So You Want To Learn To Shop On Etsy
Let's start with 24 finds under $100
Etsy, oh Etsy. I made my first purchase on the site roughly thirteen years ago. And since then, it’s been in my pantheon of comfort clicks—along with eBay and Poshmark—for browsing on a lazy Saturday morning.
While its secondhand market is really superb, this letter is about celebrating the “makers” (I feel like I’m on Portlandia saying this) who bring the magic. I’ve split the letter into three sections to get you inspired on the countless use cases that exist on this website. And most of these selects are under $100! Next time you’re stumped on a birthday gift or really resisting one-day shipping, you can reference this directory of delights. Also, here’s an entire playlist of all my Etsy recs on Tiktok, if that’s more your speed.
Try before you buy
I love trying a more affordable version of something before making a major investment. In a lot of cases, I end up very happy with my initial choice and never end up spending 2 or 3 times the amount on something nicer. Etsy is excellent for this.
Strappy low heels ($86) might be your signature shoe. For the uninitiated, maybe you’d prefer to go this route before spending 4x on a pair from the iconic French brand, Carel.
You want to up your pant game but don’t feel ready to spend $450 on a pair from Rachel Comey yet? I hear you. These are $130.
This $50 basket bag is a perfect example of the truth that you really don’t need the $500 Marni version.
Maybe you’re eying a super special beaded bracelet from some cool brand. I think you should start with this $50 option and see if it scratches the itch.
Oh, please. I’ve heard every cost per wear argument on the planet for Bode. I’ve made them all myself! But this custom jacket for under $500 really makes you think—what’s the difference?
Practical picks that feel like you
There are some boring necessities that adult life requires. Why not opt for a version that feels special? I think of these as my anti-Amazon picks that might take an extra week to ship, but feel so good every single time I use.
These cotton kids pants are $24, for example, which is pretty on par with what I’d pay at any other store. But the colors! The shape! I was lucky to score three darling pairs from my sister-in-law off my registry.
POV: you’re traveling and don’t feel like lugging your entire bottle of Isla toner. Well, for $5, you can have a glass solution that’s infinitely refillable.
Notecards are a must. So why not make them feel *exactly* like you? I find these very sophisticated.
Gifts that feel good to give
If gift giving isn’t your love language (it’s mine), choosing something that feels just like your beloved recipient can bring a lot of pressure! I get it! Here are some trusty dusty ideas that, with a little lead time, will leave the person you’re celebrating feeling seen. I just bought this for someone I adore who has…everything.
Tissue box covers are a bit of an obsession of mine. And this one, under $50, makes a fab hostess gift.
I love my NY Liberty. You all know that. The merch? Not as much. Until I stumbled upon this genius shirt that will make the day of any fan you love.
Glass coasters are so chic. A set of 4 is $100—making this a perfect gift.
Gifting an aspiring home chef? They’ll need a salt pig and it might as well be this one.
Taking the time to frame and mat a special picture always feels cozy. I love these striped mats and would order your frame off of Etsy, too!
My siblings and I all had these Dutch delft tiles made after our births with details hidden within the scene. I loved looking at the three of them lined up and plan to have one made for my daughter! They’re around $100.
Elevate your home for less
Great homes are built piece by piece. It’s the sum of a thousand parts! And while I’m a massive secondhand advocate in this category, there’s also something great about being able to find something unique on Etsy, and order multiple! I bought these simple hooks when I moved in with Christian, and they cost the exact same as a version from Target, and four years later, look just as good as they did the day they arrived.
These monogrammable hand towels are under $20 (with embroidery) and would make an excellent addition to a hostess gift. Are you reading this, Granty?
Custom drapes don’t have to cost an arm and a leg, at least not on Etsy. I love this shop’s patterns so much.
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I made a Tiktok about this shop on Etsy, stunned by the beauty of the pieces and how affordable they all were!
This feels perfect for a teenager’s room remodel and it’s $70. I also would have very proudly displayed this in my FIT dorm.
Art on Etsy deserves its own letter. But to start, you’ll find lots to love in this shop.
But if I had to play favorites, mine might be buying rugs on Etsy. There are SO MANY. And most are available in a ton of size combos. I adore the simplicity of this one.
Striped raffia lamps starting at $45. Need I say more?
A stunning trinket dish that will have you seriously questioning why anyone would buy one from a big box store.
I had to REALLY resist the urge to include more than two rugs, people. This one comes from another great shop with cool patterns.
There could be a whole letter on the wonderful world of ceramics on Etsy, but I’ll leave you with these dashing porcelain cups.
Honorable Mentions
I’ve read three really good books in the past week. Something for everyone! I started the Windy City series (Mile High) and loved the steam + sports. Then I read Marriage At Sea, a true recounting of a couple who get stranded at sea for four months. Fab. And then I read We Might Just Make It After All, a moving portrait from Kate Spade’s best friend of their friendship and the trajectory of the brand.
Pretty good timing re: the Wayfair Labor Day Clearance sale. My interior designer and dear friend recently pointed out that there are TREASURES to be found on this site. I agree. Starting with hardware I’d like to swap mine out for and the kind of shoe storage I genuinely dream about.
Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can preorder my romance novel, Exit Lane, on Bookshop or Amazon. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, and shop my Notion template. You can book my Office Hours to talk shop here. Get matched at EV Salon. And if you want to partner on a future Long Live, email evan@communite.co x
Do you have a strategy for figuring out which sellers are actual artisans and which are just drop shippers?
Those delft tiles make an INSANELY good baby gift omgggggg