why I love Macy's

Yesterday I was working on my Media Kit for Apron Thrift Girl. A Media Kit is needed when you decided that you want to start offering advertising spots on your blog. I was working on my tagline yesterday. I had played around with the one "Frugal is the New Rich" but that never seemed completely fitting to me. Or maybe it sounded a little goofy. My latest one is "Living Thrifty Without Sacrificing Quality or Style". What do you think?

It really say why I thrift and is the message that I try to share with all of you. I don't want to live in a home with junky furniture that cracks when you look at it in a wrong way or an appliance that breaks after you use it three times. I prefer to have expensive furniture like my down stuffed couch (thrifted $150) or my KitchenAid Microwave (thrifted $40) and my closest full of high end brands ($2-$10). I do want quality and I do want style. But I want it for less.

I have three credit cards and each one gives me something in return. We have our Hilton Visa which gives us free nights in Hilton or Embassy Suites. I have my itunes credit card for business that gives me $25 itunes cards depending on how much I spend and I have my Macy's card which gives me discounts and the occasional rewards check to spend in the store. Each month these credit cards are paid off in full so that we don't carry any debt into the following month. Otherwise what we gain from the cards in hotel rooms, itune cards and store discounts would be lost with the high interest rates.

Macy's sometimes has a one day sale. I somehow thought these were once a year as I don't regularly shop in Macy's despite having my store card. I do tend to shop there around Christmas time and I must hit the sale then and just assumed it was once a year. When they have these sales, they not only drop the prices of so many items but they offer additional discounts. I go straight to the clearance racks because these often are discounted an extra 50% off when you checkout. If something is marked down to $20, it will cost $10.00 at the register.

My favorite place to go first is the jewelry clearance section. In Santa Rosa there is an entire table with at least two twirly earring racks and three necklace and bracelet racks.

Here are some of my purchases over the last few years.

$12....Dave isn't sure about this one but I think the bead work is divine. I can't remember who makes it because it isn't marked.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is a Jessica Simpson bracelet. I don't know, I just never thought I'd own something by her. Isn't that silly? And yet this piece is so beautiful. It was $12.50 with an additional 50% off for $6.25.

The brand that is my top favorite, is Lucky Brand. Their jewelry is just so me. These Lucky earrings were originally $29, on sale for $14.50 with an additional 50% off which brought them down to $7.25.

 

This is my favorite piece in my jewelry collection. It's Lucky Brand and I think it was around $15.00. I bought it up in Washington.

This is a matching ring. It's a little over the top being an in your face ring and all but I do love to wear it when I go out for an evening with friends. It has little chains hanging off the flowers that link to the bottom part of the ring. It was around $10.00.

This necklace is by Fossil and was around $8.00.

This necklace is by Rachel Roy. I had never heard of her before finding this necklace by her. I thought it was so blingy and fun. Many of Rachel's pieces are so unique and creative. It was $12.00.

Here are some of the price tags. You can spot the original price, the discount price and the final price is usually taken at the register. Macy's has a lot of convenient price scanners dotted across the stores for you to use. I always do this so I'm not surprised when I get to the register.

Being a collector and ReSeller I can't help but think of these going to Cerys one day. I wonder if she will sell them in some sort of holographic auction house thirty years from now.

I love going over to my vintage jewelry boxes and deciding which piece to wear. I'm not crazy into jewelry but I do love wearing a necklace every couple days or so. I really appreciate that my collection has grown thanks to thrifting and the discount prices that Macy's offers.

A few weeks ago I got a facebook notice that one of my favorite jewelry artist, Amy, was having a significant sale at Olaria Studio. I originally met Amy at the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco. We also did a lovely giveaway for one of her stunning necklaces. When Amy offered a 40% off discount for her relaunch sale I had to buy something. With aqua & red being my favorite color combination I decided that I had to have this.

All her pieces are made from pottery. You can read about her technique here.

Where do you buy jewelry? Any great discount spots to share? Any jewelry advice?

Comments

[This Thrifted Life]

I really like the first and last necklaces. Even with something simple like jeans and tee, those pieces would really make an outfit.

[Apryl]

my jewellery inst anything fancy but I do have a love for large pendant stones set in silver, but they have come from all ovether the place, mainly rock shops oddly enough and a few jewellery shops here and there. I have some special pieces that my dad has given me over the years that he has found at garage and estate sales.. my favourite is a silver and malachite (sp?) bangle bracelet that is quite heavy that he got for peanuts.

beaded things I can make myself, infact I have a ton of bracelets that I made that I have no idea what to do with since I closed my etsy shop down. I may re-open it at a later date when the sun is shining and I'm a happier me.

