Featured: The Missing Piece

Today I'm featuring a great online consignment shop: The Missing Piece.  It is run by Samantha Brown, a technical director for a video company that films the collections at NY fashion week.  Her shop has some great designer items at affordable prices such as Marc Jacobs, Prada, Rebecca Taylor, Ralph Lauren and more!  Some of my favorite items currently in the shop are:

Samantha kindly sent over this pretty Simply Vera top and a gold cuff bracelet by Diamer Jewelry.  This is my first statement bracelet, yay!  Here are some outfit photos I took, ignore my face in the jumping photos...haha...I took about 20 and only a few actually worked, never mind what my face looked like:

Top & Bracelet via The Missing Piece, Jeans: Sass & Bide $30, Jacket: Lauren Ralph Lauren gift, Bag: Mulberry for Target gift [$25], Shoes: Forever 21 $25.80

Samantha has also provided a coupon code for you, my lovely readers, to get 20% off your purchase at The Missing Piece!  Just use code "Fashionista" at checkout for the discount and enjoy!


* Samantha sent me the items I'm wearing free of charge, but this in no way affected my post, these are my own thoughts on the store.

I also did a quick interview interview with Samantha that you can read by clicking Read More.


How did you get started in the fashion industry? I started my love affair with the fashion industry when I was 14 years old. I was an intern for B Productions, the company I currently direct for, during New York Fashion Week. I had always thought I wanted to be a designer and so teacher at my high school had set me up with the internship. I was this little teen, running around and getting coffee and McDonald's for the video crew that shoots the shows! I went on from there to work in boutiques, intern styling at Nylon Magazine, work as a design assistant at Badgley Mischka, take fashion design courses and do everything imaginable to learn the ins and outs of the Fashion industry. 

Did you always want to go into fashion? Always! When I was about five years old I began making clothes for my Barbie dolls out of old jewelry pouches...I was doomed from the beginning! 

What is your job outside as a technical director like, what do you do? My job as a technical director is so fun I'd do it for free! Basically, it requires me to look through the collections and make sure I observe every single detail on a garment that wouldn't otherwise be seen with a wide shot. That way, when we're shooting the show, we make sure that not only the silhouette is seen, but the hemlines, the button details, beading, embroidery, patchwork--really anything special and anything that wouldn't be seen in a head-to-toe. This often requires me to meet and discuss the collection with the designers-which is the best part! 

How do you get your items from your shop, is it all through consignment or do you go thrifting as well? Everything that's sold at The Missing Piece is on consignment. I collect pieces from everyone and anyone who's looking to make a few extra dollars by selling pieces that they may not want anymore. I also have the privilege of occasionally receiving back-stock from store owners who are looking to move out their inventory. On rare occasion, if I'm out shopping and see a piece that's too good to pass up, I'll buy it for my store as well. 

How do you go about deciding what items to stock and what to pass on? After a few years of running The Missing Piece through private sales and clothing parties, I've gotten to know who my customer is and what she's looking for. I like to collect pieces that are first and foremost in excellent condition. After that, I consider the brand name. I'll occasionally consign great looking pieces from mid-level retailers because I feel that the look and price point are appropriate for my clientele. I'm fortunate in that the majority of my consignors typically bring me fabulous pieces and I don't have to reject that many. The only pieces I try to stay away from are the basics...If you're looking for a plain white t-shirt, go to The Gap. 

What is your favorite thing about fashion? The possibilities are endless! 

What are your inspirations? Favorite blogs? Magazines? I'd be lying if I didn't admit to reading everything from Vogue to Us Weekly. I love a good Demarchelier layout as much as a who-wears-it-best comparison in the celebrity gossip mags! It's important for me to keep up with what's current in Fashion and the celebrity fashion is almost as relevant as the designers that create the clothes. In terms of blogs, I look at Kingdom of Style, Man Repeller, Style Bubble, The Sartorialist...I could go on for ages...I look at everything. And my most recent discovery is A Closet Fashionista!