I recently did something rather out-of-character for me…I ordered an Erstwilder “Lucky Dip.”

What is a lucky dip, you might wonder? It’s basically a mystery item. It could be something general, like a scarf or a necklace, from a variety of collections, including some of Erstwilder’s more vintage pieces. Or it could be more specific, like a brooch from the recent Sesame Street collection. It all depends on what kind of lucky dip you order. And they’re offered at a discount…the items are 10-50% off the normal retail price. I don’t usually like blind items like this, for several reasons. What if I get something I already have? Or what if it doesn’t go with my wardrobe? And even the rare possibility of what if I don’t like it?

But when I received an e-mail coupon from Erstwilder that I could use on a lucky dip, I decided to take a chance. I hadn’t purchased any items from the Art Deco collection, even though I liked pretty much everything in it. So I figured that between the coupon, and the markdown from $39.95 to $29.95 (Australian dollars), it wasn’t much of a gamble, because even with international shipping, I was going to spend less than $15 US dollars. Plus, I knew there was a 33% chance that I could receive the black “Burst of Sun” brooch that was a special exclusive gift for people who attended the Art Deco launch party in July, and I really loved that piece.

I guess I really do have good luck, huh? I’m so excited to have a limited-edition item, and even more so because it’s a perfect match for the Downton Abbey era! It’s everything I wanted, and I’m so glad I took a chance!