By Emily Smith

Model Leah Jackson is sporting a little summer, a dash of winter, and a sprinkling of the seasons in-between. Showing us that variation in the clothes we wear is just as interesting and necessary as it is in providing us the spice of life. I encourage you to use these ideas as a guideline in creating your very own fabulous fall fashions.

Photos: Emily Smith

As fall creeps upon us, most people couldn’t be more pleased to rid themselves of the constant coat of sweat they have been wearing all summer long. Wispy layers of sheer fabric, barely-there tops and bottoms, and shoes built for keeping a layer between tender feet and the hot sidewalk, all played their part in providing us a little free “air conditioning” on the hottest of summer days.

I, myself, am a firm believer in the “less is more” mentality that the long, hot days of summer bring. As much as I love fashion and all of its facets, I am also a hardcore stickler for comfort. A sweaty Emily is not a happy Emily! Therefore, most of my June, July and August were spent in uniforms consisting primarily of denim cut-offs and tank tops, or easy-to-throw-on dresses. Honestly, I could probably fit my entire summer wardrobe in a weekend bag and with some clever use of accessories never wear the same outfit twice.

With my thrifty mentality guiding me, I have found a way to take the majority of my summer staples well into fall with a little mixing and matching. And since refurbishing your wardrobe every single year simply is not an option for most of us, creativity has become our most valuable tool in the world of fashion. So, with that in mind, let’s grab our tool belts and hammer out some inventive ideas for autumn.

You may be under the impression that all of the lightweight, tissue thin dresses you purchased earlier this year have seen their day in the sun and are just one more wear away from the cardboard box you plan to store them in. Let me be the first to say, this is simply not true.

Fall accessories such as boots, tights, hats, jackets and scarves lend themselves to construct an entirely new outfit. You would be surprised at how versatile seasonal items become when you layer them underneath outerwear (jackets and cardigans) or underwear (socks and tights). Expanding your wardrobe just became as simple as throwing on a thin scarf, tall boots and a beret over your favorite summer staple. Trust me, much of the prized pieces in my endless clothing collection have done their fair share of multi-tasking for their dear owner.

The idea of multi-tasking holds true for other items in your summer closet, too. Paper-thin, sleeveless tops, lightweight pants and even the fabulous pair of white jeans you only dare wear when daylight is longest, can all be stretched into the brisk, cool evenings of October (my favorite month) and on into the new year.

Break free of the notion that all clothing must be compartmentalized into one of the four seasons. Your favorite spring dress (that you probably paid entirely too much for) can prove its worth all year long when a little ingenuity is applied.

That being said, start by using what you already own. Dig deep into the recesses of your unorganized closet and pull out that black leather jacket you haven’t worn in two years and throw it over something summery. You can then begin to build from there. It may take a couple of hits and misses to finally knockout some original, impressive fall outfits, but the more you experiment, the more variations you are sure to invent.

Story and photos by Emily Smith

On a spring day way back in 1992, Harriet Wells, a single mother and career bartender, pulled together a measly $1,000 dollars and opened a unique local business that has now become a Fayetteville institution, Cheap Thrills.

A resale and vintage clothing shop that also housed kitschy curios, furniture and quirky knick-knacks, Wells squeezed Cheap Thrills and all its wares, into a miniscule 800 sq. ft. “matchbox” of a space on Block Street, when first planting her roots in the downtown square.

The business began to boom soon after opening and Wells eventually narrowed her exotic inventory to include even more clothes and less kitsch, while waiving a fond farewell to the bulk of furniture. And with that, a vintage clothing Mecca was born.

Catering to an adults-only clientele, “The Thrill” offers a cornucopia of gently used, new and vintage clothes mixed in with off-the-wall costumes and wigs for rent or purchase. Packed to the gills with 1950s Doris Day dresses, 1960s mod gear, 1970s disco era polyester and 1980s neon and shoulder pads, the store encompasses the past 75 years quite nicely. There is literally something for everyone and hidden vintage treasures await you throughout, as the inventory is always changing. 

