The Burberry plaid Nova check print is one of the most recognizable prints in the fashion world. The classic brand is known for their signature British heritage style – that is – because of its perfectly proportional squares (caramel, rust, white and black tones.) This branded plaid led to the fact that this print is not just a fashion symbol, but also the mark of England and is exactly what makes it timeless, traditional and legendary – with the perfect balance of squared colors and and a stoic 150 year old Equestrian knight.

While spending a college year abroad in London, I really liked and purchased a very nice classic trench (which I wore the heck out of until 2012 when super storm Sandy decided she liked it even more. Oh, the lot that she got!) I’ve since purchased a lot of Burberry (I am a brand fan), over the years, however just not ‘at’ Burberry. In fact, the only things I have ever purchased from a Burberry shop is that aforementioned “goner” – the original raincoat, a pretty little headband and a signature blouse that was marked way, way down during one of last winters Nor’Easters. (Inclement weather in New York is sometimes the very best time to go shopping. Retailers panic at winter desertion, and as the sales goals are the sales goals, it’s simply good business to give the goods away.) The Burberry brands bigger statement items are just so unaffordable at full price. And as those blatant ‘in your face’ squares simply can not (and must not) be worn every day, (the plaid effect does get wearisome) at the end of the day it really doesn’t pay to pay.

Fortunately there are many New Yorkers that are seemingly less concerned with those over the top, high prices than I, and they do purchase some of the lavish items I would have if I could have. And then, just like that, without wearing any of them, they just give them away, new with tags, without remorse perhaps and on occasion and thankfully in just my size.

I am speaking, of course, about consignment. (A fancy word for a simple exchange of ‘If i give this to you and you sell it – we go half and if it doesn’t sell, I either come get it or you keep on marking it down until it does – a Tcha Tching, Tcha Tching transaction where everyone makes on the deal.) Those who once collected Dior the way art dealers collect Degas often sell their pricey pieces at off-sale prices through high-end consignment shops. They unload their load all over the upper East side and many other areas in New York. There are a plethora of consignment shops in NYC, made for those of us, that think anything Burberry is sweet to look at but just way too dear to pay full price. It is wonderful that there is a place (or places) to scoop up some of the name brand unworn, NWT-threads, that retailers and the ritzy crowd considered castoffs.

This outfit is a glaring example of a cream of the crop consignment coup. The check cotton box-fit dress, the plaid pumps and the two handled flap messenger satchel were all caught less than cost. The headband, as I have already mentioned is the only item in this Burberry bunch that I had to trek through the snow to get. This gorgeous leather bag was not only brand spanking new with tags, it came in the original Burberry bag, in the original Burberry box (that was certainly the exception, for the newcomers.) The dress was purchased for a presumed teen at Bloomingdales, who obviously didn’t like it and that too, came with the original Bloomies tags. And these, now, slightly worn (and only by me,) very comfy plaid heels, were consigned with an original shoe horn (which I later found out was the Burberry style of ‘extra’ gifting.)

Bonafide Bargain Burberry c/o designerresaleconsignment.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

burberry.com | designerresaleconsignment.com

Photographs by  Viva Violeta Photography

Shot in the lobby of my Art Deco apartment building