Giving Bargainistas what they want

So, I was taught that when you do something wrong, you apologize. And it is you my readers, whom I apologize. 

See, I started this blog last fall. And I really have not been keeping up with it. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't thrift -- I do, way too much. But I just don't write about it so much. And I will change that, but I have to apologize first.

Thrift apology

I'm sorry for not telling you about my fab thrift finds.


I'm sorry for not making videos, showing you my great discounts.

I'm sorry for  not showing you Bargainistas how I thrift -- so that you can be thrifty, too.

This is all going to change.

You'll hear more from me on a regular basis -- and not just an occasional post here and there.  I want you to know exactly what I'm wearing, how I'm wearing it and, more importantly -- how much I'm saving.

I've begun to thrift more in my home, too, so you'll even be seeing that as well.

You ready? Get your thrift life with BargainistasATL! 

Can you guess how much this outfit cost?

It is hotter than hell in Atlanta right now -- 95 degree temperatures. I cannot deal. It's so hot that I can smell thigh meat rubbing together. Whoo, chile! Turn the air up, and Jesus be a fan! 

But guess what I found while looking through pics on my iPad? A KILLER thrift haul at Goodwill from much cooler temps in March. Ba-bay! It was a cold snap that day and I was thrifted to the Gawds, hunty! Why did I not post these pics when I took them in March? So, forgive the leather trench, boots and Michael Kors bag (all thrifted) while you are luxuriating in your bikini and things in June, mkay?

You won't believe how much I paid for this outfit. Summer or not, it's still a killa. Here's a hint: It cost more than $3,750 brand new. But you know I didn't pay anywhere near that price. I paid less than $150! Can you say SCORE!!!! 

And the best thing is, they're all pieces that I will get plenty of wear out of when it turns cold again this fall. And this is why I Goodwill, boys and girls! Lurves it. 

Watch and learn: 

Coat: $60 - eBay (Kenneth Cole leather trench) Retails for $750

Boots: $8 Steve Madden (Goodwill - Johns Creek, GA) Not sure of retail, but let's say $100

Dress: $7 at Ross (Wore as a peplum top, cause the way my body set up ... )

Michael Kors bag: $70 (Goodwill - Alpharetta, GA). Retails for $399.

And finally the piece de resistance:

Necklace: $3.17 Retails for $2,500 (custom made Italian jewelry by Alyssa) Goodwill, Roswell. I almost did a Holy ghost dance and handclap of praise right there in the store when I saw this under the counter at Goodwill. It was right next to the cheap dolla sto' necklaces that look like they came out of somebody's bubble gum ball machine.

I asked the cashier to see it and one feel of the weight of this necklace in my hands and I knew it was legit. I Googled the jewelry designer and sweet Baby Jesus --- no prices were listed, but call for a quote. Hotdamn! After some searching, hubby eventually found the necklace online and the retail price of $2,500.

Trust me, I was ready to open the doors of the the chu'ch and put some money in the Building fund, LOL. 

Now, I would not pay that much for this necklace brand new. But $3! You better believe it!

Why I'm quitting Goodwill

Sometimes, I think the pricing folks at Goodwill are smoking meth. Now let me tell you why. Saw these at the Goodwill store in Norcross, GA, for $275.  And I paused. Am I at a thrift store or a consigment store?

I highly suspect these are fake Loubutins. The first clue? Chinese letters on the box (sorry for the bad pics; the pic struggle is real). That was a big red flag to me. Because aren't they supposed to be made in Paris? 

Too much? 

But I just could not see myself paying this for what could be a fake. GW is a thrift store - not a consignment store. There is a difference ... a big one. I know both are businesses. If these were authentic, I might bite (I'd prefer a more classic pump for my money, not a climb the pole type heel). But that's just me. 

For $275, I'd need independent verification ... some papers, some authentication, something. With a consignment store, I'd at least have some sort of recourse. If they were not real, I could at least get my money back or a store credit (hopefully) at the very least.

Goodwill offers none of this. And I am uncertain if they are authentic.

And you just know the pricing clerk Googled these and then priced them. Meanwhile, I got a $2,500 bracelet for $2.92 cents in February. You see ... the way my budget set up ... I have no problem at all rocking a pair of fake Loubies They are about $100 online. I know what I'm getting.

Hell, might even get two pairs.

