Birthday Shopping Part 2: Cheapy Goes to Anthropologie

Last Saturday night Cheapy took me out to celebrate my birthday. I was not privy to the array of evening plans he had cooked up--he likes to surprise me. All he told me was that he thought of a bunch of things he didn't want to do and we were going to do them.

First on the list of things-that-Cheapy-didn't-want-to-do: Shop at Anthropologie. He'd never actually stepped foot in the store, and when we got there he said, "I can see why you like this place. It's filled with a bunch of stuff that looks like all the stuff you have in your closet. And it smells good in here."

I grabbed some things; he grabbed some things; I did a try-on fashion show for Cheapy. We settled on three things we both liked. The first item below, the purple dress, is something I would never have picked up for myself, but the cut is really flattering as is the color. The grey corduroy skirt is stretchy, just the right length, and perfectly neutral. I'll wear the heck out of it this spring. And the white origami jacket is so me. It's got a nipped- in cut and loads of interesting details.




After Anthro, Cheapy took me to see Confessions of a Shopaholic, second on list of things-that-Cheapy-didn't-want-to-do (but he actually enjoyed the movie).

Birthday Shopping Part 1: Mom (and Simply Vera at Kohls)

For as long as I can remember my mom has let me choose my own clothing gifts. When I was in high school, I remember going to The Mall with her before the holidays and picking out a few outfits. "I'll wrap them up; you'll act surprised," she'd say. "Your brothers don't need to know."

Even these days (far far from high school) we still go shopping together for my birthday. (At Christmas she gives everyone cash.)

When I shop on my own I prefer places like Anthropologie, Banana Republic, J. Crew, or boutiques. My mother, who is in her late 70s, would get a bit of sticker shock at those places. We always birthday shop at Kohls which is fine with me--I love Vera Wang's Simply Vera line. (I would actually check out the line more often if the Kohls wasn't in a part of town where I don't like to drive--it's confusing there.)

Here's what I picked up this past Saturday when I spent a nice post-BD afternoon with mom.

First: tees, tees, tees! The Simply Vera long sleeve tees are really fabulous. They're soft and both fit well and wash wall. The latest collection has some great color and pattern. I got three of them--gray, blue and purple (all under $22).


The other item my lovely mohter bought me might be my new favorite thing in my closet, this purple satin trench. The photo online so doesn't do this justice. It's gorgeous--the terrific shape paired with the nice wide sash give it a super flattering fit. The color is amazing. Add the three-quarter sleeves and pockets and I never want to take this off. It looks way more expensive that the $59 sale price. (Plus Kohls shoppers get a scratch off at check-out for extra discount--we got an extra %20 off.)


A couple of things I didn't buy that are worth a mention...

This peplum jacket is adorable on (and well priced at $59.99 online). I would have taken it home if it was available in a different color. The beige is too similar to a Nanette Lepore jacket that I wear to death in the non-winter months.


And I'm wild about the color of this embellished tee (called rustic fern). I'm not sure if I could pull it off, however. But you fellow shoppers who aren't quite as pink as I am may be able to rock it. (It's on sale online for $22).

Happy Shoe Year!

For my last post of 2008, I bring you a shoe story. It's a tale of high heels, regret, sadness, and, finally, joy...

Once upon a time, Material Girl got some money for Christmas, so she went to her favorite store, Anthropologie, to spend it. It was a great shopping day, for Material Girl liked most everything she tried on. However, that made for some tough decisions.

One of the things she liked was an exquisite pair of saffron colored suede peep-toe pumps by Chie Mihari. She wanted to take them home with her so badly. But, even on sale, the shoes were expensive. If she bought them she would have to put back several of the lovely on-sale sweaters she had chosen.


So, although it was very difficult because the shoes would be perfect with the new dress handsome prince Cheapy had just bestowed upon her, Material Girl did not purchase the shoes.

She was so happy with her new sweaters and new jacket, but she still thought of the shoes and was full of regret--and out of money.

