Buying Thrift, then Selling to Consignment

Tags

consignment, crossroads, Fashion, Shopping, thrift, thrifting

[ my crossroads pile to sell ]

Hmm.  Shopping musings.

I recently sold a LOT of unused clothes & shoes to Crossroads the other day. I’ve been buying and selling from them for years so I have a pretty good idea of what they will take from me.

I ended up going home with $120 worth of store credit from that pile above…and they didn’t take that giant box of boots and a few other things.  Not too shabby, I think.  Normally you can get (I think) 35% in cash of the price that they’ll sell the items at, or 50% in store credit value.

The only clothes I have bought so far this year is a $100 pair of hiking pants for our upcoming Fiji & Australia trip.  After winning a Pinterest contest from Piperlime, I shaved off half of that using a $50 gift card.  I haven’t bought anything fashion-related besides that.

I’m currently on the hunt for a chambray button down shirt, but nothing has come up.  I did, however, see this cute version from Forever 21 in stores, but they didn’t have my size.  The price also turned me off.

$24.80!?!

I really think that Forever 21′s pricing has gotten higher.  Maybe not their “deals” with the yellow tags…. but it seems like they have increased their garment selection, and with that, their prices.  I *do* notice some items are of better quality than the past.  Keyword: SOME.  Not all, but some.  I really would have thought that this shirt would be $17.80.  Some of their jackets used to max out at $35 and now I’m seeing some in the $40-range.

Is this happening to H&M too?

Fast fashion doesn’t seem so inexpensive anymore.

I’m thinking.. at least for now, can I stick to thrifting for a while?  And if I do, can I resell to Crossroads in the future and get my money back?

Let’s say I get lucky and buy a designer brand shirt at the thrift store for $5.  Later on I get tired of it… I sell it for $5 in store credit to Crossroads.  Now I can buy more clothes using that credit from Crossroads.  Most times the scenario won’t be perfect, and I will definitely lose some money.  Crossroads may not take the item.  Maybe Crossroads will buy it from me, but for less value than I paid.

But at least I can turn that wasted storage space into a new item, without spending much more.  

Now I have $120 to spend at Crossroads… I’m telling myself if I have the itch to spend, I’ll head to Crossroads first.

I don’t think I can stick to buying thrift & consignment ‘forever.’  Digging through racks of clothes to find fashion gold can get tiring.  Retail makes it so easy nowadays, but it comes at a price.  But.. I’m going to try.  At least for now.

♥ E&I

Mini Thrift Haul: Elizabeth and James, Ann Taylor, Juicy Couture

Tags

ann taylor, bcbg, elizabeth and james, Goodwill, juicy couture, Shopping, thrifting

I did some thrifting on my dinner break last night and I came back with a few goodies!

Elizabeth and James Bonfire belted shirt in Size Small:  $445 original retail at Net-A-Porter, but I bought it for $5.09 which is an absolute steal!

I found it without the leather belt but I have a few brown belts I can substitute it with.

{via}

{via}

I think rolling up the sleeves would suit me better.  An XS would have been ideal but oh well.  Rolling up the sleeves will help with the size issue.

This is my first Elizabeth and James item.  The fabric is quite thick for a button down shirt.  Do you think this can double up as a nice layering piece?

Faux leather wrap belt from an old Joie shirt

Juicy Couture Down Dog Couture Fleece Cocoon Jacket:  $98 original retail at Neiman Marcus and Revolve Clothing, bought for $7.99.

I love cocoon jackets for errands and lounging around the house.  Despite being petite I don’t care if cocoon jackets swallow me up…  I love the design too much to care.  I have 2 of the same cocoon style jackets from the Wilfred line at Aritzia and a couple from the Norma Kamali Walmart line.  I think one of the Norma Kamali ones will have to be donated since I found this JC one.  I love the metallic shimmer!

{via}

“Down Dog Couture”  I guess its supposed to be for yoga.

Ann Taylor grey trousers in 00P… I’m not sure of the original retail.  I bought this for $8.99 and this pair is going to my sister since she needs business pants.

A few fit shots (sorry for the blurriness my camera was not cooperating)

My grand total:  $22 for all 3 pieces

There were also a couple notable finds at the thrift store that I didn’t end up buying:

A black BCBG MAXAZRIA (jersey?) dress with cap sleeves, pockets and a lace detail hem in XS.  I think this was $8.99?  I tried it on and the fit was ok…but I knew I wouldn’t wear this very much.

