Shopping

Shopper’s Guide to the Penny Pincher Boutique, Part 2

Last updated on January 23, 2020 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Hermes Black Kelly 32 Retourne in Togo Leather

The Penny Pincher Boutique is an award-winning women’s consignment shop in Westchester County, New York. Specializing in luxury designer brands, we pride ourselves on having a high-end inventory for budget-savvy fashionistas, just like you! In Part 1, we looked at exactly what types of products you can expect to find on our sales floor. Now we’ll take a look at the level of quality and service you can count on from us.

Quality Standards at the Penny Pincher Boutique

While the high-fashion designers whose clothing we carry represent the highest standards of quality in the industry, we realize that the consignment model under which we operate here at the Penny Pincher opens up a few questions. But you can rest assured that at the Penny Pincher, we carefully assess each piece that we accept, ensuring both authenticity and condition.

Chanel Jumbo Black Caviar with Phone Case

Our authentication process includes evaluating pieces based on both the level of workmanship associated with the designer and careful scrutiny of any trademark insignias and hardware. We even keep reference pieces we know to be authentic on hand in order to compare items. As a result of our confidence, we are glad to offer our customers a money-back guarantee if a piece they purchase from us proves to be anything but authentic!

As far as condition is concerned, we carefully inspect each piece before accepting it and will reject anything with significant signs of wear or noticeable flaws. When pieces we do accept include minor markings such as pin holes, you’ll find photos of the issue along with a description of it attached to the piece.

Service Standards at the Penny Pincher Boutique

orange hermes 35 birkin in togo leather with palladium hardware — Orange HERMÈS 35 Birkin in Togo leather and palladium hardware

Along with the exceptional quality of the inventory at the Penny Pincher Boutique, we think you’ll be impressed with the level of customer service we provide. While you won’t have to worry about pushy sales people that are clearly on commission, you will benefit from the expertise and helpfulness of our sales professionals.

In addition to our in-store offerings, you can also see new arrivals online and call in to ask questions about them. (Of course, you’re always welcome to make a purchase online as well.) If you have something specific you’re hoping we get in, we’ll even help you fill out a “Wish List” that we’ll help you track. We’ll then give you a phone call to let you know when a piece that fits your description arrives in our store.

We hope you’ll come visit the Penny Pincher Boutique here in Westchester County, New York, and give us a chance to show you how amazing consignment clothing can be!

Penny Pincher Boutique

We’re Westchester County, New York’s luxury consignment shop offering women’s designer clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags and much more. Visit our shop at 184 Harris Road in Bedford Hills, New York or visit us online at www.pennypincherboutique.com. You can also find a selection of our items on sale on eBay. We ship throughout the United States.

Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram Page and may represent products already sold.

Shopper’s Guide to the Penny Pincher Boutique, Part 1

Last updated on January 23, 2020 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

If you’ve never shopped at the Penny Pincher Boutique, located just north of New York City in Westchester County, you are in for a treat! Shopping for designer clothing has never been so affordable, and shopping at a consignment shop has never been so spectacular! You won’t have to deal with high-pressured, commissioned sales people, but you will be treated like the special woman that you are and given the level of service you’d expect from any high-end clothing boutique.

Whether you’re a connoisseur of fashion or feel like you could use some expert advice, The Penny Pincher will not disappoint.

Impressive Inventory at the Penny Pincher Boutique

On our sales floor, you’ll find a carefully curated assortment of like-new as well as gently used women’s clothing, all made by famous names such as Louis Vuitton, CHRISTIAN DIOR, and Vera Wang. (Please see our website for a complete list of designers whose clothing we carry.) While the majority of our inventory is comprised of designer women’s clothing, we also carry some related categories of items for fashion-loving women: designer shoes, designer purses and handbags, fine jewelry as well as costume jewelry, and a variety of fashion accessories.

chanel jewelry assortment — Chanel jewelry assortment

At the Penny Pincher, you’ll also find a smaller assortment of well-chosen items unrelated to women’s fashion that are often of interest to our clientele: small home furnishings, men’s accessories, and luxury gift items.

Seasonal Inventory at the Penny Pincher Boutique

At the Penny Pincher, we realize that our customers value a streamlined, comfortable shopping experience. As a result, you won’t find our displays crowded with out-of-season clothing. Instead, we’re quite particular about the types of items we carry at various points in the year.

gucci gold heart belt — Gucci gold heart belt

For instance, as snow begins to enter the picture, we specialize in warmer clothing along with partywear suitable for the holidays. Then after the new year, we add an assortment of cruisewear in fun, tropical colors! As spring rolls around, you can expect to start seeing capris and tops with ¾-length sleeves, along with lighter colors.

