Cheap JAP » beacon’s closet http://cheapjap.com shop cheap. look loaded. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:38:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Retail Vs. Resale: Tibi Jacket http://cheapjap.com/resale/tibi-jacket http://cheapjap.com/resale/tibi-jacket#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:29:27 +0000 Cheap JAP http://shopcheaplookloaded.com/?p=7920 ...keep reading Retail Vs. Resale: Tibi Jacket

]]> Is this a killer nod to warm weather? Yes. Do Tibi jackets retail for around $398.00? Also yes. My penchant for neutrals and northeast location makes splurging on something like this almost as ludicrous as the price tag itself. If I could find something like this for a more reasonable number – say, $24.95 – it’d be a different story. One in which I’d BUY IT on the SPOT.

I did. And I did. A brandtastic infusion of summery material goodness for under thirty bucks.

Loves it!
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/tibi-jacket/feed 2 Brandname Sundresses, Bitchin’ Price Points http://cheapjap.com/resale/brandname-sundresses http://cheapjap.com/resale/brandname-sundresses#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:51:00 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=5844 ...keep reading Brandname Sundresses, Bitchin’ Price Points

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Retail value comparisons included for motivational purposes. Few things are more thrilling than the massive cost differential between new and gently-worn, IMHO.

The below signature should be read with the same pace and intonation as “X-O-X-O, Gossip Girl” – a phrase that’s been stuck in my head like a bad one hit wonder since Monday night. Sidebar: Do the writers on Gossip Girl have a cliche quotient to meet for each scene? The dialogue is a train wreck, and really pretty people make it that much easier to stare at the carnage. Not that I’m complaining. I mean, I’m still watching. Maybe next time we’ll categorize the dresses as ‘Blair’ or ‘Serena’ a la Anna Sui’s Target line. But I digress.

M-W-A-H,
Cheap JAP


Betsey Johnson Silk Strawberry Print Sundress (NWT)
Retail Value: $298.00
Beacon’s Closet: $49.95

What Comes Around Goes Around Embroidered Gauze Dress
Retail Value: $172.00
Beacon’s Closet: $34.95

AKA New York Babydoll Dress
Retail Value: $198.00
Beacon’s Closet: $34.95

Rebecca Taylor Yarn Dress
Retail Value: $315.00
Beacon’s Closet: $34.95

Albert Nipon Floral Frock
Retail Value: $280.00
Housing Works: $45.00

Rapscallion Floral Scromp
Retail Value: $68.00
Housing Works: $15.00

Taka Halter Dress (athletic-chic skater dresses are, like, sooo IN right now, according to fashion authorities…)
Retail Value: $150.00
Housing Works: $35.00

Tracy Reese Floral Sundress
Retail Value: $195.00
Housing Works: $45.00
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/brandname-sundresses/feed 0 A Nineties Take on the Transparent Shoe Trend http://cheapjap.com/resale/transparent-shoe-trend http://cheapjap.com/resale/transparent-shoe-trend#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:58:33 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=5710 ...keep reading A Nineties Take on the Transparent Shoe Trend

]]> See-Through Shoes thing for Spring? Check THESE out:



They’re Candie’s, which are now “sold exclusively at Kohl’s” (barf) for around $55-ish.

This particular pair is a hell of a lot cooler than any of the line’s current styles, which leads me to the conclude they’re from Candie’s pre-sell-out era – the Jenny McCarthy days.

The ad’s dignified in comparison with the shit American Apparel pulls today, but back in the nineties, it was a little bit shocking. (Also a lot awesome).

Fine, Singled Out wasn’t exactly groundbreaking, but the fact that a girl could look like a Playboy bunny and act like a DUDE was downright inspiring. Jenny rocks, and so did Candie’s.

In the market for a trendy nugget infused with nineties nostalgia?

Hit beacon’s closet online to snag the Candie’s pictured for an uber reasonable $12.95.

Big fat catch alert: Size 6 only. Small-footed femmes, go forth and shop!
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/transparent-shoe-trend/feed 2 Beacon’s Closet – Williamsburg http://cheapjap.com/nyc-shopping-guide/beacons-closet-williamsburg http://cheapjap.com/nyc-shopping-guide/beacons-closet-williamsburg#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:59:16 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=9936 ...keep reading Beacon’s Closet – Williamsburg

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Beacon’s Closet
588 N 11th St.
718.486.0816
Weekdays, 11am – 9pm; Weekends, 11am – 8pm
Subway: L – Bedford Ave
Cab: N 11th St b/w Berry and Wythe

Yay
♥ Mammoth selection of vintage and brand name resale apparel, shoes and accessories
♥ Impressive en masse organization – everything arranged by size, color, or both
♥ Check bag at counter, shop hands-free
♥ Stock caters to hipsters and label whores alike
♥ Patient sifting yields premium scores

Oy Vey
✗ Overwhelming amount of blouses and tops in dire need of editing – browse strategically or perish
✗ Buying standards where coolness trumps condition of garment: Avoid the As Is tag
✗ A notoriously surly staff

Tagspotting
Browsing Time: 45 minutes to one hour for newbies; two hours or more for seasoned thrifters. Try not to let the staff’s attitude kill your shopping buzz.

