CheapJAP

Label Whore

Another Day, Another Six Dollar Dress

Yesterday afternoon, I walked twenty blocks up 5th Avenue in search of Monk; a thrift store deemed better than Beacon’s by some fellow Park Slopers. It’s not. But if you’ve got time to sift through the junk, it certainly has potential.

Now, before I boast about yet another brand-name find at yet another thrift store, I’d like to address some readers who feel I should temper my secondhand finds with more sample sale and/or designer discount fare.

While most JAPtastic brands are heinously overpriced, even I admit that cost often relates to quality. Well-made clothing doesn’t just hold up until its original owner tires of it; it lasts long enough to be re-worn and re-born into the wardrobe of another. I don’t shop at Goodwill, Salvation Army, Beacon’s, et. al because I aim to look like a fifties housewife or a free-lovin flower child. I shop these stores because they offer the greatest deals in fashion, provided you have the time and energy to notice.

I’m well aware that not everyone has hours to spend searching for said deals, which is why I fully support Loehmanns, Filene’s, TJ Maxx, and other established brands-for-less outlets. For the sake of argument, let’s say I have a $150 dress reduced to $60 from Loehmanns and a $150 dress reduced to $6 from Monk - the main difference between the two being that one has its tags on it and one’s a little wrinkly. It is ludicrous for my lifestyle and my budget to shell out $60 when I could spend $6. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s ludicrous for you. Particularly if you work in an office and need something semi-professional, not something in magenta chiffon.

Long story long, my enthusiasm for thrift stores is really just basic economics (I think). Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent dresses usually run from $150 to $400. Unless they’re from Monk, in which case, they’re $6. Six dollars. SIX DOLLARS.

I rest my case.

Sartorial Etiquette

MAILBAG: A Trip to the City

Subject: Manhattan?
Hello. I love your blog and am a fan of it on Facebook. I live and shop in Chicago (where the sales tax on clothing is 10.25 percent), but I am visiting my sister and her husband in Hell’s Kitchen for three days in November and want to check out some stores while I’m there. Going through your blog, though, I mostly see recommendations for Brooklyn shops. My sister isn’t a big shopper, and I don’t think suggesting a trip to Brooklyn to shop would go over well. Can you recommend any worthwhile boutiques / consignment shops / what have you in Manhattan? Chicago’s got most chains (Zara only just — it opened in the ‘burbs on Thursday) but I’d love to be tipped off to some less obvious places.

In case it makes a difference: I’m in my 30s, not my 20s; and I’m tall (5′8″, around 140), not petite.
Thanks!
Sarah

Subject: Re: Manhattan?
Sales tax is 10.25 percent?! I KNEW I was more broke than I should have been in college! Okay, so we’re talking non-chain, unique, reasonably priced stores in Manhattan only, preferably close to Chelsea and tolerable enough for you to drag your sister along. Tall order. You’ve come to the right place.
Screaming Mimi’s likes to pretend that it’s cheap. It’s not.

It is, however, the kind of vintage store where most stuff’s in the $80-$150 range as opposed to the why the fuck is that tattered coat $700?! range. And when I say stuff, I don’t just mean clothes - scarves, bags, jewelry, boots, pumps and sunglasses abound in mass quantities. They’ve got a fab men’s section too, so if your sis gets bored she can shop for her hubby. I hate this place for its $40 t-shirts; I love it for its colorful originality.
Screaming Mimi’s, 382 Lafayette St. (near 4th St). Don’t you dream of wasting your hard earned shopping dollars on cabs. When I don’t know what train to take, I use Hopstop to get around; it lets me pretend I have a sense of direction.

Flying A mixes vintage stuff with contemporary wares; their stuff ranges from basic to badass. Look for shift dresses and in-between jackets (you know, for the three weeks of bearable weather in Chi-town’s fall;). It can be pricey, but it’s usually got a decent sale rack.
Flying A, 169 Spring St. near W. Broadway. If you can avoid it, do NOT hit Soho on a Saturday. The hordes of overspending floozies might make you upchuck your brunch.

