I always wanted to see how my face looks in the dark.

I got this dress from a vintage store a while ago, for about 30 cents, but didn’t get to wear it until today. I’m going through a “black” faze style-wise right now; I really only wear black outfits all day. That’s why I’m not always posting my “today’s looks”, some days it is just black skinny jeans, black leather boots, black turtleneck sweater, black trench-coat [I got that one from H&M and really love it and wear it all day]; I know, pretty boring! Anyway, maybe its my reaction to the cold weather, or maybe it’s my hair, I have no idea why I forgot about colors. But then, after winter, there’s always spring to come…

I didn’t have time to do proper thrift store shopping in Timisoara last week, but I did find some things from a second hand store, while I took the trip in between learning driving rules. Found a blue, full skirt, that I’ll probably mostly wear as a dress, a shiny waistcoat, another full, wrap skirt with flower prints on it, that also works as a dress and a blue, wrap dress with pleating detail at the front. These are nothing that special, but anything is welcome when all you did is get stressed out because of the following exam.

If I pass the driving license test the first time, I promise to reward myself with a long, exhausting and worthy second-hand shopping trip. Retail’s not the answer, thrift stores is!

Silvia Labos is a young Romanian designer, right now being in the last year of studying fashion design at the Art University in Timisoara, Romania. You might remember her from this post, where I showcased and actually wore some of her designing projects. [”When you can’t beat them, join them”]. She has a lot of designing experience, she worked as a designer and pattern cutter for a Romanian clothing company for several years, right now she works as a designer and pattern cutter for a denim company that produces jeans for Romania and abroad. So, you might understand why I am so impressed by her work, as she knows everything I need to learn: technical sewing and pattern cutting.

The good thing is that she is very open minded and would love to collaborate with me on designing and producing clothing (maybe accessories too), while she would teach me and share her knowledge. I can’t wait to work with her, and also we thought about selling the clothes we make here, on the blog. I am so excited, as this is a very important step in my life. Hopefully you will like and support what we do. Anyway, until we’ll showcase our fashion designing work, here is a neck piece and a bracelet she created. She took inspiration from the Aboriginal culture of Indigenous Australians.

These pieces are up for sale, so if you are interested in getting hand-made creations from my designer friend Silvia Labos, please contact me for further discussions at diana[at]sofashon.com. Also, click to view these pieces from different angles and also to learn more about Indigenous Australians after the jump!  

Another week, another successful trip to a local thrift store. I know I keep getting more and more stuff, making my closets almost explode, but in a week I’ll move to Timisoara to go to school, so I will be able to split my clothes in half, leaving some behind at home, while probably getting more from the thrift store over there. Hey, wouldn’t you get all these pretty little things for only about 30 cents a piece? Yeah, I thought so! Anyways, this week I found: a pretty black dress with big shoulder pads for a somewhat Margiela-big-shoulders-shape inspired look, a purple jersey dress that feels so soft and is also very easy to wear, for example under a classic, black trench coat [I’d say perfect, but that happens when you talk about Burberry trench coats, not H&M;] anyway, it fits well and it’s classic, so how can I not like it?!

Also, I found an original Guy Laroche printed dress (left) [I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the tag!], which I’ll wear with a swim-wear zebra printed bra on top. Told you about printed dresses and how I started getting some: all these fashion weeks made me forget we’re actually in autumn/winter, and it can get pretty cold in Romania. I should get some fur instead, faux, of course!

See more of my thrift shopping bargains, after the jump!  

As I’ve told you before, Monday is the sales day at my favorite thrift store here in my hometown called Resita. In 2 weeks I’ll move back to Timisoara, as I start my last and final year of University (can’t wait for it to end, as it was way less than I expected it to be, two and a half years ago).

Anyway, I got some basic buys, for example this pvc skirt. I don know if I should leave it as it is and wear it like a long skirt / strapless dress, or if I should do some pleats on the bottom part, giving it a bit of volume. While I do like the simple, straight shape, I’m sure I’d love it even more with pleats. Also, I got this Oasis gray sweater, it feels very soft and it’s perfect for when I don’t have time to put together a more interesting outfit.

It was “pants day” as I found four pairs of pants. Two years ago all I knew were jeans, so it’s great to open up and discover how amazing a pair of tailored pants can be! I like the gray, shiny ones, as they have that length that will be so hot next summer. The pants with white stripes are classic, also they are made out of a thicker fabric, making them perfect for this winter.

Also, I got two pairs of nude colored pants, because you know, “70’s safari” is one of next summer’s trends, so why not get things in advance: stock up on nude, creme, light brown colored garments! I also plan to wear the second pair rolled up, like you would see on some random NY/Parisian woman on The Sartorialist.

Lastly, I got these, dare I say, overalls! The thing is, I loved the color and the top part, with the pleating, so I’ll just transform them from 80’s kitschy overalls, in one cute top and [from the pants I plan to make] a pair of puffy shoulders, or something similar. I can’t get enough of this color!

I’m glad about torn up, light blue, extra large boyfriend jeans, they might get trendy again come next summer. I like them because they instantly add “cool” to a dull outfit, and they are just so easy to wear: random shirt tucked in pants, belt, cropped jacket and there you have it, as easy as it can get!

As seen on the Christopher Kane runway, on Caroline Trentini and on another model, after the shows from NY fashion week.