Weekend Shopping with Cheapy: Banana Republic

Cheapy is not a fan of shopping. He'd rather spend money on a bottle of scotch than a new clothes, and he's got little patience for The Mall. But every so often, he declares: I really need some shirts! And off we go.

He made a shirt declaration last weekend and I happened to know that Banana Republic was having a 40%-off-your-entire-purchase thing going on in their stores. (They email me. I keep up.)

We headed to Banana, but not the one at The Mall near our house. We like the other one better. (Nicer layout and they carry petites.) A trip to Banana is a great way to start a Saturday night date and makes me look forward to a New Outfit Monday.

Lately I've adored the offerings at Banana. Adored. I've scored a number of jackets, tops and sweaters as well as a few items from their Mad Man Collection (including the quick-to-sell-out leopard print trench which makes me happy every time I wear it). Their designers are really hitting my sweet spot these days (which I certainly can't say about the Gap--haven't even seen anything I want to try on there in years. The Gap sucks. There: I said it.)

If you hit the BR website today, you can get 30% off of full-priced items. (There are still a few hours left!)

Here are a few of my favorite recent Banana Republic acquisitions:

There's nothing a love more than a blazer that feels like a sweater. Looks good, feels good. That's a win and a win. This one is soft, comfortable, warm and vintagey.

You can never go wrong with a leopard cardigan. Or a leopard anything (says the woman with leopard luggage). (This is so cute. And I want this.)

 

I find this drapey top to be both flattering and versatile. It's great for layering with sweaters, vest and jackets and is a perfect companion to a statement necklace. 

This scarf is perfect. Light and drapey and ideal to wear at work at a chilly office. It also comes in a flattering shade of pink. (You can't have too many scarves. Even though I'm pretty sure I do.)

Accessorizing My Inner Rock Star

We've all got our moods. (Cheapy can attest that I certainly do.) And my mood is always reflected in my clothes. I've got my beige days and my hot pink days. My blazer days and my ruffle days. My demure days and my rock star days. Lately rock star has been in heavy rotation.

It started on a recent trip to the Gap Clearance Center with my top-of-the-list shopping friend from Brooklyn. In the pile of 27 items I'd dragged into the dingy dressing room I discovered a perfect pair of low rise skinny pants in a groovy grey with loads of zipper and snap pockets. I want to wear them more often than I don't. And they were like five bucks.

Then I got a deal-of-the-day email from 6pm.com (which you should all sign up for right now) and found these Boutique 58 shoes for just shy of $30. They're work-appropriate rock star--amazingly comfortable black studded slingbacks (which I've since purchased in beige as well).


Next I needed some bona fide rock star jewelery like this sterling silver beauty from the Van Halen store. (It's not vintage, but it's made from the original mold and the back is stamped with ©1980. Vintage VH necklaces are nowhere to be found on eBay--because who would part with something so cool. It's an awesome logo.)


And doesn't every girl need a snake for her neck when she's feeling a little edgy? This one came from a fab etsy store I stumbled upon called Rag Trader. (I've picked up a few other pieces from this seller. The jewelry is fun and well-priced.)


Then just a few days ago I ordered these deal-of-the-century Bettye Muller pumps from Amazon. (I saved $366.76--ten bucks came off the sale price in my shopping cart. Don't know why; don't care why. Just enjoyed the happy register surprise.) These will look so perfect with my skinny pants. (Thanks, L, for the tip on Amazon designer deals. Forget all those books--it's a terrific place to buy shoes.)


Now I'm off the sharpen my black eyeliner...

I'm Cuckoo for Coconut from The Body Shop

I'd just visited Sephora on a recent Friday-after-work shopping trip (the best way to end the week) and came upon The Body Shop a few doors. The Body Shop opened at The Mall last year and, despite the fact that I really like their products, I'd never visited. The Body Shop is my airport store--it's the best thing about being delayed in terminal 3 at CVG.