]]> http://cheapjap.com/nyc-shopping-guide/beacons-closet-williamsburg/feed 0 Urban Outfitters Scored Resale http://cheapjap.com/resale/urban-outfitters http://cheapjap.com/resale/urban-outfitters#comments Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:20:46 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=5512 ...keep reading Urban Outfitters Scored Resale

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I don’t know if it’s the music, the faux vintage and/or gimmicky tees, the uber-cute stuff at uber-offensive price points, or that my definition of SALE is rarely in sync with the stores’ reduced-price racks, but all of the above makes Urban Outfitters my personal shopping hell. I’m not saying I don’t like the clothes; I just don’t have the energy, dollars or patience to buy them in-store. This doesn’t mean I won’t buy them elsewhere.

Enter Beacon’s Closet, Park Slope.



The above skirt bears stylistic and material similarities to the Silence & Noise Sublimated Zebra Skirt, which retails for $38.00 and is currently on sale for $24.99.

What’d I pay for a gently-worn version of the same brand? $9.95.

I don’t know if Urban makes the Lux line anymore, so we’ll use another one of its in-house labels to deduce the original price of this garment. The BDG Flannel Pintuck Tunic retails for $38.00. Like its Silence & Noise brethren, it’s also on sale for $24.99.



The Lux floral print tunic cost me $14.95 – not a huge score in the grand scheme of things, but it fit like a dream so I gave it a go.

Why don’t I shop at Urban Outfitters? Because I can snag their stuff resale for less than its sale price.

‘Nuff said.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/urban-outfitters/feed 9 Party Time with Alice & Olivia http://cheapjap.com/resale/alice-olivia-party-dress http://cheapjap.com/resale/alice-olivia-party-dress#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:27:01 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=5145 ...keep reading Party Time with Alice & Olivia

]]> This is an Alice & Olivia Party Dress.

It has a lot of sequins. It gets worn once or twice a year. It costs $440.00.

It is, heretofore, an idiotic purchase.

A party dress is kinda like a going-out top that way: It sits in your closet, collecting guilt, reminding you of what a moron you were to justify such frivolity. (I’m talking to myself as much as you here, btdubs. We’ve all done it. Egads.)

It’s taken me years to realize the following: A semi-basic dress (read: not a sequin explosion) can be jazzed it into evening garb OR subdued it into daytime wear.

Some might consider a dress of this ilk an investment piece; it’s day/night appropriate; it’s like getting a two-for-one-deal; it’s totally okay to blow my checking account balance on it, right?

Fuck no. This is why we hunt for fab brands like Alice & Olivia at resale shops – so we can get a versatile, practical, well-made dress for a faction of its ripoff, err, retail cost.



Golf claps for Beacon’s, as per usual.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/alice-olivia-party-dress/feed 6 How To: Sexify a Sweatshirt http://cheapjap.com/diy-fashion/how-to-sweatshirt http://cheapjap.com/diy-fashion/how-to-sweatshirt#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:33:34 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=3583 Beacon’s Closet).
I Heart: Blue, Stripes, Batwingy Sleeves.
I Do Not Heart: Turtlenecks and/or any style of shirt that makes my boobs look bigger than they are.
I thought snipping the turtleneck portion of the shirt would be a quick fix

...keep reading How To: Sexify a Sweatshirt

]]> Beacon’s Closet).

beacons closet sweatshirt I Heart: Blue, Stripes, Batwingy Sleeves.

I Do Not Heart: Turtlenecks and/or any style of shirt that makes my boobs look bigger than they are.

I thought snipping the turtleneck portion of the shirt would be a quick fix to the above issue, giving me the slightly off-shoulder neckline I’m partial to. Not so. The turtleneck portion contained shape-preserving elastic. Once hacked off and unbunched, the neck portion of the shirt was as wide as the waist portion, i.e. it would not stay on for shit. What a pickle.

diy sweatshirtdiy sweatshirt1 I happened to have some excess elastic thread on hand, so I hot glued it around the top of the neckline, then hot glued a makeshift hem over the elastic. Hot glue is my BFF, btdubs. The resulting neckline was a bit more fitted, but the shirt still threatened to slide off. As a last resort, I poked some holes in the shoulders, and tied another piece of elastic to said holes across the back.

I did more than salvage the shirt in question here, people.

diy sweatshirt I made an infinity scarf out of the part I chopped off!

Good times.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/diy-fashion/how-to-sweatshirt/feed 2 Fabulous Ferragamo Boots http://cheapjap.com/resale/ferragamo-boot http://cheapjap.com/resale/ferragamo-boot#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:33:52 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=3517 Beacon’s Closet that’s both aesthetically superior and more cost-friendly than any of its non-leather counterparts you don’t say no.
That

...keep reading Fabulous Ferragamo Boots

]]> Beacon’s Closet that’s both aesthetically superior and more cost-friendly than any of its non-leather counterparts you don’t say no.

That shopping secondhand is always more eco-friendly than buying new REGARDLESS of whether or not the new item in question is manufactured responsibly should go without saying. But I digress.

Ferragamo shoes are pricey for a reason – they’re expertly crafted, and built to last fo EVA. Hence the reason they can be shopped re-sale. The boot portion of these were in stellar condition. The leather laces were another story – they were so gnarled that lacing up the boot proved nearly impossible. The situation was easily remedied with a trip to my local shoe repair shop: New leather laces cost me all of nine bucks. Doneskies.