I also found a few interesting crystal/faceted ash trays for less than $2 each.  I couldn’t tell that they were ash trays at first because of the cut… I think if I needed a few more places to put little dainty rings or earrings this would be a good find.

♥ E&I

Decorating on the Cheap

Tags

decor, decorating, estate sale, home decor, how to, Shopping, thrifting, vintage

{ My $23 Goodwill chair and $10 estate sale mirror in the bedroom }

Hi everyone!  I wanted to supplement my Home Decor flickr post with a post about shopping for home decor cheaply.

Decorating your home can get expensive, even if you’re just renting.  When I got my first job out of college and moved into my first apartment, I wanted to keep my costs low but still have a nice space to come home to.  Of course, Ikea was the cheapest route but I took a step further into frugaldom…  Everything I bought except my mattress and bedframe was Craigslisted Ikea!  Honestly I think Ikea gets a bad rap.  I really like modern design elements and Ikea definitely has it!  Sure, some of the quality isn’t so great, but taste in decor can change over time so I don’t stress over how long my Ikea items will last.

Accessories can really make a space yours.  Just because you can only afford Ikea or Craigslist doesn’t mean your space has to look like a dorm room.

Here are a few ways that I’ve saved on furniture and decor.

• Find out your decorating style.  Use Pinterest (or some other method, like an inspiration board or file) to hone in on your own decorating style.  Knowing this will save you from costly mistakes in the future… you don’t want to lug a piece of furniture home and then realize that it doesn’t mesh well with your current design plan.  Here’s my Home Decor inspiration board on Pinterest.

• Search Craigslist!  There are a few ways to browse:  You can use the original site (not too user friendly IMHO), or perhaps a smartphone app.  Or…

Use the Craigseasy bookmarklet, as I described here.  This bookmarklet will open up an image-friendly search results page so you don’t have to click on each listing to see its images.

Another way is to subscribe to a customized Craigslist RSS feed in Google Reader!  This is relatively new news to me (SO SMART)!  Bill Weye did a nice tutorial on this here.

Or check out Apartment Thereapy’s Daily Scavenger posts (USA only.)  Everyday, AT scours through Craigslist posts for some interesting decor deals across the country, segmented by the east coast, west coast, the south and midwest.  Its a place to start if you’re not sure what to look for.

{ My coffee table and white console (Discontinued Ikea) have been with me since the beginning!  I got them off of Craigslist for less than $50 each.}

• Go thrifting! Or shop home consignment!  If you’re in the US, try searching on Yelp or The Thrift Shopper to find local thrift stores near you.  I personally like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and Savers.  The merch at thrift stores can vary depending on location.  Try to thrift at stores in wealthier areas or neighborhoods with a lot of history.  (This will help in your clothing/accessories thrifting as well)  I’m lucky enough to have Goodwills that stock Target salvage merchandise, and I’ve had a few nice Ikea finds from a Goodwill that’s close to Ikea!

{ A thrifted Korbel champagne bucket holds my kitchen utensils!  I think I found this one for under $10 at Goodwill }

• Visit local antique and vintage fairs for unique vintage finds!   If you’re not sure your nearest antique fair is, try Google.  I’ve tried going to “regular” flea markets in my area, but I’ve always been disappointed in the quality of the items.  Try visiting a fair where there are selling regulations (the Alameda Antique fair requires items only 20 years or older, for example), or with a separate “vintage” booth section, like the Rose Bowl.

{ A $60 bamboo chair bought at the Alameda Antique Fair, spray painted black.  It is currently my home office chair }

Make sure to bring a lot of cash and a van in case you want to buy furniture or other large items.  Also, bring a friend to help carry things or help you decide whether the item will be a good fit for your home.  Don’t be afraid to haggle a bit!

Just note:  Going thrifting, visiting antique fairs and home consignment centers takes time.  I go thrifting at least 2 times a month, and maybe 6 out of 10 times I leave empty handed.  But the beauty of it is that the merchandise will constantly change.  So don’t give up!  On your search you can end up with a cheap find that will make all that time spent window shopping worth it.  It’s these kinds of special finds that keep me coming back for more!

• Visit estate sales!  I’ve just recently gotten into estate sales, by way of sharpie markered neon posters on the street!  From the estate sales that I’ve gone to, most price the items VERY inexpensively compared to thrift or vintage flea market prices.  Items are priced to sell FAST, thus the deep discount.

