confessions of a serial thrifter

Serial Thrifter Girls: A new series

2012-01-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

I’ve been absent on this blog for awhile, but it’s because I’ve been knee-deep in a project that I’ve been hoping to launch for several months now. It’s called “Serial Thrifter Girls,” and I would love to tell you about it.

Some of my friends joke that I am a “clothes whisperer.” They claim I have special powers when it comes to shopping and scoring deals. I’ve had some awesome successes through the years, including finding my husband a vintage Schott Perfecto jacket for $19.99 at the Goodwill, or finding one of my best friends a vintage-inspired wedding dress on eBay after the one she bought on Etsy fell apart just a few days before her big day. When Shawn got a new job that required him to wear dressier clothes, I went to the thrift, because I knew I could score some designer shirts at a fraction of the price I’d pay new, on sale, on eBay or clearance. My dad loves Tommy Bahama silk shirts, and instead of paying $110 apiece new, which neither of us could justify, I turned to the thrift. He now has more than a dozen of them – and if you added up what I spent in total, it would still be less than half the price of ONE new shirt.

For the past year or so, I’ve been trying to figure out a series I could do on the blog that would showcase how I use thrift stores, eBay, Etsy, online sales and discount stores to put together a wardrobe without breaking the bank. Inspiration came to me in the form of my two best friends, Melissa and Vanessa. Melissa is getting married this year, and she just bought a house, so her discretionary income is being used for more important things like water heaters and paint. Vanessa just had a baby last January, so she and her husband are spending money on things that beep, scoot and flash. Although both of them love fashion and have incredible senses of style, spending a lot of money on clothes just isn’t a priority.

I wanted to ask Vanessa and Melissa to participate in this series for another reason as well. Both are beautiful plus-size women, and one of the most frequent complaints I hear is that thrift stores don’t provide much in the way of plus-size fashion. At first, I dismissed the complaint. But then as I was shopping for them in the thrifts, I began to realize that it’s not so much a problem of quantity as it is quality. I’ll delve into this more as the series goes on, but suffice to say, I have some strong opinions when it comes to the materials and patterns used in plus-size clothing.

Before I started shopping, I had Melissa and Vanessa fill out a small survey that asked about their interests, inspirations (fashion and non-fashion) and favorites (books, music, etc.). I wanted to find out what recent eras of fashion they liked, what they were wearing when they felt most confident, and what their concerns were when it came to clothing. I also asked them about colors and accessories, and whether they preferred heels, flats or boots. I wanted to get a sense of them not only in terms of what their fashion preferences were, but what informs their broader sense of style. To me, clothes can help tell a story. I first realized this when I was a music critic covering the local scene in Dayton, Ohio. Almost all of the musicians I met had a flare for the theatrical, whether they were heavy metal guitarists, jazz drummers or country banjo players. Their clothes said something about them, but they were also part of a larger story. I wanted to find out where Melissa and Vanessa saw themselves in the grander cultural zeitgeist.

Once I read their answers, I spent some time thinking about the types of items I wanted to find. I sketched out outfit ideas, focusing on what they liked and also what I knew they would look good in. For instance, both Vanessa and Melissa told me that they like color – but each of them likes it for a different reason. Whereas Vanessa wanted to experiment with color because she’s naturally drawn to it in photography, design and jewelry, color for Melissa is about making a political statement as a plus-size woman.

Putting together these capsule wardrobes for my two best friends became a quest that challenged me in many ways. I quickly realized that there are a lot of designers who are downright mean to their plus-size shoppers. Somewhere along the line, that horrible, clingy polyester-based fabric became the norm in plus-size fashion, as did leopard print, overblown floral patterns, enormous plastic beads and/or chiffon appliques. There are, unfortunately, very few designers who truly seem to “get” plus-size fashion, and those who do price their items very, very expensively. There’s little middle ground when it comes to plus-size fashion. It’s either affordable and ugly, or beautiful and expensive. And that makes it even harder if you’re pressed for time, have a budget or don’t like to/are self-conscious when it comes to shopping.

I’m still organizing how to present this series, and I know it will be spread out over a few months, but I hope that it will give you a tip or two for thrift (retail and resale) shopping!

10 Confessions of a Serial Thrifter

2011-12-31T10:58:00.000-08:00

My pal Vanessa over at Little Gray Pixel linked up to her friend Deanna to join in on a "confessional" series that highlights things you might not know about her. It sounded like some fun, so I decided to do it today. I realize it's been a very long time since I blogged, so I'm also including a snap of my Halloween costume (I went as Jacqueline Kennedy).

So, without further ado, here goes!

(1) I am absolutely terrified of toasters. I always fear that they will spontaneously catch on fire and burn down my house. For years, I wouldn't allow Shawn to have one in the house. I finally caved and let him have a toaster oven, but it has to be immediately cleaned and unplugged after every use, and stored out of sight. I also unplug people's toasters when I go to their houses.

(2) After years of not having a favorite color, I finally realized that the color I truly love is not green (which I had thought was my favorite color), but orange. I can't get enough of it.

(3) I don't have many memories of my early childhood.

(4) I took dance lessons from the time I was 8 until the time I was 20. My favorite was tap dancing. I have a VHS tape of my routine to "Tequila." I believe my mother still has my original costume.

(5) Every single day, I miss my girlfriends in Ohio and Illinois because they are such beautiful, wonderful, smart, sassy, educated, erudite, candid, dauntless women.

(6) No matter how bad a day is, looking at a penguin always makes me smile.

(7) My car has over 126,000 miles on it and will be 10 years old this year. I don't think I will ever sell it; it's a 2002 Pontiac Firebird.

(8) Shawn and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary this month and decided that for our 10th, we're going to take a month-long trip to visit New Zealand, Dubai and London. The London leg will be a repeat of where we spent our honeymoon.

(9) Reading is my favorite pastime. I'm constantly reading something. I just finished reading the first two books in the young adult Mortal Instruments series, and up next is "Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World's Richest Museum" by Jason Felch and Ralph Frammolino.

(10) When it comes to salty vs. sweet, I definitely come down on the side of salty.

It's time for a closet purge

2011-11-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

One of the occupational hazards of being a serial thrifter is that it's easy to compile a huge wardrobe very quickly. It's also easy to experiment with different looks and styles when the investment is minimal. But that means -- at least for me -- that I run out of space very quickly. My husband and I live in 1940s-era military base housing that was converted into townhomes, so our closets are very tiny. Add to the mix the fact that I also need space for eBay and Anthropologie Treasurebox inventory, and it becomes even more of a challenge. Right now, the solution has been to use storage bins and clothing rolling racks, but I'd like to reclaim some space in our guest bedroom/office.

My style also seems to be settling into a few specific looks and preferences, which means I'm definitely ready to part with some of the pieces that I've acquired. This weekend, I plan to seriously purge my closets. I do mini-purges here and there, but I've never tackled anything quite so extensive as this. I'm going to force myself to be honest: If it doesn't fit correctly, it goes. If it hasn't been worn at least once in the past six months, it's gone. If I'm keeping it just because it's pretty, it goes.

I have high hopes for this purge. I plan to follow the three simple steps to a successful purge laid out by Sally of Already Pretty, which is one of my favorite blogs. Channeling her great advice, I hope to wind up with a manageable wardrobe that truly reflects my style and life.

p.s. I'm also just going to admit that with the exception of one cardigan, Nanette Lepore and I are just NOT A GOOD MATCH. Sigh. Oh, how it pains me.

Thrift store score: J Crew Vintage Cotton Sequin Henley

2011-10-29T01:36:00.000-07:00

For the past few months, I've been wearing a lot of simple outfits -- mostly boatneck 3/4-sleeve tops from J Crew with snaps on the sleeves or at the shoulders. They're incredibly effortless, and I pair them with jeans and flats -- it's the perfect weekend outfit. The problem is -- I hate paying J. Crew's prices for their 3/4-sleeve tops. Anything over $20 and I get the hives. So imagine my delight when I spotted the Vintage Cotton Sequin Henley -- originally $49.50 -- at a thrift store this past week for $5.49! Score! Now that's more like it, especially for a top that is so delicate it will probably either get one of those mysterious little holes in it the first time I wash it or am stuck in the belly with the claw of an 18-pound cat.

Giveaway winner -- PAMELA!!!!

2011-09-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to #7 -- that is PAMELA!!!!

Pamela, you've won both books and I'll be contacting you shortly to get your shipping address.

Thank you all for entering the giveaway!!

Giveaway: "The Secret Lives of Dresses" and "A Vintage Affair"

2011-09-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed that I've been taking a semi-break from the blogs lately. I've been doing a lot of reading during that time: I've been devouring everything from the September issue of Vogue to Siddhartha Mukherjee's "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer." In between, there have been issues of "Entertainment Weekly" as well as Jess Walter's affecting novel, "The Financial Lives of the Poets."

While all of it has been interesting, two books have really been food for my soul. Those two books are "The Secret Lives of Dresses" by Erin McKean, and "A Vintage Affair" by Isabel Wolff. Both of these books are about vintage clothing and how these frocks can become a metaphor for life's ups and downs, grief and loss, happiness and rebirth. Both books are well-written, though McKean's is written from an American perspective, whereas Wolff's takes place in England.

I also need to give a shout-out here to Teri Lynn, a lovely lady who first suggested that I read "The Secret Lives of Dresses." She thought, given my love of clothing, I might enjoy it. She was totally right. Not only did I enjoy it, I found it re-energized me. Soon after I finished reading these books, I found a vintage early 1960s Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner little black dress that I plan to list on Anthropologie Treasurebox. This dress screams Jackie Kennedy ... and I cannot wait for it to go on to have a second life with some lovely lady.

At any rate, I wanted to offer these books to one of my readers. If you'd like to receive these books, simply leave your email address in the comments and I will draw a winner at random this coming Wednesday, Sept. 28th. Contest is open to all U.S. and Canadian residents.

Thrift store score: Goldenrod Plaid Coat from The Limited

2011-09-08T23:05:00.000-07:00

With Labor Day in the rearview mirror, it's time to get serious about fall fashion. Of course, here in Southern California, we're entering into the hottest time of the year, which makes it insanely frustrating -- especially when all the fashion bloggers in the Midwest and East Coast are starting to don their tights, boots and other fall wardrobe staples. Nonetheless, I have packed away my white jeans until next Memorial Day, and I will valiantly brave sweltering temps so that I may curate a tiny clatch of purchases to round out my "Fox Hunt 2011" fashion aesthetic this fall.

I was out at the thrifts a few weeks back with my friend Vanessa when I spotted this beautiful wool coat from The Limited. I was immediately drawn to its goldenrod hue and plaid pattern, swooning at the oversized shape and the belt that had a buckle that looked and felt like Bakelite. Of course it's only "inspired" Bakelite, but the look reminded me of the 1960s, and the colors are perfect for fall. In addition to the golden yellow, there is a pale purple and a bluish-gray. I am absolutely smitten with it.

Finding fall and winter items can sometimes be a challenge here in L.A. because the weather is usually too warm for big, chunky cableknits and thick wool coats. But every once in awhile, you hit paydirt -- and what makes it even better is that the condition of these items is usually pristine since it's so seldom cold enough to wear them. Such was the case with this beauty. It's in perfect shape; there is no wear at all, and it looks like it's new off the rack. Now I just have to wait a couple of months before I can wear it. (Hand to my heart: the hottest day of the year we first moved out here was Thanksgiving!)

Total spent: $9.99.

OOTD: Pleasant peasant

2011-08-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to report that last weekend's thrifting trip was a success! I managed to snag five dress shirts for Shawn, including a Banana Republic Monogram collection shirt, another Banana Republic shirt made from Italian fabric (oooh la la), an Express dress shirt, one from Zara and some other one I'm forgetting. I also scored a pair of navy wool trousers for him from Kenneth Cole. He was pleased and everything fit him perfectly, thanks to the fact that I brought along my trusty tape measure. I think I spent a total of $30 for all of it -- less than half the price of one new Express shirt. He was pleased, and he's already started incorporating the pieces into his wardrobe. Hurrah!!

I thought I'd share an outfit of the day post with you today, although the outfit in question is actually from last Thursday. In it I'm wearing a really bright and blouse-y peasant top from Forever 21, which is not something I'd normally choose. I think something just drew me to it; it's a few years old and I think I spent $13.80 on it.

The cropped pants are from Express from at least six years ago and two sizes ago. I realized this after my dear friend Vanessa pointed out that she liked the "boyfriend" pants I had on. I guess the good news is that they will make good pants to wear if I go on a nacho binge. (Which, let's face it, sounds great right about now.)

The shoes, though, are hands-down my favorite part of the outfit. They are the Soaring Pistachio Platforms from Anthropologie. Man, I waited forever for these to go on sale. I don't often wear them because they're such a statement shoe, but I like to bust them out every once in awhile because they are so cute! They always get a lot of compliments.

Thrifting challenge: Men's shirts and pants

2011-08-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

With Shawn’s new job comes the need to add a few things to his wardrobe. In his previous job, he was able to mostly wear jeans and tees since he was doing a lot of lifting, breaking down of pallets and other physical work. With the new job, he’s still doing some manual labor but it’s a bit more “business casual,” which means button-down shirts and chinos or dress pants. (Or, as Shawn would call them, “slacks.” Which is endearingly and dorkily old-fashioned.) Luckily, he has a pretty good foundation already, so we really only need to add a few new shirts and a new pair or two of pants.

I’ve tried throughout the years to get Shawn interested in fashion with varying degrees of success. He likes John Varvatos a lot, but that’s a little impractical on our budget. It’s also really hard to find his size because he’s very tall and slender. He’s also between sizes, which makes buying pants terribly difficult. The 32x34 is too small; the 34x34 is too big – and 33x34 is hard to come by, although it does exist. Sure, we could tailor all his pants, but Shawn has neither the patience nor does he want to spend the money on tailoring because the man is hard on his clothes and they don’t last.

When it comes to dress shirts, he definitely leans toward neutrals, although recently he has been persuaded by the power of a crisp bright blue button-down. His favorites are gray, black and brown, but he does own burgundy and sage green. I’d like to see him wear a pale pink, maybe a deep purple. He has traditional pale Irish skin with gorgeous blue eyes, so blues are always good, too. But again, his most difficult issue with shirts is sizing. He wears a 15.5” neck, with a 34/35 sleeve. This size is easier to find than it used to be, especially with modern slim-cut fits, but it’s still not a “standard” size.

What this all means is that it’s quite a challenge to thrift shop for Shawn. Apparently, the average male in the U.S. is super short and wide. In general, all I find at the thrift are pants and jeans with a 30” inseam and shirts that are either XXL or with an 18” neck. I find this ironic since the majority of women’s clothes at the thrift are size 2P. I’ve taken to carrying a tape measure with me during my shopping trips so I can measure the inseam on pants and jeans after too many instances of bringing home thrifted jeans only to find that unless there was an imminent danger of flooding, they weren’t going to work.

Tomorrow, however, I am going to brave the thrifts with my friend Vanessa and her daughter, Alexa. We are going with the express mission of trying to find clothes for Shawn. Armed with a tape measure, camera and plenty of snacks, we will brave the wilds of Inglewood, Redondo Beach and Torrance in search of men’s pants and shirts. I have absolute faith in our mission; Vanessa found a pale pink Hermes button-down for her husband on one of her thrifting excursions. Stay tuned for the results!

Abundant blessings

2011-08-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

A month ago, I posted about how my husband works for Borders and his job was soon-to-be nonexistent because of the company's liquidation. We knew that had been a possibility from the moment the company declared bankruptcy, but it still caught us by surprise because the deal with a potential buyer fell through suddenly and the shareholders decided the better option (for them, anyway) was to liquidate the company's remaining assets (including the jobs of 13,000+ employees).

Shawn and I spent a lot of time talking about what we would do, and we spent a lot of time sending out his resume to various different job postings. I immediately tried to ramp up my selling on eBay, and I stopped spending money except on essentials like food and gas. We were super careful with what money we had, thinking we'd bank any extra while he still had a job to help get us through however long his unemployment lasted.

And, as you'd expect, the universe decided to have a little fun with us, throwing little "tests" our way. The biggest test came in the form of the Kate Spade Roland Park Cecelia bag popping up on eBay at a very reasonable price. I've wanted this bag for about two years, even posting on my blog about it back in March 2010. Almost weekly for two years, I'd been getting listing alerts from eBay when one popped up, but it'd never been the white/navy/tomato colorway that I was desperate for. Until now. When I wasn't spending money. Just for grins, I had it authenticated. Real. Of course. Blargh.

My friend Sara (I know! Same name!), who lives on the East Coast, was also keeping an eye out for this bag, because she knew that was at the top of my "ones that got away" wishlist. She is an amazing sleuth, finding even the most impossibly rare and out of stock items. She saw this purse pop up on eBay, too. She also knew about Shawn's job situation and that I was refraining from buying things that weren't strictly necessary.

We were chatting one night via IM, and she told me about the listing. "I know," I whined. We laughed about it, and then she and her husband wished Shawn all the best in his job search. I pretty much put the purse out of my mind -- really, it was just a purse and if there's anything about eBay that holds true, it's that another one will always come along.

It was shortly after the listing popped up that Shawn got a few interview calls, one in particular that he was incredibly excited about. We ironed his clothes, punched up his resume and made sure he researched the company and knew his information. Shawn's super-smart and friendly, and the interview went well. He got another call back. About a week later, we knew for certain he'd got the job, and he started this week. It's impossible to overstate how grateful we both are for this opportunity, and that it came even before his store closed. With the economy as rocky as it is, and such a competitive job market, we are both humbled and awed by the grace that was at work here. Shawn has spent a lot of his life in artistic pursuits such as fiction-writing and music, and he's faced a lot of challenges. But he's always been a true stand-up guy, intelligent, well-read, thoughtful and kind. So it was so gratifying to see him be given an opportunity at a job where he can be enthusiastic and contribute. I know it might sound sappy, but I love him so much and I'm so proud of the man he is.

But the story doesn't end there.

Oh, no.