What do I heart most about these boots? Firstly, they’re an ideal counterpart to patterned tights. Hello badass.

Nextly, they’re thin enough that they can be worn under straight leg jeans.

This does wonders for elongating shrimpy legs, FYI.

Loves it!
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/ferragamo-boot/feed 2 The Post Where I Retract My Previous Position On Secondhand Leggings http://cheapjap.com/resale/secondhand-leggings http://cheapjap.com/resale/secondhand-leggings#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:16:39 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=3443 In the past, I’ve described leggings as too close to underwear to be thrifted in good conscience. I’d like to retract my position, as I’ve recently come to the conclusion that the sketch-factor of secondhand items has more to do with what they’re made of than with what they’re classified as.
Per esempio,

...keep reading The Post Where I Retract My Previous Position On Secondhand Leggings

]]> In the past, I’ve described leggings as too close to underwear to be thrifted in good conscience. I’d like to retract my position, as I’ve recently come to the conclusion that the sketch-factor of secondhand items has more to do with what they’re made of than with what they’re classified as.

Per esempio, cotton absorbs 25 times its weight in water. This means a secondhand cotton tee can be questionable, depending on who’s sweated in it before you. If it has pitstains, it’s probs not something you want to wear. Or touch, for that matter. Just use your head. That’s that lump that’s three feet above your ass.

Synthetic fabrics a la nylon, polyester and spandex are more water-repellent; that means moisture, odors, etc. are a lot less likely to stick around. This is me, rationalizing the below purchase.

If these absurd/amazing Cloud Print American Apparel Leggings were cotton or jersey knit, I’d have left them on the rack at Beacon’s Closet. The fact that they’re crafted from a AA’s uber synthetic Elastane blend meant they were fair game. Also a stellar deal, seeing as the same style/material retails in store for forty buckaroos.

Yippity skippity.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/secondhand-leggings/feed 1 An Authentic AND Cheap Trovata Dress http://cheapjap.com/resale/authentic-cheap-trovata-dress http://cheapjap.com/resale/authentic-cheap-trovata-dress#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:39:24 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=3063 Trovata took Forever 21 to court a few months ago for ripping off its overpriced designs. I’m sure we’re all eagerly awaiting the pending verdict of this crucial case (yawn).
I’m as much a fan of designer copies as I am of getting the real thing for less; regardless of

...keep reading An Authentic AND Cheap Trovata Dress

]]> Trovata took Forever 21 to court a few months ago for ripping off its overpriced designs. I’m sure we’re all eagerly awaiting the pending verdict of this crucial case (yawn).

I’m as much a fan of designer copies as I am of getting the real thing for less; regardless of who comes out on top, it’s not going to compromise my ability to buy and wear Trovata and/or Trovata-esque things. Is this because I can afford the brand-name at full retail price?

Eff no. It’s because I shop resale, silly goosefaces.

Forever 21 might do a damn good job of mimicking Trovata’s cardies and polos, but I highly, HIGHLY doubt its got the wherewithal to copy this expertly-crafted dress pictured (snagged at Beacon’s Closet for $34.95).

The best thing about this dress isn’t that I got it for a tenth of its retail price: It’s that said dress can be worn at least four different ways depending on how it’s buttoned, unbuttoned or tied.

Here’s the dress in its original form. The button-secured pockets can be attached and detached at will, but that’s child’s play – it doesn’t really change the overall cut of the garment.

Unbutton the halter strap from the interior buttons, however, and it’s a peacoat-esque strapless dress. Unbutton the peacoat portion, attach it over the exterior buttons to the interior buttons, and it’s a plaid tubedress.

It’s magical, I tell you. Effing magical.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/authentic-cheap-trovata-dress/feed 0 Cheap Retail Vs. Chic Resale http://cheapjap.com/resale/cheap-retail-vs-chic-resale http://cheapjap.com/resale/cheap-retail-vs-chic-resale#comments Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:28:06 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=2171 ...keep reading Cheap Retail Vs. Chic Resale

]]> Lucky Magazine printed a phrase never before seen in the history of sartorial publications:

Everything in this issue is UNDER $100.

They weren’t screwing around either. After two uber intensive flip-throughs, I can confirm that every item pictured in the latest issue fulfills the mag’s promise. I’m impressed by Lucky’s willingness to get real about this recession, and I applaud its noble attempt to cater to what’s realistic for the average American consumer – July is certainly chock full of reasonably priced retail. But it’s riddled with something else too. Something that negates every product on every editorial page, something that has Lucky and all its glossy brethren stuck between a rock and hard place. Something called Hypocrisy.

I don’t save back issues of fashion magazines because constant reminders of have-nots kill my mojo, so I can’t prove that a pre-recession Lucky looks a hell of a lot different than a post-recession one. I can, however, use myself as a case study to refute all evidence to the contrary.

I’ve been a devout Lucky reader since January of 2001. That’s eight years and six months and/or 102 issues, the bulk of which were consumed B.B.C.P. (Before the Birth of Cheap JAP (sacrilege alert!)); the bulk of which gushed over $300 tops, $200 jeans and $500 shoes, with a few budget-friendly (read: less-pretty) options sprinkled in for the sake of variety; the bulk of which endorsed the notion that high quality necessitated high cost; the bulk of which told me it was okay to be the label whore I once was. Only when I started shopping secondhand did I realize the ugly truth: By buying into Lucky’s suggestions, I’d been getting ripped off. For years. So. Not. Okay.

