Dupes for the Hermes Oran Sandals

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Looking for dupes for the Hermes Oran Sandals? Well you have come to the right blog post. If you are looking for exact replicas of the Hermes Oran sandals this post DOES NOT contain these. As I explain on my Gucci Boot Dupes Post I do not support replicas or fakes. For me a dupe is a item, in this case sandals, that are inspired by the particular fashion house but are not trying to be an exact copy of them. So these sandals DO NOT have any of the designer trademarked names or logos on them.]

Hermes Oran Sandals

Retail: $630

Hermes Oran Sandals are a very simple leather sandal with a “H” on the front. I personally love these sandals in a cognac color but they can be quiet beautiful in any color. Hermes has them online in over 40 colors. I find that they are a little short if you have a long narrow foot so I got a 41.5. I normally wear a 41 in most designer shoes.

Hermes Oran Sandal: The Reasonably Price Dupe

$16.99

hermes oran dupe

This dupe is from one of my favorite places- Target. This shoe has a very classic “H” font without completely copying the Hermes design. I find that Target makes great comfy sandals but that if worn a lot they normally only last for one season. Another con of this shoe is that at the moment Target only has this shoe in the snake print and black.

Hermes Oran Sandal: The Popular Dupe

$59.99

Hermes oran dupe

This is probably the closes sandal to the Hermes Oran Sandal and the most popular dupe- the Steven Madden Hawthorne Sandal. As you can see the sandal has the “H” front and has a very similar footbed to the original Hermes Oran sandal including the wood edging. This sandal comes in three different colors- cognac, black and white.

Hermes Oran Sandal: The Comfort Dupe

$39.99

hermes oran dupe

This sandal is very similar to the Steve Madden sandal above but this is actually the Dariella Leather Sandal. This sandal comes in 3 colors (technically four but the sand/beige color is sold out). The sandal also has the “H” front but has more padding than the traditional Hermes Oran sandal. I actually think this change is good because it likely makes the shoes more comfortable.

Interested in other designer dupes? Check out Gucci Boot Dupes here and Bottega Veneta Lug Boots here.

Buying Lux for Less: LN-CC

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On this post I focus on buying lux for less from LN-CC. LN-CC is an online retailer with a unique art-based installation store in London. The physical store includes a club, library and record shop. Its offering is a combination of independent brands and luxury designers, showcasing a curated edit from the runway and unique collections from around the world. LN-CC has also committed a significant part of its range to sustainable and ethical products. To guide this conscious retail concept, LN-CC has created sustainability standards to identify its commitment to ethical solutions.

I have purchased two different ready to wear (“RTW”) pieces from LN-CC: one Gucci sweatshirt and one Gucci cardigan. Both came quickly (even with free shipping) and well packaged in a nice eco-friendly box. I will continue to buy from LN-CC and always check them when I am pricing out a new luxury item.

Pros

  1. Pay Less Than Retail: Not everything is less than retail but a lot of stuff is- and when they have sales the deals get even better! Always make sure to know retail before you start browsing just so you can make sure that you are getting a deal. Below are my picks that are less than retail! So on LN-CC you are truly buying lux for less!
  2. Good Sales: LN-CC often has sales. I have seen sales for 10-20% off almost the entire website. I have seen Gucci, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta be included in these sales. Plus if you sign up for their emails you get a code that gets you 10% off most things on their website. I was able to use mine on my Gucci cardigan when on most other sites Gucci is exempt.
  3. Cash Back: You can get cashback on all your purchases made on LN-CC via Rakuten. At the time of writing this blog post the cashback is 5% which can be a good amount of money on a luxury product. Plus every little bit helps!
  4. Free Shipping and Free Returns (on orders over $300): Items normally ship within two days of your order via FedEx (at least to the US). Since I have only used this site to buy luxury goods I have not had to pay for shipping.
  5. Duties and Taxes are Included in the Cost: My experience has been that I am not charged sales tax (yes even in CA!) or duties. According to LN-CC’s website they state “For deliveries to AUSTRALIA, SWITZERLAND, UNITED STATES, CANADA, CHINA, NORWAY, JAPAN and SOUTH KOREA customs duties and processing fees are included in the price of the item and ln-cc.com will not charge any additional VAT or sales tax.” [Other countries have other regulations so make sure to check LN-CC’s website here.]

