Consignment Chic
One thing that I have always had a knack for is consignment shopping. Ever since my fashion love-affair began in high school, I've lived for the challenge of finding the perfect wardrobe piece for a discounted price. Some of the most loved items in my closet at the moment are from consignment boutiques around the Maryland and DC area. They are also the items that I get the most compliments on from day to day.
Let's take for example, the classic Kate Spade that I have used every work week for the past 4 years; I bought it for 75 percent off retail price *with the ORIGINAL TAGS still attached. Or the knee-high Prada boots I wear on repeat every Fall and Winter. They may not be the trendy design from "this season" but, I promise you they will never go out of style. Several of you have even reached out to me about my Salvatore Ferragamo vintage cross body that I'm often sporting on Instagram stories on the weekends. Surprise: I got it for less than $50! When I found it, the poor thing was wedged between a bucket of "last chance" items and a collection of loafers that my grandmother might wear.
My point is that consignment shopping will never get old for me. There is always something beautiful and unique to discover when I pop my head into one of these cute boutiques. Incorporating these treasured pieces into my collection make me even more excited in the mornings when I'm getting dressed and I feel that they add an extra element of personality to my style.
With that being said, it was really no surprise that when #BossBabe, Carmen, from Current Boutique reached out to me and wanted to collab, there was no way I was turning it down. I had the pleasure of visiting the Current Boutique in DC last month and wound up spending 3+ hours inside shopping and chatting with the ladies. The store was absolutely enormous and they just had so much to choose from! I was narrowing it down between this look and a silk Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress. Although the dress was gorgeous (honestly, I may be back for it), I chose to style something with individual pieces that I could wear from morning to night.
As you may be able to tell, I generally sway toward the more feminine pieces like flowy dresses, skirts, and lace. I don't own a ton of trousers because they don't normally compliment my short frame. However, the moment that I tried on these pants I knew it was a match. The asymmetrical design of them is so unique and the bow adds a feminine touch without going over the top. I had already grabbed a relaxed chambray top by Paper Crown and it paired seamlessly with the white pants for Summer.
I finished the look with brand new Michael Kors heels, and a JCrew straw clutch (super trendy right now). The full look, all 4 pieces, from Current Boutique was under $150. There's honestly no better way to walk out of a store; feeling confident in an outfit, knowing that you can style each piece in several different ways, and spending considerably less than retail price.
I was fortunate enough to shoot this Summer look at the brand new Anthem House in Baltimore, down the street from where Sam and I live. We had been watching this gorgeous, luxury-living apartment structure being built for the past year or so and, just about a month ago, it opened to the public.
A few Sundays back, Jade and I were able to take a private tour of the full location before I had to leave for a quick trip to DC. We immediately fell in love with the 3rd floor pool deck overlooking the city. The views were unbeatable and the fact that the guests at the Anthem House can relax in the infinity pool while admiring one of the most iconic buildings in Baltimore, the Domino Sugar Factory, is a dream come true.
We spent our morning on the deck watching the sun rise, taking selfies, and shooting this consignment chic look before wandering around to check out the rest of this amazing apartment building.
What is your favorite piece you've snagged while consignment shopping? Tag us in it via Instagram or Facebook!
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xo Anna Elizabeth