You can find estate sales via Craigslist (a RSS feed using the search “estate sale” would work), or GSALR (garage sales, estate sales, tag sales and multi-family yard sales), or Estatesales.net.  The vintage mirror in the first pic (above) was my very first estate sale score! 

• Scour the clearance areas at Target!  Over the years Target has upped their game with really nice decor and a few designer collabos along the way.  I always make sure to give the the decor clearance sections a quick once-over whenever I’m in the store.  I do the same at the clearance sections at Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, TJMaxx, Ross, and Marshalls.

• Shop after Christmas sales.  This is the prime time to get non-holiday themed accessories, especially glittery or metallic accents.  If you’re not into so much bling, there are also a lot of rustic holiday accessories to be found (I’m thinking of wicker and wood trays, bins, and baskets.)  Try Michaels, Target, and Walmart for some cheap deals.  Quick Target tip:  When the after-Christmas sales start, ask a Target employee when the sale prices will roll down to 50% and then 70%.  After that time, Target will take any leftover items off the shelves to “salvage,” meaning they get sold to thrift shops like Goodwill.  Choice stock will run low but the deals are much better!  And, if you buy something at 25% off and it later goes down to 50% or 70% off, make sure to keep your receipts and return/get a price adjustment!

{ The two metallic apothecary jars above were both after Christmas clearance items at Target a few years back. }

• Purchase big ticket items with retailer gift cards at Smartypig!  SmartyPig is a  savings program designed to save for specific monetary goals.  It’s not a bank, but your funds are held by their banking partner, BBVA Compass, an FDIC insured bank.  First, set a monetary goal, and add money to that goal.  Once the goal closes, you can redeem your funds through a retailer gift card… The best part about Smartypig is, with certain retailers, you can receive up to a 11% cash back savings.  For the full list of retailers (including Macys, Pottery Barn, Amazon.com, Bath and Body Works), click here.

By using Smartypig I bought 3 Parsons desks from Overstock:  two desks for the home office, and one for my vanity.  I really love the West Elm parsons desk.. but since I wanted to buy 3, I just couldn’t do it at their prices.  Anyway, I funded my Smartypig account with money, used my funds to redeem some Overstock gift cards with 7% cash back, and applied a high percentage Overstock coupon.  (Compare this to Ebates’ 3% cash back with Overstock) When I was done, I transferred all of my money back into my regular checking account.  I saved $42 with the Smartypig 7% cash back, and another $50 using the Overstock coupon code. $92 savings!

• Buy some paint to make some DIY art!  The acrylic paintings in my bedroom are DIY and I love them!  You can also create fabric wall hangings if you don’t want to paint (great tutorial here).  I’m also getting into spray painting figurines for display on my console, or in a bookcase.  What’s great about spray painting is, you can always paint over with a new color once your taste changes.

{ Or create your own photo canvas using sites like the Canvas People!  I did their “free” 8 x 10 deal and made this photo canvas of Buddy for $15 shipped }

• Use Etsy as a resource to decorate.  Etsy is chock full of amazing artists and collectors.  I like to buy art prints there, as many artists price their prints competitively and you’re not likely to find it anywhere else.  Ashley G is one of my favorite print artists on Etsy.. be sure to check her shop out!

{ Exactly 8 Etsy prints are hanging in my living room right now and I love every single piece.  If prints aren’t your thing, try photographs!  Print your own photos on photo paper at home, or buy photo prints on Etsy! }

♥ E&I

A Spring Home Decor Update!

Tags

artwork, bathroom, cost plus, decor, DIY, diying, gardening, Goodwill, home decor, home decorating, interior design, lonny, mantle, mirror, painting, potting bench, ross, thrifting, wall art

Hellooo Spring!

This is the second year I’ve lived in my little condo condo and now that the weather is getting warmer I’m once again itching for changes in my home decor!  Justin helped me accomplish a lot of projects around the house this past weekend… thank you love if you’re reading this.

Over a year ago I spotted this huge hunk of an octagonal mirror at one of my favorite thrift stores. It was hanging high up in an open warehouse building with no visible price tag. Two very kind elderly gentlemen helped me pull the mirror down and over to the retail counter, where the store attendant priced it on the spot for a mere $15. Cha-ching! Music to my ears!

