shopping

As you’ve probably figured out by now, I love a great bargain.  There’s nothing I enjoy more than scouring the clearance racks, pouring through endless Ebay auctions, and frolicking through the aisles of discount retailers. So when the groovy folks over at Daffy’s offered me free giftcard to go on a mini-shopping spree and give my review of the experience, you betcha I was willing to squeeze in one last hurrah before starting the 30 for 30 Challenge!

If you’ve never been, my quick take on Daffy’s is that it does require a tad bit more patience and a sharper eye to separate the wheat from the chaff than some of the other bargain shops I frequent.  But I have to say that whenever I do take the time out, my patience has always been richly rewarded.  Some of my biggest scores have come from this place, including a $3000 shearling coat marked down to… wait for it… $300!  To me, Daffy’s is like a hidden gem in the realm of bargain shopping in the city.

On this particular excursion, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had some great pieces by Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore and Les Copains in stock.  I walked away with these two numbers:

RIGHT: $49.99 marked down from $168, Plenty by Tracy Reese
LEFT: $16.99 marked down from $60, Nick & Mo

I can’t wait until spring to rock these babies with a pair of cute heels!  Speaking of cute heels, I was crushed when I couldn’t find these in my size:

Another item that didn’t make the cut due to sizing issues was this amazing bold print dress by Nanette Lepore:

Things to keep in mind if you decide to shop at Daffy’s:

1. Take your sweet time in the shoe aisle.  I’ve gotten some crazy steals here, including two pairs of Irregular Choice heels (seen here and here) for just $13 each!  Not to mention Members Only boots for just $30!
2. Bypass the handbags (unless you prefer synthetic materials).  I personally am very hard on my bags and carry tons of crap, so I need higher-quality materials that will last.
3. Check out the home goods section.  I have a mini-redecorating project planned for my living room this spring, and I spotted all sorts of vases, bowls, dishes and figurines that will look perfect in the new scheme.
4. Try things on and watch out for damages and irregularities.  It’s one of the perils of discount shopping, so just be aware.  For instance, I was stoked to find an identical pair of those Members Only boots in black for just $20 until I realized the zipper was broken.
5. Be on the lookout for lesser known labels.  I’ve noticed that Daffy’s tends to carry a lot of European designers that I personally have never heard of (although I’m no fashion insider).  But sometimes I’ll go home and Google the name, only to find that they’re pretty well-known and respected labels.
6. The one on 34th street in Herald Square has the best selection, in my opinion!

And that’s all folks!