Then Material Girl checked the website of her favorite store and lo and behold--the shoes! And in her size! And twenty dollars cheaper! She put them in her shopping cart. Pay day was only a few days away. When Material Girl had some money once again she would have the shoes as her own.

Then suddenly a mean old witch purchased the shoes right from Material Girl's cart! They were sold out! Material Girl was oh so sad. She even moped and pouted a little.

The next day Material Girl had a babysitter and, hopeful, she ventured back to the store to see if they shoes were still there. She was a bit worried because there had been but one pair when she shopped last. She quickly headed to the sale forest to the very spot where she had found the shoes before. Oh no! They were gone. Another mean old witch must have bought them. Material Girl was sad once again.

But wait...a sales associate had rearranged the shoe display--she spotted them in another place. They would be hers! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Material Girl brought the shoes home and tried them on with her new dress. They were perfect. They were lovely. And Material Girl and her new shoes lived happily every after.

Happy new year, fellow shoppers.

May your 2009 be full of happy shoe tales!

Saturday Night with Cheapy: Dinner, Wine, Fly London & My New Sweater

Shoetopia, the fab shoe store next to my favorite date-night restaurant, had an anniversary sale this weekend. I planned my date with Cheapy: wine store, shoe store, dinner, bar.

Cheapy bought me these incredibly comfortable Fly London buckled pumps for $20 off of the MSRP. (Cheapy is not so cheap after a sampling half a dozen wines.)


I almost got them in grey and black--I liked the combo and they'd go with everything--but Cheapy insisted on the red, which was a good choice.

Red was a theme for the night: red wine, red shoes, and red sweater--I'd finally purchased an Anthro beauty I'd have my eye on for a while and got compliments everywhere I went (even from Cheapy). I love love love this sweater. It's gorgeous, it's got a great shape, it's warm, it fits perfectly. I wore it with my destroyed Gap jeans and a seafoam grean lacy camisole which peeked out from the bottom.


It had been a raining most of Saturday (don't get me started on my flooding basement nightmare), so I also wore my new Tretorn Plask mid-calf rain boots I just bought in seal brown. I have a tall version in red, but they don't work well with pants. This shorter version is perfect with jeans, and, like their taller cousins, are deliciously comfortable and the best looking rain boots I've seen.

A Happy Happy Saturday at Anthropologie

Did you ever have one of those shopping days when you loved everything you tried on and everything you tried on was on sale? That was pretty much my Saturday afternoon at Anthropologie. It was a tad crowded in the store (hasn't anyone told the ladies that the economy is bad?), but there was a good shopping vibe in the air and I enjoyed some chats with fellow shoppers while waiting for fitting rooms. If I would have had unlimited time and an unlimited discretionary fund I could have come home with a trunk full. (And let me tell you, there are times when I hit Anthro and everything is just all wrong.)

First I picked up a couple of sweaters , both in a shade of brown.



The sweater on the left is thick and textural and has giant wooden buttons, but it's short (even more cropped in the back than the front) so the bulk doesn't overwhelm. It's also a tad off the shoulder. It's pretty great over everything I've tried it on with.

Brown sweater number two is sort of a scarf-sweater hybrid. The back is cropped, the front long and fringy. It also sports big wooden buttons and fastens with a formidable hook and eye. I love the asymmetrical lapels and the cozy pockets. This makes me long for fall.

I got the deal of the century on the fitted blue jacket (which is a much lighter color in person)--$19.99 from $98. It fits like a dream, darted in all the right places with a touch of a peplum happening. I'm also a fan of the three-quarter sleeves. (I have a Banana Republic bargain of a jacket in my alterations pile that I just cannot wear until the sleeves are shorter.)

I also picked up a perfectly pintucked little white shirt with a touch of ruffle at the chest. It's great under this jacket. (I couldn't find it online.)



