Threadflip.com

What I like about threadflip.com is it has style.  The way it is set up makes me want to browse through the  photos of cute high end current clothing that is not inexpensively priced, but affordable, compared to shopping new.  Also, the photos give you ideas of how to put outfits together with the clothing each person is selling.  And you can sell, too!  Or try to before you hold your own Bitch and Swap, which, let's face it, is probably still a lot more fun...

RE-Fashion

My cousin Kim sent me this amazing article that has pretty much everything you need to know about one of my favorite subjects: Re-fashion! It even has a link to a woman who made a dress out of a table cloth! Sound familiar?

Thank you, Fair Companies.com!

Housing Works in Hell's Kitchen

Shop for bargains and donate to a good cause on 9th Ave. in Midtown (730-732 9th Ave. between 49th and 50th). Today I walked past in a hurry, even though was a sign reading %50 off all clothing! Quel damage!

If you've never been to one of the many locations all over the city, Housing Works comprise seven upscale resale stores that not only provide steady funding to address the needs of people living with AIDS, but they also ensure a supply of clothing and essentials to people that other organizations have deemed too difficult to serve.

It's a wonderful place for the novice thrifter because of it's large selection of upscale clothing and furniture and often sells new items that stores have donated from overstock.

On a previous visit to the Chelsea location, I found an amazing fragrance pour homme that I gave to Ted for a birthday gift. $15 instead of $45. And all going to a good cause.

Eight Dollar Coats!

Better late than never.

Some of you know that I have just started rehearsals for a new play at Lincoln Center called War Horse so blogging time is scarce, but I woke up in the middle of the night tonight realizing that I had neglected to post about the Salvation Army Coat Sale that is tomorrow, or actually, later this morning!

• 46th Street between 10th and 11th in Manhattan
• 9am to 5pm (Get there at 8:45am to get a cart to shop with and the best selection!)

I wasn't going to attend the last one in December because it fell on my husband's birthday, but to my surprise, we woke up in the morning and he actually said (and I almost fainted), "Shouldn't we go and see what we can find for my birthday at the coat sale?"

What? My HUSBAND wanted to go THRIFTING? On his BIRTHDAY?

Well, I didn't need convincing so of course we were out the door and in less than 2 hours, we came home with 2 large bags of new (used) clothes for his wardrobe (we HAD to go upstairs to shop for other things, too!) including a black toasty warm down coat (pictured above) that he has been wearing almost every day since.

And the best news of all is that their prices for coats this year are even lower: Eight dollars for non-leather, non-fur regular length coats. EIGHT DOLLARS ! Can't beat that.

Later that evening, at his Birthday Party, our friend Todd (who is a fellow reader of What Would Leenya Do) showed up in his new/used coat, almost identical to Ted's and he had bought it... (wait for it) FROM THE SALVATION ARMY COAT SALE! Eight dollars!

Now I'm going back to sleep to rest up for another eight hour day of puppetry, but go! Shop! Be warm! And let me know what you find...

Thankful for Coats

This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for you, my faithful readers.

AND for my faux leopard swing coat and Ted's charcoal wool dress coat that I bought at last year's Salvation Army Coat Sale, both worn to the recent opening of the play Elling (starring Denis O'Hare and Brandan Fraser) on Broadway at the Soho House! (paired here with a winter white lace mini dress that I found for $15 at H & M and a long gold chain and pendant I bought at a flea market for $8)

AND for our friend Kelly (pictured here) who accompanied us to the opening.

AND for the coat sale that is coming up at 9:30am on Saturday, December 4th at the Salvation Army between 10th and 11th.

It's good to be Ren!

Fall Bitch and Swap

Have you thrown your Bitch and Swap yet? What did you get?

Three Coat Sales!

No, I haven't posted in a while, but yes, I want you to know about the upcoming Salvation Army Coat Sales!

• Saturday, November 6th 9:30am to 5pm
• Saturday, December 4th 9:30am to 5pm
• Saturday, January 8th 9:30am to 5pm

Check back to my first Coat Sale posting for my tips to navigating these hectic and hilarious events.

And I promise to post again soon!

Target Women

Watching Target Women will definitely save you money.

I ran across this hilarious off-hand cable TV show between Tosh.O and the Daily Show and recommend it for a healthy dose of perspective.

Swapapalooza!

You may need an NYU i.d. to get in, but why not try? Come next weekend to the grandDaddy of all Bitch and Swaps!

