Style Archives - Page 2 of 36 - The Pretty Secrets

Thrifted Winter Coats

by Sandy Joe | Nov 21, 2019 | Blog, outfits, Style

Thrifted Winter Coats

The snow always arrives sooner than I’m prepared for it. The first sight of snow is always wondrous and magical… until I realize the consequences. Now the season of layering clothing begins! Instead of settling for a black parka, I have made it my personal mission to approach winter with COLOUR and PATTERNS! Thrifted winter coats can be a real feast for one’s eyes. With the immense selection of winter coats (all year round!) at Value Village, I have built up a wardrobe of show stopping coats at an affordable price. Here are three of my absolute favourites that I’ve scored at Value Village over the years.

THE OVERSIZED PLAID

What this coat lacks in warmth, it makes up for in layering capabilities. Since it’s so oversized, I can load up on layers underneath. I love wearing plain basics with this coat as it allows the loud print to be the focal point. It’s also United Colors of Benetton which is a label I was thrilled to find while thrifting! Just goes to show, you never know what treasures can be uncovered in the coat section of Value Village!

THE STRIPE SPOTTER

The thrill I felt when I found this classic Hudson’s Bay coat at a Value Village during a 50% off sale is indescribable. It was a true “start the car moment” if I’ve ever had one. Not only is the blanket coat an iconic piece, but the actual cut of it is PERFECTION for me. I love that it’s a wrap and has a detachable hood. Since this is akin to wearing a blanket, it’s perfect for brisk Canadian winters.

THE PSYCHEDELIC DUSTER

On of my winter mantras goes a little something like this: the longer, the better. Would I have bought this jacket even if it hadn’t been a duster? Absolutely. Am I stoked that it just happened to be the perfect combination of length and loud pattern? Most certainly. With the windchill lowering temperatures, I love having leg coverage. It’s a bonus that this specific leg coverage just happens to be made of the coolest fabric known to humankind. Every time I wear this jacket out, people stop me in the streets to compliment it. When you find such a distinct piece when thrifting at Value Village, it must be bought. Since this coat is also very eye catching, I love pairing it with subdued separates.

Thrifted Winter Coats

With all that said, I truly think that thrifted winter coats are a great way to have unique style during the colder months. Expressing personal style while reducing my carbon footprint is a win/win in my books. Because of that, I will continue to make Value Village my first stop when looking for winter outerwear.

For other thrifted clothing ideas, check out my Thrifted Halloween Costumes and Back to School Thrifting posts.

This post is sponsored by Value Village. All opinions on this blog are my own.

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A Jumpsuit in the Arizona Desert

by Sandy Joe | Nov 4, 2019 | Blog, outfits, Style, Travel

A Jumpsuit in the Arizona Desert

It should come as no surprise that while I was staying in a tiki bus at The Shady Dell, I had to take advantage of the scenery. It’s not often that I’m surrounded by a collection of exquisite specimens of antique trailers. Bisbee, Arizona really lends itself to western wear infused outfits. I thrifted this jumpsuit in Casa Grande and it became a staple on my trip. It’s not hard to imagine why a jumpsuit in the Arizona desert is a great choice. It’s roomy enough to not overheat during the day, yet long enough to provide coverage in the cooler evenings. I for one prefer to wear a loose long sleeved something during the day in the AZ sun. It protects me from the harsh rays of the soleil. My go-to is usually a army surplus camo jacket. (For reference check out Road to Nowhere or The Saguaro Park)

OUTFIT DETAILS

BAILEY’S OF HOLLYWOOD black hat – c/o (similar here)
ALDO gemstone sunglasses c/o (similar here)
ALDO rearka earrings – c/o
THRIFTED  striped jumpsuit
THRIFTED  white western belt
VINTAGE  woven handbag
ALDO  drerissa boots – c/o

A Western Elton John

The more I look at these photos, the more I get a western Elton John vibe. Perhaps it is the sunglasses! With that said, I do share a birthday with Elton John, so the correlation makes even more sense. When wearing a jumpsuit in the Arizona desert, it’s impossible for me to not add a touch of western flare to it too. Now I can’t wait to go back to AZ.

photographs – Jesse Sand

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Thrifted Halloween Costumes

by Sandy Joe | Oct 15, 2019 | Blog, outfits, Style

Thrifted Halloween Costumes

Unlike some people, I am always a last minute shopper when it comes to Halloween. Whether I’m Lucy from Peanuts, Nancy Drew, or any number of characters from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the outfits come together on the 11th hour. If this seems stress inducing, I promise it’s not. Especially when my thrifted Halloween costumes are bought from Value Village. My best looks are always thrifted after all. They’re always one-of-a-kind and end up being some of my favourite pieces in my normal wardrobe. This year I was feeling inspired by music and decided to create three easy Halloween looks based on different genres. All three looks include pieces that I see time and time again when I’m on my usual thrifting hunt at Value Village.

