Shopping | Wishlist #1

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Monki Cut Out Back Swimsuit / Bourjois Waterproof Mascara / Missguided Faux Suede Crop Top / MINKPINK Maxi Dress

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UNIF Six 66 Swimsuit / Quay Sunglasses / Sunflower Choker / MINKPINK Midi Skirt

Hi lovelies! So although it's still pretty cold at the moment in Brisbane it definitely won't be long until I find myself back on the beach. I've been trawling through websites looking for a piece or two to add into my summer wardrobe. 

OOTD | Sheer Graffiti

 Hat UNIF / Jacket Monki / Sheer Shirt eBay / Belt American Apparel / Jeans Vintage / Shoes Nike Air Sneakers

Hi lovelies! I took these photos after a delicious lunch with Erin at Shady Palms Cafe in Stones Corner. The food there is delicious, although I must admit their breakfast menu blows their lunch menu out of the water. Maple syrup glazed bacon? Yes please! 

OOTD | Green with Envy

 Vintage Levi Denim Jacket / Shirt Thrifted / MinkPink Leather Shorts / Beanie eBay / Shoes UNIF Lost Sole Boots

Hi lovelies! Now that weather has finally cooled down I have been having a great time rediscovering the pieces that were too hot to face in the summer. When I initially purchased these leather shorts I barely took them off, and I am so glad to be able to wear them. They make for an essential staple piece for night and day. 

OOTD | Dress in Denim

Denim Dress - vintage via Ra Ra Superstar / White STEREO Sandals - London Rebel / Bent Spoon Pendant - Noosa Antique Upcycle Artisan / Glasses - eBay / Gold Bangle - gift with unknown brand / Rose hair-clip - 

Blue denim is one of my favourite fabrics. It makes all kinds of clothes and I like to think I own a fair amount; shorts, jeans, chambray shirts, overalls and dresses (sadly, no jacket). I found this dress last weekend whilst rummaging through Ra Ra Superstar's court yard sale - see haul here. 

Shopping | Buying on eBay

Hi lovelies! When you first start shopping on eBay it can be a little intimidating. You've no doubt heard many a horror story of goods never arriving, arriving broken or banking details being stolen. I am an avid eBay shopper and I promise it isn't a scary place. Here are my tips for shopping on the site. 

1. Refine your search

If you aren't looking for an exact item a search on eBay can be quite daunting. I highly recommend refining your search by using the categories in the left side bar. When shopping for vintage clothing on eBay I tend to place a limit on price, as well as searching only for specific prices. It can also be a good idea to limit your search results to items listed in your own country. This cuts down hugely on shipping and customs costs. 

2. Always pay via PayPal

Do you have a PayPal account? If not I highly recommend getting one. Not only does it simplify all transactions, but it also gives you lots of extra safety guards. For one your bank account or credit card information does not get released to the seller. Also if you happen to run into any issues with the item i.e. it's faulty, counterfeit etc you are able to raise a claim through PayPal and get the issue resolved quickly and easily. 

For example I once purchased a necklace that arrived broken. After the seller did not respond to eBay messages I raised a PayPal claim and the money was refunded to me within days. 

3. Check shipping costs

Often the item with the lowest price may not work out to be the cheapest once you factor in the cost of shipping. Especially when getting items shipped to Australia the cost can work to be almost as much as the item you're buying. 

When I am searching for a specific item I prefer to sort the search results by lowest price (including shipping). This makes sure that I am getting the best deal overall. 

4. Bidding on Items

When bidding on an item with a long auction time (7 to 10 days) it's always best to save the item and come back to bid on it on the final day of sale. By bidding at the start of the auction you only drive up the price you have to pay at the end of the 7 days.

It's easy to get excited and end up spending more on an item than originally intended. I tend to treat eBay like thrifting, if the clothing is too expensive then it wasn't meant to be. Plus with all the items listed daily something similar is bound to come up again. 

5. Common Sense

If an item seems too good a deal to be true, then it probably is. Back when I first started shopping online I was ecstatic to find a set of Mac brushes for less than $20 on eBay. Now of course that price would ring alarm bells, but my 18 year old self got sucked in and stuck with a bunch of knock off brushes. My advice would always be to read the description of items carefully. 

If you're ever in doubt of an item then it's a great idea to check out the seller's feedback. With many of the larger stores on eBay you're unlucky to experience a problem, but when it comes to individual sellers I always make sure to check.

So those are my five tips for a successful shopping trip on eBay. I'll probably follow this up with a post with tips for selling on eBay as that is a process I found very daunting initially. 

Have you got any tips to add?

Jess x

OOTD | The Mountain Lion

 T-Shirt The Mountain via Urban Outfitters / Choker and Bracelet via eBay / Shoes UNIF 'Lost Sole' Boots via DollsKill

Hi lovelies! So I have come to accept the fact that 90% of the clothing I own was originally intended for men. Like this shirt by one of my favourite shirt manufacturers 'The Mountain'. I have a couple of women's shirts from the line, but when I saw the XL on sale for $10 on Urban Outfitters I couldn't say no. 

OOTD | All Play

Pineapple Picnic Shorts - Gorman / Basic Black Singlet - Target / White Over-shirt - Thrifted / White Stereo Sandals - London Rebel via Famous Footwear / Lattice Owl Sunglasses - eBay / 106 Lasting Finish by Kate - Rimmel

One of my favourite trends this season is fruit. Fruit on everything. However, as with any trend, there is only so much of it one can add to their wardrobe before all of it will become irrelevant when the season moves on. I normally try to find one piece I adore and this time (actually most of the time) Gorman delivered. My beautiful friends Jess and Honor purchased these beautiful Pineapple Picnic shorts for my birthday last week and I am head over heels in love. 

OOTD | Failsafe

 'Ungrateful Life' Crop by Evil Twin via DollsKill / Dungarees ElectricSkinnyVintage / Shoes T.U.K. Mondo Creepers / Pyramid Pack by UNIF via Dollskill

Hi lovelies! Today's photos were my first experiment with my new camera lens. I finally bit the bullet and bought the Canon 50mm 1.4f USM lens ...and it's beautiful. I have only ever used zoom lenses in the past, so I think it will take a bit of getting used to. I shall refrain from getting into the technicalities, but I can't wait to take some beauty photos with this guy. 

Buy Nothing New Month | Trash or Treasure?

You might remember that at the start of the month Erin and I committed to buying nothing new in the month of October. In case you missed it you can find out about the project in more detail here. 

It probably won't come as much as a surprise to any of you, but I own a lot of clothes. I am also guilty of getting emotionally attached to clothing, even if I no longer wear it. So to avoid being swallowed by my own wardrobe I have recently had a big clean out of my clothing. Here are my steps to letting go of the old and making room for the new.

OOTD | Revolution 909

 Vest UNIF via Urban Outfitters / Daft Punk T-Shirt eBay / Shoes Jeffrey Campbell Siobhan

Hi lovelies! So this outfit is always my go-to. Chuck on an oversized band shirt, black platforms and sheer tights and run out the door. Whenever I don't know what to wear this is the outfit I apply to every occasion. Worn with towering platforms it's perfect for a night out, worn with creepers or docs and it's perfect for uni.