“Thrill Seekers” come-a-calling when in need of a new outfit, a costume for a party and wacky gear for Greek-related functions. But for vintage freaks like me, just owning a piece of fashion history is reason enough to walk through the doors on a weekly basis.  

Now 17 years strong, the local hotspot, centrally located one block south of the Fayetteville Square, hosts a variety of eager shoppers from college kids to great grandmothers and everyone in between. The store has also been known to play host to traveling artists who perform at the Walton Arts Center and The AMP, who are said to flock to Cheap Thrills for the vast array of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces.

Being the self-labeled “thrift queen” that I am, I have frequented Cheap Thrills since finding myself in Fayetteville in 1996, an empty-pocketed collegiate always in search of a bargain. On any given day, you could spend ten bucks and walk out with something amazing. Through the years, the store has continued to hold true to its name: it is always cheap. And more importantly, it is always a thrill.  

I have unearthed a large majority of my wardrobe staples at “The Thrill” and am also glad to know that the money I spend goes to support an awesome local business and directly back into our local economy. So, I take this opportunity to pat myself on the back for my sense of community pride. Pat. Pat. Feels good. You should try it!

Try contributing locally by spending your money in this beautiful town in which we live. Locally owned businesses, like Cheap Thrills, depend directly on us to continue to keep them afloat. And with a fresh-minded, new president in our White House and light beckoning over a once bleak and distant economic horizon, people are excited to once again become contributing members of society. So, why not start in your own backyard?

This month, I visited the local shopping Mecca known as Cheap Thrills in search of great outfits for under $30. Not only did I find more than I had ever bargained for, I truly believe that resale and vintage shopping could give any “big business” clothing store chain a run for its money. And that, dear reader, is the cheapest thrill.

Story and photos by Emily Smith

It’s official, folks. Spring has sprung! Gone are the days of heavy winter coats and itchy gloves, and in their place, a shiny, new crop of warm-weather gear is ready and waiting to see the light of day.
One of the greatest, simplest pleasures of the change of season is the opportunity to adjust your wardrobe accordingly. During the dark and dreary winter months, I’ve often found myself playing “dress-up” in a closet full of flowing spring dresses, lightweight hats and open-toed platforms, only to remind myself that I have to wait months to use the streets of Fayetteville as my very own Spring runway. And patience is not a virtue that sits high atop this lady’s list, sorry to say.
Well, wait no more, dear friends. As the days grow longer, the higher temperatures coax us into shedding the multiple layers and switching our boots for sandals and flip-flops, trading our wool scarves for silk ones and essentially, lightening our loads altogether. Spring is the perfect time of year to keep things simple. When in doubt (or when I’m feeling lazy), I have been known to use a three-pack of men’s white tank tops or V-neck T-shirts, creating an entire ensemble based soley on my unique pairing of accessories. You’d be surprised how many outfit combinations are within reach when you have a treasure trove of fun jewelry, hats, sunglasses and eyewear, hosiery, shoes, belts, suspenders and scarves to choose from. Trust me, the list goes on and on, and in my weekly thrifting adventures, I have found hundreds. Literally.
I tend not to follow any particular trends, but if you do, utilizing accessories is the easiest and least expensive way to do it.
Imagine an outfit as blank as an artist’s canvas. Think about a white tank and baggy, boyfriend jeans (a major trend this year). Add a silk scarf around your head, some great vintage sunglasses, a luxurious leather clutch and some high-as-the-sky heels. Perfect.
These accessories are the cat’s meow in fashion magazines this season and come in a vast array of styles and prices. More often than not, I see the word “vintage” or “vintage-inspired” used in reference to new, expensive pieces, so why not go out and buy actual vintage? I’ll say it yet again, it’s always the cheaper route. And on the bright side, if you only wear the item a time or two, the price of the purchase won’t eat away at your guilty conscience. Now, doesn’t that sound tempting?
So, get out there and scour the streets for all the fabulous spring pieces just waiting to be discovered. Dig, dig, dig! Seek and ye shall find. Sooner than later, you’ll be in possession of a hefty collection of the smallest wardrobe staples that pack the largest punch accessories.