The top below (left) was not a Saturday Anthro find--I got it while in Portland--but it's become my new favorite shirt. I like it so much I want it in the other motif (below right). I actually went to Anthro on Saturday specifically to buy the top in the other color scheme, but they only carried the yellow and blue plaid in the store. I'm still thinking about ordering the other top online but I just hate the Anthropologie shipping fees.



A side note on my super shopping: Cheapy had taken Cheapy Junior to see a bat exhibit at the museum center and kept texting me bat pictures--not what I wanted to see while I was there in my happy place, the dressing room. I'm not a fan of the bat. I'm happy bats exist--I know the world needs them. But I prefer to do everything possible to never hang out in the same room with them on purpose. Oh oh oh do they creep me out. Bad Cheapy!

Preparing for Fall, Thinking About Sweaters

Although it's still the height of summer, the days have been cooler and less himid the last few weeks and I can see the September light at the end of the summer-tunnel. Before I know it, autumn will be here, and that means one thing: sweaters. Cozy, warm wool, cotton and cashmere..I cannot wait to put them on to shield me from cool fall breezes.

I've made my first sweater purchase of the season, a cashmere wrap sweater from Banana Republic, pictured below in coral. I got it in black during last weekend's summer sale at BR. This is a great wardrobe staple--it's thin enough to roll up and carry in my bag, and it's versatile in that it can be wrapped several ways or worn long and drapey in front.


I've decided that each fall I should purchase one sweater I deem spectacular and special. Last year it was this one, an olive green, asymmetrical, boiled wool dream hoodie from Anthropologie. It can be buttoned myriad ways, and kills the need for a scarf under my winter coats. And it's super warm as well as interesting. It may be my favorite item in my closet. (I purchased this full price during a spell of emotional shopping and still refer to it as my I-had-to-lay-off-four-people sweater, but that doesn't make me love it any less.)



This fall, I think I may have found my spectacular sweater, or at least one to put in the running. It's this asymmetrical (do you sense a pattern) wool cardigan with appliquéd flowers bursting from shoulder to hem. I've tried it on in store and it's an excellent fit for me--the slight flare and nipped in waist flatter, and the length is just right. The color, too, is fab. (And I even saw one in my size with a broken button, so perhaps a I could get it discounted.)


I'll keep looking for that grand sweater in which to invest and hope that this one won't sell out too quickly. I must note that the current crop of fall Anthropologie sweaters is fantastic compared to these from last year.

Shopping in Vegas: My Afternoon with Cheapy, Part 2

After we left the hectic environs of Kenneth Cole, Cheapy and I rounded out our afternoon at the shops of the Venetian with a trip to Banana Republic. The store was bursting with both people and sale items.

I tried a number of things on and ended up buying one black and white silk dress.




I also tried the dress on in orange linen.




These dresses are cute exactly the same. The silk version looks good on me; it drapes very nicely. I hated the dress in linen--it was really awful. Fabric makes such a difference.

Cheapy (who opened a charge to save 20%) bought me the dress and got himself--what else--a blue button down shirt (that looks an awful lot like a dozen other shirts in his closet--blue is his color, however, so I guess one more won't hurt).

After Venetian shopping, the whole Vegas group went to a restaurant in Caesar's Palace for dinner, so I had a chance to take a quick spin through the Vegas Anthropologie--which was huge.

I'd found a dress and a sweater.



When I went to checkout, however, I realized I had no wallet--I had switched from a big bag to a clutch and didn't have so much as a dollar on me. Right then, Cheapy called--he was at the Imperial Palace where there was karaoke going on, and he dislikes karaoke more than he dislikes shopping, so he and his wallet zipped on over. Before he would pony up, however, he had me try on the items I wanted and Mr. 85-blue-shirts-in-his-closet nixed the dress claiming it "looks like all of my other dresses." I liked and, but didn't love it so I let it go--but I'll keep my eye on it in to see if it goes on sale.

