Best Ebay Sales of 2014

I have a feeling that at least a few of you that have stumbled onto my blog are wondering, "How much money can you really make on thrift store items?" I've said it once prior, but I would like to repeat myself - I am not a professional reseller. I focus my efforts thrifting on finding amazing items for myself and my family, and occasionally, something is too great to pass up. I have a day-job, and some months I sell a ton. Other months, like this month, I am sharing a car, so shipping is beyond difficult - and I really don't put much effort into my ebay store.

That said, I would like to share with you on this blog the 10 items that have made the most money, after shipping and fees, so far in 2014. This should give you an idea of where I found things, how much money they were, and what profits I've seen. I'm doing this particular post in pure dollar value - not profit percentage, because I think it's more exciting that way.

New Moncler Puffy Quilted Boots

Price: $85.22
Sold for: $380
Total Fees: $49.32
Shipping: $10.24
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Profit: $235.23

I found these boots at a local consignment shop brand new! They were marked "down boots," with no reference to the brand. A prior obsession with Moncler told me that even if they didn't fit (as they didn't), the resale value is crazy in Winter. One of my years' first sales.

Fleurette Black and White Vintage Tweed Coat

Price: $21.79
Sold for: $299.99
Total Fees: $40.66
Shipping: $12.90
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Profit: $229.89

I lived in California up through this year, and I would go to LA once every month or so, just to thrift. The stores there are basically like manna from heaven. You have to have a lot of discipline. On more than one occasion, I filled my car to the brim with designer clothing, after 24 hours (two days) of nothing but thrifting. One trip, I purchased 3 vintage Fleurette coats. Although I've worn and loved all three, I decided 3 big wool coats was more than enough. I cut down to the two I loved most, knowing I could sell this one at a great profit!

New Louis Vuitton lock heels

Purchased at the same time as the Moncler boots, these heels did fit me, but the price tag made it too tempting to sell, given that they weren't a style I'd wear frequently!


Price: $24.81
Sold for: $399.99
Total Fees: $52.78
Shipping: $0.00
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Profit: $229.22

Louboutin New Silver Simples

Price: $91.55
Sold for: $349.99
Total Fees: $45.45
Shipping: $12.32
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Profit: $200.67


 Oh how I loved these simples. I'm a Louboutin fanatic, but these darling shoes sold so quickly, I barely had time to envision myself in them. They were also 1/2 a size snug, so I knew they were someone else's treasure. They were on a 60% off sale at a local consignment shop.

Hermes Black Ankle Boots

 

Price: $21.84
Sold for: $199.99
Total Fees: $26.10
Shipping: $0.00
-----------------------
Profit: $145.66

Here's one sale where the store had no idea what they had. These shoes were in the back, but my mom very politely asked if there was any new merchandise, and we were allowed to go look. The boots had not been priced, but they stood out to me immediately. I'd never owned anything Hermes at that point, so despite being FOUR full sizes too big, I kept them for 3 years!! The lady priced them at $19.99 for me when I asked, and while I'm sure she thought that was a hefty price tag for boots, I almost cried. My mom told me later that I was shaking.

Vintage 1950s Madeline Bags Alligator skin Purse

Price: $24.81
Sold for: $190
Total Fees: $31.80
Shipping: $0.00
-----------------------
Profit: $133.39

Purchased at a small local charity shop in Grand Rapids Michigan, I couldn't believe this beautiful bag. It's huge, too - over a foot tall. The skin was gorgeous. This shop was funny - things like Chicos or Ann Taylor were priced at $15-20, but I found gems like this purse and 1960s Christian Dior earrings and a brooch for steals. Keep your eyes open!

Ferragamo Black Continental Wallet

Price: $30.59
Sold for: $179.99
Total Fees: $23.52
Shipping: $3.29
-----------------------
Profit: $122.59

Another more recent purchase, I got the Ferragamo wallet at a local consignment shop, buried in the back of the wallet selection. Not even marked on sale, I suspect the owner had no idea how much this could be worth. Ferragamo is hit or miss - know what you're buying, and even a vintage piece can be a gold mine. That said - it can also sit forever. I find Gancini and Vara items to be most profitable - with Vara being the most expensive.