But since I had nothing to do but go home and watch a What Not to Wear rerun, I decided to pop in and sample some products. The first thing I tried was Coconut Milk Body Lotion. It is amazing. The smell is delicious and authentic--not that icky Hawaiian Tropic-like fake beachy coconut. That's because the lotion contains real organic cold-pressed coconut oil and coconut milk. It's a spray-on product with a thin consistency, not a rich creamy lotion, but it penetrates quickly and softens well. I've used it on my arms, legs and hands daily since I bought it (and I can't stop smelling myself.)



My intense love for the lotion had me back in The Body Shop on another Friday night to see what other coconut lovelies I could find. The sales associate handed me Coconut Body Butter. This same product was mentioned in the June issue of Lucky I just received--associate editor Cat Marnell called it her "absolute favorite beauty product of all time." (Lucky devoted a whole page to coconut products. I'm so on top of things, fellow shoppers!) The Coconut Body Butter is thick, rich and the best thing that's happened to my heels in ages. I've been slathering it on my feet at night and waking up ready for sandals.


I also picked up Coconut Bath & Shower Cream. It produces a yummy lather with the help of my shower puff and makes me and the whole bathroom smell like a treat.


The delish aroma of all these coconut products made me want to eat coconut, so purchased a pint of Purely Decadent Coconut Milk Vanilla Bean. If you avoid dairy like I do this is the most satisfying treat imaginable. Cheapy could not tell it from regular ice cream. Note that coconut still has plenty of saturated fat so I wouldn't recommend downing the whole pint while watching a chick movie. (Not that I would ever do such a thing.)

PMS Causes Shopping? That Explains a Lot

A recent study in the UK reported in the Daily Mail found that premenstrual women engage in retail therapy--our hormones fuel our shopping, our shopping makes us feel better.

A study revealed that in the ten days before their periods begin--known as the luteal phase--women are much less in control of their spending habits. Psychologists at Hertfordshire University concluded that a shopping spree could be a way of dealing with the intense emotions of pre-menstrual syndrome, which affects around 90 per cent of women each month.

Professor Karen Pine, who conducted the study of 443 women aged between 18 and 50, said: "The later women were in their menstrual cycle, the more likely they were to have overspent."

Huh. One can do a lot of shopping in ten days. That's a big chunk of 28. In the interest of science I'll start paying attention to whether or not I spend more during certain times of the month. I'd guess probably not--I think I hold a fairly steady pace. The amount of shopping I do depends on how close I am to payday, whether or not I've got good eBay prospects, how much Cheapy drinks, whether my fav TV shows are reruns, and how many enticing sale newsletters are in my inbox. But now I can blame it all on moon time when the AmEx bill comes.

Shopping with Cheapy at Banana Republic

The Saturday night before Christmas, Cheapy and I had a babysitter and nothing much to do, so we had some wine and went shopping. He wanted to buy some clothes for his dad for the holidays. There was nothing much to be excited about in the Gap (either for me or for my father-in-law) so we hit Banana Republic, and we hit it hard.

Cheapy purchased several items for his father as well as buying another version of his favorite outfit--a grey t-shirt, a grey sweater and khakis. (I'm sure I've mentioned how dull his closet is.) He did bring in a little color with a medium green tee which was a tad surprising for the king of beige. The wine must have made him adventurous!

The wine also made Cheapy want a Material Girl fashion show. I tried on at least half a dozen dresses, even more jackets and sweaters (I bought two sweaters), and a handful of pants.

Cheapy and I and the sales person (who kept saying, "That is hot!") all loved this dress on me.


If you're a regular reader, you know that I would leave the house covered in sequins every day if I could. This dress is a beauty. But, realistically, I have no idea where I would ever where it. Not that that's stopped me before--I have a few treasures in my closet just waiting for the perfect occasion to eventually arrive. This treasure was a tad pricey, even at 40% off, to be a one-day-I'll-wear-it dress. (MSRP is $225.) It's now on sale for $129 plus an extra 20% off. If I had somewhere fancy to go on New Year's Eve and it was going to be above 55 degrees that night I'd be at Banana tomorrow to see if there's one left in my size.