Finally Someone Pays Me to Shop! (Plus a Quick Trip to Target)

I got a call from a market research firm the other day. They ask me lots of question about buying hair care products and where I like to shop and whatnot and said they'd call me back in five minutes to tell me if I qualified for any upcoming studies. I figured it would be one of those sit-around-a-table deals where you get free bad dinner and have to spend three hours talking about what you like in plastic shampoo bottles.

Instead they asked if I could meet them at Sephora and talk about my shopping experience there. I was all over that. I took the day off work, got to sleep a little later than usual, and met two market researchers at The Mall. I picked up a few items I was out of as I chatted with the ladies. Then we cruised The Mall, talked about what catches my eye in a window and why I like the Aveda store and hate the Mac store. Then we drove to a nearby CVS, discussed hair products and makeup, and I bought some mousse. It took one hour and they paid me $175 to run my errands and talk about my favorite activity--I hope they call back!

I had some spare time, so I got a pedicure with my birthday girl pal, and stopped in Target on my way to the gym. I had purchases a long white belted Isaac Mizrahi sweater with pretty pearl buttons a couple weeks ago. What was I thinking? Long? White? Belted? I returned it and in approximately seven minutes found two more sweaters, and a dress and a top from the Go line. There was no specific designer attached to the Go items currently in the store (Rogan is winding down and Richard Chai is gearing up), but I liked what they had going on. Lots of flowers and ruffles--and I'm a sucker for both these days.

Here's the dress. It's very fun and vintagey and cute on. Short but not too short, and quite figure flattering. (Cheapy Jr. doesn't care for it, but he's four--what does he know? He's quite the fan of my Chick Flick Cherry toenails, however.)


This is the top I got. It's very similar in style--floral and ruffly--and I probably should have gotten one or the other, but I couldn't decide and I like them both, so now they are both in my closet. Note that both of these items look better in person than they do in these photos. I don't know what it is about the Target website, but they really don't do their clothing justice.


Check out the exposed silver zipper up the back--that was the clincher.


The other items a got were a couple of cropped cardigans. I can't get enough of them for summer. It's hot outside; it's freezing in my office. A mini cardi is the perfect thing to keep the chill off my arms and shoulders and not eclipse my entire summer outfit. They also fit into my bag quite nicely. I must have close to a dozen at this point--a few from Anthropologie, a couple from Old Navy, and four of the exact same one from Target in different colors. Have you all noticed I collect things?

Shoe Shopping at 6pm.com

It's been a slow month here at Material Girl HQ. I've got a few trips coming up this summer so I've been trying to chill on the shopping so I have a little dough left in my discretionary fund to enjoy some east and west coast sartorial spending.

But here's the thing about visiting New York--a girl needs comfy shoes. I can't walk around the city and enjoy browsing shops and street vendors if my feet hurt. My feet are not used to such...use. Here in the Midwest there's always a place to park. We drive everywhere. The most walking I do is around The Mall, but even then I usually plan my shopping outings for one end of The Mall or the other--more efficient, less walking. At the outdoor shopping center, I've been known to drive from Anthropologie to DSW which it not really that far, but I figure I gotta stop at my car to pop things in the trunk anyway...

Where was I...oh yeah--comfy shoes for walking around New York. I had recently purchased a pair of black pointy flats by Born that were on clearance at DSW. They were awesome on my right foot. The left foot, however--ouchy. The arch support in the right shoe somehow got all lumpy and it was quite unpleasant as I tried them out walking about my yard. I gave the bottoms a good diaper wipe cleaning (diaper wipes are good for many tasks--someone at Anthropologie once told me they use them to clean schmutz off of clothes) and I returned them.

But I kept thinking about them so I searched for them online and found them at 6pm.com, which is now owned by Zappos. 6pm.com doesn't have free shipping unless you spend $100, and their return policy is not nearly as liberal as Zappos' (you only have 30 days to return and you have to cover return shipping), but this allows 6pm.com to offer deep discounts. (I found that the 6pm site is not nearly as easy to browse as Zappos.)

I had originally purchased the Born flats in black, but 6pm also carried them in red, so I chose that option instead. I also found a pair of Marc by Marc Jacobs platform sandals--because I need LA shoes too.

