We know they're out there but we rarely get them.
Pockets. Deep, generous pockets.
I'd bet that most men take them for granted because they're so used to having them. Men's blazers have pockets inside pockets! They get pockets for pens, papers, & personal items.
Even women's jeans are hardly big enough to carry a quarter so your phone certainly wouldn't fit.
Often only our fingertips will fit into a pocket. Why is that? Maybe we don't want to always carry a bag and so it'd be nice to be able to slip a few items into a cavernous pocket instead. It's really not too much to ask for.
It's really a big deal for us. Whenever we get in a garment with an admirable pocket we find it's a great selling point. We point the pocket out and women exclaim, "Ohhhh, that's a big pocket. It's very exciting.
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This quote by Kate Spade is perfect for people that like to wear second-hand items.
When a person has style they stand out because they are unique.
Buying second hand is not for the faint of heart. You have to have a certain confidence in yourself to pick out items, put them together and then have the confidence of saying to your world, Yes, this is what I want to say about myself today.
We had a young woman that worked for us, Camila, and she had a fresh eye to fashion. Camila had the ability to pick up a skirt that some might have considered dowdy, put it together with a tight, brightly colored tee, her Dr. Marten lace up boots and instantly the look was uniquely her own.
It can be daunting to "fly your own flag" especially as I've heard people say over the years, "my friends might laugh or my husband will think I'm crazy or my daughter will roll her eyes" but what the heck, go for it and make yourself happy.
Express yourself with a new pair of sunglasses, try a color combination that is a bit avant-garde, wear a pair of dangling earrings or maybe five strands of pearls.
Be bold and have some fun.
]]>Naturally, Katharine looked gorgeous in an evening gown or a blouse and skirt but she was mostly herself in trousers, as am I.
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I see other people wear them and look great but I always feel like I'm wearing a bathrobe. I look sloppy and disheveled. I much prefer to wear a good quality leather belt instead.
]]>Social distancing doesn't have to mean staying inside on the couch. This summer has brought back the fun and ease of outdoor picnics, whether its out in a pasture or in your own backyard. Take some of these outfits ideas, a basket full of snacks and head outside!
Top left: Madewell dress size 8 $33.00, Robert Clergerie shoes size 7 $66.00, Hinge hat $13.20, vintage gold plated wine glass (set of 2) $15.00
Top right: Proenza Schouler top size 8/10 $86.90, J. Crew leopard slacks size 8 $28.60, J. Crew collection shoes size 9.5 $99.00, vintage cheese plate and knife $15.40
Bottom: Whit Two dress size 10/12 $39.60, Converse x Comme de Garcons sneakers size 10 $61.60, vintage tomato pitcher
]]>The Liberty company founded in 1875 built it's foundation on the idea of luxury fashion and goods inspired by art and culture. Liberty of London is perhaps most known for their exquisite cotton lawn fabrics in diverse colorways. These fabrics are 100% cotton made of a very fine weave, making them comfortable on even the hottest summer days (for the original price of $35-$45 per yard). Liberty has had numerous collaborations over the years, with a long standing relationship with J. Crew offering comfortable, easy to wear button down shirts in colorful patterns.
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Keep it simple. Why not just do one foot of clothing, twelve simple inches. Try those few pieces on.
Keep, donate or store.
Job well done.
]]>Clueless - Cher Cleans Her Closet
I am often asked what the difference is between consignment shops and thrift stores. In a broad stroke thrift shops are for donations and are usually for charities that could benefit anything from Family Services to Special Needs, Special Olympics or even a specific disease such as Lupus or specific cancers.
Consignment shops are usually for profit and do not accept donations; items are specifically selected by criteria set up by the owner.
For example: A thrift shop accepts clothing so this could be almost anything as long as it's considered clothing.
A consignment shop may decide that its clientele will be hipsters, teen and young adults, workout and hiking enthusiast's, children's items etc. If a consignment shops market is golfers, backpackers and hikers they certainly will have no interest in trying to sell a gown.
The beauty of donating items to a charity is you drop it off, walk away and you're done.
If you feel that your items may have some return value that is where consignment comes in. The trick with consignment is finding the appropriate shop that can sell your items for you; usually a store will say we look for this but we do not want that. As a person trying to get rid of her/his unwanted "treasures" it can be frustrating to have your items turned away. It always feels personal but it's actually not. Everyone has their own idea of what a thing of beauty is; the old "I'd wear these if they fit me" is usually a pretty good indicator that the garment has been around awhile. Conversely if you put on weight or have lost a few pounds and the item doesn't fit you anymore, styles do change and the garment may no longer be considered salable by the shop owner. There is always the possibility that you toodle down the road, show your items to the next place and they love what you have and think it's perfect for their clientele - bravo, you've found your shop.
No matter which route you choose cleaning out your closets and drawers and keeping your personal look fresh and stylish is always a win-win.
