Fall is here and with the changing of the seasons comes a shift in dressing. For spring and summer, linens, vintage sleeveless dresses, and bustier tops were my go to, but now that the weather is getting colder I’ve started to gravitate towards knits, pants, and midi dresses.

Over the past few months, I’ve made several trips to Crossroads (Santa Monica, Culver City, Costa Mesa, and Melrose) and Uptown Cheapskate. Crossroads is one of my favorite places to go thrifting because they carry amazing brands like Levis, Reformation, Zara, For Love & Lemons (not always but sometimes!), and many more. One of my favorite parts of thrifting is discovering new brands that I might have never tried before. Some of my favorite thrift finds from this past year include: a maxi blue knit dress by ELLIATT, an Australian brand, and hand-made boxer shorts by a Parisian brand called ALFIE (read my blog post about them here).

Uptown Cheapskate doesn’t carry as many high-end brands but they have an amazing price point on all their items and you can still find some hidden gems. Also, they have far nicer dressing rooms.

As you can see, my color palette is very neutral. Currently, I prefer to stay away from prints and I’m looking for items that are timeless, high quality, versatile, and well-fitted. More often than not, I try on over a dozen pieces of clothing before I finds something worth keeping. The search is always worth it though! I get such a thrill when I find a new piece that I love.

Look 1

Where: Crossroads, Culver City

What:

Cream knit sweater with oversized puff sleeves
Black pants by John Galt

When:

The office, work from home, and weekend layering. I plan on layering the sweater over dresses or pairing it with my knitted skirt.

Look 2

Where: Uptown Cheapskate, Torrance

What: Asymmetrical dress by Ronny Kobo

When:

I shot with my friend, Fanny, this month, so I was looking for something to wear that was a little bit glamorous and over-the-top. This dress reminds me of something my mom might have worn in the 80’s. The puff sleeves are so dramatic and the rhinestone buckles definitely makes this dress feel nigh club-worthy. Photos from our shoot are coming soon!
PS: This dress was a steal at $15. Currently, the designer’s dresses fetch for $400 and up.

Look 3

Where: Crossroads, Santa Monica

What: Hand sewn matching set

When:

This is an outfit I also planned to wear during my shoot with Fanny. The pants were a little bit too big so I stayed up late the night before to tailor them myself. I did a really rough sewing job, but I don’t think you can tell in the photos we took. This fabric was extra tricky to sew because of the tiny holes around each circle. The main reason why I was drawn to this set was because of the fabric, but it proved to be a trickier DIY project than I anticipated.

Look 4

Where: Crossroads, Santa Monica (pants) and Uptown Cheapskate, Torrance (tops)

What: (no notable brands)

Vintage trousers
Micro knitted black crop top
Fuzzy white Sweater

When:

This is one of my new favorite outfits. Many of my favorite bloggers and aesthetics consists of neutral pallets and effortlessly modern wardrobes. I love how timeless this outfit looks yet it still feels youthful and chic. I will definitely be styling this outfit multiple ways for both work and weekends.
See the full sweater below.

Look 5

Where: Uptown Cheapskate, Torrance (top), Crossroads, Costa Mesa (jeans)

What:

Vintage camel sweater vest
Levis 512 bootcut jeans

When:

I’ve been searching for white denim all year. More often than not, when I find a pair of jeans that I like, its’s not the right fit. I really wanted to find white Levis that are high-waisted and either a mom-jean or straight leg cut. One of the Crossroads employees suggested I try the Costa Mesa location for Levis and she was right, I scored these jeans there. To me, white denim is a wardrobe staple regardless of the current season.
Lately, I feel like my style is slowly becoming increasingly preppy. I recently bought a pair of shinny black loafers and I plan on pairing them with this sweater vest I found.

Look 6

Where: Crossroads, Santa Monica

What:

Camel sweater with slit sleeves (no label)
Knit midi skirt with slit by Womn.

When:

For work or dinner dates (if I can ever force myself to go on one, but that’s another story). This outfit is all about the details. Though it’s a simple pairing, I love how the slits on the sleeves of this sweater makes the silhouette of the outfit a little unexpected.

Look 7

Where: Crossroads, Melrose

What:

Rib knit dress by Vitamin A

When:

The perfect layering dress. As someone who hates being too hot but also doesn’t like being too cold, this dress is perfect for wearing on its own or layering with a sweater. Comfortable yet classy, this dress is a very versatile find.
PS: Vitamin A is a sustainable brand based in California that uses recycled and plant-based materials. This dress is currently being sold on their website in multiple colors. You can check out more options here.

Look 8

Where: Crossroads, Culver City (dress), Crossroads, Costa Mesa (shoes)

What:

Reformation rib knit dress
Soda red mules

When:

When I’m not wearing white, red is usually the next color I gravitate towards. In Chinese culture, red is a color that brings good fortune and happiness. To me, red is the most bold color that anyone can wear. It evokes sophistication, class, and romance. It’s an epic color to say the least. To be honest, I’ve only worn this dress out once but I hope to make a lot of use out of it in the near future.
PS: I never planned on buying red shoes, but when I tried on these mules there was something about them that felt romantic. Maybe it’s because they remind me of a modern take on Dorthy’s ruby slippers.

That’s a wrap on my latest thrift haul! If you made it this far, thank you so much for taking the time to read my latest blog post. I would love to know what trends, brands, and styles you’re currently obsessing over and as we transition into Fall, what are you looking forward to the most? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section down below.

xx

Kiana