Trying to be a More Conscientious Buyer

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

Screen Shot 2020-08-15 at 2.21.13 PM

  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.

Tips on How to Safely Buy Luxury on eBay

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

img_5896

Lately I have been posting more and more vintage luxury finds on my Instagram in both posts and stories. Inevitably when I do this I get questions about how to safely buy authentic luxury goods on eBay. Below are my tips and tricks for finding a good authentic deal on eBay.

  1. SEARCH– Run a search for what you are looking for. I would recommend thinking like a seller. For example, typing in “vintage Chanel” is likely not going to yield what you want. But trying “Chanel flap bag” or “Louis Vuitton Speedy 30” (basically any search with more detail) will probably lead you to what you are looking for. Also in the course of reviewing your search you may come across different phrases that you should add into your search. For example when looking at vintage Chanel flap bags you will often find the word “metalasse” in the title of the item. Try adding that into your search so now instead of just “Chanel flap bag” you are searching for “Chanel metalasse flap bag.”
  2. CHECK the Seller’s Information– Once you find an item you are interested in check out the seller’ s information. I check to see how many items the seller has sold which normally indicates if they are a “top seller.” Plus I look to see their overall ratings as well as their recent reviews. I find that sellers that are from Japan and have thousands of listings and reviews are the best to purchase from. I rarely (if ever) go with a sellers that has only 0-10 reviews, especially if the reviews are only on the sell side.
    img_5997
  3. READ the Details– Looking at the pictures is a definite must bust so is reading the description. The description will tell you what other accessories might come with the item you are looking to purchase, like the dustbag, authenticity card, ribbon, box etc., as well as point out flaws that may not have been very clear in the photos. For example you might comes across a Hermes bag at a steal of a deal. But when you read the description it has been re-touched and likely not by hermes. For me this is not a deal breaker but for some it is as Hermes will no longer repair it. Plus in the description there is often even more pictures!
  4. TRUST You Gut Instinct– If something seems too good to be true then it likely is and this applies to luxury goods too. If you are worried about an item feel free to message the sellers and ask for more pictures. Or you can go right to step five and authenticate the item in the listing. (This is not always the best option since items can sell quickly so you might authenticate a listing that sells before you can authenticate and purchase!) A positive thing about eBay is they have a money back guarantee that can save you if you do purchase a fake.
  5. ALWAYS Authenticate– eBay does have their own verification program for luxury goods (which is great!) but I always get my bags authenticated a second time. That stands true if I buy from eBay, Fashionphile, Poshmark, The Real Real, etc. It’s worth the little extra money to know your piece is authentic. I personally like Real Authentication. I find them reasonable, very fast and their phone app is very easy to use. (Use my discount code “E0D81C3” for $5 off your first authentication!)

If you want to see more posts about my eBay finds please check out this post about buying vintage Chanel on eBay or this post about more tips and tricks.

This post is NOT sponsored by eBay and these tips and tricks are just what I personally do. Please always be cautious when shopping online and use your best judgment!

Sometimes It’s Best to Go Vintage- Prada Edition

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

The trend of every fashion house digging in their archives for inspiration is still going full stem ahead. One of the fashion houses riding this trend all the way to the bank with their nylon. Their nylon backpack has always stuck around but now they have re-release the Prada Re-Edition 2000 and the Prada Re-Edition 2005. These bags have brought the brand to the younger generation and are often sold out. These nylon bags have become so popular that Prada is now also releasing them in their saffiano leather. Luckily for those willing to hunt for a deal (or read my blog) these bags can be found for way under their $775 price point (for the Re-edition 2000).

Prada Black Nylon Shoulder Bag

Nothing more classic than black Prada nylon. Black nylon is what started off this cult classic and ages very well- so well in fact it can be hard to tell the age of some of these vintage bags!

  • Prada Black Nylon Shoulder Bag– $628.20
  • Prada Black Nylon Shoulder Bag– $628.20

Prada Red Nylon Shoulder Bag

This red color is seriously stunning and a great way to differentiate yourself from all the other Prada nylon lovers who buy black. Also since it is NOT black the price point tends to be cheaper.

  • Red Nylon Shoulder Bag– $454.10
  • Red Nylon Shoulder Bag– $474.05
  • Red Nylon Shoulder Bag– $480

Prada Black Braided Nylon

If you like black but do not want to have the same bag as everyone else this bag is for you! I only found this one when searching the Internet so it is really unique. This baby is $448 and can be found here.

Unique Bespoke Graduation Invitations from Basic Invite

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

Screen Shot 2020-03-10 at 11.02.48 AM

My husband is graduating from law school this year! (Yes that makes 2 lawyers in one house so let’s say arguments can get very interesting!) I am very proud of him as I know how much work, time, and effort goes into finishing law school. So to celebrate I am planning a casual celebration of our friends and family! I generally love event planning so I was very excited that my husband left me free reign over everything including the invites! I turned to Basicinvite.com to work with them to design the perfect grad party invites. (They do college graduation invitations, senior graduation party invitations and high school graduation invitations as well!) They have a large selection and so many ways to customize the invitation to make it uniquely yours.