Cons

  1. Limited Stock: Even when an item is new to the website they still do not always have a complete size run. So sometimes you get lucky and they have your size and others time you are out of luck.
  2. Limited to No Restocking: I have asked to be notified when certain sizes or items come back in stock but so far nothing I have been interested in has restocked. I would recommend checking the restocks page but I notice they restock a lot less than say Nordstroms or Neimans.

BHB Picks

  • Bottega Veneta Lug Boots– $1,010 (Retail is $1,100 plus tax so for me retail is $1,201.75) [Savings of $191.75; Plus don’t forget to get your 5% cash back!]
https://rstyle.me/+HAIzXHsO_-8A5NaGdZTQ1w
  • Balenciaga Logo Cardigan in Biege– $1,390 (Retail is $1,390 plus tax for a total of $1,518.58)[You are all probably thinking wait this is retail but its not if you use you 10% off code that you get when you sign up for the emails. With the 10% back and no extra taxes you save $267.58; Plus don’t forget your 5% cash back!]
to show a good purchase from LN-CC
  • Gucci Marmont Card Case Wallet– $390 (Retail is $490 plus tax for a total of $539)[You are saving $149; Plus don’t forget about your 5% case back]
Good purchase from LN-CC

Interested in other online lux retailer reviews? Check out this page!

Valentine’s Gift Ideas for Her with eBay!

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I don’t know about you but when it comes to presents I can be a little (read a lot) picky. My husband knows this so he often “consults” me on what I might potentially like. To make sure it’s still somewhat of a surprise I normally give him some helpful hints in the form of emails with links, post-it notes, and showing him pictures on my phone. So this Valentine’s day he is getting another helpful hint and a little help from eBay! 

As you all know I love eBay and buy a variety of different items from them. I have bought designer bags, collectible items and kitchen supplies from eBay. You also probably know that I have a tendency to like expensive things but that I also like deals. Because of this eBay is one of the first places I turn to and this Valentine’s Day is no exception. This year eBay is having a 15% off sale on all their certified refurbished items! Use code “PERFECTVDAY15” to get 15% off select certified refurbished item (which includes all the items listed below). This coupon can be used twice and for a max amount of $100 off. This deal does expire 2/7 so make sure you snatch up everything you were eyeing before then. 

Below are some of the things on my Valentine’s day list this year plus some items I think you should buy if you do not already have them! 

1- Apple 15″ MacBook Pro Retina Core i7 2.8GHz 16GB RAM 1TB SSD MJLU2LL/A (2015)– $1,399 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15” 

After using only PCs for years, my husband upgraded last year to a MacBook Pro and loves it. The MacBook Pro is a classic from Apple and is great for both work and personal use. I find that the MacBook Pro is especially good for editing as it has such a high resolution.  

** If you are looking for a cheaper, but still as amazing, option I recommend the Apple MacBook Air 13″ 1.8GHz Dual Core i5 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD. This is the MacBook I use and have had for 5 years. It works great, is very light and comes in at a lower price point. It is $569 and then use code “PERFECTVDAY15” for 15% off. (Who would have ever thought you could get a Mac for such a reasonable price?) 

2- iRobot Roomba 960 Vacuum Cleaning Robot – Manufacturer Certified Refurbished– $349.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15” 

This is number one on my list this Valentine’s Day. And I know a lot of you are thinking well this is not very romantic but it actually is. If I don’t have to clean the floor every day (two fur babies that shed cause this!) then that leaves me more time to spend with my husband! So see romantic…and practical, so naturally a necessity. Plus you control it with your phone so it’s easy too! 

3-KitchenAid Tilt Back Head Stand Mixer 325 Watt 5 Quart Ice Rk150ic Ice Blue– $359.87 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

You should buy this. If you are a chef, baker or someone who doesn’t cook at all but wants to get into it, you should get this mixer. This mixer can be used for so many things and works so much better than a little hand mixer. I do not have the tilt back head model but my best friend does and both styles are easy to use. I would pick this one because it’s on sale and I love the color but I did link some more colors below. 

Some other pretty colors if ice blue is not your thing: 

4- Aroma 8C Digital Cool-Touch Rice Cooker and Food Steamer-Certified Refurbished– $24.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

When we first got the rice cooker as a wedding present I was thinking to myself do we really make rice that much? And am I going to use this that often? The answer to both those questions is yes. I use this rice cooker all the time because not only does it cook rice perfectly it also steams veggies in the steaming rack that comes with it. All that leaves is the protein for you to cook! Easy peasy way to make a healthy and easy dinner! 

