Color Blocked Shift by Tom & Linda Platt + Link-Up

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I have admired the designs of American designers Tom and Linda Platt. Their garments seem untrendy to me, that is, they are just designed well. Plus playful, inventive, and not afraid of color!

Last month, I wrote about a dress I made from a Vogue pattern that The Platts designed (they have designed a few patterns for Vogue over the years).

After finishing my sewing project, I found myself daydreaming of  finding one of  their ready to wear designs on the second hand market and started doing some detective work. My usual online consignment sites were dismal, except Poshmark, which did have a few. Finally. I checked out my oldest 2^nd hand market I’ve shopped over the years: eBay.

Ebay was different and I am happy to report this treasure hunter scored this striking color blocked shift/tunic for $40 with a shipping of $10 from Marin County Consignment.

For those of you not quite sure what color blocking is, here’s a definition:  Color blocking is making bold style statements through the combination of relatively large areas of two to three solid colors.

For about $50, I added a wonderfully crafted statement piece to my closet.  This neutral loving lady went in for a bit of color for a change!

Fuscia, red, violet and green are balanced out with black. Every edge is bound with black satin. That is one of the more amazing things, in my book. I went outside my comfort zone with the fuchsia but that is good for the artistic soul once in a while.

eBay

Currently there are quite a few online consignment shops. I have around seventeen listed alone my blog page. When I first started collection vintage dishware and clothing in 2002, eBay was it. Over the years, I have used it to get hard to find items and particular designers that I can’t find anywhere else.

In conversations with other slow fashion shoppers who do wear pre-loved, I am surprised how many have never used eBay. I’ve decided to share my eBay strategy with works pretty good for me.

My eBay Strategies

1. I always start with a very specific search, such as “V-neck purple cashmere turtleneck sz. M/L. If I want to expand the search, I can but this lets me see if there’s anything out there that fits my exact specifications.
2. If I find something, the first thing I check is the seller’s feedback score. I only consider them if they have a 99.6 or higher.
3. I look closely at every photo. eBay is good about having multiple photos, sometimes up to ten. If I don’t understand something, I have no problem contacting the seller to ask questions. EBay has a special form for doing just this.
4. I read the description very thoroughly and again I will contact the seller to measure something if that measurement is missing.
5. I check to see if the seller accepts returns. That you can never return anything you buy on eBay just isn’t true. More than likely you will have to pay for the return shipping. But there are sellers who don’t let you send things back and you need to consider this when you purchase. I’ve backed out at times because I just was sure of the fit or style.

Those are my basic rules and I would say over the years, 98% of my eBay experiences have been positive.

What I don’t buy on eBay

The big items I don’t get on eBay are well know luxury bags; brands such as Yves St. Laurent, Gucci, Louie Vuitton, etc. I don’t consider myself an expert in spotting a fake and so go to resale shops such as The RealReal where I feel more confident that they are the real deal.

I’m even a bit hesitant about mid-level bags too. Rebecca Minkoff and Coach are two that come to mind that I buy from their websites (although I don’t even buy Coach anymore because I think I have enough of that brand).

 

Auction or “Buy It Now”?

Back in the day, eBay was mainly auctions. Over the years, the “buy it now” option has increasingly become more popular. Although, it been a long sixteen years ago, I remember losing my first eBay auction. I started out buying art (prints and etchings of sheep) and was shocked (!) when someone outbid me during the last ten seconds.

I believe the best prices are gotten in auctions, but you run that risk of someone wanting that special thing just a little more that you do. But the non auction is convenient and like other online consignment shops; just pop it into your basket and be done with it.

Some of My Favorite eBay Shops

Crazy Scheme–This is a yarn store from India. They carry two types of silk yarn, both which are created from up-cycled Saris. Both Michelle and I have bought this yarn. It really is beautiful. The flat unplied silk yarn is my favorite. If you knit or crochet, check Crazy Scheme out. Crazy Scheme has 100% feed back!

