trial and error

we all make mistakes. some are more costly or more hurtful, or sometimes just a misstep in this game of life. i recently purchased a pair of incredible black vintage riding boots online, only to receive them and find they didn't fit. how could this happen? i measured every angle of my own boots and compared to those listed on the site (Etsy - only the most amazing virtual marketplace ever). i had been searching for a pair of flat vintage boots, since one of the keys to vintage shopping is to keep an eye out.

you like? 

i bought them too soon. i was in a rush to have these gorgeous black boots but alas, they arrived and were just barely too big. since i bought them online from an Etsy seller, there was no chance of a refund. i had already negotiated a better price AND paid $25 for shipping from Canada. i immediately put the word out to my girlfriends, a few showed interest, but nothing serious. i'm hoping they sell to a friend, or i'll have to list them on Etsy again. i could try to consign them, as i'd usually do, but i wouldn't get nearly the same value as if i sold them on my own.

thus, patience is the key. since i'm not completely struggling for money right now, i can wait for the right buyer and price. i'd rather give up less cash than take less. perfect! saving money AND passing on a beautiful pair of boots to the right person.

betty negotiates

today i was faced with the issue of a miscalculated cell phone bill, due to a mistake made by a phone company employee a month ago. the old me would've gotten angry and started to take out my anger with customer service reps, who probably would then be unwilling to give me what i want. instead, i called, very nicely explained the situation, and firmly explained what i wanted the outcome to be. i can tell i'm a grad student on her way to becoming a full-on grown-up by doing this. turned out i had to call one more time, at which point i explained everything again, very nicely but firmly, and before i knew it i had credits on my bill and exactly the outcome i had requested. funny how being nice will get you what you want.....


to top it off, i found some AMAZING vintage boots on Etsy that i had been searching for, and finally had found my size. but the price was wrong. they were $25 more than the other pair i had looked at, so i sent a message to the seller to see if she was willing to negotiate. 3 hours later, she responded positively. i get the magical vintage boots that are the perfect size, and she still makes a decent sale to a fellow Etsy member. ta-daa!! negotiating can definitely contribute to my resourcefulness. and it feels so good to get a good deal!!

shopping in your pretty panties

as i'm sure you already know (unless you've been living in a cave deep in a faraway jungle), this here fancy internet is a haven for online shoppers. if you read the how-to guide i wrote for vintge, thrift and consignment shopping (if you didn't - go here and follow the archives to see all 3 parts) and you are realizing you're not the type to dig through racks and racks of clothes, maybe online boutiques are more up your alley. i am willing to share a few of my prized websites for affordable and stylish clothes.

it can be hard to control your impulses when presented with the ease of the internet, but remember a few things so you don't have to live with any guilt for overspending. 

• head to the sale section first - if you find enough cute things on sale or clearance, you may be able to steer clear of regular-priced merchandise altogether. i've found AMAZING designer pieces for $100 or less, which were originally $300-500. 

• check a few different websites - often times, different sites and online boutiques carry the same or very similar items. browse a few sites and see if you can find a better deal!

• know your measurements - it can be hard to gauge the sizes of different designers and brands. with a little investigating, you can find the size charts and specifics somewhere on the site. this can save you the effort of returning anything.

my faves!

Shopbop : be sure to give yourself a LOT of time to get started on this site. based out of Madison, Wisconsin, shopbop carries a wide range of designers, price ranges and styles. if you're searching for an amazing Alexander Wang dress and can spend 6 hundo, you can find it here. great features like the Wishlist and My Designers allow you to track not only your purchases, but things you've browsed and your little heart desires. also great for sharing with friends and family around the holidays and your birthday!

a page from the 2012 Threadsence summer lookbook. cute!

Threadsence : this super-cute online shop features amazing styles for reasonable prices and inspirational lookbooks to give you ideas. i also follow threadsence on facebook and Instagram, which gives me instant access to new items and looks on the daily (follow me @sakioto). the ladies of threadsence will even run "shop or drop?" campaigns to allow us as the consumers to decide what's listed in the shop or not. it's awesome! 

Nasty Gal : another LA-based online boutique in the realm of Threadsence, with just a teensy bit more edge and punk. i also follow these gals on Instagram, where i can see behind-the-scenes shots and pics of the ladies at happy hour. personally i like seeing the faces behind the computer screen where i buy my cute stuff. there's no denying that with a name like "nasty gal," this website is  sure to fulfill some of my retail needs. 

Zappos : what started as a shoe website has grown into a massive online warehouse of high-end and bargain shoes, clothing, accessories and even beauty products. 24-hour free shipping (both ways, should you need to return anything) and an insanely friendly customer service staff makes Zappos a favorite for millions. if you go in without anything to look for, be careful: you may end up spending way more than you bargained for!

currently coveting these boots from
Zappos. under $100!

and with this, i send you off into the great wide world of online boutiques and shopping. look for good deals and check back often!!