Summer Blues?

As we enter the beginning stages of August, I am reminded that summer’s end is fast approaching. Recently the weather has been reminiscent of fall and I began to feel a bit blue. Summer is the season that brings me the greatest joy for not only the superb weather, but for the excuse to wear a dress daily! I love nothing more than riding my bike around town, taking in the summer’s sun, with an easy breezey dress on. It never fails to bring forth a big ol’ smile to my face.

I just love Thrift Town because every time I go in to shop I never know what I will find and the clothes never cease to inspire me in a direction that I hadn’t even thought of before. Yes, it’s important to set a goal when thrifting in such a large store, but going in with an open mind sometimes can bring about the best finds! (I do suggest a game plan for people who are new to thrifting, it can be overwhelming other wise. If it’s dresses you want, start with dresses!) Since summer screams dresses for me, I skedaddled my butt over to the dress section. I knew I wanted to write about summer dresses, but what I didn’t expect to find was a whole slew of beautiful blue dresses. With blue dresses in hand, I had one of those “A HA!” moments. It screamed, “what about embracing my summer blues state of mind with an on slot of summer blues dresses?!” Just because it feels like summer is coming to a close, doesn’t mean we can’t embrace the last days of the season with a beautiful bright blue and cheery dress!

Whenever I get depressed I think, “what can I do to get me out of this funk?” My typical reaction is to take the negative and manifest it into something positive. For example, when I suffered from depression a few years back I decided to rise above, slap depression in the face, and begin embracing what was always my number one love: FASHION! Slowly, but surely I started thrifting again, getting creative with how I styled my pieces, and one day at a time my depression lessoned and lessoned.

What do the blues have to do with blue dresses? It’s taking a blue state of mind from the summer months coming to a close and making a big ol’ blue statement with fantastic Thrift Town dress finds!

All four dresses here make me happy and give the sensation of looking up into a Utopian like summer sky. The blue Gap dress here, ($7.99) set against the Caribbean blue wall is stunning! Especially paired with the cobalt necklace and suede heels. The Express blue dress ($4.98 – marked ½ off!) has a bit of an edge and makes me feel like I’m in Miami. And, how perfect are the matching blue earrings? ($1.99) These two dresses are very versatile and can be worn either during the day or out for dinner with friends.

As for the other two dresses, I feel they are perfect for a summer stroll through the Farmer’s Market or a casual brunch date with a special someone. The darker Gap spaghetti strap dress ($9.99) with the straw purse ($1.99) has Farmer’s Market written all over it. As for the lighter blue dress, I just love the watercolor-esque quality of it. The dress paired with the beautiful landscape mural is just perfect. (I LOVE when I find the perfect location for my photos!) The mint flower pin ($1.99) adds a little something to the look and reminds me of Carrie on Sex and City when she used to wear floral broaches. Most stylish show of all time!

So don’t let the end of summer give you the blues, instead, embrace it and wear a hot blue ensemble! The bright color is sure to lift your spirits, make a statement, and put a smile on your face and everyone around you. I wore the Express wrap dress to work the other day and had people stopping me to compliment the bold color. It’s a feel good color, and a feel good dress that lifts your self-confidence on days where it’s sometimes low. This is why I love fashion and thrifting so much! It’s more than just the clothes, it’s the way the clothes make you feel and the way the clothes make other people feel, too…. Happy thrifting everyone!

Love,

The Dress Fiend

Phoebe Verkouw is the brain behind the thrifted fashion blog, The Dress Fiend. She’s a bona fide thrift store junkie obsessed with finding the most amazing items for next to nothing and can be seen monthly on Good Day Sacramento showcasing some of her favorite thrifted finds. When she’s not out searching for the next hidden treasure thrifting, she’s at the Crocker Art Museum working in the Special Events department. Aside from her passion for thrifted fashion, she also enjoys photography, art, running, and gelato. I mean, doesn’t everyone love gelato?