As spring gives way to summer, we’ll also carry short-sleeved and sleeveless tops and tanks, along with shorts and sandals. And then as the temperatures cool, you’ll find darker colors along with heavier, full-length pants, fall sweaters, and boots filling our sales floor. Fashion accessories, jeans, and other fashion basics can be found all year.

Now that you know what to expect as far as what we carry and when, you’ll be delighted in Part 2 to find out about the high standards of quality that we maintain, along with the fabulous service that we offer our customers.

Penny Pincher Boutique

Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram Page and may represent products already sold.

Seasonal Forecast: Sweater Weather

Last updated on December 17, 2019 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Sweaters are definitely must-have wardrobe pieces for the fall and winter months. I mean, think about it: it’s not called “sweater weather” for nothing! While they do tend to be pricier pieces than our warmer weather tops, classic sweater styles are pretty versatile, with each one able to be paired with a variety of bottoms and adjust to both casual and more professional or dressy styles. The trick to looking stylish in sweaters is to understand how to layer them and pair them with other pieces to create a flattering overall look.

The Striped Crewneck

Stripes are classic, no matter where you find them, and this sweater style tends to be slightly roomy with a nod toward collegiate style. For a slightly more modern flair, you can choose a color combination that’s bold, bright, or particularly in vogue. For shopping and other errands, this sweater will look great with your favorite skinny jeans and ankle boots. When you get home, you might want to switch the jeans for yoga pants and your boots for slippers, but your smart-looking crewneck sweater will be as comfy as anything else you can find in your closet.

The Cashmere V-Neck

As classic as they come, the cashmere V-neck sweater comes in plenty of color options, from neutral to bold. Easy to dress up or down or layer with other pieces from button-ups to scarves, this sweater style can be paired with a classic A-line skirt during office hours and then your favorite pair of jeans for your choice of after-hours activities. This style sweater is as timeless as they come.

The Oversized Cardigan

Also known as sweater coats, oversized cardigans are both timeless and extremely popular this season! Think blankets with sleeves: what’s not to love about these?! Perfect for pairing with jeans or leggings and a slouchy T-shirt for weekend relaxing, your favorite cardigan can also be paired with knee boots and a bodycon dress for a night out on the town. You’ll look stylish while staying warm and cozy when you pair the right sweater coat with a streamlined dress.

The Turtleneck

We’re the first to admit that some turtleneck styles are definitely dated looking, but that doesn’t change the fact that many are definitely timeless. A happy medium between sweater and scarf, a turtleneck in the right color can look great with a variety of bottoms for both casual and dressed-up style. Your favorite turtleneck can be paired with a leather miniskirt for a date night and then skinny jeans on the weekend.

Knowing which sweaters to pair with which bottoms and to layer with which other pieces in your wardrobe is key, making sure that the silhouette and overall effect is both attractive and uncluttered. A great way to do this is to make sure to start with versatile pieces like these and combine them with a few new trendy accessories each season.

Penny Pincher Boutique

Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram Page and may represent products already sold.

The Trick to Choosing the Right Floral Print, Part 3

Last updated on November 19, 2019 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Chanel Taupe Rabbit Fur & Lambskin Leather Flap Bag

When it comes to choosing prints that look right on you, there’s a lot to consider. From color and level of contrast to scale and shape type, there’s a lot that goes into pairing the right pattern with your unique coloring, body type, and personality.

When it comes to floral patterns (see Parts 1 & 2), there’s even more that goes into it: density and style of floral pattern will now come into play as well. Not only do you want to make sure that the floral pattern suits your age and personality while drawing attention to your best features and away from those that aren’t your favorite, but you also want to make sure that the pattern actually suits the piece it’s on — and the occasion.

The Right Floral for the Right Piece

Maybe you really like the look of a high-contrast, stylised floral, but an entire dress in such a bold pattern would look bad on your body or at your age, or with your lower contrast coloring. Maybe you could pull in that kind of print in a smaller article of clothing, like a scarf or even a tank or cami worn beneath a jacket. Or maybe you want to draw attention to your slender waistline while camouflaging your abundant bust area; then wear that bold floral in a skirt and keep the top dark and solid.

Generally speaking, the smaller the article of clothing, the denser and smaller you’ll want the floral print to be. So you could get away with a sparser, larger-scale floral on a long, flowy, long-sleeved blouse than you could a fitted, cap-sleeved top.