Swap-A-Palooza
Sunday, April 25, 1pm-7pm
Kimmel Center, 8th Floor
Swap-a-Palooza is a clothing swap and celebration that lets you reduce your environmental impact by exchanging gently used clothes and accessories. Take advantage of the ultra-stylish NYU community's fashion sense and harvest a new look without putting pressure on your wallet - or the planet. Admission price is one bag of clothes. The Swap will feature do-it-yourself design stations to make your new wardrobe one-of-a-kind.

Fancy Shmancy

Okay, I'll write later about where the *&$#^%&@ I've been the last 3 months and why I haven't written recently. There is a post I need to write!

A fellow singer/actor wrote me recently and I wanted to share. I'm honored to have her as a follower!

Oh Financially Savvy Fashionista!

Dear Leenya,

I never did update you on the results of my formal wear foraging! Your recommendations were wonderful- the first place I stopped was the Goodwill on 25th street where I found a two piece outfit with a wonderful full black satin skirt. The top half didn't fit, but for $35 I was happy for it to come along for the ride! So with my workable separates in hand I continued thru your list of venues, just to see what was out there. Most of the other locations on 25th and Housing works had a better supply of everyday clothes. Finally I arrived at the massive Salvation Army on 46th street where I found a bronze strapless gown I actually didn't need at the moment but will probably end up using it next month. And for $40 I figured it was worth taking home as well. It was quite a successful voyage!

Thank you again for your guidance!

I say, Sally Forth, oh fellow Ren Girl! A lot of people shy away from looking for formal wear at Thrift Stores when it's one of the first things that people purge, as they see it as a "wear one time only" clothing item and therefore, but you didn't let this stop you!

I just competed in the American Traditions Vocal Competition and for each round of the competition (I won the Bronze Medal!) I wore an outfit that was purchased entirely at a resale shop! In the quarterfinals, I wore my newest favorite grey pinstripe suit with a flea market sequined tank and the semi-finals featured me in an empire-waist flower knee length cocktail dress with a velvet blazer on top. Pictured here is me backstage in the final round at the gorgeous Lucas Theater in downtown Savannah with my amazing accompanist, Keith Burton, wearing the gown (complete with train!) that I found at "Sally's" for the opening night of Cyrano de Bergerac with Jennifer Garner. I was so happy to have an event for which I could wear this unique dress again!

To those who are reading for the first time because you heard about my blog in my introduction at the finals, Welcome! And I meant what I said about Savannah audiences...

Woot

Wow. What?

Woot.com, that's what!

Leave it to my brother to fill me in about this website that is the originator of One Day, One Deal. Every midnight (central) they post one product for a drastically discounted price until it sells out or until the next Midnight. Today features a refurbished Cuisinart SmartPower Duet blender and Food Processor for $32.99 dollars.

Woa.

But the best part? All Shipping and Handling = $5.

Well, why not Woot?

Actor Crafts

ActorCrafts is here, just in time to start your holiday shopping!

Shop for jewelry, clothing, and gifts this Saturday November 21st at the Holy Cross School (332 W. 43rd St. between 8th and 9th Ave.). It's all designed and created by New York City actors (it's good to multi-task!) and the festive sale never disappoints!

Shop between the hours of 10:00am and 6:00pm.

Coat Sale Question

Leenya -

Would it be possible for me to navigate the salvation army coat sale
with a bambino strapped to my chest in a carrier?

Signed,
Seriously-in-need-of-a-"new"-warm-coat

Dear Seriously-in-need-of-a-"new"-warm-coat,

I have seen kids at the Salvation Army Coat Sale, though never strapped to a shopper, though as long as you don't have any other accoutrements (ie. purse, coat, other shopping bags) and if you bring a foldable grocery cart (aka Granny Cart), you should be okay. I'm guessing there's a smaller window of time for you to hunt for treasures and a bigger challenge in trying on the coats, but I'd say try it anyway! Then head upstairs to find kids/baby clothes...

Leenya

Get your own!

Just letting you know that I'm LOVING my new fur/suede reversible vest and swing faux leopard! Don't be jealous, get your own!

Go this Saturday, November 7th at 9:30 am to the next Salvation Army Coat Sale of the season (check out my previous posts...)

Coat Sale Redux

BAD NEWS: You may have missed a great coat sale at the Salvation Army this last Saturday.

But two close friends, hundreds of New Yorkers, and I didn't!

Kevin and Sarah of We Click Photography and Kevin Fox Photography are spending more time in the Great White North and wanted to stock up on winter coats so they met me there early, following all of my advice (Except for bringing their own cart. Difficult on a motorcycle...).

I knew I was only looking for a fur vest (to pair with skinny jeans and a blousy top with long necklaces and high boots) so my pile of coats at checkout paled in comparison to theirs. But how could Sarah resist 2 long embroidered suede jackets, a hooded shearling, a thoroughly hip skin colored short fitted car coat with a long collar, an adorable shearling vest, and two coats for Kevin to replace decade-old favorites? She couldn't. And she didn't!

