Last ever ebay ....

...as I cannot take anymore, ebay is officially a drain these days. However I do have a lot of items I need to sell as I declutter my life. The big clean out of my home will take place in January but I thought I would start early in December to get into the swing of it.

It is no secret that since completing my MA I have struggled to settle into a new career. Many of my fellow students from LCF have all found things difficult since graduating in 2010. The reasons are obvious given the economy and whilst it has been hard I have stuck to my dream of merely (or is it solely) being a writer. I am ending 2012 having finally got to the place where I wanted to be - a writer.

In January Girlynomics will be available to download from Amazon and I have recently won a couple of writing gigs (old school I know) and the blog is hosting a number of sponsored posts, something I've resisted but the bills need to be paid. Then in 2013 I start the new novel, because at last I am in a dedicated position to write fiction and finish the old film script. I do have a few styling obligations to honour but that is fine.

Along the way I have supported my ambition by dabbling in other ventures as I had to pay back my career development loan and contribute to the household coffers. Ebay and Stella & Dot were two sidelines (in addition to my styling work) that assisted my independence but thankfully now I can kiss it all goodbye!

Therefore....drum roll... I have made my final ever ebay listings of my jewellery samples and a few items of clothing that have been one off items (a vintage dress) and a couple of things I loved when I got but I have never been able to wear them. Isn't it madding when you really like something and that feeling doesn't dissipate when you try them on but somehow after that moment they never really work.

Anyway here is the link to my ebay page and the items for sale EBAY SALES LINK- take a peek, tell a friend and this truly is the last ever time I will be doing an ebay listing!

Zara top - this season

Stella & Dot Sierra Necklace

Stella & Dot Pegasus Necklace

Stella & Dot Tigris Earrings

The eBay marathon

Five days into my blitz on my wardrobe and now my listings and I'm only halfway through it. Listing on eBay is hard work and takes a lot of time and effort. The hard part is inputting information and once upon a time I was exceedingly particular about all the clothing measurements but now I stick to the required minimum.

When writing the descriptions and how to wear the items I sort of think why am I selling this and then snap myself back into reality. I have plenty in my wardrobe to wear and I have a target for this year to pay off my credit card. All the items are in good condition and some of them are in the list as they are a little too big for me.As hard as it is I feel motivated and on course to clear the debt. Ironically I was returning a Christmas gift in Cath Kidston on Friday which isn't my favourite occupation nor my favourite shop (although I do love a bit of Cath Kidston at times) and the lovely lady who served me was at LCF and did her MA at the same time. It was a great reminder to me of achievement. I went there with nothing bar my deposit and took out a career development loan (CDL) via the Dept of Higher Education which I luckily got in 2008 as the banks collapsed because I choose to apply to the Co-operative bank. This month 2 years later I finished paying off the £2,800 they lent me to further my mind. The repayment was a manageable £124.22 per month due to the low interest rate for a CDL

Now I must tackle the credit card that paid my fares and bought my books and paid for all the sundries around my studies. I worked as well as studied but it was a big drop in income and now the petit garcon has started school plus the current climate I've never gone back to the level of earnings pre studying. It does make me appreciate that I wasn't saddled with a bigger student debt and whilst my studies were completely wonderful it does call for a lot of self sacrifice ...hence unto eBay!!

You can view the list at my ebay page And here is a selection of the items for sale (weeps, less and less now)

From top to bottom: Whistles Carrie midi skirt, Warehouse blouse, M&S dress, H&M Conscious Collection skirt, Toast shoes, Jigsaw bib necklace, Toast necklace & M&S bag

The declutter begins

My drive to attain less is more and clear my credit card debt has started in earnest. I culled my wardrobe and this includes designer items. It was cathartic and hard at the same time. My rational is I cannot stand items languishing idly in my wardrobe and I have just got to get rid. There is no point telling myself, any more, that I might wear that French Connection dress from 2001 again. I will never wear any of the items I'm ebaying ever again. I have neither the lifestyle, wit or priorities to store the items or keep them. It seems I need to be free of clutter. It is hard to part with items because for some unknown reason I attach emotion to them so I have to harden my ways!

