Chicago

Luxury Garage Sale

I was perusing through my DuJour magazine when I came across an article on Luxury Garage Sale, an upscale consignment service specializing in selling new and gently used contemporary, designer and vintage clothing and accessories.  I have been extremely fascinated by the world of consignment and the gems that people seem to find but never really took the leap and began shopping for consigned items.  After reading the article, I took a trip over to their online store and bid on my first item within the first 30 minutes.  The next day I had won a new gorgeous cashmere Chris Benz sweater dress for a quarter of the price!  I WAS HOOKED.

I now visit Luxury Garage Sale on a weekly basis to preview their new merchandise and perhaps place a bid or two.  This month they even took their business to the next level and opened a boutique in Chicago, which I WISH I could visit (next trip out there for sure!).  I am fascinated with their store and the entire business of consignment so I reached out and asked the owners, Brielle Buchburg and Lindsay Segal to give some insight into their business, their passion for vintage and a little about themselves.  

Tell me a little about yourselves and how LGS came about.

Brielle: We have been friends since we were three years old. I was previously working as a corporate event planner and in my spare time was helping my grandparents sell their overstock from their home interior store on ebay. Lindsay was doing visual merchandising at Bloomingdales and on the side was personal styling and helping clients clean out their closets. Her fashion background and my newly learned expertise of the resale market and ebay led us to join forces and launch Luxury Garage Sale.

Where does your inventory come from (both consignment and NWT)?  Are there challenges to ensure you always have new and fresh pieces available for your clients?

Lindsay: We work with individual clients as well as stores. After the end of each season, we take store overstock from boutiques nationwide that hasn't moved after their last sale. Mostly though, we get our unique stand out pieces from individual consignors going through some sort of life change and wanting to pare down.

Authenticity is sometimes hard to confirm these days.  How do you make sure the items being consigned are legitimate designer pieces?

Brielle: This is EXTREMELY important to us. We have an authenticator on staff who is trained in finding the markings and other details that separate a real item from a fake item.

I feel many people get scared of buying consignment pieces for the first time.  What are some suggestions you have to those who may be new to it all?

Lindsay: Find a consignment store you can trust that sells unique and authentic items. Prior to starting Luxury Garage Sale, I was never a consignment shopper, so I totally understand why people may be hesitant. We always get shoppers that our really surprised by the quality of our goods and our selections. We have seen a lot of converts!

If someone has something to consign but they are not in Chicago, is it possible for them to work with you?

Brie: Absolutely! We make the entire process hassle-free whether a client is in state or out of state. Out of state clients can email us by clicking here and we will coordinate getting a pre-paid UPS label sent to them. All they need to do is put the items in a box and we will handle the rest! You don't even need to leave your house.

Your first store has opened this month.  Please tell me a bit about your plans for the store and the client experience you are looking to offer.

Brielle: We are so excited for our doors to open! We have put so much effort into designing every aspect of the store with the help of our architect/designer Audrey Godwin. We will be stocking the store with unique new, gently used and vintage clothing and accessories. We feel the Luxury Garage Sale store will re-define consignment because it will be so highly curated -- this is not your typical consignment store! We will be getting new merchandise in every day, so our shoppers can come in every week and see new items

What are some of the best and hardest parts of running your own business?

Lindsay: Hardest is definitely work/life separation. I never leave my job at work. It is with me 24/7. I think about it all the time and sometimes it is hard to relax and just turn off my phone! The best part, is most definitely, seeing all of our hard work come to fruition! Seeing our sign driving down Wells Street is such an awesome feeling. We took a concept and executed it, and now we are able to go to work every day knowing we have developed a real, sustainable business.

What are your personal styles and who are your style influencers?  Finally, what is your most favorite piece in your closet?

Lindsay: I like patterns and bold graphics. I love black and gold. And most of all, I am obsessed with costume jewelry. My Style idol is Iris Apfel, and I am currently developing a collection that I hope will someday rival hers. My favorite piece is a new necklace with a giant hand on it that I bought in a boutique in Paris. It is awesome!

Brielle: I appreciate various different styles but know my body type and dress for it. I'd describe how I dress is "classic with a twist." I invest in pieces I can wear season after season and spice up my outfit with a great pair of shoes and statement jewelry. Most recently I've appreciated how Kourtney Kardashian was able to pull of being pregnant and put together. I'm working on that!

If you are not in Chicago you can shop like I do at their online store but if you are in the Windy City, I HIGHLY suggest stopping by their new boutique at 1658 N. Wells Street.  But beware...it is incredibly addicting.

Thank you Lindsay and Brielle and congrats on the new store!

