Cashing In On Your Unused Wardrobe!

As most of you know, part of Chica Guapa's mantra is to: reduce, reinvent and recycle.  Each year, I host a Clothing Swap Event, which is a great way for each of us to clear out some clutter and put our clothes back into circulation. The swapping continues among friends and family, even after the event!  For those items that are not swap worthy, donating to one of the many needy charities is also always a great way to recycle, while giving back to our community.  Another great option, that has become more popular than ever, is to consign your gently worn clothing and accessories. Consigning not only puts some of our best pieces back into action, but also pays us back partially for our investment!

I decided to take a spin at consigning a few great pieces from my wardrobe that I just don't seem to wear anymore. I had heard wonderful things about a local boutique on Whitney Avenue in Hamden called Karma Consignment, and contacted them to find out how I should proceed.
 
First, Karma specializes in high end clothing, shoes and accessories for women. They take in such brands as Coach, Dior, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Shoshanna, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Free People, BCBG and more! Next, appointments are required in order to properly review all of your items, which are limited to a max of 15 pieces per appointment and per the 60 day contract period. They are currently booking about a month out, so keep that in mind if you have seasonal items. And last, items must be newer than five years and must be clean and wrinkle free.

After patiently waiting for my appointment date to arrive, it was finally my turn to head to Karma and see which pieces of mine would "make the cut"! At my appointment, I had the pleasure of meeting the boutique owner, Liz Wilson, who is a real pleasure to work with! Her great sense of style and flair for fashion helps to ensure that the 300 new pieces she takes in every week are current styles that will keep Karma's inventory fresh and new for their clients.  While Liz reviewed all of my pieces, I shopped around and couldn't believe the great selection and prices for such top designer labels!  I chatted with Liz to learn more about the store and the process. Liz, featured in the photo to the right, opened Karma in April of 2011 and the business has been booming ever since! Her contracts for your consigned items are extremely fair and easy to follow. For each group of items you bring in you will receive a 60 day contract. It's up to  you to call in after the 5th of each month to find out if any of your items have sold and if you have a check available. Sure enough, upon my calling in on August 6th, I had a check for $65.00 waiting for me! For any items that do not sell after 60 days, Karma will either donate them or you can pick them up.

If your thinking of consigning, view Karma's website or give them a call to learn more!  And keep in mind, if you are looking for a great dress or outfit but don't want to splurge on a designer label that's over your budget, make the trip to Karma to find that unique piece at over half the price!  And as always, if you need help sorting through your wardrobe to decide which pieces to consign and which to keep, Chica Guapa is here to help you with a wardrobe and closet review!

Happy Consigning!

Keeping Your Cool This Summer!

With recent record high temperatures, it's no wonder that we're looking for all the possible ways to keep cool! One easy way to ensure your body temperature stays low is to wear light weight fabrics that will allow your skin to breathe and decrease perspiration levels. Below is a helpful list of fabrics and how they will hold up during these dog days of Summer! 

Cotton- Cotton fabrics can be light weight, soft and comfortable. They can absorb moisture, however if the garment is too tight or if the cotton is too heavy, it can cause skin to perspire. If too much moisture is absorbed and the garment is not properly cared for, it can promote bacteria growth.  So ensure a looser fit on super hot days and promptly launder your cotton garments!


Seersucker is GREAT for Summer! The fabric is woven together in a way that cause the threads to bunch, and gives it that unique wrinkled or textured appearance. This bunching causes the fabric to be mostly held away from the skin when worn, which allows heat to more easily flow out and air to circulate. Seersucker is also an easy care fabric and does not need pressing. 


Polyester - We all love our bargain suits and dresses, but most of them are made of polyester. Keep in mind that this fabric is not very breathable, so avoid wearing polyester garments on a really hot day!


Linen - Summer arrives, and our Linens are pulled out of storage! While linen clothing can be light weight and cool, the fabric wrinkles very easily.  If you are looking for a pulled together, clean look, then do not choose a linen outfit!

Moisture Wicking / Quick Dry Fabrics- For those who spend a great deal of time exercising or for those who perspire more than average, moisture wicking, quick drying fabrics are a MUST! Even during the cooler months, your first layer against your skin should be made in this fabric. You can always layer on a light weight fleece vest or outerwear as needed. While this fabric is common in socks, exercise shorts and sports bras, it is now available for more every day wear. Check out the line of mens and womens underwear and clothing from Exofficio.  This "go to" black dress is made of their unique "drirelease" performance fabric, which is GREAT for hot days and the perfect piece to pack for your next trip to the tropics!