Luxe Life by Lisa

Looking Your Professional Best for Less

2012-02-28T16:30:00.000-06:00

I wanted to share this Article I just wrote for the Today’s Chicago Woman Minute Mentor. Basics…but worth a revisit!

Here’s to your Luxe Life!
Lisa

Every one wants to look like a million bucks, but in today’s tough economic times, it can be quite a challenge. For years, I’ve discovered and employed tricks to look great for less. Below are some of my best.

• Don’t shop Outlet Malls!

Outlet malls can be traps; retailers have gotten smart and now manufacture much of their outlet product only for those venues. Often, the quality of the products is not true to what you’d find in the flagship stores. Also, outlet malls tend to be difficult to shop. Size and style selection is limited and not merchandised in an easy-to-shop way.

Instead of shopping outlet malls, consider paying more attention to flagship store sales. The sale prices may actually be comparable or better.

• Splurge on Staples.

Buy the best you can afford for your staple pieces and resale the items when you tire of them. For me, staples include.

Good, quality, walk-in-all-day, 2 inch pumps

Remember, brands (re)sell! Chanel pumps, for example, make an impression and hold their value well. However, even on the secondary market, affording these babies can be tough. A nice alternative could be a pair of Michael Kors pumps.

Basic Wool Black Sheath Dress.

A good, quality, light-weight wool Sheath Dress is the perfect staple that easily goes from day-to-night. They never go out of style and the material should easily go from season-to-season. This one by Diane von Furstenberg is currently selling at Nordstrom for $385 and has pockets!

Good, quality, big carry-all bag.

Consider a shiny patent leather bag that is big enough for file folders, an IPad, gym gear, etc. This piece wears well and dresses-up almost everything. This Kate Spade bag is a perfect option.

• Shop the Secondary Market—Online

Shop the secondary market online to save time and money. Marketplace sellers that have “good sorting functions” save a ton of time and generally provide a mix of new and pre-owned items in wide-range of sizes and styles. Those with phone apps are great, as you can shop on your phone while on the train, in a taxi, or at the bus stop.

One of my favorite places to shop is eBay as they provide safe guards for Buyers such as eBay Buyer Protection and have a lot of high-end designer products to choose from.

But, despite eBay Buyer Protection, I always, always, always make sure to check out the Sellers history and business practices. Before you buy, ask yourself:

o Do they take returns?

o What is their return policy?

o What are the shipping fees? Are they reasonable?

o Do they state “always authentic” in their business overview?

o What other items are in their eBay store? Are they similar?

o Are their description and pictures “telling” and “transparent”?

o Feedback rating? I always go with over 500 ratings and with 99% positive feedback.

• Consider Selling Your Old Clothes on Consignment Before You Buy

Selling on consignment can save you much time and give you enough cash to jump start a professional attire shopping spree. But is consignment for you? Consider if you should sell your items yourself through a marketplace such as eBay. eBay makes selling relatively simple. If you are short on time, I suggest using online selling service providers. Fees are generally lower than traditional consignment shops, which usually take 50% the first month and more if the item doesn’t sell quickly. Remember to choose a service with good feedback and history of selling similar items.

Three Easy, Unique Ways to Give Back

2012-02-14T10:32:00.001-06:00

Our guest blogger today is Sarah Spoto, one of our interns here at Luxe Life. Sarah has a passion for giving back, as she started a non-profit organization on her own. Here she shares some non-traditional ways to give.

In this economy, the demand for the charitable work of non-profits is higher than it ever has been, but donations are also falling. We all seem to be faced with a choice of donating and then feeling the financial strain of our gift or choosing not to give and feeling the strain on our conscience. Volunteering your time can be a valuable—and relatively cost-free—gift to give in these times, but what are some other unique ways to give back?

Chose to give a little when you make a purchase- eBay made this easy when they partnered with the non-profit organization MissionFish.org. With MissionFish, you can donate as little as a dollar or as much as you’d like whenever you make a purchase on eBay. The financial donation choice is yours and is made easy and safe through eBay and MissionFish’s partnership. Non-profits that have experienced success with MissionFish include GoodWill, the American Red Cross, and Angel Acres Horse Haven.

Donate a percentage of your sales- Here at Luxe Life, our Sell to Give Program can help you apply MissionFish when you consign your items with us too. Simply chose the non-profit and the percentage of sales you want donated, and when your item is sold, Luxe Life and MissionFish will ensure that the donation is collected and delivered directly to the organization you chose. As an added bonus, we offer reduced commission fees on donated items.