Sara emailed me about a package that she was sending me. I knew she'd picked up a necklace for me and had been intending to send it, so I thought that she'd mailed it out and wanted me to be on the lookout. She said it was coming via UPS, which was a little odd since she always uses the post office, but she said she got a free label, so I didn't give it another thought. Then she asked me if I'd be home this past Thursday. I told her I was working, but that I'd put a sign on the door instructing the UPS guy not to leave the package without my signature. Still, it never occurred to me that this was anything other than the necklace.

Then on Friday, while Sara was out having fun at at an NFL training camp, the package came. Shawn ran outside to meet the UPS guy while I was upstairs and he brought up this big box. "That's an awfully big box for a necklace," I thought -- but I STILL didn't think anything of it. (I am clearly very naive.) I opened the box right away because Sara insisted I call her as soon as I opened it.

Scissors. Tape removed. Open flap.

OMG.

OMG.

OMG.

There, nestled in a big plastic bag, was a Kate Spade dustbag.

"You have to be kidding me," I breathed.

I opened it.

And there it was.

My purse.

"SARA, YOU ARE INSANE" I thought.

I called her.

"OMGyouboughtthispurseandwhydidyouspendthatmoneyonmeanditissobeautifuliloveyou!"

"So you got the purse?" she laughed.

"Idon'tevenknowwhatosaythankyousomuchyoushouldn'thavethankyou!!!"

At some point, I was able to start talking in coherent sentences, but I honestly don't remember it. I couldn't believe that someone would do something so generous for me, so over-the-top and so amazingly wonderful. Things like this don't happen in real life, especially not to me!! I can't even begin to express what Sara's wonderful gift means to me. Never in a million years can I begin to make her understand the effect this had on me. I was humbled, astonished, grateful, happy and just ... awed ... to have someone in my life like her.

She already knows that I love her to death, but I had to post here on my blog because the world needs to know how awesome she is. When it comes to girlfriends, she's the one you want to have in your corner. I've seen her take care of everyone -- helping people get jobs, helping someone get their first car, helping her friends try to win a spot on Lady Gaga's staff, just in general being the kind of gal you'd want in your corner.

I can never repay her for what she's brought into my life, but I can certainly tell her thank you a million times over, and let her know that bag or no, my life is better because of her.

Thank you, Sara, and thank you universe, for taking care of my husband.

View Halloo (or, Fall Wish List)

2011-08-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

Fall is definitely my favorite season, and one of the reasons is fall fashion. My favorite colors make a comeback, and it's finally the right temperature for a variety of clothing options. Living in coastal L.A., it's possible to dress "fall-like" for about six months out of the year, which means I get a ton of wear out of my boots and lightweight jackets.

This fall in particular is shaping up to be a smorgasbord of fabulosity. I see lots of orange, brown, taupe, camel and evergreen -- pretty much my favorite shades of the color wheel. I've already fallen in love with so many pieces. What I really like is that there seems to be a ton of English riding-inspired looks. I've always loved tweeds, plaids, browns, velvet patches on elbows, boots ... brown, orange, mustard, red ... it speaks to my English heritage, I guess, spiked with a dose of loving the "View Halloo" scene in "Mary Poppins." I want to go on a fox hunt!! (Except I don't want to hunt a real fox, because that's just mean.)

There was a page in the August 2011 Marie Claire catalog that deftly combined my love of equestrian-inspired apparel with my love of classic 1960s Mod shapes. I pretty much want everything on the page, but the orange dress from Ann Taylor Loft and the plaid coat from H&M (which is only $29!!) are my main acquisition targets. As usual, Marie Claire has teased me with things that aren't out in stores yet (at least not on ATL's website, anyway). So now I play the waiting game (cue "Jeopardy" theme music).

Here are some other things I'm craving (and most of which are way out of my price range, it should be noted):

Anthropologie's "Twisted Ascot Tee" by Postmark, $48, see it here

J. Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Wool, Bright Flame color, $120, see it here

Kate Spade "Abbie" Shift Dress, $375, see it here

Anthropologie "Checked Crops" by Cartonnier, $118, see them here

Ann Taylor "Myra Platform Tassel Pump," $198, see them here

Kate Spade "Westward Adventurer Satchel" in Dark Roast, $795, see it here

Tory Burch "Doreen Dress," $495, see it here

Angry Little Girls

2011-08-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

So I had a bizarre experience at the Goodwill today. I was in the shoes and bags area and I found the most hilarious little canvas tote. It is by "Angry Little Girls," which is a comic written by Lela Lee. You can read about it here, but basically, they are little drawings of girls who utter sarcastic, pithy commentary on topics that many women talk/complain/commiserate about on a daily basis.

The canvas bag that I found features two little girls on a teeter-totter. The little blond girl is at the bottom of the teeter-totter and the other little girl says, "Damn! What d'you eat?" It struck me as hilarious because it so obviously plays off women's insecurities, but does it in a really tongue-in-cheek way.

The tote was priced at $4.79. It actually had TWO Goodwill price stickers on it, both for $4.79. When I took it up to the register, the cashier told me that was a mistake and it should have been $4.99. I just gave him this look like, "Are you serious?" By California law, he has to sell it for the price marked on the bag (retail pricing is regulated through the Department of Weights and Measures). But I was just so stunned that he was informing me it was really supposed to be 20 cents more than the marked price that I just sort of mumbled, "Ohhhhkay." The guy behind me in line, though, seemed to get more angry about it than I was. He told the cashier, "There are two pricetags for $4.79 on that bag; why are you charging more?" The cashier said it was a mistake and that all items are supposed to be priced ending in 99 cents.

This was so not worth arguing about; I mean, we're talking about a secondhand bag that was less than $5. But I seriously couldn't stop laughing -- 20 cents! I was just floored! But, in the end, I have a hilarious new tote to ironically carry my lunch in. So I win.

Torva!!!!

2011-08-09T23:48:00.000-07:00

A few days back, I received the newest Ikea catalog in the mail. Two things immediately caught my eye.

These little cuties are called "Torva." There is Torva Broccoli and Torva Carrot. They're each $7.99 and according to Ikea's website, they are in stock at my local store. They may be coming home with me this weekend, although they are part of Ikea's yearly Soft Toy Campaign, which donates $1 for each toy purchased to help provide education to children throughout the world.

Shoe lust: How did I miss these?

2011-08-04T00:50:00.000-07:00

I am a shoe fanatic. The more impractical, the more I have to have them. I was traipsing around the interwebz tonight and noticed these beauties:

They are by Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony. They are fantastic!! Now I must add them to my "someday" wish list.

The number on the tag

2011-07-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

One of the things I really like about the Anthropologie website is that the clothing is shown on dress forms rather than on human models. Of course, some items do feature the catalog photos, but those are thankfully just “extra” photos. Why do I say “thankfully,” you ask? Because it preserves the illusion that all of these garments can look good on a variety of body types. I like the idea that *I* am the one who can project my own image (or fantasy, as the case may be with some of the smaller-sized Floreat items) onto it.

This idea was thrown into sharp relief for me these past couple of weekends. I’ve been listing more items on eBay and Anthropologie Treasurebox, and along with that comes photographing them. I use a French dress form for most of my photographs, and use a half-form plastic mannequin for others. On occasion, I’ll use a plain old hanger if that’s how the garment displays best. My French form mannequin – so-called because it has a more “robust” figure, at least according to the seller from whom I bought it – has the approximate measurements of an hourglass-figured size 4 woman. She has a 34” bust and a 28” waist. Proportionately, she reminds me of a smaller version of myself, although she doesn’t have the annoyance of ribs that stick out so far it’s like having another set of boobs.

Anyway, constantly undressing and dressing her in a variety of different sizes and styles has really opened my eyes when it comes to how clothes are designed to fit. A lot of times, I can’t even get certain dresses over her head, even though the measurements suggest that they would fit her (or even be too big for her). Sometimes, they don’t even come close. While a human body can do some amazing contortions to get clothes on, an unbending dress form cannot. But even if she could, the material would be pulling across her bust and baggy in the waist. I find myself wondering if she would blog about how depressing it is to try clothes on, how nothing fits her, how she hates her curves, how she’s watching her carbs and doing her Pilates, blah blah blah.

And it makes me realize how incredibly pointless it is to worry about the size of the clothes we wear. This is why I raise an eyebrow at the term “my true size,” because there really is no such thing. A size 2 in one brand is a size 8 in another. Most of us know that there’s no consistency in sizing, even within the same brand. I have one Floreat blouse that is a size 4; I have another that is a size 12. The measurements are the same as my size 8 Odille blouse and my size 6 dress from Maeve.

Yet as countless other bloggers have recently pointed out, the size we wear can carry a lot of emotional weight (pun intended, natch). But why? I seriously doubt that my dress form cares whether she is wearing a size 2 or 22. In fact, I think she secretly really likes the loose-fitting garments the best, because then she can eat tacos with impunity. (Wait. I think I am talking about myself.) (Shhh.) (Do you have any tacos I can eat?) (… seriously?)

Fashion is illusion. Something that looks completely shapeless on the hanger can be the sexiest thing you’ve ever tried on. Something that looks so sweet and darling on the hanger can make you feel like a beached whale. And how it looks on your super-slender best friend may not be how it looks on your broad shoulders and big boobs. And something that flatters your curves may look like crap on her. Then again, it might flatter you both, but in different ways.

The point I’m trying to make here is that size is only one component of fashion. Shape, color, figure, cut, and material all play just as big a role; probably MORE of a role, honestly. That's why I try to give sizing advice when I can in my listings, and make a note of any strange fit issues that I see. But seriously, size really does not matter, because if an inanimate dress form can't fit in her specified size with any consistency, how are we -- as uniquely shaped humans -- supposed to?

Feline interlude: CATalogues

2011-07-30T22:39:00.000-07:00

Whenever I'm listing new items on eBay or Anthropologie Treasurebox, Tom and Lily love to "help" me. Usually that means weaving in between my legs, trying their best to trip me while I'm carrying my dress form ... or doing their best to distract me by looking their very cutest.

This afternoon, I was combing through all of my old Anthro catalogs doing research. I had them sorted by year on my bed. I was in the other room, taking some photographs, and when I came back into my room, there was Tom, laying on my catalogs, surveying his CATalogue kingdom. "I am Anthro Cat!" he seemed to be telling me.

After some tense negotiations involving Fancy Feast Appetizer chicken snacks, I managed to convince him to leave his perch, allowing me access to my research materials.

Meet the founder of WineMommies.com, Part 3

2011-07-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

This is the final installment of my interview with Grace Dawson, the founder of the (relatively) new website WineMommies.com. Click here to read Part 1 and click here to read Part 2.

*****

(Q) Can you talk a little bit about your background, let us know a little bit about yourself? Were you always involved in publishing? Or did you decide to pursue this as a new direction?

(A) I have my master's in Fine Arts (English and Literature), and up until two years ago, I spent my life working at a twice-weekly newspaper. I covered school board and city council meetings, human interest pieces and high school sports stories. I took pictures at ribbon cuttings and preschool graduations, but my specialty was in deep and meaningful, funny and light commentaries on the Opinion/Letter to the Editor page. Shortly after the hiring of a new (male) publisher, he laid me off claiming "women cannot write sports." I was the only full-time writer and copy editor at the time ... so good move now-fired publisher.

I tried to find a job in my field, but became pregnant shortly after getting laid off and both my husband and I decided that my place was in the home, raising our child (now children). I struggled with this decision for a while - especially after being in the workforce for so long. I didn't have a creative outlet, that as a writer, you desperately need or you'll become CRAZY.

I've been a blogger for over seven years now, but stopped when I met Rob. He was uncomfortable with having his life played out for the world to see - he's a very private person, and having never dated/married a writer, he didn't understand my desire and need to discuss my feelings and write stories about my life.

After a while, he could see it was eating away at me, so he finally gave in and gave me his blessing. He still gets a little uncomfortable when I write something he doesn't feel is appropriate for outsiders to know, but he also knows that I won't be censored and he is at the end of a losing battle that is nothing but ugliness for him. Since starting (www.in30days.com) and Wine Mommies, Rob has really jumped on board with the concept of someday making this a profitable venture. He handles all the advertising inquiries (he IS in sales, after all), and offers really great feedback on the latest posts and where he and I want to take the website. He even comes up with crazy-good ideas (Disaster of the Day, Uncork with Guests), and convinces his customers to send us free products to give away on our blog.

(Q) Safety’s also a big component of the site … which I love, because it’s practical. Was adding practical information a planned decision on your part, or did it evolve differently?

(A) Safety is a big part of raising children. Little fingers can grab and swallow anything and everything. They stick things in outlets, lick the animals, climb over rocks and have no fear when flinging their little bodies off couches. As you will find moving forward with the web site is that I like "theme weeks." Cut me some slack - I'm the girl who throws themed parties, and makes sure my husband and I are matchy-matchy. Recently we entered (and lost, if you can BELIEVE THAT) The Safest Line contest where they were giving away a $250 Visa gift card to the blogger who wrote the most intriguing and informational post on child safety - that contest prompted Safety Week over at Wine Mommies. It was something that I had planned on doing in the future, and will probably feature again moving forward.

(Q) Although the site’s name is WINE MOMMIES, I think there is a lot of content on there for those of us who are childless. Was that also intentional when you were thinking about the project?

(A) My intention with Wine Mommies was to encompass every step of a woman's life from dating and school to engagment, marriage, babies and empty nesters. I hope to, in the future, have writers in each one of these steps, but I haven't quite found them yet. (If you know of any, let me know!) I want the site to be for women who are struggling and can find reassurance and comradeship with women who've been there/currently in the same boat!

OOTD: Straight up, lost in a {nightmare}

2011-07-21T23:44:00.000-07:00

I guess I should start by explaining the blog title. The "Straight Up" is a nod to Paula Abdul's song of the same name, while it's also a reference to my hair, which as you can tell from this picture, is straight! I have naturally curly hair, but I decided to do something different a few weeks ago when I finally worked up the courage to get it cut and highlighted. The stylist asked me if I'd ever flat-ironed my hair before, and I said I hadn't. So she decided to surprise me, and I walked away with an entirely new look. I've been enjoying it quite a lot.

The second part of the title is a lyric from that same song, but with a twist. Abdul's original lyric says, "Lost in a dream." However, for the past week or so, my husband has been stuck in a nightmare. He's an inventory control supervisor at Borders, and the company's bankruptcy has ended in a liquidation, which means that he'll soon be out of a job. This means a lot of uncertainty for us, and we're trying to stay positive. It also means that we're scaling way back, so you will probably start to see even more posts about creative ways to be thrifty (hey, the pants I'm wearing in this photo are over four years old, and the shirt was purchased on sale AND with a gift card, and the shoes were purchased from a fellow blogger for a very reasonable $25).

Outfit details:
Anthropologie "Flowering Pasture Blouse" by Dolan, sold out (other chiffon blouses here, here and here)
Express cropped black trousers, long sold out (similar here, here and here)
Anthropologie "City of Love Ballerinas" by Marais USA (buy them here, here, similar here, here)

Meet the founder of WineMommies.com, part 2

2011-06-30T10:01:00.001-07:00

I hope you enjoyed Part 1 of my interview with Grace Dawson, the founder of the WineMommies.com website. Today, I'm bringing you part 2 of this 3-part series. So kick back with a glass of wine, and happy reading!

******

(Q) Are there certain topics you try to write about, or is it pretty much open to each contributor’s individual interests?

(A) I let my writers write whatever they want. This is one aspect of the site that my husband and I DON'T agree on. He thinks because we're a young website with a relatively small reader pool, we should brand ourselves and stick to one or two main subjects. He's right, in theory, but that's not the website I want. Just like my readers, I am constantly surprised and delighted each day I click on the site. I never know what they're going to write about - it could be home improvement topics or babies pooping. Occasionally, I'll send out an email and give suggestions (like safety week or International Women's Day), but really the posts come directly from the writers' creativity. I, myself, have a long list of things I want to write about, so if one of the girls has writer's block and wants ideas, I just pull them from that sheet. The only real requirement I have is that each writer has to contribute one post at least once a week. This requirement is not set in stone (as I don't have the funding yet to demand it via pay), but it's what I strive for.

(Q) One of the things I like about your site is that it discusses real challenges with practical solutions for moms. I know some of my friends have felt intimidated by other baby sites and forums where there is an undercurrent of competition and judgment if you don’t have the latest & greatest organic parenting tips. I don’t get a judgment vibe from Wine Mommies at all – not even in the comments section, where fights usually explode. Did you consciously try to make it have a welcoming atmosphere where moms wouldn’t be judged but rather encouraged to share?

(A) I wanted this site to be as welcoming to a new mother as it is to a single women. Never do I want the reader to feel like they are being pushed into something. I hope that our writing (so far) has been informative without (being) judgmental. It's a fine line, keeping our opinions in our pieces while still consciously trying to respect those that differ from our own. Both Tesha and I have a newspaper journalism background so we were trained to write for the masses - to keep from getting involved in heated debates between black or white. But, on the flip side, I want my writers to have an opinion they feel passionate about. I know Tesha is 100% for breastfeeding - never did formula touch her daughter's lips. I know that Jodie is 100% formula - she made that decision before giving birth and since the birth of her babies, she has not tried breastfeeding once. At Wine Mommies they coexist peacefully.

I recently read a blog post about a recently adoptive mother who has tried to jumpstart her breastfeeding (without being pregnant) with the help of a breast pump. She is 100% for breastfeeding and wanted to share that bond with her (new) child. She was so hellbent on trying to breastfeed, the child was frustrated which in turn made her and her husband frustrated. Because she believed in breastfeeding so much, she joined a Facebook group in her area where breastfeeding mothers donated their leftover or spare milk to women and babies in need.

While I know, everyone knows, breast is best for babies, I don't necessary agree with adamant stance against formula feeding her baby (who needed to eat). Something about this doesn't sit well with me, and while I want to write a post about it, I'm going to hold back putting words down. The biggest rule I live by is "Do what's best for you and your family." It's none of my concern how or when or with what this woman feeds her infant. Now, if she wanted tips on how to breastfeed, or why I chose formula, she could (eventually) find it on our website. And that's what I try and ingrain in my writers.