A sample of my wares on eBay

Since cutting back my work and focussing on the safe deposit of the petit garcon at school on a daily basis my clothing requirements have changed. I still dress up more than most but I don't have the variety or daily need to change outfits a lot. I'm choosing to style myself in a more simple understated way (I hope!). The idea is it will be more style less fashion and ultimately a cheaper way to dress. I have always been a performer when it comes to clothes. I've never been one for a simple elegant look unless I feel like it. I don't feel I'm losing my love of clothes but I am opting out of being a fashion magpie. It was with dread I received my Vogue & Harpers subscription magazines not because I don't like them but I will succumb to the newness of it all. My head will be filled with fashion flights of fantasy but for a change I will ignore it all.

Over the next few days my eBay listing will continue and then after clothes it will be the house. The decluttering is a month long commitment - yikes!

New Rule, One In One Out

In my increasing drive for wardrobe efficiency, I like to introduce helpful new rules. The only point of my rules is to make me think, evaluate and hesitate. It is all too easy to suddenly need or want something but without doing a double check on your current stock!

I've decided one in, one out is a simple proposition to prevent overstocking. If I have too many clothes I get overwhelmed and have to clear my wardrobe out. I have no aversion to hoarding but I have no capacity or funds to allow me to do this. I have to keep a strict check on it all.

I wanted to buy two tops for the A/W season and I spied two that fitted the bill on Topshop.com
With free p&p and returns on orders over £75 (mine was £76 in total) I was happy to take a punt and avoid the shops. I actually loved three but luckily the third one was out in my size. I've longed for a navy star top for ages and I love the sleeve detail on this one.



Every winter I add some floral to my wardrobe and having sold my other floral tops because they weren't quite right, I finally feel as if I've found my favourite.
Both of these are keepers. I will wear them until they wear out. I'm really into wearing things out too. Once an item is bobbled to b*$"*&^ or beyond repair they go to the textile recycle collection bank.

The final top, the one that got away is a gorgeous red number and I'm still tempted but prudence has got the better of me.


Before I hit the send button to seal the deal, I had to select two items from my wardrobe to go on eBay as part of my one in one out strategy. One item has been sat waiting to be sold for ages my Comptoirs des Cotonniers cardigan, unworn and unloved - if I'm honest I'm a little to busty for it, otherwise it would be a winner! The other is a dress I've worn once and it is a little bit big for me - that's ready to wear for you! It is a fabulous violet colour and I had to add a belt to make it fit my small waist. I've listed the dress but so far for some reason unknown to me I've not been able to list the cardigan, so that is one my to do list. The sales won't pay for my spree but it will help ease my mind and keep me in check!

Pearl Lowe dress get bidding!



Soon to be on eBay!

Do you apply such rigour to your wardrobe and spending habits?

Ebay tastic

It has taken ages and I still have a few items to list but I need a break from it! Here is the link to my stash And here are a few photos of the items ...

Out with the old to a good home

Yep I'm on a mission. I'm having a mega wardrobe clearout and everything is going. It will take me weeks.The only items not getting the chop are my high end designer clobber, although I'm tempted to sell a rare Jean Patou coat.

Bold eBay buy

The beauty of eBay is you can meander around and discover items you didn't mean to find and find a use for them! I still find there are plenty of good bargains to be had. Conversely when I'm selling it is a bit of a pain as things go for less than my greedy little mitts would want but I stick to the auction element of it on principal. I feel better if I sell honestly rather than setting a reserve or buy now price.

My recent eBay bargain was a See by Chloe top for £5.19. It is a size 16 but isn't that big and it doesn't matter as it will look fine loser and I can belt it as well. It was the perfect find completely by chance and I was taking a risk regarding the size. But I was drawn to the boldness of the stripes. It is perfect for this season with the influence of the big and bright Prada stripe bearing down on the high street. For £5.19 it is a cheap way to buy in to a trend that won't last!


