Good Things Come To Those Who Shop: My Ultimate Consignment Store Find

Sometimes, both in life and in fashion, we stumble upon an unexpected blessing. One that we are totally unprepared for. Those, in my opinion, are the best kind.

It was a day just like any other. I was downtown with my friend, and we had just finished a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant. We decided to take a walk down a popular street and peruse the wares. We wandered into a well known consignment shop, and lazily started combing the racks. We spotted a few cute pieces here and there, and kept on browsing. Now, I will preface this by noting that I was in a consignment shop and not a thrift store, so the odds of what happened next were slightly increased, but it was amazing nonetheless.

My friend squealed from the rack she was combing, and began jumping up and down enthusiastically. I ran over to her, and beheld the ultimate fashion find. A beautiful, cream high-end luxury pencil skirt. It had cream leather trim on the sides, flanking zippers that acted as both detail and function (the skirt zips on and off on each side). Granted, they were broken and needed to be replaced, but other than that, it was in excellent shape. Now, unfortunately for my friend, the skirt was not in her size. But it was, incredibly, mine. She turned to me and said, "If you don't get this, you're crazy!" I agreed. I knew zippers could be tricky to replace, but it was definitely worth it in this case. I was at the counter buying it faster than you could say Audrey Hepburn. .

I had a seamstress my grandmother frequented replace the zippers (she used creamy white ones to complement the color of the skirt), and then set my sights on styling it. A pencil skirt has always been my favorite skirt to wear. I love the clean, feminine lines they offer. I decided on pairing it with a fitted taupe sleeveless knit top and nude, patent leather pumps to give my luxury fashion piece a casual cool vibe.

But this story is about more than my amazing find. In the age of fast fashion, sometimes we forget to appreciate true fashion. The essence of it. The effort that goes into making the beautiful things we wear. The designer who designed it, the construction of the garment, the thoughtful selection of fabric and finishes. And when we buy an item from a thrift store or consignment shop, it has its own story, much like we do. And we add to that story (and ours) every time we wear it. The experiences we have in it, how it makes us feel when we wear it, it's all invisibly woven into the texture of the garment. And especially luxury pieces - the patina of leather, for example, means an item has been worn and loved well. But, like us, it still has more love to give, and infinite fabulous experiences that lay ahead.

Not everything in life should be instant. Sometimes, the best things come with time. Saving up for that designer bag, and the joy you feel when you've finally saved enough and are "moving in" to it. Or an afternoon spent persuing your favorite store and finding a top that is so uniquely you. Or like me, popping into a store and leaving with a treasure I never thought I'd have. Just like in life, so many blessings are right around the corner, waiting to surprise us. We just have to take the time.

That's one of the cool things about fashion. If we pay attention to it, it can teach us important life lessons. Like finding beauty in everyday things. The simple joy of self expression. And that patience pays off.

That's all for now, but until next time, stay fabulous!