I’m obvs a lot less of a brand snob now than I used to be: If I find something at Goodwill that looks and feels fab for five bucks, I’m buying it regardless of its origin. An Old Navy sundress is no better or worse than a Tahari blazer – if they’re equally cheap, they’re equally good. My thrifting prowess might have made me a more open-minded shopper in the world of the gently worn, but where retail’s concerned, the reverse is true. I’m no longer just mildly icked out by what my label whoring ass views as subpar brands – I’m completely repulsed by their cost in comparison with their secondhand counterparts.

Riddle me this: If I can snag a Diane von Furstenberg for $22.95, why the FUCK would I pay $98 for sundress by freaking Nautica? And don’t you go acting all horrified at my snobbery, Lucky – YOU created this brand-savvy monster by cooing over marked-up retail for the majority of your existence.

Let’s play a little game called Under $100 Lucky vs. Secondhand Cheap JAP.

Under $100 Lucky: J.Crew Cotton Ruffled Tank, $70.
Secondhand Cheap JAP: MARC by Marc Jacobs Tank, Beacon’s Closet, $17.95.
$70 might be less than $100; it’s also a retarded price to pay for a cotton shirt. Especially if said shirt hails from a brand as generic as J.Crew. My secondhand tank doesn’t just cost a fraction of Lucky’s recommendation: It’s effing MARC by Marc Jacobs. ‘Nuff said.


Under $100 Lucky: Colin Stuart for Victoria’s Secret Patent Sandals, $68.
Secondhand Cheap JAP: Donald Pliner Wedges, Beacon’s Closet, $18.95.
In my experience, Victoria’s Secret tends to look as cheap as it is; these Colin Stuart patent leather debacles are no exception (also, $68 isn’t even THAT cheap). For shoes, quality is paramount. I mean, isn’t that why Lucky’s Shoe Guides have always endorsed $300 Cole Haan pumps? A high-end wedge that originally retails for $200 outlasts a cheaply-made budget sandal regardless of whether or not said wedge is bought new or secondhand. Hence the reason I prefer gently-worn Donald Pliners to brand new bullshit.


Under $100 Lucky: Route 66 Shirtdress, $30.
Secondhand Cheap JAP: Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Dress, Monk Thrift Shop, $6.
I shop at Kmart to find affordable things inspired by the overpriced bologna in fashion magazines, and Lucky’s recommending a shirtdress by Route 66 disrupts this natural sartorial order. When you endorse marked-up designer goodies we can’t afford, you challenge us to look good for less. We inevitably figure out how to do so, we get to say “HA!”, and that’s a fun game. When you suddenly switch to the cheap team and start endorsing stuff we actually can afford, you don’t just look like a big fat hypocrite; you’re telling us shit we knew yesterday. And yes, I just called you fat. Payback’s a bitch, ain’t it?

(Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent dresses retail from $150 to $400, BTdubs, and I managed to pay less than $10 for mine. A budget brand for $30 a la Route 66, or a high-end one on the uber-cheap a la thrift? It’s not fucking rocket science.)


Under $100 Lucky: American Eagle Outfitters Destroyed Denim Shorts, $35. Secondhand Cheap JAP: Theory Shorts, Buffalo Exchange, $16.95.
American Eagle Outfitters… like, the D-list version of Abercrombie and Fitch? Sweet Jesus, Lucky, get it together. I don’t buy denim shorts so much as cut them out of old designer jeans. But if I did, you can bet your tuchis A&E wouldn’t be on my radar for such a purchase. So mind your P’s and Q’s buster, and remember who you’re dealing with: A monster who knows how to snag Theory for $16.95. A monster YOU created.

Viva la resistance.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/cheap-retail-vs-chic-resale/feed 8 Discount DVF Exists (just not at the semi-annual sale) http://cheapjap.com/resale/discount-dvf http://cheapjap.com/resale/discount-dvf#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:16:02 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=2100 ...keep reading Discount DVF Exists (just not at the semi-annual sale)

]]> Semi-Annual Diane von Furstenberg Sale, and here’s why I’m not going.

The Average Retail Price of a DVF Dress is $395. Barf. Dresses at the semi-annual sale go for $150, max, which isn’t entirely absurd in the grand scheme of things. Unless you’re the maharajah of thrift a-la-ME, in which case, you know you can do better.

Once upon a time, secondhand DVF was limited to high-end consignment; a barely-worn piece could be had for around $100. Still a deal, fo sho, but I can’t buy $100 dresses on a regular basis. When the recession hit, something magical happened: DVF started showing up in thrift stores. The first documented sighting of the phenomenon occurred six months ago at Buffalo Exchange in the form of a navy blue shirtdress that proved ill-fitting. I did not lose hope. I knew if I stayed the course, I’d eventually find another. A few weeks ago at Beacon’s Closet, the stars finally aligned and BAM! There she was.