What has been your best recent eBay purchase? Do you think eBay still provides bargains or is it getting overpriced in your experience?

Ebay delights

Over the next few days I have a number of great items going up on ebay. To wet your appetite I give you a preview. Please note the first item are a wonderful pair of Helmut Lang trousers gifted to me by Queen Marie of Kingdom of Style. I asked her permission before listing them as they are a joint fund raiser by us for Sister Wolf and her leaky roof.




And a Jimmy Choo for H&M leather dress, see the one shoulder thing is still current. Come back and buy this after your failed Lanvin for H&M excursion!

Ebaying continues...

...I'm still going. The trouble is that to date my rediscovering eBay has meant more expenditure than income. So now I'm on a roll to redress this inbalance. The problem is that Paypal can take money from you account rather than you having to have a healthy balance in your Paypal account. Opps. I wish I didn't discover these advancements.

Anyway, all my items to be listed are pre planned. I did say I would shout when my leopard print coat was listed and it is now - click here.


I've also listed the orange wedges, they are slightly too big for me so I don't wear them. They did feature in my short film so I have them forever captured on camera! - click here

Mutter, mutter

I'm having an ebay moment. When I sort out lots of things I have around the house which are packed in to bags that have been used in shoots, or used at style events or some even worn by me. I try to keep everything but in reality, except for material and anything I've customised, I'm not the wardrobe mistress for a production company with fab storage facilities so there is no point.

This means I begin the thankless task of photographing, listing and packaging the items. Once I've sent the last item off and taken any no sales to a charity shop, I think never again. But here I am...again.

Oh and I'll be listing the leopard print coat soon so I'll link that.

PS and this isn't a plug for ebay but it has got good again. I back to buying from it and think it has settled down in to a good market place for clothes. Lots of choice, lots of dross as usual but it is time to get back in to the ebay saddle if you abandoned it like me.

PPS update - I've only managed to find the energy to do 4 items to start with , I'm building up.
Here is a link to Navajo gold sandals

Ebay special

I'm selling an under used Mulberry bag - a black nylon number. I haven't ebayed for ages and it has changed so I've been rubbish at listing it and so I'm promoting here!!

Mulberry Black Nylon carry bag

Fund raiser purchases.

Having stuck to my resolution about not spending money on clothes etc. I knew I needed a wardrobe top up somehow without breaking into my MA survival funds. I've been working my wardrobe quite well so any item I felt served no further purpose was put on ebay.

Two good things happened as a result of this. Firstly I breathed new space and fresh organisation into my closet. Secondly I got to shop for me! I compiled my fantasy wish list - you know it only reads like a Net-A-Porter or my-wardrobe.com editorial script - then I went on a high street reality check and made a proper list. Which consisted of a pair of trousers, day dress, going out dress, skirt, top, earrings, belt and sandals/shoes. My hit list shops were narrowed to items in Zara, Topshop, Reiss and Cos.

Luckily for me Mr MDS bought me the coveted belt from Reiss as a Valentine present. It is a gorgeous dusky pink patent number with a gold buckle detail.

I tried on my lusted after items and then thought about it for a day before I purchased. I decided to get the Zara items as they would go quicker than the Cos ones - it is a retailing fact, merchandise moves quickly in Zara. And also I got two pairs of earrings in Dorothy Perkins as its cheaper than Topshop but I still get 10% student discount!

Zara (Chloe-esque) blue cotton trousers £25.90

Zara (quite YSL 70s vibe) Orange Dress £69.90

Dorothy Perkins faux gold dangly numbers £7 and silve butterfly hoops £4 (- 10% discount £9.90 in total)

I have to confess this small retail therapy indulgence felt good!

Hard times call for enterprise...

...of the ebay variety. Yep I've dutifully trawled through my wardrobe, styling stock and posted on ebay for what seemed hours! Spurred on by the fact I need a few new season items and I'd like to buy Mr MDS a nice valentines present from Paul Smith for being so understanding of my MA obsession!