But paying $275 for these not-sure-if-they're real Loubies? I'd quit Goodwill first.(And you know that ain't happening anytime soon).

Thrift OOTD

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainistaATL.Blogspot.com

I'm a wake up and put on what I feel kinda girl -- I rarely know what I'm going to wear the next day until the morning of, even when it's thrift store clothing. This morning, I felt like bringing things up a notch for fall.

So I pulled out this thrifted trench from H&M as the basis for my (mostly) thrifted outfit. Everything except the dress and the scarf are thrift. While this outfit is a bit pricier, each of these items builds upon so many other things and are my wardrobe staples.

Here's the thrift OOTD breakdown. My dog, Teddy, wanted to take photos too, so here he is.

Dress - Target, $20 (old)
Trench coat - $10 H&M (Goodwill)
Scarf - $7 (Ross) 
Shoes - $17.99 (Purchase from a thrifter)
Bag -$65 (Michael Kors, Goodwill)

Thrifting for fall

By Tenisha Mercer
BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

I love fall, because it's the time of year when you can usually find tons of knits in thrift stores.

And it helps that knits are super hot for fall -- from slouchy, oversized sweaters that have made a fashion comeback, to figure-forming sweater dresses -- you can find all of these items at thrift stores.

I refuse to pay $25 and up retail for slouchy sweaters when I know that I can find the same vintage looks at thrift stores for just $5-6 -- can you say, WINNING!

The weather was chilly and brisk yesterday - the perfect for warm knits. 

Here's how I styled my fall outfit yesterday for less than $25, which I got mostly from yard sales.

Animal print sweater: $2 (garage sale)
Scarf: $1 (yard sale)
Boots: $7 (Aldo's, Goodwill, purchased a few years ago)
Jeans: $14 (Walmart)

So this happened ...

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

You know how outfits in store displays look great? Well, I was in Forever 21 over the weekend and I was feeling the black and white lapel retro-inspired jacket ($27) just like the one below, styled with a bright pink shirt ($16)  and gold chain ($12) on display. But I wasn't feeling the $60 outfit tag - and that included no bottom.

So you know I had to recreate the look -- thrift store style!

Here's what I paid for my outfit:

• Jacket (Forever 21) $6 at Goodwill
• Top (Express) $5 at Goodwill
• Pants (old) $7, Target Clearance rack
• Shoes (Bloomingdale's) $6 at Goodwill

Not bad for under $25 - less than the price of the brand new jacket! Note: I still *may* go back and get that jacket. I was on Forever21.com and they are having a 20 percent off sale online and in-store with the code F21FRIEND. The jacket is sold out online, but I saw it at the mall.

Saving money on thrift store clothing allows me to purchase the items I really want.

5 reasons you know you shop at thrift stores WAYYY too much

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainstasATL.blogspot.com

As much as I like to shop at thrift stores, there are signs that you just need to .... stop.

 1. When you buy the same item two or three times over -- and you have away too many of the same items in your closet.

2. When you have no more room in your closet to fit anything else.

3. When you have more Goodwill plastic bags than grocery bags. FYI: They make really good bathroom trash bags and bags for small trash bins.

 

4. You hide your Goodwill bags from your spouse/significant other and pray they don't notice.

5. When you look at people at Goodwill  like this when they get something you want:

Thrift OOTD

By Tenisha Mercer

www.BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com 

I love it when I find items with the tags still on them. They are thrift store victories, and it's what I call winning!

It's not that I can't afford to pay more. But why, when you can find these deals for less than $20?

I snagged these items last month -- a white Ann Taylor Loft skirt (brand new with the $44.99 price tag still on it) for $6.

Top is from Forever 21 (also thrift) for $5. Shoes (old), Dollhouse and Merona belt $9.99 from Tarjay. Happy thrifting!!!

Thrift OOTD -- Camo, Goodwill style

By Tenisha Mercer

http://BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

I never know what I am going to wear until the morning. I dress how I feel -- and this morning I woke up and decided to put together a camo theme -- a hot fashion trend earlier this year -- but with my thrift store spin on it, of course.

I bought this Jennifer Lopez for Kohl's tuxedo jacket blazer from GW for $6 over the summer. I held onto it, but now is the perfect time to wear it (remember, Goodwill is seasonal, too). I'll hold onto items for months until I can pull the look off with the right shoes and accessories.

Today was the day. I love the color -- a bright tomato red. Retail: $80 (out of stock on Kohls.com).