The nirvana of chicken fried rice

2011-06-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

When my girlfriend Vanessa was pregnant with her daughter Alexa, she had serious cravings for chicken fried rice during her second and third trimesters. She ate the stuff all the time. Now, I love a good chicken fried rice as much as the next person, but I always assumed it was a pain in the behind to make from scratch. I never could figure out why they didn't make frozen versions of it that you could reheat. And then I discovered a really amazing recipe for chicken fried rice that made my world get just a wee bit better.

With my crazy schedule, I don't get home from work until about 9:15 p.m. each night, so I am all for quick and easy. Usually what I do is bake up some plain chicken breasts on Monday or Tuesday so I have them on hand for recipes during the week. Also, it seems like we usually eat one or two rice-based dishes each week, so we always have rice on hand, making this dish even easier. I modified the recipe to suit my own taste, which means I eliminated the egg and added some bean sprouts. You could, of course, certainly put the egg back in. So, here goes. Warning: I don't really measure anything, so all of these are approximate.

Ingredients
2 cups cold white rice (it's important that it's cold, not hot)
1.5 chicken breasts, chopped into little pieces (room temperature or cold)
1/3 of a white onion, diced (the original recipe called for a whole onion, I think that's insane)
a couple handfuls of frozen peas and carrots
1 tsp. garlic
2 green onions, washed and cut diagonally into small pieces
a handful of fresh bean sprouts
Soy sauce
cracked black pepper & sea salt
1 small pat of butter
oil for frying (I use corn oil or whatever I have on hand: peanut, Canola, vegetable)

Step 1: Heat a big skillet on high heat. Toss in a tablespoon or so of oil. Throw in onion and frozen peas and carrots. Season with some cracked black pepper and sea salt. Let them cook, stirring frequently. Take them out and put them on a plate when they are about 80% cooked (i.e., don't let them get mushy). This will only take a couple of minutes.

Step 2: Toss a tablespoon or two more oil into the pan. Put in your rice, a cup at a time. Shake Soy sauce onto rice (use as much or as little as you want; I use it sparingly because you can always add more but you can't take it away). Once the rice is nice and hot, I add in the garlic and the pat of butter, still stirring frequently so the rice doesn't start sticking to the pan.

Step 3: After the rice is nice and hot, add the pre-cooked chicken pieces. Stir for a minute or two, then add the onion/pea/carrot mixture into the pan. Stir for a minute or two until everything is hot. Turn off heat. Garnish with bean sprouts and scallions.

So, that's it. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes start to finish if you start off with pre-cooked chicken and rice. My sister-in-law asked me whether you could use brown rice instead of white rice. I don't really see why you couldn't, but I'm guessing the texture might be a bit different. If someone has used brown rice for fried rice, leave a comment and let me know how it turned out.

The thing I really love about this meal is that it's an economical and tasty way to use leftovers. It tastes great when it's fresh ... and when it's reheated the next day for my lunch at work. I would estimate that it costs me less than $5 to make this meal, and each serving is probably about $1.

The ups and downs of reselling

2011-06-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

Those of you who follow my Anthropologie Treasurebox blog know that I posted last week with a link to my eBay store, where I was running a clearance sale on 46 items that had been lingering in my inventory. Some of the items I'd originally posted on the Treasurebox, some were other brands that I only pick up for resale on eBay. Those auctions ended tonight and the results have given me pause.

Of the 46 items listed, only 17 of them sold. When all is said and done, I pretty much had my posterior handed to me on a platter. Between my original investment, cleaning costs, eBay listing and final value fees, and PayPal fees, I'm definitely in the hole. I knew the risks going in, and quite frankly, I'm just happy those 17 items found homes with buyers who want them, and I'm happy to get those items out of my limited storage area.

My husband is an inventory manager for a retail store, and he'll tell you that traditionally, months that start with "J" are slower for retailers. January is filled with people redeeming gift cards that were already bought in November or December, and post-Christmas sales are held to clearance out inventory to make way for new spring items. June and July are slower because families are on vacation, people are outdoors having fun and not staying home planted in front of a computer. I logically know this.

I also know that, especially with eBay, you get out of it what you put into it. I used to be a PowerSeller on eBay, and I got that designation because my sales were at a certain level each month. I was putting more listings up and seeing a better turnover. With eBay, there is a definite correlation between consistently listing and consistent sales. The simple equation is: List more, sell more. I don't subscribe to the "black hole" server theory. I know that if I listed more, I'd sell more. I see it all the time with my mentors: The more they list, the more they sell. It's not rocket science.

Yet it drives me nuts.

Several months ago, a customer of mine on the Treasurebox asked me a question about whether I ever worry when I buy something for resale that it won't sell. At the time, I forgot to answer her question (sorry, Deanna!), but I will now. (BTW, Deanna has become a friend of mine, and you really do need to check out her photography blog here because she's very talented).

My answer to her question is: YES. I worry all the time whether an item will sell. I think sometimes that I fall in love with my items and feel like I've personally failed when they don't sell. I constantly worry about my photography skills, whether I've presented something in the best way possible, and whether I pick things that are fashionable enough to attract customers. I don't often sell things that I wouldn't wear myself, but then I sometimes think, "What if my taste sucks?" You can drive yourself up a wall wondering these things. As another seller mentor of mine says, "Auctions are tough. What happened this week might not have happened another week" and so on and so forth. "eBay is fickle," she concluded.

She's not wrong. Consider this: My auctions were listed for five days. It's a limited time period. While conceivably every person in the world could have seen my listings, the reality is that not everyone did. Maybe if I had listed them next week, more people would have seen them. Or, conversely, maybe fewer people would have seen them and I only would have sold 10 items.

So.

Does that make me feel better?

No. I still feel like I could have done better. And while I'd like to think that feeling that way will indeed make me a better seller in the long run, I have no empirical proof that it will. In the end, learning to roll with it -- simply being open to learning, come to think of it -- is what I'm trying to focus on. It's so much fun, hunting for items and selling them to people. As Rick Harrison from "Pawn Stars" says, "You never know what's going to come through that door." And oh my is that true. You could find a NWT "Discovered Lace Dress" by Tracy Reese at Goodwill and flip it for a reasonable price and make someone incredibly happy. Or you could find an awesome Diane von Furstenberg skirt, think it is amazing, and then watch it languish for a year in your eBay store, only to take it right back to the thrift store from which it came (which is exactly what I'm going to do with this one here).

These things are all part of the ups and downs of reselling. It's a lot of work, and you constantly are learning. It's tough. It's not always fun. But here's the thing: I don't think I could ever stop doing it because it's something I truly enjoy. And having passion for something makes dealing with setbacks more than just tolerable. It makes it worth it.

The ones that got away ...

2011-06-25T01:18:00.001-07:00

I've been thrifting for years, obviously, but my love affair with Anthropologie didn't begin until late 2008/early 2009. I was late coming to the party, and as I began to acquire old catalogs, there were a few items from past seasons that just jumped right out at me. I always hope to someday find them while I'm thrifting and/or stalking eBay. A couple of times I've come very close, but something always conspires to keep me away (it's usually because I forget an item on my eBay watch list, the price goes too high, or I get outbid). I thought it might be fun to share them with you, since it proves that even for a seasoned thrifter, there's still a list of "the ones that got away."

"Challis Skirt" by Snak, circa 2005. Something about this skirt is so, so lovely. I just swoon every time I see this old catalog shot. I've only ever seen one pop up on eBay, and it was sadly not my size. I keep willing it to surface in one of my regular thrift haunts, but so far, no dice. Until then, my pretty, I will bask in your catalog loveliness.

"Chevron Sweater Skirt" by Viola, circa 2008. Funny story behind this skirt. One day I saw it in my size on popback on the Anthro site. I added it to my wishlist, hoping it would still be there on payday. Alas, someone beat me to it. And so the quest continues on eBay and in the thrifts.

"Soft Focus Minidress" by Si'en, circa 2006. This is a total "Sara" dress. Everything about it fits in with my personal style, from the easy pullover style to the Mod influence to the dark orangey-red color with tan stripes. I've never once come across anything by Si'en in the thrifts and I've only ever seen one listing on eBay for a Si'en item (which was unfortunately not this one).

"Kittatinny Sweater Skirt," circa 2007. This is from the September 2007 catalog; I don't even know who the designer is. But I just love the way it was styled in the catalog, and I could picture myself wearing something like this in the fall/winter here in Los Angeles. Sigh. So many pretty things! So disappointing that I did not know of their existence prior to late 2008!

Of course there are a lot of other items from Anthro that I would love to have in my closet, but these are the ones that I obsessively search for, hoping against hope that one day I'll find them!

Meet the founder of WineMommies.com!

2011-06-23T17:51:00.000-07:00

I first got to know Grace Dawson, the founder of the Wine Mommies website, through my own blogs, Confessions of a Serial Thrifter and Anthropologie Treasurebox. Grace had commented on my blogs and purchased something from me, and as we exchanged the odd email here and there, I grew to really love her sense of humor and down-to-earth attitude.

Grace was an early supporter of what I was trying to build with my blogs, so I was ecstatic to find out that she was also launching her own project. Wine Mommies is a blog devoted to not just new moms, but women in general. It embraces all kinds of women in all stages of their lives — and I can’t speak for everyone, but I find that approach to be a breath of fresh air.

When I heard about Wine Mommies, I knew I wanted to help Grace get the word out, so here is my Q&A session with her, conducted in March via email.

This interview is the first of three parts.

(Q) I’ve read the “About Wine Mommies” section of the site, but I’d like you to talk a little bit more about the thought process that led to the creation of the site. I have a suspicion that you felt sort of like I have at points — that there was no one out there writing a blog/site that really spoke to the kind of person you are/kind of experiences you were having.

(A) I woke up one morning with the idea to start a women’s community website. I’ve been blogging (in some form or another) since ‘03, and I had a successful website (www.in30days.com), but it was exhausting for me to keep up with. Not only did I have to care for Mia, I also had to make sure the house was clean(er), my husband was happy and satisfied, my awful dogs weren’t chewing everything in site, laundry, errands, family, friends, and “me” time. With all of this going on, I just wasn’t able to keep up a website by myself, and as a writer, you need an audience to keep pushing you forward. Then I thought of all my friends who were wonderful writers (a few of them unemployed journalists), who also wanted to write but didn’t have the time (or the knowledge) to run a successful website on their own. Because wine is all the new rage (remember when it was whiskey? I miss those days), and I like buying different bottles and testing them out, I thought how cool would it be to have a website called WineMommies? Right from my bed, I did a Go Daddy domain search to see if it was available — lo and behold, it was! It was a sign. I purchased it immediately and began running idea through my head.

I wanted a website that spoke to real women. Since becoming a mom, I haven’t been able to find a single website that not only speaks to the “mom” in me, but the woman I still was. Sure, I wanted to learn more about cloth diapering, but I didn’t want to read posts where people CRAM it down your throat and try to beat their opinion into you. At one point, I felt like if I didn’t cloth diaper, the depths of Hell’s fire would consume me.

And, really, that’s not how a tired, new mom wants to feel. You already feel guilty about everything.

Then there’s the breastfeeding/formula movement that leaves no prisoners. If you’re on the wrong side of the debate, you’re dead. Because I wasn’t able to produce enough breast milk to keep up with a chubby and demanding infant, I turned to formula. I support breastfeeding. I support formula feeding. I support your right to choose what’s best for your family. But, nowhere could I find a “mommy” blogger who shared my views. Were they hiding out from the crazies who attack and attack with ideas of which way you’re suppose to go? I would, and I did for a long time.

Much of what I read on the Internet was “my way or no way” and I didn’t want to read anymore. So began Winemommies.com, a place where every idea is welcome, every practice is fine, where judgment leaves and you don’t have to feel alone or guilty because (heaven forbid) you decide to use Gerber instead of processing your own organic baby food.

(Q) Once you decided you wanted to create a site, did you spend a lot of time thinking about how it was going to be structured? And how did you decide on who else to involve? Were you looking for different voices? Or were you looking to get a clatch of women who all spoke their own opinions but had a similar vibe?

(A) Once I purchased the Wine Mommies domain name, I surfed for free Wordpress templates. When I liked the layout and style of certain blogs, I made mental notes and tried to find one that fit as closely to what I wanted as possible. I stumbled across www.web2feel.com, and felt that the Fab Series was the closest to what I wanted. I downloaded every one of them and tested them out. My husband Rob was a great sounding board and gave me a lot of feedback. We chose the Irene theme because we both liked many of the features (including the font colors and post slider). I loaded it up, and took off running — all within four days of the original concept.

Since then, we’ve noticed that the template falls short in many of the aspects we want, so Rob has (graciously) fronted us the money to hire the man who created the Irene theme to do a customized theme for us. We’re still in the planning stages of a custom website tailored to Wine Mommies, but I hope to have a new and improved site up and running by mid-April. (Author’s note: The new theme and layout are up and running now!)

Once I got the theme up and the website linked, I had to convince writers to write for me — a hard thing to do when you offer them no money (but the chance to speak their mind). I knew that I wanted a variety of women that could each bring something different to the site — each appealing to different demographics. The wider the audience, the better chance we have to keep afloat.

Right from the start, I wanted my former assistant editor at my last job, Tesha. She’s more of a “crunchy” mom who believes in natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and cloth diapering. And, not only is she a great mom, she’s a terrific woman and great writer who interested in photography, community, music and remodeling. She works part-time and I wanted a “working” mother’s perspective on things.

Nancy was my second choice. She’s trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle for her and her family through organic eating and gardening while trying to keep the family’s budget in line. She’s been a SAHM for over 10 years now with two (older) kids. One of the things I love most about Nancy is that she won’t hold anything back — if she wants to talk about sex with her husband, she will, and I think that adds an exciting and refreshing aspect to the site. We all have sex. Why should we try and hide it because we’re moms?

Jodie is my rocker (brand! new!) mom. Her perspective on life and children is different than any other because she was never suppose to have kids (the doctor told her it was hopeless), and shortly into her second marriage POOF! Pregnant with identical twin boys (when they lived in Thailand, no less). She is tattooed from head to toe, plans to diaper using disposable and formula feed from the start. She’s also a marathon runner — something I have NO INTEREST or MOTIVATION to do!

Sara hails from Atlanta — a true Southern girl. She can give insight into the different type of lifestyle Southerners have like post recipes I’ve never heard of, and talk about the nice weather in January. A former model, she’s given up that lifestlye to concentrate on her family, a DIY husband and darling daughter. No talk of another child as of yet.

Kate is a friend of mine who doesn’t have children nor is she married, but is craftier than Martha Stewart. Originally from Minnesota, she now lives with her boyfriend (a childhood friend to my husband, Rob) in Chicago — a city they’re both trying to survive.

I’m still looking for more writers — I want to eventually have a single woman who blogs about dating life, a woman planning a wedding, more mommy bloggers, more crafty/thrifty women, and grandmothers/cougars!

_______

I hope you've enjoyed Part 1 of my interview with Grace, and make sure to stop by to read Parts 2 and 3!

Thrifting homewares

2011-06-19T16:57:00.000-07:00

When Shawn and I got married, it was literally a Wednesday-afternoon-half-day-off-work type of wedding. My parents drove over to Chicago from Ohio, and Shawn's parents drove up from the suburbs with us to go to the Cook County Courthhouse, where a judge asked us if we do. (We did.) After the 15-minute ceremony, we, along with both sets of parents, Shawn's sister and her boyfriend (now fiance), celebrated with a dinner at one of the best steakhouses I've ever eaten at: Keefer's.

I didn't have a bridal shower or -- shudder -- a bachelorette party. I figured there wasn't really a need for those things since Shawn and I were adults, living on our own, and already had silverware, dinnerware, furniture and all the other sorts of things that make a house a home. We didn't want folks to spend money on us, as we had everything we needed, including each other.

This year, we'll mark our seventh wedding anniversary. Wikipedia tells me that a traditional seventh-wedding-anniversary gift is a pen/pencil desk set.* Anyway, after seven years, I've decided I'd really like a new set of matched dishes and cutlery, so I've started creating a mental "registry" every time I see something online that I like. (And yes, I've succumbed to Pinterest.)

I'm quickly discovering how insanely expensive this stuff is. Someone needs to tell Macy's that they aren't Tiffany & Co. And someone needs to tell Tiffany & Co. ... well, you get the drift.

There is a particular set of flatware that I'm in love with. At $36 per 5-piece set, I thought the price was pretty steep. Then I started perusing other sites and I realized, with a shock, that $36 per set was actually a decent retail price, as far as retail prices go. It suddenly made me like my 8-year-old Pier 1 outlet set a whole lot more. (BTW? If you have a Pier 1 outlet store near you, GO! They are amazing, and I miss the one that used to be in Matteson, Ill.)

And don't get me started on place settings. I was browsing Macy's because I wanted something a little fancier but not a set of china, which I already have thanks to my mom, who bought it for me well before I got married.** I did some searching, found a pattern/design I liked, and then glanced at the price. It was $95. Per setting! I had to look again to make sure I hadn't started searching in the china section. Oh no. This was just regular old kitchenware. It made me want to run downstairs and hug my ugly old dishes that I bought a few years back during an ill-conceived Minimalist phase.

So.

Because you all know that I have a bit of an addiction to thrift stores, I started thinking about thrifting myself a set of new dinnerware. But to be honest, I'm not too keen on anything I've seen out here. Thrift stores in SoCal are amazing when it comes to clothes, but if you're looking for knick-knacks, collectibles, dinnerware or antiques, it seems like you're better off at antique malls, estate sales or flea markets. There are definitely "one-of-a-kind" finds ... an awesome Pyrex baking dish, or, more specifically, a piece of that awesome 1970s mushroom-print Pyrex ... but complete sets of dishes are hard to come by. Now, if I were still living in rural NW Ohio, that wouldn't be a problem. My mother somehow manages to find complete sets of vintage Dansk dinnerware at the drop of a hat. She usually snags them for some insane price like $15, too. I think it was last summer, every time I talked to her, the conversation would begin, "So I found this new set of dishes ..." My father and the two Pomeranians who deign to live with my parents may someday need to be dug out from an avalanche of plates.

(If you are still reading this, God help you.)

