The Outfit Repeater

Tag: wisconsin

Your Guide to the Monroe Theater Guild Annual Gala & 5 Vintage-Inspired Outfit Ideas

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This post is in collaboration with Monroe Theater Guild. No compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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You’re Invited: A Night on Broadway (In Wisconsin)

Who doesn’t dream of getting dressed up for a night out at a Broadway show or taking part in a gala or award ceremony?!

Well, here’s your chance to support the local arts AND wear your fanciest frocks!

Being from the Midwest, those opportunities are few and far between, so I’m excited to share one coming up that I think many of you will be interested in!

The Monroe Theater Guild will be hosting a special Open House and gala with the theme “A Night on Broadway.” All are invited to attend and, of course, encouraged to dress up.

I’m currently costuming my second play with MTG, so I dug through the costume closet to pull out five outfit ideas you might want to recreate for the big event.

Keep reading to learn more and get inspired!

What Is The Monroe Theater Guild?

Before I share the gala outfits, I want to back up and tell you a little more about the Monroe Theater Guild.

The Monroe Theater Guild is a theater company local to Monroe, Wisconsin, that was started in 1970. It regularly delivers seasonal shows to the region, including musicals, dramas, comedies, and everything in between. There are also classes, special events (like the gala!), and the space is available to rent for your own private gatherings.

I have personally been involved sporadically since I was younger, acting in shows here and there, then took a long break and am back using my talents in the costume department!

The Monroe Theater Guild is a huge asset to Monroe and the surrounding areas. It’s a creative outlet, a platform for important issues, a thriving space for the arts, and a great place to meet the most interesting people!

5 Vintage Inspired Gala Outfit Ideas

The costume closet at the Monroe Theater Guild is filled to the brim with decades of the most amazing vintage clothes. As a fashion lover, I’m like a kid in a candy store when I walk through those doors.

I channeled all that excitement into pulling looks that felt like they could be worn to an award show, especially the Tonys. There are a lot of fabulous archival photos to be found online, and I found myself drawn to many looks worn by entertainers in the 1970s and 1980s.

Funny enough, Carol Channing came up over and over again while I was building my mood board. Her sparkles and sass left me inspired!

Hopefully, these looks get your creative gears turning, and you can pull out something similar from your closet or visit a thrift store to buy something totally unique!

Learn More & Get The Hottest Ticket In Town

Now all that’s left to do is RSVP on the Monroe Theater Guild website and get your outfit together!

You won’t want to miss this behind-the-scenes experience, including a silent auction, games, and prizes. It will be a great free community building event!

Let them know you’re coming, and I hope to see you there!

ALSO SEE MY STYLE ON:

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January 12, 2026
How Standing Out Can Help You Fit In: My Midwest Fashion Story

My Midwest Fashion Story

Something most people are surprised to learn after hearing about my fashion blog and history with fashion is that I’m from Wisconsin. A small town in Wisconsin to be exact! They definitely expect me to be from a bigger area.

I don’t have any shame about where I live but it has presented its fair share of challenges throughout the years.

Growing up, my exposure to fashion was limited to my big sister’s monthly subscription to Seventeen magazines. (Some things never change!)

And the pinnacle of fashion excitement was attending weekend fashion shows at Walmart!

How Fashion Shaped My Life

During my teenage years, I experimented extensively with my personal style, which brought about mixed feelings. Being plus-size until the age of 21, I wore outfits that most curvy women wouldn’t feel comfortable in. I relished challenging societal norms and pushing boundaries.

I’m grateful that I dared to be different even when I was plus-size because it instilled in me the confidence to continue dressing eccentrically to this day. Eventually, my community became accustomed to me being the girl with the wild thrift store clothes.

Fashion Rulebreaker

Conditioning people to accept and appreciate uniqueness is no easy task. Going against the norm can be tough.

Thankfully, the fashion police have never come knocking on my door and I’ve realized that if I can express myself freely in my small town, I can do it anywhere!

I am aware that there are towns even smaller and more rural than mine, where dressing the way you want can be even more difficult or even dangerous due to conservative attitudes.

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WHAT I’M WEARING
All thrifted/secondhand, $7 total | Old Lulu*s white sandals, $20 | Old Maurices white lace cami

Standing Out Helps Me Fit In

Confidence definitely takes time to build up and, even then, comes in waves. Sometimes I feel like standing out and other times I feel like blending in… like with sunflowers!

But the benefits of dressing up have outweighed the negatives. It’s helped me find my people and it’s fun to know I’ve been a well-dressed stranger to someone in public.

