Goodwill Find

A lot of blogger style icons like Rumi and Susie Bubble, who like incorporating vintage, find some of their most memorable pieces at Goodwill stores. Because of them, I've always wanted to try my hand at scouring mounds of toss-aways for that one great vintage find. On a Sunday afternoon, I was having lunch with some friends at a Chinese buffet. It was my first time at the restaurant and in that part of town. While driving there, I noticed a Goodwill store. So after lunch, I was happy and satiated and decided to check out the Goodwill store.

The space was not very large but crammed with donated items. The first thing I check out was the dresses. I was looking for cute, fun, and obviously vintage. Instead I found oversized, polyester muumuus that look like they were bought in the bargain bin of some department store. Feeling disappointed with the dress selection even though there was so much stuff, I kind of just wandered around looking at the shoes and home section. Not feeling too enthused, I took a look at the skirts. Amazingly I found a cute JCrew skirt in my size, for $3.50. Not bad, I nodded my head. Off my bargain-finding high, I browsed around some more but didn't really find anything else I wanted to try. Just as I was about to checkout, I found some purses placed at the end of clothing racks that were separate from the purse section. Among them was a Chanel-like Bloomingdale's purse that was just divine. It had lovely gold hardware and quilted detailing, and was in good condition. Cost: Two Dollars. I can honestly say that was the best bargain I've ever found. I don't even care if it turns out to be a knockoff, I take pride that it was a $2 purse.

Photographed with my roommate's Talbot shoes because they matched.

Close up

Belt It Out- I LOVE LP SALES!

Belts are a must in any wardrobe. They are great for defining the waist on a shapeless dress or tunic. So far my belt collection has been strictly utilitarian, consisting of a number of black leather belts including some passed down from my mother (so they are at least 10 years old and falling apart). Fortunately Linea Pelle has provided me with a reason to add whimsy and sass to waist-cinching with a major sale and free shipping. This Women's Two-Woven Wide Waist Belt in gold and chocolate is brilliant for a fraction of the price. It even came with a fabric bag- talk about lux!



When I have a chance, I'll model the belt.

Fashion Retake: Key Pendant Necklace

Wow I haven't done a Fashion Retake in a while! This time I was inspired by a page in Lucky Magazine November 2008. Actress Karina Deyko selected a golden key necklace as one of her current obsessions. I found the necklace charming and easy to wear.



A month or so later I found the following necklace at a holiday art bazaar for only $5. I love it so much but it didn't go over so well with my mom who said it made me look like a latch-key kid! Perhaps I'll find a golden chain to hang it from but right now I'm too lazy to change it.

My WHBM Bargain :)

As you've probably noticed, most of the blog posts here are tagged with window shopping not shopping. I love to look at the selection of clothes offered online or browse through all dresses 70% off or more on shopstyle.com, but most of the time I never hit checkout. My uncertainty of whether or not the item will fit and the additional shipping costs turn me away from any online purchases. Only when the deal is too great to ignore do I pounce. On Monday, I found the too-good-to-resist deal- White House Black Market had a sale in which a $88 tunic was down to $17.99, and there was free shipping- it doesn't get much better than that! It came in yesterday (in rather shoddy packaging, but you get what you pay for) and I just had to model it.

China Trinkets

During summer vacation, I took a trip to China to visit relatives. I didn't really get a chance to visit the touristy sites (except for the Olympic stadiums and the new Beijing Performing Arts Center), but we entertain ourselves quite well. We sung karaoke, watched a variety show, ate huge banquets, got massages, and went shopping (my favorite activity).

My grandma loves little trinkets so she took me to this mall that was more like an indoor market. Inside were hundreds (literally!) of makeshift stalls that sold everything from keychain charms to ceramic bowls to fake leather purses. My grandma and my aunt are ruthless bargainers so I pointed to what I liked and they did the talking. Here are pictures of all the little things I bought in China.

My grandma loves these- they are embroidered purses placed inside

each other in decreasing size, kind of like Russian nested dolls.

Lots of pearly jewelry in pink and white

These cell phone charms are adorable!

A close friend of mine collects piggies and her favorite color is yellow.

When I saw this, I thought of her.

I bought lots of cheap pendants and earrings.