Lunchtime Shopping Trip: Anthropologie

On Monday, a co-worker (who was wearing a very nice outfit) tipped me off that stuff was dirt cheap at Anthropologie. Today my friend and I popped in during lunchtime to check out the discounted racks. (I was really in need of some retail therapy and some whole grain goodness--we hit Whole Foods for lunch post shopping.)

There were indeed many many good items on sale. I left with a cropped cardigan in a berry shade (below in green) and a gray embellished tee that I've been hoping would go on sale.



I think I certainly would have found a few more tops if I'd had more time than my lunch hour.

This was not my nicest Anthropologie shopping experience, however. The associate monitoring the dressing room was often missing, so I'd have to stand, my armload of potential purchases growing heavier, waiting for an room to be unlocked. Maybe it's because the store was so empty, but still.

Then the associate who rang me up had trouble with the register and had to start again. Okay, that happens, computers freeze, and that's fine. Then I told her I had my own bag and she gave me the look. I get this look all the time when I whip out my nylon totes at clothing stores. The I'm-sort-of-
confused-and-you're-sort-of-odd look. It's normal to bring bags to grocery stores--no one thinks twice. The stores encourage it with nickels off or raffles (some day I'll win that Trader Joe's gift card--I haven't acquired a bag from that store in a year and a half). But at clothing stores, shoe stores--
pretty much anything in The Mall--they look at me like I'm a weirdo.

Besides the look, I have to tell you that this chick was the worse clothing folder I've ever seen employed at a retail store. She pretty much dumped my items in a heap and wrapped some tissue around them.

The worse part of the shopping experience, however, was that my friend, well, she had to go to the bathroom. And of course they sent her out of the store. I've been in this particular Anthropologie store a number of times and heard shoppers ask for a restroom only to be sent to Coldwater Creek (ew! I will never be old enough to shop there). You know, Anthropologie, if I'm going to patronize your store and pay $88 for a t-shirt, the least you could do is offer a lovely place for me to tinkle.

Saturday Shopping: Anthropologie

I also made a stop at Anthropologie yesterday. I bought a light cardigan the color of butternut squash (they call it pumpkin) which I've decided is a yellow I actually can wear. I'm very into buying light cardigans for spring. This one is cut really cute in back and it's soft and flowy. I almost bought a green hoodie with a front tie. It's a great color and was very flattering on, but I was running out of discretionary fund. I might get it next time I'm in the store, since I can't seem to get enough cardigans.




My friend bought a pair of navy blue sailor pants and a cute striped swing jacket with yellow piping. The pants will need to be hemmed, but they looked great on her and I'm sure they will prove to be very versatile. The jacket was darling on. I tried it on last week and almost got it, but a more fitted cardigan won out.

I Actually Bought Something at Forever 21

It was actually XXI, which is pretty much the same thing.

Last night Cheapy, Cheapy Jr., and I went to see Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who (some fine work by Jim Carrey and Steve Carell). The XXI store at The Mall is very close to the movie theater, and while the boys were going up and down the escalators, I was drawn into XXI by a cute jacket. It was 10 minutes before closing (let me tell ya the place was packed--there were nine girls in the checkout line and I was for sure old enough to be their mother) and they already had a gate down, so I walked way around and found my way to the cute blue cotton jacket that had caught my eye. I took off my Anthropologie jacket, tried on the XXI one, loved it, and stood in line for 10 minutes to pay for it (last one in my size).

I can't find the jacket online. It's dark blue, big collar, slight swing, sort of cropped, three-quarter sleeves, and doesn't look like it cost $27 and change. I've picked out a few other cute and highly affordable jackets from the Forever 21 website.


Safari done a little cuter and a little more subtle than Old Navy did it. Price: $24.80.


I love the stripes and the little bows on the pockets. Price: $27.80.


Perfect for spring with three-quarter sleeves and a rounded collar. Price: $29.80.

