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Oy Vey

Hussein Chayalan Makes J Brands Even Pricier

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I don’t know who Hussein Chalayan is, but my hunch is that his recent collabs with J Brand Denim might have something to do with the fact that $752.00 Silk Tops just aren’t flying off the shelves like they used to.

From the overwhelmingly pretentious promotional video

…keep reading Hussein Chayalan Makes J Brands Even Pricier

Resale

The Secondhand Price Point Phenomenon

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I once assumed a given garment’s brand played a critical role in determining its resale store value. Then I conveniently overheard the following conversation among a Buffalo Exchange newbie employee and a seasoned resale buyer:

Buyer: So, how would you price this Sunner top?
Newbie: That’s a pretty boutique-y brand,

…keep reading The Secondhand Price Point Phenomenon

Resale

Resale Price Points

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Yesterday, I said I paid twenty bucks at Buffalo Exchange for an American Apparel Figure Skater Dress. I uncovered the below work of art and learned I was mistaken.

I paid $17. And yes, that original tag means it wasn’t pre-worn or pre-owned.
Hot damn, I loooove this photo.

…keep reading Resale Price Points

Oy Vey

Stupid Things In Style: Alexander Wang Bike Shorts

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The below email gave me a nice little chuckle yesterday afternoon:


so i was doing my daily shopbop.com browsing and i clicked on my favorite designer, alexander wang. his new runway stuff apparently JUST CAME OUT, so i checked it out. always one to be disgusted by these outrageous prices, i

…keep reading Stupid Things In Style: Alexander Wang Bike Shorts

Retail Fare

Novica’s Fair Trade Totes

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This is me, going through my cheapjap@gmail.com account: Product endorsement BS, delete, delete, PR crap, delete, delete, Fair trade handbags, del…hmm, interested.
I’ve never bought a bag online, but Novica.com‘s mission to “give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity”

…keep reading Novica’s Fair Trade Totes

Style Shiznat

American Apparel Figure Skater Dress For Less

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I first tried on American Apparel’s Nylon Tricot Figure Skater Dress six months ago; an item so popular that both Forever 21 AND Urban Outfitters attempted to copy it. Of course, the “inspired by” versions stank like poo, but I wasn’t about to pony up $48 for a dress that provided coverage on par

…keep reading American Apparel Figure Skater Dress For Less

Consignment

Philly’s Consignment Scene

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Wah wah, I don’t live in New York, my local Salvation Army/Goodwill/Buff Exchange/et. al is a hot mess of fugly bologna. All of you Philly locals can ferme le bouches now. Let’s talk about Greene Street Consignment.

This untapped gem is located on South Street’s 700 block, and borders the dodgy portion

…keep reading Philly’s Consignment Scene

Oy Vey

West Broadway Window Shopping, Circa Now

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West Broadway, between Houston and Broome, used to be one of the prettiest stretches of street in the city.
I walked the street on a jaunt the other day, and found a wasteland of unwanted high-end merch.
Here’s what West Broadway looks like now.




…keep reading West Broadway Window Shopping, Circa Now

Resale

The Day My Mom Became a Cheap JAP

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This past Monday was a day that will go down in Cheap JAP history. As I can’t explain why without a bit of back story, a brief description of mother-daughter shopping excursions of years past is in order.

The act of shopping for material goodies with Mom seems like a grand idea in

…keep reading The Day My Mom Became a Cheap JAP

Resale

Cowgrrrl Cool

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Mel: So, what did you do in school today?
Cher: Well, I broke in my purple clogs.

What did I do at work today? I broke in my periwinkle boots.

During said boots’ inaugural jaunt, I got some serious snaps from a rodeo enthusiast in the East

…keep reading Cowgrrrl Cool

Thrift

Word to Cheap Sundresses

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I rarely get suckered into paying more for something than what it’s worth. Per esempio: I’m at the Upper East Side Goodwill the other day, hunting for a few summery numbers in the subpar dress section…

… I happen upon a billowy, neon yellow tunic and a hot pink A-line number. The

…keep reading Word to Cheap Sundresses

Thrift

How To: Snag Non-Sketchy Secondhand Shoes

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On its own, the term “gently-worn” doesn’t sound all that bad. It takes on a whole new sketchy meaning when applied to the realm of footwear, probs because a literal walk in someone else’s shoes means absorbing the unknown state of their tootsies. Few bargains are worth the risk of unpleasant odors and/or fungus.

…keep reading How To: Snag Non-Sketchy Secondhand Shoes

Retail Fare

Tahari at TJ Maxx

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So I was browsing TJ Maxx, and stumbled upon this awesome white Tahari Blazer on clearance for $29!!


I live in Columbus, Ohio and find myself perpetually jealous of the plethora of high quality thrift shops New York has, and was therefore completely ecstatic to find this brand

…keep reading Tahari at TJ Maxx

Oy Vey

American Apparel Rummage Sale Heavy on the Ridiculousness

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So, American Apparel’s having a Rummage Sale online (thanks to reader Lisa for the tip ). Monumental? Yes. Reasonably priced? The bulk of the items are $5-$10, so Heck Yes. But what of the selection?

When I’m faced with a tempting $5, $10, $15 sale of this ilk, I like to play

…keep reading American Apparel Rummage Sale Heavy on the Ridiculousness

Retail Fare

The Prada Backpack (or, the Difference between Like and Love)

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In the nineties classic 10 Things I Hate About You, Bianca and Chastity embark on an uber-deep discussion on the difference between like and love.

Bianca: There’s a difference between like and love. Because, I like my Sketchers, but I love my Prada backpack.
Chastity: But I love my Sketchers.
Bianca:

…keep reading The Prada Backpack (or, the Difference between Like and Love)

The Soapbox

In Defense of Chloe Sevigny

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I’m an advocate of all sartorial risk-taking, so it follows that my wear-whatever-you-want modus operandi extends to celebrities. I don’t think someone’s fame alone gives me (or any fashion blogger, for that matter) the right to weigh in on their stylistic decisions. I suppose this means I don’t care about upping my blog traffic

…keep reading In Defense of Chloe Sevigny

Thrift

Epic Bag Sale Haul

On June 29 at 5:34 PM, Rebecca emailed a post-game analysis of her experience at the latest Housing Works’ Warehouse Sale. Read on to see me get totally SCHOOLED in the art of thrift.

Hi Cheap JAP,

Just wanted to tell you about my finds at my 2nd trip to the Housing

…keep reading Epic Bag Sale Haul