In the end, I believe that fashion should be a means of self-expression and a celebration of individuality. I hope for a future where people can simply be themselves without judgment.

ALSO STALK MY STYLE ON:

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August 28, 2023
Art Meets Fashion: How I Chose What To Wear To a Gallery Opening

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This post contains affiliate links & I may receive a commission if you click or complete a purchase through them.

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Night At The (Art) Museum

Talk about art imitating life!

This weekend I wanted to channel the creativity and expressiveness of the artwork I saw at the opening of Efflorescence by Emma Daisy at Monroe Arts Center in Monroe, Wisconsin … but I didn’t intend to match so much!

The paintings were like my Pinterest boards in real life. The colors and the stories they told were impactful and made me smile!

It’s a good thing a picture is worth a thousand words because I didn’t grab a lot of photos of my outfit. I was too focused on the art! But I still have a few words to say about what I wore at the gallery opening. Keep reading to learn how I chose my outfit for the night!

What I Wore To The Art Gallery

For this art gallery opening, I opted for a comfortable yet stylish flowy midi dress with a colorful floral print. I matched it with a pair of thrifted silver high heels (not pictured) and completed the look with some handmade pom-pom earrings and a pink crossbody bag to keep my hands free.

I like to imagine my outfits are a work of art but this is quite literal! I would ask who wore it better but I think we both did a great job.

Choosing the right outfit for the night helped enhance the experience for me. I think wearing color is very empowering and can make a huge difference in your mood and the way you carry yourself. This outfit made me feel my best and I had a lot of fun getting dressed and enjoying the art!

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? WHAT I’M WEARING ?
thredUP dress and purse, $30 total (shop on thredUP) | DIY earrings, (DIY pompom earring tutorial) | Colourpop Lippie Stix in Heart On (shop Colourpop Lippie Stix)

Beyond The Canvas: Where To See Efflorescence

If you’d like to see the Efflorescence by Emma Daisy art gallery for yourself, it is accessible until the end of May at the Monroe Arts Center Wellington/Muranyi Galleries.

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April 19, 2023
Thriftin’ Through Wisconsin: My Favorite Janesville Stores

Just a hop and a skip away from Madison is the city of Janesville which you might be surprised to know has a thriving thrifting scene. While there are locations scattered all over town, these are the ones I visit most often

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Goodwill

Where at?: 2003 Holiday Drive, Janesville, WI

Note: For the curious, this Goodwill is part of the “Amazing Goodwill” district for the Milwaukee/Chicago area and not one that I partner with.

Pros: The staff is very friendly and accomodating. There’s no shortage of stuff. It feels like a high volume donation store! I’ve shopped here for over a decade and I can tell they’ve recently been putting a lot of effort into organization. This is a huge plus because it used to be such a mess!

Cons: While very organized, this store can be overwhelming to a novice thrifter because there is so much to look at. I guess a good problem to have?

What I bought recently: A pair of gaucho pants for $2.

My best score ever: I used to thrift lots of quirky neck ties here when I produced a show on YouTube that required them.

Ideal for thrifters looking for..: If you’re down for a hunt, they have lot of household stuff to sift through!

Find ’em online: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Salvation Army

Where at?: 2717 Milton Ave, Janesville, WI

Pros: This is the better Salvation Army, if you’re going to choose just one in Janesville. The location is well kept and organized, they frequently run sales, and I always have positive interactions with the staff. If you even ask nicely, they’ll tell you some more thrift stores in the area you should check out!

Cons: If there are any, I’m probably just ignoring them because I just like this store a lot. (Ok ok, there is no online presence to track sales so that’s a bummer!)

What I bought recently: A Britney Spears CD.

My best score ever: Clothing for $2 or less.

Ideal for thrifters looking for..: Definitely great for clothing thrifters, like myself, because of their frequent sales!

Find ’em online: Website

J&B Outlet and Resale/Thrift (formerly Repeat Retreat)

Where at?: 2342 Center Ave, Janesville, WI

Pros: J&B is a thrift store on steroids. It has a huge space – two large rooms full to the brim with goodies. Everything is set up by individual vendors so it’s like shopping a giant flea market without having to deal with the sellers. This is really a one-stop-shop for families, sports fan, movie buffs, and other collectors. Prices are overall fair per booth.

