You know I really don’t care if this skirt is Armani Exchange, to me Armani is Armani is Armani.  A/X is the accessible Armani, it is inspired by street chic culture, fashionable dance music and everything that signifies freedom and personal style.  A/X is the youthful label created by Italian designer Giorgio Armani and launched in 1991.  I grabbed the skirt size 4,  and then decided to check out the denim section and thank the goddesses up above,  because I found these black denim Versace mens jeans size 29.  For Spring, Donatella Versace was telling everyone who went backstage that she’d been inspired by Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.  “I loved the idea of that fantasyland,” she said.  Really, though, you didn’t need to know that to appreciate the fact that this was Versace redux – the Gianni heyday of the early nineties retooled in a gloriously confident way.  I ended up paying $5.00 for the two items combined which is kind of like being in fantasyland!

Retail value for Versace jeans is anywhere from $275-520.  I love a good bargain and just don’t know how to say no to paying $2.50 for a pair of Versace jeans.  Could you?  Please check out The Thrifters Boutique located on top right corner and follow me on Twitter & Facebook. Toodles for now.  Daniel

When I plucked this Ungaro blouse size 12  from the rack I  just gave myself a happy smile.    I was living in Houston in the late 1980′s and Emanuel Ungaro had come to town to do a trunk show at Neiman Marcus.  I thought to myself if I were Emanuel Ungaro where would I be staying while in Houston, and immediately I knew.  I picked up the phone and called The Ritz Carlton and asked for Ungaro’s room and they passed me quickly to his room.  The phone rang twice before a man with a heavy French accent answered and said “Oui”. I was talking to Emanuel Ungaro on the damn phone.  Oh yes I was !  I thanked him for coming to Houston and that I had admired his collections, we briefly chatted and he thanked me and said “au revoir”.  Today many years later Franck Boclet is the artistic director for the men’s collection and in Sept 2009 Estrella Archs, Spanish born talent was appointed as chief designer for the women’s ready to wear collection.  As I continued to thrift I scored these gorgeous Armani Collezioni wool black slacks size 6.  Nobody cuts a jacket and trousers like Giorgio Armani and it’s probably why he is Italy’s most successful fashion designer. Impeccable tailoring renders his men’s and women’s suits among the most sought after sartorial objects in the world.  To buckle everything together nice and snug,  I spotted this fantastic black leather Italian design belt.  The belt slides to adjust to your waist and is brilliantly constructed.  For $10.50 I was able to completely pull together an ensemble that would make any woman look and feel sexy, successful and sassy!  Don’t forget to check out The Thrifters Boutique located on top right corner and follow me on Twitter & Facebook. Toodles for now.  Daniel

There is absolutely nothing that smells like good old fashion money than something from Brioni.  I wish you all could have been there when I first saw this gorgeous Brioni French cuff size 15 1/2 dress shirt at the thrift store.  I saw the label Brioni tailored in Italy for Neiman Marcus and I couldn’t shake my grin.  Brioni, a heavenly archipelago facing the Istrian coast, wafting in the intense fragrances of Mediterranean vegation.  Along its gentle slopes, deer still roam free among the ruins of Roman and Byzantine villas.  Brioni, once a paradise for the jet set of antiquity, found its lure again in the early 1900′s as it welcomed the elite of Europe who sought an exclusive site to golf, go horse back riding and play polo.  Can you smell the money now?  Nazareno Fonticoli (a tailor in the ancient city of Penne in the Abruzzo Region of Italy) and the entrepreneur Gaetano Savini founded the Brioni tailor shop in via Barberini in Rome.  It was here that the dream of Italian high fashion for men took shape, a blend of technical and stylistic excellence.  Brioni suits can sale for up to over $5,000 and shirts range anywhere from $450 – 600 retail.  The price tag was $4.29 and then I  realized it was half off day!!!

I know I still have that grin on my face.   Don’t forget to check out The Thrifters Boutique located on top right corner and follow me on Twitter & Facebook. Toodles for now.  Daniel

I think this little Laundry by Shelli Segal black dress size 4 is just the answer I need.  I’m pillaging for a client of mine and when I saw this lovely black sassy dress I knew it was perfect.  Laundry launched in 1988 in Los Angeles by Shelli Segal who wanted to dress contemporary girls in sexy, on-trend dresses, taking her from work to play.  Every season Laundry interprets the latest trends, adding a unique styling to create a signature look.  I love everything about this dress, from the construction down to the crystals on top each shoulder strap. Sassy, Sexy and Super Seductive.  If I could have everything my way and the GODS were totally on my side here, I would love to find these Barbara Bui suede and python platforms to complete this ensemble giving my client an unforgettable showstopping outfit.  I mean even if you were going to eat at Piccadilly’s for lunch wearing this combination, wouldn’t you want to make an entrance?  I sure as hell would.  Since I took care of my client needs first and had some extra time on my hands at the thrift store I decided to peek at the mens section.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Paul Smith and who doesn’t need an extra polo shirt?

