Happy New Year!

Happy new year!  Your girl blogger will be spending her afternoon sprinting around in the wintry mix, in the hope of finding a pair of gold flats for tonight's activities.  The Steve Maddens aquired in the fall are a perfect pair to wear with the Newport News dress I got for $10, but traipsing around DC's sidewalks tonight requires something a little more comfortable.

Wish me luck, intrepid thrifters.  And be careful tonight.

(Stay tuned as we ring in 2010 slowly but surely with all the new goodies I planned to work on during my "staycation" this week!)

♥

We've been given our parts in the nativity play. And I'm the lobster.

We're going on vacation for the rest of 2009. Why, you ask? Because some of us feel compelled to invade our mother's houses with our cats and boyfriends and 18 bags of stuff for days on end of quality family time.

If we come across any interesting thrifty news during the break, you'll be able to find it here. Be warned, though, the downtime with the fam might mean hours of obsessing over Quarter Life's layout and features, so please excuse the inevitable mess.

Happy holidays and safe travels.

♥

In Other News: The Consumerist inspires discussion

In Other News: Today the Consumerist asked the question that I've been trying to answer all my life (or so it feels): is it okay to give thrifted goods as gifts? There's quite a discussion on the topic over there. Check it out.

♥

Field Trip: Posh

1828 18th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20009
(202) 460-2100

www.aposhconsignment.com

Posh is the new kid on the block, debuting in late October across the street from DC dining staple Lauriol Plaza. But if you have any concerns about the quality of owner Julie Visperas' inventory, leave your worries at the door. She's got more name brands than a Fergie song.

This past summer, she proposed the idea of a consignment shop that didn't forget the male demographic to her boyfriend. At the time, he scoffed at the idea.

She said that most of the items in her store are about 65% off the retail prices, and while it's an upscale place, there's something for every budget level. Many pieces are brand new with their original tags. If you're looking to splurge at a discount, you'll be right at home among racks of True Religion and Seven for All Mankind jeans. There are Gucci boots and Louis Vuitton shoulder bags. (I told you this place was going to sound like a Fergie song.) She has a few vintage items, but most of the inventory is more modern.

The stylish man will feel at home at Posh, where the menswear is front and center in the small shop. From jeans to blazers to tailored suits, get ready to look good. During our visit, a man came by with a variety of clothing to consign, adding to the collection near the front door.

Visperas prefers that consigners make an appointment so she can meet them personally. She goes through each item with consigners and ensures mutual agreement on prices. She was well-stocked with jeans at the time of our visit, but she would like to see more evening gowns on the racks.

Consigners get half the dough on a sale, but have the opportunity to make a donation if their pieces sit on the racks a little too long. Visperas works with the Women's Collective, which provides HIV prevention and management services and support for women and their families.

"I'm blessed to get through the door," Visperas said, crediting the store's early success to word- of-mouth advertisement. "The response and support from the neighborhood has been amazing."

When you're done your holiday shopping and the only person left on the nice list is yourself, head over to Posh. No one needs to know it's not brand new.

More photos after the jump.

♥

In Other News: Last-Minute Shoppers, Rejoice!

In Other News: The Asheville Citizen-Times had an article on Monday about buying pre-owned items as gifts for Christmas.  Reporter Barbara Blake wrote that it's perfectly fine to buy gifts from consignment and thrift stores.  The gift will be chosen expressly for the recipient and will have a personal touch.  The paper even cites examples from stores in the area.

If you're a last-minute shopper on a budget, don't forget to check out the thrift and consignment stores in our area.  They'll be open on Christmas eve, I promise.  They know you're coming.

♥

In Other News: Snowpocalypse Edition

Guess what?  Mother Nature dumped buckets of snow on us this weekend, which put a damper on any last-minute holiday shopping any of us had planned.  Did anyone trek out to see if any of their favorite stores were open? 

I only went as far as Eastern Market from my home-away-from-home on Capitol Hill, and was pleased to see that some of the outdoor vendors were in their usual spots.  And for the first time all season, I could order at the lunch counter without having to wait in line.  But the only shopping to be had for this girl blogger was a quick check for the essentials--like tissues, and shampoo.  And maybe some candy.

In Other News: An article in the Gazette on Friday discusses holiday sales at some area thrift stores, including the Life4Animals Thrift Shop in Gaithersburg and the Montgomery County Thrift Shop in Bethesda.

Sometimes, the weather wins over fashion.  This weekend was one best spent indoors, curled up on the couch in your boyfriend's old sweats, wondering if you heard thundersnow or if it's just your tummy growling in hopes of a snack.

♥

Thrift Tip: Cover Up

While Christmas shopping at the mall last night, I took a detour into Forever 21 because it's one of the few "new clothes" stores I can't resist.  I grew suspicious as I saw rack after rack of short and cropped jackets.  Are bolero jackets really back in already? I thought as I thumbed through the racks.  Really?