I have a certain weakness for glass and this wing shaped one was stunning. I had to have it!

This was a present from my cousin. She said that most Chinese girls in their twenties have gold zodiac charms. Since it's year of the rat, I chose a cute little mouse.

New 'Shoester' In Town

Watch out Zappos, Shoes.com, Endless, and Piperlime, a new heavyweight is entering the online shoe-selling arena. It’s DSW, a brand that first established itself as a brick and mortar store (more like warehouse store). There happened to be two near where I live, but I only shopped there once. It’s truly a shoe emporium with shoes stacked row after row. Despite the abundance of shoes there, I didn’t find anything I liked. Although I’m not DSW’s biggest fan, I do welcome it with open arms. More competition means a bigger selection and better sales for shoe addicts like me. And that’s something to be excited about!

Comfy New Shoes

I bought so many shoes these past few months that I imposed a self-ban on any further shoe purchases. But after reading the glowing reviews on Fashionista, I’m been dreaming of these comfy sandals from Old Navy. They were only $34.50 original price, but my wallet was hurting so I figured I would wait a while and then maybe, just maybe, consider them.

For some reason, yesterday I decided to stop by Old Navy. While rummaging through their sales racks, I found a black pair and I succumbed and bought them. I came up with all these reasons for me to get them to assuage my guilt.
I reasoned that:

1. They were way cheaper ($23)
2. I would wear them all the time since they were comfy, cute, and trendy
3. There was only one left in my size and if I didn’t snap them up now, I would regret it.

I also found this cute green shirt dress for $23. I loved my shoes but only just liked the dress. I don't know, should I return the dress?

Confessions of a First Time Ebay User

I have always been an ebay watcher, but never a buyer. I was too afraid of getting ripped off and who wants to pay $10+ shipping fees for a $7 dress? Anyway, two nights ago I googled Patrick Cox (of wedding shoe fame). Somehow I stumbled upon these pink Patrick Cox shoes on ebay... that were in my size... and only $20 including shipping cost!! What a deal!

They were such a bargain that I decided to sign up. The auction ended at 8:10 PM, so I checked back on those shoes at 8:00. To my surprise, only 1 person had bid on them so I thought I could snatch those shoes under her nose. I waited until one minute before to place in my bid. I was sure I was going to get those shoes. When the bid got entered, an error page showed up instead, saying I had to enter my credit card information. What?!? Nobody told me I had to enter my credit card info before I could even bid. I quickly filled in my info and tried to bid again. Arrrggg! The auction ended... and someone else had MY shoes for a bargain. I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream- instead I settled for hitting my bed with a stack of papers. I hope those shoes were fake, fake, fake. I know, I'm pretty vindictive.

Fashion Retake: YSL Shantung Jacket

I’m sure you’ve seen it, the oh so classy YSL Shantung Jacket. It was featured in the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog and costs a whopping $2,570. As much as I liked YSL’s clean, beautiful, black and white look, it is way more than I can pay for even at its now reduced price of $1,002.60 (Neiman Marcus after extra 40% off). Instead I managed to scrounge up this cute I.N.C jacket from Macy’s which I only paid $36.65 for (orig. $119). The INC version is not a complete knockoff (the INC is less classy, and more cutesy), but for $2,500 less, I’ll take cutesy. Besides, I’m young enough to pull off this dainty jacket.

Fossil Mariposa Wallet

Ever since Black Friday, I have been craving this gorgeously cute mariposa wallet from Fossil. Unfortunately I couldn’t really justify spending $30 on a wallet because I never use wallets. Instead, most of my things are stuffed in three different purses and I have to fumble around for cash and my cards. Oohh, but I couldn’t get the wallet out of my mind! I walked into Macy’s a second time right before Christmas. I went directly to the Fossil section to seek out my prized wallet and check the price yet again. Lo and behold, there were no more left! I was heartbroken… but decided to check again after New Years, in case somebody decided to return one.

Sitting right on top of the Fossil shelf was a boxless, tan mariposa wallet. I snatched it and checked the price… $10.50. Of course, I bought it. I admit, I actually wanted the cream version, but bargain-hunters can’t be choosers. If you want your own butterfly wallet, there’s some on ebay including one in cream. However, they are nowhere near as good as a deal as $10.50.