Looking Your Professional Best for Less

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

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

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!