Cons: Building is fairly unmarked so keep an eye out for it when you’re driving. Skip this place if you have allergies, mobility issues, or are short on time. The amount of items stacked where they shouldn’t be is alarming and seems unsafe. Be careful when moving around! I also had trouble tracking down prices, but this is a problem with the individuals sellers and not the store itself. Could make haggling difficult if you enjoy that!

What I bought recently: Some fair-priced CDs from the ’80s and ’90s.

My best score ever: My very first Baby-sitters Club doll for $10. The outfit was incomplete but I was happy to get my collection started!

Ideal for thrifters that..: Have a collection to complete, an entire day to waste, and a desire to dig under mounds of stuff.

Find ’em online: Facebook

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If you’re enjoying this series, be sure to support it by leaving a comment telling me what you love about your favorite store, sharing this post with a thrifty friend, and check back often as you never know when I’ll add some new locations!

CATCH UP WITH ME ON:

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April 26, 2019
Don’t Miss These Thrift Stores in Northern Illinois!

There’s more to Illinois than just Chicago. In fact, if you drive a couple hours to the west, you’ll find these thrift stores tucked away in some intriguing small towns!

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Goodwill

Where at?: 2030 W Galena Ave, Freeport, IL

Pros: The last Tuesday of every month is their big $1.50 clothing sale where all clothes are only $1.50. I cannot stress enough how awesome that makes this store!

Cons: This store is often forgot or overlooked by locals but it’s worth searching for! The staff can become very focused when stocking the floor and get in the way of shoppers, but that tends to happen at thrift stores so you put up with it!

What I bought recently: Clothes on $1.50 sale day!

My best score ever: My lipstick lamp was found here! I also frequently find multiple vintage Smurf items in one sweep.

Ideal for thrifters looking for..: Clothes for $1.50 and they have a pretty decent selection of books!

Find ’em online: Website | Facebook

Twice as Nice Consignments

Where at?: 8 W Stephenson St, Freeport, IL

Pros: This is actually a trio of stores separated by needs (household, furniture, clothes, etc) that are just a couple doors away from one another. They’re an amazing way to spend an afternoon and have almost anything you can think of! Very well organized and fully stocked. The main store even honors a selection of color tags everyday!

2019 edit: Murals have been added to walls nearby so if you’re location for an #instagramworthy location, you got it!

Cons: Stores tend to be tight and cluttered. Not easily accessible for handicap or wheelchair patrons. Buildings also pose a problem if you have breathing issues as they’re old and musty.

What I bought recently: Some clothes!

My best score ever: I came across the original dress that Baby wore in Dirty Dancing.. and then didn’t buy it. #majorthriftregrets

Ideal for thrifters looking for..: Everything under the sun.

Find ’em online: Website | Facebook

My Friends Closet

Where at?: 511 W Lena St, Lena, IL

Pros: If you’re looking for a true, small-town thrift experience, this is your place! It’s run by an eclectic staff of volunteers, honors color tags every single day (with one being worth 25 cents!), and is constantly rotating items on the floor. It was also recently expanded so there’s even more stuff to enjoy!

Cons: There is somewhat limited parking but it’s a small store so that’s to be expected. While the inside is expanded, the aisles are still very tight to navigate!

What I bought recently: You can see exactly how this thrift trip went down in a takeover I did on the @whenthriftersthrift Instagram Story!

My best score ever: Too much to name. A 2000s Seventeen magazine for 25 cents, 90s-era Nsync merch, lots of name brand clothes for only a quarter.

Ideal for thrifters looking for..: A little bit of everything!

Find ’em online: Facebook

Salvation Army

Where at?: 6545 N Alpine Rd, Loves Park, IL

Pros: This is the biggest Salvos/thrift store I’ve ever been into. (And I’ve been thrifting in Texas, ya’ll!) If you walk out empty handed, it’d be your own fault. Prices are very fair and they do participate in a daily color tag special. The staff was friendly and helpful when I had questions.

Cons: There are some hygiene issues going on and the fitting rooms are in an odd place (not to mention rickety). Nonetheless, it’s not enough to deter me from shopping there.

What I bought recently: Some clothes and a computer game totaling under $12!

My best score ever: My sister-in-law picked up a nearly brand new Torrid dress for $8. gasp

Ideal for thrifters looking for..: A large selection of clothes. You won’t be disappointed!

Find ’em online: No online presence!

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If you’re enjoying this series, be sure to support it by leaving a comment telling me what you love about your favorite store, sharing this post with a thrifty friend, and check back often as you never know when I’ll add some new locations!

CATCH UP WITH ME ON:

BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPEATER’S DIGEST

NEWSLETTER FOR THRIFTY TIPS, SNEAK PEEKS, AND MORE!