Gucci Monogram 1990's bucket bag in tan

Price: $41.52
Sold for: $200.00
Total Fees: $26.10
Shipping: $10.00
-----------------------
Profit: $122.39

Another local consignment shop pricing error (in my opinion). This Tom Ford era beauty was in mint condition, but it was priced as low as many very pre-loved vintage Guccis I've seen in thrift stores. Not on sale, this was actually priced to sell so low! I didn't recognize the unique GG pattern initially, which is how I assume it went without purchase until I got there.

Burberry Large Purple Checked Tote

Price: $26.22
Sold for: $169.99
Total Fees: $22.23
Shipping: $5.84
-----------------------
Profit: $115.70

All three of the last items came from the same consignment store in the same month. My guess is someone was just learning pricing. I can't complain!

Manolo Blahnik Stingray Heels

Price: $27.30
Sold for: $169.99
Total Fees: $22.23
Shipping: $5.84
-----------------------
Profit: $114.62

Another pair of shoes I held onto for a LONG time before selling, these were also 4 sizes too big, but my mom (who is that size) couldn't wear them due to the pointy toe. It wasn't until I went back to selling excess items that I thought to sell them. I loved the skin on these. I never regretted buying them, even when they didn't work for her, because they were just so darned pretty.

How to Thrift

For many people, beginning thrift shopping can be intimidating. It's true - thrift stores aren't always for the faint of heart! But if you don't mind weeding through a bit of a mess to find a real gem, they are 100% the most rewarding way to shop. If you think finding your favorite pants for 50% off is exciting, just try finding them for $3! Then imagine finding Prada pants for $3. You can easily see the appeal of putting in a little work up front!

If you want to start thrifting but really don't know how, here are some very basic steps to get you started in the least intimidating way possible:

1. Plan out your day

Know ahead of time what you would most like to purchase. Thrift stores can be overwhelming to a new shopper, and every individual location has a different system to organize clothing. Some thrift stores organize by type of clothing, and some take it a bit farther and go by color or - if you're lucky - size. Because you may just be looking at a rack of 500 sweaters with no organization, pick an item you love most and focus on that for the day. It's always best to start small if you think you will be intimidated looking at the full store. Purses and shoes are easy to look through, and they are the place most people start. Don't fear starting with dresses or pants, though, if that's where your closet is lacking and your passion is telling you to go!!!!

2. Be open-minded

Just because you set out to find 5 pairs of designer jeans doesn't mean you should ignore that Gucci purse in the case up front! In fact, always look in the cases. Yes, the items are priced more. But unless you're at a way overpriced thrift store, the items are fairly more than $30-40. This is especially true in larger cities - I've found brand new Gucci messenger bags and Fendi suitcases for under $40 - in the glass show-case! It's like someone has done all the work for you.

That said, you need to make sure what you find is actually something you need – otherwise, you’re just adding clutter to your home, and you’re not saving any money by thrifting. Be practical - but don't be afraid of the glass cases!

3. Look for quality, not just "brand"

You know what? I'm a self-proclaimed designer whore, and I still google brands in thrift stores. I didn't know Pamela Roland when I started thrifting, but I found a beautiful, well-made suit. I googled the brand, and it turns out, it was a $2000 suit!! Bring your iphone when thrifting, and trust your judgement. The more you thrift, the more you'll learn real quality. No one out there - not even Kim Kardashian - knows every high end designer piece. Google and learn, my friends. Sometimes the brands you don’t know can be extremely high-end brands, well worth their $3-5 price tag.

4. But inspect each piece!

Even Fendi isn't worth it if you will never wear it!  Check each garment, purse, or shoe for holes, stains, missing buttons, loose seams, tears, etc - and pass on something if it looks pretty worn or stretched out. Trust me. I've bought 3-4 Gucci purses that I will never and have never used due to damage. I bought a Burberry purse because I'd never owned one, despite a tear in the side. Well, now I own 10, and I've still never used the little torn one.