Donate your unused items- The growing number of unused, unworn items lying around your home and closet could provide a great opportunity to support a charitable organization. Luxe Life offers services to donate in your name any unsold items to the non-profit of your choice. Donating your unwanted items won’t cost you, and thanks to Luxe Life’s giving back program, it’s easier then ever - We offer transportation of the items to any organization in Chicago and will provide you with a receipt for tax purposes afterward. For more information about Luxe Life’s giving program, please visit our Non-Profit Services page.

With these easy and unique ways to give back, you can feel good about your donations without feeling bad about your checkbook.

Making the Move

2011-12-07T13:39:00.006-06:00

Hopefully you all know that this past weekend we moved out of our flagship Clark location and into a new, larger space at 670 W Hubbard.

While moving can be very stressful, we have been motivated by the excitement of have more space and a beautiful new setting to showcase our best items! Here are some helpful tips for keeping organized and staying sane while moving:

Pack Correctly: Take the time to pack things in an organized fashion. Keep like items together and be sure to give your boxes detailed labels... this will make unpacking so much easier! Be sure to fully wrap/protect your valuables and breakables - It may take more time, but you'll regret not doing so as soon as the moving van goes over that first big pothole.

Break It Up: It can be overwhelming to look at your entire house/apartment/store and visualize everything gone at once. Take on each room at a project and set goals for yourself. "On Monday, I will have the entire kitchen packed up." This can not only help keep moving organized, you'll also feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete each task.

Start Early: Don't leave everything to the last minute... Procrastination is never productive. If you create a plan for two weeks or even a month out, you can prioritize and break up the process. Pack up the non-essentials first and leave the rest until the last few days before the move.

Sort it Out: Before you move, decided which unwanted items need to be thrown out, donated or resold. Moving is a great opportunity to clean out all the unnecessary clutter that has accumulated over time. Be sure to remember Luxe Life's Consignment Services if you need help deciding what can be resold for extra cash!

Stay Calm: If you feel frazzled, take a second to breathe. Focus for a minute on what you've already accomplished and then set out a plan to finish the rest.

Do you have any other tips for moving? Let us know!

And also, don't forget to visit us in the new space! We're still finishing our unpacking, but are ready for visitors anytime!

Holiday Giving - The Luxe Life Way

2011-12-01T15:08:00.002-06:00

We are excited to offer a new way to give back this year!

Sell to Give Holiday Promotion

Happiness comes in many forms. For those less fortunate, it often includes the bare necessities of life. Give some happiness this Holiday Season by donating proceeds of your item sales to the non-profit of your choice.
Receive 65% back on all consignment items brought in by January 15th 2012 if you choose to donate at least 20% of your items' sales to the non-profit organization of your choice.* Just mention the Holiday Sell to Give promotion when you drop off your items at our valuation center.

For more information on the Sell to Give process, please visit our giving page on shopluxelife.com.

*The non-profit you choose must be registered with missionfish.org.

Dealer Direct Program Launch

2011-11-10T16:48:00.001-06:00

In keeping with our commitment to provide the best in home and personal luxury goods, Luxe Life is excited to announce the launch of our Dealer Direct Program.

The Dealer Direct Program will showcase select products from reputable Luxury Good sellers from all over the US. Select sellers of Antiques, Fine Art, Collectibles, Couture, Jewelry, and Fine Furnishings will be found on Luxe Life’s Premium Collections site for a low monthly hosting fee.

Our primary goal is to bring our Buyers the best-of-the best in new and vintage as well as support our local Sellers in getting the representation these beautiful items deserve. Any questions? Give us a call, send us an email or visit our “Premium Collections” shopping page at shopluxelife.com.

Currently showcasing pieces from over 25 dealers, this program will help connect these incredible furniture items with our discerning global audience.

Birdcage Coffee Table Base

JTA Eclectic Offerings

Los Angeles, CA

Mirrored Gold Leaf Entry Table

IBB Design

Dallas, TX

Imported Chinese Emperor’s Book Box

C.A.I. Designs

Chicago, IL

If you are a dealer or manufacturer interested in participating in our Dealer Direct program, please contact Ariana Puckett at Ariana@shopluxelife.com. She will take good care of you!

Fashion Deals on the Internet - Weekends with Whitney

2011-11-02T14:20:00.002-06:00

Today, Lisa is at the studio taping a special Holiday Shopping episode of Weekends with Whitney. W3! is on NBC Chicago Nonstop every Saturday and Sunday at 12pm. Here are some of the tips that Lisa will be sharing with the show:

There are many sites on the Internet that tout “Deals,” but finding the RIGHT ones can be difficult. You want to be sure to find the sites that not only have the product you want, but also have the assurance that the sellers are reputable, and provide customer service up front and after the sale.