5-KitchenAid Exact-Slice Food Processor Attachment RKSM1FPA All Stand Mixers– $109.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

If you read my entry for number three you know I love my KitchenAid Stand Mixer. It might be the best gift I have ever received (shhhh don’t tell my husband that) and as such I love buying attachments for it. At first I envisioned the mixer just being used for desserts but quickly came to realize that with the attachments you can make a variety of things. And since I do not have a food processor and desperately want to make homemade pasta sauce from scratch this would be perfect.

6- Wolfgang Puck 2.1-Pint 2 Cooling Chip Ice Cream Maker – Certified Refurbished– $139.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

I think this is a close second behind the Roomba on my Valentine’s Day present list. I love ice cream and would love to whip up my own flavors. Could you imagine a cookies n’ creme and cookie dough blend?! I mean we are all making homemade bread during quarantine so why not add homemade ice cream to the list! 

7- Cuisinart GR-55FR Electric Grill Griddler Nonstick Combo, Brushed Stainless– $67.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

Living in an apartment that has no amenities, I miss having the grill to cook on. At our old apartment, it was a nice way to give our routine meals a little bit of extra flavoring. While we do not have the outdoor space for a true grill, this indoor grill would work great as a substitute and would fit in our small apartment kitchen.

8- Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, Certified Refurbished– $279.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

In the Bay Area we have been on some form of stay-at-home order since March 2020 and being around my husband, the cat, and the dog can be a little wearing. So having a pair of noise cancelling headphones to listen to my music or YouTube videos would be amazing. Plus these are actually refurbished and sold by Bose. 

9- JBL JBLCHARGE4BLKAM-Z Charge 4 Bluetooth Speaker Black – Certified Refurbished– $95.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

I love my JBL speaker and would highly recommend it to anyone that likes music. It syncs seamlessly with your phone and if you buy more than one you can sync them together to provide music throughout your home. This also would make a great gift for any person in your life- husbands, dads, moms, siblings, friends, etc. 

10- Jabra Elite 65t Titanium Black True Wireless Earbuds (Certified Refurbished)– $39.99 plus 15% off with code “PERFECTVDAY15”

If the Bose headphones are too big for you (which I totally understand they can get heavy) these Jabra wireless earbuds might be a better pick. I love my wireless earbuds and find they are perfect for Zoom calls. Plus these are also refurbished and sold by the brand Jabra. 

If the titanium color is not for you there is also the active version in gold and copper. 

* Thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post.

Best Books of 2020

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Every year I keep a list of books I read- and I read a lot. I read everything from thrillers to biographies, romances to young adult- I read it all. This year I read 119 books! I was hoping to make it a round 120 but work got in the way. I also realized this year that I normally get a lot of reading done on the plane but with my European adventures ending in the end of February that seriously cut into my uninterrupted reading time. My goal for 2021 is to read at least 100 books. Ideally I would love to read over 119 books but I know this year is going to be busy so I am not sure that is realistic. The books below are my top picks in a variety of genres. They are in no specific order- I recommend you read them all! [Plus there were so many books I broke up the list into two blog posts. This is the first post.]

1- The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History
By Nathalia Holt
Genre: Nonfiction

If you are a Disney fan or an animation buff you will love this book. The book follows the women pioneers behind many of the classic Disney animated films. These women were often forgotten in Disney folklore so I love that Holt emphasizes their lives and work accomplishments.

2- The Testaments: A Novel (The Handmaid’s Tale)
By Margaret Atwood
Genre: Dystopian Fiction

I love a good dystopian novel and this book by Atwood continues on the world she built in the Handmaid’s Tale. This book is about the fall of the dystopian and non-functional Gilead from the point of view of some of the women who run the regime and also some of the young women born into the system. [Note that this is a sequel to the Handmaid’s Tale but can be read as a standalone book as well. Personally I would recommend that you read the Handmaid’s Tale first.]

3- Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive 
By Stephanie Land
Genre: Autobiography

Stephanie Land tells her story of an unplanned pregnancy and how hard it is as a single working mother to survive. She tells her story of hard work as a housekeeper and how, even with government assistance, survival is difficult for her and her daughter. It was also on Obama’s summer reading list!

4- The Kiss Quotient
By Helen Hoang
Genre: Romance

A very cute romance about a women name Stella, who has Asperger’s and next to no experience with anything romantic. To get more romantic experience she hires escort Michael Phan. Such a fun, easy read and I cannot wait for Helen Hoang’s new book to come out.

