Don't be afraid to buy consignment!

I live in an area full of pretentious women who spend more in a week on clothes than some people make in a year.  They spend their days at the spa, shopping and recovering from their latest plastic surgery.  If you have ever seen The Housewives of the OC, this is where I live.  Big puffy lips, overly botoxed faces, perfectly sculpted bodies, hair extensions and of course breast enhancements.  Many are aghast to be seen in something from last season.  They refuse to be seen in apparel items more than once.  Even though the items are like new, they purge their closet of their "unwearable" items.  Some still with price tags!!!  I had a conversation with a woman who managed a local consignment shop.  She shared that the wife of the owner of a MAJOR theater chain was a compulsive shopper who did not like trying on things in the store.  She would take them home and keep only a few of the items.  She was embarrassed to return them to the store, so she would send her housekeeper to the consignment shop to drop off the rest.  Brand new.  Never worn.  I go to a gym with these type of women.  They work out in full make-up in their Lululemon workout clothing.  They even come out of the shower with their make-up still intact.  I'm still figuring out how they pull that off!  I'm not one of them, but this gym is just so damn luxurious.  With as much time as I spend there, it is worth every cent of the high membership fees to have a spotless gym that you can actually shower at.  One member, who always talks to me in the locker room, told me she won't leave her house without being fully dressed, which means wearing Escada to the grocery store.  She name drops Louis Feraud and Armani as being her wardrobe staples.  Even her leggings are Escada!  I have to admit, I do have $75 Diane Von Furstenberg leggings, but I actually prefer my $23.99 leggings I picked up at Loehmanns.  As much as I don't want to be one of these type of women, it is good to know them, in order to fill your closet with gems. 

So, get to know which online consignment stores you can trust.  Visit them often.  You will find new or like new items.  Get "used" out of your head, as these items are not like your favorite t-shirt that you wear until there are holes in it.  These are items that had four figure price tags originally....for 80% off or more! And they have not been or barely been worn.  Yes, you can afford to dress like the wealthy who don't have to look at price tags.  And no one will know that you only paid $40 for that $1500 jacket.