-
Hi everyone! I visited my local Goodwill after not going for a while and I have to say it was a great shopping trip. I found a lot of great things, and almost everything fit (with the exception of a Brooks Brothers dress that I fell in love with that was WAY too big! ugh). Here are some of my finds!
^Eddie Bauer, Duck boots. $12.99: I have to start off by saying I have been looking for a cheap pair of duck boots for a long time. They are really expensive new and I have been checking Ebay religiously with no luck. The first thing I spotted were these beauties in the men’s section. I grabbed them off the shelf praying that they were a size 6 (which just so happens to be a women’s 8) and was so excited when I saw that they were! I cannot wait until the weather gets cooler so that I can wear these! My roommates made fun of me when they saw them but I am telling you these really are a great classic piece that resemble the preppy northeast style!
^3 belts, No brand tags, $1.99 each: I actually went to Goodwill today looking for belts. I have been wearing a lot of skirts to class this summer with a tucked in shirt and have been showing off the same belt every day (a really classic belt I found in the back of my dad’s closet. I still don’t think he knows I took it. After wearing it for a few weeks I saw that it was Coach and was that much more excited and impressed that Douglas had a Coach belt.). I really like the canvas one to go with some of the solid skirts that I have and love the leather braided belt (yes, it says real leather, for $2, can you believe it!). The plain brown is also something I have been needing. My brown leather belt that I do have is way to small and needs to be retired!
^Scarf, $.99: I have been wearing my Ralph Lauren scarf that I got at the outlet almost daily and have been wanting a few more scarfs in different colors. I put them in my hair, tie them on my army green vintage Dooney and Bourke, or wear them around my neck! This one is a bit shiny in the picture and is obviously not real silk, but I think with the right outfit I can make it look a bit nicer and it will add a lot to whatever I am wearing.
^Polo, Ralph Lauren, $4.99: (Sorry this picture looks super creepy) I don’t think I can possibly have to many white polo’s. I wear them so often and when I do want to wear one again it is in the laundry. I don’t have one with a purple logo yet so this is also a bit different from the one’s I already have!
^Blouse, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, $4.99: I love this blouse. I have seen it before (couldn’t tell you where) I loved it! I’m thinking if I can do a load of laundry tonight I am going to be wearing this tomorrow. :)
I should probably stay away from Goodwill’s for the time being, but I am so tempted to drive to a few more around town after having such good luck today! I hope you are all having a good week! Stay cool in this heat!!
-
For those of you who know me well, you know I love a good deal. I cannot remember the last time I payed full price for any of my clothes or shoes. I love clothes and I love shopping, and I love the hunt even more. I can’t tell you how excited I get when I find a good deal on something. Consignment shops are my favorite places to hit. When I came to Waco, I went right along with everyone else and complained about the lack of stores in Waco, until I found out there are 8 Goodwill’s in Waco! 8! I love taking days to go to Goodwilll and just hunt through the rows and rows of clothes until I find something worth trying on. And you really never know what you are going to find! Here are some tips and cool things that I have found recently!!
Tip #1-NEVER buy popular brands full price.
If you have a brand that you just love and everyone else seems to love it as well, never settle on paying full price. If its something that is more commonly worn people will get rid of sizes that no longer fit to places like Goodwill and The Salvation Army. One of my favorite brands is Ralph Lauren and its a pretty common one to love. Now of course you will never find Ralph Lauren’s higher end brands like Blue and Black label items (more on that later), but if you want a simple Polo cable knit sweater, Goodwill is the place to go. People always ask me if I spend a lot on all my Polo sweaters and polo’s, and I don’t at all. I have almost every basic color Polo and have purchased every single one for under $10!
^ I recently purchased this sweater brand new with tags from Goodwill for $3.50. A sweater like this retails for around $90.00 at a Ralph Lauren store or online.
Tip #2-Don’t be afraid to ask!
If you are at a locally owned consignment shop, owners are usually pretty easy to talk down prices. Always ask if the price on the tag is the best they can do. Before you even approach the owner, however, have a price in mind. If something is priced at $80 and you don’t want to pay over $60, don’t. It’s easy to get excited if the price is dropped to $70 and just buy it because you won, but don’t buy something unless its within your original price range. I recently fell in love with a Diane Von Furstenberg dress at my favorite consignment shop in Waco, Retail’s Alternative. I have been in so many times the owner let me come in and work on a project he had and the dress was mine! You never know if you can get something cheaper if you are afraid to ask! It won’t hurt!
^ This is the Diane Von Furstenberg dress I got except in green. I got it new with tags after working it off. It retails for $398.
Tip #3-Be in the mood to hunt
If you don’t feel like shopping, never go consignment shopping. It takes a lot longer to find what you are looking for if you are hunting through a Goodwill and aren’t in a good mood, you will get annoyed and not find anything. When searching, even at consignment shops, its best to start in the sale section and then move your way to the normal clothes. Sometimes you find enough to try on in the sale section and you can even avoid paying the higher prices of the regularly priced consignment items.
^ A Lily Pulitzer top I got from Retails Alternative. This top would retail around $50-$60, I got it on a sale rack for $2.50. (PS- I really do iron my clothes…I just haven’t gotten around to doing this yet!)
Tip #4-Hold your horses
If you are at a store and find something you are in love with but really can’t afford it, just wait it out. It is risky but I have found that more times than not you can find it a couple months later on Ebay for half the price. It also makes it more exciting when you finally get it at such a great price!
^ I found these oxfords at Aldo and really wanted to get them, but they were $95 and I didn’t really need shoes so I decided to wait it out. 3 weeks later at was at Plato’s Closet in Des Moines, and found them brand new, in the box, in my size for $15!
Tip #5- Swimsuits in the snow
Buying clothes out of season can be annoying sometimes, but if you can put yourself into the right mindset, it can be a great way to find great deals. My favorite things to do shop out of season for are coats in the spring and swimsuits in the fall. I have found some pretty amazing deals doing this! Its hard because you want to wear it right then, but if you are sure it will still be in style, go for it!
^ I got a swimsuit very similar to this one a couple years ago. Polo swimsuit are around $120 if you buy them in season. I waited until September to buy mine and got both parts for $30! Not bad for a swimsuit. (PS swimsuits are one thing you should NEVER buy used! ew)
Tip #6-Occasionally splurge
If you are out shopping and find something you are just absolutely in love with, but it seems expensive, its fine to spend more on a good classic piece every once in a while. Just mix it with other items you bought thrift and you can have a really great looking outfit! There are some Ralph Lauren items I have that I would never be able to find at a thrift store, so I just buy them and save money on things I pair with it by buying used!
^ I have a Burberry oxford that was pretty pricey, but I can wear it with a lot of different things and it will last me a long time!