Some highlights of the morning:

Leenya: Wow! This is a gorgeous coat, but with purple and green embroidery, I don't know if Sarah will go for it.

Kevin: You never know. Some people's "loud" are a belly dancer's "blah". (Sarah is a fabulicious belly dancer)

Kooky Mirror Hogging Lady: Oh, you again! Just buy the coat! How much can it be? $25? Just buy it!

Leenya: I know, but do you think it actually works on me? I mean, do I really need a medium length fake leopard swing coat? (answer: yes, I did.)

GOOD NEWS: There's another one Saturday November 7th at 9am!

FIRST COAT SALE (of the season)!

Yes! It's coming! Just in time for you to replace coats that you've purged during your Fall Clothes trade out!

The Salvation Army Coat Sale! Dum Dum da Dum! (It should have a theme song...)

On Saturday, October 10th, at 9am, head to the Salvation Army on 46th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues in New York City and read my previous post about tips and suggestions to make your shopping spree the most successful.

Coats to look for this fall:

• short leather car coats
• fur or faux fur vests
• oversized black 80's trenches to belt
• fitted blazers to wear with jeans

See you at 8:30am!

(pictured here: me staying somewhat warm and dry in the freezing rain of Boston, all because of my Salvation Army puffy coat that I bought 3 seasons ago!)

Yay! Fall Clothes!

Does anyone else love fall? Or am I the only one who catches the "Back To School" bug and look for any opportunity to lay out your clothes for the next day?

Well, nerd or not, it is time (or perhaps past time) to put away your summer clothes and get out your yummy sweaters and boots.

And, it's the perfect time to take stock of what you should keep and what you should throw away. In 2008, I wrote to a follower that we know as On The Verge Of Being Lady Godiva with tips about updating your wardrobe the Ren Girl way (of course). Check it out toe help you get motivated (and focused). Let me emphasize to that post that before you store your tank tops and short shorts, make sure they've been washed/cleaned to avoid any yellowing or odors.

It can all seem overwhelming at first, but before you know it, you're honing your style, focusing your identity, and finding excuses to go thrifting (with your list of needs, of course!).

Happy Fall!

Block Sale Rain Date

DUE TO THE WEATHER, THE MPTA BLOCK SALE IS CANCELED FOR TOMORROW

RAIN DATE NEXT SATURDAY SEPT. 19

SAME TIME

SAME PLACE

Sorry for any inconvenience.

BLOCK SALE HOTLINE 212-560-0995

Brokelyn

The name of this blog says it all!

I heard about it on NY1 and it's all about having fun while spending less. Sound familiar?

Check it out (brokelyn.com) and me know what you find...

Get Your Feet Wet

Chad's in town!

So I had an excuse to go shopping!

It was a Sunday, so Salvation Army Stores were all closed, but that didn't stop us. We headed to Chelsea to visit some great thrift and resale shops, both raising money for some amazing charities.

And, I kept thinking, though the prices are slightly higher than at Sally's and the Good Will, they would be great places for those who are intimidated by thrift shopping but want to get their feet wet.

Our first stop was Housing Works at 173 W. 17th St. (note various locations all over the city) and the clothes and shoes are in excellent condition in general but the star here is the furniture. If you're furnishing your first apartment (or want to replace your worn-out Ikea starters with unique stylish pieces), start here! Couches, bureaus, prints, dishes, all in excellent condition and often designer. The money raised from

donations and sales go to help victims of HIV and AIDS.

Our next stop was right across the street at the Angel Street Thrift Shop, also raising money to fight HIV/AIDS as well as substance abuse and mental illness. Their collection of clothing was much more extensive and also organized in a way that would seem much less overwhelming to a thrifting novice. Again, some designer clothes and shoes, all in excellent condition. I found an amazing black Zara dress shirt for Ted for $11.00. In general, prices were similar to Housing Works.

Since we were so close, we headed too 6th Ave. and upstairs to T.J. Maxx and Filene's Basement where I found some wardrobe staples for my hubby and as we made our way back uptown, we happened on two sample sales, one was even Dolce and Gabbana! Prices cut by 85 % sounded amazing, until we couldn't find a price tag for less than $490.00! Some gowns were still priced at $8,900.00, the price of a good used car. We quickly realized that we knew something that the sample sale shoppers didn't know, that true bargain treasure is found only in our resale shops!

As we walked, we talked about the value of reusing and recycling and how it is the future of our economy.

What a day! Quality time with my best friend, saving the world, and shopping, all at the same time!