In the meantime, as I struggle with finding just the right kitchenware, I've been browsing a few patterns and styles, so I thought I'd share them with you. And please, feel free in the comments to tell me how to get the great dealz on a new set of plates!

Wedgwood Queens Plain

Mikasa French Countryside

Lenox French Perle White

____________

* Really? Desk sets? Can't we at least update that to an iPad/wireless mouse set in this day and age?

** As a sidenote here, I sometimes wonder if she got it for me because she secretly thought I'd never get married ... which may or may not have to do with the fibs I told at family gatherings involving my secret career as a spy and/or my desire to become a nun ... I had to tell the nosy relatives something, and no one said I had to be entirely accurate ... ahem.

Droolworthy pumps from Kate Spade

2011-06-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I had Saturday afternoon to myself. After taking care of some odds and ends around the house, I decided to brave the hour-long drive on the 405 and head down to Fashion Island in Newport Beach. I like Fashion Island because it has a big Anthropologie store, but also because it has a slightly-less-annoying Urban Outfitters, a Limited, a Trina Turk store and ... a Kate Spade boutique. As you may know, Kate Spade is one of my favorite designers. I would wear KS clothes near-exclusively if I had the money. While I was there, I checked out some of the new offerings, including these lovelies:

May I present to you the Karolina pumps in aqua. This color is appearing in a lot of Kate Spade's offerings right now, from purses to shoes to wallets. But man, these pumps are just gorgeous. I'm normally not a big fan of patent leather, but the color is just perfection in person. At $298, there's certainly nothing thrifty about them, but there is no cost to window shop! And I have to say, I never have met a friendlier sales associate than the one I encountered this past weekend. She was adorable in every way, and I felt like I was in a Sophie Kinsella novel.

APB: Anthropologie "Claudette Slingbacks" by Miss Albright

2011-06-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I was wondering if anyone out there purchased the Claudette Slingbacks by Miss Albright back in 2008 from Anthropologie. I've been looking for a pair, but I am hesitant to buy them without knowing anything about sizing. I wear a 7.5 very consistently, but Miss Albright's sizing is all over the map at Anthro and sometimes doesn't come in half sizes. I'm wondering if anyone has these shoes and can comment on sizing. Thanks so much in advance!

Avoiding disappointment at the thrift store

2011-05-19T13:41:00.000-07:00

One of the most frustrating things about thrift store shopping — especially for resale — is finding a beautiful item only to get it home and realize there is a flaw. Maybe it is a tiny hole that you missed in the store or a stain that didn’t appear until you looked at the garment in natural light. Sometimes these things can be repaired — especially if it’s something minor like a loose button — but other times, it results in having to throw the item out, and that always makes me feel a little sick to my stomach. First off, it’s a waste of money, even if you can write it off, and second, it always makes me feel bad for not catching it in the first place.

In order to prevent that from happening, I’ve developed a system of checks. The most important “check” is simply taking the time to really look things over before bringing them up to the checkout counter. I don’t look over things as I go along; I wait until I’ve selected all the items I’m interested in purchasing, and then I head to a quiet, well-lit part of the store (usually in furniture, so I can sit down). The rest of my process goes like this:

1. I pull out each item individually. I inspect the general condition of the item. Is it too worn out? Does it look old? Too faded? Too much pilling? Any holes? Snags? Rips?

2. If it passes the first test, then I start looking at the item more closely, concentrating on problem areas such as seams, underarms, pockets, buttons, armholes, hems, linings and collars. Dealbreakers include stained collars and underarms, poorly hemmed jeans, linings that are ripped and/or peeking past hems, holes in pockets, missing buttons (unless they’re easily replaced) and frayed seams.

Along with this step, I count buttons. I make sure they’re all there. I look to make sure the interior buttons are there if there is an exterior/interior closure apparatus (a biggie on pants), and I make sure that all decorative buttons are present on cuffs, collars and back pockets.

I also test zippers. As we all know, especially with some of Anthropologie’s more delicate dresses, zippers can be a minefield of quality-control issues. I test the zipper and make sure it’s still on the track, that it zips easily, and that there are no stress seam separations at the top or bottom of the zipper track. Replacing a zipper is a gamble on a used dress; it’s pricey and makes the garment different from the original.

3. If a garment makes it through Nos. 1 and 2, then I consider things like resale value, whether it’s unique/special enough to list, and what it’s going to cost me to have it cleaned before listing. Often, I’ll find cute tees but wind up leaving them behind once I factor in purchase cost, cleaning cost, free shipping and PayPal fees. Thrifting for resale (or even thrifting for personal use) is about getting the most value for your money. You wouldn’t spend $50 on a flawed item at Anthro, so why would you spend $10 on the same flawed item at the thrift store? It’s still flawed. Just because it’s cheaper doesn’t make it a wise purchase.

I confess that I don’t always catch every flaw when I’m in the store, and that sometimes flaws don’t surface until an item has been cleaned. Cashmere sweaters are notorious for moth damage appearing after a dry cleaning or hand washing, for instance. And I’ve been fooled once by pants that had their side seams altered, unbeknownst to me because it’s not a typical alteration. And then — my personal favorite — I’ve managed to damage an item myself with too-aggressive sweater shaving.

But I have found that slowing down and taking the time to really look over things has saved me a lot of heartache (and, let’s be honest, potential negative feedback). And you really do get better with practice. It doesn’t make it any less annoying/heartbreaking when you find a “thrift store score” only to discover someone obviously didn’t take very good care of it, but it at least saves you money and time!

Thrift store score: J Crew Perfect Pencil Skirt

2011-05-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

Back in October 2009, I was smitten with the Perfect Pencil Skirt from J. Crew in the Cinnamon Stick color. I stalked it forever -- I even posted about it on this blog -- and then thanks to a giftcard from my mom, I was able to swing purchasing it along with a J. Crew Jackie cardigan in a very pale lilac colorway. I still think it was priced high, but I'm willing to admit it was worth it because the quality is amazing. I own a lot of skirts, one of which retailed for over $800 new (and that I thrifted for $4.99, natch) but the Perfect Pencil Skirt feels even nicer than its original $118 pricetag. It's made of a tightly woven, medium-weight wool with a full lining. The wider waistband and long darts give it a lovely shape, and the length is modest yet alluring.

So. Wise purchase, no question. I've long wanted to buy another one (or one of the comparable Double-Serge Pencil Skirts from J. Crew), but just haven't been able to spend the money, not even when they are on sale for $79.99 plus an extra 20% or 30% off. I don't know why I have such a hard time with that price -- it's not like it isn't worth it. Anyway ...

I've been working some really long hours on a stressful project at work, so the past couple of days, I've been unwinding by taking an hour after work to hit some thrift stores near my job. And boy, was that an awesome idea, because right there in the row of black skirts, I found a brand-new Perfect Pencil Skirt, in black, IN MY SIZE. It still had the tags, and the back vent still had the white "X" of threads holding it shut. OMG! It was such a little gift from the universe -- talk about retail therapy! And I snagged this beauty for $5.99. LESS THAN SIX BUCKS!! I know it sounds silly, but it pretty much made me want to cry a little with happiness.

Now I just have to wait five more months before it's the right season to wear it! (Or wait for an unusually chilly June day, perhaps, given the L.A. area's tendency toward "June Gloom.")

I don't know what came over me

2011-05-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

I was out thrifting for a few minutes this afternoon - in between replacing the body wash I bought at Target that was supposed to smell like nectarines and instead smelled like sweat and buying wax paper at the 99-cent store - and God help me, I bought this crazy vintage top to wear on my vacation in Vegas. I really don't know what came over me. I *never* gravitate toward things like this. But something about the shape and the colors made me think that if we were to go out one night, I could pair it with white trousers and high heels and create some sort of retro 1970s look that wouldn't be too cat-lady crazy.

The shape is definitely the kind of look that Anthropologie and other stores have been pushing this spring season, complete with a boxy cut, Dolman sleeves, and an adjustable tie at the side. It's a gauzy, sheer material with metallic, geometric splashes of color. When I got it home and tried it on, I was slightly less enamored with it because it's a little big and too long through the body, but not in a "flowing, Bohemian" kind of way. It's more, "You look like you were the No. 2 pick for this year's Packers linebacker position." I think I either need to be about a foot taller, or have more leg and less torso. As it stands, I'm not sure I'll be able to pull this off. I still love the *idea* of it, I'm just not sure I've got the shape to pull it off. I'm afraid instead of channeling Halston-era glam, I'm channeling cheap bingo night.

Feline interlude, May 2011 edition

2011-05-04T23:31:00.000-07:00

Tom loves it when we get ready to go on vacation. He loves to hide in our luggage or lay on top of it (Lily likes to lay there, too). I don't know if that's because at his core, he is Adventure Cat, or because he realizes that he will be sans chicken treats for the duration we are gone. My guess is it's the latter.

Yay for stripes!

2011-04-30T18:29:00.000-07:00

Retail price: $88 // Thrift price: $5.49

One of this spring's big clothing trends is the striped/nautical look. I've always been a big fan of stripes. I don't subscribe to the theory that only certain body types can (or should) wear stripes; I think there's a stripe for everyone. Even Redbook, that bastion of middle-class fashion advice, has an article titled, "How to Wear a Striped Shirt."

Nautical outfits, especially Breton stripes and boatneck collars, evoke all kinds of classic fashion imagery. When I think stripes, I think old-fashioned 1940s speedboats, French Riviera, Venetian gondoliers and Frenchmen in berets. (I refuse to think about mimes in stripes, because really? Who likes mimes?)

Anyway, I love stripes. This year, I've been gravitating toward bright red-and-white stripes. Sure, I love the classic navy-and-white color combo, but I think red is just as classic and it speaks to my mood this spring. When I was in Anthropologie the other day, I gravitated toward their Summer Stripe Tee by AG. At $48, it doesn't actually induce complete sticker shock, but since I know this look has been around since ... well ... a long time, I knew I could probably find a cheaper alternative at the thrift.

It took me a couple of trips, but this afternoon, I found a suitable little striped tee. The tee I picked up is by T Los Angeles, an upscale label sold at Bloomingdales, Revolve and local boutiques like Kitson. I got it for $5.49, which is a fab price considering that this tee retailed for $88 new at Bloomies (it was called the Capri Stripe Cotton Tee and was also available in the classic navy/white stripe). Although it's long sleeve, I'm smitten with it, and it proves to me that it's easy to shop any given season's trends via thrift stores if you look hard enough and have a little patience.

Spring wish list

2011-04-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

While browsing the Interwebs, I've come across a few things that have made their way on to my spring/early summer wishlist. There isn't too much that I'm wanting right now because I've been trying to take a critical look at my wardrobe and make sure I'm wearing everything that I own before buying new things. My friend Sara summed it up neatly when she said that it's too easy to wind up with "pieces" rather than functional wardrobe staples.

So, without further ado, I bring you my short (but sweet) wishlist.

See by Chloe Quarter Strap Platform Sandal. This is pretty much the perfect sandal, if you ask me. They have that retro 1970s vibe that I blogged about earlier, but they also have a feminine scalloped edge, which makes them a little more traditional in my opinion. I really like the cognac color, too, which I think would make them a three-season sandal here in California. The only obstacle is the $345 pricetag. Ouch.

Take A Bow Cardigan by Free People. OK, confession -- I am totally copying Sara on this one. She bought this cardigan and sent me the link and I fell in love instantly. Seriously, the bow on the back? Swoon. And the drape in the front? Yum. This looks like it would be a great summer weight, too. Did I mention that Sara has awesome taste? It is available here at the Free People site here in ivory, pink and black; you can also find it here on the Nordstrom site on sale in ivory, pink and midnight (navy blue).

Cooperative Fruit Print Cardigan by Urban Outfitters. I noticed this cardigan when I was at Urban Outfitters buying the Poppy Cardigan (also by Cooperative -- and, by the way, on sale for $19.99 in store versus the $29.99 pricetag online). The model shot doesn't make it look very exciting, but it's darling in real life. I love the lightweight cotton/ramie construction, and the cheerful print is done in colors that are perfect for springtime. Currently, it's on sale on the website here for $29.99, but I have to admit the $10 flat-rate shipping bugs me for such a lightweight item. When I saw it in the store, it was still full price, so I'm hoping next time I pop in, I'll score the same kind of deal I got on the Poppy Cardigan. Here's a tip, too: UO frequently changes their prices on the website. ShopStyle has the Fruit Cardigan listed as $24.99 ... but it's $29.99 on the UO site; ShopStyle lists the Poppy Cardigan for $34.99; it's on the UO website for $29.99. Moral of the story: Make sure to check the website frequently, and if you have an UO by you, it's worth checking the store before ordering online, IMO.

The Perfect Tee. This is kind of a generic "want," but this past winter, I got rid of most of my tees because they were old, worn out or grossly misshapen from too many trips through the washer and dryer. I usually stock up each year at Forever 21 or Old Navy, but sometime around the end of last summer, I scored a bunch of tissue tees on final sale at J. Crew for about $6 each. Unfortunately, those tees biased me against F21 and ON. The J. Crew tees are so much better. I don't know when I became a tee snob, but wow. So the problem now is that I want good tees ... but I don't want to wait until the end of the season and I don't want to pay $30 a pop for J. Crew's Vintage Cotton V-Neck Tee. Sigh. Every tee I see is either too heavy, too tight, too short, too low-cut, too ... well, too not J. Crew. In the meantime, I have a few to tide me over, and perhaps I will just wear dresses instead.

Asking for your vote

2011-04-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

When I started this blog, I started it for myself as a way to chronicle my adventures in thrifting and reselling. I never thought anyone would pay attention to it, let alone be interested in it. So I have been humbled and gratified that more than a handful of people really seem to like it. It is a privilege. I also never thought that I would meet new friends through it -- at least not to the extent that I have. Now, I can count at least three really good friends in my life whom I met through blogging.

I'd like to introduce you guys to Sara L. She is such an incredible woman. In addition to being my name doppelganger, she is just ... I don't even know where to start. She's the kind of girlfriend who will go to bat for all of her friends. She props you up, she makes you appreciate yourself, she is just a total dollface. She has no clue how much I adore her and the kind of friend she is.

The reason I bring her up is because Sara's friend Thom has entered into a contest to become Lady Gaga's assistant for her gig as Metro's guest editor-in-chief. Basically, contestants write a brief paragraph to answer the question "Why were you born this way?" Thom's entry is heartfelt and moving and he really deserves a shot at this. I found out about Thom's entry through Sara's Facebook page. That's the kind of person that Sara is ... she'll tell you all about it, and she'll ask you to help her friends out ... but she does it for ALL of her friends, not just a few.

So I want to help her out, and help Thom out, by asking you to please visit his entry and "like" it via Facebook. You can read his entry here. Thank you for reading, and remember not to doubt the power of meeting new people, whether through blogging or in real life. I know my life has been richer for it. Thank you.

Vintage men's Corcoran boots

2011-04-19T07:54:00.000-07:00

About three years ago, Shawn told me he had always wanted a pair of black combat boots, so I started looking on eBay to see what was out there. I didn't want to buy him some crappy pleather things, and I didn't want to buy what passes for combat boots at a place like Goth Topic.

I landed on a pair of vintage Corcoran field boots from the 1970s -- these were authentic, made in the U.S.A., black leather boots that looked pretty awesome. They had a mix of eyelet lacing and metal loops. I spent about $60 for them, and when they arrived, Shawn was instantly smitten. He's worn them almost every day since they came, and they've held up the way you'd expect combat boots to hold up. That's saying something, since Shawn is tough on shoes, and he's on his feet all day.

The problem is, I'm scared about replacing them when the time comes. In the three years since I bought them, the price has skyrocketed for Corcoran boots. Some of the vintage Corcoran jump boots (which are also cool, but are a slightly different style, most notably told apart by the fact that they have regular eyelets all the way up, rather than a mix of the eyelets and metal loops, which the field boots have) are fetching up to $400 per pair on eBay. While that's awesome for the sellers, it is slightly less awesome for those of us looking for some super deals!

I looked into buying him a new pair, and discovered that you can buy them new through military surplus sites and police apparel sites (apparently, the LAPD wears Corcoran field boots, go figure). I think we're going to hold out for another vintage pair, though. Luckily, Shawn prefers the field boots to the jump boots . There's just something undeniably cool about vintage boots -- they aren't as shiny, the workmanship is oftentimes superior, and, of course, there's the whole "reduce, reuse, recycle" green element to it.

Thankfully, the field-style boots can still be had for $100 or less if you stalk eBay (and Etsy, too), so I'm optimistic that we can find a replacement pair before these wear out (though given their 40-year longevity thus far, I'm not entirely certain that they WILL need to be replaced!).

Anyway, Corcoran boots are something to look for when you're thrifting!!

(Note: When I was doing some research for this blog post, I happened upon the craziest website ... it's devoted entirely to different styles of shoelaces and ways to lace your shoes. Seriously, check it out. You won't be disappointed. It's called "Ian's Shoelace Site". I, for one, found it interesting, if only for the tutorial on how to tie a bow so it sits horizontally rather than vertically, which is something that always vexes me on cardigans.)

Thrifting heartbreaker

2011-04-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

Obviously, I spend a fair amount of time on this blog talking about all the amazing things I find at thrift and consignment stores. But what I don't talk a lot about are the heartbreakers -- the pieces that are amazing finds but flawed beyond repair. I found a real heartbreaker this weekend when I was thirfting in Long Beach.

This particular store has yielded up some true gems in the past four years, and this weekend was no exception. I landed a couple of brand-new Alberto Makali tops and a black tunic with Asian frog closures by Exclusively Misook -- all of which I will list on eBay in the next few days. Those were good finds, no doubt. As I started going through the dress rack, I noticed a beaded hem in a dusty rose color. I scooted closer to take a look, and lo and behold, it was the Isca Organdy Dress by Elevenses from 2005. Oh, I was excited.

My excitement quickly turned to dismay upon a closer inspection of the dress. The interior tag had been sliced, which wouldn't have been a deal-breaker by any means if that were the only issue. Unfortunately, the dress was also missing its detachable straps, there was a slight tear in the seam at the top of the zipper, and there was a small stain on the upper backside of the dress. Together, there were too many things wrong with the dress to warrant purchasing it. It was a real shame, too, because it's a gorgeous dress.

