Fashion Advice: Budget Wedding Dresses

May 13, 2009 12:00 PM | Comments (3) | Posted in bridal fashion, budget wedding dress, fashion advice, ebay, vera wang, filene's_basement, last call neiman marcus, Vera Wang

Dear Budget Fashionista,

I am wondering if you have any advice on finding a couture wedding gown on consignment/resale or at an otherwise great price. I refuse to believe that I have to pay $3,000 for a fab gown.

Answer: Here’s some places to definitely check out—

• Last Call Neiman Marcus. LC Neiman Marcus often carries a selection of gowns from major designers like Vera Wang, Reem Acra, etc. for a fraction of the cost. A friend got a Vera Wang wedding dress for $450. Now to find these dresses you have to hunt a bit—but they’re usually located in or near the women’s fitting rooms.
• Filene’s Basement. They have an annual bridal gown sale that is one of the most hotly anticipated wedding-related events of the shopping season. You’ll find deals from major bridal designers (although most things are a size 10 and below). Head to www.filenesbasement.com for locations and dates for the event.
• eBay. I know it sounds crazy, but you can find great high end wedding dresses online at eBay.com. Just do a search for Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, etc and see what comes up. Many are brand and are being sold by women who weren’t able to use them for some reason (left at the altar?).

Plus Size Bridal Gowns on a Budget

May 13, 2009 07:00 AM | Comments (4) | Posted in budget bride, bridal fashion, plus size fashion, ebay, goodwill, lane bryant, bridal fashion for less, budget wedding guide, Plus Size Bridal

Q: I am a plus-size bride in dire need of a beautiful wedding dress on a budget. I live in the New York area and everything seems to be in a size two.

A: There are many options out there for brides on a budget, including plus-size brides. Here are a few:


Lane Bryant.com
The fashionable plus size bridal company has created a line of beautiful and budget bridal gowns for plus size fashionistas. Collection features simple sleeves dresses, similar to the weddings dresses designed by J.Crew, for under $150 dollars.  Read my review of the line


The Bridal Building
1385 Broadway
New York City
This is the place where many designers have their showrooms and sales offices. These showrooms are open to the public on Saturdays and you can find designer dresses from 30% off retail prices. Tailors are available on the spot.


The Bridal Suite of Manhattan
262 West 38th Street, Suite 1701
New York, NY 10018
Tel: 212.764.3040, Fax: 212.764.3018
Contact: Bernadette Pleasant
bpleasant@BridalSuiteNYC.com
A large selection of styles and prices. Call ahead to see if they are having a trunk sale.


Last Call Neiman Marcus
Woodbury Commons (Central New York) and Franklin Mills (outside of Philadelphia, PA.)
These outlets of the high-end Neiman Marcus store carry a wonderful selection of gowns, for up to 80% off their retail price. Sizing is hit or miss, though I have spotted plus-sizes before.


Kleinfields
110 West 20th Street
New York, New York 10011
Phone (646) 633 4300
e-mail: info@kleinfeldbridal.com


THE place to shop in New York for bridal gowns is Kleinfields and the store featured on TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress”. Brides travel here from as far away as Washington, D.C. Kleinfields has a large selection of gowns to fit every size and price range. Call ahead for an appointment.

David’s Bridal
location: wherever there’s women…but one Manhattan location on 25th and 6th Ave
A large selection of affordable, but somewhat plain,  plus size wedding dresses.


Local Thrift Shops
Thrift shops can offer wonderful bridal treasures, if you don’t mind wearing a second-hand dress. It’s always worth taking a look at your local Salvation Army or Goodwill stores. In New York City, also check out Housing Works Thrift Shop in Chelsea.


If you can’t find your perfect dress at any of these stores, try finding it on the internet. Online bridal shops like CocoMyles, Watters.com and Bridal Shop at Yahoo can offer a wide range of sizes and cheaper prices because there is little store overhead. Also try eBay, which has a huge selection of plus-size bridal gowns, some new and some not so new. When using eBay, make sure you ask for several pictures of the item and purchase with a credit card that has buyer protection—not a debit card. That way, if any problems develop, you might be able to get a refund from your credit card company.


