I just keep finding good deals. Or they keep finding me? I’m not sure which comes first.
I was pretty much born in a pile of goodies, as my parents met at the San Fernando Swap Meet in Los Angeles in the mid-70′s. I didn’t stand a chance when it came to second-hand shopping, bartering, and creative frugality. Until I was 12, I didn’t want to wear ‘dead people’s clothes.’ I would beg for new items, even if it was something from K-Mart. Years later, I wouldn’t fight the family curse that dictates that we are masters and mistresses of a great deal. I’ve tried to incorporate this with my own style and budgetary concerns.
There aren’t many places that I won’t shop, except for Walmart, and that’s a non-negotiable. I’ve learned to be more patient in appropriating different pieces of my wardrobe at different times, and I’ll mix and match accordingly. My closet has had so many different labels in it throughout the years, and I’ve come across all manner of couture in my travels. You might be surprised at what I’ve found!
Kicking off the first entry in this new category is a deal that I came across yesterday at good old mall staple, Forever 21. I’m torn between love and hate for their trendy and less spendy pieces. However, some of the pieces I’ve had through the years have held up and you just need to be particular about fit and sizing.
The dreaded ‘Black Friday’ found me at work on a lunch break and I scurried over there to people watch. Upon entering the establishment, a teenage lackey informed me that SALE ITEMS were buy one, get one FREE. Free, you say? My ears perked up and I ventured toward the sale area with racks aplenty.
And lo and behold, the shoes that I had been wanting were there. So was the cheetah clutch that I had been eyeing for a few weeks. Who really NEEDS a cheetah clutch? I’ve been indulging my lifelong passion for animal prints most recently and I don’t own a clutch, so yeah.
$18.99 later, I emerged with these two items, the cheetah purse and the argyle platform shoe. They are both of decent quality, especially for the sale price. Sadly, I had to get the size 9, but they have a little bit of room for a comfy insole. Score. They look as if they cost more, and that sealed the deal for me. It might take a little while to get used to a clutch, since I have been scatterbrained as of late in misplacing things, but practice makes perfect, no?
I ended up with these two.
Exhibit A:
Cheetah purse
Exhibit B:
Patsy Argyle Platform
