How to Shop: Consignment

In part with my finance series, I'm also going to talk about how I shop at different types of stores.  Shopping is not fun to many people - many of them, women I'm related to.  Yep, the apple fell from an orange tree here.  Since I have been spending a lifetime trying to get anti-shoppers to see that it's not a day wasted, I thought I would help those wanna-be shoppers and maybe shopping lovers see how I wade through the fashion world.

My first attack: Consignment!  How do you shop at a store where they get clothing that was purchased a while ago and potentially worn by someone else?  Well first ask yourself two questions.

1. Do you have more than an hour to dedicate to one store?
2. Are you trying to save money but need to update your wardrobe?

Then keep reading - you will be able to shop consignment!

First, you need to know that this takes time.  These stores are a one of a kind place.  It's almost like trying to find a husband at a state university.  There are so many guys, some attractive, some not so much but you still are intrigued and then after a while, you're like... "They all are the same!  I can't choose!"

Yes ladies, you will find a mate.

Start at the size you normally wear (I'm in between a small and a medium, and when shopping at consignment I start at medium because when people wash clothes they tend to get smaller) and look through every single item.  Did you pull out a couple of items?  No?  GO BACK.  Consignment is a great place to buy something you will only wear a handful of times.  Not everything is going to fit right either.  Be patient and do not blame your body.  If something doesn't fit right, it's probably the shirt (remember, someone didn't want to wear it anymore, and it's probably because it fit the same way).

If you go through every single item you may find gems like these:

I got the infamous Zara dress that KATE MIDDLETON OWNED - YES, THE EXACT STYLE & MAKE - at a consignment shop for $30.  It retails for $90.  I wear this dress to work often - it's a little larger than I normally would wear, but I belt it, like Kate, and add a cardigan or blazer to hide the extra fabric on the sides.  Have I worn this more than a dress I paid twice for?  Definitely.

I also got these three pairs of J.Crew Shorts (sorry, they're wrinkled, I haven't worn shorts in a while - thanks cold summer) for $10 each at a consignment store.  Retail price?  $40.  Read: I saved $90.  Yeah, they aren't brand new.  But I wear them as often as I would if they were.

Which leads me to the next point: quality.  Some things you find may not be in stellar quality.  Ask yourself if it's worth it.  Is something worn almost to the point of gaining an extra hole?  Is it a dollar?  Yeah, you can probably get away with it.  Does it seem like something that you have in your closet and still wear?  Then add it!

Sometimes, you can find gems that are brand new, like this dress I found on a recent trip

BRAND NEW

Original retail price? $94 - Current: $15

Is it worth it?  Heck yeah!  Would I have paid $94 for it, no way...  but I'm definitely going to wear it 15+ times (and I look at clothing as a dollar per wear) Consignment is where you can get stuff like that.  

Also, remember that this is a great place to find designer duds for less.  While you can purchase Michael Kors at a Michael Kors store or a TJMaxx, you will still spend more than $30.  Guaranteed.  However, if you take the time and look, you may find this gem:

Michael Kors skirt for $7.52.

And I can assure you, Michael would be thrilled!  So here are my quick and fast tips:

1. Take your time

2. Pick out a lot of stuff - don't think, just grab

3. Try on everything and don't get discouraged

4. If you do get discouraged, remember there is a reason why it's at the store

5. Check out the quality

6. Decide if the price is worth it - are you going to wear it that many times?  Is that an appropriate price?

7. Realize that everyone gets lucky once in a while and you just got a great deal - schwing!

Fall Must Have - Riding Boots

| 1. Tory Burch Simone Boots - Bloomingdale's | 2. Paisley Boots - ShoeMint | 3. Chinese Laundry Riley Over-the-Knee - Nordstrom | 4. Sesto Meucci - Zappos | 5. Meadowside Meander Boot - ModCloth | 6. Black Boot - Zara | 

I feel like I say this every year, but every fall, the first thing I think about purchasing is a good pair of riding boots.  I actually skipped out on a new pair last year, so maybe this year will be m year.  I prefer brown, but I did add a couple of black options.  I'm not ready for fall - after last winter and the impending winter, I think we deserve a long summer.  But alas, if it's going to get here, I might as well take it in style.