Happy Shopping,
The Budget Fashionista

The Budget Fashionista’s Tips for Selling Your Clothes

April 6, 2009 07:00 AM | Comments (3) | Posted in ebay, consignment shop, salvation army, stein mart, spring cleaning

In case you missed it: continue Spring cleaning by getting rid of your old stuff in a useful way.

Whether you’re hurting for a little extra cash, or you’re simply cleaning your closet, a most satisfying way to get rid of your old clothes is to sell them.  Here’s how to make a decent profit out of your closet.

Get the 1-2-3s of prepping your closet for clothing to sell: we have some tips on how to organize everything into piles.

Also, if you’re donating clothing, make sure you know what paperwork to keep for further savings down the road.

How to sell your clothes on eBay: know the best time to end your auctions, what info to include, and more.

How to sell at a consignment shop: know what fees are reasonable, and what to expect from the contract.  Also, make sure to check out our review of InStyleBelly, the consignment store for maternity clothing. 

Give to Get at Stein Mart: by donating some of your clothes, you can get a discount to shop for new stuff.

Bonanzle.com: Fashion Overload

February 1, 2009 12:58 PM | Comments (3) | Posted in discount designer, online shopping, ebay, craigslist, online auction site, bonanzle

Sometimes, the shopping experience is more important than the purchase. If you don’t agree with that sentence, skip on Bonanzle.com, which is kind of like “eBay with a face.” Users interact with each other on a personal level, buying and selling items that range from classic records to Chanel purses.

Buyers can look at items posted in the past 24 hours, browse items by category, and check out the bonanza (online garage sale) schedule. Each bonanza has a unique theme and percentage discount offered. If you’re looking for sellers in your zip code, Bonanzle will capture your IP address and point you in the right direction! A little spooky, but hey, it works. Much like Craigslist, you can even track down “freebies.”

What’s on sale at Bonanzle.com right now that you might care about? A $499 Louis Vuitton purse, a $60 Simone Perele bra, an $8 headband, a $9.95 knit cover-up from CHICO’S, and $32 pink satin heels. You get the picture.

While Bonanzle has a nifty search filter and a friendly and active community, it’s a little confusing and cluttered. For those who have the patience to explore it, it’s a great place to find affordable, one-of-a-kind, new and vintage clothes and accessories. But for those who know exactly what mass-produced item they want, Craigslist and auction sites like eBay are way more straightforward.

Fall 2006 Fashion Preview: The Wide Belt

July 12, 2006 01:03 PM | Comments (3) | Posted in forever21, fashion trend, urban_outfitters, ebay, belt, fall fashion 2008

The wide belt is another accessory making a major comeback this fall. The belt, sometimes called an “Obi”, from the belt/binding used to hold a kimono in place, was poping up everywhere during NYC’s Fall fashion week—over sweaters, dresses and even winter coats. 

How You’ll Wear it:

- Over a grandpa cardigan sweater

- Over a black fitted sweater and black pencil skirt

- As a belt for your basic winter dress coat

- To add a bit of color to a basic black sweater dress


Where to find it:
Urban Outfitters, Target, eBay (great collection), H&M, Forever21 or make your own by purchasing a strip of leather and a vintage (or vintage looking) belt buckle from your local fabric store.

Budget Best: Online Vintage Consignment Stores

June 29, 2006 11:06 AM | Comments (2) | Posted in ebay, consignment shop, goodwill, salvation army, vintage, shopping advice, rodeo drive resale, catching the butterfly, the snob, hey viv

One of my favorite childhood memories involves rummaging through the racks of the local Junior League thrift store with my seamstress grandma. A Saturday morning ritual, I never left the shop empty handed. There was always a vintage patent leather clutch or rhinestone brooches or Hermes like silk scarf—with prices tags well under $5.00. 

Fast forward 20 years.Now vintage fashion doesn’t always equal bargain prices. Deals that could be found in local thrift stores are now going for $100.00 plus dollars at online and offline vintage stores. In fact, many vintage and consignment shop owners stock their stores with items they found at their local Salvation Army and Goodwill (biggest spot—Jersey City Salvation Army).  However, all is not lost. There’s been a emergence of online vintage stores that have great items without the high mark-ups. Here’s some of my favorite.