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April 4, 2019
Thriftin’ Through Wisconsin: A Vinny’s Odana Review | Madison

Since starting my partnership with Goodwill of South Central Wisconsin, you’re heard me gush a lot about them. But there’s another chain of stores I make a point of stopping at in the Madison-area and that’s St. Vincent de Paul – or “Vinny’s” as we call it in the Midwest.

This is a chain of stores I love shopping at no matter which city or state I’m in but I especially find the good stuff in the Madison neighborhoods.

I hope to have reviews of all the locations coming up this year but, for now, here’s a look at the one I haunt most – Vinny’s Odana!

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Vinny’s Odana

Where at?: 6301 Odana Rd Madison, Wisconsin

Pros: This location was remodeled in the last five years and it’s just astounding how huge it is and how well they fill in the space. You have to be quick to catch is as it’s just around a bend but the parking is plenty and it’s certainly worth stopping in.

Cons: Like most Vinny’s location, this has a “repro” clothing section of higher-end clothes. This is not necessarily a negative but sometimes you might get your hopes on an awesome piece of clothing, only to realize it’s priced 2-3x higher than the other stuff.

What I bought recently: A handful of sunglasses for less than $1 a pop.

My best score ever: This location helped fill in a lot of my collection of Baby-sitters Club books!

Ideal for thrifters looking for..: Furniture and clothing are in abundance. Watch their Facebook page for upcoming curated shopping events like vintage Pyrex or Legos!

Find ’em online: Website | Facebook | Instagram

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If you’re enjoying this series, be sure to support it by leaving a comment telling me what you love about your favorite store, sharing this post with a thrifty friend, and check back often as you never know when I’ll add some new locations!

CATCH UP WITH ME ON:

BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPEATER’S DIGEST

NEWSLETTER FOR THRIFTY TIPS, SNEAK PEEKS, AND MORE!

Email Address:

March 21, 2019
What Happened When I Shopped at Goodwill Stoughton

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Ain’t no party like a Goodwill party because a Goodwill party don’t stop!

My Stoughton Goodwill Shopping Experience

Earlier this week, I was invited to Goodwill of Stoughton, Wisconsin to help them celebrate their one anniversary. In addition to my takeover on their Instagram account, I also wanted to share a few more shopping stories with you in this post!

My last visit to this location was actually on opening day so it was a stark contrast to walk into a nearly empty store. Apparently I arrived before the crowd which was definitely to my advantage. As it turned out, this was one of my favorite thrift store experiences because I could really shop at my leisure without anyone getting in my way.

(For the curious: It was a Monday morning!)

Once I got over the shock of how quiet it was, I got right to shopping.

Like the other Madison-area Goodwills, this location was spacious, organized, and well kept. While there were whispers of the new Middleton store having too much Target merch, I can conclude that this store was primarily donations from the public.

I also appreciate the fact that this, and all 11 other Madison-area locations, have a half-off colored tag special every Sunday and Monday. I’m all about saving money!

Excited by the thrill of the hunt, I made it my mission to find as many things as I could from my thrifting wishlist. Unfortunately I failed but I did manage to find a bunch of other neat things that I couldn’t live without. I’ll be sharing all of them in my March thrift haul video at the end of the month!

Lastly, we have to talk about what I wore! I sported a pair of my favorite thrifted denim overalls in an attempt to manifest more overalls into my life, per my thrifting wishlist.

I did not end up getting any similar pieces but I did manage to draw the attention of an older gentlemen who saw my vintage smiley faced button and assumed I worked there. After hearing his plea for a price check on a pack of lightbulbs, I gently directed him toward a real employee. This was definitely not my first time getting mistaken as a thrift store employee. 😆

Speaking of employees.. it was such a delight to meet with a few of the team members at Goodwill Stoughton!

The supervisor, Carolyn, was excited to share with me that Madison’s new professional soccer team Forward Madison FC would be doing a meet & greet at the store on Saturday, March 16th. If you’re out and about, it would be a great time to support the team and the store!

I will definitely be back again in the future. Stoughton is a thriving city and this Goodwill location is a big part of that. Thank you so much for having me, Goodwill Stoughton, and I’ll see ya later!

CATCH UP WITH ME ON:

BLOGLOVIN | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE

SUBSCRIBE TO THE REPEATER’S DIGEST

NEWSLETTER FOR THRIFTY TIPS, SNEAK PEEKS, AND MORE!

Email Address:

March 13, 2019