The Price is Right

Everyone loves a good bargain. I don't think a single person could deny enjoying that feeling of satisfaction when you've scored an amazing deal on an item that you've been waiting forever to go on sale; or brought something up to the cash to find out it's an extra 20% off; or took advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free promotion (colonoscopies excluded...)

Last week I went with colleague of mine from work on a lunchtime shopping adventure to Kind Exchange on Queen West near Bathurst. (There are actually two Kind Exchanges on Queen West...the other is further east.) A.M-R. had never been before so I thought I would introduce her to the wonders of this nearby second-hand shop. Like Common Sort in my neighbourhood of Riverside/Leslieville, you can bring in used clothes for either cash or store credit (if they decide to take them - if it's out of season, or style, then no-go), or you can shop to your heart's content for second-hand fashions.

Second-hand, as a general rule, is more affordable than vintage (unless you're buying designer...even a second hand Gucci dress can cost as much as the GDP of a small country). The shop had bargains galore, and after digging through the racks, I came across a cute pink blouse missing its price tag. I brought it up to the cash to find out the cost. Unlike a regular clothing store where prices are set and they would just check their system, this was a whole other ball game. The cashier laid the blouse on the counter, stared at it pensively for a moment, and said "We just guess the price by looking at it...hm, Forever 21...I'd say, $5?"

Yep, $5 for a lovely, practically new blouse. I've never shopped at Forever 21 (if it were called "Forever 73" I would consider it), but here I was about to try on an article of clothing probably previously worn by some hormonal teenager trying to look 5 years older and decided it didn't work out so well. To the changeroom!

Et voilà, it fit! With A.M-R. giving her approval, I cashed out - and to my pleasant surprise, found out that the whole store was having a 30% off sale! For those of you good at math, you already know that I ended up paying a whopping $3.50. For the rest of you who daydreamed through grade 11 math and still wonder how you managed to pass since you always looked up the answers at the back of the textbook before even starting to solve equations (god I hope none of my former teachers read this), the blouse cost $3.50 after the discount. "I should be paying you!" exclaimed the peppy cashier. Touché.

So here it is, my $3.50 bargain blouse:

With the money I saved on this gem, I can go out and buy another vintage item! Oh boy!

The Details:
Era: that's like, soooo 2013
Brand: Forever 21
Material: ? (care tag missing)
Made in China. Big surprise there. 
Cost: Three loonies and two quarters!