Screen Shot 2020-03-10 at 11.01.20 AM

Make it One-of-a-Kind

From trendy to classic styles, there are so many grad invites to pick from. One of the ways that basicinvite.com is different from other websites is that they allow customers infinite color combinations, with instant online previews! You can change the color of each element on an invitation or card, with over 180 different colors to pair. As you can see below there are four different colors you can change on this invitation as well as the ability to “refine colors” which gives you even more options. This means that each invitation or card you make is uniquely yours and no one else will have it!

Screen Shot 2020-03-10 at 10.02.06 AM

Matching Graduation Thank You Cards

I know some people think that thank you cards are antiquated and old-fashion but I love receiving them. It makes me feel like someone appreciated my gift. I think people do not write thank you cards because there is a big question around what do you write in a graduation thank you note? I think writing a note from the heart, thanking them for the gift and saying something like what you plan on doing with the gift (if its money) or how you have already used the item or plan to use the item is perfect. It does not need to be long- just heartfelt. Plus, I love that basicinvite.com has matching thank you cards to their graduation invitations. It keeps a nice theme running throughout the event and they are so cute and classy. As you can see below I customized the colors to match the invitation above!

Screen Shot 2020-03-10 at 10.33.56 AM

PLUS Free Address Collection Service!

To me this is the best feature that basicinvites.com has. I do not know if you have ever tried to collect addresses for a big event but it is really hard! We mainly communicate via texts, emails, and social media, so we never have each others physical addresses. And to make it harder we move a lot, especially when graduating and starting a career. Basicinvite.com helps you navigate this by using their free address collection service to request others addresses with just three simple steps. Share a link via social media or email, collect addresses, and get free envelope printing.

Want to check out basicinvite.com‘s social media? Look up @basicinvite to get invitation or card inspiration on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

This post is brought to you by basicinvite.com. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Festival Season Bags- Part 2

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

Festival season often means the trendiest bags are out and about. But what if those trendy bags were actually vintage inspired and there was a cheaper version? Well that is what we are talking about today in part 2 of festival season bags! (Also as I noted in my first post these are just great spring bags.)

If you have been paying attention circle bags have been back for a bit and are still going strong. They have this fun vintage canteen vibe and seem to fit in perfectly in the desert. Louis Vuitton has recently some more recent version with their boite chapeau line (or hat box line) but they are very very pricey. Luckily for us, there are budget friend versions available as well.

LV Jeanne.jpg

mansur gavriel circle bag.jpg

gucci round bag.jpg

gucci ophidia bag.jpg

Gucci Marmont Round Shoulder bag.jpg

Festival Season Bags- Part 1

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

Festival season is coming (and even if you don’t go to festivals Spring and Summer is coming which brings along with it concerts, picnics, and bbq!) and that means news clothing and accessories! And by that I mean handbags!

I personally don’t like to spend a lot on bags I know are going to get roughed up a bit- that dust in Indio is no joke! Plus when events are outside I just feel that there is a higher likelihood the bag gets damaged somehow. That’s why I like to buy preloved bags for these events. Below are some of my favorite deals for bags I think are “classic” festival bags- part 1.

Bag 1- Chloe Faye Small

The Chloe Faye (in the small size) is a classic festival bag that has been around for a couple of years. It’s going to hold all your essentials plus some and has a very boho/ western vibe. The one drawback on this bag is the suede. Suede doesn’t wear the best but with a spray like this from Amazon you should be able to keep your bag in good condition. Plus if you saved a bunch preloved a little wear on the back of the suede is fine! Retail is $1,390.

2020 Book List

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

I love to read. Every year I read over 100 books and keep a list on my iPhone. This year I decided to try to share my list with you all and give you my quick take on the book. Let’s see how many I get to this year!

  1. The Queens of Animation– Nathalia Holt (324). Great read for anyone who loves Disney and wants to know the full story behind the animated movies.
  2. Over the Top: A Raw Journey is Self Love– Jonathan Van Ness (263). Great biography if you want to know more about the queen on Queer Eye. A hard read to see all he has gone though but inspiring and great gymnast references!
  3. There, There– Tommy Orange (290). Very interestingly woven story told from different point of views of “urban” native Americans. Also a cool read if you know Oakland well and can identify the streets and places they talk about.
    Heist Society– Ally Carter (287). Great easy read as it’s a teen book. Book one of three.
    Uncommon Criminals– Ally Carter (298). I mean I loved the first so clearly I had to read the second! A modern day female Robin Hood.
    Perfect Scoundrels– Ally Carter (328). The third book was definitely the best. But we still never learned what the the Ws in Hale’s name stood for and I believe this is the last book.
    I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You– Ally Carter (284). Another day, another series by Ally Carter. This book was very cute and another easy read because it’s a teen book.