Caught a Light Breeze

The calendar pages of 2020 are blowing away, this year that seemed like it was going to stretch out forever is reaching its end sooner than imaginable. Not much is going to change the moment the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, but for a renewed sense of hope and the promise of a new year bringing better things than the last. 

That's what I'm hoping for anyway.

The Rundown
Navy Floral Jumpsuit J.Crew similar
Cream Denim Jacket Banana Republic
Brown Wool Fedora H&M
Slide Sandals Nine West similar
Caning Bucket Bag Tommy Bahama via TJMaxx
Woven Belt Thrifted similar
Loop Earrings Mejuri
Circle Necklace Gorjana via TJMaxx
Blue Topaz Stacking Ring Hirajule via TJMaxx
Thin Gold Ring Etsy

Italic

Luxury for less has always been the guiding principle of this blog. Lots of things have changed over the years, but I still get excited over a beautiful, quality bag at an attainable price point. So how about a calfskin leather bag made by the same manufacturer as Prada and Miu Miu for $170? If you can live without the designer labels but still want quality, Italic is the company to put on your radar.

Italic is like a direct to consumer brand, only minus the brand - the membership based site is about enabling products to be purchased from the manufacturer at cost. Eliminating the brand removes packaging hallmarks we often associate with luxury goods - the glossy box with a magnetic closure, pieces swaddled in tissue emblematised with logos - but do we really need them?

 

Not just limited to bags, Italic is home to coats from the same manufacturer as Alexander Wang and Armani, shoes sharing a manufacturer with Chanel and Prada, even housewares and bedding from the same manufactures as All-Clad and Frette.

 

Italic's membership costs $120 a year, but considering they sell everything with zero markups, they aren't profiting on product sales, and most members break even on the cost with a single purchase. With the holiday season approaching, I can't think of a better way to gift a cashmere sweater that could retail at $400 for only $65.

The Rundown
Cream Denim Jacket Banana Republic
Cream Sweater Tank Banana Republic
Rust Wide Leg Pants H&M similar
Cream Booties Aerosoles
Green Mini Trunk Bag c/o Italic
Earrings S.V. Decker
Necklace S.V. Decker
Gold Snake Chain Vintage similar
Thin Gold Ring Etsy
Chevron Ring Etsy via Silver Canyon Jewelry
Sunglasses "Meteor" Ray-Ban c/o TJMaxx

Italic provided me with the bag for this post. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Chic on the Cheap.

October Budget

Another month of using shopping as the replacement for everything else in life has resulted in this mess, and I'm going to be honest, I didn't include everything. T.J.Maxx OCD online order placing aside, I did find some unique and gorgeous secondhand pieces at Coco's on the Green, and the prettiest little vintage tapestry bag at Vintanthromodern that I may have spent a tiny bit more on than I should have, but certainly couldn't let anyone else buy them!

The biggest time, energy, and financial drain of the month was that damn leopard dress from L.K. Bennett. It's my fault for following bloggers in the UK, then breaking my rules of not making purchases where I'd have to pay shipping, returning, and restocking fees. Despite how globally connected we are, and the fact that I can get a dress at my doorstep from the UK in three days, size charts and customer reviews are still utterly useless. Based on the size chart I should have been a perfect UK 12, so I took the chance and placed the order with it's $15 shipping fee. Naturally it arrived and was too big; I should have ordered the UK 10, which I would have, had I not scrutinized the size chart. Another $15 to send it back, as well as a $7 restocking fee, and then of course $15 more to ship the new dress... which arrived damaged. To be more accurate, soaking wet. Bizarrely, in it's plastic bag, drenched. It wasn't raining that day and it's hard to imagine what happened, but after a couple weeks and half a dozen emails with customer service, I got a full refund for the damaged dress and my return shipping fees reimbursed. Silver lining, when I placed the order for the replacement dress it was $16 less, so it was almost like getting my original shipping refunded. Now I just need to wear it before it gets too cold.

L.K. Bennett Leopard Dress $148
Gorjana Earrings, $8 via TJMaxx
Vince Brown Velvet Bomber Jacket, $40 via Coco's on the Green
Gorjana Quinn Circle Necklace, $13 via TJMaxx
Gorjana Tanner Bar Necklace, $13 via TJMaxx
Shutz Boots, $60 via The Outnet
Marti x Dani Stahl for Calypso Printed Leather Jacket, $52 via Coco's on the Green
Vintage Floral Tapestry Bag, $42 via Vintanthromodern
Tahari Blush Buclele Coat, $70 via TJMaxx
Numph Striped Sweater, $20 via Coco's on the Green
H&M Brown Fedora, $24
Joie Deer Print Silk Blouse, $30 via ThredUP
Joie Lace Blouse, $12 via Coco's on the Green
Ann Taylor Wide Leg Faux Suede Pants, $50
Lulu's Tan Croc Mules, $15
Banana Republic Sweater Tank, $30
Nine West Calf Hair Leopard Mules, $40 via TJMaxx
14k Gold Ring, $49 via TJMaxx
Golden Cleff 14k Infinity Curb Chain Ring, $59 via TJMaxx
Banana Republic Cream Cropped Denim Jacket, $40
H&M Wide Leg Pants, $12
Gorjana Maya Bracelet, $13 via TJMaxx
Banana Republic Floral Wrap Bodysuit, $20
Gap Factory Black Icon Denim Jacket, $32
Banana Republic Factory Printed Pleated Skirt, $22
Nine West Jewel Strap Patent Pumps, $40 via TJMaxx