I tried to be less spend-y this month, I really did. Whether I succeeded … well, I will leave that up to you to decide. I made over $75 from one of two consignment drop-offs, which covered my thrift shopping this month (seen here) and then some. Well, a little bit of the rest, anyway – as you can see, I was busy on eBay again this month.
Swarovski Lea Rings ($80, including shipping and customs, eBay)
Swarovski Lea rings (made in China) – originally $80
I remember eyeing this duo when it was available on the Swarovski website, but never pulling the trigger … and then regretting it. I am crazy about Swarovski jewelry, especially their rings. I’ve been wanting an emerald coloured ring for a while now, and have considered different vintage options on Etsy and eBay, but none of the pieces I found had the timeless, simple elegance of my favourite Swarovski rings. So, in the end, I went and hunted the original. With shipping and customs, it cost about the same as retail; perhaps not the greatest deal, but I love them!
Ferragamo Vara/Lillaz flats ($87, including shipping, eBay)
Vintage Ferragamo (made in Italy) – current style $450
Ok, I admit it: I am addicted. After trying on my first pair of Ferragamos (see last month’s update), I knew I had to have more – I don’t care if I wear nothing but! First up: a pair in dark brown, faux croc. To even out the score, I decided to purge (via consignment) not one but three pairs of shoes, including a Stuart Weitzman one – the old favourite making room for the new.
Vara or Lillaz? Still not sure …
I have promised myself to stop buying more Varas – for the time being – but I am definitely keeping my eye out for good deals on the other colours I want (nude/beige, oxblood, cognac, navy … the list goes on and on!).
J. Crew merino wool cardigan ($62 including shipping, eBay)
J. Crew cardigan (made in China) – originally $88
I’ve written before about how difficult it can be to find the perfect cardigan. Once I started shopping on eBay, I realized that the answer was in my closet all along: why not buy what you know works? One of my favourite cardigans (bought off Kijiji a couple of years ago) is a moss-green J. Crew cardigan that originally came out in 2010 or thereabouts. I have never come across it in consignment stores and, needless to say, doing so would be like finding a needle in a haystack – few people were buying J. Crew locally 2-3 years ago. On eBay, though, a quick search for “J. Crew ruffle cardigan” brought up a searchable list of examples (under 300), which included 3 versions of my cardigan. Problem solved!
The downside was cost. After shipping charges, the cardigan was (likely) more expensive than if bought locally second-hand; as a comparison, I paid something like $30 or $40 for my original one (the retail price tag was $88). Still, not a terrible price to pay for a cardigan that meets all of my nit-picky criteria and has been proven to stand the test of time in my own closet.
J. Crew Factory belt ($17)
J. Crew Factory belt (made in Vietnam) – originally $30?
Impulse buy time! I don’t really have much use for belts right now, but I couldn’t resist the colour of this one. It will be a great accessory for next year, though – it’s a lovely accent colour.
J. Crew cotton top ($26)
J. Crew stripes & florals top (made in China) – originally $58
Another sort-of impulse buy. Not something I absolutely need at the moment, but it will likely replace my beloved Anthropologie stripes-and-florals T-shirt.
Anthropologie top
The latter is not super old, but hasn’t stood up to wear very well; there is a lot of colour transfer, especially around the arms. Consider it a brand lesson learned. Anyway, back to this J. Crew version – the pattern is cute and quirky, and the colours (blue and red) will work fabulously with pieces in my wardrobe.
J. Crew top – close-up
J. Crew ruffle blouses ($18 each, Red Pony Consignment)
J. Crew blouse #1 (made in China) – originally $88?
More closet staples for next year. I’m planning a bit of an overhaul of my office wardrobe in 2014, and one area that will see a bit of turnover is the shirt/blouse section.
J. Crew blouse #2 (made in China) – originally $88
RACHEL Rachel Roy floral top ($20, Red Pony Consignment)
RACHEL Rachel Roy blouse (made in China) – original price $128
Did I mention I’ve been craving florals? In my defence, this top (size XL) is actually a maternity wardrobe addition – I’m running out of tops that are long enough to cover my bump. I do really love the print, though, so we’ll see what happens to it come September.
And that’s a wrap!