My Goodwill shoes...

Now, I know what you're thinking. Some of you, I dare say, shudder at the idea of buying shoes secondhand. Especially at Goodwill, right? I mean, Goodwill isn't the most, um, upscale place. Sometimes it smells. I get it. That is the exact reaction I had the first time my mother presented me with a pair of fabulous shoes she had found at Goodwill. Suuuure, they were gorgeous. Sure, they were expensive, but, they had come from Goodwill. And I was all sullen college student and, very unsure of why I would want to wear shoes from Goodwill! 

Well friends, I still have those shoes. Because, see, good shoes last. And cheap shoes end up in the trash. And, you can buy good shoes at a department store or online or anywhere else - and pay alot for them. OR, you can do what I do - you can be thrifty, and when you see a really great, quality pair at an unbelievable price, you snatch them up! 

I've never quite understood how really expensive shoes end up at Goodwill. Sometimes really expensive NEW shoes. Like these. 

 

I found these brand new Stuart Weitzman shoes at the Goodwill right up the street from my house recently.  And when I say brand new, I mean, the price tag was still on the bottom - the $298 price tag. So, I figured I'd shell out the $4 for them. Ha! Now, I DID have to polish the buckles, as they were a little tarnished. But, with about 10 minutes of work, using Wright's Silver Cream (which, if you don't have some at home, you should get some - it is good for EVERYTHING!), they looked as good as new. Below you can see my sophisticated technique for not damaging the suede...

Regardless of why beautiful shoes end up at Goodwill, I consider it my duty to give them a great second life. No matter how neglected or unloved they were by their previous owner (hag!), I promise to love them and treasure them. I have found some great shoes at Goodwill - ones I will continue to share with you in the future, hopefully to inspire you to get out there and search for great bargain finds of your own! But, if you still have some reservations about secondhand shoes, just remember, you are not alone. Just remember, we always have our dear friends Lysol and Febreeze - and that is generally enough to bridge the worry divide between you and that $300 pair of "used" kicks. 

$600 cheaper?! Don't mind if I do!

Often I find myself pining away over beautiful new items in store catalogs and online. Thinking how beautiful they are – and all the reasons in the world that I should just buy them – because, “I could wear it with so much!”. Indeed. But, always, my thriftiness comes alive and I think, this is just too much to pay. I cannot pay over $600 for a Kate Spade coat or $200 for a J.Crew necklace - no matter how fabulous I think they are!

This is when online consigning and thrifting can often be a benefit!  I hate to say it, but, so few things are actually unique these days. And, trends tend to cycle - which means that there are always vintage things out there that will eventually come back into style! And for us, the thrifty consumer, we should consider this an advantage!

So, what, you’re asking, am I suggesting? Use some of your favorite online sites (or some of mine, if you are new at this) to look for similar pieces to those most exquisite (and expensive) brand new ones that you’ve been lusting after.

I have been looking at this Katie Spade coat for months now. I want it! But, it’s $645. There is nothing I want badly enough to pay that much! But, after a quick search of Etsy, I found a similar coat, in both style and color – only $45!

 

 

Another strategy. If there is something you loved in the past, but just didn’t want to shell out the cash for it, look it up on Ebay, or other online auction sites. There is generally a good chance that you will find it there, possibly new, and, for a much lower price.

For some time, I was in love with J.Crew’s bubble necklace. I looked at it almost daily, in all its beautiful color choices – but, the price tag, $260, was far more than I was willing to pay. J.Crew stopped selling them several months ago and, now there are tons of them on Ebay! New ones! And, some selling for as low as $20.

 

 When I was a little girl, I loved saddle oxfords. Why? Well, because cheerleaders still wore them (and that was a BIG dream of mine - which, I did later fulfill in life - ha!). And, while you may not agree, there is just something really cool about them. Understated but cool. And I still think so. Which is why I am SO happy that they are BACK in style (Lucky Magazine even had a whole page of them in their March 2010 issue! Yeah!)! I just love how they can be so totally casual... and then, so dressed up... And for guys too, they are just too cute not to love :) So, thrifters, keep an eye out for saddle shoes! They are ALL over both Etsy and Ebay.

Another great site, is Goodwill Industries’ online auction site. Regularly on this site you can find current fashion and household items. I have purchased several things off this site (including a Nikon camera!) and have always been pleased. And don't forget about checking your area CraigsList for whatever you are looking for. Often we think about CraigsList for furniture or larger items - but it is loaded with people trying to sell clothing, accessories, household goods, and more!