As you can see, this effing gorgeous satin and chiffon number is almost entirely transparent. What I layered underneath to keep it from looking like lingerie requires another post altogether, as it too was an epic score. For now, let’s focus up on what really matters: The price differential between DVF retail, DVF semi-annual sale, and DVF secondhand. (And for the record, my secondhand DVF was in remarkably good condition – no loose threads, stains, tears, nada. If chiffon had a superlative, it would be Most Likely to Get Caught in Side Zipper, so this is particularly impressive. Point being, I don’t want to hear any crap about how I sacrificed quality for cost or whatever. Moving on.)

New DVF Dress at Full Retail Price: $395.00
New DVF Dress at Semi-Annual Sale: $150.00
Gently-Worn DVF Dress at Beacon’s Closet: $22.95
Oh right, you probably want proof. Okay.

Paying $127 LESS than everyone at the semi-annual sale and snagging a dress of the same brand, sanity in tact? Fucking priceless.

Word to the thrift.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/discount-dvf/feed 5 Secondhand Score: MARC by Marc Jacobs Top http://cheapjap.com/resale/marc-by-marc-jacobs-top http://cheapjap.com/resale/marc-by-marc-jacobs-top#comments Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:53:39 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1813 ...keep reading Secondhand Score: MARC by Marc Jacobs Top

]]>
As MARC by Marc Jacobs Tops retail for $150 or so, I obvs didn’t buy this new. T.G.F. Beacon’s! Their Park Slope locale priced this little number at $17.95. Me likey.

MJ’s stuff rarely accounts for boobs, so I tucked the straps into a black bra for some more legit coverage. Post-adjustment, I paired the top with those fab Edun Jeans from Buff Exchange.

If I wanted to sound like a pretentious jackhole, I’d call this outfit a Study in Gray. I used a purple ribbon as a belt for the same reason Auntie Albert (read: Nathan Lane, in The Birdcage) paired his suit with hot pink socks.

“One does want a HINT of color!”

Tee hee.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/marc-by-marc-jacobs-top/feed 4 Nanette Lepore Shoe Score http://cheapjap.com/resale/nanette-lepore-shoes http://cheapjap.com/resale/nanette-lepore-shoes#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:40:45 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1794 ...keep reading Nanette Lepore Shoe Score

]]> Subject: Bless you Cheap JAP

I’ve been reading your blog for inspiration in these tough financial times, and I’ve already started scoring! On a recent trip, I picked up a BCBGMAXAZRIA dress/top for $20. While looking for a black wrap top as you suggested, I found the world’s most perfect one (Rachel Pally!) for under $20. But today’s shoes take the cake. Being in Atlanta, I lust for the stores you describe going to in NYC. While I’ve found a few good ones around here, I wish that more of the NY ones had online stores.

I hit up Beacon’s Online Store and hit the jackpot. I know that you have very strong feelings about online shoe shopping, but wearing a size 11…I have to take what I can get!

Well, I snached up a pair of size 11, Nanette Lepore, gold, leather and canvas platforms. They retail at Needless Markup for $360 (!!!) and I got ‘em for $50.

They are, no joke, practically brand new.

Thank you for your guidance, CheapJAP…you are totally my Yoda!
-Jen

Re: Subject: Bless You Cheap JAP
Jen,
I might be your Yoda but YOU, dollface, are a Jedi of online shoe scores. Keep it up, young Skywalker. ;)

Mwah!
Cheap JAP
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/nanette-lepore-shoes/feed 1 Weather Is A State Of Mind http://cheapjap.com/style/weather-is-a-state-of-mind http://cheapjap.com/style/weather-is-a-state-of-mind#comments Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:17:30 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1776 ...keep reading Weather Is A State Of Mind

]]> The weather in NYC’s been a bitch and a half as of late; one day it’s 60 and sunny, the next it’s 40 and rainy, it’s like the sky is PMSing or something. I’m a naturally impatient person, doubly so where shopping’s concerned – if I can’t wear it that day, that SECOND if I feel like it, I’m sooo not interested. Alas, I’m equally impatient for the outdoors to warm up. On a dreary day last week, I found myself as moody as Mother Nature herself…until I saw this terrycloth/nylon blue/floral jumpsuit.

As I’m from the Jersey Shore, I’m constantly on the hunt for outrageous beachwear. And This. Was. It. It was light enough wear over a bathing suit and ridiculous enough to crack up my entire family. Just the thought of wearing it in a few months made me happy.

The length of the pant-portion was somewhere in between capri and ankle, so I cropped them a bit. Also, the lower-portion of the jumpsuit initially billowed out so much that it looked like a dress from certain angles, so that had to be dealt with if the garment was to serve its original purpose. I used the excess leg material to cinch the pant-portion around the calves, and subsequently put any doubts of the onesie’s Jumpsuit Amazingness to rest.

Beachtastic Jumpsuit, Beacon’s Closet, $16.95.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/style/weather-is-a-state-of-mind/feed 2 Donald Pliner Wedges Add Rose Color to Recession http://cheapjap.com/resale/donald-pliner-wedge http://cheapjap.com/resale/donald-pliner-wedge#comments Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:17:35 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1755 ...keep reading Donald Pliner Wedges Add Rose Color to Recession

]]> Huh. So THAT’s where they’re keeping the good shit. This is not to imply that I don’t score fab brands there on a regular basis (I do, obvs). I’m not even sure I’d buy the things offered online if I saw them in person. (Do I heart this Silk, L.A.M.B Smockdress? You bet. Do I think $99.95 is a reasonable price to pay for a dress so new, it still has its original $525 (shit you not) pricetag? Abso-effin-lutely. But if I’m dropping a Benjamin on a new dress, I want a whole slew of options like this one – I opt for Consignment instead).

