With one of the most enviable wardrobes in the world, it’s not hard to wish you had some – or all – of Kate’s clothes hanging in your closet. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the budget to be able to afford a collection of Kate’s pieces without some scrimping and saving. We were so excited when Christina from Kate Middleton’s Jewelry offered to share with us some of her best tips – and tricks – to repliKating Kate’s jewelry on a budget.
How long has Christina been admiring Kate’s jewelry collection? Ever since Kate stepped out in front of the cameras wearing the blue Issa dress and coordinating Tiffany Cabochon by the Yard necklace with matching earrings. Since that moment, she’s been dazzled by the Duchess of Cambridge’s jewelry collection. When asked why she admires Kate’s style, Christina’s answer is what so many of us admire in the Duchess.
“I admire her taste in jewelry because she seems to choose smaller, less ostentatious pieces. Her style is fashionable, but not showy or flamboyant. To me, the Duchess of Cambridge embodies a specific kind of fashion icon: one who dresses for herself, not for others. She is required to follow a royal dress code, but she manages to do so while maintaining her own sense of style. She is certainly a modern royal.” – Christina from Kate Middleton Jewelry
Here are Christina’s 9 tips to scoring a Duchess-worthy collection at a discount.
Save money whenever and wherever possible
When Christina is saving up for a replikate, she don’t buy $5 lattes or go out to lunch or buy magazines. “I tell myself that the lattes can wait but the replikate is more important to me. If I reserve the money I spend on frivolous and unnecessary purchases, that means I will reach my financial goal (and the item I want to buy) much faster. I nearly always bring lunch to work so I can save money on eating out.”
Set a savings goal
Christina is currently coveting a pair of the Monica Vinader Siren Wire Earrings in Green Onyx. They cost $195 so her target goal is about $200. Christina’s tip? Once you settle on a real number, your goal becomes easier to focus on. Breaking it into small and realistic budget goals makes a purchase easier!
Check social media
Christina has found that many repliKaters change their minds about their purchases and put them up for sale. Some will resell at reduced prices and some will sell at full retail value. Either way, it is worth frequenting Twitter, Facebook and Instagram on a regular basis to find out of stock or hard to find repliKates.
Check eBay and use general search terms
If specific search terms bring you no luck, try general search terms (ex: “LK Bennett dress” instead of “LK Bennett Cayla”). Christina also shares this story about a pair of earrings she found using this technique. “This is more of a repli-Diana and not a replikate, but I obtained a pair of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Venus earrings by using this search technique. The seller was unaware of the earrings’ true name or their famous connection. If I had searched for “MMA Venus earrings” instead of “MMA jewelry”, my hunt would have most likely continued to be fruitless. I was even able to buy them at half price because the seller had no knowledge of their FRV.”
Make lots of repliKater friends
Apart from the fantastic and fulfilling friendships Christina has gained in the replikate community, she has also been able to gain a few replikates through connections made online. Christina shares: “An Italian friend sent me a pair of Accessorize earrings as a gift because replikating is not as prolific in Italy as it is in the U.S. The earrings were sold out in my country. I am very grateful to my friend for helping me out, and I know I would have never gotten them had she not mailed them to me.”
Be patient
Sometimes it takes weeks or months to finally get what you want. It took Christina a year to save up for the Catherine Zoraida Double Leaf earrings. Now delighted with her purchase, Christina shares: “It was agony waiting for them, but my patience paid off in the end!”
Look at international sites and department stores
Many people look at the company website and forget that department stores and other businesses carry the same lines Kate wears. Check these sites for restocking events. If you are fortunate enough to live in a town that has such a department store, go directly to the store and physically search for the garment. Some stores include replikate items under general store sales. Neiman Marcus recently held a 20% off sale which applied to Kiki McDonough jewelry. Keeping an eye on department store sales could lead you to deeply discounted replikates.
Wait for holiday sales
Many companies offer holiday sales. Links of London usually has a 20% off sale during the holiday season. Catherine Zoraida also offers discounted items at the end of the year (Christina’s Fern Hoop earrings were purchased for about $165 because they were discounted and she had a code for 10% off). She also recalls that Claudia Bradby had a good sale going on in late August or early September, and the Camellia necklace was on sale at that time. Check the websites frequently for discounts.
Sell anything valuable you don’t need and do odd jobs for extra cash
Christina finds all kinds of unique ways to fund her repliKate collection. “I sell off my old jewelry and other items then put the money toward my next replikate purchase. I baby-sit, clean apartments and fulfill cookie orders (people really enjoy my baked goods) to earn extra cash.” If there is an odd job or side gig you are able to do, do it and put the money in your repliKate savings.
Be sure to take the time to visit Christina over at Kate Middleton’s Jewelry for her great coverage on Kate’s jewelry. She can also be found on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
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