Yellow is very on-trend right now and this is a great shade and a cute cut. Price: $27.80


I was really surprised to see a lot of items I liked at XXI (mixed in with cheesy/cheap looking and/or way too young for me stuff). Pretty much every issue of Lucky: The Magazine About Shopping & Style includes at least one Forever 21 piece--an ensemble consisting of $285 skirt, $550 jacket, $425 pair of shoes, $2500 bag and a tank from Forever 21 that costs $17.50. I plan on hitting XXI again in the near future for some cheap-and-trendy.

Happy-Birthday-to-Me Shopping at Anthropologie

My lovely friends know that I think the gift of shopping is the best gift of all. So, during the fun, cupcake-filled birthday party they threw me recently, they gave me gift cards for Anthropologie and Sephora. (My lovely friends also know where I like to shop.) This evening I skipped my yoga class (I'll catch one tomorrow) and went shopping. Here's what my friends and I got me for my birthday.

First I got this blue-green cropped cardigan. It actually looked different in the store--the buttons are the same color as the sweater. (I often find things on the Anthropologie website look like ass but are actually adorable in person. For instance my very favorite little black silk tee from Anthropologie. Terrible on line, awesome on me.) I got the sweater a little big and the bit of slouch makes it very cute over a tight tee.

I also got a black button-down shirt which I can't find online. A few weeks ago I purchased the same shirt in white. I'm not that much of a white shirt gal, however. I like them but I always get them so dirty so fast. I often wonder if I actually get the same amount of schmutz on my dark clothes as my white clothes and it just doesn't show up. If I think about it too much I feel like Pigpen. Anyway, I was happy to find the shirt in black.

My last item is a top that I just purchased online. In the store they only had two left, both the same size, and both way too snug on me. But, oh--darling! I love the embroidered embellishments (a hummingbird on the shoulder). I love the asymmetrical buttons. I love the cut. So so springy. (And, again, way better in person than online.)
A word about online Anthropologie shopping: I seldom do it. Why? The shipping charges are outrageous. Anthropologie has just started their Anthro Card program, however, and Anthro Card holders get free shipping through the end of the month. The card isn't a credit card, it's just a card you sign up for for free, and it allows you to return things without receipts, preview new collections, and other things. Read about it at my.anthropologie.com.

Saturday Afternoon--The Gap and Anthropologie

Sometimes I think I'm in a shopping rut, that I should find some new stores. But the familiar relaxes me, and I needed some Saturday afternoon Material Girl time, so I headed to my favorite Gap location which is just a few stores down from Anthropologie.

I wanted to hit The Gap to try on the colorful khakis. And I love the pink ones. They were sold out in my size, but I tried on the yellow just to test the fit. I've been in a yellow mood recently even though I'm certain it's a color I should never wear. In pants, though, it wouldn't reflect in my face and might not be bad. The Gap's colorful khakis for spring, however, only come in regular length in store. I'll purchase a pink petite pair online. (The light blue is nice, too.)

I did come home with this white jacket from The Gap. But it's weirdly shaped and I'm taking it back. (It looks much better on the model than on me.) Anthropologie does the nautical jacket thing in a much more flattering shape.














I also bought this top at Anthropologie (which I'm wearing right now) only in a really flattering rosey red color, not the yellow pictured, although I really dig this tumeric shade (just not on me).


To satisfy my sudden jones for yellow, I've been searching for a shoe. Last night I found one on Zappos.


This is the Camper Helena in in Banana/Cuarzo and I decided I must have them. I have a pair of Campers in the Helena style in green sans instep cutout and they're a favorite--cute, unexpected color, and very comfy. I wore them walking around New York during a 12-hour work day over the summer and my feel felt fab. These may be my birthday present to myself. (Although, fellow shoppers, we should treat everyday like it's our birthday--as long as we're easy on the cupcakes.)

P.S. I wore my new You by Crocs wedge boots (mentioned in my last post) while shopping and they were great.