]]>Do you have a pair of boots that you love? They can be ankle or knee boots depending on whether your jeans are skinny or boot cut.
If you prefer to wear dresses you can always take a plaid flannel shirt and wear it over your dress by tying a knot at your waist and rolling the sleeves up.
A plaid skirt with a cashmere sweater, a small scarf tied around your neck, tights and flats is an especially fun ensemble to try. Depending upon your comfort level you can wear a mini skirt or something to the knee or even longer as a midi. Don't forget to keep the proportions in mind; if you wear a long sweater with a long skirt sometimes it can appear a bit dumpy.
One of my favorite fall looks is a wool plaid blazer with an Hermes scarf. I have been hunting for ages for a blue Harris Tweed Blazer. I have found brown ones and green ones but I have not found a blue one yet. Harris Tweed jackets are sporty and very warm as they come from the Hebrides in Scotland.
We have to take time to thank sheep for their wonderful wool that is used to make beautiful jackets, dresses, scarves and blankets.
If you really love your boots don't forget to take good care of them. It's important to show them a little tender care by using some shoe polish or some kind of conditioner to keep your leather soft and subtle. Periodically I like to take my shoes to a professional cobbler and ask them to polish my boots for me.
If you start to feel really sassy you could mix and match some plaids with stripes, and paisley, and dots but beware as it's easy to run off the rails and just look no-how which is NOT the goal.
If you're feeling adventurous snap a picture and send it to me. Let me see what you've put together.
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I’ve owned New To You consignment boutique for 27 years; it sounds like a long time but it certainly doesn’t feel like it because it has been so much fun.
When I started my resale business in Northern Virginia, my daughter Arianne was little, my mother had just passed away and I had just left my husband. I knew I needed to work but I didn’t want to give my daughter to somebody else to raise while I was earning money so I decided the next best thing was to start a business. Going to thrift shops and digging through a bunch of stuff was always a passion for me; finding something really great such as a red lace petticoat, or a Pucci scarf or a beautifully tailored wool coat – treasure in trash, so to speak. This passion became the spark of New To You.
In 1991 I started looking around for a spot to rent for my new store, but didn’t have much luck until I met Barbara and Steve Cram. They were delightful and easygoing and rented to me the old Greenscape space in Falls Church without the usual rigmarole. The Crams are two people that are kind and generous in thought, word and deed. I am grateful to them from the bottom of my heart. The fabulous family that owns Corbett Construction were my next landlords before I moved into our present location, next to Browns Hardware on Route 7. I have enjoyed being Mr. Brown’s tenant, as I admired his work ethic, his humble demeanor and his kindness.
Now that I had a space, I put some stenciling on the walls, bought some racks and started selling “used” clothing; not just any used clothing though – the word “used” can have a negative connotation that can be quite unjust; I much prefer to say “peoples buying mistakes” as mediocrity was not an option for me. I wanted to sell only high-quality fabrics, stylish pieces that were clean and in excellent condition. This is where a little problem began as saying “No, thank you” did not go over particularly well with some. I was so determined to have only clean items, and I would have to turn away many pieces that were not up to the standards I wished to present.
I hit the ground running and before too long, New To You began to flourish. We would soon be written up in The Washington Post, The Washingtonian, various style magazines, blogs and such; it was great! One day out of the blue we received a phone call from a producer of the NBC Today Show. At first, I thought it was a prank call, but eventually realized that it was on the level and could not have been more pleased to be included in a segment along with Ina’s in New York City. To say that things “blew up” from there would be an understatement.
Through all of New To You‘s 27 year run, one thing we are the most proud of is our ongoing commitment to reducing our impact on the environment. Buying consigned clothing is one of the easiest and most powerful actions you can take to minimize your environmental footprint, as it reduces the amount of waste and pollution necessary to make new clothes. In addition to reusing clothing, every day we make our best efforts to recycle or re-purpose all plastic and paper that comes in our door.
We have had so much love and support from near and far. It is a special honor to know that when ones’ friend comes to visit from out of town, New To You is one of the first places they want to visit; hearing such a compliment is always a joy. Many of our best consignment items are mailed in from all over the country, adding a special variety of unique pieces to our store. Our vast network of consignors over the years have opened our eyes to so many one-of-a-kind pieces we couldn’t find anywhere else – a 40+ personal collection of Hermes scarves, the most luxurious purple Dolce & Gabbana reversible shearling-to-mink coat and vintage jewelry accumulated over decades. It continues to be an exciting landscape of change on a daily basis.
I have also been blessed with a cast of creative, intelligent, talented women and men over the years. They have been a fun group – hard-working, and totally dedicated to creating a positive shopping experience to countless people year after year. One of our primary goals is to provide honest feedback to each and every customer to ensure that they look and feel great in everything they purchase.
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