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People ask me all the time where the clothes I feature on my blog come from. While some are borrowed or rented, the large majority are from my closet, and they range from mainstream brands like J.Crew, to mid-tier designers like DVF, to higher-end labels and custom pieces. My secret? Online shopping hacks.
I’ll be honest – I have champagne taste. I gravitate to well-cut pieces in luxurious fabrics, especially silk and wool (that’s where the “Sheep” in “Primpy Sheep” comes from if you hadn’t already guessed!) and quirky high-end statement pieces like this Tamara Mellon violet suede fringe skirt that feels like it popped off the pages of Harper’s Bazaar.
So, how have I built up my wardrobe on what’s arguably a beer (ok, maybe craft beer…) budget? First, I only buy things that really suit me and that I know will have a long shelf life. That means that items I bought 10 years ago are still in my closet rotation now, so everything I’ve collected over the course of my adult life has added up to one splendid wardrobe! But there are also steps you can take now to maximize your budget.
These three online shopping hacks are essential when you’re trying to stretch your dollar further – especially if, like me, you have champagne taste.
Thank you to Icy Li for collaborating with me on this shoot!
Buy second-hand and use eBay to find brands at huge discounts
I buy a lot of items second-hand. Thrift stores and vintage stores are great for finding old classics that you can style with newer pieces, like Ferragamo pumps, oversized wool blazers, and 60s cocktail dresses. There are also a slew of online options for second-hand shopping that are excellent if you know your size in specific brands, of which eBay is by far my favorite (I’ve been an eBay user since 2006). Things I’ll never buy new because I know my size and can find them on eBay include: J. Crew pencil skirts for work, most designer denim brands, and my new guilty pleasure… Mackage outerwear. I scored a $900 Mackage leather jacket on eBay last month for $150. Win! If you know your favorite brands and your sizes in those brands, eBay should be your new best friend.
Although I’m a picky shopper, I do have the occasional miss, but I don’t let those pieces languish at the back of my closet. I also sell gently-used items that I never wear, which helps me turn stale pieces back into cash I can reinvest in new gems. I turn around and re-sell them on eBay or Poshmark, or trade them into an online consignment service like ThredUp or my new favorite, Material World.
Use Material World and Rent the Runway to discover new pieces without the commitment
Experimenting with fashion is the fun part, but it can feel limiting if you don’t know what you’re looking for, or don’t want to commit to something in a cut or color that’s really different from what you usually wear. My two favorite solutions for this are Material World and Rent the Runway.
Material World is a high-end, second-hand version of Stitch Fix or Trunk Club. They only carry specific designer brands in pristine condition, and for a $25 monthly styling fee, will curate and send you five pieces of clothing and accessories. If you decide to keep any of the items, your styling fee goes towards your tab.
I got a free trial of Material World and was absolutely delighted with my first box. If money wasn’t an issue I could have kept all five pieces; the fit and styles were so spot on. However, I resisted, and only purchased this fun suede skirt and DVF white envelope clutch. They look great styled with a crisp white blouse, but the skirt would look just as good with a cropped sweater or belted plaid blazer. You can also send in your own items for store credit or cash. Try Material World today.
Rent the Runway
RTR is an old favorite I’ve used off and on over the past few years. RTR gives you access to designer clothing, jewelry, and accessories for a fraction of the retail cost. It’s gained widespread popularity in the past few years, especially for dress rentals – because how often have we all purchased an amazing, pricey dress for a special occasion, only to wear it once?
RTR also offers a couple flexible subscription options, like RTR Unlimited which allows you to pick four pieces and have them on constant rotation. At $159 per month ($99 trial for first-timers) it’s pretty pricey unless you truly need a constant rotation of designer items. A more affordable option is RTR Update at $89 per month ($69 trial for first-timers) which also gives you four pieces but you can only swap them once each month. Try RTR today – here’s my code for $30 off your first rental – full disclosure, I’ll get $30 off too!
Get cash back on every purchase with Rakuten (previously Ebates)
You’ve probably seen the TV ads for Rakuten right? They’re pretty corny and sound a little too good to be true, so you probably ignored them. Well, I’ve been using Rakuten for about six years – since back when they were Ebates – and they’re a legitimate company. In fact, of all my online shopping hacks, this may be the biggest – if you shop online with any kind of frequency you should be using Rakuten.
In a nutshell, you click from your Rakuten account to whichever website you want to shopping on (ones in the Rakuten network include Nordstrom, Sephora, Amazon, eBay, and more). Rakuten earns a commission from those vendors on every purchase made, and they kick back a portion of that commission to you – the “cash back” you earn.
While some percentages are quite small, like 1-2%, others can go up to 5%, and with special “double cash back” days and once-per-year 15% back days, it’s easy to start racking up the money. I especially recommend using Rakuten for your holiday shopping.
Rakuten pays you via check or Paypal every quarter, so there is a bit of a wait, but it takes zero effort to use and it’s a nice surprise to get a little kickback four times a year. I’ve been using Rakuten since 2013 for things as diverse as a new washer and dryer from Lowe’s, Groupons to restaurants, and basic household items from Bed, Bad & Beyond. My cumulative cash back to-date totals $682.20. You don’t want to leave that kind of money on the table!
Use my referral code to sign up for Ebates and get $10 back immediately – full disclosure, I’ll get extra cash back too!
Do you have online shopping hacks you swear by? Let me know in the comments!
If you enjoyed this post, you might also like A Winter Color Palette and Three Moody Late-Winter Looks. What pieces are you hunting for this season? Let me know in the comments!