Anyhoo, on my latest trip to Williamsburg’s Beacon’s Closet, I noticed I didn’t have to dig quite as deep for the gently-worn gold. The in-store merch was as good (if not better) than the online selection: Some of the stuff was so of-the-moment, even I’d never seen it secondhand. I mean, Vena Cava? Vena Cava, the same kickass (albeit heinously overpriced) line that blew up barely a year ago?! There it was; a dress that retailed for around $700 once upon a time, priced at $49.95, just sitting on the racks. A garment I wouldn’t have had monetary access to in my wildest dreams were it not for La Recession.

The fact that it wasn’t my size had zero affect on my buzz: That label in this environment meant the promise of brands to come.

Point being? Fashion-conscious customers are selling their castoffs like never before. The escalation in higher-end stock makes it harder to earn a buck off your not-as-fab oldies, which is slightly irritating. But it makes finding almost-new Donald J. Pliner wedges feasible, which is all kinds of awesome.

I used to buy shoes based on appearance alone. Alas, when you live in New York and can’t afford cabs, you learn the hard way that walking sans searing foot pain trumps sitting pretty. It took a solid year of sporadic emergency stops for Band-AID Tough Strips for me to see the light.

Donald J. Pliner is one of a handful of high-end brands that’s mastered the art of the totally gorge, walkable, wearable heel: My shoe-addict bestie SP (who’s never NOT in heels) swears by them. I took these DJP Gold Wedges for a test drive while I browsed the rest of Beacon’s, and – after a solid half hour wearing them – was totally hooked. Between how fab they looked and how immediately comfortable they felt, I could almost understand paying a lot more. Almost.

New Donald J. Pliner shoes retail for $250 a pair. Almost-new Donald J. Pliner shoes resell for $18.95.

I’ll take a few tiny scuffs and save the two-hundred-and-thirty bucks, thankyouverymuch.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/donald-pliner-wedge/feed 2 Stella McCartney For Adidas…You Seriously Wanna Mess With Me? http://cheapjap.com/resale/stella-mccartney-for-adidas http://cheapjap.com/resale/stella-mccartney-for-adidas#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:56:26 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1653 ...keep reading Stella McCartney For Adidas…You Seriously Wanna Mess With Me?

]]> If I had limitless funds with which to shop and zero qualms about paying upwards of $150 for sweatshirts, I’d buy the Stella McCartney for Adidas line in its entirety and make it my pounding-on-my-keyboard uniform. This wouldn’t be a massive departure from the glorified dancewear that currently serves as my blogging attire (American Apparel leggings, wifebeaters, legwarmers, off-shoulder sweaters); I’d just look a little more Now and a little less Flashdance. Not that there’s anything wrong with the latter.

Until I saw her Adidas effort, I interpreted Stella’s ‘Fashion’ career as symptomatic of My Dad’s A Beatle So I Have Enough Dough To Pretend I Know How To Design Clothes Syndrome. Erroneous! That girl knows her shit, bigtime. Every piece not only flatters the female form (a refreshing departure from designers like MJ whose clothing only flatters already-flat chests and straight torsos, i.e. MEN), but also boasts extreme versatility.

The Tennis Performance Dress could easily double as a casual summer cocktail number; the Run Performance Tee and the Yoga Performance Tank would look as hot with heels as they do with sneakers or bare feet; the Dance Knit Shorts paired with tights and boots would make a killer combo.

Oh, except the tops range from $75 to $85 EACH, the shorts go for $80, and the dress is $175. Oy VEY. I fucking love this line so much it HURTS… at least that was the case before I found this Stella McCartney for Adidas sweatshirt at Beacon’s Closet for $21.95.

Stella + Adidas: I heart your stuff. Unfortunately for you greedy assbags, I’ve got the skillz to find it sans retail mark-up and will henceforth never, ever pay full price. Enjoy the Recession, you overcharging little jackholes, you.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/resale/stella-mccartney-for-adidas/feed 3 The Newbie Cheap JAP’s Tour de Shopping: NYC Installment http://cheapjap.com/thrift/thrift-stores-nyc http://cheapjap.com/thrift/thrift-stores-nyc#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:50:40 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1650 No-Hands Bag
Something worn across the shoulder in the messenger style, an actual backpack, an ironic fanny pack,

...keep reading The Newbie Cheap JAP’s Tour de Shopping: NYC Installment

]]> Rules for Newbie Cheap JAPs, you should be relatively well-prepared for your first foray into the world of re-sale shopping. Before you depart, arm yourself with the following:

No-Hands Bag

Something worn across the shoulder in the messenger style, an actual backpack, an ironic fanny pack, whatever. Just make sure you have full range of motion with both arms.

Lightweight Coat

And/or none at all. Any outerwear should be light enough that it can be worn indoors without your sweating like a piglet. I don’t care how cold it is. You lose 90% of your body heat through your head anyway, so don some warm weather accessories and suck it up.