Not every flaw is cause to give up on a garment, of course. Hand-washing and dry cleaning can bring garments back to like-new condition, and a sliced interior tag is never a reason to leave something behind. But missing straps -- even though they were detachable -- and the rip at the top of the zipper, though small, were the real deal-breakers. There's no way to "fix" those things, and in the end, you want your buyers to be happy and have a complete sense of delight in their purchase.

This situation brings up a larger issue, which is why the dress was donated in the first place. Perhaps the original owner thought that someone would still love it, even with small flaws. I suppose that's possible, especially if it had been "the one that got away" for me. Maybe she wanted the tax writeoff. Maybe she hadn't worn the dress in years and didn't realize it had all those issues. I don't know. But from a seller's perspective, buying anything in less-than-very good condition opens up a Pandora's box. I've made a few mistakes as a seller, and the guilt I felt over them was enormous. But those mistakes make me a better seller. Why? Because I work even harder at finding better quality items, and I learn to inspect them even more carefully and make sure that I'm not missing anything. No one is infallible, but if you get burned, you can bet that it makes you more cautious.

Things I love

2011-04-09T15:15:00.000-07:00

Random list of things I love

1. Muscle cars
2. Pine trees
3. Loud rock-n-roll
4. High heels
5. Penguins
6. Boots
7. Historical narrative nonfiction
8. The smell of cigars
9. Art deco
10. Persian rugs
11. Copper jewelry
12. Pink gold
13. Tacos

1970s sandals

2011-03-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

This spring, I've been smitten with the retro wood-and-leather heeled sandals that are inspired by the 1970s. I first started noticing them about a month ago and since then, it seems virtually every designer is releasing his or her own version of them. This is the style I'm talking about:

Those are Target's version; they are by Mossimo and they're called the "Orsina Platform Sandal." They retail for $26.99 (see them here). While I like the shape, I'm not sold on the color; I'd rather have a warmer cognac color that's more reminiscent of the original '70s design. Plus — and call me a shoe snob if you will — I have a hard time buying shoes made with manmade materials. I've gotten used to purchasing higher-quality shoes on deep discount or thrifting designer shoes, so it's hard for me to pay almost $30 for Target sandals when I know I could either (a) wait until a more expensive leather pair goes on super sale and then do the sleuthing legwork it takes to find my size or (b) find a true vintage pair, or something comparable from a high-end designer in the thrifts, consignment stores or eBay.* Plus, if I'm being honest, something that is a trend may or may not hold my attention.

The same goes for these Daisy Stud Heeled Clogs from Forever 21, even though I think they are pretty darn cute.

Forever 21 actually has several variations on this trend, many of which are very cute indeed. But I find that Forever 21 has gotten on my last nerve lately, between the sizing of their clothes (I know of a size 2 lady who is now even wearing a size medium in some of their clothes, for reference) and my growing desire for investment pieces over fast fashion fixes.

Frye has several variations that are cute, and Frye's quality is amazing. I have a pair of Frye boots from the 1970s that look just as good as any of their new items, and the style is just as fashionable now as it was when they came out. I like the Frye Grace T-Strap sandal, and there is something about Frye's Savannah Buckle 2-Piece Sandals that appeals to the nerd in me.

There are also some creative updates to the style; for instance, there is this version from Jeffrey Campbell available at Free People. FP is calling it the Crosby Platform. I pretty much adore the cognac/teal version - I think it's a great modern update on that classic '70s shape and feel.

*I was in a Buffalo Exchange this weekend and spotted a pair of Chie Mihara black Mary Jane heels in a size 6 for $36. It's hard to give Target $30 when I can buy shoes that were originally $300+ for $10 more than Target shoes. Of course, I don't wear a size 6 ... but that's beside the point. Sort of.

OOTD: Stevie Ray Corduroy

2011-03-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Well, it's still raining in Southern California and it's still cold. I think I'll just move to New York City; at least there, I can finally get to hang out with my awesome friend, hereby referred to as Miss L. She is part of the inspiration for this outfit ... not because I saw her wearing it, but because through my email exchanges with her, I realized that I needed to (a) weed out the Anthro items that I bought thinking I *should* wear them and (b) embrace my own true style, which is, on most days, pretty casual. (Excessive comma alert!!)

My favorite part of this outfit is the corduroys, which are the AG Stevie style. The Stevie is considered a slim straight cut, but I think it fits a little more like a skinny jean. It's ridiculously comfortable. I got these in the Anthro sale room earlier this week, marked down to $19.95 from $158. Now that's my kind of pricing! I purchased them in the sand color for its versatility and also because I'm a sucker for anything in that retro '70s camel color.

I paired the cords with simple tan ballet flats from Sam Edelman that I picked up for $10 at TJ Maxx last summer, an Ann Taylor Loft bell-sleeve green sweater (thrifted NWT for $5.99!!) and a cami from a boutique at the Del Amo Mall in Torrance, CA, called Lara (sadly, this is one of the camis that I blogged about here that is no longer offered at the store). The whole outfit cost me less than $50, and that's a definite "win" in my book!

AG Stevie Corduroys (sold out online at Anthro, some available in stores, style #18679779) (similar here, here and here)
Ann Taylor Loft Bell Sleeve Sweater (thrifted; similar here, here and here)
Mystree Brown Lace Edged Cami (no longer available; similar here)
SE Boutique by Sam Edelman Bow Ballet Flats (similar here, here and here)

So yesterday was my husband's birthday, and tonight we're driving up into Hollywood to see "Re-Animator: The Musical," an adaptation of the HP Lovecraft story starring none other than George Wendt ("Nooooorm!!!") This weekend was supposed to be the last performances, but they've extended it through May 29th. You can check out the details here. Tickets are very reasonably priced ($10-$25), but you can even get them cheaper through Goldstar.

OOTD: No wet hems for me!

2011-03-21T19:04:00.000-07:00

Well, I managed to survive Rainpocalypse 2011, although let me tell you, it wasn't easy. Our power went out while I was at work on Sunday and it was still off when I got home around 8:30 p.m. after a harrowing 90-minute drive with flooded freeways. Shawn got home around 9, and we proceeded to make dinner in the dark (thank goodness for gas stoves). After dinner by candlelight, we sat reading for awhile before finally giving up and going to bed. (There's a reason people went to bed when it was dark out before electricity.)

It was eerily quiet, and our neighborhood looked straight out of a film noir. There was very little natural illumination, and good old Super Moon was nowhere in sight. All we could hear was the relentless thwap-thwap-thwap of rain hitting the roof and the occasional crunch-crunch-crunch of a cat eating.

Although we were able to eat, we didn't have electricity -- or hot water -- until early Monday morning -- almost 15 hours later. Shawn had to be at work early; I was lucky enough that the hot water was back on by the time I got up to go to work. It was still raining like crazy, with water bubbling up everywhere. Most of the roads around our house had serious lakes, and there were more than a dozen plumbing vans that I spotted on the main drag.

So, anyway, the only requirement I had for my outfit on Monday is that my pants not get wet. I cannot stand wet hems!! Nothing irks me more than walking to the car and feeling that gross wetness against the back of my ankles. Blech!! Skinny jeans and boots came to my rescue. I was able to liven up the look a bit with Anthro's "Burgeoned & Tucked Cardigan" by Moth, which I completely adore and have already worn half a dozen times since I bought it back in December. I paired it with a simple green cami, Forever 21 skinny jeans and the Kady boots from Target. This is pretty much the type of outfit that I live in -- I love the ease and simplicity, but I don't feel it's boring or predictable.

Miracle alert: J Crew's free shipping has no minimum through Friday

2011-03-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

I got an email from J Crew this morning, and believe it or not, the retailer's free shipping is actually just that: FREE! There is no minimum. Use the code FREESHIP through Friday, March 18, 2011, 11:59pm ET on Internet orders shipped via regular shipping (3 to 6 business days). Free ground shipping is applied at checkout with promo code FREESHIP. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and cannot be applied to previous purchases. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion.

Of course, the irony here is that there's nothing online at J. Crew's sale that I want. My email did say it's 50% off sale in store, though, so I may head out this weekend to check it out.

Wardrobe Catalog: Dresses

2011-03-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

First of all, major inspiration points to Liz over at Behind the Dressing Room Door for the idea behind this blog post. I was reading her "Hanging In My Closet" post and it inspired me to figure out exactly what I have hanging in my closet. I've been going through a major weeding out/purge ... partly inspired by the fact that I'm simply running out of room, and partly because I've been trying to really take stock of what I own and how it fits into my developing style.

So, without further ado, meet my Anthro dress collection:

"Attention to Detail Dress" by Coquille

This dress was part of the "order from hell" that I blogged about back in December. Although it took awhile to get to me, I've loved it so much. The first time I wore it was to meet my "niece" for the very first time in the hospital the day after she was born. I've worn it twice since then, and it's quickly becoming a go-to dress for me. Definitely a keeper.

"Easy-As-Pie Dress" by Edme & Esyllte

This is one of the very rare dresses that I bought at full price shortly after it came out. I'm glad that I did, because it is so striking and beautiful. I've only worn it twice since I bought it, though, which makes me realize I need to put it into a more regular rotation. The colors, though good in fall, could easily be workable for spring.

"Japonica Dress" by Coquille

I put this dress on my wishlist the moment it came out on the Anthro website. My only hesitation was the shape and the fact that it had a side zipper. Dresses with a side zipper usually are a big fail on me, as they tend to be cut more narrowly through the torso. I didn't order this online, but back in early January, I found it on the sale rack at the Newport Beach store. I tried it on and was instantly smitten. The first time I wore this to work, I got a blob of green salsa on the sleeve. Sigh. A little bit of TLC and a trip to the cleaners later, and it's back to tip-top shape.

"Perthshire Dress" by Edme & Esyllte

I love this dress for a lot of reasons, but mostly because it reminds me of my honeymoon. Shawn and I spent three weeks in the U.K., including stints in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland. I love the Scottish feel to this dress. I first tried it on when I was back in Chicago; I tried it on when I went with Kim and her friend Farrah to the Anthro in the Loop. I loved it, but I couldn't bear to pay full price. A few months later, I spotted it on the sale rack at the Grove store, and my friend Vanessa convinced me it should come home with me.

"Parlor Games Dress" by Anna Sui

I had never noticed this dress before I went to Anthro with Kim and Farrah that night in Chicago. There were three of them left on the rack and we all tried it on. Farrah and I both bought it! It's a darling little dress and it really creates a va-va-voom shape when it's on. The best part about this dress is that I picked it up for a mere $30.

"Camilla Dress" by Edme & Esyllte (navy)

"Camilla Dress" by Edme & Esyllte (cream)

Yes, I bought both colorways that the "Camilla Dress" came in. And yes, I bought them on the same day, and yes, I bought them both at full price. I remember walking out of the Anthro in El Segundo thinking that a bolt of lightning was going to strike me dead for spending that much money on two dresses. But ... I had worked some OT and could splurge, and let me tell you something: These two dresses make me so incredibly happy. I've worn them both SEVERAL times, and I always get complimented when I wear them. They are versatile and I love every single thing about them. I think these are my two favorite dresses from Anthro. Worth every penny I spent on them and I do not regret it at all.

"Albertine Dress" by Moulinette Soeurs

This is one of the first dresses that I ever bought at Anthro. I was shopping in the store with my friend Vanessa, and I saw it on the sale rack for $39.95. In general, Moulinette Soeurs dresses never fit me, so I wasn't expecting much when I took it to the fitting room. But lo and behold, it fit and looked cute in a retro kind of way, so home it came with me. Unfortunately, it's actually kind of a hard dress to work into my regular rotation, as it's a little formal for work and there aren't too many places I go where I need to dress up. Guess that means I'm going to pester the husband to take me out to a nice dinner, LOL!!

"Cathedral Arches Dress" by Ranna Gill

My local store never got this dress in, so I actually ordered this one without trying it on. I had a good feeling about it from the start, though, because all the reviews were critical of its fit. Why is that a positive, you might wonder? Well, the reviews said the fit was broad in the shoulders and narrow through the hips. And let me tell you -- that's just the way I'm shaped, so I knew this dress was going to be a great fit for my figure. Lo and behold, it was. I managed to hold out until sale before buying this beauty. I'm just glad I snagged it.

"Florry Dress" by Knitted & Knotted

The "Florry Dress" marked the first time I had ever called customer service and asked them to help me track one down in my size. I had tried it on when it was full price at my local Anthro and loved it, but wasn't willing to part with that much money. It sold out quickly once it hit sale, so it took a bit of sleuthing to find one on sale. Thanks to CS, I was able to snag it. I love wearing this dress; I usually pair it with ankle socks and my Jeffrey Campbell saddle shoes. I always get compliments on this dress, and it's so ridiculously comfortable and cute!

"Ink Brush Dress" by RicRac

I think this might have been the first dress that I ever bought from Anthropologie -- and I scored it for $9.95 on the clearance rack at the Grove location. It doesn't get a lot of wear, but I can't bear to part with it, just because it was my first dress purchased at Anthro.

"Breakfast Nook Shift" by Maeve

I remember when this dress was in the "new arrivals" section of Anthro's website. As soon as I saw it, I knew, just KNEW, that it would be mine. I bought it just before Shawn's parents came to visit us in California, and I wore it out to dinner with the whole family and all of our friends. I've worn this dress a lot during the past two summers -- I just love everything about it. So simple, so timeless and so me.

"Endless Diamonds Shift" by Floreat

It's funny how many of my Anthro dresses have stories behind them, and I find it interesting that I recall with such ease exactly where I bought them, how much I paid for them and the circumstances in which they made their debut. I scored this dress off eBay for about $30, and it made its debut at one of my best friend's wedding reception. The pattern is so striking and the fit is a breeze. It's also by Floreat, which is an Anthro brand that usually doesn't work for me. Thankfully, that wasn't an issue with this dress and I just love it to pieces.

"Well Matched Dress" by Fei

My friend Vanessa found this when we were out thrifting together one weekend in Redondo Beach. She brought it over to me and said, "I think you'll like this." Um, YEAH! I scored it for $7.99 and it's the perfect summer dress -- so soft, so easy, so versatile!

"Lolland Sweater Dress" by Moth

This dress came to me thanks to a tip from someone on either Roxy's blog or a friend of my sister-in-law Kim. All I know is that I asked if anyone had seen this dress in their store, and I got an immediate helpful answer. It confirmed for me that the Anthro-loving community can be the coolest group of girls. I loved this dress from the moment I saw it in the catalog, but it was the same old deal -- I didn't want to pay full price, and when it went on sale, it sold out quickly in my local stores. It was still $99.95 when it went on sale, but I decided to buy it because I was so in love with it and it was so unusual. This dress came to me all the way from Reston, Va., and I have to say that my experience with the SAs at that store was amazing. They were so helpful and so lovely. I highly recommend that store.

"Orava Shift" by Maeve

For the past year or so, I've been collecting a digital archive of old Anthro stock photos. I love to browse through it, and that's where I get a lot of my information from for PSAs that I post on my Anthropologie Treasurebox. This dress immediately popped out at me when I first saw it in my digital photo archive. I love the vibrant print, and the classic shift dress shape is definitely right up my stylistic alley. I stalked eBay for it for quite some time before one popped up in the size I needed, and when it did, I was beyond thrilled -- especially when I won the auction for opening bid! I can't wait to wear this gorgeous frock once it warms up.

"Rising Vapor Dress" by RicRac

I never looked twice at this dress on the website, but when I saw it in the store, I tried it and was instantly smitten, especially with the very reasonable price. (Well, reasonable for Anthro.) Unfortunately, they didn't have the size I needed, but one of the awesome SAs at the Grove ordered it via phone for me and had it shipped directly to me. Props also to my friend Vanessa, who encouraged me to try it on in the first place! It later was reissued in another colorway, although I like this first, dark gray one that I got. This dress is also special to me because it made its debut when my sister-in-law and her fiance came to visit me and Shawn in California. It was their first trip out since we moved here, and it was a beautiful night. We both dressed up in our pretty Anthro dresses and had our picture taken together on the beach in Malibu.

"Precious Stones Dress" by Leifsdottir

I own a total of three items by Leifsdottir. This is the second one I purchased after waiting for it to hit sale. (Do you sense a pattern here with me and sale items?) It's a gorgeous dress, and several bloggers included it in "Alice in Wonderland"-inspired blogs. It does have that vibe, for sure, but it also has a very retro look, especially with its drop waist and cutout back. I've yet to find many occasions to wear it, but it's one that I'll probably never part with, because it sums up Anthro to me because, while it's not "frilly" or "ruffly," it is unusual and very in keeping with why I love the store -- there's always something there for almost everyone.

"Tweedy Leaves Dress" by Tabitha

I almost forgot this one, it's a late addition to the collection. I found it all by its lonesome in the sale section for a mere $39.95. Usually these combination dresses are an epic fail on me because I have a long torso and the "waist" winds up hitting me right under my bust. However, this dress actually hits where it's supposed to, and I really like it. I paired this dress with my Kady cognac-colored boots from Target and it was an easy, simple outfit -- perfect for work!

So there you have it -- my Anthro dress collection. I did this post more for myself than anything, to remind me of what I have in my closet and to inspire me to wear these gorgeous pretties as often as I can. My next challenge is to style myself using these dresses as the basis for outfit inspiration!!

Cami conundrum

2011-03-09T22:47:00.000-08:00

For years and years, I denied the power of the lace-edged camisole. I thought they looked ridiculous on me, emphasizing my broad shoulders and making me look like the local high school quarterback in drag. But then when I moved to L.A., I found this awesome pointelle cami in the softest cotton at Express. I was hooked. It was comfortable and it didn't have one of those stupid shelf bras. I should have bought 900 of them then and there. But alas, I did not.

I didn't buy another cami for about a year after that, because all of them were either too tight, too ugly or had that awful shelf bra. Then I found extra-long, super-soft jersey, lace-edged camis at this store called Lara in our local mall. Lara is basically a bricks-and-mortar equivalent to Ruche or ModCloth -- lots of Anthro-inspired items at lower pricepoints. While I was ambivalent to the regular clothing selection because the sizing was more in line with a juniors department, I was absolutely smitten with their camis. These things are like crack. I bought them in all different colors. (The brands were Bozzolo and Mystree.)