5- Finding Dorothy
By Elizabeth Letts
Genre: Historical Fiction

“This richly imagined novel tells the story behind The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the book that inspired the iconic film, through the eyes of author L. Frank Baum’s intrepid wife, Maud.” I literally could not summarize this book better. If you love Old Hollywood or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz you will love this book.

6- In the Name of Gucci
By Patricia Gucci
Genre: Autobiography

Written by Patricia Gucci, the secret love child of Aldo Gucci’s, the book tells the love story between her dad and her mom as well as surrounding the rise and fall of the late Aldo Gucci, the man responsible for making the legendary fashion label the powerhouse it is today. Great read for any luxury lover.

7- The Secrets We Kept
By Lara Prescott
Genre: Historical Fiction; Thriller

“At the height of the Cold War, Irina, a young Russian-American secretary, is plucked from the CIA typing pool and given the assignment of a lifetime. Her mission: to help smuggle Doctor Zhivago into the USSR, where it is banned, and enable Boris Pasternak’s magnum opus to make its way into print around the world… The Secrets We Kept combines a legendary literary love story—the decades-long affair between Pasternak and his mistress and muse, Olga Ivinskaya, who inspired Zhivago’s heroine, Lara—with a narrative about two women empowered to lead lives of extraordinary intrigue and risk.”

8- Compton Cowboys: The New Generation of Cowboys in America’s Urban Heartland
By Walter Thompson
Genre: Non-Fiction

A compelling story about The Company Cowboys, an organization of African-American men and women who keep up the proud tradition of black cowboys. Living in LA for 7 years I had no idea that there was any sort of horse culture in Compton. A very well written book by a rising New York Times reporter.

9- The Mastermind: A True Story of Murder, Empire, and a New Kind of Crime Lord
By Evan Ratliff
Genre: Non-Fiction

“The incredible true story of the decade-long quest to bring down Paul Le Roux—the creator of a frighteningly powerful Internet-enabled cartel who merged the ruthlessness of a drug lord with the technological savvy of a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.”

10- Open Book
By Jessica Simpson
Genre: Autobiography

An autobiography by Jessica Simpson, where she reveals inner monologue and most intimate struggles. She talks about becoming a star, including messing up her Mickey Mouse Club tryout, and her marriage and ultimate divorce to Nick Lachey.

Bottega Veneta The Lug Boot Dupes

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[Disclaimer: If you are looking for exact replicas of the BV Boots this post does not contain those. As I explain on my Gucci Boot Dupes Post I do not support replicas or fakes. For me a dupe is a boot that is inspired by the BV style but is not trying to be the BV boot. So these boots do not have an BV logos on them.]

Chunky style boots are in this year and I love it. I think three styles have really stood out to me- the Gucci boot, the Bottega Veneta Lug boot, and the Prada lace-up boot with pouch. To me what makes the Bottega Veneta Lug boots different from the Gucci boots I already own is that the BV Lug boots have a flat sole and a taller shaft. They have much more of a masculine, cool-girl vibe then the Gucci boots do. Another trait of the BV Lug boots is that they have the double pull tab on them making the look of the boot more unique than the average chelsea boot. Plus these boots are pull on boots with no zippers.

The Original
The Bottega Veneta Lug Boot
$1,100


I want to point out that if you are going to wear these boots a lot it might be worth investing in the BV ones and taking good care of them. I routinely resole my more expensive boots and I would likely do that with these as well…might be foreshadowing a new purchase!

The Slightly Chunkier Version
ASOS DESIGN Aqum premium leather chunky chelsea boots in black
$127

This boot from ASOS is very similar to the original BV design but the bottom sole is chunkier almost giving it a Prada vibe. The boots have the double pull tabs on top plus the higher shaft, both of which make these boots feel like the BV boots. These are also real leather.

The Closest Dupe
Steve Madden Explorer Black Leather
$149.95

These were the closest dupe to the original BV boots. The Steve Madden version are leather with the double pull tab and the tall shaft. Again the difference is in the sole but that would only be noticeable from the side.

The Least Chunky Chunky Boot
Pull&Bear chunky chelsea boots in black
$64.00

These boots are the least chunky of the lug boot style without completely getting rid of the elements that make these boots cool. These boots have the double pull tabs like the BV boots but have less of a chunky looking sole. Plus the shaft of the boot is a little shorter making it easier to style.

