When it came to update my fall wardrobe this year, I tried something different: shopping at Clothes Mentor. My closet has its fair share thrifted pieces, but I hadn’t found a thrift or consignment store in the Philly area that I truly liked shopping at. Before I get into why Clothes Mentor is awesome, let me breakdown what I picked up courtesy of Clothes Mentor Springfield:

Dana Buchman faux leather jacket, $16 (not pictured)
LOFT lace dress, $14
J. Crew pants, $20
Kohl’s chunky cardigan, $10
LOFT sleeveless tank, $8
Macy’s Style & Co. dress (with tags), $14
Black top, $14
Chico’s bolero (with tags), $18
Nine West heeled boots, $24
Delia’s ankle boots, $18

Not bad right? That’s 10 quality pieces for less than $160. My mom and I were honestly carried away — I used every penny of the gift card they generously provided (and more out of pocket!), and my mom picked up a bunch of stuff too. If you haven’t visited your local Clothes Mentor (there’s three in the Philly area!), here’s why it’s worth the trip:

♥ Quality pieces at discounted prices. I love bargain hunting, but sometimes you get what you pay for. At Clothes Mentor, it just happens that what I’m paying for is a new-with-tags Macy’s dress well over 50% off.

♥ Everything is vetted and on-trend. Clothes Mentor is a consignment store, not an average thrift store. Instead of being donations-based, the team at CM inspects items and only accepts clothing and accessories they know will sell. You can learn more about consignment stores here, but basically CM does the hard work for you. Speaking of consignment stores…

♥ You can make some shopping money. Cleaning out your closet? If you’re more the instant gratification type, you can try your hand at selling at CM. I haven’t tried this yet, but they do give you cash on the spot for what they’re happy to buy from you.

♥ It’s eco-friendly. Admittedly, I don’t have the most planet-friendly shopping habits but buying secondhand and saving gently-worn items from landfills is a good start.

As for the Springfield, PA location in particular, I cannot say enough good things about the staff. They are so happy to assist you in any way, and they keep the store in tiptop shape. It’s bright, organized and they have something for everyone. The shop girls had no problem finding items in my sizes and to suit my tastes.

Need more convincing? Just wait until you see the outfits I’ve come up with.

~ Sarah

P.S. Thanks again to CM Springfield for the invite!

Wooden Geometric Necklace, $45.00
Garnier Anti-Puff Eye Roller (not pictured), $11.00

Total Spent: $56.00

I’m just going to say it: I am so proud of myself! So actually, my new necklace was paid for in March, but arrived in April (thanks again, Katrina!) which means I’m pretty officially on a clothing/accessories shopping ban! It’s been easier than I expected, and I’m hoping to keep it up as long as possible (got to save that cash money!). Granted, I have jeans hanging on by a thread though, so we will see.

On to the fun stuff! My necklace (seen here) is the perfect casual statement piece. The colors go with everything, and it’s not too dressy, so it is the perfect late-morning addition to an otherwise plain outfit. It’s a more grown-up version of an old wooden necklace I had that my dogs chewed up (jerks), and it’s been worth every penny so far — especially since I got to pick the colors myself.

I don’t plan on cutting back on my beauty buys, or at least skincare products, because those are daily/weekly products that really make an improvement in my skin’s health/appearance. I don’t have much to say about this anti-puff eye roller except it lives up to the hype, especially at this low price point. Keep in the fridge for in extra cooling effect!

~ Sarah

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