Pip & Kate Update III - Special Down Under Edition

Instead of breaking down the past month for the Middletons, I'm just going to document the fabulous outfits that Kate wore while in New Zealand & Australia.  While I loved all of the outfits she wore, there were a handful that I decided must be recreated in my own closet.  See for yourself:

[Blue Emilia Wickstead Dress]

Kate rocks pleats better than any grown woman I know.

[Red Catherine Walker Coat Dress]

I'm seriously amazed that she can carry baby George, in heels, down stairs of an airplane.  Totally casual.

[Gray Alexander McQueen Coat Dress]

Kate just took Easter Best to a whole new level.

[White Lela Rose Peplum Dress]

Mouth has dropped.  SO FREAKING PERFECT.

[Pale Pink Alexander McQueen Peplum Dress]

She also does peplum extremely well.

[Green Catherine Walker Coat Dress]

To a normal person, this would make them look like Kermit the Frog... but not Kate, of course.

[Printed Diane Von Furstenberg Wrap Dress]

I've wanted one of these for a while, and between this dress and watching American Hustle last night, I think I'm sold on the DVF wrap dress.

[Gray & White Plaid Hobbs Dress]

I think she's adorable, however, Wills looks like a middle aged man next to her youthful figure.

[Blue & White Floral LK Bennett Dress]

I read an article that predicted this dress would show up in Kate's wardrobe.  And not only did it, but it did the same time Mindy Kaling wore it on her show.  Mindy Lahiri would be so proud.

[White Zimmerman Eyelet Dress]

This was another dress that made me ga-ga.  I think it needs to be mine immediately.  

[Yellow Roksanda Illincic Dress]

I love yellow because it puts people in a good mood constantly - this fits that perfectly.

[Beige Roksanda Illincic Dress]

This is such a flattering cut, but the color left more to be desired.

[Blue Tweed Rebecca Taylor Suit]

Kate knows how to make a power suit less... scary?  (Maybe it's the fun bracelet a child made for her.  Awww.)

[Blue Zara Blazer]

Aside from the cute blazer, how awesome is this picture?  Now this is a couple I could spend some time with.

[Red Luisa Spagnioli Peplum Dress]

Okay, I'm getting a little tired of her always looking flawless.  I mean, c'mon now.  This is just too much.

[Printed Tory Burch Dress]

It only took a couple of years for Kate to discover Tory.  I knew it'd be a match made in heaven.  Also, who wears this to a playdate.  Seriously.  Like raise the bar a little higher, why don'tchya?

[Gray Michael Kors Jacket]

Must add more jackets to my wardrobe.

[Green Erdem Coat]

The best thing about this?  The future King of England holding the umbrella for his lady.

[Black Jenny Packham Dress]

I'm obsessed with Jenny Packham (a name virtually unknown until Kate arrived, proving we are soulmates) and this is a homerun out of the park in my eyes (but again, love Jenny a tad much).

[Cream Jonathan Saunders Sweater]

I look like this when I go to the rugby pitch.  Most definitely.

[Pale Yellow Eyelet Dress - Designer Unknown]

Rumor has it that Kate designed this dress.  I guess if her current job doesn't work out, she has a fallback, eh?

[Pale Blue Alexander McQueen Coat]

No words necessary.

Dress like a Middleton...

[Coat; Boots; Cable Knit Sweater; Bowling Bag; Dress; Photo Courtesy of People]

Honeymoon Blue

(Picture of Kate, Courtesy of people.com)

[Cardigan, Belt & Shoes (all old) - Target; Dress (old) - Zara (found at consignment shop); Ring - Kohl's; Bracelets - Gifts]

This is the outfit that started it all.  Up until Kate wore this outfit and I saw this picture, I had vowed to never own wedges.  A couple of weeks later, I found these black & cork wedges on sale for $10 at Target and I've been obsessed with them ever since.  I had been wearing a dress I found at The Loft for almost a year before one fateful day, when I found this exact Zara dress at my local high-end consignment store... for $36!  This whole outfit cost $71 - a perfect example of looking royal (even in the exact digs) for under $100.