Am I wrong...

Okay all 2 people who read this blog (including me). As you will recall, when I started this blog I mentioned that I have had to make some creative maneuvers in the past in order to hide my shopping from my husband. Well, lately I have started to agree that my spending is slightly out of control and I need to be a little more careful. However, I knew that going totally cold turkey was never going to be an option for me. For the past 2 years I have been putting away a little bit from every paycheck just to start saving a little bit of "rainy day" money . Now I am not talking about a large sum, I put aside $30 from every paycheck, $60 a month. Over the months, this adds up and I have a nice little nest egg to buy some clothes with the change of the seasons. My husband has known that I save this money for the past 2 years. But he just realized that I actually use it to shop. He says I am selfish, that it is OUR money and should be going to our bills. I think he is upset because I had managed to save up almost $900 and he couldnt get his hands on it. Am I wrong to think this is a totally legitimate thing for me to do? Or am I selfish? Please let me know what you think because I really dont think anything is wrong with this and have decided not to speak to my husband again until he apologizes for being a total butthead. Am I the butthead?

xoxo
Shopgirl

Consign Your Life Away!

Okay, let's get the awkwardness out of the way. I haven't written and you have spent your summer wandering aimlessly around town not know where to get what. All I can say is, I am sorry. Truly sorry.

Now let's talk buying...and selling. These days you can't swing a cat in Greenville withough hitting 10 consignment stores. But these are not your mother's consignment stores, or even your big sisters. These stores all claim to be "Designer" or "High End" in other words if you are looking for some $25 Abercrombie and Fitch jeans circa 1995, these are not the stores for you. Nor should you expect to pay $50 for a Chanel bag (NO FAKES).

The great thing about consignment stores is that you have the chance to MAKE a little money. Let's face it, these days people are looking for anyway to stretch a dollar, and what is better than finding designer duds at a discount AND making some extra cash all in the same place. The way it works for most places is they put your item up for sale at a certain price. If it sells, you get 40% and the store keeps 60%. Simple. But before you go throwing your "3rd Annual Beasley Family Reunion" t-shirt in a bag with dollar signs in your eye, stop. These places have rules. They specify which brands they accept, what time of year they are accepting seasonal items, and the items have to be clean, in good shape, and hanging. In other words, THIS IS NOT THE GOOD WILL. However, I will say that my first time consigning, I had an extra $80 to burn within a couple of weeks, and more closet space!

Deja Vu is the pioneer in designer consigning in Greenville (www.dejavuconsignments.com). The store has been open since 1992!Here you can find a Prada bag for $300 where, in its prime, the bag would have cost around $1000. I'll be honest, at first glance I am turned off by Deja Vu, I have never been a "digger" when it comes to shopping. Places like TJ Maxx stress me out and dont even ask what happened to me at Century 21, the mega designer discount store in NYC, can anyone say panic attack? I am a sucker for merchandising, to me, presentation of the product is everything. But once I start to poke around a little, I see that the store is actually arranged very neatly and prettily. I also start flipping through some racks where I found an ABS dress that looked exactly like the pink Oscar de la Renta dress that Carrie (Bradshaw) wore to the opera with the Russian artist. Sidenote: if you don't know what dress I am talking about, this blog is clearly not for you either, BUT everyone should be exposed to the dress so, she the picture above. Not one girl didnt gasp when they saw that dress worn with a simple ponytail and ordering french fries at McDonalds...but I digress. Other treasures that I found at Deja Vu was this amazing sequined skirt that I never would have paid full price for. This is a place where you find what you didnt know you were looking for and everything is unique and one of a kind.

In the last few months 3 more "designer" consignments have popped up, 2 within a half mile of each other! L's is on Augusta Rd, on the Church St. side. To be honest I have not been in here, but I hear you can get Ralph Lauren flip flops for like $12 (usually $40). But the window display and building have never been appealing sop I havent pulled in (told you I was visual). Lables (www.labelsonaugusta.com) opened up a few months ago in McDaniel Village. It is next to Chloe and Grace (fabulous gifts) and Davanis (seriously the best pasta in town, and Rocky, the owner, is the nicest man ever). I found labels to have more of a selection from things I would wear as opposed to Deja Vu, it was a little younger. They have Citizens jeans, cute boots and pretty jewelry. I also recognized several pieces from recent J.Crew and BCBG collections. This isnt surprising given that the owner has not cleared 30 yet.

And then moving out to the East Side is Glam on Woodruff Rd. I will be honest, the first time I drove by this store I had no idea that it was a consignment store. It is in a cool, hip space that has a little more edge than its competition. The inventory is a little edgier too and more wide ranging. In the same place I found a Marc Jacobs jacket and an American Eagle hoodie. I also bagged a gorgeous Charcoal M&M Couture cocktail dress for $40!!

The moral of my story is this...times are changing and in the words of the owner of Deja Vu, "it is time to shop smarter". Looks like consignment boutiques are the perfect way to get started.

xoxo

Shop Girl