So I have one amazing coworker who always comes to the office fresh dressed with the best bags, jackets, and accessories. One day we were talking shop (as per usual) and I made a comment about her Hermes belt…she revealed that she purchased it (along with a lot of her other pieces) from a cool high fashion consignment store called Ina. She almost fell out of her cubicle when I told her I wasn’t familiar…after collecting herself she urged me to check it out, so I did.
As soon as I walked in, I peeped many jackets, skirts, jeans, tanks, and accessories from brands like Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Marni, and Versace.
Of course the goods seemed impressive at first glance, but I had to look a little deeper. My first stop was the dress section.
I found lots of cute picks, though it seemed they skewed on the small and expensive side. For example:
This Diane Von Furstenberg summer frock was an affordable $155…
…but only available in a size 6.
This $695 Marc Jacobs ball worthy gown could be seen by some as a steal…
…but it was tiny! So was this Stella McCartney printed dress …
…for $315.
Hmh. So the apparel didn’t inspire, so I walked over to the shoe section…
..and frankly, it was off the chain gang. I found several pairs of Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, and Christian Dior sandals, pumps, and flats for 50-80% off retail!
Even more shocking: They had several pairs in my big foot size (9 1/2)! That’s unheard of in vintage/consignment stores! It always seems whoever dropped ’em off was some old lady with a petite size 6 foot. Anyway, I thought the following made the trip worth it:
These Bally suede sandals were a size 9…
…and a reasonable $120.
These size 9 Jimmy Choo sparklers…
…were $140.
And this pair of size 11 Christian Louboutin cork wedges…
…were only $113!
Even this pair of size 6.5 Gucci Loafers didn’t seem so bad…
…at $245.
And this pair of size 8.5 Christian Lacroix’
…were beautiful at $275. I was thrilled.
Of course, I couldn’t forgot the purses!
The Louis Vuitton Speedy in the top left was in good condition and $435… the Chanel tweed in the back was $840 marked down from $1050. Certainly not a steal, but definitely less that you’d spend at Bergdorf or Barneys.
The cashier and I chatted, and she divulged that celebs like Chloe Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker come in frequently to sell their gently used wares. So at Ina you’re buying star worthy pieces at a portion of the regular price!
If you want to visit, Ina has 5 locations (including one for men): 101 Thompson Street; 21 Prince Street; 208 East 73rd Street; 262 Mott Street; and 15 Bleecker Street. Take a look at their website, www.inanyc.com for more info. They accept American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Cash, and are open 12-7 Sunday through Thursday and 12-8 Friday and Saturday.
You must check it out! You won’t be disappointed!
Smootches!
PS Mark your calendars. It’s that time again…
Last year was mayhem, but I walked out with two dresses and a shirt for like $200! Sick, I know. Get there early!
PSS Don’t forget Pieces’ sidewalk sale!
PSSS Eve is bringing back her Fetish line the next holiday season. According to WWD, the line won’t be logo driven and will offer a range of items, “from premium jeans ranging from $98 to $198 retail to leather jackets that retail up to $1,500.†Guess she’s recovered from that DUI debacle.