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market. Your sis has probably been, but it’s in her hood so she’ll deal. When shopping a Flea, DO judge a book by its cover: The vendors who take the time and energy to set up an organized, attractive space for their wares usually have things worth buying. This should help you sift through the junk. They also have a $1 shuttle to Chelsea Flea Market - you can make a day of it!
Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, W. 39th St. between 9th and 10th Aves, Saturdays and Sundays, 9am - 6pm.

I know Chi-town’s got a Loehmann’s. If it’s the one I used to go to, it probably still stinks like poo. Both Manhattan locations are on the west side, so you really have no excuse not to stop by. This is the tame version of Century 21, which I would never send you to because it takes the vacation out of vacation.
Loehmann’s; Chelsea - 101 7th Ave. Upper West - 2101 Broadway. Chelsea’s better for accessories, Upper West is better for clothes and shoes. Pretty sick that I know that, hmm?

Tokio 7 is basically the best thing to happen to designer re-sale, EVER. Case-in-point: These Diane von Furstenberg jeans, retail price $345, Tokio 7 price $70. May you have a similarly blissful experience.
Tokio 7, 64 E. 7th St. near 1st Ave.

Lastly, from where I sit, age has zero to do with what you can and can’t wear. See exhibit A: Generational fabulosity exemplified by my friend Isabel and her mom Christine at the Met. Is Mommy covered up in the black coat? Is Daughter rocking the short fabulous halter dress? Hellllls no. They’ve flipped the notion that youth means less and age means more on its head. How’d they pull it off? By wearing a thing that can’t be bought: Confidence.

Wear what makes you feel great about yourself. It’s the only rule in fashion that actually counts.

Mwah!
Cheap JAP

Sexy Time

Sexy Lingerie, Sexier Prices

I’ve never been one of those girls who needs a matching, lacy bra and thong set to feel hot. While I admit that a great bra is occasionally a worthy splurge, I just can’t rationalize spending $40 on one pair of Hanky Panky Boyshorts, cute as they might be. But when I realized I’d been wearing Old Navy Thongs for the better part of a year, I figured it was time for some new, slightly more grown-up underthings.

Now, I like Cosabella and OnGossamer as much as the next girl.

I like these brands even more at Loehmanns’ seriously slashed prices.

My biggest scores were an On Gossamer bra ($42 reduced to $16.99) and a pair of Hanky Pankys ($36 reduced to $10.97). I also snagged two On Gossamer thongs and some boyshorts (Rene Rofe and Honeydew). If I’d paid full price, my haul might have cost me $136 - not cool. At Loehmann’s, five pairs of undies and one bra cost me a grand total of $52.91.

Now that’s what I call sexy.

Label Whore

More Love for Loehmann’s

The fashion mag powers-that-be won’t start gushing, “White this Summer, OMG!” until April; I wear white all year round because it’s eye-catching and I’m an attention whore, but to each her own.

I can’t effing remember who makes this fab little shirtdress, but the fact that it retails for $336 means it’s JAPtastic enough that Scoop and Intermix are def using it to rip off those Still On Daddy’s Dime. At Loehmann’s, it’s $89.99. It speaks to my remarkable self control that I did not buy it. Sigh.

Label Whore

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Loehmannade

Looking loaded is about integrating legit, brand name shit with cheap finds. This means that one must occasionally pony up for said brand name shit. I usually can’t stomach paying more than $40 per article of cheap-ish clothing but when my wardrobe is in dire need of a label injection I make exceptions. A common misconception about Loehmann’s is that everything’s like, sooo last season. Fine, you won’t find Fall 2008 Ready to Wear, but both Manhattan outposts currently have a stellar selection of Spring goodies.
This Diane Von Furstenberg neon pink, button-and-wrap blouse retails for $175.00. Loehmann’s sells it for $89.99. Not half bad for an of-the-moment, DVF find; Bold Colors are uber In this Spring. Warm weather…hot colors…fashion’s not as complicated as Vogue would have us believe.