5. Try everything on

Always try things on. Thrift stores only put clothing under the correct size section about 25% of the time, either due to employee mistakes or people moving items. You may not know your size in European designers. French sizes are different from Italian sizes, which are different from German sizes and so on! And different brands size things differently, so you can’t assume anything by the number on the tag. Comparing a size 2 in Chanel to a size 2 in the Gap is almost a joke.

6. Go as often as you can

If you can't find anything on your first visit, try again in a few days.  Thrift stores change constantly! And sometimes, your state of mind will really change what you find, if anything. I find that when I go into a thrift store thinking, "Today, I am going to find a gem that I will want to brag about for weeks," I always do. I'm not just lucky - a positive attitude means less burn-out and more fun searching. You miss things if you don't want to be there.

And don't forget - the good stuff sometimes sells fast! Checking back frequently will mean you're more likely to be the one in a million girl that finds an Hermes birkin under the 30 Liz Claiborne purses.

Thrifting Basics

People ask me all the time, "How are you so good at finding deals?" The simple fact is, I'm passionate. I love designer clothing the way most people love a favorite sports team or genre of art. That sort of passion really can't be taught - it is what allows me to always want to search.

That said, I firmly believe there is a niche out there for everyone. There is a wonderful gentleman whose blog I often read who specializing in sports-wear. I know many thrifters specialize in unique knick-knacks. But if you have the same lust as I do, and you want to get good at finding designer clothing, you first must learn all about the designers themselves.

1) Check out the clothing itself! Visit Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Barneys - whatever designer clothing stores you have around you. Familiarize yourself not with the specific items of clothing, but the feels, the styles. Material has a lot to do with finding designer clothing quickly. Learn how to detect the finer fabrics and the details. Learn those designers that are easy to pick out of a crowd, first, if you're unbiased.

• Try Emilio Pucci, whose prints stand out immediately.

• Missoni has a ton of striped woven knitwear that are fairly easy to spot.

• St. John knitwear is like nothing else around - learn the texture, and you'll be golden forever.

• Tse Cashmere has an utterly unique feel and look.

2) Once you have a grasp of what you're looking for, you can start in on the online research. Check out sites like Vintage Fashion Guild. They have a label resource, which can help you spot the age of a designer item you may find. I found that knowing the different interior tags really helped me starting out. You'd be surprised - fakes really aren't just for handbags.

3) Learn the identifying factors on handbags though! They're so easy once you understand the patterns. If the stitching looks good, the material feels good, and the purse seems real - you better know how to read that serial code and where it might be located! To me, this is very important whether I'm keeping or reselling. I just don't do fakes. There's enough premium designer merchandise out there waiting to be found for a dime - I don't need to support sweatshops, child labor, drugs, etc.

4) Search everywhere! My first designer find was by accident, at a Goodwill. I didn't actually know what goodwill was - but that's a story for another day. All I know is, I picked up an Armani suit for $3.29, and I was hooked! Look on every rack. I find dresses and suits are the most common, outside of purses and shoes. But check the sweater rack for cashmere. Look for side zips on pants and skirts. There's almost always a treasure to be found.

5) Get picky. People usually donate items for a reason. Really look at the item, and decide the following:

• Do I like it? Can I resell it or wear it?
• Are there any tears, stains, or problems?
• If there are, do the repairs still make the item worth it?
• Will I actually take the time to sew the snag, get out the stain, etc?

If you still love the item and know it will work for you, buy it! And revel in the fact that it costs next to nothing.

Michael Kors, Pucci, and Miu Miu - oh my!

On Saturday, 7/19/14, I visited a local resale shop. If you are not familiar with resale shops, they're a unique blend of consignment and thrift. Think Plato's Closet. The stores typically purchase gently used designer or trendy clothing outright from their customers. They then mark-up said clothing and offer it for sale in their shop. Sometimes this means you can get unbelievably lucky!!

In this particular case, this store already offers unbelievably low prices on designer clothing. On top of this, I had a 40% off discount on up to 4 items priced at $50 or less. But - and here's the kicker - I actually think they might have also even made a rookie mistake on pricing on top of that. If you aren't familiar with Michael Kors, he has really two majorly separate lines (or more - you could call out Kors by Michael Kors, etc. separately too!). In this case, we're talking about MICHAEL Michael Kors and Michael Kors. The former is worn and loved by millions. It is a diffusion line that features price points from $50-350 roughly, and it is attainable by the "every woman".

