TKMaxx, unexpected hero of 2017

In the past on this blog, the wonders of TKMaxx have already be briefly covered, however this year has been a real jackpot of finds there. It seems that since Kurt Geiger’s Bicester outlet closed a lot of high end stock that needed to be offloaded have ended at TKMaxx, often at silly prices.

TKMaxx seems to be loading up on high end designer luxury recently, and often at silly money

I have seen, Prada, Stella McCartney, Gina, Moschino, D&G and even Valentino amongst others. Even better, often these finds have been in regional sites, although the chances of finding these gems are definitely improved by searching within the boundaries of the M25.

First Find

Never thought I would own a pair of Pradas, they’re legendary enough not to need discounts. So to see these in Brent Cross was pretty amazing, even better they were the yellow sticker price, at £50! Even better is that there was still the box (never seen that before!)

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The Real Deal

Following on from my post about Faking It a guide to how to get the luxe look without the price tag, I began to wonder how to quickly identify genuine luxury pieces. Have you ever found amazing bargain accessory in a charity shop only to end up walking away because of the uncertain provenance of the piece? Spotting the real deal is doesn’t have to be hard, there are already plenty of brand specific guides on the internet, especially on eBay. They offer some great advice, and I want to build on that and give you done tips which can always be relied upon regardless of the brand.

From a Distance
Before even looking into more detail, luxury shoes and bags have a certain presence to it. Shoes have a certain elegance and sleekness to them, bags tend to have good structure even after years of service. Leathers and fabrics will have a depth to their colour.

The Riviera Bag (left) was Made in England during the 1960s, 50 years down the line it’s structurally solid, zips and clasps all still work. Here pictured with Paris 105 by Yves Saint Laurent. The unbranded Snakeskin piece (right hand image) is likely to have been made in Germany in the 60s or 70s, and likewise still in exceptionally good condition.

Bargains in Sale Season

Merry Christmas to all!!!!

You might see a pair of shoes in a magazine and think to yourself that you could never afford them. Totally untrue, there a loads of bargains if you shop smart and make the most of this time of year.