February Shopping Reflections

My fashion-related shopping for the month included some necessities, some things that I planned out, and a few things that were arguably impulse purchases (though all of those were things that I had wanted at some point). I've discussed why I don't set a concrete budget for myself while still keeping close track of my overall budget and limiting my fashion (and beauty) spending based on my other needs. Lo and behold, budget-related circumstances changed this month. My interview-related travels did not require anything more expensive than a train ticket and then I got the job! This allowed me to move funds out of the interview travel category. Some of the freed-up funds will go towards shopping. 

I might have made some of my spending choices out of a desire to celebrate, and that might also be seen in some of next month's  decisions. It isn't necessarily the best thing to celebrate one's achievements by shopping, but as long as one is careful, I don't think there's any real harm. 

I am proud of how well I have done with beauty-related purchases. The concealer was the first thing I bought at Sephora this year (an improvement over this time last year). While I still purchase many skincare items because of my complicated routine, each thing I bought was an identified "need."

Fashion - (TOTAL: $376.72)

• Two-Pack of H&M Tights - $17.95  - I couldn't find black fleece-lined tights anywhere and my old pair was in poor condition. These count as a "need." They're not fleece-lined, but were the thickest pair available at H&M at the time.
• Uniqlo Cotton Cashmere Tunic - $39.90 - I had wanted a gray sweater, but could have waited until next year. 
• Uniqlo Striped Tunic - $29.90 - A St. James-like striped shirt is something I've wanted for a long time. However, I can't really say that I was thinking about buying one anytime soon until I saw this top while shopping for the sweater. 
• Equipment Silk Shirt - $66.00 - One of the things from The RealReal. I had a 20% off coupon that dropped the price to $60, but I needed to pay rather outlandishly high shipping costs ($11.95!) which I averaged out between the two items. 
• Diane von Furstenberg Wrap Dress - $66.00 - Same as above. 
• Skagen Freja Watch - $69.99 -This was a very well planned out purchase and among the things I knew I wanted to buy this year under the rules of my shopping fast. This was a sale price on what I believe is an older style. The current price for new Frejas is $125. 
• J. Crew Crystal Snowflake Necklace - $46.99 - Purchased on Ebay. I wanted this necklace a few months ago when it was on sale from J. Crew for a similar price, but never pulled the trigger. I looked for it on Ebay on impulse and was lucky(?) enough to find it. 
• Pearl Stud Earrings - $39.99 - Purchased on Amazon at a greater discount than is available now. This was a replacement and slight upgrade for something that broke. 

Beauty

• Nars Creamy Concealer in Mustard - Replacement for something that ran out.
• Innisfree It's Real Squeeze Mask Squeeze Mask 15 Sheets - My skin was acting up the week before my interviews and I wanted to go back to these masks because I knew for sure that they wouldn't exacerbate irritation. They're available for a good price on Amazon. 
• Missha First Treatment Essence - Bought during one of those 40% sales (strictly speaking, 30% sale plus 10% cash back) as a back-up for when my current bottle runs out. 
• Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Science Activator Ampoule - Same as above. 

Linking up with Franish and other Budgeting Bloggers, which you can find here. 

Makeup Storage

I've continued editing down my makeup collection in the weeks since I first read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This probably means that I didn't perfectly internalize Marie Kondo's lessons on being decisive and confident about what to keep or discard, but I feel like decluttering is a long-term process. I still agree with Kondo that one only needs to read her book and go through the process once to fully learn its lessons. It's just that it can be difficult to actually part with all the items in one fell swoop.

At this point, I've edited my makeup collection down to basically just the items that I use almost every time I do makeup for work, with the exception of my lipstick collection, two extra blushes, and the eyeshadows from my Naked Palette. (I could even get rid of all the eyeshadow without really affecting my day-to-day life. I've worn it only three times so far this calendar year.) My skincare collection is still large, but comprised entirely of products I actually use. My nail polish collection is maybe still overlarge when I haven't worn any for weeks, but I'll work on that. 

Although there are a lot of other plastic drawer options for storing makeup, I like the clear acrylic cases from Muji best. They're expensive compared to other options, but I like the way they look. The three-drawer and two-drawer cases I bought don't stack perfectly, but are close enough in size. I took Kondo's advice on repurposing boxes to use as trays. I also bought a wooden tray at the Container Store.

I have also gotten into the habit of taking apart what few palettes I have and consolidating into one magnetic palette. I tried a Z-Palette and it was functional, but this one is a much better value, provided that you are not looking for a travel-sized one. I bought it after seeing a recommendation on one of the beauty subreddits. Shipping takes forever because it is shipped from China. The black separator between the little metal pans is foam and is easy to take out. (The redditor also mentioned putting the palette in the freezer to make the glue less sticky so the separator is easier to remove, but I found that step unnecessary.) The little metal pans are magnetic and also easily removed. Unfortunately, I haven't identified a good source for little magnets to use with the palettes. The Z-Palette brand ones are a bit expensive.