But first ... a few things to remember


1. Sizes, like people, change over time. Sizes of clothing pre-1980 tend to run significantly smaller than its comparable size today. The rule of thumb is to add 2 sizes to your current size to find your vintage size. For example, if you wear a size 10 now, you would wear about a size 14 in vintage clothing.

2. Follow care instructions carefully. Because of age, vintage fabric tends to be much more delicate than newer items. Make sure you follow the care instructions exactly. Unless otherwise expressed in the care instructions, I would send all vintage items to a reputable dry cleaner.

3. Try several places before purchasing. Prices of vintage items vary greatly by stores. Search around, and you may find a similar item cheaper at another shop.

4. Shop it like a regular store. Yes, that Pucci print jumpsuit is exactly like one worn by Edie Sedgwick in the 60s. However, if you wouldn’t purchase it on the rack of a “regular” store, don’t purchase it now.

Shop Goodwill-Our Favorite thrift store now has an online auction site. The nicely designed site is not quite Ebay, but you can find items at a cheaper price than its for-profit competitor. Shop Goodwill is the best place for cheap costume jewelry on the web. Where else could you find one of this season’s hottest styles, cameo brooches, for $2.00? There is a major downside to the site, very few of the postings have pictures.

ebay.com- Ebay has started to ramp up its style section, with a focus on fashionistas on a budget. Good deals can be found here, especially in the area of vintage fashion. I’ve purchased several items from the store, most recently a vintage hat covered with silk daisies circa 1962.  Before spending any money with an Ebay store, check it sellers ratings and view their buyer comments. In addition, always purchase items from e-bay using a credit card with buyer protection. That way if the item is fake (which happens more often than not), you may be able to get your money back via the credit you used to purchase the item.

Fashion Dig—The grandma of online vintage. Has a HUGE database of online and offline vintage stores.

The Snob—One of the first and largest online vintage retailers, the Snob has a comprehensive, searchable, online database of vintage fashions from designers like Versace, gently worn authentic Hermes handbags (including vintage), Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Valentino, Missoni, Malo, Fendi, Jil Sander, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci, Chanel and Prada shoes and bags. . All merchandise is authentic and in excellent condition (some items in mint, unworn condition). Check out their large selection of plus size vintage and consignment items.

Rodeo Drive Resale - This Rodeo drive based store, has a online store with an impressive collection of vintage handbags and evening dresses worn by stars to premieres and Hollywood events. Of particular interest is perhaps the largest selection of St. John Knits consignment items. Frequent costumers can negotiate free shipping on their purchases.

Vintage Trends—Large vintage online store for men, women, and children. Has not only clothing, but has vintage military, lingerie and housewares as well. My favorite section is the vintage ethnic clothing from Pakistan to Ghana to Bali. Most items priced between $20-$50.

Hey Viv—Looking for 1950’s/ early 1960’s inspired dresses. Have dreams of purchasing a dress that would make June Cleaver green with envy? Hey Viv is the 1950’s/1960’s inspired vintage store selling dresses, and outfits from the time period of I love Lucy and big cars. Great place to look for a poodle skirt. Most items priced below $40.

Know a great vintage site that should be on this list? Submit it (go to the customer feedback form) to me. I am always on the prowl…….

Brands vs. Department Stores: The Move to Limit Sales

April 13, 2006 11:13 PM | | Posted in ebay, coach, juicy couture, new_york_post, shopzilla, pricegrabber, ellen tracy

Take a walk down the main shopping street in any major city and you’ll notice that several of your favorite department store brands, like Coach, Juicy Couture, and Ellen Tracy, have begun to develop their own stores. 

Wait a sec before you getting ideas of terry cloth jump suit heaven. Brands are creating boutiques not just as a direct route to customers, but to help monitor their brands and to reign in the massive discounts budget shoppers like ourselves find when shopping at a good end of the season department store sale. According to a New York Post article two weeks ago, “By opening their own stores, these labels hope to better control their image, rein in discounts, and avoid, margin-eroding negotiations over markdown money.”