I am a girly girl to the core but I love the camo trend, especially when paired with graphic tees and blazers. I love unexpected pairings. So I got these camo jeggings from Wal Mart for $13 on Friday. 

I did not have a good graphic tee to go with it, so I paired it with my $6 clearance top, also from Kohls. 

The belt was $10 at the Express outlet in St. Augustine,  Fla. (last season). And the shoes were $6 at GW. They are a few years old but they are a good neutral and are from Bloomingdale's -- the designer name is rubbed off from my wear.

Total price: $42

While this look is a bit pricier, you can barely get one new item of clothing out of a retail store for what I  paid for my entire outfit! 

My trip to Salvation Army

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com

I have a thrift store confession: I don't like Salvation Army. Never really have.

I think part of my frustration is that, when I was a child, my grandmother and I would always truck up to the Salvation Army not far from where we lived in Highland Park, Mich., a stones throw away from Detroit.

And I would see nothing but polyester from the 70s and old, stinky clothing. Nothing new, nothing even close to it. And it would all be a mass jumble -- nothing organized, color coded or anything. Felt like a swap meet -- the only Salvation Army that was halfway decent was in the burbs, but I never went there that often.


So I largely avoided them, even as I became older. Even as a thrifter, I thought there'd be no way I'd find ANYTHING. And they freaked me out (there, I said it). Until last weekend. I happened to be driving near a Salvation Army in Duluth and I stopped in. I was surprised. Now, vintage clothing isn't exactly my cup of tea -- like the average thrifter, I  like some vintage goods, but I did find a LOT of vintage clothing -- bubble jackets from the 90s, gaudy shirts from the 80s.


I managed to find some classic Escada skinny pants - I can't wait to wear them. I have to get out my needle and thread and sew up a rip in the back, but I'll post a pic of them as soon as I do. Escada is a classic brand that I have loved every since I was 12 and 13 years old,  flipping through the pages of Vogue Magazine. I like vintage -- just not all vintage.

The Salvation Army was clean, neat and organized -- they had tons of furniture. I saw at least 3-4 folks on the sales floor, organizing and tidying racks. I was impressed.

This particular store is a good 30 minutes or so away and, while I'm not saying I will go there regularly, it is definitely NOT the Salvation Army of my childhood.

Another Michael Kors steal at Goodwill!

By Tenisha Mercer
www.BargainistasATL.Blogspot.com 

There are days when the Goodwill gods shine down from heaven and pour out earthly blessings.

At Goodwill!

I kid, but no, really. It is true.

Last week was one of those weeks. I stopped at a Goodwill that I rarely frequent  -- I only stopped at this particular one because it was near an appointment because usually it's inconvenient.

I don't even want to think about how much I spent at Goodwill that week (I need a 12-step) but when I tell you it was worth it!!!

Found THIS baby for $69. The clerk had just put it out. I spotted it hanging behind the counter, behind some fake Gucci and busted wanna be Dooney & Burke bags.

Is that Michael Kors? I already wrote about the Michael Kors clutch that I scored for $16 at Goodwill just yesterday.

But this was my very first MK find last week.

My Goodwill adventures

I could barely get it out:

"Is it real?"  The clerk nodded, 'Yes!" I know my purses, and I had this exact one. It's real."

When I tell you I almost did the holy dance inside of that Goodwill!

The leather felt buttery soft. I took a whiff --  that good, unmistakable leathery smell that no amount of polyurethane will ever be able to replicate.

The price tag wasn't there, but I did find this MK card.

The bag was $69. Now, I'm not opposed to paying for quality, but I had just planned on picking up one, maybe two things, max that day.

I had not planned on dropping $70.

But there was no way in hell that I was leaving this Goodwill without this bag.

I knew I'd kick my own ass if I didn't buy it; that's even a good price for a good fake (don't judge me, LOL), and these kinds of deals you simply don't turn down, not in Goodwill.

I did a quick Google search on the bag - $358 retail - The Hamilton Saffiano satchel, at Macy's.

That sealed the deal: This bag was going home with me! I held it, looked at it again, and I bought it! 

Might be fake; doubt it, though. It's my present to ME! 

Top: $12.99, TJ Maxx, Jeans: $10, Target, Shoes: Aldo, $12.99 at Upskate Resale, Necklace: $8, eBay, MK bag: $69, Goodwill