Shopping

Shopping, Uncategorized, Window Shopping

window shopping: baaaagggsss

April 9, 2019April 8, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

I keep looking at bags online. While doing lots of browsing could be seen as a mild addiction, I think it’s good (or at least better), if you scratch the shopping online itch without spending money or being wasteful. This is the case here, since I’ve been looking at Tradesy, The Real Real, eBay, and Poshmark, all of which require just checking a lot to see if things have been listed. Also, this way, if I do actually get anything it will be cheaper and secondhand.

Here’s what I’ve been looking at.

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli

Tradesy

I’ve always liked the Pashli bags. I really like the red and gold mini one, but practically, I could use something larger since I don’t have any bigger bags, and I think the navy color is cool, too. (Also, check out this (sold out) leopard one.)

See By Chloé Quilted Lois

This was for sale on The Outnet for a while, and I really regret not just going for it. Now, I just have to check my secondhand sites all the time…

Coach Carryall

I actually did order one size of this bag from Tradesy, but returned it because it was smaller than I expected. Now, I’m on the fence about this style altogether and think I just needed a clearer view of what I was looking for as far as practicality in the first place. The whole reason I was drawn to this bag was because I thought it would make for a good larger size one.

Balenciaga City Bag

I had a bootleg one of these when I was in college that I got at thrift store, and I always sort of wondered if somehow it was real and some random rich person just donated it without a second thought. I used it to carry around all my books and stuff and it fell apart, which I’m certain confirms that it, in fact, was bootleg. Given that this was around the time of peak Rachel Zoe, this was a very exciting time for me to find this bag. Anywayyyyy, I still really like these, but hadn’t thought much about them again until I saw this (comparatively) affordable one on The Real Real. Someone who is not me take the plunge! (P.S. Through writing this I found this extensive photo roundup of times Nicole Richie carried a Balenciaga bag and it is really a blast from the past.)

Have you used any of consignment sites to buy designer bags — or anything else for that matter? I’ve never used The Real Real, but I’ve bought stuff on Poshmark and a coat on Tradesy. Never anything where I had to worry about it being authentic.

Shopping, Wardrobe

spring/summer additions

March 31, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

It’s Sunday and the last day in March, and I finally lit a fire under my ass (or… sat on my couch with old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episodes playing in the background) and decided to write a post. Hello!

Similar to what I wrote about back in the fall, I recently looked through all of my clothes and shoes again and got rid of things that I’m either not wearing — these were donated — or that were falling apart/undonate-able — these were taken to the H&M fabric recycling program. This was my second time taking things to be recycled there, and it’s very convenient because they take any type of clothing, no matter the condition. (Plus, you get a 15% off coupon.) The only thing is, they don’t accept shoes.

I’m still very happy with not just needlessly holding on to things. I also have been shopping less, but I have a few specific things in mind now that it’s getting warmer. (Sort of.)

For some these, I’m being sure to check secondhand — Poshmark and thrifting — and for things like the plain white T-shirt, I have a Old Navy gift card that I’ve had for a while that I could use.

A lot of this is self-explanatory (a white button-up shirt? what is that?), but I thought I would include what I’m thinking for a couple things.

My black and white checked Vans died (RIP), and to replace them I really like these light tan and white ones (the color is called”Frappe”). Unfortunately, they’re out of stock in every size except one. (If you’re an 11.5, act fast!) I’m hoping they come back in stock, but if not I’m considering them in “Desert Sage”.

If I was to go ahead and order a blazer new, this one from ASOS would be it. I really like this burnt orange color, and can picture wearing it with blue denim sorts. For now, I have been checking out Poshmark for a similar one, but we shall see.

I always think I want a white dress with some sort of eyelet situation and have never actually ended up with one. I’m definitely not set on this one from Gap, but this general idea, and I picture wearing it with black boots.

Also, not on the list, but I bought a very cheap New Look faux leather jacket back in the fall, and the other day I noticed a big chunk of it is already peeling off!! I had good luck before with a very cheap New Look faux leather jacket that took a few years until it starting peeling, so this was really disappointing. I’m always going to want to wear a jacket like this, so now I’m thinking about an actual leather one. I don’t know. This might just wait til next fall.

I also recycled a falling apart weekender bag that I’d gotten from H&M probably seven years ago (it was the same as this one) and got a ton of use out of, so I might replace that eventually. I think probably, though, my carry-on suitcase or Jansport backpack is good enough for any situation I’m in right now.

That’s all for now. I’m going to try to post again about this when/if I actually buy anything from the list.

Shopping, style

a $300 sweater for $3.99

February 10, 2019April 7, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

The other day I went to Goodwill to drop a few things off and took a quick browse around. I went in the sweater section because I am missing an oversized navy cardigan that I’ve had for YEARS and love and which was also thrifted. (Where is it!?!) And there on the sweater rack I spotted a very soft looking black turtleneck. Hm, it feels like cashmere. *Checks tag* It’s 100% cashmere. *Checks label* It’s Equipment. *Checks entirety of sweater* Hm, it has a small, easily sewable hole in the armpit… They do discounts on damaged items, don’t they.

