I think I'm waving the white flag. The white flag of belief, that is. The belief that I will actually blog everything day. I don't want to. But this feeling of hopelessness...man...it's overpowering.

And. End scene.

LOL! I'm so dramatic.

But, looks like I went another 5 days without posting. I hate doing to this to you. I promise I do. Pray for me. And each other. :)

Here's what I have for the last 5 days or so...

We had our first media feature!

Thanks to the editors at Broadcasting Beauty - this pretty dope online lifestyle magazine for interviewing me about this Thrifting journey. They made me feel so important.

And shout out to my sister-friend and publicist, Ronnika Ann of Ingeneus PR for connecting us too!

Now, go and read the article!

http://broadcastingbeauty.com/2016/02/12/meet-kaye-and-tiger-gibson-the-couple-taking-thrift-shopping-to-the-next-level/ 

Thanks to everyone who's taking and following this journey with us!

-Kaye
@okkkaye

My friends often tease me and say "Tiger, you dress too traditional." Some say I look just like a politician, others say I dress like a lawyer. Either way I take it all as a compliment, because I believe dressing neat and clean is a huge part being professional.

For years I have only worn crisp white dress shirts and neck ties that were solid in color (mostly blue) or had a few stripes in it. I'm still that traditional white shirt classic suit wearing guy but I have switched it up a bit with bow ties that have what my wife calls a "pop of color." Like what I wore today. It's a way for me to break away from the monotony of white shirts and plain ties to expressing myself and being fashionable and professional at the same time.

Whether you want to call it Double Denim, The Canadian Tuxedo or just Denim on Denim, it's a trend that never goes away. I tried my hand in it, headed to the office this morning. Kept it pretty classic.

I rocked a dark denim Liz Claiborne ruffle blouse that I got from aunt's closet (I told you, she gave me a lot!). Since my budget ran a little low for the month, I've already started repeating pieces - today, being my new favorite wide leg jeans from Park Avenue Thrift Outlet a few weeks ago. My colorblock BCBGeneration heels finished off the look.

I think it was pretty cool for the office. Casual doesn't mean you have to look like you're going to the park.

The shoe!

I tried it tucked in as well. But settled on wearing it out.

Breakdown:

Dark Denim Liz Claiborne Ruffle Button Down Blouse - $0
My Auntie's Closet, Somewhere in Georgia

Dark Denim Wide leg Jeans - $1.50
Park Avenue Thrift Outlet, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Multicolor/Color Block Blue BCBGeneration Heels - $6
Attic Treasures Thrift Shop, Chamblee, Georgia

- Kaye
@okkKaye

All is well in Kaye's world, except the fact that today is ridiculously cold here in Georgia.

I swear when I hit this $1.5 billion lottery tonight, my husband and I are jetting off to somewhere that never has anything less than 70 degree weather. For good.

In the meantime, we have to do what we have to do to combat this bi-polar weather in our home state.

Any natural cold fighter will tell you that wearing layers is the best way to stay warm. And if it gets too warm.....and since we're talking Georgia, here, it WILL eventually get too warm at some part of the day.....then, at least you can take off a layer or two.

Hence, today's outfit. I rocked a nice warm blazer and a nice high neck blouse underneath. What's not pictured is the camisole underneath the blouse and the big overcoat over the blazer. I was indeed warm today.




I paired it all with what are now my favorite wideleg jeans and a very cute pair of suede-like heels my best friend/cousin Anthony gave me for Christmas years ago.

Here's the breakdown:

Brown velvet-like Gap Tailored Blazer - $6
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, Chamblee, Georgia

Wideleg Blue Jeans - $1.50
Park Avenue Thrift Outlet, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Teal Vintage High Neck Blouse - $0
My Auntie's Closet, Somewhere in Georgia

Brown suede-like platform heels - $0
Christmas gift

And for the record, the blazer didn't make it through the day...as the temperature raised to about 60 degrees today. Le sigh.

- Kaye
@okkKaye

A serious wardrobe malfunction turned into a fabulous find today.

This isn't how I left the house this morning. When I got to church, I got out the car, took a quick look at my reflection in the car window to make sure my hair was still on point. I turned towards the church door and sashayed right into the church lobby. Moving in hurried steps to make it to an early meeting, I was stopped by another church member to inform me that my skirt was unzipped. I reached around to try and zip it, and realized that my ENTIRE zipper had ripped from the back of the skirt.

I ran to the restroom, all the while praying that there was something I could do to save my skirt, at least until after church. I had a bunch of safety pins on deck! I took it off in the bathroom to get a better look at the damage. And damaged, it was! There was absolutely nothing that could be done to repair the zipper, without a sewing machine or a good seamstress who could work quickly with his or her hands.