This thing is HEAVY.  The frame is real wood, the mirror surface itself is lightly spotted with age.  Initially I had intended to paint it a bright color but with all of my modern furnishings I think the natural wood finish is a nice contrast.

For months my beloved mirror sat untouched, propped against the fireplace.  The heavy weight was a concern so I asked for Justin’s help.  I bought two long, heavy duty screws and Justin brought over his power tools.  And now, it is finally in its proper place.  I am ecstatic with the final result!

Another completed project was painting this plastic skull. It went from this:

… to a satin-finish black.  My styling here isn’t the best, so I think this will have to be moved to a better suited location.  (Perhaps the bedroom, where I have a more masculine feel to the room.)  I’m glad this is finished though, I hated the gross ‘authentic’ brown and yellow look.

My Bear Warrior art print by Ruben Ireland is now mounted in the bedroom:

The framed print on the floor is called “Uprisings” by Kozyndan.  I bought it when I was in college at the Giant Robot store in Los Angeles.

This print is a play on Hokusai’s ”Great Wave off Kanagawa,” where the ocean wave is comprised of hundreds of bunnies:

I also posted this new bathroom find on Instagram (ID: elleandish), a $6 plush bathroom rug from Ross:

Its hard to tell in the photos but the pattern is comprised of 5 alternating shades of grey.  It reminded me of something that Anthropologie would sell, and I loved the muted colors so I snatched it up immediately.

The same day that we mounted the vintage mirror, we assembled this adorable potting bench from Cost Plus.  I used a 10% off coupon in the mail during a sale and it ended up being ~$100 after taxes.

If you’ve followed my blog for a while now you’d know that I love succulent gardening.  This potting bench will really help with new plant arrangements; but the main reason why I bought this was because I can use it as a prep table or tiny serving buffet in the future.  Once Justin moves in with his grill, I’m thinking barbecuing, drinks, hookah and grilling on a summer night!

What’s next on the DIY and decor agenda?  I have these two little buddies to paint:

I spent $3 each on the dinosaurs on Ebay, and less than $2 per acrylic paint.  I’m thinking I’ll have to ‘prime’ them with white paint first.  Fresh mint green and a bright neon yellow are the choices (for now.)

Speaking of colors, I bought these little binder clips (at least a year ago now) at Ichiban Kan in Japantown in San Francisco, and I finally unboxed them and brought them out.  I love the colors!  So very spring, don’t you think?  Ever since I was little I’ve always loved bright colors.  Even though I love spaces with white, grey, woodgrain and other neutrals I can’t get away from brights.  Even in the artwork that I buy I notice that I tend towards bright geometric shapes and cartoons (e.g. vinyl toys, Takashi Murakami-esque characters).  Does that seem ‘kiddy?’  I told Justin about my issue but he told me that there was nothing wrong with it… and that it was just my taste and what I naturally gravitate to.  I really wish I had more grown-up taste sometimes, but ah well.

My next big painting project is this gorgeous bamboo framed mirror:

I bought it for $30 at Goodwill about 3 months ago, and its another heavy find.  It was fate!  I have been looking for a mirror like this for AGES.  Some craigslist and Ebay sellers find these and price them SO incredibly high so this is a gem.  The mottled gold finish isn’t really my my thing, so this baby’s getting some paint!  The spray paint, “Hacienda tile,” is the closest red-orange I could find at the hardware store.  I was inspired by two separate Lonny Magazine spreads (here and here, on Pinterest) to paint it orange.  I already have my antique bamboo office chair (as shown in the mirror’s reflection) painted black, so I wanted to change it up a bit with a nice pop of color.

And where is it going, you may ask?  It’s going to be my new vanity mirror.  I first posted my vanity space here… it’s not too exciting and its a bit cluttered with makeup and jewelry at the moment.  I’m hoping the red-orange paint will complement my DIY bedroom paintings (you can see part of it in the mirror reflection.)

I’ve updated my home decor flickr with these new photos… feel free to ask me any questions about sources if you’d like.

♥ E&I

$5 vintage sequin top!

Tags

clutch, DIY, Fashion, purse, Shopping, thrift, thrifting, vintage

I found a beautiful vintage top today for $5! It has sequin and bugle bead detailing with various lines and triangles. The top is a big big on me after I cut out the original shoulder pads. No tags, no size, no brand, no nothing!

I’m not sure what to do with it! Either I’ll alter it and make it fit better as a top…

Or.. turn it into a clutch (or two)?

♥ E&I