Ever since I was given a fistful of dollars and a ride to the mall to buy my own school clothes, I was a thrifty shopper. I liked the new stuff too, but once I discovered that, by looking in the right places, I could find better quality things for WAY less money, I was hooked, and thrift stores became my new shopping mall. Now, when I say thrift store, I don’t necessarily mean Goodwill or Salvation Army, though I have been known to find some killer stuff there too. (I happen to live in New York, and I’ve gotta say, people get rid of some top quality clothing.)

A step above that are second-hand stores like Buffalo Exchange and Beacon’s Closet; really excellent spots for finding top notch clothing at a fraction of its boutique price. The great thing about these places is that they have very high standards of quality, so you’re not going to find anything with rips, stains, holes, or anything else like that. The key is being able to separate the wheat from the chaff. Just because something has a designer label stitched into it, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the genuine article. Here is what to look for in your quest for honest to god designer clothing. Read More »

It’s hard to take a stand on designer copyright.

On one hand, I understand why designers are so angry when their goods are blatantly copied by mass retailers (I’m looking at you Forever 21…), and on the other, I’m incredibly poor and terribly fashionable.

I am torn between what I know is right (not buying copied clothes) and wanting a great piece for a fraction of the price.

I don’t think it is right, but I don’t necessarily do anything to stop the flow of copied goods either. It’s not like I’m buying knock-offs on the street in Chinatown. That, I can’t do, because I can see the faces of small children locked in factories making fake purses for ten cents a day. My soft heart just can’t take it.

For a while this was okay. I couldn’t ever really decide how I felt on the issue. I understand copying an idea: a trend, a hem a silhouette. I understand that designers feel slighted and angry.

Overall, they feel that while unfair, it really just makes the trends end faster. All of a sudden, those with money aren’t the only trendsetters, as trendy items are available at every price range. I get it.

But then, it hit home. Read More »