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.)

You by Crocs Boots on Their Way

This morning I got an email from my observant friend Meg (on of my favorite people in the world to shop with) telling me the You by Crocs wedge boots I decided I wanted were now on sale for $147.50. I had actually purchased them two hours before she tipped me off. Since it's the first of the month Shoes on a Shoestring reduces their yellow tag items so I'd been waiting to check out the new price of the boots, which had been on sale for $198 (from $300). I'm anxious to see if they are comfy and good-looking in person. (The photo of these pewter leather boots looks better on Piperlime than on SoaS, so I'm hoping that's what I'll see when I open the box.) If I like the pewter leather I'll check back on March 1st to see if they have the black wool wedges on super sale--and still available in 8.5.

Note shoe lovers: Shoes on a Shoestring is offering free ground shipping this weekend on all orders. (It's usually free if you spend over $100)

What I've Been Buying; What I Want--A Material Girl Shopping Update

If you've visited my blog lately, you may have been wondering if there's been a Material Girl shopping hiatus of some sort--it's been a while since I've reported new wardrobe acquisitions. Well fear not--I've picked up a thing or two; I have my eye on a thing or two. Here's what I've been up to, fellow shoppers:

• Emotionally shopping at Anthropologie. I had a long, weird, busy, meeting-filled work week, so Friday night I needed to buy something pretty. Friday was also payday (hurrah!) and Cheapy was feeling sympathetic and handed me several twenties at I walked out the door (double hurrah!) I was looking for something warm and cozy: non-ugly sweaters. There's one I'd had my eye on, black with floral accents, that was on sale on the Anthro website. They actually had it in the store on sale in my size. I picked up another on-sale sweater as well, black with a big butterfly. The store was half-filled with spring items, which are tough to think about buying right now because it's really f-ing cold. Flowers and butterflies are my way of easing in to spring.

• Recent eBay purchases. It's rare a week goes buy that I don't have something coming in from an eBay auction. I've had a few good purchases in the last few weeks, including a cropped boxy vintage '50s metallic jacket (for spring); a vintage faux fur coat (that hasn't arrived yet); a swingy two-tone jersey top; a Rebecca Danenberg black tuxedo tail shrug; a pair of Vince Camuto studded purple sandals for $10; and a giant (and I mean giant) metal owl necklace that I had to have for some reason. It may end up a decoration rather than an accessory.

• Things I'm watching on eBay. There are alway many things on my eBay watch list. At the top of the list is a fabulous Paul Smith deconstructed wool skirt that was up for auction but ended without a buyer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will be posted at a lower starting bid or as an Or Best Offer. I can't stop thinking about this skirt--I even showed it to Cheapy, who thinks it's totally me but costs too much. There's also a metal and rhinestone butterfly necklace that ends in a few days that I wish people would stop bidding on. (Don't they read my blog--bidding before the end is good for the seller, bad for the buyer. Stop driving up the price, people. Plus, do they know who they are dealing with? It's pretty rare I lose an auction for something I really want.) Have you noticed this butterfly thing I've got going on. I think perhaps I have a butterfly phase happening. I'm also watching a few butterfly brooches. I guess on some level I am ready for spring dressing. Either that or I need to stop watching the butterfly episode of "The Magic School Bus" with Cheapy junior.

• Things I'm watching online. If one does not have a money tree in one's back yard, often shopping is about waiting--keeping an eye on things until they go on sale, and hoping they have your size when it happens. Remember those You by Crocs silver metallic boots? I kind of want them. But I kind of don't want to pay $289 for them. I've stumbled across a site called Shoes on a Shoestring where they're on sale for $206. They're also a "yellow tag" item, which means at the first of the month, they'll go on sale even more, and will continue to get cheaper month by month. I'm hoping they have a size 8.5 left when I deem them cheap enough to purchase. (Has Cheapy been working on my brain, you ask? Nope. But I must use my discretionary fund wisely). There's also a pair of bronze low-heeled Faryl Robin boots I want, and I'm betting they get cheaper than $150 soon on either eBay (where I recently missed an auction for said boots that ended at $15. Not happy about forgetting to bid) or Gotham City. I'll keep you posted.