Review: Selling Clothes on Twice

The items I sent away to Twice. A lot more stuff would fit in one bag.

Edited 6/29 - I realized I never updated this entry to reflect that I've now gone through the Thredup selling experience twice. My thoughts on that can be found here.

One side effect of all the decluttering is, naturally, that I end with a lot of stuff to get rid off. A lot of things should be thrown away. I donate a lot of the clothes. I've gifted some of the nicer items to my sister. However, after years of not shopping as thoughtfully as I could, I've accumulated many fairly nice pieces of clothing in like-new condition that just don't suit me and wouldn't interest my sister or any of my friends. After dabbling with Ebay to sell some old electronics, I found that I just didn't have the energy to try to sell my clothes that way. 

Incidentally, I don't think Kondo's book would actually advocate spending time on trying to resell things. Her philosophy is more about keeping only the things that bring you happiness in your life and putting aside the rest. I imagine that expending additional effort or potential stress on reselling items that no longer bring joy would not be particularly consistent with her approach. If I was already working at my full-time job when I decluttered, I probably would have donated everything. It wouldn't have been worth spending the time to research my options. 

That being said, both Twice and Thredup make it very easy to sell. They'll send a free laundry-bag-sized thick plastic bag with a prepaid shipping label to you upon request (both selling services are currently free, but I believe Thredup normally charges), you drop it off at your local UPS or FedEx (the label on the bag will let you know where to go) or even arrange for pickup (Thredup) and they'll get back to you with an offer for your items. Both will donate the items that they don't accept for resale. 

Note that the $63.12 offer is only if I choose store credit, the payout was actually $50.50 in cash. 

I can't do a full comparison of the two services yet because I am still waiting on my offer from Thredup, but I can report that I was fairly satisfied with my selling experience on Twice. 

The things I liked about Twice: 

• One of the primary advantages of Twice is that they are much faster. I actually sent my Thredup selling bag almost a week before my Twice bag, but because Twice is a smaller site, they get back to you very quick. It only took about 3 business days to get the bag and from the day I mailed it, it took about a week and a half to get my offer. Every step of Thredup so far has been slower. 
• Based purely off the "letter of the law" when it comes to both sites' quality guidelines, Twice likely has slightly less stringent guidelines for the items they'll accept. Where Thredup explicitly requests new or like new items, Twice says that items "you would give to a friend" are alright. Anecdotal evidence from my college alum Facebook group suggests that Twice generally accepts a larger percentage of items than Thredup. 
• This is not to say that they don't do quality control. Everything I sent was in what I considered like-new condition and you can see that they rejected two items. I had never worn either item and only tried them on at home or at the store. Relatedly, I am a bit surprised that they accepted the Loft cardigan. While I never wore it, there was a tiny defect with the sweater that arose from inconsistent quality with the manufacturing. 
• Twice offers Venmo as an option for cashing out, which allows for an instantaneous payout.To my knowledge, Thredup only offers Paypal, which has a longer processing time. 
• If you reject your offer, its cheaper to get your items back. It costs $4.95 to get your entire bag returned from Twice. It is a pity that they won't just send back the items that they rejected. However, when compared to Thredup's $12.99 Return Assurance shipping fee, its still a much better deal. 

The things I liked less about Twice:

• They accept fewer brands. Regardless of my experience with Thredup, I'll probably end up sending them another bag because Thredup accepts H&M, while Twice does not. 
• They accept fewer types of accessories. I believe Twice accepts only bags and shoes while Thredup accepts things like scarves and belts. 
• Their quality control is maybe a bit more arbitrary than I would like. I think my experience shows that they are careful and scrutinize items fairly closely, but it does mystify me that they accepted the Loft cardigan, but not the Tracy Reese silk top, which looked new to me. It is fairly likely, however, that Thredup is even more stringent. 

Interview Outfits: The Basics on a Student Budget

via Pinterest - This is pretty close to my ideal interview outfit, but I would opt for similar heels of a lower height and thicker heel, and I would be carrying a large black tote. Also, one necklace is enough.

The last two to three weeks have been hectic ones because of a few of those surprise interviews I sometimes allude to. I am, however, happy to report that my interviews went well! Over the last several years of school, I've accumulated quite a bit of experience with dressing for interviews in my fairly conservative field while on a student budget, so I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about reasonably affordable business-formal interview clothes.

While I think there is still a wide range of acceptable styles that fit within the "business-formal interview" dress code, most of my women classmates err on the extremely safe side when it comes to dressing for their interviews. This is perhaps despite the fact that fairly permissive business casual dress codes are the day-to-day norm for most of our corporate workplaces, which suggests that most interviewers probably don't care much about any particular business-formal detail. That constant risk that someone might still care (i.e. that someone thinks pantsuits for women are less formal, that patent leather shoes are not okay, etc. etc.) still drives most of us to make extremely conservative choices.

