My very favorite time of year to thrift is Christmas time, and my very favorite place to thrift is arc. There are always tons of ornaments and decorations to find in boxes and in tiny hanging bags. I love these little treasure bags and have had lots of luck finding fun holiday treasures.

My latest treasure bag find was these vintage Gurley candles. They are fun, figural, Christmas shapes and little guys. The price was right at arc with one bag at $.99 and one at $1.29. I wasn’t sure how to best display these so I wandered around arc for inspiration.

I spotted this giant box of blocks over in the toy section for only $2.99 and decided to use them to spell out holiday words as a base for the candles.

I chose to start with “noel” but it was such a big box that I was also able to find letters for “joy,” “merry xmas,” and “fa la la” for my next round of creating. A good bargain at arc for such a big box.

After finding the letters that I wanted, I started by hot-gluing them together.

I decided on my placement of the candles and then hot-glued them on the top. Looking back, I wish I had painted the top of the blocks white before gluing on the candles. I did it afterwards and it doesn’t look quite as neat as it could have. Oh well, learning is part of crafting, and it is very no-pressure when all of the supplies cost only about $5 total from arc.

I painted around the bases of the candles with white acrylic paint and then shook on some fake snow. This was a crazy simple craft but I love how it turned out. It’s a cute holiday project for very little cost thanks to arc thrift.

Emily Karbach // December 3, 2018

It’s here!!

The Holiday season is finally upon us, and the only thing more stressful than trying to find the perfect gift for your “less than favorite” coworker at the company Christmas party is trying to find an even more perfect outfit. Every year, the holiday fashion game becomes more complex and it can be easy to feel lost amongst the stuffed clothing racks and anxious shoppers at your local mall. This year skip the lines, crowds, and accidentally wearing the exact same dress as your cousin to Christmas dinner: Shop at arc Thrift Stores!

Admittedly, when thinking about holiday attire at arc you probably think of “ugly sweater party” before “New Year’s Eve dress.” Although everyone loves a good Christmas sweater, they are only a tiny part of holiday fashion you can find while thrifting. Arc has everything from a showstopping dress for Christmas Eve to cozy knits you end up living in all winter long.

Finding the perfect holiday dress is an absolute essential, and the thrift store can be a great place to find one that is beautiful and unique. Here are some of my tried and true dress shopping tips: Focus on the colors that are popular that season, such as reds, greens, blues, silvers, and golds. If you’re feeling daring, experiment with patterns and textures, or keep it more classic with a monochromatic piece. Also, maintaining a modern silhouette helps prevent your dress from looking outdated while still showcasing the unique elements of thrifted pieces. A classic silhouette that flatters your figure will elevate your look.

This blue velour wrap dress gives me a classic, sophisticated look…even when standing in a bathroom 😉

Arc is perfect for finding everyday seasonal pieces as well. Cozy turtlenecks and chunky knits are at the top of everyone’s style board this winter, and they’re easy to find at arc. When buying sweaters, it can be helpful to look a size above what you normally wear for that extra cozy and oversized feel. While you’re there, check out the jeans and pick up some straight-leg, high-waisted denim to complete the look with one of this season’s hottest pieces.

This modern take on the classic jeans and sweater look has been my go-to all winter, keeping me cozy and cute!

I love thrifting year-round but there’s something special about shopping at arc during the holiday season. There’s not much is better than giving back to your community while finding something new to love, and I can’t wait to fill my closet with all my favorite fashion finds this winter. Whether it’s for the perfect outfit, decorations to fill your home with festive spirit, or a gift for that special someone, shop arc Thrift!

Happy Thrifting,

Emily

Instagram: @emily_karbach