Prompt:  Write about something you purchased used.

Interesting topic, right?

In Houston, Montrose to be specific, they have (had – I don’t know, I’ve not been there in almost 30 years) vintage clothing stores.  Once was called, “Shop the Curve” because there was a big curve in the road where they were located.  Duh.  It was one of my favourite shops to go to.  I want to say that there was one called “The Way Back Machine”, or maybe it was “Mr. Peabody’s”, I’m a little fuzzy on that one (sorry, too many years have gone by), and my friends and I would go down there for a day (well 1/2 day) of shopping.   I got some amazing vintage dresses, shirts, shoes and most of all, jewelry.  Remember, this was back in the 80’s when if your hoop earrings couldn’t hold a parrot they just weren’t big enough.  How many brooches could you put on your outfit before it was considered tacky…. The answer, by the way is one.  Even though we would put at least 2 or 3 on.  And now I cringe at the thought of wearing someone’s shoes that I don’t know.  That’s just so nasty and I can’t believe that I did it.  Yuck!

My favourite purchase was this amazing LBD (that’s Little Black Dress) that was crepe and chiffon.  It was from the 50’s and looked like June Cleaver herself could have worn it for a night of naughty fun with Ward.  The chiffon over dress was pleated and was basically a circle skirt over a pencil skirt, with the top being sleeveless with a scoop neck and an attached “scarf’ of chiffon that draped over the neck and attached on the other shoulder to cascade down the back.  I found this amazing star-like cluster brooch that secured it and, damn, I looked good if I say so myself.  I pared it with these awesome strappy, super pointy, kitten heeled shoes.   I wore it to the Homecoming dance my (I think) Sophomore year of High School.

I’ve bought many a “resale” thing over the years, and I’ve used a lot of stuff that I’ve gotten from friends.  It’s like we have this hey-do-you-have-this-if-yes-i’ll-trade-you-this-for-it type of thing.  In the end it all works.  I had an amazing dress for a dance that I din’t want to go to, but I really liked the guy at the time and it didn’t cost me much money, ya know, because I didn’t have any then – much like all teenagers.  My money was spent on gas to haul me and my friends around.  To Montrose.  To shop the vintage stores.