Instead of sequins, I went home with black taffeta. I tried on the animal print version pictured below which I loved, but Cheapy was in favor of the black (he's got a thing for LBDs) and he was buying, so black it was. I'm pretty crazy about this dress. I really did not want to take it off when I was in the dressing room. Oh--and it's got pockets! I'm not in favor of the dress with a necklace as it's shown below, however--why fussy up that interesting neckline? I'll just wear it with formidable earring and some amazing shoes. (More on those in a future post.)


If you dig this print as much as I do, click over to the Banana Republic site or hit the store--it's on sale for $109 from $175, plus an extra 20% off. (They're having a major sale in store and online. Maybe I will be at Banana tomorrow...)

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!

Shopping with Cheapy--Boots from Shoetopia

Cheapy and I had dinner with friends last Friday night at one of our favorite restaurants, Slims. The food is terrific, the atmosphere is cool, the staff is great, and it's right next to Shoetopia (which, if you ask me, is the perfect name for a shoe store). We spent some time at the wine store on the way to the Slims (you have to bring your own), so Cheapy was happy and he was digging a lot of the Shoetopia inventory (as was I).

He bought me these boots by J Shoes. I'm in desperate need of ankle boots and I loved the two-tone leather, the scrunchy ankle tie and the wonderfully padded sole.


I was not familiar with J Shoes before I tried these on. They have a small selection of their boots and shoes on endless and a smaller selection on Zappos. The boots I got are available in black on both sites--but they're less expensive at Shoetopia.

Cheapy must really like the design sense of this brand. He bought this pair of J Shoes from Johnny Sole in Portland.


It's going to kill Cheapy when I tell him they're on clearance on Amazon and are almost $100 less than he paid.

Shopping in Myrtle Beach: Cole Haan

I'm behind on my purchase reporting because I've been busy busy busy with travel. Travel, however, means shopping. I was in a beach house in Garden City, SC with Cheapy, Cheapy Jr., and my in-laws for a week in early September. I'm not big on beaches and, well, I won't go into in-laws. There were a several bright spots during the trip. We found a place that served a great vegan burger with a side of deep fried pickles. My father-in-law loves thrift shops, junk shops, used bookstores, and antique malls. And the last day there was a huge double rainbow over the ocean.

While overall the shopping wasn't tremendous in the greater Myrtle Beach area (unless you're in the market for seashell souvenirs and tacky t-shirts), I picked up a couple of beaded necklaces and a bracelet at an antique mall, found an old book for my boss for a two bucks at a thrift store, and got a few items at the Ralph Lauren outlet (where my mother-in-law and I went to buy polo shirts for Dad-of-Cheapy).

My best purchase was at the Cole Haan outlet. I still regret not buying a great structured black bag at a great price, but I did come home with these taupe suede slingback wedges:

These were originally priced at $275. They're now on sale on the Cole Haan site for $179. I got them at the outlet mall for $85. The Nike Air insides are crazy comfortable and they're simply a beautiful neutral shoe to add to my collection. I'm thinking more outlet mall trips may be in my future--there's one about 45 minutes north of where I live. (Maybe there's a Cole Haan store with that same black bag...)

A Happy Day at Old Navy

A few nights ago, Cheapy Junior woke up crying. Reason: A hole in his sock. (The boy hates holes in clothing. It drives him mad when I wear my destroyed jeans.) I went through his sock drawer pair by pair and found that pretty much all of them had holes or were threadbare. So the next day I went to Old Navy to stock up on tiny socks and grab some pants for Cheapy Senior (he loves their loose fit khakis. They're baggy, super soft and inexpensive which is everything Cheapy wants in a pair of pants.)

While I was there I cruised through the women's section. I tried on a the best beige trench, which I was fully prepared to purchase. I liked it a lot but was thinking, I wish this came in black. Then I walked out of the dressing room, and, lo and behold, I found this:


It's not on Old Navy's website, so this is my own photos, so you'll have to do your best to get the idea. (I put it on and tried to take my photo in my full-length mirror, but that was not good.) There's really no sheen to the coat, as it seems so in the photo--but my camera flash did illuminate the details of this trench, which I'm so very excited about.

