Declutter & Consign with Covet Boston

Spring has sprung and it feels so good! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming. It’s the perfect time to start spring cleaning your home, garage, yard and yes…the closet too. It may seem a bit daunting at first but I am sure you can all agree with me, that it feels so refreshing. Decluttering can also be rewarding too because you can make $$$$ for that much deserved spring break vacay you’ve been thinking about.

Last weekend I found a chic way to go green. I was invited by Covet Boston to have a look around their adorable store. Covet Boston is a consignment store located in South Boston. It is a perfect way to consign your clothing and be environmentally responsible, while making room in your closet for more fabulous finds!

Did you know the average American throws out about 82 pounds of textile waste per year? That’s 11 million tons of waste produced every year by just the United States alone. People worldwide now consumes about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year. Sadly, the average consumer prefers shopping new, versus consigned items.

Consignment stores like Covet Boston are trying to change that mindset. When you consign your pre-owned items, like this Self Portrait dress I am wearing below, you give someone (me) the opportunity to love it as well. In turn, this helps reduce your carbon footprint and puts some extra $$$$ in your wallet.

Here are 4  Questions to ask yourself when deciding to part with items in your closet:

  1. Does it fit? If it’s too small or doesn’t seem like it’ll fit again, kiss it goodbye.
  2. Is it your style? Trends seem to shift so fast these days, it seems we have closets full of last season trendy clothes that we do not wear anymore. If you are not wearing it, let it go.
  3. Worn or used it in the last year? Research shows, that most of us use only 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. If you have clothing that still has tags on it and you have not worn it in the last year, chances are you never will. So its safe to say “Let it go”.
  4. Does it have brand power? Top brands can earn you some extra cash. Here is a list of brand names at Covet that will get you a competitive 60% of the final selling price.

Do you shop at consignment stores? What do you do with clothing you no longer wear?  Looking forward to reading your comments.

Let’s Get Consigning!

Photo Credit:  Andrew Swaine

Ladies, please let me know if you have any fashion questions, tips, fave brands, or style that you would like to share or have me feature on my blog!

Animal Instinct

It’s a zoo out there! From leopard and snake prints to zebra and tiger stripes, it seems like all the trendsetters are going wild over animal prints. Why? Because it is the secret wardrobe weapon that adds easy drama and glamour to almost any outfit.

To be honest I was not always a fan of animal print. I thought it was too loud and felt intimidated trying to tame animal prints. However, my mom is a bit of an animal print addict. She always makes it look so chic and effortless. So, I got some styling tips from her. Mom told me to start small and “Experiment until you find what works for you, there’s really no wrong way to wear animal print”. Experiment I did and found the winning combo for me.

I’ve learned that a little bit of animal print can go a long way. The simpler and more monochromatic the rest of your look, the more the touch of print will pop. Accessorize with a narrow belt to draw attention to your waist, or maybe a scarf to draw the eye up toward your face or my current favorite a pair of animal print booties that adds just the right amount of ferociousness to an outfit.

Scroll through the ensembles I’ve created and let me know how you like to pay tribute to this trend.

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine

My Valentine’s Day Edit

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to start prepping the ultimate date night (or day) outfit.

There’s no one right way to do Valentine’s Day. However, the one thing I do know is that you can never have enough red or pink. I decided not to shop for this holiday. I wanted to dress up some pieces that I have in my closet.

So, whether you’re staying in for a cozy night with your boo or catching a movie with your girlfriends, I hope these inspiration shots guarantee you a fashionable holiday.

1. Fancy Romantic

I am always up for a dressy romantic sit down dinner… or lunch. If you’re like me and love to get dressed up then this look is for you! Personally, I wanted a dress I could wear for Valentine’s Day and which could also easily transition into spring. That’s why I chose this floral dress paired with some red booties. I just adore the relaxed feminine silhouette and the filly sleeves.

The simplest ways to transform this Valentine’s Day look from day to night! ~ Add red pumps and a cute bag. I know you ladies have a floral dress somewhere in your closet just add red pumps, a cute bag some red lipstick and you’re good to go.

2. Girls Night Out

Valentine’s Day is not all about romantic relationships. Although your significant other is important so are the lovely ladies in your life. So, throw on something sassy like this pink and white slip dress, grab your crew of loving and lovable gal pals and hit the town for some drinks and dancing.

3. Netflix & Chill

No need to get sloppy in your sweats if you’re chilling at home. I love this oversized fuzzy sweater paired with leggings or jeans. The comfort level of this sweater suits any homebody activity. So turn on Netflix, order in the Thai food, and hunker down in utter coziness.

Gift for him or her

If you’re still stumped on a gift for your loved one. You need to check out these stunning watches by Danielle WellingtonYou will receive a free heart charm with any leather watch purchase, free Valentine’s Day gift wrapping and free worldwide shipping! Use my code “NikkiLiving” for 15% off your purchase ?

Let me know how you’re celebrating the day of love this year! Whatever you do, I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Happy Valentine’s Day.

Photo Credit: Andrew Swaine