I needed to go NYC treasure hunting on a budget, and fast.
I’d been invited to represent TrustedHouseSitters at Helen Woodward Animal Center’s annual gala. That was quite an honor, given THS’ role as THE largest travel pet sitting community in the world. Garrett and I get the majority of our pet sits using the THS service, and we like their business model. It would be a fun opportunity to meet and mingle with other like-minded animal lovers, and support a great cause.
BUT….I didn’t have anything appropriate to wear…no fancy shoes…or cocktail wear…! Nada. Yikes!
If I was to go, I’d have to buy a new dress, shoes, possibly shapewear (hopefully not!), some jewelry, and maybe some makeup. I would only wear this outfit once, so I didn’t want to spend too much money on it. Oh yes, and the shopping would have to be done online, in Southern California or during my last few days in NYC. Was this possible, or a pipe dream?
I challenged myself to put together the perfect ensemble for less than $200, all told. The whistle sounded, and my adventure in treasure hunting on a budget began.
My first order of business was to find a dress. I looked at Rent the Runway, but didn’t find anything I liked in my size for my dates. It was prom season, and in-person weddings were going to be a big thing this summer, so the pickins’ were slim. Bummer!
NYC is one of the pre-eminent consignment / thrift / resale shop centers of the world. When I was a single mom I developed a love of treasure hunting at consignment shops. It was a great way to make my money go farther, and I never knew what I might find. Back in those days, a local news anchor who happened to be my size often sold her show clothes at my favorite consignment shop. I scored lots of great treasures thanks to her over the years.
Before I set out I asked the universe to help me find a beautiful, appropriate (eg, not too sexy) dress I could move in without worrying about ripping it or exposing myself. I was excited to see what I found.
Monday I headed out with a Google Maps map of the most promising treasure hunting spots in midtown and parts south loaded on my phone. I visited 17 thrift stores and tried on countless dresses. Long ones, short ones, fitted ones (oh my!), A lines…Nothing made my heart sing. The only thing I gained was sore feet from all that walking.
The next day was the most beautiful day of our last week in NYC, so Garrett and I spent the morning strolling through the New York Botanical Garden and then lunching on Arthur Avenue. What a great day full of blooms, the sweet smell of lilacs, and amazing Italian food. Such fun! On the way home I jumped off the train early and headed to the Upper East Side to continue my quest for a dress.
I had identified 15 women’s consignment shops on the Upper East Side, but I found fewer dresses to try on this time and was tired from a day filled with walking.
As I entered the second-from-last stop on my list, I saw it. A short, glittery dress that’s simple yet sophisticated. A pearl-colored dress with sequins of various sizes sprinkled across it. A dress that fit, no shapewear or alterations necessary. The price? A mere $76! I dubbed it “champaign bubbles” and congratulated myself on an afternoon well spent. The first part of my challenge had been achieved, and I floated home with my treasure.
I have some amethyst beads I’ve been toting from place to place for years. Beads I picked up on various trips to Seattle and NYC. Amethyst is my birthstone, and that of my Nana, so it has special meaning to me. I’ve been carrying these beads (a broken necklace, actually) all this time but haven’t worn them in ages. This occasion was the perfect opportunity to share their beauty with the world.
I have a small bag of basic beading tools and supplies in Mom’s closet because I make her new earrings from time-to-time. All I need to do is to lengthen the necklace 6 inches or so and make a pair of matching earrings (How did I not have matching earrings???) The light color of my dress would provide a wonderful background for the deep purple necklace.
There are amazing bead / jewelry supply stores in NYC, but, unfortunately, not as many as there used to be. I set out with a small list of potential sources and found just what I needed at Garnet ImpEx USA, Beads of Paradise and Tohoshoji. My total cost? $79. I’m going to keep the necklace and earrings after the gala’s over because I may need something fancy again sometime, and they will pack down to almost nothing. And because I just can’t part with my precious amethysts.
Our time in NYC was drawing to a close, and I didn’t want to have to pack another pair of shoes (Two’s my limit when we don’t have the car), so I decided to delay shoe shopping until we reached Southern California. Then Garrett and I decided to go to Williamsburg.
I had to return the muffin pan we’d borrowed from Clarice and Tom, and it was a beautiful afternoon, so Garrett decided to join me. After returning the pans and saying goodbye to Tom, we enjoyed dinner and drinks on a beautiful café patio, then walked to our old “home” subway station in Williamsburg.
Along the way we passed three vintage clothing shops. Heady with my success at finding a dress and throwing my “pack no more than 2 pair of shoes” rule to the wind, I suggested we stop in to see what they had. We had no luck in the first store, but we hit paydirt in store #2. Garrett found 2 pairs of shoes, both flats that fit me, and neither pair was scuffed or soiled anywhere except the soles. One was beige and white, the other sparkly light gold. Of course I went for the sparkles (You can never have too many sparkles!) Total cost: $10.
I’ve never been a big makeup girl, so the decision to go with more of a natural look was an easy one. I have some tinted sunscreen that creates a nicely-finished look, and I also have a lipstick that I bought years ago when Mom and I went to classical music concerts on a regular basis. Total additional cost? $0.
So there you have it. For a total of $165 I was able to put together a beautiful outfit for the upcoming gala. Yay! And boy did I have fun in the process!
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