Paul Smith opened his first tiny boutique in 1970 with his wife in Nottingham.  Paul started to take evening classes for tailoring and with the help of his future wife Pauline, Paul was able to create what he wanted.  By 1976 Paul showed his first menswear collection in Paris under the Paul Smith label.  Something saucy for my client and something sedate for me, everything is perfect.  Don’t forget to check out The Thrifters Boutique located on top right corner and follow me on Twitter & Facebook. Toodles for now.  Daniel

Who knows why I would stumble upon 2 pair of high heels shoes today but I did.  The first one I found was a black satin BCBG Max Azria size 7B.  They buckle around the ankle and are very chic and sexy.  Max Azria is a French designer but based in Los Angeles .  BCBG is named for the French phrase “bon chic, bon genre,” a Parisian slang meaning “good style, good attitude.”  Everything about these high heels scream out good style!  The second shoe I found were Gucci size 8B.

Gucci’s excellence dwells on its tradition of luxury and a constant quest and attention for quality and style, renowned for its fine Italian craftsmanship.  Frida Giannini was named creative director of Gucci in 2005 for women’s ready to wear and in 2006 she took over Gucci’s  menswear line.    Her design approach and focused management style are informed by sharp confidence and decisiveness, as well as her uniquely feminine and distinctly Italian point of view.  Both high heels shoes look like they could tear up a red carpet event and leave you standing in a cloud of smoke.  The absolute best thing about both shoes is that combined they cost $5.00, yes you heard me correctly 5 bucks!  That’s like a small cup of coffee and a scone from Starbucks.  Who knows why I was supposed to salvage these from the thrift store but I don’t ask questions, I just follow the GODS.  Be sure to check out The Thrifters Boutique located on top right corner and follow me on Twitter & Facebook. Toodles for now.  Daniel

I am still shaking my head, I can’t believe that I purchased 10 ties today for $1.50 each.  I started my day by hitting the thrift store just down the street from me.  I spent almost 2 hours inside going from coats, sweaters, long sleeve  to short sleeve shirts, and finally over to the women’s section and I found NOTHING.  Not a thing worth mentioning so I hit my second thrift store today and BINGO.  There were what seemed like hundreds of ties in the bend, so I patiently checked out each one of them.  I have a tie fetish for some very odd reason, I love ties and yet I rarely wear them.  I mean I will always wear a tie to a dinner or cocktail party but that isn’t very often.  I have a bag in my closet where I keep all my ties and the last count I had 34 of them.  I believe the cheapest one is a Burberry.  So what in the hell am I doing buying 10 more ties?  I tell you I’m sick, really sick like I need professional help here.  Ok here is the complete list of ties :  1  vintage Gucci ( which I ended up giving to my FAB friend Liz Lapidus) , 1 Missoni , 1 Zegna,   2 Ferragamo, 2 Versace,  and finally 3 Brioni.   For some reason I give myself comfort in the fact that they were only $1.50 each and they needed rescuing, and I Daniel Troppy would be their savior.  Please don’t forget to check out The Thrifters Boutique located at the top right side of screen, you can indulge yourself. Toodles for now.  Daniel

This Gucci sweater was just hanging on the END of the sweater rack and waiting for the whole world to see it as they walked by.   So as I turned the corner and saw this hanging from the end of the rack, I knew it was going to be a very good day for me.   I held it up to me and cuddled it for a second,  completely overjoyed with love and yes gratitude.  It’s rare to find Gucci but when I do I totally celebrate the fact that the GODS love me.  As I was nursing on the Gucci and looking in the short sleeve shirt section (say that 3 times) what else did I stumbled upon but Prada.   I swear to you,  I looked up for a second and say “thank you my GODS”.  First Gucci then Prada, honey it just doesn’t get any better than this, well unless I can find me some Karl (Lagerfeld) but I’m not pushing my luck here.  What I love about Prada is Miuccia Prada’s love for the arts and the Fondazione Prada that represents a restructuring of the PradaMilanoArte Project, created by Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli in 1993. The first subject of its presentations was contemporary sculpture, with exhibitions by Eliseo Mattiacci, Nino Franchina and David Smith.  Fashion + Art isn’t that what the world needs right now?  Please don’t forget to check out The Thrifters Boutique located on top right corner of screen and follow me on Twitter & Facebook. Toodles for now.  Daniel

My heart skipped a beat when I saw these Ferragamo shoes at the thrift store and what almost put my heart into cardiac arrest is when I saw they were my SIZE.  I turned them over to check out the soles which were in good condition, a few good miles left on them and noticed the price of $5.00.  I’m sorry but where in the hell do you find Ferragamo shoes for $5.00?   Did you know that Andy Warhol was one of Ferragamo’s great admirers, he often wore Ferragamo shoes in his studio, given their incredible comfort, allowing him to paint for hours on end.  After his death, the Ferragamo family won an original pair owned by Warhol at an auction.  The artist had worn in the shoes, and the upper was brushed with paint and speckled with drops of color, evidence of how frequently he wore them in his studio.  Don’t you love it when you find out little tidbits of information  about someone famous with exceptional taste, I know I do.  Please don’t forget to check out my Thrifters Boutique link located at top right corner of screen and follow me on Twitter & Facebook.  Toodles for now.  Daniel