Think Ahead!

Newport News is selling off their seperates for next to nothing!

Pale foundation, red lipstick and White Christmas

Last night I visited my local Sephora to try out some mineral makeup. I realize that I'm ridiculously behind the times on this one, but honestly until recently I didn't really wear foundation consistently. So far I am liking my purchase of Tarte pressed mineral powder and I am extremely excited about my new Make Up For Ever lipstick (color pictured at left).

While I was perusing the different stop-engine reds, I noticed their ad campaign advertising lipstick being back to the scene and blah blah blah...and then I saw their model for the campaign (pictured left).

Maybe it's just me, but she has quite the odd resemblance to a young Rosemary Clooney, no?

Who's completely excited about an upsurgence of 40's/50's fashion trends? Oh right, that's me.

Fall and Winter are fast approaching

And this year I will be attempting to buy two things to get me through the cold times: a nice swing coat and a pair of boots. Today I've been looking for a coat. Unfortunately, last year I found one of the most fantastic coats ever from Dorothy Perkins and could not buy it because I am not located in the UK (nor do I know anyone who is). Sadly, that coat has now disappeared from the Dorothy Perkins website and I am left with the perfect vision of a funnel-neck, grey, just-to-the-knee, assymetrical-buttoned, fantastic coat that will haunt me forever more.

But it's better to have loved and lost than never loved at all, and in that spirit, I am looking for a new coat. The goal is that it can be just about any of the more neutral colors, well-fitted (this in itself is a task because my arms are very long, my hips are rather large, but my waist is relatively small), and classically cut (so no crazy fads that will last but a month). Here is what's been found thus far:

(from left to right) Swing Funnel Coat from Topshop about $131; Black Cotton Snap front belted coat by Genera from Bluefly $179.99; Ameretti coat by Via Spiga from Bluefly $228.99; Tall lady trench from Banana Republic $228; Double-cloth boulevard coat from J. Crew $298 ($308 for tall)

"I am not a plastic bag"

The newest "it" bag? Nope, not a Louis Vuitton or a Prada...it's a canvas shopper by Anya Hindmark. The bag that's now going on eBay for upwards of $200 is this:

Looks like a normal bag, works like any canvas shopper in that it should be cutting down on plastic and paper waste (provided people will actually use them for their intended purpose rather than carry them alongside their over-flowing Nordstrom paper bag as they scream that they have cash to burn). The problem with this latest "it" bag? It's made in sweatshops. Yes, there's certainly nothing like buying a bag so that you can proclaim that you are going green and supporting unfair labor practices at the same time. The solution? Don't buy the damn Anya Hindmarch bag. Try these out instead:

From left to right:

Proclaim that you did not pay a ridiculous amount of money on eBay for a canvas shopper with this bag from Marissa V. for about $41

From The Container Store, you can keep your shopper with you in case the need arises because this bag folds up into one of those itty bitty pouches that are pictured, only $5 each!

Via The Bag Lady, this 70's-esque imprinted (adorable) tote is $9.70 from Lady Luck Rules OK

Also from The Bag Lady, if you don't want to stand out in the crowd, Uncommon Goods has this shopper made from Tyvek that looks just like a brown paper bag (but is much more strong and durable), $65 - $80

The Anatomy of Sales, Clearance and Retail, Part 2: Storewide Sale Events

If the store is advertising some sort of sale event where you get so much of a percentage off of your total purchase, you've got a genuine, bonafide sale. But don't be fooled by this ploy, sales of this nature happen often (if you doubt it, think of every single holiday that may be celebrated in the home, but stores tend to publicize greatly: President's Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc.). Unless that percentage caps 35% or so, I wouldn't go all crazy because in the end, you're doing what the retailers want you to do: spend more money than you would originally because you feel like you are getting a bargain.

If the store is advertising a sale but not using the angle of a total purchase, do not run to this store. Check out their weekly ad online and see if they have any items that you actually want and save yourself the trip if nothing catches your eye.

Always read fine print on flyers and coupons unless you are prepared to make a scene at the store in order to get your sale price.

The Anatomy of Sales, Clearance and Retail, Part 1: Price Watching

"Fasion is not a luxury, it's a right." This would be the slogan for Sarah Jessica Parker's new line for Steve & Barry's called Bitten. Everything in the clothing line is less than $20 and most of it is extremely cute. I will be making a trek to Steve & Barry's tomorrow to see it up close and personal and I am very excited. Which brings me to the subject of bargain shopping.

It's one thing to say that you only buy things on sale. But when that sale is at Nordstrom, it's still hella more expensive than my budget allows. I work in retail, I know the secret of a sale. Now this may not be true for all retailers, but it's been pretty accurate for most places I shop:

If there is a sticker of a sale price on the tag, chances are that if you wait it out, the price will go down even further. Waiting for prices to drop can be tricky because if your size is not in the majority, chances are that they will run out of that size. Most retail establishments have the ability to transfer merchandise between stores, utilize this when necessary.

I have only two stores in which I price watch and those would be Burlington Coat Factory and DSW Shoe Warehouse. The reason for those two seemingly random stores? I can visit them every day of the week. They are located in the shopping mall where I work and it takes me about 5 mins to peruse each store and check things out. Shopping lunches are particularly enjoyable and I suggest them to anyone and everyone.

Fashion that fits my budget

Sarah Jessica Parker's line of clothing for Steve & Barry's will be coming out soon and I've gotta say, I'm pretty excited. SJP's view on this line is that "Fashion is not a luxury, it's a right," and so in the spirit of that, nothing in her line will be above $20. This makes me very very happy.

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Naughty Secretary Club

Fun accessories made by real people.

Etsy Seller: whosesarinow

This Etsy seller just makes some beautiful clothes. Most items are made from silk scarves with intricate, but not too busy, patterns.

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