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.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Something a bit different: Boot edition

Peruvian Connection uses a wealth of boots in their catalogs, as they really go well with their style. Unfortunately, they don't sell any.

So here are some that I found at the thrift stores:

These lovelies are black leather boots by Reiker (a German brand). They are just-below-the-knee in length, and have a slouchy style to them. They have heels, but you certainly don't feel them--these are the comfiest boots I have ever tried on. These are currently being sold for about $200 online, but I found these for $9.99 at Goodwill (and in as-new condition).

These brown leather boots are made in Italy, but unfortunately I don't know who designed them. They come to just below the calf, and have a zip closure around the ankle. They are extremely high quality, and I only paid $8 for them at the Temple House.

Finally, I have my Miz Mooz boots. These are black leather (meant to look distressed) and have lots of buckles for detail. The wedges, which are quite high, are made of wood. Nordstrom carries this brand, and these would have been $169 new. I paid $6.99 at Goodwill, and they were in great condition.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)