Impossible

This is it.  My last post on our trip to Chicago.  I have SO many photos left to go through from our visit to the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier (a definite if you are in town!), Adult Night Out (Tavernita was delish, I loved the ambiance at The Drumbar, and you cannot argue with the view at the Terrace at Trump Chicago) and just spending time at our friend's home.  There are literally hundreds of photos and I do not want to filter through the rest right now.  You wouldn't want to either if you have been dealing with three children who are adjusting back to your time zone.  I am wiped out.

So, to cap off our amazing trip, I will share with you just how hard it is to get 2 adults and 3 children to take a great photo.

 Literally, impossible.

Thank you so much to C, J and B for the incredible trip and allowing us to invade your home!
It was so great to see you guys and I cannot wait until we get together again!
XO

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Wrigley

If there is one place you have to go while in Chicago, it is Wrigley Field and a Cubs game.  This was a MUST for the boys and we made sure we did it right.  Friday was spent touring the stadium.  Not only do you get to see things you would never see at a game but I love hearing old stories about the park and perhaps some inappropriate ones (I am not even going to tell you how the men go to the bathroom when working the manual scoreboard).  On Sunday, we watched the Cubs defeat the Diamondbacks, got to sing "Go Cubs Go", received a certificate for their first visit AND, the highlight of the day, the boys got to run the bases.  I am pretty sure the hubby and our friend C were jealous of this.  All in all, it was exactly how you would want to experience one of the oldest parks in the US.  Here are a few photos from the two days.

Just finished running the bases.  Oldest was extremely excited.  Middle Man wanted to get the hell out of there.  And the woman in the back wanted to say hello.

The Magnificent Mile

On our first full day in Chicago, our friends had to work so the hubby and I decided to show the kids The Magnificent Mile, one of my favorite spots in Chicago.  Not only do I love the pace and the shopping but I love that there are so many sights to see either on or just off of the street.  We took the Brown line to The Loop (their first time on a train!) and got off at  Millennium Park.  We were able to see the fountains and "The Bean", which the boys were fascinated with.  Following the park we headed to the river where we jumped on the The Chicago Architecture Foundation Boat Cruise (which is awesome but perhaps 20 minutes too long for little ones).  Our final destination was the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the Hancock building where we enjoyed some Sprite and cocktails while taking in the view.

And in perfect family vacation fashion, Middle Man hated being in the heat outside on the boat and threw a fit, Baby Girl was bribed with sweets all day long to avoid tantrums due to no nap, Oldest was the only one who would continue to take pictures with a smile and an entire beer was spilled on me and in my handbag (I am talking pool at the bottom of the bag and shorts that were so wet I was embarrassed to get up).  Oh yes!  And I almost forgot.  Oldest threw up that night due to dehydration.  Yep, crazy right?  But how boring would a family vacation be without some excitement?

Life As We Know It: Chicago Edition

Six days and five nights.  It is amazing what you can fit in during that time.  I really feel like we did EVERYTHING.  Thanks to my constant juggling between my iPhone, my large Canon camera and my small Canon camera, I have an abundance of photos to share.  Why have one when you can have three, right?  I will share all the details of our trip this week but let me start with a little of what Instagram captured.  Oh how I love this program and how much better it makes my photos look!  If you are not following me yet, find me at @jugglinginheels! 

CHICAGO!

Yesterday we landed in "The Windy City" and I am spending these 6 days here taking in time with my family, my best friend, her family and all that Chicago has to offer.  For that reason, I am signing out until next week.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and I will be back on Monday!

Also, please note that this photo is from our trip to Chicago a couple years ago so if you try to join past and present Cubs players at the Universal Orlando resort, they are probably not going to be there.

BOOKED!!

Here are some photos from the last time I headed out to Chicago to visit my Best Friend.

Two things to note here.

One, my dress is extremely yellow.

Two, there are no children in the pictures.

That is all about to change.

We just booked our flight to take ALL 5 OF US out to visit her and her family this summer.  That is a total of 4 children (3 for us, 1 for them) under one roof.  It is going to be SO much fun and perhaps SO SO crazy.  I cannot wait.  Since this is the first time we are taking the kids to Chicago, I am so excited to show them downtown, go shopping (Baby Girl already asked), visit the lake, BBQ on the roof top deck and of course, take them to their first Cubs game.  I am also beyond excited to meet my BFF's little one for the first time.  Their house is going to be total chaos for 5 days (apologizing in advance J!) but it is sure to be one big party (sans the 3am dance party on the roof like last time........hey, what do you expect?  four adults, no children, one weekend.  Why wouldn't we?)

Countdown to July is on!