So what does this mean for us?  It means that we will truly become a slave to brands and it will become more difficult to find truly designer lines in our local department stores, making offline comparison-shopping nearly impossible. However, all is not lost. We bargain shoppers still have the Internet and can use it to comparison shop for bargains. Here’s how using Coach handbags as an example.

Let’s say you’re in the market for a new Coach bag. You head into the Coach boutique and find the bag you like. At this point you should write down the SKU (the numbers below the barcode), name, color, style and price of the bag. If you have a digital camera take a picture as well. Then head home, juicy up the computer and enter the SKU number and/or bag style into google. You can also use comparison-shopping tools like Pricegrabber and Shopzilla or search on eBay. Also check with Coach outlet stores. I recent purchased a white leather bag for a client at the outlet in Naples, Florida and saw the same purse, two days later for $100 more at the Coach boutique off 5th Ave in New York.  Gather the information from the store, outlet store, and sites and compare the prices to ensure you get the best deal.  This can be done with practically ANY piece of clothing.

Time consuming? Yes. 
Money Saving? Yes.

Fake Handbag Debate: A Teen Weighs In

April 8, 2006 03:51 PM | Comments (0) | Posted in ebay, hermes, handbag, fake debate, chinatown

You could be having a bad hair day, and wearing a not so great outfit, but if you’re holding a designer bag people respect you, they know you’re “someone”. Designer bags are obviously status symbols . . . something not everyone can afford which is why there’s an entire industry devoted to fakes. From the street vendors in Chinatown to eBay, knock off bags are everywhere.

When you pay big bucks for a designer bag yes, you’re definitely paying for the name, but also the craftsmanship. When you buy a fake you’re compromising quality. An authentic Hermes Birkin will last you a lifetime, as opposed to the knock off that will only last you a year or two. I think knock offs are wrong. They’ve tainted the images and reputations of designers (Louis Vuitton is particular), and some even end up funding terrorism, child labor, and illegal drug trade. If you purchase a fake you’re being unfair to the designer as well as those who paid for an authentic bag.


Bio: Jazmin Gonzalez is a 16-year-old New York City High School junior with a “passion for fashion” and aspirations to be a Fashion Editor. She currently hold the title of Miss Empire Royalty Junior Teen.


** the opinions expressed in the fake debate series are those of the guest blogger, not The Budget Fashionista. If you got issues with what they have to say, email them directly or post a comment below.**

Budget Shopping Tip: Shop by SKU Number

March 4, 2006 06:12 PM | Comments (0) | Posted in smartbargains.com, ebay, overstock.com, tahari, guide, shopping_advice, google, jones_new_york, Overstock.com

Here’s a hot tip from one of my sources—use the SKU number (the numbers underneath the bar codes on the price tag) to find your favorite items online for less. Entering the SKU number, and sometimes the style number into Google, can help you find your favorite item for less on sites like eBay. Furthermore, many online discount/off price stores like SmartBargains.com and Overstock.com , are not allowed to use the name of certain designers mid level designers like Jones New York and Tahari (which is why they’ll say something like “name brand designer suit”, when selling their items at discount prices, but will have the SKU numbers listed on the page.

Guide to Online Discount Shopping

January 2, 2006 06:14 AM | Comments (1) | Posted in bluefly.com, online shopping, ebay, yoox.com, overstock.com, newport_news, zappos.com, asos, ashford.com, the_snob

Thank God for online discount stores! Now you can bargain-shop online from the comfort of your home or office cubicle. Here are some of the my favorite stores for finding discounts online. Make sure to check out my Coupon & Deals Page for discounts to these stores and more.

Bluefly.com:Bluefly is the best online site for high end designer clothing. Unlike most budget sites, Bluefly.com carries top designers, such as Prada, Fendi, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein, at 30% to 80% off retail prices. The off priced site also has a great selection of shoes from Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Barbara Bui and more for up to 80% off retail price. Bluefly.com dispels the notion that there are no good outlet stores for men. It offers an impressive array of men’s fashions from Hugo Boss, Diesel, DKNY, Calvin Klein, Versace and more. Don’t miss the $30-and-below bargains in the home section.