When shopping for MICHAEL Michael Kors, you could expect to see low consignment store prices like $20-35. Sometimes, though, stores don't know what they're selling. If you get lucky, you may find a runway main line piece marked as though it is the diffusion line. That's what happened to me. The labels are extremely similar, so to the untrained eye, you really wouldn't know the difference.

This is a Michael Kors tag, from the main line. Retail prices run between $600-5000

This very similar tag is from the diffusion line, MICHAEL Micheal Kors. Priced between $50-300, this brand allows Michael Kors' signature styles to be worn by women around the world, although compromising the fine fabrics, handmade nature, and beautiful craftsmanship of the main line.

After my 40% discount, I purchased a cashmere sweater by Michael Kors, made in Italy, for $14.97, and a runway dress, again made in Italy, for $20.97. I was on cloud nine!



$14.97! I almost can't wait for Fall.

At $20.97, this dress fits me like a dream. I can't wait for an event so I can debut it - orange works for both summer and fall, so this is an awesome find!

Top that off by the two instant finds I made when walking in - a Pucci dress for $21.95 after discount, and a Miu Miu dress for $29.95. They may not be thrift store prices, but by God, I'll take it! I'll take all of it! And I never want to leave this store!

This Miu Miu dress is so cute and casual! I think it would be darling with "rustic" heels or boots.

This pucci dress is slightly longer than the one I purchased, but the color and cut and print are the same. Either way, you really can't go wrong with Pucci print. This is only my second Pucci print dress, although Pucci was one of my first designer loves.

 What a day!!!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog, which is all about my biggest passion in life - thrift store and consignment store shopping. Ever since I was a little girl, I loved the idea of treasure hunts. I adored Easter egg hunts in the Spring, "gem mining" with my father in the summers, and generally the idea of finding something incredible out of sheer luck.

I remember being around 9-10 when a story broke the news about a young boy finding a giant sapphire in a mine. I used to dream of having that kind of luck someday. Then, eventually, I grew up. I forgot the promises of "easy money" and glamour.

Fast forward to college, which was the first time I ever managed my own finances. I quickly learned that it was exceptionally fun to spend my money on clothing that was on deep discount sale at major department stores. I loved the sales at Bloomingdales and DSW - I remember buying 10 pairs of Prada shoes at DSW one day. I was a self-proclaimed label whore, dabbling in mid-range brands that I felt, at the time, were very premium - Seven for all Mankind, Juicy Couture, etc. I drooled over Hermes stores and Chanel boutiques in the various cities I traveled to, feeling that I was almost worthy of those labels, if only I could figure out how...

Today, that girl would look at my wardrobe in awe. That girl had never heard of a consignment or thrift store. I sit here, dressed in an Etro dress, Chanel flats, a St John blazer, and my longchamp purse - knowing that this is just an average day for me.

Did I win the lottery?

No. I discovered Goodwill, by sheer accident, and it sparked a light in me for treasure hunting that I thought burned out around age 9-10.

Now, about 3 years later, I've taken that discovery and changed the way I live. I scour every consignment and thrift store I pass, hunting for that deal that will light up my day. I've gotten good at it, too - too good, in fact. That's where this blog comes in handy! I want to share with everyone else that has Chanel dreams on a Macy's budget. I want to share my wisdom, my tips, my experiences - and most importantly, my closet! I want to show off those great finds - and maybe pass off a few of them to people that I know will love and appreciate those gems!

I sell my beautiful finds on ebay, under www.ebay.com/usr/NewToYouCouture. I'm not a professional reseller - I have a day job, which I love. This site, however, allows me to clear out extra room in my closet, make a little money on the side, and share my finds with someone that will appreciate them as much as I do. It allows me a flexible wardrobe - because who wants to wear that same dress twice in the same crowd?!

You can also email me with questions on anything. I'm very approachable! My email is Newtoyoucouture@gmail.com

I can't wait to get to know all of you as I blog my way through all the secondhand shops I can get my hands on!