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.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Third actual Peruvian Connection item

Another great day for the blog!

I've been on an even tighter budget lately, so I was getting concerned that the project wouldn't be as successful. I try not to spend more than $15/week at the thrift shop, which is usually enough for two large items and a few small ones. This week I came away with the leather jacket, a silver bangle, a wool hat, and...

This fantastic Peruvian Connection skirt:

This lovely item is 100% pima cotton, made in Peru. The detail is truly incredible, and even though there are some small imperfections from the previous owner, there is loads of wear left.

My new skirt is similar to this current Peruvian Connection offering:

This skirt is listed for $229, and I paid $6.99. This means I saved about 97%, and more importantly, I have a wonderful new addition to my growing Peruvian Connection collection.
Posted by at

1 comment:

  1. BetsyNovember 20, 2010 at 11:12 AM

    This is my favorite of your finds so far. It is lovely!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)