The Right Floral for the Right Place

Fall styles at the Penny Pincher Boutique

This time, instead of talking about where on your body you might want to wear a particular floral print, we’re thinking about where you’re going in that outfit. Regardless of your personality and preferred style, there are certain levels of appropriateness for various types of events. A lot has to do with what kind of vibe or image you wish to project.

We’ve discussed how pattern will reflect personality before. Let’s say that you’re drawn to feminine florals and bohemian styles. You can certainly wear clothing that suits those characteristics; however, if you’re going for an interview for a job where reliability and maturity are sure to be important characteristics, you’ll want to look a bit more classic and conservative. Perhaps add a floral scarf to that otherwise dark, solid-colored or pin-striped suit, but put the whimsical-looking floral maxi skirt and pink blouse with the billowing sleeves away for another day.

By contrast, let’s say you tend toward a relaxed look with plenty of checks but are going on a romantic date. For the evening, you’ll want to consider going out on a limb and lean on your feminine side a bit with a delicate floral dress. If the print feels too overwhelming and far from your comfort zone, maybe add a solid jacket or sweater over it.

Penny Pincher Boutique

We’re Westchester’s luxury consignment shop offering women’s designer clothing, jewelry, shoes, handbags and much more. Visit our shop at 184 Harris Road in Bedford Hills, New York or visit us online at www.pennypincherboutique.com. You can also find a selection of our items on sale on eBay. We ship throughout the United States.

Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram Page and may represent products already sold.

Sources Cited for this Series:

https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2014/07/prints-and-patterns-natural-vs-stylised.html
https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2018/03/how-to-choose-prints-florals.html
https://insideoutstyleblog.com/2012/03/how-to-interpret-prints-and-patterns.html

The Trick to Choosing the Right Floral Print, Part 2

Last updated on November 19, 2019 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Di Modolo white gold 18k diamond Centauro bracelet

Do you think you look good in floral prints? The real question is what types of florals prints look good on you; everyone can pull off some kind of floral.

When it comes to floral prints, there are many options, ranging from bold, attention-getting ones that have sparse, large-scale elements with high-contrast colors to subtle floral patterns with high-density, small-scale elements with low-contrast colors. And of course, there’s plenty in between. As you try to discover what kinds of florals will best suit you, your age and your personality will certainly come into play.

Floral Style Distinctions and Age-Related Recommendations

22k yellow gold Crome Hearts Dagger necklace

One distinction among floral prints relates to stylized ones and natural-looking ones. One floral style on the natural end of the spectrum is that of a Calico or Liberty Print. This kind of small-scale, natural-looking floral print might look like it’s borrowed from your grandma’s kitchen curtains, but on a pretty young woman, it can look dainty and feminine rather than old fashioned. On a more mature woman, though, the sophisticated look of stylised floral prints gives a youthful appearance that’s both modern and bold.

Of course, if you’re a young woman who’s trying to appear more sophisticated, you may want to opt for a bold, stylised floral print. And if you’re mature and want to have that grandmotherly look, by all means, go for the calico!

Finding Florals that Help Your Personality Blossom

Chanel navy & red fridge scarf and red quilted gloves

In Part 1, we talked about how sparse, large-scale, high-contrast prints will fail to be slimming because they will slow the eye to focus on each individual element. If you have a large body, we’d generally suggest you steer clear of those. But there’s an exception to that “rule”: If your personality is dramatic and bold and you wish to draw attention your way, feel free to wear those kinds of prints anyway!

By contrast, just because you’re already thin and petite doesn’t mean that you have to wear high-contrast, large-scale prints; if your personality is more feminine and you prefer the softer look of smaller patterns, by all means, go with what appeals to you. You may want to at least choose a high-contrast print or break it up by pairing a floral top with a solid-colored skirt — or vice versa.

The Right Floral for the Right Place

Even if you love those bold floral patterns, you still want to consider where on your body or outfit you allow them to adorn. If you have large hips, you probably won’t want a skirt with such an attention-getting pattern, but a top with one would be a great choice! And if you like bold, stylised prints but realize that they’re not as well-suited to your body type as you wish they were, you can tone down the effect by choosing a lower-contrast or smaller pattern with a stylised floral design.

In Part 3, we’ll take a look at a few other considerations when choosing a floral print.

Penny Pincher Boutique

Images are from the Penny Pincher Boutique Instagram Page and may represent products already sold.