Tag Archives: consignment

October 21, 2012 · 9:20 pm

D&G Giraffe Pants

I can’t believe I’m wearing Dolce & Gabbana giraffe-print pants! Never expected to own a pair until I found these at Second Time Around Consignment in Boston. Yes, I’m still showing off my haul from the Boston trip Donna and I took in June. I hit the consignment store jackpot.

giraffe pants

These retail for about $600 (if you compare them to similar styles on the D&G website), but I got them for $40. The best part, and probably the reason I’ll never part with them, is that on the inside of the waistband is a label that reads “Kimberly Gordon.” It’s completely separate from the D&G label. Could these have once belonged to Sonic Youth bassist Kim Gordon?

label

Probably not, but I like to think that they were, and that she put the name tag in them so that when the dry cleaning and laundry was done on the road, all the items could be redistributed to their rightful owners. (Although, I don’t think anyone would get confused and think these were Thurson Moore’s!)

green and brown

If anyone can confirm this, let me know. They’re a probably a size 2. Is Kim? Oh, that brings me to the only problem with the pants. I’m not a size 2. So I did what any brand-loving cheapskate would do. I bought one of those belly bands that pregnant women wear to get more use out of their pants before they have to switch to maternity wear. I have no shame. I keep the pants unzipped, layer on the smoothing belly band, and then throw on a shirt. It works! Try it after Thanksgiving dinner.

So now you know my secret. Would you go this far for a cool item?

animal print pants

I’m participating in Thrifters Anonymous and Visible Monday. Check out those sites to see what others are wearing.

18 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Music, Thrifty

Tagged as Boston, consignment, dolce & gabbana, fashion, giraffe print, manolo blahnik, pants, pumps, style, thrifty fashion

August 26, 2012 · 1:57 pm

DVF and Manolos: My Last Hoorah

So, you might know that I’m on a clothing shopping ban on account of the house purchase I recently made. I knew I’d landed the house when I arrived in Boston, so I decided that would be my last shopping trip for a while.

Luckily, I found Second Time Around, an amazing chain of consignment stores. I wish we had one in Seattle. Boston has three! I went to STA every day while I was in Beantown. First, I bought a pair of Tory Burch pumps (never worn!) for $50. Later, I snagged a pair of Dolce & Gabbana capris for $40 (a $600 value!). Finally, I found this DVF wrap dress ($90) and Manolo Blahniks that fit like a glove ($80).

DVF and Manolos

Dress: Diane von Furstenberg
Tank: wet Seal
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Earrings: Sears
Cuff: Lauren Harkness

The shop is high-end, and I’m not used to paying these figures for used, but wow they have great stuff. All in excellent condition, all by designers whose pieces go for much, much more in stores like Saks, Neiman Marcus, and others.

wrap and pumps

I hadn’t even planned to buy the shoes. I just grabbed them so I could try on dresses and get a proper feel for how they’d look with heels. But every dress I tried on looked fantastic with these shoes–they went with everything. It’s true about the elongating effect of a perfect nude heel.

Similarly, the Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress is a wardrobe staple. Work, dinner, date, interviews–this fits any occasion, is classic and comfortable.

DVF dress

I’m discovering the quality and timelessness of these pricier pieces means that I’ll wear them more, throw away less (because they last), and save in the long run. Let’s hope so!

9 Comments

Filed under Ethical, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as consignment, Diane von Furstenberg, dress, DVF, fashion, manolo blahnik, STA, style, thrifty fashion

November 7, 2011 · 7:27 am

Burberry Kilt

I’ve always liked second-hand shops. But it’s only recently that I made peace with the idea of paying top dollar for gently used goods. Normally I pay a mere couple of bucks for a jacket or pair of pants at Goodwill or a small thrift shop. But with my Prada boots, Manolo Blahnik pumps, and now this, my Burberry kilt, I’ve been paying more.

Sweater: Target
Cardigan: Ross Dress for Less
Kilt: Burberry via Ragamoffyn’s
Tights: Roots Canada
Shoes: John Fluevog

The good news is, I’ve paid “normal” prices for designer items. This kilt retails for over $600. That ain’t happening! I got it at Ragamoffyn’s for $80. Not cheap, but it’s made in Scotland. I’ve never had anything made in Scotland before. Even the souvenir pen I bought in Scotland was made somewhere else.

I’ll still buy regular items at thrift stores, but when I do want a designer piece, or high-quality item that I know will last, there are places I can go to find them without paying astronomical prices.

Do you thrift? What your best thrifting find?

5 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as burberry, consignment, fashion, skirt, style, thrifty

June 5, 2011 · 9:28 pm

Street Style: In the Office

I recently went to lunch with a couple of my coworkers. We ate at Cactus in Kirkland and then popped into Ragamoffyn’s for consignment designer shopping. I’m still looking for a Pucci skirt or dress in my size, but I did find a cute Trina Turk top for $29.

June, aka The Sustainable Fashionista, hit the jackpot with a dress (or two) and this black and white seersucker skirt.

I love how the pattern of June’s skirt seems to dance. Normally, I see seersucker in pastel shades, so this black and white number packs a punch. June paired it with a simple black top and cute red wedges. I love the look!

Here, June is admiring her sustainable diamond engagement ring. Why can’t we all be this lucky!

My First Manolos

In the back of my head, is a little voice urging me to get a pair of Manolo Blahniks. I keep telling it “name brands don’t matter” but there is something nice about quality and, to some degree, luxury.

That said, I don’t want to spend $700 on a pair of shoes. I imagine myself, several years from now, down and out and looking at those shoes and wishing I’d invested the money or had that extra month’s rent. I know I shouldn’t visualize such a bleak future, but it’s telling. Live within your means is my motto.

So, imagine my surprise when I found a pair of barely worn, perfect-fitting Manolos at Ragamoffyn’s in Kirkland, Washington.

Blazer: Dynamite
Top: Jacob
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Clutch: Seatbelt Bag via thrifted
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik via thrifted

Ragamoffyn’s is a high-end consignment shop. The racks are lined with Prada, Oscar de la Renta, Pucci, and the likes. I had no idea my “new” shoes would be so comfortable. I tried them on and they felt like slippers. Soft and comfortable despite a pointy toe. They were $120, more than I pay for most new shoes, but I felt like I’d bagged a bargain. I can dress them up or down and will be enjoying them for years to come.

1 Comment

Filed under Fashion

Tagged as consignment, designer, manolo blahnik, shoes

April 28, 2011 · 9:56 am

Thrifty Thursday: Girls’ Night Out

I decided to try a more polished, less quirky look for dinner and drinks with a few of my friends. I also wanted to try another red and brown outfit, like I tried last week. So I put together this ensemble. I have to admit, I felt very sophisticated in it.

I wore red shoes and paired them with-wide leg brown pants that I found in Ragamoffyn’s, a high-end consignment shop in Kirkland. Then I thought I’d wear something else I don’t usually wear with brown: black. I added a funky silver and red pendant necklace from Macy’s.

red brown black