Over time, I've found myself defaulting to the same uniform every time I have an interview, sticking to the same pieces or colors. Interviewing is stressful enough, so I like to save my mental energy for other preparations.

I should mention at the outset that, because this post is about interview clothing on a student budget, I include some items that come from the fast fashion side of things. As I mentioned in my previous post, sometimes that's just the reality when your budget is limited and your needs are very specific and somewhat time-sensitive. At the same time, a lot of the items are also not the most frugal in their category. I often find myself needing to spend a little more to buy something that is more functional or that fits me better when it comes to interview clothes. If business-formal interviews are an important part of your life, I think some of the more expensive pieces can be worth the investment if they truly are more suitable for one's needs.

The main criteria I've used when picking out my interview clothes in the last several years include (1) affordability and (2) versatility, balanced against the need for items that (3) fit reasonably well off the rack on my atypical top-heavy body type with minimal tailoring. Because of potential issues with fit and because I rely heavily on sale items whenever possible, I do a bit of mixing and matching with suit separates from different stores. Loft, Ann Taylor, and the Limited are my usual stores of choice when it comes to suit separates, both because of price (frequent additional percent off sales) and fit (when compared to say, Banana Republic, which does not suit my body type).

To be honest, I find black suits extremely severe and would prefer a suit in dark gray or navy if I had more time to shop and if budget, fit, reliance on sales etc. were less of an issue. Black separates from different stores generally match better than the different shades or textures of navy or gray that might be available across different stores. Also, I find that black skirts in particular fit my business casual wardrobe better than other colors. 

The Outfit:

• Black Blazer - I strongly prefer two-button styles over one-button styles. 
• Two-Button Jacket (The Limited) - I got the sleeves shortened, but the regular sizes otherwise fit me well off the rack. 
• All Season Stretch One-Button Jacket (Ann Taylor) - I own this jacket and it is alright. Ann Taylor and Loft have not, to my knowledge, generally sold two-button basic black blazers in the last three years, which distresses me. 
• Black Pencil Skirt - Skirts should be close to knee-length.
• Wide Waistband Pencil Skirt (The Limited) - My favorite pencil skirt. The regular sizes are the exact right length for me off the rack. 
• Tricetate Pencil Skirt (Ann Taylor) - I've had good luck with Ann Taylor's pencil skirts too, though I don't own this specific one. I imagine Loft's pencil skirts would be similarly suitable. 
• All Season Stretch Pencil Skirt (Ann Taylor) - See above. I find (mysteriously) that both regular and petite skirts at Ann Taylor generally work well for me.
• White or Cream Shell or Button-Down - Many other colors are also perfectly acceptable, but I find white or cream to work best with my skin tone and be the most universally flattering. 
• Pleated Cap Sleeve Top (Ann Taylor) - I own this top from another season and love it. The v-neck detailing is flattering and the neckline is still modest.
• Silk Sleeveless (Everlane) - I highly favor silk tops from several seasons back at J. Crew for my interviews. I like the way silk hangs on the body when compared to other fabrics. Scouring sale racks for suitable cream or white silk tops could be a good strategy for finding interview tops. Everlane's pricing and quality are also alright, so I include it here.
• Stretch Perfect Shirt (J. Crew) - I generally prefer not to wear button-downs because I find them boxy and unflattering as a general rule with an added risk of gapping and buttons coming undone. After trying button-downs at quite a few stores, I found that this shirt is the best fit for me. 
• I wear a fitted white tank top underneath to mitigate the risk of wardrobe malfunctions. I always use this one or this one (H&M). 
• Black Leather Pumps - I prefer shorter, chunkier heels because I am clumsy. I also prioritize comfort over style when it comes to shoes. Finally, I might not be a big stickler for high quality in this area because I always commute to my interview site in flats or boots if any walking is required. 
• Karmen Pump (Payless) - I can't personally vouch for these, but multiple friends report that they're extremely comfortable, including for a commute.
• Lennox Pump (Naturalizer) - One of my main pairs of interview pumps is from Naturalizer.  These are a very basic pair. 
• Bromstad Grifton (Naturalizer) - These have a bow detail with metal hardware in a design that I find reasonable for interview shoes. They're also 70% off right now. 
• Subtle Jewelry - I stick to a small necklace and a pair of pearl studs. 
• Chloe Necklace (Gorjana) - I wear another Gorjana necklace. There are of course, many options at various price points when it comes to small, subtle necklaces.
• Pearl Stud Earrings (Amazon) - I wore these daily for years before one of the pearls fell off the post. 
• Handbag - I need one that is large enough to carry a change of shoes for walking/commuting and a leather portfolio. 
• Le Pliage Neo (Longchamp) - I have a black Planetes tote which is an earlier version of the same design. I know this is not at a student-friendly price point, but I find that this bag is good for school, work, travel, and pretty much any other context one can think of. It looks professional, is waterproof, and is light and can carry a lot of stuff. In short, I think it can be worth it based on the excellent cost per wear value.