SmartBargains.com: Smart Bargains is a great site for end-of-season and overstock items from designers like Tod’s, Fendi, Prada, and Isaac Mizrahi. They also have a substantial plus-size and petite section. The bargain and last-chance sections are great for filling most of your male holiday gift-giving needs: you can find Zegna silk ties for $29.97 and Armani wool suits from $799.99. While there, pick up a little something for yourself, like a Versace nylon tote for $179. The site has teamed up with the brick & mortar off price retailer, Loehmann’s, to offer a wider selection of designer fashions.

Ashford.com: This site has the most amazing selection of designer watches in the world—at up to 70% off retail. This is the perfect site to shop for high-end male accessories like Rolex watches. Ashford.com also sports an impressive selection of precious and semi-precious stone jewelry, including a fabulous pair of garnet chandelier earrings set in yellow gold.

The Snob: One of the first and largest online vintage retailers, The Snob is a Florida-based company with a large collection of vintage Chanel. This store has a comprehensive, searchable, online database of vintage fashions from designers like Versace, gently worn authentic Hermes handbags (including vintage), Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Valentino, Missoni, Malo, Fendi, Jil Sander, Manolo Blahnik, Gucci, Chanel and Prada shoes and bags. All merchandise is authentic and in excellent condition, and some items have never been worn. Check out their large selection of plus-size vintage and consignment items.

YOOX.COM: The site looks like it was designed by an Italian club kid, but it has amazing prices on very high end designers like Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, and Marni. I once found a red Givenchy coat, retail price $3000+, on the site for around $500. A word of caution: the site has a limited stock and items sell fast, so if you see something you like, purchase it ASAP.

eBay!: With the hiring of style guru Constance White, eBay! has started to focus on budget-conscious Fashionistas. Good deals can be found here, especially in the area of vintage fashion. I’ve purchased several items from the online flea market, most recently a vintage hat covered with silk daisies circa 1962. Be very clear of your goals when shopping on eBay, to avoid buying a fake. If your goal is to get a Louis Vuitton monogrammed bag because J.Lo carries one in the ads, then you may not care whether the bag is real or not. However, if your goal is to get a Louis Vuitton bag because you have always wanted such a bag, then it is best to buy it at a reputable seller of the bags, like eluxury.com. Before spending any money on eBay!, check the sellers’ ratings and look over buyers’ comments. In addition, always use a credit card that has buyer protection. That way, if the item is fake (which happens more often than not), you may be able to get your money back via the credit card you used to purchase the item.

Zappos.com: The ultimate online shoe store has some of the hottest fashions, like Uggs, Charles Jourdan, and Marc Jacob shoes up to 50% off the original in-store prices in it;s clearance section. Zappos.com also offers free shipping, free returns, 110% price protection, on all items, saving you much more dough!  What I like most about Zappos is that they have styles and sizes to fit everyone, not just people who wear a “standard” size 8.

Overstock.com : Overstock is like your favorite outlet store, but online. With products ranging from scooters to bras, this store is one of the best places to look for the latest styles at amazingly low prices. We recently found a Steve Madden cropped, fur-hooded jacket for $39.99.

La Redoute: La Redoute is a like the french version of H&M offering high end designs at budget friendly prices. Fashionistas outside France can also find great deals on mass market lines from well known french designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Cacharel. I’m a big fan of the shoes.

Newport News: The quality is questionable, but the style is great. Find Anne Fontaine like wrap white shirts for less than $30 and slouchy suede boots for $49. The site also carries plus size, tall, and petite sizes.

Asos.com: Think Forever 21 meets H&M. This UK based outpost that ships to the US, has a large selection of tops, bottoms, and dresses directly inspired by your favorite celebrities. 90% of the items in the store cost less than $40. Not a bad price for a knock off top similar to one worn by Sienna Miller.

Visit our Online Coupons section for coupons and deals to your favorite online stores. Know a great online discount site that should be on this list? Post it below.