Dressing fabulously for a week for under $50 / £25 #BegBorrowBargain

Arriving on holiday with nothing but an Aussie flag (beer stains included), my camera and a week's worth of knickers was always a risky move. But, in the name of bargain style, I willingly took this potentially draughty gamble! Throwing myself at the mercy of The Salvos, Lifeline and Vinnies, even I've been shocked at the goodies I've managed to get my mits on. Strap yourself in Poodles... #begborrowbargain just got serious!!

Day 1 ​ - $10 / ​ £5

Chuffed to kick off Day 1 in this red, white and yellow poodle skirt dream! I almost fainted when I found this on the Vinnies rack... though my bargain bubble burst to find three massive oil stains across the front.
Originally priced at $7 the team offered it to me for $5 and with Mum's GENIUS laundry skills in the back of my mind... I went with it. Mum worked her magic (of course) and this cruise ship fantasy never looked better! A size 8, can you believe? That's why in the world of vintage shopping, you NEVER look at sizes...

• Skirt $5 (Vinnies)
• Top borrowed from Mum with a few temp darts
• Necklace $3 (Salvos)
• Earrings $2 (Salvos)
• Bamboo Bracelet Duo $1 (Salvos)
• Scarf $1 (Salvos)    
• Shoes (how did I forget I owned these??? Left here in Oz from my Hen Do last year....)

Day 2 - $10 / ​ £5

Ahoy Sailor! Day 2 saw this 90s nautical number that may (disturbingly) have been from my actual 90s wardrobe! Picked this beauty up along with my cruise ship Day 1 Delight and nabbed a cute little lemon top for my favourite navy/lemon colour combo. Needing a touch of red for the brooch (come on op-chops, is it that hard to offer a perfectly formed nautical brooch?!) we spied a little watermelon necklace so broke of the chain, sanded back the edge and hot glued a brooch pin to the back. Voila!

• Skirt $5 (Vinnies)
• Top $3 (Salvos)
• Watermelon Brooch upcylced, $1 (Salvos)
• Sailboat Earrings $1 @salvosstores
• Belt the tie from my rain Mac!
• Shoes my amazing Babycham delights!  

Ship shape and ready to go!

Day 3 - $1 / 50p

Adding BARTER to the list for #begborrowbargain, my lovely Dad traded his tech skills for a bag of Size 20-22 dresses! The former owner was all to happy to be rid of her gorgeous gown collection after dropping 4-5 sizes. An hour or two on the sewing machine and ... ta da! Here's how I altered it.

• Dress bartered by Dad!
• Basket Mum's fruit bowl 🍇🍊
• Necklace as per Day 1 (Salvos)
• Scarf $1 (Lifeline)
• Shoes worn from home (British Heart Foundation) 

Day 4 - $2 / ​£1.00

After withstanding people stopping me in the street asking if I needed a jacket ON A DAILY BASIS, even I could concede that Brissy was a tad chilly earlier this week. Throwing all thigh woes to the wind, I not only purchased but WORE trousers, like, in public. At just $1, I picked them up along with this cute chocolate cowl neck top from the Lifeline bargain rail - quite adorably the lovely volunteer apologised she couldn't give me the extra 25% off daily clothing discount! 

• ​Top $1 (Lifeline)
• Trousers $1 (Lifeline)
• Bracelets as per Day 1 (Lifeline)
• Jacket bartered
• Clutch borrowed from the lovely Sami
• Scarf & earrings borrowed from Mum
• Sunglasses mine already
• Shoes mine already

Day 5 - $13.50 / £6.75

Day 5 was this 80s colour explosion of pink / purple / green deliciousness! Was so pleased to find this skirt having already nabbed this emerald green Ben Sherman knit top (bought alongside my $1 rack goodies from Day 4). Totally obsessed with my upcycled watermelon brooch, when Mum and I spied this Havaianas fridge market, we immediately knew its fate! DIY brooch tutorial to come at some point... 

• Skirt $5 (Lifeline)
  
• Top $3 (Lifeline)
  
• Wedges $4.50 (Lifeline)
  
• Bag borrowed from Sami
  
• Belt found in my old stuff!
  
• Brooch $1 upcycled from fridge magnet
  
• Scarf Mum's from an op-shop!

Day 6 - $1.50 / 75p

Who says a girl can't wear a dodgy, 25 cent, 90s patchwork house dress and not feel fabulous?! I Scored the dress, this cute cross-body pouch bag, a second dress, plus a lovely white cotton blouse all for $1 from Buderim Recycle Market. Recycle Markets might push your boundaries of trash v treasure, but there's no mistaking this is where the REAL bargains are! I'll talk a bit about recycle markets in a post to come.

• Dress 25c (Buderim Recycle Market)
  
• Bag 25c (Buderim Recycle Market)
  
• Shoes as per Day 5 (Lifeline)
  
• Belt 50c (Salvos)
  
• Ladybug Brooch handmade by Mum
  
• Scarf another borrow from Sami.

Day 7 - $8.50 / ​£4.25

Loved wrapping up the week in this 90s-does-40s olive number. I find this shirt-dress style so smart and flattering and when paired with an Eiffel of accessories... just works! The dress was a bargain at $4.50 and I melted when I spied this fab woven clutch handled handbag for a mere $3.00 (you know I'm a sucker for a basket!) Love the ever increasing paint flecks as Dad and I slowly renovate the house! :)

Dress $4.50 (Salvos)
Belt $1.00 (Lifeline)
Bag $3.00 (Salvos)
Scarf borrowed from Laura
Bracelets As per Day 1 (Lifeline)

So there you have it... week 1 and all for $46.50 / $23.35 ! Stay tuned for week two of #BegBorrowBargain Brisbane! 

Want to know more about my crazy style challenge? Click here.