Faryl Robin from DSW Online: Stacked Coupons

I'd had my eye on a pair of Faryl Robin t-straps that I'd seen at Shoetopia a million times but had never tried on because they were $209 (and no matter how much wine Cheapy had before shopping, that would never fly--even taking into account that this shoe style is called "Doobie." Shoetopia is next to our fav restaurant so 95% of the time I'm there, he's with me.)

But look how cute these are. I love the shape of the heel, the animal print lining, the fact that the t-strap is askew. And I wish you could see the eggplanty color in person.

Last Saturday we met my friend and her boyfriend for dinner at said fav restaurant, and we scheduled in a few minute pre-food for shoe shopping. My friend found two cute pairs of shoes each on sale for $25 (a great first-time visit to the store). I tried on the asymmetrical Faryl's a half size too small because they were sold out in 8.5. Sad. (If you like these shoes and you don't wear size 8.5, they come in both bordo and black and are now on sale on Shoetopia's site for $104.)

As soon as we got home from our night out I set to googling the Faryl Robin Doobie and found it on sale on DSW for $139. Then I googled some more--this time for DSW coupon codes. When shopping on the DSW site, just as when shopping in the stores, you can use multiple coupons. For this transaction, I used three--one I found on the DSW site for free shipping, and two I found on coupon code sites, one for an extra $10 off and one for an extra $5. Google "DSW stackable coupons" and see what you find. Some will be expired, some with be birthday month codes--you just have to try a few and see if they work--but if you spend five minutes you can save a few bucks. And you can use them along with coupon codes you've gotten through the mail for DSW Rewards. (After my latest DSW purchase, I've got a reward postcard on the way--as well as my new shoes.)

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.
  

Shoes Glorious Shoes

While I was home on my lunch hour eating a salad and looking a eBay I heard the doorbell ring. "RING!" I knew it had to be my boyfriend the UPS man. And I knew what he was leaving on my porch after his ring-and-run: shoes in a big box from Zappos.

I ordered three pairs to possibly go with the dress I got for Donya's wedding (which I keep trying on and keep still liking a lot). I was going for something in a bronze shoe with a not-too-spiky heel. I got a pair of Charles David (the ones on the left), a pair of Faryl Robbin (the ones below), and a pair of Vaneli (the ones on the right). I loved them all on screen.

Bronze looks really great with the dress. The Charles David shoes really looked bad on. The braided detail was very thick and the t-strap effect did nothing in terms of giving me a long leg line. The Vaneli shoes looked great with the dress--I think they have the right feel and they are elegantly strappy. They are also terribly uncomfortable.

Then the Faryl Robin shoes--I love love love them. (They also come in silver!) I want to wear them to the grocery store. I want to put them on, put my feet up and just stare at them (as soon as I get a nice pedicure). However, they are gold. They're not a very brassy/shiny gold (they look less shiny in person), but they are gold none-the-less. Why aren't they bronze? They would be perfect if they were bronze! Can I wear a gold shoe with the dress with all it's bronze-y embellishments? What if I also wear gold jewelry and carry a gold clutch (there are a few vintage ones in my eBay watch list as I type).