Here are some tips to help the financially fit Fashionista in finding those coveted Deals for the rare and unique items that fit your original style.

Know where to look - Membership sites such as Rue La La and Gilt.com are great, but a lot of product has been manufactured for mass sale - much the same strategy as Outlet Malls. I personally prefer marketplaces such Amazon and eBay, with eBay being my favorite for variety of unique items of new and vintage. It has truly become the go-to-marketplace for finding the steals, deals, rare, unique, collectible and more.

Know what to look for in a seller - Marketplace shopping can be tricky having both sophisticated sellers and novices so you should follow these few basic rules:

Only shop from reputable sellers. Look for how long they have been selling and the feedback they’ve accrued from previous shoppers.
Make sure to know their return policy in advance. Do they accept returns and how many days do they give you? Unless you’re 110% sure of your purchase, only shop from sellers that take returns.
Look at the other items in their store. This can help you tell if they understand what they are selling.

Know your brands and size in each - This helps you save time, money, and frustration. Look for items with classic brand equity, but also keep your mind open as some labels may just not be well known in America. Some of my most coveted items have labels you wouldn’t recognize. Research brands that you don’t recognize - I always check the almighty Google if I like the look of something but am unsure of the quality.

After shopping, don’t forget about the option of resale. Are you fashion fickle? Make a bad purchase? Shoes not as comfortable as they were in the store? Fund all your fancies by reselling your unwanted items. You’ll make money back and do your part to save the planet. Keep these tips in mind:

Buy the best you can afford in the beginning - Brands drive and often dictate values. Brands with high equity sell well, while others of equal “fashion appeal” may be hard to give away. Retail prices do not dictate resale prices.

A well edited closet is the gift of time – Save time each morning by knowing that all of your clothes fit well, feel good, and the style is truly YOU.

Don’t confuse memories with physical objects - We’ve all added emotional value to our items, but unfortunately emotional value doesn’t equate to secondhand market value. If you know you won’t wear it again, sell it BEFORE it goes out of fashion. (Think Prom Dress, Mother of the Bride etc…)

Philanthropically minded? – Sell unwanted items and donate the proceeds to your favorite charity.

The episode will be airing on Saturday, November 19th, so be sure to tune in!

Tips for Item Resale

2011-10-17T11:11:00.000-05:00

Last week, Luxe Life was featured on the Organizing With You guest blogger page with some tips for reselling your clothing, accessories and home furnishings. Here's the original post.

With many Americans both downsizing and tightening their household budgets, the resale and recycling of products like clothing and home furnishings has become a growing trend – both online and through consignment resale shops. But deciding what to keep, what to donate and what to throw away can be a daunting task. While cleaning out your space, remember these tips for item resale:

· Resale prices are driven by labels – When looking to resell used items, the best prices usually come from products with well-established designers or makers. For fashion and home goods, high-end names like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Lalique and Baker Furniture always grab buyer’s interest. If your items don’t have a luxury label, be sure that the condition is good and that you give as much information as possible to the potential buyer. For online sales, sometimes creating batches or “lots” of similar items can persuade a buyer to spend the money for shipping and increase your chance of a sale.

· Vintage doesn’t always mean classic – Just because something is old, doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily timeless. Fashion trends recycle, but matching your timing with the current style du jour can be difficult. The best selling items are usually classic basics by well-known designers.

· Does your item have a story? – The more information you have on background of a product, the better. When was the item purchased? Where? If you did not make the initial purchase, who did? Information and photos are essential with online sales, where a buyer cannot actually see or touch the product. And once you provide information, you must…

· Be able to back-up your claims – Authenticity is one of the key factors in getting the best price for your recycled items. Buyers want to be sure that the item they’re purchasing is really what you claim it to be. Receipts can be great proof of original sale and high-end labels often include authenticity certificates with their products. Also, remember that eBay and other online marketplaces have serious fines associated with counterfeit and fraudulent product sales. If you’re working with an auction house or resale company, most will only take items that have proof of authenticity.

· Keep your pricing expectations reasonable – Remember that the second you walked out of a store with a purchased product, the value decreased significantly. With the rare exception of certain collectibles and vintage items, most used resale products will only sell for around 10% - 20% of retail value. Also, the people shopping for resale items are usually looking for a deal, so even items with the original store tags still attached will usually not have an equivalent resale value.

· You can always ask for help – If you’re still stuck on how to estimate a product’s value, or if you just don’t have the time to put in all the effort, there are many companies with services to help you research, authenticate and sell your items. Appraisers often charge a one-time fee per item, while consignment companies usually take a percentage of the item’s sale.