I was a bit devastated. I REALLY wanted to wear that skirt and top today. It was a super cute, vintage look. I can't upload the pic now, because I'm almost positive I've going to get it repaired and wear it next week! Of course, I'll re-take photos then. :)

It was about a half hour from start time for service. I had to think fast. So at the last minute, I made a mad dash to my nearest Value Village (1.78 miles from my church), rummaged through the dresses and within about seven minutes, I had this 80s vintage BEAUTY!

I picked up another dress as well, and I'm not sure it'll make the final cut in my closet. I just needed a back up in case this one didn't work.

The dress: A 1980s black turtleneck midi-dress with brown/tan suede shoulder patches. (I don't know technical fashion terms. You can actually see what I'm trying to describe by simply looking at the photos I attached.)

And the dress is BAD!!! Bad....as in GOOD.

From the time I walked into church (about 45 minutes late), I received compliment after compliment about how great the dress looked. Admittedly, I was initially upset about the whole morning (understandably so, I hope). However, my day was finally made when someone at the church said I looked like a "rich white lady" (their words, I got it. So laugh); and when someone else sarcastically asked if I had just come off the "Pretty Woman" set with Julia Roberts. I laughed at them both, and smiled all day long, from that point on.

Anwho, here's what I wore...







Black turtleneck midi-dress with brown suede shoulder patches -  $7.49
Value Village Thrift Store, Memorial Drive.

Black pumps with ankle straps - $0
My Mama's Closet, Somewhere in Georgia

Vintage LV Speedy Bad - $0
My Auntie's Closet                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
Needlesstosay, I was fashionably late to church...literally! But at least I was fly, even with the last minute change of wardrobe plans.

- Kaye
@okkKaye

Today is one day past the Founder's Day for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Typically, the proper business attire for a Sigma man is dark blue suit, white or blue shirt, and some type of tie with blue or royal blue in it.

Today I went to church dressed in my best Sigma attire. And what's wonderful about it is that it didn't cost me an arm and a leg.

This suit is versatile. It'll work for me in church or at work. It really works for me because it was not expensive at all.

The best thing about thrifting is finding something you really want to wear and experiencing sticker shock. This is really a change of lifestyle. I spent less than $40 and I have the same esteem, happiness and fulfillment, as if I had spent $700.

White Roundtree & York Gold Standard Dress Shirt - $4
St. Vincent de Paul

Blue and White Striped Nordstrom Tie - $0
Gifted from my former boss

Navy Blue Suit - $25
Previously owned, but got a good deal on it.

"Usually, I don't do this, but uhhhh....." - Robert Kelly

I don't even have a spiel today. Yesterday was enough.

This post. This outfit. This day. Is all about my fabulously incredible find. I would say this is absolutely the find of the week. Maybe even of the year. So far.

Everything about what I have on is a typical business casual outfit - nice fitting slacks, cute vintage blouse, interview shoes (as I'd like to call them). Color isn't even important today. Just basic business pairings, right?

Right!

EXCEPT for the fact that I am rocking ARMANI Collezioni dress slacks that I found in one of my favorite stores for FOUR DOLLARS!!!! Yes, you read that correctly. For a pair of pants with a large retail range of about $300 to $700 jumped in my shopping basket, and pushed me right out the door for $4.

Cuatro.
Quattro.

Quatre. 


For pants that people have literally spent $700 on. See what I'm saying....



Generally speaking, I'm wouldn't say that I am a label whore snob. With regular retail, I am anything but. However, my biggest rule of thumbs for thrift shopping is to only buy designer labels or vintage, unless the no name item is just too cute/nice and irresistible to pass up. The saying holds true: One man's trash (giveaway/charity/etc) is another (wo)man's treasure. I have continuously found great treasures in several areas that I shop.

My thrift store label finds usually consist of Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Anne Klein, DKNY, an occasional Michael Kors, and the like. These Armani pants were probably the most expensive label. Granted, they're not the "Giorgio Armani" label, but for $4, they could have been Armani Exchange, and it would have still been an awesome deal!

Anywho, here's the entire outfit breakdown:







Gray Armani Collezioni Dress Slacks - $4
St. Vincent de Paul, Chanblee, GA

Off-white Vintage Draped Button Down Blouse - $2
St. Vincent de Paul, Chamblee, GA

Brown Nine West Pumps - $6
Attic Treasures, Chamblee, GA (Great place to buy thrifted shoes - don't only sell nice looking, non-worn out things)

This is why I shop thrift. Major treasure. For practically pennies.

There is not much more to be said. Today, I WIN.

Day 7 - one for the books!

- Kaye
@okkKaye