Lunchtime Shopping Trip: Boots and BCBG

My friend Suzanne and I took a bit of a long lunch today to hit The Mall. She was in the market for some snow boots (it's snowy and icy here in the Nati), and I'm always happy to come along for shoe-shopping moral support.

First we hit Macy's shoe department. She didn't buy anything, but I bought a pair of You by Crocs Sidecars boots--a black suede wedge boot that is so comfortable and was so on sale. They are currently $229 on Piperlime; I paid $74 at Macy's.



Suzanne bought these Ugg Classic Cardi boots at Dillard's (in gray). I tried them on--very warm. They can also be folded down to mid-calf height.



On the way out of The Mall, we popped in BCBG Max Azria (which just opened last November to my delight)--there was a darling blue and white pinstriped day dress in the window. It had a beautifully drapey collar (and pockets!) so I had to try it on. The dress was not flattering on me, but I did leave with a 75% off jacket--originally $289, I paid $80-ish. It's a black asymmetrical nylon number with a hood that I'd love to show you but I can't find online.

If you'd like to check out their sale items, click here.

Below are a few dresses from BCBG that I love.

This beige dress is so cute for spring--it's simple but the bow is a nice detail. And this is a dark enough beige that it won't wash me out.


Love love love this and I know it would look good on me with that waist design.


I'd be plaid-to-be-alive in this embellished strapless tulle.




And I'd love to wear this to an Oscar party. (Instead I'll be on my couch in sweats under my big yellow blanket.)

Material Girl's Week of Savings!

I've made several good bargain purchases over the last week or so that I'm kind of excited about. Today I will share:

• Gap school boy plaid blazer, worn to work today--original price: $98; online price: $44.99; Material Girl price: $24.99 (in store); savings: $73.01.
• Kenneth Cole satchel, winter white leather, quite possibly my favorite bag ever due to all the hidden pocket and its capacity to hold my makeup bag, cell phone, wallet, one diaper, three toy tractor trailers, and a binky--original price: $274; Material Girl price: $69; savings: $205.
• Charles David Stunner black leather peeptoe wedges--original price: $194.95; Material Girl price: $58.79; savings: $136.16.
• My two Dillard's shoe purchases--original price (combined): $229; Material Girl price: $51.50 (how Van Halen!); savings: $177.50.
• A vintage brown sequin jacket that will possibly be an accessory at Donya's wedding if it's chilly--eBay seller claimed it was purchased for $700 at a vintage boutique in Beverly Hills (what the heck--we'll go with that); Material Girl price: $41; savings: $659.

So, ladies, here is my grand total of savings: $1250.67! What a week!

My Happy Shopping Story

Last Friday was Cheapy's birthday, so I went to The Mall to get him a new iPod. (He's been wanting to upgrade his for a while but didn't want to plunk down the dough.) I brought my 3-year-old with me so said birthday boy could enjoy some quiet time, and on the way to the elevators (you must always plot out your parking and shopping strategy based on elevator placement when strollering) we popped into Dillard's to check out the shoe selection. I really hate to shop for anything else in Dillard's. I don't even like to go in there. I always get lost and the dressing rooms are hot and poorly lit. This weekend they were practically giving shoes away, and the shoe department is right by the mall entrance, so there was no danger of getting sucked into the Dillard's vortex.

There was a pair of platform red heels that I tried on that were 75% off. They were tall. And comfy. And pretty hot. But the little dude was getting restless and I was getting tired (the Apple store on a Saturday sucks the life out of you) so I didn't buy them. But of course I kept thinking about them all day today. And they were like $19 and size 8.5 (which is very popular!) and I was sure someone would have snapped them up Saturday afternoon.

But lo and behold, when I returned today--there they were! And I bought them! Yay! So many times I've regretting not snagging something, and return to the scene of the crime only to be disappointed. Finding those shoes was like a little shopping miracle. And thanks to global warming, I'll be able to get in at least another five or six weeks of going-out-to-dinner in them. (Those are my actual feet in the actual shoes above. Please excuse my pink glitter pedicure. It's the only thing I can do on my own feet that doesn't look a kindergartner painted them with her fingers.)

I also picked up another pair of black slingbacks--MSRP: $150; Material Girl: $32.50.