many people these days do not have.

Because I do not have much money and because I left my ugly Christmas sweater at home, and because I haveeeeeeee to attend a Christmas party on Friday, I need to hit up the thrift store. Normally, I would try and find a funny Christmas shirt at Urban Outfitters because everyone wears an ugly Christmas sweater, but not this year. This year I am so close to broke that I can not afford a new shirt. So, I am off to the thrift store, in need of an ugly Christmas sweater.

But then I think? Is this right? I mean, someone might need that sweater for an actual Christmas sweater, and here I am a college student, not considered needy by any means buying it. Is that ok? Or is it again, ignorant and insensitive? I guess I just do not know.

Vintage buyer…

As you know, or hope you know cause you just love reading blog, I love the vintage stores in Wicker Park. Last year over winter break I got these amazing red candies’ booties. They had to be from the eighties but I am not positive their true era.

This week I also have a formal Christmas party that I haveeeeee to go to (like finals what?). To this Christmas party I will be wearing a beige dress purchased at generationbliss.com (check it out), and my awesome red candies. These candies will make the outfit they are so different from what anyone else has or will be wearing and that is because they are vintage. Here I am a needy, college student in vintage.

So, in conclusion…How could I ever explain my self as needy when I have vintage pieces along with everything else I have. Yea I’m out of money and can not get something I would prefer to have, but so what, shut up, atleast I have what I do.