Moving out to LA has made me one frugal fashionista! Between paying rent for a studio apartment that costs more than my mother’s house payment, insurance worth more than my life on a crappy car, and as one of the home’s to the best fashion in this word, I thought at first that I could not keep up my Wisconsin lifestyle of always dressing nice.
Fast forward three months and I am lugging my plastic bags full of designer clothes, shoes and handbags down Ventura Blvd in the blistering sun of July to a thrift shop my friend advised me to. I keep grumbling how I want to move back home already.
I came across Crossroads Trading Post in Studio City and while it looked extremely clean and hip, I couldn’t help but think “eww, used clothes…”. As I passed by the racks of stunningly fun clothes, I looked at the price tag of a new Bebe dress with original tags and all.
“$20.00 reduced down from $250.00!?!?!” I went right to the register and said “Excuse me, I think this is supposed to be $200.00.” The salesgirl looked at me with a cute, quirky smile saying “No, $20 is right! Prices depreciate severely once it’s taken out of the original store.”
While I went to Crossroads Trading Post hoping to make some money on my designer duds, I ended up spending way more money on gently used, designer clothing. With brands ranging from Olivia + Alice, Kitson, Juicy Couture to Gucci and Prada, if there was one thing I could learn it is don’t judge clothes too quickly!
My closet is now even more stuffed than before, however, I cannot pass up a $230 markdown!
In a city filled with materialistic people and a hurting economy, I really fell in love with Crossroads and will be back soon to bu---I mean, sell more!
Whether you are the heiress of your father’s company or a small town girl like me, I truly believe there is something for everyone.
My $50 bargain Louis Vuitton
From One Frugal Fashionista to Another
Allow yourself enough time though. The great thing about Crossroads is their stock and how it is always changing and full. Although racks are arranged by type of clothes as well as color palette, be patient and you will find that awesome piece 80% the original price.
As I originally came in to do, Crossroads buys clothing as well. If you want store credit to stock up on more, they give you 50% of what they buy your item for. Otherwise, 35% is given in the form of cash. Buyers are critical (yay, good for us buyers!) of season, cut, condition, trim and colors so you don’t have to worry about some weird stain on that newly purchased dress when you get home!
Visit all six Crossroads Trading Post stores in the Los Angeles area and tell your friends in San Francisco, Chicago and New York. I’d be curious to see the style and fashion differences in these other very cosmopolitan cities.
For more information, visit: http://crossroadstrading.com/
