I saved over a $1,000 last month buying recycled clothes
As a new year experiment I decided to commit to purchasing absolutely no new clothing in 2015.
For me it’s an opportunity to reevaluate my role as a consumer paying closer attention to the impact my purchases make on other people, the planet and my wallet. It doesn’t mean I won’t be shopping. It just means I’ll be shopping all used all the time, and as it turns out that’s a pretty easy thing to do in Charlotte.
Top from Buffalo Exchange ($10)
With one full month under my belt, I’ve learned how easy and affordable it is to wear recycled clothes. In January alone I have saved over$1,000 off what would have been the retail price.
Here’s a look at two of my favorite resale and consignment shops, a few of my recycled outfits and some of the insane savings I’ve racked up already.
Located in Plaza Midwood, Buffalo Exchange is the place to buy, sell and trade your standard mall brands (J.Crew, Loft, H&M, etc.) and vintage clothing. I sell and trade a lot of my own clothes in here and find their purchase rate and markup prices to be fair and reasonable. This is my go-to destination for casual, trendy pieces for a younger crowd. They also have a killer accessories rack where I have purchased countless necklaces. I have never paid more than $30 for an item here. My jackpot purchase from Buffalo is a JCrew collection winter coat that retails $300-$400 and I paid $30.
JT Posh is a higher-end consignment shop in Dilworth. While Buffalo Exchange serves my everyday wear wardrobe needs, JT Posh fills the gap for professional workplace attire and special occasion dresses. You’ll find more expensive and exclusive names in here like Christian Louboutin, Diana von Furstenburg, Kate Spade, Gucci, etc. as well as premium denim lines like Seven, Paige and JBrand. Though pricier (I usually pay $30-$60 per item in here), it’s worth it for the quality. My jackpot JT Posh purchase was three pairs of designer jeans (retailing $150-$250 each) that cost me less than $100 total.
So cut to the chase. Do I still look presentable? Let’s take a look at some outfits and prices…
Outfit 1
Wearing:
Saving:
Outfit 2 and 3
Wearing:
Savings:
Outfit 4
Wearing:
- Paige denim jeans | find similar here
- Lou & Grey top | find similar here
- JCrew Collection coat | find similar here
Savings:
And that’s not even everything I purchased last month. How am I doing so far? Find me on Twitter or Instagram and let me know.
This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 1:14 AM with the headline "I saved over a $1,000 last month buying recycled clothes."