[kristen]

OK, I loved seeing your jewelry! That necklace by Amy is beautiful! And the Lucky brand jewelry is cool too. I've had amazing luck in the Macy's clearance section too, but I haven't been in for a while. Maybe I need I go check it out.

Do you have all your jewelry displaced in a neat way so you can see everything at once? I need to figure out a new way to display/store all of mine.

[Mermaid Debbie]

Love it all and I do the same at Macy's. My favorite jewelry now was always Kenneth Cole. Now I also love, love Lucky and Fossil too. Fun stuff!

[Tracy]

Oh, the lucky brand necklace that you like so much is my favorite too! Beautiful! You have lots of good stuff for fashion photo shoots ;) Do I see a fashion blog in your future??

[Amy]

I think the tagline is maybe too long?? Not a criticism btw so please don't take it as such -

'Thrifty living with quality and style' ....

Lucky brand necklace is lovely!

[Shara]

I don't really wear much jewelry, but some of your pieces make it very tempting!

[lisa]

I'm like you in that I'm not crazy into jewelry but I do love wearing a necklace now and then. I tend to need my jewelry to be meaningful; not just pretty. I've been blessed to have a friend who makes incredible jewelry and she often gifts me with her necklaces. This past Christmas my son made a necklace for me. I rarely take it off. Other than that, I tend to buy my jewelry at yard sales. Shocking, right? :)

[Megan]

I do not wear a lot of jewlery but somehow collect some. :) At Kohls they have a great clearance section too and they have a few brands that trendy and cute. I know I got a cute necklace for my mother-in-law for $4 for Christmas and she loved it! I have also gotten bracelets there for $3-4. You definantly have to look through to find the unique stuff but I think that is fun.

[Antonella]

Hi Selena
I second Amy regarding the tagline (I worked in adv in the past and now in editorial services).
It's a bit long and I feel you have to concentrate on the positive aspects (like in Louise Hay's affirmations.. "with quality and style" is better than "without sacrificing..")

all in all, I feel that you are so much more upbeat, quirky and stylish than the tagline suggests.. how about words that convey passion, joy, good stewardship of your resources, eco-friendliness..? you sure are a great inspiration on thrifty living with panache..

hope this helps

btw great jewelry!
;-)

[Van]

I have to compliment your photography in this post, the pictures on your dress form are gorgeous!

I like jewelry made by local artists. Fun eclectic beaded stuff and hand painted stuff. I also love it when my mom brings me back small vintage silver chains with dainty charms. She has a good eye for jewelery when thrifting- I don't.

[KS]

I love the Rachel Roy necklace. Your comment about Jessica Simpson is so funny. I do like some of her shoe designs, but I'm a little put off by her name on them. It's ridiculously snobbish of me.

[LeAynne]

The tag Frugal is the New Rich speaks to me. Totally relate. However, after reading the comments above, Thrifty Living with Panache sounds very good.

[heidi]

So jealous ,we don't have a Macy's in Alaska!!! I used to work there in another life and you could be the best dressed girl for a fraction of the cost....

[Jenna Z]

Too bad our Macy's is located in a mall that also has a pet store. I refuse to shop at ANY of the retailers as long as the overriding company that owns the mall profits from the sale of puppies.

[amy zimmer]

You are divine! So inspirational! off to bead shop next Wednesday--Huge market with glass and crystal beads. Can't wait. xo A

[Selena Cate]

Thanks for all the Tag line feedback. Yes, my 2nd one is way too long. Naming things can send me in circles trying to find the perfect name/logo/tagline. I will definitely use Thrifty Living. Much more suiting to what I share here. Thanks again.
xoxo
Selena

[Carla]

All your jewelry is beautiful!! I'm very simple when it comes to this stuff... But now you've got me thinking that a couple nice pcs of unique jewelry couldn't hurt... ;)

[Jane]

The jewelry is cute. I too am impressed with her shoe line. I too love the Macy's sales. My secret jewelry/shoe/tie store? Sears. Really. If I want a dressy pair of shoes or Hubby needs a specific kind of tie for a special occasion (like our daughter's wedding)the Sears clearance section has proven to be golden. Like Macys they have discounts on the sale items. And with the shoes, you can follow the sale prices online and often order them with free shipping.

I don't buy much jewelry but if I am buying for a gift I always go to Etsy or pick it up at Renegade in Chicago.