The Almost Perfect Dupe
Jeffrey Campbell Tanked Chelsea Boot
$179.95

At first these boots looks like they might be the perfect dupe for the BV Lug Boots. They have the taller shaft, the double pull tabs and a similar tread. But on closer inspection these boots actually have a zipper on the inside of the boot. While this does mean that these boots are different than the BV boots, it might actually be a better style for anyone who does not want to struggle to pull on their boots.

5 Tech Items to Buy for Less This Holiday Season

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Every year there are tech items I want to get for myself. Maybe it’s to make my WFH situation easier (two lawyers who are constantly on phone calls in a small apartment causes many issues!), or something to help improve my blog or Instagram, but I just never get around to buying it. This holiday season I am not going to skip on a present for myself and thanks to eBay the items I have been eyeing are up to 50% off this holiday season. [Spoiler one of the items on my list is 73% off retail. Yes you read that right 73% off!] 

1- JBL E55BT Wireless Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones – Black

$39.95 (73% off retail) 

These headphones are definitely number one on my list. I have been using old Apple iPhone wired headphones that came with my work phone (yes my lovely iPhone 9) for all of my video conferencing calls. I call in with my phone because the headphones do not have the headphone jack ending (they have the lightening ending) so I cannot even plug them into my computer. If my phone audio decides not to work with the video conferencing service, I then have to take my call using my computer as a speaker which drives my husband insane. It also does not help that we always seem to have calls at the same time so either of us being on speaker is very annoying. These bluetooth headphones will solve all of these problems as they can connect to my phone and computer! I call that a win! 

2- Apple – MacBook Air 13.3″ Laptop with Touch ID – Intel Core i3 – 8GB Memory $839.99 (16% off retail)

This was one of my best purchases ever. I am literally writing this blog post from my MacBook Air and I love it. The air is so incredibly light which was very, very important to me when purchasing a laptop. I have back problems so I am always looking at lighter options, especially when I normally carry around two cellphones and two laptops. I highly recommend the Air and this price for an Apple laptop is great! 

3- JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Rechargeable Bluetooth Speaker $119.95 (20% off retail) 

I absolutely love this portable speaker and have been waiting for them to go on sale. One of my friends brought his two JBL speakers to a bachelorette party we were both at and they were amazing. They last for up to 12 hours and are waterproof so they were perfect to have at the pool. Plus you can connect the speakers together, so we could have the same music playing on the deck and by the pool. Since we are currently under stay-at-home orders in CA I will be using mine to play christmas music as I make too many christmas cookies while safely in my house! 

4-Folding Electric Treadmill Portable Running Treadmill with LCD Display $250.99 (55% off) 

I never thought I would have gym equipment (beside some small free weights) in my home but then again I never saw 2020 coming either! So far I have amassed more free weights, a medicine ball and a stationary bike. The next item on my wishlist is a treadmill. This treadmill is perfect for someone like me who lives in a small apartment because it folds up! Plus its a great price point for a runner like me who plans on doing a combination of outdoor and treadmill running and therefore does not want to spend a lot of money on a treadmill. 

5- Garmin Venu Black GPS Watch with Slate Hardware and AMOLED Screen 010-02173-11 $184.99 (47% off retail) 

Currently, since I do not have a treadmill (yet!), I run outside. Because I do not have a Garmin watch I have to map out my runs before I leave the house or else I am not sure how far I have gone. I would love to be able to just leave the house and have the watch track my distance. It would be so convenient because I could run different routes instead of the same one over and over again. Not going to lie the same route gets really boring and then I find excuses not to run. And with the new year coming it’s the perfect gift for a 2021 New Year’s resolution! 

If the slate is not your color I also like this rose gold model that is a bit more expensive but so pretty! 

Shop the Post Below! I liked even more items on sale! 

Thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post. 

Celebrating the Holidays at Home: Baking Cookies with eBay

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I know 2020 has thrown a lot of us for a loop and the holidays are going to look a lot different. But there are some traditions I want to keep up this year and baking holiday cookies is definitely one of them.

For me, baking cookies is an art. I know most people say that you need to measure every ingredient exactly and follow the receipt to a T but I never do! Something about baking just makes me try new things and experiment. I have made some nasty desserts (sometimes you mistake the sugar for salt and the salt for sugar- oops!) and some fabulous desserts! But no matter what type of dessert I am making I always use my KitchenAid Stand Mixer. It makes mixing the ingredients so much easier and I find that the dough is mixed much more evenly mixed- no clumps of butter or brown sugar! Plus without my KitchenAid Stand Mixer I could never get my royal icing to the right consistency. Below is my favorite sugar cookie recipe- seriously it makes the best cookies!