And then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught this little number shown on the right and gasped.  An honest-to-goodness shrug, front and center in the fancy section.  I picked it up and waved it around for my roommate to see.  "It's a shrug!  Shrugs are back!" I cried a little too loudly.

I'll admit that I'm a big shrug fan because I'm always cold.  If I'm out in a strapless dress, I want something handy to cover my arms.  And, as a girl with some length, I can get away with wearing a bolero jacket or a shrug.

I'll be keeping an eye out for tiny little sleeve numbers when I make my thrift rounds this winter.  You can certainly find these on the racks at every time of year.  You want to know why?

Because we all bought a ton of shrugs about five years ago.
And then we got embarrassed and put them in the back of the closet for a while.
And then, we finally pulled them out to donate to our favorite organizations.
And now they're sitting there at the thrift store, waiting for you to pick up on the trend all over again.

I know fashion repeats itself, but I'm having some serious deja vu right now.

♥

Field Trip: Esther's Treasures

4722 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-291-4711

Esther's Treasures is tucked along a strip of take-out joints and convenience shops along 14th Street. After finding metered parking, you have to ring the bell to be let in. But don't be shy--Esther is a welcoming proprietor.

If you're looking for clothing, you might be thrown off at first glance. But keep looking. Nearly everything from floor to ceiling is for sale. Artwork, antique furniture, jewelry, knick-knacks--it's all here. And scattered among the retail menagerie are the racks of clothes and accessories that are sure to please.

Some vintage items, like heavy coats or long dresses, will almost always be pricey. But Esther has some deals in between to keep shoppers at all price points happy. I picked up a pristine Dior tie for fewer than five dollars (it's tucked on the left side of the tie rack, complete with Dior logos), and I spied an authentic Coach bag priced at $60.

The basement is open too, although there's not much down there yet. You'll see some small signs that say, "Nothing for sale here," on some pieces of furniture. But the space has potential, either to house many racks of clothes, or to play host to a general smattering of items. There are some great shoes in the basement. I even found shoes for sale just sitting on the side of the staircase.

Esther welcomes consignment and said that doing so by appointment is essential to maintain the atmosphere--relaxed and fun, with toe-tapping music--in the store. She said that new, on-the-spot consigners take the most time. Setting an appointment ensures a smooth meeting and builds a good relationship between the store and the consigner. But while she encourages consignment, it's clear that Esther loves the hunt and is also actively looking for new additions to her inventory. If you're searching for something specific to add to your own collection, it may be worth giving Esther a call to see what she has in stock.

She does jazz by day and treasures by night, and we visited Esther's shop just in time to learn about the store's second anniversary sale this weekend. From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on December 19 and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, you'll receive 40 percent off purchases over $100. In addition, everything in the store is 25% off through the end of December. And for the anniversary celebration, Esther says she'll even have wine for customers.

♥

Thrift Tip: Have Yourself a Merry Little Bargain

Browsing through the Value Village racks one day, I was distracted by the cute clutches and small purses hanging at eye level. Every girl loves to get a new bag, right? I know I do. But it's just not reasonable for me to buy all the cute little bags for myself.

Aware that the holidays were quickly approaching and even more aware of how tight my budget is, I snagged a bunch of the bags to save for the season. This weekend I wrapped them and they went to the Christmas party. And voila, happy faces from clutch-loving women.

Bonus points if you check out some little bags on a discount day, as some of the bags I acquired cost less than $3. To boost the gift a little bit, a bag filled with candy or homemade cookies is sure to go over well.

If you can't break the bank this year, but want to have gifts for all your (girl) friends at the party, go my route and give everyone a little something to hold on to.

♥

Field Trip: Salvation Army - Takoma Park

7505 New Hampshire Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912-6970
(301) 431-0042

I have a lot of love for the Salvation Army. But the location at Takoma/Langley Crossroads is a sight for sore eyes and not worth your time. (Look, half the lights are even burned out.) The location is small, and at first sight the outfits on the ends of the aisles seem worth a look. But you'll soon learn that the best stuff is on the mannequins, and the stuff on the mannequins isn't even that good. You know that basket of clothes you can't bear to throw out, but they're just a little too dingy to wear in public? That's this store.

I've only got one tip for you here: follow people. Not literally, but go straight toward the rack outside the fitting room (behind the shoes). That rack has everything on it that's worth trying on in the store. Someone else only passed it up because it didn't fit! So, scope out that rack if you're passing through. Don't waste your time among the racks unless you're looking for something very specific.

Where this SA location comes in handy is if you need a few small household items. Mismatched coffee mugs? You've got your pick. Need a pasta strainer for a buck? You can get it here.

But if you're looking for fashion, look elsewhere.

♥