The problem is, it's been about a year, and I need to replace my white and ivory camis, and my pale pink is quickly heading toward replacement as well. I went in to the store last weekend, and unfortunately, they are no longer carrying basic camis. The helpful SA pointed me toward their new selection, but I don't want or need camis with pearls, sequins, chains or 19 layers of chiffon. I need my basic, long camis with lace edges!! I don't want them ribbed, I don't want them cropped and I certainly don't want them decorated like Ed Hardy's little brother.

I've been searching for an alternative, and I have to confess that I'm annoyed with what's out there. Calvin Klein, Only Hearts and Kohl's all have viable options, but I'm not willing to part with $20 to $50 for a cami. I know logically that a cami is something I wear a lot, so the cost-per-wear would even out to pennies over a few months, but give me a break. $50? And Josie Natori takes the cake at $90 a pop. For lack of a better phrase, Give me a Break.

Forever 21 has a better priced option at $5.80, but it's thin and it's made for someone with a stomach far flatter than mine. I like my soft, accommodating jersey -- and I want it to end somewhere SOUTH of my belly button, not above.

Anyone have any suggestions?

OOTD: Jamocha Almond Fudge

2011-03-07T21:18:00.000-08:00

My husband and I went out for ice cream on Saturday evening, and I have to confess that's the inspiration behind this outfit. We were in a Baskin-Robbins and he got a waffle cone filled with a flavor called Jamocha Almond Fudge. Something about the colors in the ice cream reminded me of the Chilled Ripples Shell by Floreat, which my sister-in-law got me for my birthday back in December. I'd yet to break it out, and I decided it was long past time to style it and start wearing it. I'm trying to take a critical eye to my wardrobe and be honest about what I wear and what I don't wear. The pieces that I don't wear are being sold or given away, and those that stay will hopefully get more use. Obviously, this piece was one that has made the cut.

Since it's such a dramatic piece on its own, I knew I wanted to go simple with the rest of the outfit. I normally don't wear this much black, but it pairs so effortlessly with the nude color of the top that it was a no-brainer. Plus, I'd just recently snagged these Biviel shoes (which I blogged about here) for an amazing sale price of $43 on Amazon, and I wanted to break them in. I think they do a great job as an edgy accent to the femininity of the blouse, and the long-sleeved J. Crew cardigan (thrifted for $2) and black pencil skirt (NY & Co., bought on final clearance for about $15) create a simple, straight line.

All told, my investment in this outfit comes out to about $60, whereas if I had gotten all the pieces new, it would have been about $385.

Researching eBay items

2011-03-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

The more you sell on eBay, the more you start to get a sense of when an item is "special." You might not know the designer or the provenance of an item, but it has that "look." It's like you develop a sort of sixth sense, and you'll get a tingle when you see something poking out from a rack. It gets stronger as time goes on.

I think I've mentioned before about how if you're going to make a living -- or even a decent second income -- doing eBay or reselling, you can't always just focus on one thing or brand. Anthropologie clothing is my passion, but that's not all I look for when I'm scouring consignment stores, thrift stores and resale stores. I'm also looking for niche items and what my friend Rachel would call "vegetables" (i.e., you can't always live on steak and caviar). A "vegetable" is a quality item that is plain, or something from a no-name designer that has an intrinsic "eBay value" -- examples might be nice cashmere sweaters from regular mall stores, or plainer items from nicer labels. These items form the basis of any good eBay seller's store inventory. They become a seller's "bread and butter." (Another example? Items from Target's designer collaborations.)

A few weeks ago, I ran across one such "niche" item. It is a beautiful lightweight open-front silk jacket. I knew immediately that I wanted to pick it up because it has that high-end "art-to-wear" vibe that some women really work well. When I saw this jacket, I pictured a woman in her early 50s at an art gallery with tasteful gold jewelry, some black trousers and a lace-edged cami. She might be wearing modest kitten heels -- or maybe a pair of Lanvin flats. But I picture her being open, warm, generous of laughter and well-traveled. She likes bold pieces, but uses them sparingly. This is the kind of piece for that particular woman.

I love clothes, and I think that comes through in a seller's listings. There have been items I've sold that I thought were ghastly, I admit. But three years or so into this, I realize that with very few exceptions, I do love almost every piece I sell, regardless of whether it is my personal style. What I strive to do, I think, is match the right piece with the right person. I want to find them unique pieces ... and I want to make a living doing this, too.

This piece was really hard to research. Eventually, I did manage to discover that the designer is a locally based artist in my area whose work is hand-painted silk apparel. She recently had an exhibit of her hand-painted silk apparel at a contemporary art gallery in Long Beach. Now that I have that information -- and it confirmed my initial suspicion that this piece was definitely worth picking up -- it makes listing it even more fun.

Retail find: Military Front Sheath Dress from Kmart

2011-03-03T18:11:00.000-08:00

Every month, I get a copy of Elle magazine from one of my bosses at work. Every month he makes me promise to tell him about the cover story, and I think it's hilarious. We still haven't figured out why he gets a promo copy of Elle, but regardless, I appreciate the fact that he passes it along because there's always plenty of eye candy, and one or two articles that really are worth reading.

I got my new copy today, and Mrs. Russell Brand (nee Katy Perry) is on the cover dressed in brilliant, oversaturated jewel tones. As I was thumbing through the magazine, I noticed - of all things - an ad for KMart. It jumped out at me because of a dress called the "Military Front Sheath Dress." I liked the color of it, and the design reminded me a lot of the "Attention to Detail Dress" by Coquille that I bought back in December from Anthropologie.

Here's the Anthro version, which I bought in the taupe colorway for $59.95 on first cut (there are still some available out there on second cut for $29.95).

And here's the KMart version, which is $29.99 full retail.

Kind of similar, aren't they? Of course Anthro's version is a steal at $29.95 if you can find one (I found it to be very well made and super flattering on, despite what other reviews on the Anthro website said), but the KMart version intrigues me nonetheless. There's just something about that blue color. The material is polyester, but it looks like a ponte knit to me and it looks relatively well made. It's simple yet chic, and it would be easy enough to wear multiseasonally. I may go check it out at our local store; if I do, I'll add to this post to let you know about the quality.

A letter to Alexa

2011-03-01T20:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Alexa,

Happy one-month birthday (+1 day, but shhhh ... we won't be picky)!! One month ago, your mommy (and daddy) welcomed you into the world after nine months of eager anticipation. I got to go with your mommy when she found out you were a girl. She was so happy! And I confess that I was giddy at the idea of being able to buy you designer baby clothes. The doctors and nurses kept telling me "Congratulations" as if I had any role at all in your conception. I guess they had been busy watching "The Kids Are All Right."

I wondered so much about you! I knew you were going to have fantastic parents (duh). I knew that you would be loved beyond belief, and I knew that you were going to change everyone's lives. I was also a little scared of you. It was one thing to help your mommy through her pregnancy, but it was another thing altogether to see you in the real world, outside the womb. I felt an incredible need to protect you, and I was also petrified that I would drop you! (So far, so good.)

As you grow up, I know there will be lots of good times ahead and lots of adventures. I can't wait for you to be able to experience everything! Will you prefer ballet and ponies ... or will you dig up worms and become a karate expert? Maybe you'll be a ballerina and an entomologist. Perhaps you'll become a vegetarian astronaut. I don't know, but I'm pretty sure you're going to be awesome. After all, you have awesome parents and an amazing Grandpa (I know, because I've eaten BBQ and drank with him).

Thirteen years from now, when you are driving your mother crazy with your crazy teenage hormones, I hope you know that when you were born, I thought you were the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen. You came out with a full head of gorgeous dark hair, and your eyes had a depth and reflection in them that most adults don't have. Your tiny little hands and feet were delectable, and you calmed your Uncle Shawn down so much he almost fell asleep rocking you in the chair.

I hope you will always know how much your "aunt" and "uncle" love you!

Happy One-Month Birthday, notre petite!

XOXOX,
Sara and Shawn

p.s. You see that coat in the picture? Someday, I will teach you about thrifting and sale-stalking. Your aunt -- that's me -- patiently waited for months for it to go on sale at Anthropologie, and when she'd all but given up hope of finding one, a friendly SA at the (800) number found one for her in Colorado. And it was $100 cheaper at that store. So, baby Alexa, your aunt got a $500 coat for $99. And she will be your personal shopping Yoda and pass this on to you. Because baby Alexa? Thrifting is a Force all its own.

Stop by AnthroCoterie!

2011-02-27T20:49:00.000-08:00

One of my best Internet buds, Sara L., has started up a new discussion forum dedicated to Anthropologie. I remember a few weeks ago, she approached me with the idea and I thought it was genius. Sure, there are already tons of great blogs out there dedicated to Anthro, but there was no centralized spot where we could have all participate in a back-and-forth exchange. While I think all of the Anthro blogs are great, I think this offers those in the community a great spot to gather and post news/deals/etc.

In Sara's own words:

I love reading all of (the Anthro) blogs daily and wanted to participate in the community as more than just a commenter, but I didn't feel I had anything to add with a blog of my own, and truthfully I am a little camera and spotlight shy. For awhile now I've been feeling like something was missing from the Anthro fan community, but I wasn't sure what. After some consideration and speaking with other readers I felt I'd arrived at the answer; a community hub, a meeting place that's stationary and devoted mainly to our love of Anthropologie!

So, I've created a website. It's a message board, dedicated both to Anthro and our little online community. I've only just started it, and haven't shown it around much ..., so it's a little empty right now! I'll be adding new forums and such as needed, but for now, it's just the basics.

If you have an idea for a forum, please let me know! Please don't think I am trying to step on anyone's toes here. I'm hoping this will be a fun and happy place for everyone.

Plus, Sara is just an amazing woman. She is one of the kindest, nicest, smartest, most beautiful women I have had the pleasure to know. :) So if you have a spare minute or two, pop on over to AnthroCoterie and check it out. I really think this could be something special, and I'd love to see it blossom for her, because she's been such a positive part of the Anthro community.

If you've wondered ...

2011-02-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

... I have been busy the past couple days with an event that my friends are putting together back in Dayton, Ohio. Called "Runway the Right Way," the event benefits Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio. Organized by PUSH Dayton (Planned Parenthood's Young Professionals Group), it's scheduled for Saturday, March 5, and my friends have been busy collecting an assortment of beautiful new and pre-owned clothing, including some very high-end pieces. I was honored when they asked me to donate a few pieces to the event, and was happy to oblige by giving them a new high-end Oscar de la Renta skirt, a vintage Yves St Laurent Rive Gauche silk blouse and an incredible nightgown/gown from Valentino.

I've also been helping them with descriptions for their auction catalog -- and I've seen firsthand the quality and variety of their selection (including a pair of Stuart Weitzman pumps on which I'm tempted to log a proxy bid despite the fact that they're a half-size too big).

I wish so much that I could be there to help them as they rush to the finish line with their preparations. It benefits a great cause -- let me let one of PUSH's members, Monica Bartley, explain why it's so important.

Right now, more than ever, it is important to support PUSH & Planned Parenthood SW Ohio because we are all facing one of the most aggressive assaults of our lives on the services that Planned Parenthood provides.

...

House of Representatives leadership passed the Pence Amendment, which bans all Planned Parenthoods from receiving federal funds.

What does that mean to you and our community?

Currently 70% of Planned Parenthood’s patients are uninsured & they rely on PP to get their yearly exams, cervical screenings, breast screenings, HIV tests, STI tests, STI treatment and birth-control pills from Planned Parenthood. The loss of this funding would mean that the 18,000 women & men currently being served in SW Ohio by Planned Parenthood would no longer get these services.

...

Obviously, unless you live in the Dayton/Cincinnati area, it's probably a long shot for you to attend. Luckily, you can still buy a $25 ticket as a donation to their fund-raising efforts. If you'd like to find out a little more, go here.

Link love

2011-02-23T22:34:00.000-08:00

I just had to share an awesome link with you guys. Hope you enjoy!

Jacquelyn has a fantastic post up today on her blog from Jennifer, who did a DIY version of Anthropologie's Eat, Drink and Be Merry Chandelier. Major props to Jennifer for such an amazing idea and an even more amazing execution.

OOTD sans me

2011-02-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

I posted last night about being in a sort of funk with getting dressed. Well, today my husband and I are going out to see Man or Astro-Man in concert, so I decided I'd wear something a little nicer than I have been, although it's still pretty casual. If I'm being honest, though, my style is always more casual than a lot of bloggers ... which reflects my lifestyle, job and where I live. L.A. is the denim capital of the world (and probably also the spandex capital of the world, unfortunately), so it's easy to find great designer denim out here at very affordable prices.

So today's outfit consists of a pair of 7 For All Mankind Boot Cut Jeans in the traditional New York Dark wash (thrifted for $6.49), Anthropologie's "Mandore Tank" by C. Keer (purchased for $16.99 with my birthday discount), a pair of Old Navy's ballet flats in the coral colorway (purchased - gasp! - full price for $21.50) and a coral cardigan from Target's Merona line (purchased for $8.98 on sale last year).

Disclaimer: The cardigan shown in this set has beading on it; mine does not.

While it's not a full return to form, at least it's better than yoga pants and my husband's old hoodie from 1998. Small steps, people. Small steps.

Style quandary

2011-02-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

The past few weeks, I've been working long hours so my style choices have pretty much been, "Wake up, throw on comfortable jeans and some form of shirt, preferably loose and soft." Then I would slip on a pair of ballet flats, tie my hair up and be done with it. Now that I'm back to a more normal schedule, I should be getting back to the point where I'm taking a little bit more care with my appearance and putting together nicer outfits.

But here's the thing: I cannot get motivated! I see all my clothes and they are beautiful, but I'm just not feeling it. At all. Nothing is inspiring me, nothing is calling out to me. I love to look at my clothes, but I feel like they belong to another person entirely. I'm sure it'll pass, but geesh. I've been trying to find something that will tie it all together -- some piece that will inspire me.

It doesn't help that I've been spending a lot of time focusing on men's fashions (my husband and I are working on a project together). So I'm curious ... what do you do when you're in a stylistic funk?

Thrift store score: J Crew "Minnie" Pant

2011-02-16T17:39:00.000-08:00

After I got off work today, I decided to stop by one of my favorite thrifts. I started shuffling through the racks ... stained Anthro top (pass), gorgeous cashmere V-neck men's sweater from Lord & Taylor (bought), crazy Marimekko for H&M romper (bought, but I don't know *who* will fit into it), damaged Geren Ford dress (considered, but then decided I doubt my tailor can fix the seam) ... there were a lot of things to go through ... Coach heeled loafers with signature C print (just too ugly, frankly) ... a bunch of old X-Men Comics from the mid-1990s (passed) ... Danzig's "Jaguar God" comic (couldn't resist buying it for 99 cents).

And then, hanging on the end of a rack, was a black pair of J. Crew pants. Normally I avoid black pants like the plague, knowing that our two cats will instantly telepathically send their fur to stick all over them. But these intrigued me because of their retro 1960s shape. I had visions of sailing on a yacht ... eating a bowl of fruit at a seaside cafe ... toting a baguette ... playing Frisbee with my hair in a scarf. All things, of course, that are highly unlikely to happen in the course of my everyday life. Yet ... the pants.

Turns out they are the Minnie style from J. Crew in the black stretch wool. They're absolutely gorgeous and in perfect condition. Someone had cut out the size tag (why?!) but I decided that for $6.49, I could risk it. I got them home and tried them on. I love them! They are a little big, but that just means I can eat more. Ha!

These retailed for $89.50, so I saved $83.01. I like that math.

Always and Forever

2011-02-14T20:53:00.000-08:00

My husband, Shawn, cannot stand Valentine's Day. He thinks it's an attempt by the PTB to get people to feel guilty and overcompensate with commercial baubles when they should be expressing their love all year. I don't disagree with him, and that's just one of the many reasons I love him. Yet here I am, posting this on Valentine's Day. You see, that's my part in our equation. I agree with him, but then I go on right ahead and do my own thing, sticking my tongue out at him. I'm glad he likes that about me.

This year, Shawn and I will have been married for seven years; we dated for a year and a half before we got married. I remember the night I met him. My friend Lina was taking me to see her brother's band play at a place called The Underground in Chicago. I was in a ridiculous place in my life and just wanted to get out. So we went, and Shawn turned out to be the guitar player in her brother's band. This is where our story gets strange.

Lina and I had met while we were both living in Ohio. We were working at an alt-weekly newspaper; she was the classified ad manager and I was the managing editor (formerly the music editor). She was from Chicago; I helped her brother's band land a gig opening for one of our local bands. So here it turns out less than a year later, Lina was back in Chicago and I had moved up there with a friend of mine after things went south with the paper. I was still writing about music, but only intermittently. So when she introduced me to Shawn, we soon discovered our paths had crossed before, back when I booked that show for his band in Ohio.

We hit it off instantly. He was wearing a vintage yellow men's dress shirt with a corduroy blazer that had leather elbow patches. He was tall, thin and his Chicago accent was so thick it was like he was from a different world altogether. I was smitten with how smart he was, and I was blown away by the fact that he actually bought me drinks that night. He can't possibly be a real musician, the cynical part of me thought. If he were a real musician, he'd be making me buy HIM the drinks.

Soon after our first meeting, my editor assigned me to profile Shawn's band. This put me in a bit of a pickle because I never liked to mix business and pleasure, especially being a female music writer. People always assumed you were a groupie if you were a woman writing about rock 'n' roll (especially heavy metal). So ... Shawn's band was just about the last local band I interviewed. From there, it was on to a more sedate life as a copywriter for a manufacturing parts supply company. (Well, except for the interview I did with Alice Cooper when he called me at my house, LOL!!)

In our 8.5 years together, not ONCE has Shawn wavered. He has taught me about what it means to truly love someone unconditionally. I've thrown a lot at him, and he has been patient with my neuroses and insecurities. He has taught me so much about patience and kind-heartedness. He claims he despises the human race (he works retail, after all), but I know that's not true just because of how avidly he listens to anyone. He's forever polite and charming; people naturally flock to him and want to hear what he has to say on any given topic, from politics to music to obscure arcana.

