Money Buys Things, Not Class

When I read Helene's post, Luxury Is A State of Mind and It's Not For Sale, it brought to mind days of yore when I was a salesperson at Nordstrom's all bright and cheery. Once in a blue moon that I-have-money-so-kiss-my-feet person would walk in and not ask for help, they literally demanded to be helped. I once had a customer who kept slapping her hand on the counter and yelling, "Get me those shoes now!" I was seconds away from calling it quits that day, but I knew better than to allow that person to break me.

Although I live a pretty humble life and have worked hard for my money, I've never considered myself to be "better" than anyone else just because I may be able to acquire some of the nicer things in life. I never walk into a store all hotsy-totsy and if I perceive a salesperson to be rude, I'll say - with a nice smile on my face, of course - that their actions were uncalled for.

It is interesting to see what money does to people. As Helene said, "...money buys things not class."

And I say: Money doesn't buy beauty!

For the Bargain Hunter: Piperlime's Final Shoe Sale

With winter behind us, retailers want to get rid of all that fall/winter inventory - which means it's the perfect time to find deals for next fall and winter! (Ah, who cares if it's last season's stuff!) I was browsing Piperlime's Final Sale and came across quite a few shoes I think could still be worn during the summer and into the fall.

Metallics are still pretty big, so I'm thinking about this pair of Steve Madden's. Normally $80, it's on sale for $31.97...and now you can get an extra 15% off on top of the sale price!

Piperlime's secret sale! Enjoy 15% off women’s final sale shoes, already up to 70% off. Enter TOPSECRET at checkout by April 27.

Aw, crap, I just remembered that I was on a clothing fast! No shoes for me ;(

Update: The Clothing Fast Challenge

A few weeks ago I said that I was going on a clothing fast - meaning that I wasn't going to make any clothing purchases throughout the month of April. It's been pretty easy for me so far because I've basically stayed away from any retail stores or malls. However, I am constantly online and come across some very cute stuff!

So, have I been successful so far in this challenge? Well...um...I have to say No. I blame it on my birthday :) I received a couple gift certificates to Amazon.com and purchased two pairs of shoes. However, I have to return them anyways because they just didn't fit right!

In my defense I have to say that I really do need these shoes. They weren't just some frivolous purchase. I do need a pair of black flats...and the puppy chewed through the only pair of black heels I have, so those are needed as well.

Well, only 20 more days until the challenge is over!

The Clothing Fast Challenge

The other day I bought the cutest Heatherette denim shorts. When I got home I opened up one of my dresser drawers and buried at the bottom of the drawer was a pair of denim shorts similar to the pair I just bought. That’s when I realized that I needed to go on a clothing fast.

I felt guilty - oh, so guilty. Guilty of wasting money? Perhaps. Guilty that someone out there is wearing the same thing day in and day out while I have forgotten about a pair of shorts - one of many pairs of shorts? Maybe.

All I know is that my wardrobe is fairly big compared to others around the world. My clothing mentality is “I want! I want!” and the only thing I really need is a pair of black flats. And even then I still question the actual necessity of these flats.

So for the remaining of this month and through the end of April I am going to go on a clothing fast. No clothing purchases! Can I do it? Or will I succumb to the marketing messages I read in fashion magazines that tell me that I “must have” this or that?

Stay tuned! I’ll be posting updates on this clothing fast…

The Pleasure of Online Bargain Hunting

As I've said time and time again, I am quite the bargain hunter. Call me Miss Bargain Hunting USA. It's not so much that I can't afford to buy at full retail value as much as it is a challenge...Call it a sport, if you will. Just like Tiger Woods gets pleasure from hitting a hole-in-one, I get pleasure for finding great deals on clothes.

Take, for example, my excursion to Kmart yesterday. I went in to get some dog food, but lo and behold they had t-shirts for $1 and $2!! These are the same types of plain t-shirts that you can find at the department store for $12 or more. Who doesn't need basic t-shirts, right?

Another thing that makes me shout in glee is finding out about ShopBop coupons. This website I just discovered has coupons and promo codes for all kinds of online stores. They also have shopping tips and coupon blog where you can find articles like different ways you can save on back-to-school clothes and how to shop for the perfect jeans online.

