Thrift Bowl

Looking for a fun, creative way, to get together and enjoy your people? I’d highly suggest doing a Thrift Bowl! My sisters, along with our husbands and my parents started the night with laughter, and it never stopped. From first reactions to playing the part…. accents and all. From catching strangers confused looks to gutter balls, strikes and spares. This night was a memory made just right.

You’ll want to start by getting a commitment from your people. Set your date and gather your group. After you have your committed group, you can randomly pick names. We chose to pick as couples. So, for example my mom and dad picked Scott and I and we picked my sister Becca and brother in-law Luke (Mr. T and 70’s girl.) Because we picked as couples, coordinating was a fun option. The couple you pick is the couple you thrift for, (of course I recommend shopping your local Goodwill!) Before shopping for your person, make sure to get their sizes. And remember, vintage sizes are a lot smaller than current sizes, size up by at least two sizes to get the accurate fit. With that said, for any piece, when in doubt, size up.

Guidelines We Set:

* $20 max/person. This includes accessories. It’s helpful to put a cap on it.

*Each person needs to have at least a thrifted top and bottom or dress.

*Get the outfits to your person at least a full day before. This allows time to wash, alter and process:)

*After you get your outfit, if you have items to add to the look, feel free! But it cannot take away from the outfit that was picked for you. (So, you can’t wear a long coat zipped up over your outfit.)

*Obvs. outfits need to be appropriate.

The fun started long before the night of the event. From the minute we started picking names the banter began. Couples made date nights out of picking out outfits. And it just so happened that a few of us ended up running into each other at Goodwill. For two couples this turned into a double date with dinner afterwards. Dropping off the outfits made for a good laugh with the couple who did the picking. My parents handed Scott and my outfits to us in paper bags that had “Farmer Ellen” and “Farmer Scott” written on them. Getting ready in an untypical way had Scott and I conversing and laughing before we even left our house. The tears started flowing as we drove to the restaurant, the looks and double takes we received were hilarious.

I’d suggest making a couple different stops. Our first stop was dinner at a local restaurant and our second stop was bowling. Hence the name Thrift Bowl. Even though I was unable to bowl, (due to a thrown out back recently,) it was definitely the perfect lineup. For some reason, the outfits transformed as we walked into the bowling alley. It seemed as if the outfits fit the role of a bowler in one way or another. For us it just happened to be glow bowling. The neon yellow, eighties track suit and polka-dot dress looked amazing under the lights.

Plan a thrift event for a fun birthday celebration, girls’ night out, family reunion, bachelor/bachelorette party or just for some good pure fun! Put your own spin on it. Maybe you want to start with brunch and go golfing. Or get ice cream and attend music in the park. How about having someone make up a scavenger hunt?! The possibilities are endless, and the laughs will be too! Now go! Plan your fun and don’t forget to send me your pics!