He's taught me a lot about what it means to love and be loved. He's taught me a lot about a lot of things, actually. I'm forever grateful that he is in my life, and I don't give one flying fig if he hates Valentine's Day, because he is my Valentine for, as he would say, always and forever. And I don't really give a flying fig about what he thinks of my (non-commercial) gesture of love, because I LOVE HIM.

So there.

Because I just don't have enough cardigans

2011-02-12T21:02:00.000-08:00

I first discovered Old Navy's new printed lightweight cardigans over at Madeline's "Uber Chic for Cheap" blog (check out her post here). I loved the color, shape and print of this cardigan, so when Shawn and I were out tonight, I decided to pop into Old Navy and check it out. The cardigan was on sale for $17.50 (marked down from $29.50), which is a very good deal in my humble opinion. The material is on par with J. Crew's "Floral Cardigan" from Summer 2009, and the ON version has 3/4-length sleeves. I also picked one up in a summery floral print. Check them out here.

Sharesies!

2011-02-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

I'm working crazy hours this week at my "regular" job, so I don't have as much time as I'd like to be able to work on my blogs; however, I thought I would do a quick post on some of the things that have been capturing my attention in what free time I do have. Feel free to add your own "sharesies" in the comments!

"Easy A:" I thought this movie looked cute when I saw the previews for it several months back and a broad range of my friends enjoyed it -- including the punk-rock chick in Chicago who abhors anything "girlie." I Netflixed it the other weekend when I knew Shawn would be working. I wasn't disappointed; it was hilarious and I loved every minute of it. Emma Stone rocks; her dialogue reminded me of a teenage Aaron Sorkin. And I'm sorry, but I have a serious crush on Stanley Tucci. He just nails everything he's in, including the ridiculous movie "The Core."

Trader Joe's Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzels: We have a cluster of friends who are vegans and we never know what to feed them when they come over to hang out. Luckily, they often bring their own treats. A few weeks back, they brought over these Peanut Butter-Filled Pretzel bite thingies from Trader Joe's. Good Lord, are these things addictive. I highly recommend.

Music: I listen to the radio on my way to and from work, much to Shawn's amazement. In his words, "You have the power to control what you listen to, so why would you listen to crap?" Well, dear husband, because sometimes there are gems among the dung. I posted this over on Facebook, but lately my three new favorite tunes are "Fader" by Temper Trap, "Howlin' For You" by The Black Keys and "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. All of these tunes have been making me appreciate radio. Los Angeles still has good radio stations. Sure, there's way too much Sublime, but I still hear new music, too, and it saves me from having to resort to Pitchdork.

Grapefruit: A few years ago when I was in France, I got this weird craving for grapefruit. I couldn't get enough of it. Well, it's back. The craving for grapefruit, that is, not the time in France. I also think this was brought on by a comedy sketch that Aziz Ansari did during a comedy event that Shawn and I went to back in December. We were laughing so hard I thought I was going to either pee my pants or have an asthma attack. Two months later and we still reference it. If you want to read the sketch for yourself, go here (though the writer recounting the bit isn't nearly as funny as Ansari ... which makes sense, considering said writer is not a comedian, but I digress).

Anthropologie's Tied Awry Heels: I really want these shoes. I would also rather be stabbed with a hot poker than pay full price for them. So, I wait. Note to women who wear a size 37.5 or 38 in Miss Albright shoes: Please do not purchase these. Thankyouverymuch.

So, got anything to share that you've been loving lately? :)

Thrift store score: Anthropologie Tangelo T-Straps

2011-02-06T20:04:00.001-08:00

For a few weeks now, I've been studying my shoe collection, trying to figure out what's missing. (Yes, Shawn, I realize you would disagree that there any holes in my shoe collection, but I know better than you. LOVE YOU!) I finally came to the realization that I need a nice pair of versatile leather low-heeled sandals, a pair of black flat boots (I'd like to eventually find a pair of Ariats) and a pair of burgundy heels.

Today, my friends, I think I may have filled the leather heeled sandal void. I was at one of my favorite Goodwill locations and was browsing their selection of heels when I spotted the Tangelo T-Straps by Jasper & Jeera, which were sold at Anthropologie. These babies retailed for $138. Anthro's description was: "This juicy-sweet, peep-toe pair is the perfect hybrid of smooth leather and sunburst detailing."

They feature an adjustable buckle with a full leather upper, insole and sole. The heel is a very walkable 3" in height. They were made in Brazil, too, which, like Italy, is Shoe Mecca. I can't wait to start wearing these pretties!

Not a bad investment for $6.99, which is 95% off their original retail price.

A brand to look for: Bathing Ape

2011-02-06T18:23:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: It's fake. BAPE does not produce the size 3XL. Into the garbage it goes. This is why it's super important to authenticate and to not get attached to your "scores." I've removed the pics so no one gets confused and thinks it was authentic.

______

When I first started selling on eBay, there were a lot of brands that I was unfamiliar with. I spent a lot of time doing research (actually, I still do) to learn about brands that were popular and/or sold well. One brand that fascinated me once I found out about it was A Bathing Ape. Founded in 1993 in Japan by Nigo, A Bathing Ape specializes in cartoon-inspired street and urban wear. Named after the 1960s movie "Planet of the Apes," A Bathing Ape has a very hip-hop/graffiti vibe. It reminds me of Paul Frank with a decidedly Japanese vibe, kind of like Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers line, only more expensive.

A Bathing Ape has a following among celebrities like Kanye West and UNKLE, and BAPE's designer Nigo has collaborated with Pharrell Williams on Williams' Billionaire Boys Club clothing line and other brands such as Pepsi and Carhartt. In my mind, BAPE is synonymous with the mid part of the 2000s, when rap was redefining itself and artists like Kanye were taking things in a different direction.

Nigo sold a controlling stake (~90%) of BAPE on Feb. 1 (just a few days ago) for approximately $3 million, which is such a low sum that pretty much everyone in the financial and fashion worlds has a hard time believing it. Nigo is supposed to stay on board as creative director for two years; it remains to be seen what will happen to the label in the long term.

Outfit outtake

2011-02-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

I think I may have posted this outfit on my blog before, but I was going through some old photos and decided I didn't hate this one after all. So here you go. This is Anthropologie's "Easy-As-Pie Dress" from this past fall. It was one of my few full-price Anthro purchases, and I think it was worth it, if only to hear my husband call me a "Cuban dancer." Um, yeah. Call me "La Lupe."*

*La Lupe was a Cuban singer who emigrated to the U.S. She had a pretty volatile career, but she recorded some fantastic music with Tito Puente and did an English-language version of "Fever" that you really must listen to. It's muy caliente.

Retail love, but only when it's thrifted

2011-01-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

I love Ann Taylor LOFT. Their clothing really fits in well with my style, and I have a lot of pieces by Loft in my wardrobe. One green sweater, in particular, is a constant go-to piece for me on the weekend.

But here's my secret: The majority of my Loft clothes come from the thrift. I can rarely bring myself to buy directly from the store. Yes, I know that Loft routinely has 40% off their sale prices, and I've bought a few $6 and $8 skirts there. I even have one or two pieces that I bought full price. Yet, it's been quite a long time since I bought anything in the actual Loft store at my local mall.

I guess it's because when I go in there and I find something I like, and it's $49.50, I find myself thinking, "Well, I could buy this or I could wait until X, Y or Z goes on sale at Anthropologie or J Crew." Why is that? Why can I justify spending $40 for a piece at Anthro that I won't wear as often as I will a sweater/blouse/skirt from Loft?

I think there are two reasons.

#1: Buying clothes from Anthro is like making an investment. Rarely do they lose value. If I get tired of something I buy at Anthro, it's much more likely to sell well on my Treasurebox blog or eBay. I might not recoup my entire original investment, but I'm usually guaranteed to get at least 50% of my money back, if not more.

#2: There are a lot of beautiful pieces by Loft in the thrifts here, many of them still with their original tags. I've gotten spoiled in that sense. Most of my ATL pieces have come from thrifting excursions, and I've spent about $6 each for them on average. I don't feel the "wish listing" urge I get with other retailers. I always know I'll find something I like from ATL at the thrifts and, along with that, there are never pieces where I think my wardrobe will be incomplete if I don't have them.

What about you? Are there mid-range brands you look for in the thrift that you won't pay full retail for? I'm curious if I'm alone in this.

To Biviel, or not to Biviel? That is the question.

2011-01-18T22:56:00.000-08:00

I discovered these freaking amazing heels by Biviel the other day while browsing eBay for a pair of the Carved Celadon Heels. The Carved Celadon Heels, also by Biviel, were sold at Anthro last year, but I missed out on them. I thought I had scored a pair on popback several months ago, but my order was canceled. That was the first time I'd ever lost out on a popback. Boo.

But it sparked an interest in the Biviel brand, and I have run across a few pairs on eBay or other etailing sites that I've really liked. I've yet to pull the trigger on any of them because I'm not sure how sizing runs. I usually wear a 7.5, but lately my feet must be shrinking because I've had to buy size 7s in a lot of heels. Even stranger, I sized down to a 6.5 in the Kachiri boots at Target, which I scored for the amazing price of $20, thanks to Grace, who is an absolute doll and sent me a Target card for my birthday. I had hemmed and hawed on those boots forever, but when Grace sent me a gift card, I decided to splurge. I'd also waited so long that they had been marked down to $35 on sale. Super score!! Thanks, Grace!!

Anyway, these heels by Biviel are something else. I've been trying to put my finger on some good descriptive adjectives, but the best I can come up with is FIERCE. They have a little bit of a dangerous Matrix-type vibe without all the shiny pleather involved in the making of that movie. The heels are like coiled serpents ... it's like if Cleopatra came back to earth and was a cyber vampire archaeologist in Michael Jackson's "Scream" video. Or something.

So, um, yeah. I need to buy them. Especially because even Shawn thinks they're bad-ass. That's the seal of approval, for sure.

P.S. If anyone has a pair of the Carved Celadon Heels for sale, let me know. LOL!!

OOTD: Ah, Floreat, we meet again

2011-01-10T22:54:00.000-08:00

So how weird is this? My last two OOTD posts have featured items by Floreat. OK, not so weird for an Anthroholic (hi Kim!) but weird for me, because Floreat usually never fits me. But here I am, wearing the Velvet Dynasty Top. I almost bought this the night it went on sale, but I resisted because I didn't know how the sizing was. When I was out thrifting with my friend Rachel over the weekend, we popped into the Newport Beach store as our last stop of the evening. They had one of these blouses left in a size that I never thought would work. Yet ... it fit.

And so it came home with me. I knew I wanted to pair it with a pencil skirt for simplicity, so I chose my wonderful Trina Turk cotton sateen skirt that I found at a local Goodwill for $5.99. I then debated about what shoes to wear. At first I thought I would keep the monochromatic look and go with black, but then I threw caution to the wind and busted out my gold Paris Hilton Destiny pumps, which I bought to wear on New Year's Eve 2009. Yes, this is only the second time in two years that I've worn these heels. Gold heels with bows aren't something you can just wear willy-nilly. It'll probably be another six months before I break them out again. Investment heels, people. (*Cough, cough* at the thought of anything by Paris Hilton being an investment. Wait. Don't judge. They're cute.)

Feline interlude

2011-01-08T19:42:00.001-08:00

Want! Want! Want!

2011-01-06T23:39:00.000-08:00

I got J. Crew's newest catalog in the mail today (and then, when I wandered over to Effortless Anthropologie, read some really interesting news about the retailer), and there were quite a few things that I really liked in it. Of course, I rarely order from J. Crew's website because their shipping is ridiculous, and I never spend anywhere near $150 to qualify for free shipping. Whatever ... I digress.

Anyway, the cover of the catalog featured a gorgeous little top called the Sailor Sweater, and I absolutely love it! The shot on the front of the catalog is ever so much better than the product shot online; however, I noticed online that it comes in two colorways and I really like them both. For J. Crew, the full price isn't hideous -- it's $88 -- but it'll still be a sale stalking proposition for me.

In the meantime, stripes! Sailor! Nautical! Spring! Boats! Tee hee!

OOTD: Me & my pheasant, down in the school yard

2011-01-04T22:58:00.000-08:00

In case you were wondering, there are no real fun or witty quotes about pheasants. The closest I could find was this one by Des Essarts, a French actor from the 1800s: "Never forget that the pheasant must be awaited like the pension of a man of letters who has never indulged in epistles to the ministers nor written madrigals for their mistresses." And honestly? I'm not sure what he's actually saying, anyway.

So on to the outfit. I first tried this skirt on when I saw it in the Newport Beach Anthropologie store way back in late August or September. I knew I had to have it. I waited patiently for it to pop up on the website ... and waited ... and waited. Finally, I gave up on it ever appearing, and by that time, my size was long sold out in local stores. Thanks to my intrepid sister-in-law, who found one in my size in Chicago, I was able to buy this skirt. It's one of the few things I've paid full price for at Anthro, and it nearly sent me into paroxysms of guilt because it was so spendy. Lo and behold, about a week after I bought it, it showed up on the website. *eye roll*

The rest of the outfit is a little more mundane, but I do like the combination of colors and tones. This is a little bit outside my normal color wheel; I generally don't combine lots of different colors. But the shirt (the Rare Bloom Tee by Deletta, from Anthropologie circa 2009) and the cardigan (J Crew Jackie, picked up on sale) play off the colors in the skirt, and I tied it all together with opaque tights from The Limited (I love their tights because they're long enough so they don't constantly fall down) and ruffled brown Mary Jane heels from Two Lips.

Thrift store score: J Crew Bow-Necklace Cardigan

2011-01-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

The one wardrobe staple I have -- cardigans -- is about the one thing I hardly ever find in thrift stores. Cardigans tend not to show up that much in the thrifts, and when they do, they are either woefully out of season, horribly used/pilled/holed/destroyed and/or not my size. So you can imagine my delight when I found J. Crew's popular "Bow-Necklace Cardigan" in my size at the thrift this weekend.

This cardigan is from the Holiday 2008 collection. It caused a little bit of a stir over on the J. Crew Aficionada blog when it first debuted, causing some to wonder whether someone could carry this off in a professional setting. Considering what I've seen fashion-wise in the two years since, I think this cardigan is actually quite tame. (Hello, Anthropologie Plaza Cardigan?)

I found it in the Heather Caramel colorway shown above, and I can't wait to start incorporating it into my regular wardrobe rotation. I have long loved the simplicity and effortlessness of cardigans and I probably own over 30 of them, easily. Paired with a camisole, pencil skirt and a pair of heels, they make for a great work outfit.

Anyway, finding this one at the thrift was a nice little treat, considering it retailed for $118 new. I spent $5.99 on it. Score!

Get thee to a thrift store, stat!

2010-12-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

Today is officially the last day of 2010. You know what that means? It means you should get to a thrift store, pronto! I visited two thrift stores today and they were swamped with people cramming in last-minute donations to get tax write-offs. That's good news for any thrifter! It means there's going to be a lot of nice new inventory coming in and there's going to be a lot of amazing deals!

At the two thrifts I went to today, there were tons of brand-new items with their tags still on and lots of upscale items like designer denim, party dresses, lovely coats and trenches, and furniture like you wouldn't believe. The parking lots were jam-packed with people donating everything from couches to bags and bags of clothing items and toys.

I imagine the thrift stores will have their hands full for the next few weeks as they sort through all of it and get it out on the floor. Now is a great opportunity to try out thrift-store shopping if you've been on the fence. Today alone I scored several beautiful items for myself and friends.

My best find today, though, was a pair of Farylrobin Fenway Pumps from the designer's Fall 2007 collection. I first discovered Farylrobin through Anthropologie ... Anthro usually carries a few shoes/boots from this label every season (right now they have the Lace Lover's Booties and the Tulipan Boots). I like the retro vibe of the label; these Fenway Pumps have a '40s looks to them with a bit of sass. They originally came in multiple colorways -- red, pea and black. I found them in red in my size, which is fantastic because I've been looking for a pair of retro red heels! They originally retailed for roughly $200 at Nordstrom and for $172.50 on Amazon, so it was with great glee that I paid $6.99 at the thrift today.

Can I get a yee-haw?!

2010-12-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Shhh, don't tell. I haven't been thrifting in awhile. I didn't realize how much I missed it until this past weekend, when I stopped in at one of my favorite stores and landed myself a nice little haul, including four pairs of designer jeans all in my size. Oh yeah, it's my birthday, do a little dance.

Today, Vanessa and I decided to stop in at the GW near our work. We were running a little bit early, and what better way to kill time than SHOPPING?!

Oh, how glad I am that we stopped! Why? Because I found my first-ever Galliano dress.

Yes. I said GALLIANO. As in John "I'm-A-Freaking-Chevalier-In-The-French-Foreign-Legion" Galliano. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I use exclamation points because -- really? -- this is totally why I thrift.

Let me show you some pics!

Isn't she beautiful?!

An extremely reputable high-end eBay seller that I know confirmed that it is authentic, so now the real fun begins. I've just started researching to see if I can find out what collection this dress is from, but even if I can't peg it down, I'm so excited just to have found a piece from Galliano.

In case you wanted to know a little bit about the designer, John Galliano was born in Gibraltar and moved to the U.K. to attend school. He's a little unusual in that he launched his own label right out of the gate, rather than apprenticing at a one of the haute couturiers. After several favorable collections, he did eventually take the helm at Givenchy in 1995. In 1997, he moved over to Christian Dior. He has always kept up his own line, and between that and Dior, he presents about six collections a year.

His style takes inspiration from the theater; he has dressed stars such as Charlize Theron, Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman for the Oscars and Golden Globes. His first collection drew inspiration from the French Revolution; he's known in particular for a "pirate jacket" from his Autumn 2001 collection (he actually offered up the pattern for it publicly and you can download the PDF pattern here).

Right now, Yoox and Zappos Couture have some Galliano dresses on sale that I think are quite fetching. Check them out here, here and here (that last one is a blouse, but I really like the print).