Bargain Hunting Blonde’s Fav Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter, softened

1 ½ cups white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Makes

48 cookies (but with using cutters and having thicker cookies I normally only get 24-30 cookies out of this receipt.)

Baking Directions

1- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

2- In your KitchenAid Mixer Bowl, stir together all dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, and baking powder).

3- In the same KitchenAid Mixer Bowl add in sugar and slightly melted butter. Mix till smooth.

4- Beat in egg and vanilla.

5- Roll dough flat on wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

BHB Tip: To get the most consistent shapes (so a candy can that actually looks like a candy cane) refrigerate the dough after mixing and before you use your cutters to cut out the shapes. This allows the dough not to spread out as much when baking.

6- Take dough out and create desired shapes.

7- Bake till golden brown.

8- Let stand until cool.

9-Then frost.

All the gadgets to make holiday cookie baking easier can get expensive but that is where eBay comes in to help. As you all know I love eBay so when I saw that they launched a new certified refurbished line of small kitchen appliances I was excited to share! Shopping certified refurbished small kitchen appliances is not only easy but also a smart way to save money. For example, the same KitchenAid Stand Mixer I use is $359.87 instead of $450. That’s a big savings! Think of all the other certified refurbished goods you could buy with those savings! I linked for you all my mixer as well as some other great certified refurbished small kitchen appliances below, including all the cool add ons you can use with the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. Also if you are purchasing between 11/17 and 11/21 make sure to use code “PAY10LESSCR” for 10% off your purchase ($50 max off). [Link Here.]

Thank you to eBay for sponsoring this post.

Gucci Boot Dupes

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Barefoot Dreams Cardigan/ Brandy Melville T-Shirt/ American Eagle Curvy Mom Jeans/ Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis and Gucci Boots

As promised here is the much awaited blog post with the best Gucci Boot “dupes” I could find. To me a dupe is something that takes the look of the item (in this case chunky heeled chelsea boots) and makes it their own. They do not try to pass themselves off as being from Gucci. As a reminder I DO NOT condone and WILL NOT be posting exact replicas of these boots. The Gucci “GG” logo is definitely trademarked and likely copyrighted by the company so I respect their IP and do not post these items. Also replica is just a nicer word for counterfeit or fake. Fakes are shown to be made by child labor and the proceeds from the items benefit terrorism. No one “needs” these boots so honestly its better to not buy them then to buy fakes.

As a reminder, the boots pictured below are the Gucci boots I am talking about. They retail at $1,100. I bought them in a 40.5 and they fit me perfectly. For reference I wear a 39.5 in the Gucci Brixton loafer (because or else my feet slip out of the loafer) and a 40.5 in the Princetown mule. I have seen them go on sale and bought mine on sale when Barneys was closing. The place I see them on sale the most is Jomashop. I have also seen them preloved on Fashionphile.

Gucci Boot Dupes

  • Steve Madden Amulet Black– $129.95 (This is probably the closes dupe to the Gucci boots since it does have the jewels on top. They do seem a little bit like a replica to me but they do not use the GG logo, say Gucci on the back of the boot or have the snake tread so they pass the Sam test- barely.)
  • Sam Edelman Justina Chelsea Boot -$149.95 (similar to the Gucci boot without the strap but a little less chunky for those who do not want such pronounced treads)
  • Target Cai Double Gore Boots– $39.99 (these are the second cheapest on the list. They do resemble the Gucci boot but also have the double pull tabs which remind me of the Bottega Veneta boots.)

Trying to be a More Conscientious Buyer

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Fabletics leggings (which I wore 3 times that week), Glasson crop top, Topshop cardigan, Nike Air Force 1s and Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis. The only new piece of this entire outfit was the crop top…which I have already worn a couple more times.

Starting last year I realized that I was honestly buying too much stuff. I had to move in the Spring of 2019 very suddenly (our 180 unit apartment complex was kicked out with 6 weeks notice so they could re-do the units and charge more) and realized as I was packing that I had so much clothing that I had not worn or had only worn once.