Designer Label Fashions

Linda’s Stuff-A standby throughout the years. I noticed that their feedback was 99.5%, but I personally would probably make an exception for her. I’ve never had a complaint over the years.

Marin Consign Online- This is where I found my Tom & Linda Platt dress. This site has everything and clothes are at a minimum but what they have are excellent.

Martin 2001-And for old time sake; the shop of my first auction (which I lost). I did eventually get some prints here but not that first time!

The Review-This is a new shop on my list. I just found an amazing sweater there a couple of months ago.

GemsPorium-Gemstones from Thailand-This is not really an online consignment shop but a shop with quite a story. This is where I’ve lost many an auction. Everyone in the world wants this beautiful jewelry. He’s very democratic with his shipping fee-$10, no matter where you are in the world.

That’s it for eBay and me for today. It’s time to get to the most important part of today’s post which is our Slow Fashion Linkup.

It’s Time for the Linkup!

Now to the 2nd Loved 1st Friday Linkup. For inspiration, I’m again kicking it off with a collage of the wonderful slow fashion stylists that linked up last month.

Last Months Slow Fashion Stylists from the 2nd Loved 1st Friday Linkup

I am sure you are already following these creative bloggers-if you have missed some one-here is their IG names and blog titles.

Starting from the top left and going clockwise:

• Penny of Frugal Fashion Shopper -her IG is @frugalfashionshopper
• Michelle of Shelbee On the Edge-her IG is @shelbeeontheedge

• Jodie of http://www.jtouchofstyle.com – her IG is @jtouchofstyle

• Nicole of High Lattitude Style – her IG is @highlatitudestyle/
• AnneMarie of Mutton Years Style & I-her IG is @mutton_style
• Sue of High Heels in the Wilderness and her IG is @highheelsinthewilderness
• Patti of Not Dead Yet Style-her IG is @notdeadyetstyle
• Jess of Elegantly Dressed and Stylish-her IG is @elegantlydressedandstylish

• Carmen Fashion With Compassion-her IG is @forthejoyofit
• Ronnie of Ronnie Rambles On-her IG is @ronnierambleson

• Maggie of Thrift Shop Fashionista – her IG is@thriftshopfashionista
• Sally of Spicy Philosophy and her IG is @sally_moonsilver

• Charlotte of http://www.jtouchofstyle.com – her IG is @jtouchofstyle/
• Michelle Cahill and her IG is michelle_dvm99
• Michelle Clark and her IG is @seechele_styles

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the linkup. Again, to be in the collage, the link title or in the blog, you have to mention what was pre-loved. I hope to see you at the link-up!

The link up button is now on every post that I publish to make it easy for you to link up.

I link up with some great blogs every week. To see who they are go HERE.

Michael gets credit for the photos of me and does a bit of editing from time to time.

Again, thanks for stopping by. Take care……..

It’s time for the May 2nd Loved 1st Friday Linkup which stays open until May 31st.

Any post on a blog, Instagram, Facebook or the like can linkup to this style celebration. If you can copy and paste the URL in the Linky box, you are good to go!

One item is quite OK—a hat, skirt, pants, shoes, purse, or a piece of jewelry.  That item (or items) can be from a thrift shop, eBay, consignment shop, vintage boutique, one of the online consignment shops such as The RealReal–or even something a friend gave you because they didn’t want it anymore.

When you do post, I would appreciate a description about your 2nd Loved item (or items), what type of shop you found it and what drew you to it. Tell as much or as little as you want.

I would like to have your opinion of something. This linkup is to encourage Slow Fashion and this can take many forms. I am considering adding two other categories to the linkup. The two I want to add are: I made it myself” and “it’s been in my closet for ten years or longer”. I’ve haven’t made a decision but I believe sustainable fashion can take many different forms and wanted to see if all of you would be receptive of this idea. What do you think? I welcome opinions to help me make this decision.

If you have never participated in a linkup before, no fear. Go to Linkup 101 guide that is found on my 2 ^nd Loved 1^st Friday linkup page (also found at the top in the tab section).

Just click the frog below to link up and join the fun!

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