July was an absolute blur and somehow it’s August 6th and I’m not quite sure how that happened. So, let’s take a look back at my July outfits:
New vs Secondhand Tally
This month, I count 9 items that I purchased retail and 12 items I purchased secondhand.
I’ve been wearing Birkenstocks for decades. I had the Payless version of their Arizona sandals in high school (which I covered in red glitter throughout college), and I still remember the excitement of being able to afford my first pair of real Birkenstocks when I was in my 20’s.
They’re one of those brands that I’ve always felt good about buying because they have a reputation for quality. Sure, they’re expensive… but the sandals tend to last FOREVER. So, it’s worth it to me.
While I do purchase some Birkenstocks directly off the brand’s website, I try to buy secondhand when I can. So, when I saw a pair of brand new in the box Mary Jane wedges on Poshmark, I went for it. I ended up paying about $140 after tax and fees, but they were $170 on the Birkenstock website, so I took the small win.
They arrived. They were perfect and so incredibly comfortable. And I was happy!
But then, after wearing them only a handful of times I wore them to Jack’s middle school graduation.
I didn’t do anything crazy – I walked from the car to the school, sat on bleachers for the ceremony, walked back to the car, and then out to lunch. But when I got home, I was completely shocked.
There were HUGE cracks running through the cork wedge… on BOTH shoes. One was much, much worse… but they were both literally split through the middle. For a pair of shoes that retail at $170!
I’ve owned plenty of Birkenstocks over the years, and I’ve never seen anything like it. At first I was thinking maybe I could fix it and I watched a bunch of YouTube videos that basically convinced me that… um, no. I can’t.
I absolutely loved the dang shoes though and was considering re-purchasing them. But, I just can’t justify that price if this was just going to happen again. So, I contacted the Birkenstock customer service to ask if this is a defect/known issue.
Their first response sounded promising. They said they wanted to evaluate the shoes and asked for photos, along with proof of purchase. I sent the photos and explained that I didn’t have a receipt because I didn’t purchase the shoes directly from them. Then I received this response:
“Proof of purchase is essential for the evaluation process, and without it, I am unable to assess your wedges.”
That was it.
No comment on whether both wedges cracking after only a few wears was unusual. No explanation of whether they’d seen this happen before. No acknowledgement that this might indicate a manufacturing issue.
Just… nope, we can’t evaluate them.
I completely understand having a proof-of-purchase requirement for warranty claims or replacements. But I wasn’t just asking for a replacement. I was asking a simple question that never got answered: Is there a known defect explaining why a $170 pair of Birkenstock wedges cracked after only a few wears??
Instead, I was left with two cracked shoes and no information. And that’s the part that’s frustrating. Good customer service isn’t always about giving someone free stuff. Sometimes it’s simply about acknowledging a problem, answering a reasonable question, and helping a loyal customer understand what happened.
I’ve been buying Birkenstocks for years because I believed they were built to last. Now I’m left wondering whether these wedges were just a fluke, or whether I should avoid this style altogether.
Either way, it’s hard to justify spending that kind of money again when my experience ended with cracked shoes and a customer service conversation that went nowhere.
With half the year behind us, it’s time for my 6-month thrifting check-in! I started doing these a few years ago as a way to keep myself accountable. Even after years of thrifting, I still make the occasional “what was I thinking?” purchase. Looking back helps me recognize those missteps and celebrate the wins, so I can keep improving.
Let’s take a look back at my 2026 thrift winners & losers so far:
January 2026
Winner
Well, I only thrifted one item in January and it was this vintage cotton maxi skirt from the 1900’s. And by 1900’s… I mean the 1990’s, when I was in high school. I love the swish of it, as well as the pattern that kind of looks like stained glass.
February 2026
Winners
Losers
Time Will Tell
This month was more of a ‘secondhand’ month than an actual ‘thrift’ month, but I’m the boss so I’ll allow it. Lots of winners this month, so yay! The Athleta top has been great to throw on for workouts or hot summer days. Same goes with the Lou & Grey dress, which I chopped to knee length a couple months ago. A mint condition black cardigan is always a good choice, so glad I scooped that one up. And I love, love, love the Johnny Was shacket and wore it a bunch earlier this year.
The only loser of the month was the new with tags Eileen Fisher pants. Yes, they were technically a good ‘deal’ at $13… but they’re awful. They fit so weirdly with tight waist elastic and loose fabric that bags out at the butt immediately. I haven’t re-donated them quite yet. I’ve put them in time out in the back of my drawer for the summer. If they are still misbehaving in the fall when the weather cools, they will be added to the donate bag.
I’m putting the knit sweater in the ‘time will tell’ column, because I haven’t worn it yet. I’ve tried to wear it a few times, but it just doesn’t look good any way I style it. So, we will see if that one gets donated in the fall.
March 2026
Winners
Time Will Tell
I would say randomly my favorite winner of the month is that bandana! I love the pattern and colors on it and took it with me on our Nevada trip in the spring. The other winners of the month are the shoes, 2 sweaters and dress. Each of them got worn a few times so far this year and I anticipate wearing them time and time again.
While I don’t have any losers this month, I do have two in the ‘we will see’ section. Honestly, I completely forgot about that cropped blouse until I was preparing for this blog post. Oops. I just went and pulled it out of my closet and put it where I can see it so I can style it for summer. As for the silk scarf, I was imagining wearing it in my hair with a braid and when I tried it looked odd. So, I need to try again.
April 2026
Winners
It was a small, but mighty thrift month for April. The skirt is great and I’ve worn it a bunch of times already. And those boots are FABULOUS and I love them so much!
May 2026
Losers
Time Will Tell
Okay, loser might be a bit harsh… but this Aerie top/sweatshirt hybrid is just ‘meh’ for me. It was new with tags when I got it and nicely oversized, but after being laundered a few times it’s looking a little rough. I own it though, so it works for my home gremlin looks until it eventually becomes a rag of some sort for cleaning or stained glass chemicals.
Time will tell on the Umgee top because it’s corduroy and hasn’t gotten cold enough to wear it yet. Let’s see what the fall/winter brings!
June 2026
Winners
Time Will Tell
I love the exercise bra/crop top situation and have worn it a few times already. I also LOVE the quilt and it is currently draped over the couch in my den where I can admire it often.
As for the Loft dress, I took the time and sewed snaps in between the top few buttons, so that I had better coverage (with no peekaboo skin). It’s hanging in my closet and all ready to go for my next dress up activity. The plaid scarf is beautiful, but most likely won’t be used until fall.
Total Spent:
To hold myself accountable, let’s total it all up. According to my handy dandy excel spreadsheet I pulled the info into, my total was: $277.89, which equals out to $46 per month. This is pretty consistent with last year – I purchased fewer items, but some were a little more pricy (consignment shopping vs thrifting).
As a reminder — while my thrifting total/monthly breakdown is not an insignificant number, this is my main ‘fun money’ I spend on myself. I very rarely buy books (I use the library and my kindle) and make 90% of my coffee at home, and most importantly… our budget can afford it.
Overall Favorites:
And now my absolute favorite part, looking at all my thrifting purchases over the past 6-months and picking my favorite items!
These are my absolute favorite items of the year so far and they’re all very ME. The fit of the clothing items is all exactly what I like for my body and the range of colors and patterns is very happy!
The first half of 2026 has brought some great thrifting finds, I can’t wait to see what is around the corner!