resale therapy

So, my girl Erin is a self-professed shopaholic, and is keeping a 2008 LJ on everything she buys. I think that's a brilliant idea, if for no other reason than it's cataloging for her, and everything seems a bit more shocking in black and white than in your head, lol. I try to do that with food every once in a while and I think it's a good practice. Anyway, it made me want to tell you guys about one of my own New Year's Resolutions, which is to buy ummmm, most of my clothes, say 80%, at the resale shop.

I'm not a huge fan of shopping at all, but what girl doesn't like having new clothes? And my wardrobe is sadly ill-equipped for San Francisco. My quintessential hot-weather uniform of knee-length bohemian skirts and wife-beaters tanks has no place in this climate. Goodbye, cropped pants. My "winter" clothes from NY are too hot. I can pretty much never wear flip-flops (or really, even high heels). It's rather sad, and extremely inconvenient, as for the last 4 months I've lived in jeans, hiking boots, and my Champion hoodie over a t-shirt over a long-underwear shirt. I need to re-work my entire wardrobe to live here- in light layers, non-jeans, sweaters with 3/4 length sleeves, thin scarves, and comfortable shoes.

ANYway, as I clearly can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe, I am piecing things together rather slowly. And as much as I would like to buy all American-made clothes, well, that is rather cost-prohibitive as well. BUT, by buying thrift, resale, & used- I can save a little dough and keep that 12-year old in Bangkok from having to make another one. And oh, I say 80% because obviously undergarments, yoga clothes, and a few other key items will have to be new.

So yesterday, I went to Crossroads, (IMO, better than Buffalo Exchange, albeit a little snotty) with two $20 bills. I tried on 10 shirts/sweaters. Six of them fit, 4 did not. Here's where I decided to go through my 6 items, do some math, and figure out how many of the 6 I could have for my $40. Turns out, all six were marked 1/2 off. WHAT?! Since when does that happen? Usually my favorite thing is the most expensive. For kicks I looked at the 4 that I didn't like and not one of them was on sale! Crazy, mixed-up opposite day in the dressing room!

Anyway, turns out that I had to dip into my wallet for an extra $3.28, but for the grand total of $43.28, I bought a lime-green and white striped Gap sweater, a navy and cerulean Roxie sweater, an Anthropologie navy cardigan with rainbow buttons, a striped Gap t-shirt, and two 3/4-length pullover tops of indeterminable brand. (I only mention the brands not because I care so much but to illustrate how much money I saved. That Anthropologie cardigan alone was probably $120 when it was new.)

Anyway, I need to get on with my day and get to yoga so I can eat, shower, and pack - devote a little thinking to why it 15 degrees warmer in Boston than San Francisco and wondering if it will stay that way - and empty trash and refrigerator so I can leave for a week. I'm on the 11:25p red-eye so I'm sure I will sleep fitfully tonight. But I'm going to wake up in Massachusetts. Always freaks me out a little.