recession fashion

wow, this post has an interesting confession! sometimes, i am a blog stalker:) no really, a few months ago a blog that i follow told of a family that had a baby who was born really sick. in an effort to pray for the family, i began following their blog and reading the daily updates of their sweet baby, harper (she is such a cutie). anyways, harper is all better, but i am still following the momma's blog. today, kelly (the momma) posted about recession fashion and challenged the readers to post their tips on their own blogs. always up for a challenge, especially concerning one of my most favorite topics (shopping), here goes...

since miss e was born, i have been obsessed with boutique brands and adorable outfits. the problem lied in the fact that we were on a strict budget and i could never justify the price tags on my favorite brands when she went through sizes so quickly. but she was my girl, my first baby and i couldn't resist. after spending an obscene amount of money on a few outfits and then later having them ruined for one reason or another, i decided that i had to get smart about this shopping thing. and in the process, i discovered ebay. and once i found it, i never went back. below are some samples of ebay steals that currently adorn our home and girls... all courtesy from ebay.


this is delaney's somewhat mangled bedroom set. it is pink and light brown polka dot, trimmed in green/pink/yellow/ paisley, backed with chocolate brown. it was handmade by a woman who sews in her home in ontario.

it came with the skirt, bumper (delaney has smashed it so much that it no longer stands up straight- a delaney issue not a workmanship issue), curtain, and two pillows.

the dress on the wall is for the day we finally dedicate delaney and was $5 at a local antique store (i stole the adorable idea of using it to decorate from my talented friend steph:). the entire set cost $100 + shipping!!! comparable custom sets were between $500- $1000!

this is an outfit that i bought for d by a company that sells a lot on ebay and in stores here in chicago (jo jo designs). the top has a flower formed from ribbon and the bottom is trimmed in little flowers. it was $20 plus $6 shipping charge.

this dress is from my most favorite label, baby lulu. both girls had this matching dress for easter last year (see earlier post). i don't remember exactly how much i paid for them (ballpark of $25/piece, and they were $70 in a local boutique. i used them all spring/summer/fall with layering.

another baby lulu outfit that the girls had that matched. i remember paying more for ellie's ($25ish) and getting a steal on delaney's (under $10!).

this is a baby lulu top that i stole, oops- i mean bought, for $5. the pants were part of a set by a brand i can't remember. i didn't care for the top, but loved the pants. they were under $10!

this was e's christmas dress from last year. it also came with a velvet cape (which she adored). it was dirt cheap- taffeta and velvet, lined- under $20!

and here is e's winter coat. she has worn it for two year and it was under $15! it sold in nordstrom in the $80 range!

and so here are my ebay shopping tips-

1.) buy out of season. i buy my spring clothes in jan/feb when nobody else is bidding on the same stuff as me. i am often the only bidder.

2.) set a final bid price while considering the shipping... and then leave it. never go back and up your bid beyond what you originally decided on. i tend to set a personal limit of $25/outfit including the shipping charge.

3.) shop from sellers that offer many listings and offer a shipping discount on multiple wins.

4.) go to your local boutiques and upscale children's stores. make a list of the labels that you like and then search for them by name and size.

5.) don't make too many bids at once. this can cause you to go overboard and/or win way more than you need. if you are shopping a season ahead, you have plenty of time to build a wardrobe.

6.) don't be afraid of gently used items. while i tend to buy NWT (new with tags) or NWOT (new without tags) i have also bout gently used in excellent condition and been very happy! in an effort to protect our little planet, i am trying to lean more towards used items as a method of helping to minimize excess stuff on our planet. hooray for recycling!

7.) you will make a few mistakes in the beginning, but the money you save in the long run is well worth it! if you buy something that doesn't work out, resell it on ebay.

http://www.lilith-ezine.com/articles/2006/WalmartsSweatshops.html