COUNTRY & WESTERN

Square dancing outfits are ripe with possibilities. They also appear in the dress racks on a semi regular basis; my collection of square dancing frocks is a testament to this. Have I ever square danced in my life? No, but that’s beside the point. Whether you’re a fan of Kacey Musgraves or a true blue Dolly Parton fan, picking the country & western music genre is an easy and fun way to dress up for Halloween. Plus the cowboy boots are a staple for any closet! Can’t find a square dancing dress? No problem! When it comes to this costume, it’s the accessories that truly make it!

COSTUME ESSENTIALS

cowboy boots
cowboy hat
bandana
western style belt

DISCO DOLL

Channel the ghost of Studio 54 into a disco inspired costume. Disco may have had a short run as a popular musical genre but the clothing was without a doubt fabulous. It’s all about being the shiniest haze of glitter. I was overjoyed to find this silver lamé romper while thrifting and it inspired the entire look. Lamé anything is disco incarnate. Achieving this look requires finding items that remind you of a disco ball. It’s very simple! And add a platform heel for some 70s authenticity.

COSTUME ESSENTIALS

silver or gold everything
rhinestones galore
platform shoes
statement earrings

PUNKKKKKKKKK

Now this particular costume is all about revisiting my old roots. As a teenager, I dabbled in this look as my everyday wear. Fortunately my sartorial choices have matured (somewhat) and I’m able to deem this as a “costume” now. Value Village is a treasure trove for old band t shirts and plaid skirts which is truly the staple of this look. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, cutting the sleeves off a jean jacket and spraying bleach all over it will give this costume a genuine punk detail. And what’s a punk costume without a little DIY magic? The whole genre is based on that aesthetic! Also a few artfully placed safety pins are always a good idea.

COSTUME ESSENTIALS

PLAID!
What’s a punk without some studs?
distressed + bleached denim
motorcycle or doc boots
a band t shirt

Thrifted Halloween Costumes

Halloween is a time to enable our inner child and what better way to do so than dressing up as your favourite musical genre? Whether it be a groovy garage rock foxy lady from the 60s or a teeny bopper pop princess from the 80s, your imagination is the limit! And when it comes to searching for the essential pieces, thrifted Halloween costumes are easy to put together when you shop at Value Village! It’s the best place to find one-of-a-kind pieces that will make for a show stopping costume. I think these outfits speak for themselves. 😎

Photographs – Jesse Sand

This post is sponsored by Value Village. All opinions on this blog are my own.

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Goldfield Ghost Town

by Sandy Joe | Oct 9, 2019 | Blog, outfits, Style, Travel

Goldfield Ghost Town

Goldfield Ghost Town is located in the exact place you would expect to find it: Arizona overlooking the Superstition Mountains. Like, come on…. there’s a place that has such an auspicious name? Of course I needed to visit. And as it happens, the ghost town is cute, photogenic, and has a few things to do! I have mentioned it previously in my Mesa Arizona City Guide, but here’s a closer look at this western treasure.

A Ghost Town To-Do List

One would think that going to a ghost town would be just that: visiting a town that’s been abandoned and void of any activity aside from urban exploration. But you’d be wrong. Dead wrong. The Goldfield Ghost Town has a flurry of activity happening in every corner – it’s not a place for ghosts to chill by any means. Some fun things you can do there are:

Firstly: take in the EPIC view of the Superstition Mountains!
get ice cream (I tried it and can vouch for its deliciousness
go on a zipline (I passed on this activity as heights and speed aren’t really my thing after eating ice cream)
check out the saloon complete with boots hanging from the ceiling
there’s a bordello tour!
take a mine tour and appreciate how hard that job is
if you’re not squeamish, there’s a reptile exhibit
For more suggestions check out their informative website here

