Be frugal, look fabulous!

Welcome to my blog!
This experiment is to see whether I can find looks directly out of the Peruvian Connection catalog (my absolute favorite) by shopping at thrift stores and garages sales. My goal is to put together an elegant, interesting, and flattering wardrobe--but by only spending about 10% or less of the new clothes' cost.

But why Peruvian Connection?
Because every outfit in the catalog uses my favorite things: belts, boots, bags, jewelry, and pieces that you can mix and match. I'll be able to emulate their style by putting together items that I find along the way. Also, their style is timeless and almost vintage-looking. How could I go wrong with a company with the tagline of 'Artisan clothing for nomads and romantics'? I'm both at heart!

Why buy second-hand?
Buying second-hand clothing is sustainable and economical. My money goes to charity or directly to individuals, my purchases do not require the use of additional resources, and at this stage in my life I cannot afford to buy such quality clothes at retail prices. However, someday when I can afford to buy new clothes, I wish to be mindful of where my money is going. Higher end retailers such as Peruvian Connection may be more expensive, but their artisans earn a living wage and the materials are environmentally friendly. I want to get in the habit of buying responsibly.

The rules for this experiment:
I'm looking for quality garments made of materials that Peruvian Connection commonly uses: cotton (pima if possible), alpaca, merino wool, leather, and other furs such as angora, mohair, and cashmere. I aim to avoid acrylics and other man-made materials because they wear out quickly. The end result of this blog will be a wardrobe that will last for years and never go out of style.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Second actual Peruvian Connection item

Somebody in the West Hills of Portland keeps donating Peruvian Connection items to the Burnside Goodwill. While I certainly don't understand it, I do appreciate it! I found this cable-knit Peruvian Connection dress for $7.99. I don't know how much it cost originally, but I'm sure I spent less than 10%--and it's in excellent condition.

It is a burgundy knit dress made of 60% Pima cotton and 40% Tencel lyocell. The latter fabric is made from wood pulp and meant to give the dress some stretch. Here is a photo of me wearing it (I'll switch it out for a better one once I have someone to photograph me).



So, I put together a catalog-worthy ensemble for a grand total of $27.98. That's $7.99 for the dress, $9.99 for the leather Reiker boots, $8 for the silver necklace, and $2 for the leather belt. I'm now more motivated than ever to continue this experiment!
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1 comment:

  1. JuliaNovember 20, 2010 at 10:37 AM

    I love this! Great find. In case you haven't been there yet, the downtown Goodwill (across from the library) has a good (albeit much smaller) selection too.

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