Functional Footwear

Something comfortable, obvs, but also something that makes you feel like a badass on the move. Superwoman always wore flat boots. I’m just sayin’.

Appropriate Underthangs

Don’t deviate from what you usually wear (unless you’re usually commando, in which case, put on a thong for fuck’s sake). And I highly, highly recommend throwing a camisole into the mix, as they’re an excellent means to avoiding dressing room lines.

Metrocard

A $10 cab ride is one less shirt you can buy. Fuhgetaboutit.

Buffalo Exchange, 332 E. 11th St. (between 1st and 2nd Ave.)

Hit It: Jeans, dresses and blazers. You’ll see everything from Joe’s, Seven, DVF and MARC by Marc Jacobs to GAP, Banana Republic, American Apparel and Forever 21.

Save It Fo Lata: Blouses, sweaters, tees and shoes. The amount of tops is impressive, but can be overwhelming for a re-sale first-timer to sift through. Per the shoes: Carting around a cumbersome purchase all day is ill-advised.

Oft Overlooked: The accessories case up front. Kickass, brand name shades (i.e. old school MJ bugeye frames) for around $35 bucks. Word.

In Transit – Hang a Louie outta the store, walk up to Second Ave., make another Left. Head down Second; make a Right onto St. Marks Place; walk toward Third/Astor/Lafeyette/Clusterfuck of an intersection ahead. (FYI, you’re heading toward Broadway, specifically the 8th St./NYU Subway).

Snacky Poo – BAMN!! automat, 37 St. Marks Place. Do not deny yourself the opportunity to eat mac & cheese out of a vending machine. Do NOT.

Le Toilette - Starbucks, 8th St. and Astor Place. If you’re not as shameless as me, buy a water or something in exchange for loo access.

Train – 8th St./NYU Station, N Downtown/to Coney Island. That’s right, beotches – we’re going to Brooklyn. Get off at Atlantic Ave.; exit at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic. Walk South on Flatbush toward Pacific St.; make a Right onto 5th Ave.

Beacon’s Closet, 92 5th Avenue (@ Warren St.) (Those in the know might be thinking, “Wait, we were in the East Village near the L – wouldn’t the Williamsburg Beacon’s have been more convenient?” Transit-wise, yes; sanity-wise, no. The original Beacon’s is three times the size of the Park Slope location; it takes three times as long to find anything and the employees are three times as nasty. Williamsburg is also the most judgmental place on the entire Eastern Seaboard, so EFF THAT.)

Hit It: Tops, dresses, coats. You’ll see some Theory, James Perse, Zara, H&M and some seriously old school trench coats.

Save It Fo Lata: The selection of pants and skirts isn’t so killer.

Oft Overlooked: Foot Traffic legwarmers are the best legwarmers ever, and they’re right up front along with a colorful selection of tights.

In Transit – Walk North on 5th Ave. toward Prospect Place; make Right on Bergen St.; walk up to Flatbush; hop on the Uptown 3 train.

Snacky Poo – A better-than-Pinkberry fix is a little out of your way, but well worth it – walk 3ish blocks South on 5th for uber-green, Greek-style yogurt at Oko. For a java hit, check out Gorilla Coffee across the street.

Le Toilette – Gorilla’s got one, but don’t even think about using it without getting a coffee. This is Park Slope, people. One Mom sees you use a Customers-Only restroom without patronizing the store, and you’re banned for life. Train – Once on the Bergen St. 3 train Uptown, get off at Borough Hall. Exit near intersection of Cadman Plaza East & Cadman Plaza West; walk West on Montague St. toward Clinton St.

Housing Works, 122 Montague St.

Hit It: Shirts, sweaters, pants, the works. The store isn’t that big, and a lot of the never-worn donated stuff still has its original tags.

Save It Fo Lata: The pricey furs/coat rack up front. Better options elsewhere for this shiznat. Oft Overlooked: The baskets of belts and scarves throughout the store. Uber fun and uber cheap.

In Transit - Walk East on Montague St. toward Henry St.

Le Toilette – Hang a Right on Court St. and you’ll see Barnes and Noble a few blocks up.

Train – Take the R Train from Court St. Station heading Uptown/Forest Hills. Get off at 8th St./NYU; walk East on 8th toward Lafeyette. Left on Astor; Right on St. Marks; Right on 2nd Ave; Left on 7th St.

Tokio 7, 64 E. 7th St. (between 1st and 2nd Ave.) (What?! This is SO EFFING CLOSE to Buff Exchange! Why is it LAST?! It’s last because it’s pricey, and if you’d hit it earlier, you’d have blown your dough for the day in one fell swoop. The stuff is that fabulous.)

Hit It: Unless you’ve got serious moolah to burn, this is more of a special occasions/appreciation-only stop. Check out the shoes, regardless. Christian Lacroix, Prada, Miu Miu, Kate Spade – a veritable orgy of high-end designer shoes, all in pristine condition. Also, dresses; whoever buys here has a serious Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenburg fetish. Consider yourself warned.

Save It Fo Lata: Casual apparel, skirts, cardigans, pants. The brands are all kinds of awesome, but the cheapest thing you’ll find is around $50, and we’re not in the market for $50 shirts, ladies. Oft Overlooked: Vintage designer sunglasses and handbags. Oh. My. Gawd.

