Consignment

[magenta321]

I sort of am aware that I am a snob. Not a mean snob. Just a "I want the best there is for myself" sort of snob.

Now I have a new job. I need to wear suits. I have 2 suits (three really, but one I don't like). I have posted about wanting more suits before.

I like my suits lined. I don't think they fit well or are high quality if they are not. I do, to some extent, like to buy brand names. Designer is a plus.

Today I went consignment store shopping. This is my second time in my life. The first time I went I fell in love with an Escada suit, but had no reason to wear it. It had a nicely tailored black jacket with beautiful gold Escada emblem buttons and a matching "flirty" but business like skirt. It was to my knee but had a little bit of a flair to it.

Today I went back and it was still there Brand new. With the retail tags still on it -- $1700 :o

I can tell you that I bought it for significantly less. I don't think it needs any tailoring either!

Next I found an Armani suit. This one has been previously worn (I think). It's black with pinstriping. The jacket has a single button and is flattering to my figure. Retail value supposedly $1300. Price I paid -- way way way less. I think I need to get the pants hemmed but I haven't tried it on with the heel I plan to wear it with. It might end up being just right.

So the price of say... two Tahari suits... I got an Armani and an Escada!!! Plus, I usually have a problem where suits just don't fit me right. I find I give up on suit shopping most of the time. It is almost as if these two were tailored for me!

Normally the idea of wearing someone else's clothes really ooks me, but the one piece had never been worn, and the other one shows no signs of wear other than the fact the tags are removed. A dry cleaning and I think I will be good to go!

Bonus points on the Armani suit -- one of the people I work for told me to read "Hug Your Customers" by Jack Mitchell. It's about going the extra mile for your customer. It's filled with Jack's anecdotes from his retail store named Mitchells. One of the things they do is stitch a little label into each jacket that says "Mitchells of Westport." Yesterday I joked with the person that gave me the book that it was a wonderful ad for the store and it made me want to shop there but I would never have the money to do so. Mind you, the person I was talking to has a weekend apartment in Trump Towers and a vacation home in Vienna. He agreed with me that the Mitchells prices were beyond outrageous and that he only shopped there when people gave him gift certificates there! Well, my Armani suit is rocking a Mitchells tag

I will be holding my head high when I go into work wearing these suits I just hope no one asks me how I got them :p

/me hums the "don't you just love a bargain" jingle with a smile on her face

[mtomm[$]]

Love it!

[hadassahchana[$]]

I love going to consignment shops. You got some amazing bargains!

[jgibson2[$]]

If anyone asks you, say you got them at this terrific boutique shop and you'd be glad to take them shopping with you the next time you go.

Won't they be surprised if they take you up on it.

[magenta321]

I'm pretty sure that BOTH suits were new. The one didn't have tags on it but the pockets were still sewn shut.

My mom is jealous. She wants to go with me next time. She's dying to get a designer purse. She picked up a Coach at Marshall's for $200-something and was going to buy it... but she waited on line too long and just left (something I watched people doing two weeks ago when I was there too -- it's amazing management hasn't taken heed to it). She's looking forward to going with me in the future.

I think I'm going to give the store my number and have them call me if this particular woman brings any more of her stuff by. With heels, I don't even need to hem the pants.

One thing I noticed about the store too is that they're great at putting things together. They have wonderful displays all over the store. I saw a great apple green bag matched up with apple green cashmere gloves. I never would have thought of wearing these items, but when they were put together they were delightful. The purse was not the quality that I am accustomed to, however. It was cheap, flimsy plastic. Not my type of thing. But boy did it draw me in from across the room!

The other thing that was "neat" if you will is that when I left the consignment store, I went to TJ Maxx. Nearly everyone I had seen shopping in the consignment store was now shopping at TJ Maxx with me! We all just smiled as we walked past eachother.

[MiracleMax]

Awesome! It's always great to find a good suit, especially if it fits perfectly without tailoring. Hopefully you'll find many more great deals.

[mtbat]

I love a good bargan. I bought a dress at Kohls today that I wanted sooo bad a month ago but wasn't willing to pay $50 for-I got it at 80% off a sale price, just over $8. I also got pants for $5, a top for $6, and a pair of shorts for $1.50--I paid $23 and change, basically less for all than one item would have cost new.

[MiracleMax]

I love shopping Kohl's clearance! That's where practically all my clothes are from.

[cristina1]

I miss TJ Maxx. I buy a lot of the kids' clothes there. There isn't one near me now.

[magenta321]

Do you have a Marshall's then? They're the same store. We have a Marshall's and a TJ Maxx within 20 miles of each other. It's great.

I have an easier time finding things I want at Marshalls. I don't know if it's just because the Marshall's is bigger or what. TJ Maxx has fine jewelry though... which I like... but I fell in love with a piece in their store and went 2x to see it but waited so long both times for someone to help me that I just left. I bought mine on ebay instead. I wish it was something we carried in the jewelry store I work at I can't wait to get it. If my pearls I bought on ebay are as good as the ones I saw in TJ Maxx, I got myself a huge bargain. I hope I don't get rippled, dimpled, ugly pearls. We'll see.