Notice the slash pockets, the button-down collar and the higher-waisted belt. It fits a petite shopper like myself perfectly--it's the right length, the belt hits in a good spot. It looks nice buttoned up or open. It's truly the trench I've been looking for for several years. I'd almost call it chic (a word that, for some reason, bugs Cheapy). And at $49.50. I should probably go back and get the beige one too.

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.

Shopping in Vegas: My Afternoon with Cheapy

After a morning at the overpriced Canyon Ranch Spa (and lunch at their delicious and very vegetarian friendly cafe), I met up with Cheapy to hit the shops at the Venetian. We only made it to two stores because, despite the fact that he had an OK buzz, Cheapy was not feeling the retail vibe. There were too many people (it was Saturday) and they were harshing his happy-mellow.

Our first stop was Kenneth Cole. (Cheapy hated the music.) I got this pair of shoes that I'm still thinking about taking back. I love the gray leather contrasted with the black woven heel (they also come in a great yellow and beige), but I'm concerned about the comfort level.


I also got a small and super soft leather hobo. It's below in cream, but I got it in gray (which was not offered online). I guess I was in a gray mood--it's a good neutral for summer!


I loved a lot of the bags Kenneth Cole has to offer. The shapes and colors really appeal to me and many many of them are on sale.

For example, this blue bag which almost has the look of denim leather and is soft and slouchy. (It's on sale for $129 from $278.)



This cream and black satchel is clean and simple and soft. (It's on sale for $129 from $248.)



I love this gray and white tote. It looks roomy but not too cumbersome. (Its' on sale for $159 from $338.)



And this silver tote is fancy and shiny, and somehow slouchy and structured simultaneously. (It's on sale for $159 from $318.)


The service in the Las Vegas Kenneth Cole was not exactly stellar, but since I had to wait so long to try on the shoes the sales person gave me a 25% off gift card. If I decide to return the gray wedges, I may us the discount to get this dress (which looked much better and more interesting in person).


Here's a funny Cheapy shopping anecdote. After I finished the whole shoe transaction we headed to the second floor of Kenneth Cole to check out the clearance. Cheapy walks over to me holding this shirt:




I personally think this shirt is kinda cool. I like the dip dye and I love the palette. But for Cheapy to pick it up--I thought someone must have slipped something into his beers. Everything he owns is beige, army green or light blue.

"This looks kinda good. Do you like it? I'm going to try it on," says Cheapy. "Um. O-K. Dressing rooms are that way," I say.

So we go into a dressing room and he puts on the shirt. Then he takes off his sunglasses, and has a mini-freak and rips it off. "Why didn't you tell me it had...colors?"

Shopping in Vegas: Nanette Lepore

After our collective shoe binge at Taryn Rose, my shopping posse did some damage in Nanette Lepore where we found racks and racks of delicious clothes at 50%. All four of my fellow shoppers and I walked out with at least a couple of items.

This shopping experience was great fun--the dressing rooms in the back of the store had a big community mirror area and we could all pop out as we tried things on to model for one another. There was a lot of oohing and ahhhing and "oh-you-have-to-by-that-dress!" There were also several helpful sales associates running about grabbing alternate sizes and colors for us. These are beautiful, well-made clothes, and despite the fact that there were so many different body types happening it was fantastic to see that there was something in Nanette Lepore's line for everyone.

Here's a sampling of our half-off purchases.

In addition to a fab khaki peplum jacket dripping with interesting details, I got the dress below in gray and cream--you all know Material Girl cannot pull off yellow. I fill the dress out quite a bit more than this willowy model and it hits me at the knee.


One fellow shopper got this beauty of a top in black and in white and wore them both before the trip was over. It's so versatile and so pretty and feminine. I love the seafoam version below. (I would have tried this on myself, but I feared it would not properly cover the girls.)


Birthday girl grabbed this dress at the last minute in a green and gold jewel-tone-y version. It was cut like it was made for her and she looked spectacular singing karaoke in it. (I prefer the one she got to this red-brown-beige version, although it's very pretty on the brunette model.)


And no one bought these--but look how cute they are. I want them. I really really want them. (Post Vegas trip, however, is not time to start coveting $350 sandals. Cheapy's head might expode.)