I realized that I was buying just to buy or buying to have in my closet or buying to take just one picture. This made me realize how bad this was for so many reasons. It was bad for the environment, as a lot of the pieces were fast fashion. Fast fashion is not produced in an environmentally friendly way and since it is not very good quality is often disposed of after a couple wears. Plus fast fashion is often not made in the most ethical of circumstances and the more we all learn about brand supply chains the more we realize that we shouldn’t be purchasing from them. My buying habits were also a huge drain on my budget, especially since the cost per wear of the items were so low…and some of them were not so cheap! I had so many items were I had bought multiple of the same item and then realized I only really liked the initial color I had bought. I also had done the same with shoes…which had the same result. And lastly, moving all that clothing was NOT easy. I know this sounds funny but it made moving so much harder and while I was unpacking I realized even more how many of the items I did not wear. At this point I knew I needed a lifestyle change.

As part of my lifestyle change, I decided I was going to try to be a more “conscientious buyer.” To me this means that before I add an item I will think about how it will work in my wardrobe and if I have anything like it. I will try to buy from more environmentally friendly brands but also recognize that I have a budget and will not be able to do that for every piece. For the pieces that I do buy from more fast fashion like brands, I will pay attention to the composition of the item (which can really influence how long the item will last if properly cared for) and how trendy the item is. There is nothing wrong with buying a couple trendy pieces but in general I want to stick to more classic pieces. By sticking to classic pieces I can buy higher-quality, more-expensive pieces and stay in budget since I am buying less!

Who knows maybe next year I will put a limit on the number of pieces I purchase..like 21 for 2021?

Being a Conscientious Buyer Ground Rules

  1. Buy Less in General
  2. Buy Less Fast Fashion and More from Sustainable Brands
  3. If Buying Fast Fashion, Check the Composition of the Item
  4. If Buying Fast Fashion, Limit the Number of Trendy Items
  5. If Adding New Pieces to My Wardrobe, Try to Buy Classic, Higher- Quality Pieces
  6. If Adding New Pieces to My Wardrobe, Consider if There is a Gap in My Wardrobe it is Filling

Buying on eBay: Sellers I recommend

Posted on by bargain.hunting.blonde@gmail.com

*This is the second part to my eBay series. For tips and tricks please check out my last post.

The number one request I have gotten since revealing more of my handbag collection on Instagram is “where did you get that bag?” Inevitably once I say eBay people have many questions including what sellers I recommend. This is NOT a comprehensive list of every seller I have purchased from and just because a seller is NOT on the list does not mean that they are not reputable or a good seller. Most of the sellers you see below are Japanese resellers but I have also mixed in some of my favorite US-based resellers as well. As noted in my previous post, I highly recommend that (regardless of where you purchase) you should get the bag authenticated. I recommend Real Authentication. Use code “E0D81C3” for $5 off your first authentication.

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  1. brand_jfa– This Japanese reseller has been on eBay since 2012 and has a 99.4% positive feedback. As you can see in the picture above they have over 20,000 items listed for sale. To me all of these things are good things to see in a seller.Screen Shot 2020-08-15 at 9.52.01 PM
  2. atlantis-tokyo– This Japanese reseller had more of a curated collection but you can still find some very unique pieces in excellent condition. They have been on eBay since 2010 and have 100% positive feedback! Screen Shot 2020-08-15 at 9.57.40 PM
  3. brandoff- This Japanese resale company actually has a couple different brick and mortar stores in the APAC area. This eBay page is linked to their Tokyo store where they have been selling luxury goods since 1993. They have a great selection of both vintage and new pieces.Screen Shot 2020-08-15 at 10.03.19 PM
  4. brandoff_hk– This is the Brandoff page based of their Hong Kong store. Same great service and reliability as the original Brandoff in Tokyo. Screen Shot 2020-08-15 at 10.07.49 PM
  5. marqueluxury– This is a US-based reseller who is actually based in Irvine, CA. They normally just work in the wholesale business but through their eBay page they sell to everyone. They often have some really interesting, rare pieces so be sure to check them out. Screen Shot 2020-08-15 at 10.12.04 PM
  6. rebagofficial– This is the eBay page for Rebag, a resale site like Fashionphile. They normally have similar stuff to what they have on their site but I always check both to see which has the best price. They are based in the US, with stores in CA and NY.

This post is not sponsored by eBay. I have previously worked with eBay. If you are interested in those posts, which contain even more information about buying luxury on eBay please check out these posts: post 1, post 2 and post 3.