Do you have any shopping tips to share?

And today I leave you with some food for thought from the very creative Jean Paul Gaultier...

"It's always the badly dressed people who are the most interesting. "

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How You Can Be a Smart Fashion Shopper

As the fashion industry gets ready for the Spring 2008 runway shows, fashion consumers are thinking about all those fabulous end-of-summer sales!

Smart Shopping Tip: Always buy pieces that you can wear for the next spring/summer season. Better yet, shop for pieces that you can integrate into your fall winter as well.

Here's a dress on sale at ShopBop that could be worn into the fall...A little short for my taste, but I probably would wear it with a pair of dark Citizens of Humanity jeans and fun heels.




Here are a few summer sales that you may want to check out:

Up to extra 60% off baby, kids & junior spring-summer collections on YOOX.com

10% off Jewelry & Watches at Overstock.com. Offer valid 8.31.07 to 9.3.07

Shop Shoes.com for an Additional 20% off Clearance items!

70% off Marc Jacobs, C&C California, James Perse & More!

Summer Fashion Bargain Hunting!

Like I said over at The Runway Scoop, I'm definitely a bargain hunter when it comes to shopping for clothing. So, of course, I have to share these bargain discoveries with y'all as well! The latest big sale that's going on is YOOX's sample sale where you can find discounts up to 90% off! Yes, ladies, that's 90% off designer items ;) Shop for father's day gifts or even for your kids! Sale ends June 4th!

Pictured here is a very cute Men's Prada hat for the man in your life...It's also available in black and fuschia - although I don't think I'd want my man wearing a fuschia hat ;) Anyways, it's not part of their sample sale, however, it is available at a discount! Orig. $140 - Now $112.

Loyalty Definitely Pays!

With so many loyalty cards out there, we’ve become jaded by the all the different offers that come our way. Retailers like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus have rewards programs which are fairly good, but for me, many of the rewards or loyalty programs out there aren’t incentive enough for me to stay loyal.

But what if a company offered $250K - $1M cash back for staying loyal to them throughout my entire life? Hmmm…now you’re talking!

I just found out about and signed up with the uTango Rewards Program. Basically what they have done is partner with about 300 online merchants and whenever you shop those merchants, you receive cash back. The cash is deposited into a “savings” account and you can earn annual cash back bonuses of up to $200 and eventually earn up to $1 million cash for your retirement! This is what I call smart shopping ;) Forget those credit cards that offer cash back at the end of the year…

With the uTango Rewards Program, you can earn Tango dollars at online shops like Sephora, American Eagle Outiftters, Adidas, Old Navy and the list goes on and on…But it’s not only for clothes shopping - you can earn bucks from travel and dining as well. Refer friends or invite guest shoppers and earn even more money! Membership is free so sign up now!

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Go Effortlessly Chic With Spring Dresses

I’m in love with spring! The bees are a buzzin’ and the pink blossoms are on full display in the front yard ;) And yes, it’s time to go dress shopping, ladies!

Being the boho-type gal that I am, I gravitate toward long, flowy dresses and this one by
Nieves Lavi takes my breath away. It’s strapless so you can show of that pretty tan and toned muscles - that is, if you’ve been keeping to your New Year’s goal of getting in shape!




For those of you who like to keep it simple - which I like to do sometimes, then this
Marc by Marc Jacobs soft, cotton dress with jacquard blossom detail may suit your fancy. Effortlessly chic, I must say!





Both dresses are available at shopbop.com

In A Style Rut?

Sometimes even the most fashionable gal can get into a style rut. Because I work at home, I tend to get into a rut myself and find that I wear the same pair of jeans two or even three days in a row! Yikes! I was in the grocery store a couple weeks ago and saw someone I knew from middle school. I swear, she looked exactly the same - feathered hair and all.

So, how can you get out of a fashion rut?

Sometimes it’s good to get out of your element. Whenever I head into downtown San Diego to do some writing, I often wander through the shops and sometimes even a tattoo gallery to get inspiration for different styles of dress.

Fashionista Til I Die has some tips to revamp your wardrobe...

Here's a book I personally recommend: The Lucky Shopping Manual: Building and Improving Your Wardrobe Piece by Piece