I hope you enjoy the journey in reality as much as I’ve enjoyed it in my head. ;) I expect a full report on your inevitable success, Miss J.

Viva la Cheap JAP.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/thrift/thrift-stores-nyc/feed 6 When Leather is Pleather http://cheapjap.com/oy-vey/leather-pleather-trench http://cheapjap.com/oy-vey/leather-pleather-trench#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:39:59 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1512 ...keep reading When Leather is Pleather

]]> something out of the deal. When I snagged that Matrix-esque leather trench from Beacon’s last week, did I feel even remotely guilty? Nay, triumph is a more apt word. UNTIL…

Mom: What IS that fabulous frock you have on?!

Me: It’s an effing leather trench from Joie! Isn’t it just like the Matrix?!

Mom: It is EXACTLY like the Matrix! How much?

Me: $39.95. Like, I’m a genius.

Mom: (Looking at coat, furrowing brows).

Me: What?

Mom: (Touching coat, furrowing brows).

Me: What?!

Mom: (Choosing words carefully) Um, sweetie? I…I don’t think that’s real leather.

Me: (Rolling eyes) Mom, just because I got a coat that must have been at least $800 for forty bucks doesn’t mean it’s faux. Stop underestimating my shopping prowess.

Mom: Well…does it say 100% Genuine Leather?

Me: OF COURSE IT’S REAL LEATHER! It’s Joie, dammit! How can it not be real leather?

Mom: (Matter-of-factly) If it is real leather, there’s usually a tag on the inside that says so.

I released myself from the coat (it’s obvs still in the stretching process) and searched the inside frantically for anything that made me right and Mom wrong. The small white tag in the lining bore the following message: Fabrique Applique. Made in China.

Now, I don’t really know what “Fabrique Applique” means, but I’m pretty sure it’s not another way of saying 100% Leather. Still, I wasn’t giving up yet. I looked to eHow’s How To Identify Real Leather and applied the following steps to my possibly-pleather coat.

Step One: Touch the jacket.

Real leather’s supposed to feel like it’s come from one source, not from multiple synthetic fibers. I don’t know jack about what multiple synthetic fibers feel like – I just knew my coat felt stiff, and that this was probs not a good sign.

Step Two: Smell the jacket.

Wow, we’re really getting personal here, hmm? I raised the coat to my nose and tried really, really hard to smell the “sweet but rugged wooden flavor” characteristic of real leather. So not happening. The only scent I picked up was Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana i.e. my own perfume. Shit.

Step Three: Look at the tag.

Double Shit.

Step Four: See if it stretches.

I mean, sort of, but only after I’d worn it for a few hours. Was it “soft and silky?” a la real leather. Nope. Not a lick. Meh.

Step Five: Consider the cost.

If Beacon’s hadn’t set up shop online, I might have gone on believing that they’d sold me a real leather trench for $39.95 – my denial was that powerful. Their site priced a Theory Leather Jacket at $149.95 and a Tory Burch Leather Trench at $84.95; not bad at all for real leather, but not $39.95 either. As my trench had considerably more “leather” than either garment, I guestimate Beacon’s would have priced it at $200… had it been real. Pfft.

My thriftastic shopping experiences have, until now, been remarkably free of that old adage: If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. I suppose it was only a matter of time before I learned this firsthand. So it goes. Even so, I don’t feel guilty about buying the coat; it still rocks, I’ll still wear it, it’s just lost a bit of its luster is all. I felt guilty about not fessing up to the fact that the coat’s more “leather” than leather, so now you know. And now I feel better. Phew.

To Mom’s credit, she refrained from an I-Told-You-So.
]]> http://cheapjap.com/oy-vey/leather-pleather-trench/feed 3 Leather Trench Enables Matrix Fantasy http://cheapjap.com/resale/leather-trench-matrix-fantasy http://cheapjap.com/resale/leather-trench-matrix-fantasy#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:43:15 +0000 Cheap JAP http://cheapjap.com/?p=1474 ...keep reading Leather Trench Enables Matrix Fantasy

]]> Beacon’s Closet yesterday afternoon. It’s not like I haven’t lusted after my fair share – I mean, c’mon – but I know better than to torture myself over things I def can’t afford.

I also know better than to look a gift horse in the mouth. I don’t know what happened as I was perusing my fave store’s coat rack, but it was some mythical shit: The seas of tweed and wool parted, and there it was. A lean mean leather dream from the uber JAPtastic Joie. Too small from the looks of it, but certainly worth a shot. As I stuffed myself into the coat, I recalled a suede, fitted, BCBG jacket I’d once owned that resembled a potato sack after a mere six months of wear. As leather is equally stretch-prone, I figured if I could get the stiff, barely-worn Joie buttoned, I could break it in enough to wear it sans suffocation. I bought it, and spent the remainder of the afternoon in it. After a few painful hours, the coat was roomy enough that I was able to do exactly what I’d envisioned the moment I saw it: Channel Trinity and tear up the Matrix.

This coat’s retail value must have been upwards of $600, as it’s not only Joie, but also boasts double the leather of a bomber jacket. I paid $39.95, which makes this perhaps my most epic steal ever. Hopefully this magical shopping experience rubbed off on the jacket itself, and wearing it will enable me to defy gravity and fly helicopters and stuff. Someone’s gotta fight the good fight. ;)
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