My Latest Finds on eBay, Plus Owl Sandals

I got a two cute, kinda short and kinda fancy skirts on eBay recently. (I like to dress nice when Cheapy takes me to dinner--which is our favorite date activity lately. If I show a little leg maybe I can score dessert. Actually Cheapy loves dessert and if we get one to share he generally bogarts it.)

My first skirt is a new with tags J Crew Collection sequined mini I nabbed for $99 (after watching is through several auctions cycles and waiting for the price to go down). I know it seemed like my sequin phase had petered out, but, really, a sequined skirt is like bling for you butt. I can't get enough.


The other skirt I got for $28 is a Generra gray silk bubble mini. It's so pretty and has pockets!


I'm 5'2" so these "minis" aren't all that short on me. (They are skirts I do not need to take to Kim, my wonderful tailor. Sometimes I spend more on alterations than I do on an eBay item. But nothing is more important than fit no matter how pretty something is.)

And I kinda accidentally bought a pair of sandals from endless this afternoon (that's my story for Cheapy, anyway) when I was killing time before my facial (got a peptide peel--I feel like a girl of 35 again!). I had seen these on Shoe Blog in gold. They mentioned they were on sale at Barefoot Tess for $52 with a coupon code (down from $74) and shipping is around $8. Endless had them for $59.95 with free overnight shipping. I ordered the DV by Dolce Vita Dijon sandal in pewter.

How could I resist those owls? And I love that they are not totally flat--a tiny wedge is nice. I really like the whole Dolce Vita and DV lines--lots of great sandals, metallic and otherwise, including not-over-the-top gladiators. (I'm still looking for the right pair of gladiator sandals--I better get on that before summer is over.)

My Trip to New York: Shopping in Brooklyn

I'm behind on my blogging--I was in New York for a few days and when I got home, I had a lot of laundry and sleeping to do. I'm finally caught up on both, so I'll bring you some highlights of my trip in this an perhaps several other posts.

The best shopping day was my Sunday at the Brownstoners Brooklyn Flea. If I lived nearby I would hit this flea market every weekend. I didn't find any clothing, but I could see there was a lot of potential. One vendor offers a rack full of designer pieces in tiny sizes with nice prices. One has vintage items she embroiders with simple shapes or figures and wonderful phrase in Latin. (My friend had purchased a dress from this vendor featuring two big red whales--it's adorable on her.) There were many many racks of vintage and revamped vintage as well.

It was a great day at the flea for jewelry--my friends and I each left with at least one piece. (Well, they each left with one; I left with several.) I picked up two necklaces and three pairs of earrings. You may have noticed that I've been buying a number of big, chunky, and even statement-making necklaces lately. Several vendors at the flea offered jewelry more in the delicate and beautiful realm, which is lacking a bit in my jewelry boxes.

First I found a lovely starfish necklace from Odette. These jellyfish pieces are example of the amazing nature-inspired work they do in gold and silver. For more visit their website. (It's all interestingly pretty and a just a bit pricey but not overly so for the workmanship and materials involved.)


I got a lacey-airy-leafy looking necklace from Birdhouse Jewelry. My two friends got items from this vendor as well. (After I bought mine, I brought them over to peruse.) There are a lot of gold offerings on her Etsy page but my friends and I all got silver pieces. The selection at the flea offered plenty of both gold and silver and was vast compared to the online offerings. One online piece I particularly like is this peapod necklace. (I'm a big fan of peas. Yum!) Birdhouse is nicely priced.


My last jewelry purchase was three pairs of earrings from Blue Canary Vintage. They offer a great deal of dead stock brass and enamel earrings from the late '60s/early '70s. These are vintages pieces that have never been worn--and they're just adorable. I bought a pair of tiny roses as shown below--although the ones below are raw brass and I got a pair that they had gold plated. I also got bright pink roses and large brass roses. I've worn one pair or another almost every day since I've been home. They are cute and they are cheap.




To carry all must stuff on the airplane (including a few father's day goodies for Cheapy--coffee, a t-shirt, and spicy pickled green beans) and got a $5 canvas tote for sale on the sidewalk outside the flea market. I can't have enough canvas bags in my trunk--part of my quest to never acquire another plastic bag.