I've listed lots of items including my Max Mara dress and a top I bought from Joseph that I've never worn with its tags proudly still on. It is really nice but I have never had a tagged unused item sat in my wardrobe so on ebay it went.

the evidence!

I'm determined to stick to my no spend resolution but think raising funds is a way to circumvent and get one or two key necessary updates to my now parred down wardrobe items.

As I was being so industrious, I decided to finally get round to cleaning the petit garcon pram/pushchair and putting it on ebay too. He has used it once in the last year as he's so good at walking or riding his tricycle and I have the Mclaren lightweight buggy too. I was almost weeping as I listed it as he was such a gorgeous baby in it and it was such a trusty number. But someone who needs it and can't afford a brand new one will get tremendous value and use out of it.

Gosh I feel virtuous! Just pop to my list if you fancy some highwasited peg trousers.

Back on track

Thank goodness this is a blog because if it was an ipod download you'd be getting nothing for quite a while - OK the cheeky one in the corner who shouted hooray will get heavy breathing phone calls from me! I've got laryngitis and I briefly lost my voice completely although Mr MD&M was probably secretly happy until he realised that a mute me was more irritating than a vocal me.

Yesterday I braved the outdoors to celebrate our wedding anniversary which is today. I had a pashmina caressing my neck to keep it warm and snug. It was a suitable low key lunch at Carluccios with the petit garçon in tow. The sad fact about laryngitis is it gives you an aversion to alcohol! I managed one glass of prosecco with lunch and even that was a struggle. The other sad fact was MrMD&M was bl**dy hungover after a stag night. So I fleeced him for a top from Reiss to make up for being abandoned whilst ill and looking after a small child.

That's a mighty fine and large neck muff you're sporting.

The Reiss top is to wear on Thursday to the House of Masquerade in Shoreditch. I refer you to this by Disneyrollergirl. Now my invite from Absolut Vodka was supplemented by a rather nice little parcel which arrived on Saturday.

They sent me a really cool sequin zipped up bottle of vodka and a gorgeous mask. It makes for an interesting display on the book shelf and made me think I needed to make the effort for Thursday night, hence a new top. Although I have to pay him back as technically the money was for our wedding anniversary present - we are still collecting Vera Wang Grosgrain china and need more espresso cups!

The china does only come out twice a year but it is a sheer delight and the only grown up things I possess. This spurred me on to do my most put off chore of the year the ebay listings. Luckily it was free listing day if you set start price at 99p and so I dutifully did the unused items. One is a cocktail dress that I had for a TV presenter, who's name escapes me and she never wore it.

I think I got it because it was very classic and on budget (for mid level TV peeps!). I just have to clear out stuff as I find too much makes me feel stifled. The only items I hang onto for my work are belts and costume jewellery. I can keep these without feeling oppressed by them. If I had a unit where I could store clothes I would keep them. My own personal wardrobe is kept quite streamlined otherwise I couldn't cope with too many clothes. I know some people can have wardrobes stuffed full of things but I have one drawer for t-shirts and jumpers and one wardrobe for my stuff. I have managed to sneak my lbds and a few other evening items into MrMD&Ms one which doesn't seem to bother me for some reason!

The only item of mine I'm parting with is a J Crew blazer. I bought it last September in New York and the first day I wore it was to a meeting in St Christopher's Place, London. It was quite informal in a coffee shop and I bounded in all chipper and was greeted with the sight of another person sat there with the same ruddy blazer on! I never wore it again. Usually I don't mind about someone else having a retail item the same but I never got over this encounter.

Ebay Sunday

It is my most erksome chore but ebay Sunday comes around for me about 4 times a year and this is one today. I just have to clear out left over photo shoot stuff, I always seem to end up with stuff that I store and after 12 months if it isn't used again the amber sticker turns red and onto ebay it goes!

One of my ebay number!