I got a black Equipment turtleneck cashmere sweater for $3.99. As noted, it’s not in perfect condition, and I think it must be stretched out because it says it’s an XS and I am not an XS. (I would assume I would be a medium in something like this — maybe it’s supposed to run oversize? — but I also don’t buy new Equipment sweaters…)

On the subway ride home I googled “Equipment cashmere turtleneck”. This thing would have cost around $300 new. 😱 (Not sure if that link goes to the exact one, but it’s at least very similar.)

I love finding something good in the thrift store, and it had been a while since I had one a really surprising one like this. I used to do a lot more thrifting back in Richmond and when I first moved to New York, because I had my Etsy shop. I’ve never thought thrifting in New York was that great, but I’m re-opening my mind and this was a good sign. I’ve been trying to be sure to buy more things secondhand (I’m very into browsing Poshmark right now), and this was just the encouragement I need to keep going.

P.S. I don’t have a photo of it ready and I wrote this a while ago and put off publishing because of that. But I always put things off all the time about everything, so I decided to just post this.

Shopping

window shopping: sandals

May 13, 2018January 4, 2019by lkbLeave a Comment

Due to my obsession with looking at stuff online, but (usually) not actually buying anything (see also, this time I found a lot of things with stars on them), I’ve decided to start a series. Up first? Sandals. First I was looking for a red pair after I found cute ones on Topshop, but didn’t commit fast enough. Then I was like, do I really want heeled sandals? Or wait, no. Yellow would be better. But tan. Tan is good, too. Hmm… but they shouldn’t be totally flat because those have, like, no support.

Yeah, this is how things tend to go. And I don’t mind it, because it’s better than the days where I used to just buy random things at Forever 21 or heels that I should’ve known I’d never end up wearing. I’ve definitely become more thoughtful about what I buy, so that I end up with things that are comfortable and that I will wear a lot.

So, yeah, sandals. Here’s what I’m looking at.

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Flat yellow with ankle ties

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Flat espadrilles

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Wedge espadrilles (currently 40% off)

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Yellow slides (I’m not a slide person — other than these. I think I’m gonna just accept that, but these are cute and very inexpensive.)

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Simple tan flats

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Red with ties

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Tan short wedges

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Red heeled

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Monochromatic yellow wedges

Home

bedroom updates + the obsession continues

December 2, 2017December 31, 2017by lkbLeave a Comment

I just wanted to share what the current status of our bedroom is since I’m trying to be fairly consistent with documenting this whole apartment decorating thing. The bedroom looks the most complete out of what we’ve gotten set up so far — well at least half of it does. The side with the bed and my wardrobe is all good. The side with Michael’s dresser and the piles of random stuff is not because… there are piles of random stuff. Also, my dresser is still being used as our TV stand in the living room, which says quite a bit.

Here’s what the bedroom looked like when we moved in:

There’s just one small closet, so I bought the Kvikne wardrobe from Ikea to put at the wall in front of our bed since it’s set in more than the rest of the wall. I had the rolling rack from my previous apartment there at first and I’m really liking how much cleaner it looks with the wardrobe (even though it’s crooked because ALL the floors in this apartment are crooked). With the rolling rack all the clothes were just out, but with the location they would constantly be in our line of vision so it was really jumbled looking.

Then this was how it looked right after we got the bed setup. Not much to say about that; although I do plan to talk about the mattress we ordered in a future post.

And then this is what it’s pretty much looking like now once the wardrobe was assembled and pictures were hung behind the bed. These are the same pictures we previously had behind our sofa at the old apartment. (It’s a old National Geographic poster of the Onion Nebula, a George Harrison poster, a Rush record, and a Strokes record.) I always really liked how these went together and the colors and thought it would work better in the bedroom this time. Speaking of, one of these curtains was in our old living room and one in our old kitchen. They really need to be washed, but I LOVE them. I had such trouble finding curtains I actually liked and I came across these at Target a few years ago. Now I never want them to get messed up.

So that’s that. I’m hoping to get working on “building” (it’s going to be concrete blocks and wood boards…) our shelves in the living room for the TV tomorrow, so hopefully I’ll have my dresser in the bedroom soon and be able to talk about the other half!

In completely different news, THE OBSESSION CONTINUES:

In my old age I’ve gotten much better about not buying things like dresses and heels just because I like them even though I rarely wear dresses and heels, but someone help me I NEED this dress from ASOS. Just look at the back! I’d wear it somewhere eventually, right?

Shopping

10 Stars

November 25, 2017by lkb3 Comments

I’ll keep this simple: I keep seeing a bunch of star-print shit everywhere and it’s cute, so here’s a bunch of it that I’ve gathered because I am a serial online window shopper.

All of the above are Old Navy. I actually bought the pants myself, because I was already looking for workout pants and Old Navy is the only place I buy them. I’d already been collecting links for a ~star post~ at that point, so they were my one actually practical star-printed purchase. I would have also bought those flats probably if they came in my size, especially since with Old Navy’s Black Friday sale they would have only been $14.

Duvet set (Also comes in grey, as well as grey and white in larger sizes) — H&M
Dress — H&M

Shorts pajama set (also comes in pants) — Loft
Curtain — Urban Outfitters
Sneakers — Madewell
Boots — ASOS

Worth noting: Most of these are on sale right now because of Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Old Navy Just Always Being On Sale. And do me a personal favor and just buy the curtains. I really don’t need more. I only have four windows.