OUTFIT DETAILS

BAILEY’S OF HOLLYWOOD black hat – c/o (similar here)
THRIFTED hawaiian dress
LEVIS customized jacket – c/o (check out the Levi’s Tailor Shop post here)
THRIFTED white western belt
ALDO drerissa boots – c/o

Goldfield Ghost Town

Goldfield Ghost Town is a western kitschy gem in Arizona but the fun doesn’t stop there. If you’re ever in the Palm Springs / Joshua Tree area I would recommend swinging by Pioneertown. I always make a point of popping by whenever I’m nearby if only to grab a meal at Pappy and Harriet’s. Of course I’ve blogged about that ghost town too so be sure to check out this post and this post. For more ideas of what to do when you’re visiting the Mesa area, be sure to check out my Mesa Arizona City Guide!

photographs – Jesse Sand

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Queen Street West

by Sandy Joe | Oct 3, 2019 | Blog, outfits, Style

Queen Street West

Fall has arrived abruptly as per usual. Will I be posting summer-ish looks well into the fall? Yes, yes I will. Half of the time I’m sneaking away to Arizona anyway so why adhere to weather? Dress for the weather you want is what I always say! This coming from a woman who’s had the first stages of frostbite on her feet may not be a vote of confidence though.

With the first frosting on the grass and a golden tinge to the leaves, I always reach for this mohair magic mustard coat. And after many mendings to the lining and hem over the years, I hope it will continue to be a closet staple for several more years to come. It’s the best. It compliments my blue eyes (my opinion) and it’s so dang 60s chic, I love it to shreds. That might be a literal statement if I continue to wear it so regularly. Here is my latest MMCOOTD (Mustard Mohair Coat Outfit of The Day) dressed for a Queen Street Edge.

The Mustard Mohair Coat

I’ve written more than one love letter to this particular coat. Curious how else I wore it? Perhaps styled with a rusty ultrasuede dress at COPS Doughnuts Toronto. Or perhaps a self titled post like The Mustard Mohair Coat? I think it really showed it’s true glory styled with a plaid shirt in Hyde Park though. That and the million other times it appeared on my Instagram feed such as here and here.

OUTFIT DETAILS

RAYBAN aviator sunglasses
VINTAGE mustard mohair coat
THRIFTED blanket vest
UNKNOWN old turtleneck, not sure where it’s from 🤔
LEVIS mile high super skinny denim
FENDI vintage bag – thrifted (similar here)
MATISSE caty boot – c/o

Queen Street West

Now that we’ve established that this coat is my everything… I’d like to make mention that this outfit is 1/2 thrifted and 1/2 not. I say this because mixing old with new has always been a major component to my style. Mixing old and new doesn’t have to look like you’re stepping out of a time capsule; although I do enjoy dressing like that too! I’m always championing thrift over new and I hope this serves as some inspiration on that. And perhaps maybe even serve as an example of how a really special piece can be worn year after year and still look fresh because of its interesting cut, lush fabric, and unique shape. Buy for love AND longevity.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

photographs – CC Ruth

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A Little Western Flare

by Sandy Joe | Sep 16, 2019 | Blog, outfits, Style

A Little Western Flare

Having a little western flare with any of my outfits has become more commonplace over the last few years. This outfit is no exception. I found the tiered square dancing skirt on a thrifting spree and it works oh so well with my white cowboy-esque boots. Then topped off with a Bailey’s of Hollywood hat. Keep scrolling for all the details.

OUTFIT DETAILS

BAILEY’S OF HOLLYWOOD black hat – c/o (similar here)
BANANA REPUBLIC earrings – c/o
THRIFTED leopard belt
ARITZIA top
THRIFTED square dancing skirt (similar here)
ALDO drerissa boots – c/o

On an unrelated note, I love the Edmonton Public Library. For the past 10 years, it’s been my go-to as opposed an endless mountain of books. Have you ever tried to move a ton of books? I have… in addition to my record collection. Might I advise that only keeping books you absolutely love is the only way to live (and move). Get 👏 A 👏 Library 👏 Card 👏.

And on a related note, for more outfit posts, check out my Style section.

Photographs – Jesse Sand

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