You’re reading Jersey Girl Thrift’s bi-weekly newsletter! A quick and fun read, full of second-hand trends, style tips, local sales, store reviews, great reads, and a recipe or two. It’s everything you need to live a thrifty and luscious life.

And she’s back…

…after a wild night on the town for G A G A. And yes- of course I wore a blue wig, wouldn’t you? This is my third or fourth time seeing Lady Gaga, and my claim to fame is having once seen her on her very first album tour when she only had one song out- the tickets were $25. I remember seeing the “Just Dance” video and thinking, ‘she looks really weird, and I like that.’ It was at the Electric Factory in Philly, standing room only, and so low budge.

I knew this was my opporutnity to really play dress up and go for it! So along with my wig, I wore a mesh top, a black trouser that everyone needs, they truly go with everything always (from amazon, ugh I know!), and one of my most-loved thrifted items, a tuxedo blazer by House of Harlow that I picked up at Newburgh Vintage Emporium, layered with a men’s leather jacket I bought at Red, White, & Thrift for $30!

Spring Uniform

We are officially in the season of complete weather unpredictability until May. So when I’m not wearing an all black Gaga look, you can find me in layers. This is the time to bring a sweater even when you’re not sure, and wear a tee under a sweater just in case it’s too warm and you need to shed a layer. There is truly nothing worse than sweating in an itchy sweater when you overestimated the cold, but you can’t take it off because you have nothing underneath. Lately I’ve been opting for shackets, light jackets, denim, and button up shirts as my second layer.

Lessons in Entrepreneur-ing

JGT is almost 2 (!!) years old, so I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting about what it feels like to have started a business. One of the most surprising parts of building Jersey Girl Thrift has been the community that’s come with it. The support, the DMs, the people showing up swap after swap, it’s been the kind of energy you can’t manufacture. And it’s not just our gorgeous, stylish, smart, caring swappers, but also the opportunity to be in community with so many fellow female entrepreneurs out there just doing cool things and making it happen has been wildly inspiring.

On a more personal level, one of the most rewarding feelings has been creating something that’s truly ours. There’s something really empowering about knowing this is something Larell and I built from the ground up, and that no one can take it away from us. It’s ours to shape, ours to bet on, and a time when the job market feels increasingly unsteady, it’s such a powerful feeling to have something that’s your own.

That said… no one talks enough about the admin. The emails, the spreadsheets, the logistics, the endless tiny decisions, it’s a lot 😂 But when it’s something you genuinely love, it weirdly doesn’t feel like “work” in the traditional sense. It just feels like… building.

We had no idea how or if it would work, but we just built what we wanted to go to. So the biggest lesson in all of this: if it’s something you wish existed, something you’d be excited to show up for, wear, use, or experience, it’s probably worth trying. I saw this quoted exchange in an instagram account I love Jedidiah Jenkins -

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. But if you have a seedling of an idea you’ve always wondered about….the time will pass anyway- what’s holding you back?

Dispatch from the Cloffice

We know everyone has been wondering when is the next swap! Well we are in the garage actively sorting out hearts out to get some clothes on racks for you! We have a couple places in mind for the next pop up, and we are hoping maybe an early summer date. But trust you’ll always be the first to hear about it!

That’s all for now ✨ I hope you’re soaking in every second of sunshine that has been coming your way and letting yourself dream some big bold ideas along the way…

x Kelli