Thinking about 2011

2010-12-26T12:07:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking the past month or so about what I'd like to do with my blogs and business next year. My ideas are plentiful, but I'm also trying to keep them realistic since I do have a regular full-time job that keeps me extremely busy. I've been working on trying to strike a balance between the two and come up with a workable plan that will allow me to accomplish some of my goals.

When I started "Confessions of a Serial Thrifter," it focused more on my eBay business and my thrifting adventures. I'd like to get back to that while still doing occasional OOTD posts, retail roundups and other miscellaneous posts. A good portion of my focus with this blog was proving that you can dress well without busting the bank, too, so I definitely want to keep posting those sorts of blog entries, too. (My "Walking the Walk" feature springs immediately to mind.)

I'd also like to grow my other blog, Anthropologie Treasurebox. My main focus there will still be listing items for sale, but I hope to increase the number of listings available and rotate the inventory at a quicker pace. PSA announcements will still be a big part of my blog as well (both from Anthro and eBay). I'm still mulling how I want to grow it further, keeping in mind time constraints, so stay tuned.

Merry Christmas!!

2010-12-24T13:25:00.001-08:00

Lily was jealous that I posted a picture of her brother Tom on my Anthropologie Treasurebox holiday post, so I told her I would post one of her on this blog. Lily says, "Meowy Christmas!" She's also aiming her deadly laser-beam eyes at you. Eek!

Update on the great Anthro saga

2010-12-23T15:47:00.000-08:00

Well, color me impressed.

Late last night, I received an email from an operations manager at Anthropologie, who was very kind and understanding. She apologized for what had been happening with my orders and pledged to personally sort it out for me.

This morning, I awoke to a voicemail from one of her colleagues, who asked me to get in touch with him when I received the message. We touched base soon after on the phone, and he got the entire situation sorted out in a very professional, courteous and timely way. While three out of the four items were out of stock, he tracked down two of them at a bricks-and-mortar location and promised to have them shipped out ASAP. (Additionally, my amazing sister-in-law spotted a First Whisperings Dress at her local store and surprised me with the news that she got it for me for Christmas.)

I am humbled and grateful that Anthropologie stepped up and both apologized for and corrected this situation. It wasn't even about getting the merchandise as much as it was having someone acknowledge the insanity of all the different answers I'd received during the past 48 hours. I also got an email confirmation that my credit had been issued today (for real this time) for that previous order, and that the discounts/gift cards/CC situation was straightened out.

Although my order won't arrive until after Christmas, I'm looking forward to it, and I will know it's coming from a store that cared about making things right. And for that, I'm grateful. A special thank you to Ian and Julie at Anthro for making it happen.

[UPDATE] A letter to Anthropologie's customer service department

2010-12-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Updates below

Dear Anthropologie,

This holiday season, I was fortunate enough to receive multiple gift cards to your store, as well as a one-time 15% off birthday discount from you. As you can imagine, these things made my little heart go pitter-patter because I always love a bargain. Coupled with your extra 25% off sale, I was swooning in anticipation for how I might make my holiday season a little merrier.*

I placed my first order with you on Dec. 10th for a pair of the Pebbled & Primped Boots. I used a GC with the order and patiently waited for the boots to arrive. They were scheduled to arrive on the 20th. I thought 10 days was kind of a long time for delivery, but I figured you were swamped with holiday orders, so I thought no more of it. Before the boots arrived, though, you put all clothing, shoes and accessory items on sale for an extra 25% off. For the first time ever, I called your customer service number and asked for a price adjustment. I didn't think I would receive one, but other Anthro shoppers encouraged me to call, so I did. And guess what? You promised you would issue me a credit! This was back on Dec. 16th. I was so happy! It was like a little extra birthday present from a really nice store associate.

While I was waiting for my credit to be issued, which your CS associate told me would take between one and three days, I browsed the site and planned my method of attack for my in-store shopping spree with my birthday discount. I decided to go shopping on Dec. 18th, during the 25% off sale, which was still going on. I went to my "home" store in Torrance, Calif., hoping to score some bargains. I decided to treat myself to the Burgeoned & Tucked Cardigan at full price, as well as a candle and two tanks that were on sale (the Mandore Tank by C. Keer and the Motissfont Top by Deletta in black). On a whim, I grabbed a children's dress by liaMolly for my friend, who is expecting her first daughter. I walked up to the register and told the sales associate that my order was going to be sort of complicated because I had a birthday discount, gift card, and AmEx gift cheque. "No problem," she said with a smile. I also asked her whether children's clothes were part of the sale since they weren't on the website. She said that they were in-store, and she had just rung up someone and given them the discount on children's clothes. "Awesome!," I thought.

This was shaping up to be a good day! She was a little confused on how to add the birthday discount to sale items, but one of the other associates at the counter explained how she could manually take another 15% off the price. She began to ring up the order when the manager -- a different manager than I'm used to seeing at this store, I should add -- walked by and exclaimed that children's clothes weren't included and that I couldn't use a birthday discount on top of the 25% off sale. I told her I understood about the children's item and I would just skip it, but I did say that the birthday discount needed to be honored -- there are no exclusions, I was told.

And then, Anthropologie, your manager went off on me. She sputtered, she yelled and she made me feel as though I was a criminal stealing from her own paycheck. I told her that I understood if that was your policy on the birthday discount, but that her other associates were honoring the discount. "It can't go both ways," I told her. "You can't honor the discount for one person and not for all of us." "Fine," she snarled. "I guess you can have it." Anthro, your manager snarled at me! Over using a birthday discount on two full-price items and two sale items! In case you wondered how much this birthday discount saved me on those two sale items, it was $8.98.

I walked out of your store a very ashamed and unhappy person. What was supposed to be a fun day of birthday shopping turned out to be a miserable experience, one that left me feeling humiliated and embarrassed. Part of me thought I should have just let it go and paid the $9 extra. But it was the principle of the thing -- I feel very strongly that each customer should be treated the same, and if other women in that line were getting to use their birthday discounts, I felt I should be able to as well.

Despite that experience, I stayed up late on Dec. 20th because I'd read about the big markdown sale coming and the extension of the 25% off on sale items. There were a few things I wanted to buy for friends for Christmas, and there were a few items I was hoping would go on sale so I could justify buying them for myself. (I had gotten another GC from my mom ... thanks to having a birthday, anniversary and Christmas all in the span of two weeks.)

I placed an order for the First Whisperings Dress, the Attention to Detail Dress, the Eyelet Platforms and the Ink Blot Rose Tights. I was so excited to find all of them in my size that I didn't notice when I placed the order at 12:47 am that you hadn't honored the extra 25% off on those items. Oh well, I thought, I would just call you in the morning and get it straightened out.

When I called you the morning of the 21st, I happened to look at my bank account and noticed that the credit from 12/16 hadn't been posted yet. It had been five days (three business days), so I was a little worried. I asked about this when I called, and you apologized and said it could take up to five business days for the credit to be issued. Well, I still gave you the benefit of the doubt because my darling sister-in-law confirmed that it usually takes five days the few times she's gotten a credit. You also promised to credit me for the 25% off that should have been taken on my order from the early morning. I hung up with you feeling a little better.

Later that day, I discovered something else on your site that had gone on sale -- the Dusky Begonias Heels. I knew there was someone in my life who wanted these, and I decided to order them for her for Christmas. I knew I was still waiting on credits, so I figured that these shoes would essentially be free after I received my credits. So I scooped them up and placed my order.

This morning, I received an email from you saying that I personally had requested an order cancellation for the First Whisperings Dress. "Oh my God," I thought, "they misunderstood me when I asked for the price adjustment on that order!" I called you to straighten out the mess, but wound up being so disappointed in you ... again. Not only did I not request a cancellation on that dress, but you hadn't issued my credits from 12/16 or 12/21.

Now I was out money, a dress and patience.

I wasn't the only one having these problems. Plenty of your customers were expressing their frustration on blogs from members of the Anthro community. You see, Anthro, we consider ourselves part of one big community. We love your clothes, we love to talk about your clothes and we love to help each other find your clothes from past seasons. And many of us have been disappointed with the way you've handled this holiday shopping season. As I write this, I am still waiting for two price-adjustment credits to be issued, neither of my online orders has shipped, and I'm out a dress.

The associate who answered the phone when I called your customer service this morning didn't try to help or make things right, either. She told me that stores couldn't do a charge-send on the dress during the holiday season, so I couldn't even ask them to do a stock check. This was news to me, and it was yet another difference in policy. Every time I called customer service, in fact, your associates told me different policies. I was left confused and angry.

What tops this off is that your cavalier attitude toward this. I know there are lots of people who spend a lot more at your store than I do, but part of the reason I liked shopping with you so much is because you always treated me so well. You made me feel like a part of your community, as though you truly cared about the dollars I did spend with you. Your associates took the time to get to know me at the Torrance store, and they greeted me by name. Now you've hired people who make me feel I can't return to the store, and you haven't honored your standard policies. I'm not certain I'll be shopping with you online any longer. I also think I'm going to be taking a break from your physical stores, too.

*Disclaimer: What would truly make my holiday season happiest is health, financial security and happiness for everyone in this world. Barring that, a few pretty baubles can't hurt.

____________________

Just wanted to update everyone on what's happening. When I called CS this morning about the order I placed on Dec. 21 at 12:47 a.m., I was assured by a CS rep that the rest of my order was "packed and on the dock, ready to ship." I just got an email saying two more of the items were now "backordered." So I guess that really wasn't the truth. I called back, and this CS rep, Marshae, told me that sometimes they pull packed orders for "quality issues." Now I have an order that costs less than the $100 GC I used to pay for it with. When I asked about that, she said they'd issue me a credit, and we all know how well that is going for me.

Update #2: When I called back again, I got yet another different story. No items were pulled for quality issues, and no items were ever packed for shipment. Three out of the four items were simply out of stock and I was lied to. The fourth item is supposedly "packed and out for shipment." Yeah, right. I've heard that before. As for the gift card? I'm supposed to receive another one in the mail with the balance that's left on it. In the meantime, the original charge is still on my AmEx card. This is all according to another rep, Maleeka. I fully anticipate having to open a case with AmEx and never seeing that $100 GC again in my life.

Update #3: Some folks have commented on other blogs that those of us complaining should take a step back and look at ourselves & realize how petty we're being considering we're arguing over $10 here and there. While there's a grain of truth to that, for me, the issue is the fact that every time I called, I was told something different. I also think all of us, no matter how much or little we spend, deserve honest retailers. I know that if I make a mistake on Anthropologie Treasurebox or eBay, I make it right for the customer, even if it comes out of my own pocket, because that's the way I would want to be treated if the shoe was on the other foot. For a small business owner, your reputation is the most important marketing tool you have.

The perfect office gift: Cookies

2010-12-19T20:15:00.000-08:00

Every year for the past four years or so, I've baked cookies for Shawn's co-workers for Christmas. I find that gifts of homemade cookies go over really well, and they are a great way to show thanks and appreciation without breaking the bank. Plus, I think people really enjoy them, and that is, at least in my book, better than a $10 giftcard to Starbucks or something else corporate-y and relatively impersonal.

Each year, I make the tried-and-true standards as well as one or two new recipes for me. This year, the first group included basic chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, Mexican wedding cookies (aka walnut balls) and peanut butter blossoms. I have two more recipes to make -- homemade thin mints and peppermint/vanilla twists. Shawn's a great helper in the kitchen, and this year we spent a Friday night watching movies and baking cookies. As usual, I ate the raw dough and got a stomach ache. Thirty-five years old and I still haven't learned. Moths, you have nothing on me.

Here's a pic of our efforts thus far.*

*This plate was consumed in roughly five seconds after it was photographed.

Unique L.A. / Eva Franco

2010-12-12T23:30:00.000-08:00

For the past couple years, my friends here have been raving about Unique L.A. It's basically like Etsy come to life. It's held twice a year in downtown L.A. and features handmade clothing, decorations, accessories, jewelry ... basically anything creative and DIY. There are tons of vendors and despite relatively high prices, I walked away with a Christmas gift for someone and quite possibly one of the best birthday gifts I've ever given myself.

You see, one of the vendors in attendance was Eva Franco. Those of you who, like me, are Anthrophiles, know Eva Franco because of pieces like the Aniseed Skirt, the Mullany Dress, the Dreaming in Green Skirt and the Samhain Dress. Back in October, when I was visiting my sister-in-law Kim in Chicago, she was gracious enough to take me along to the closing party of the Anthropologie on State Street. While I was there, I spied the Lincolnshire Skirt. I really thought it was gorgeous, but so many other pretty things caught my eye that I completely blanked on it.

I put it on my wishlist and didn't even notice that it finally shuffled to sale ... then a couple of weeks ago, I noticed it got a second cut to $39.95. By that time, of course, my size had long been sold out. Boo hiss. Or so I thought.

Today at Unique L.A., in the Eva Franco booth, I not only found the Lincolnshire skirt for $40 (with NO TAX or shipping!!), but I also found the Aniseed Skirt and about a gazillion other beautiful pieces. I only bought the Lincolnshire Skirt (which is *sooooo* flattering on), but man ... the prices were out-of-this-world spectacular. There were a ton of Learning Curve Dresses, and she had a few Aniseed Skirts, too. (As soon as that one hit sale at Anthro, I pounced on it like my cat Tom pounces on chicken treats.)

Anyway, while I was perusing the inventory at the Eva Franco booth, I talked to one of the sales associates for a bit and found out that the Lincolnshire Skirt is available up to a size 16 (Anthro only carried it up to a 14), which means Anthro is making a conscious decision not to offer the size 16. I know several years ago, Anthro carried size 16 ... I've often wondered why they stopped, especially if the designers themselves are offering larger sizes. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. I found the sizing to run fairly normal -- I fit in the 10, but opted for the 12 because I've been preferring a baggier fit lately. Jacquelyn posted a review of this skirt here and said she also found the sizing to run normally, contrary to what other reviewers wrote.

Anyway, if you're looking for this skirt still, or the Aniseed Skirt, you might try contacting Eva Franco directly (there's a contact page on their site here). When I left, there were still multiple sizes left -- as well as multiple sizes in the Aniseed Skirt and Learning Curve Dress. I think most of the skirts were in the $40 range, and I actually didn't catch pricing on the dresses (sorry about that!). You can also sign up for sale info and events through their website, too.

Cool link & thrift store scores!

2010-12-11T01:26:00.000-08:00

So it's my birthday weekend, which I posted about over on Anthropologie Treasurebox. Two of my friends from Ohio flew in for the weekend to help me celebrate, which is amazing and wonderful, plus my husband also has this weekend off from work (Woo hoo!! We're off at the same time!!).

This afternoon, the "girls" and I went thrifting to two stores in the area, and I scored big-time at the first one; my friend Melissa hit the jackpot at the second store. My score involved finding a stash of designer jeans -- all in my size!! I picked up four nearly-new pairs of 7FAMK, COH and Joe's Jeans (x2). It was as if the denim powers-that-be recognized it was my birthday! My friend Melissa wound up scoring big at one of the new stores that's been added to my route. (It's a cash-only place, and I've found that I usually find the most amazing stuff there when I forget to bring cash. When I *have* cash, it's like a famine. Hmmm. That is irony.)

I was over at Sal's "Already Pretty" blog tonight and she linked to a post from another blogger who I am unfamiliar with. The post was about thrifting, and I have to say it provided some useful tips, so I am re-linking to it here. Check it out!

So next up on my adventure list for tomorrow? A Seychelles sample sale (!!!!), lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant, Frisbee on the beach, dinner at a seafood restaurant, and drinks at a place that has a 32-page beer menu. Can I just say that this is shaping up to be the best birthday weekend ever?

I'm making a list, and checking it twice!

2010-12-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

Readers, I am feeling MERRY tonight. I am positively brimming with excitement for the next four weeks. You see, December is an incredible month in my family. Lots of us -- including me -- have December birthdays, Christmas is this month, my wedding anniversary is this month, and there are always tons of parties and events to go to. This weekend, I hosted a baby shower for one of my very best friends and Shawn and I got to go to a swanky event in downtown L.A.

Next weekend, I'll be celebrating my 35th birthday! THIRTY-FIVE!! That's almost "middle age," readers!! I have to tell you that 35 seems a little exotic to me. I remember being in my very early 20s and meeting people who were in their mid- to late 30s and they seemed so together and sophisticated. They were real adults! I'm sorry to say that they must have been rare specimens, because I feel like I still have a long way to go.

If you're a Facebook voyeur like me, you know that a lot of people have been putting together lists of 30 or 35 random facts about themselves. I'm in no way, shape or form going to do that because ... I am a generally boring person. There isn't much of a sordid backstory to share with you (except for a brief period in my life when I was a rock music critic and managed a band) and there aren't too many skeletons in my closet (OK, I once stole a pint glass from a bar in Oak Lawn, Illinois).

Instead, I've decided I would share with you three things on my completely random, totally unnecessary and shamelessly indulgent Christmas wish list. These are just things I have been liking lately, some of which aren't even available any longer. So enjoy, and have an eggnog on me!

1. Eastern Flyaway Coat by Elevenses (from Anthropologie). This coat is from 2008, and I first saw it on a blog when I was doing some research on older Anthro items. I wasn't an obsessive Anthro shopper back in '08, which is a shame because this coat is totally to die for. I would love to find one on eBay; I recently saw a listing tonight for one in a size 4 (see it here) but unfortunately, a size 4 I am not. Still, how beautiful is this coat? I just love it to pieces. Someday, my sweet, you will be mine. In the meantime, I will console myself with knowing that in Los Angeles, wool coats are about as practical as public transportation.

2. Seychelles Cloak & Dagger Pumps in "Saddle Tan:" I noticed these heels on the Seychelles site a few weeks ago and fell in love almost instantly. They have such a retro '70s feel, but they have a modern twist with the rough grommets on the side. I'm loving the orange-y color and the black base; I'm in a serious orange phase, a color I never really considered before this year. The only thing I'm wary of is the $120 price tag. Hopefully they'll go on sale before spring. They also come in black (which I like) and gold (which looks weird); you can see them here.

3. Kate Spade Studio Mona Coat: It's like 1960s Paris just popped in to say hello with this beautiful coat from Kate Spade. I think Kate Spade is probably my favorite designer; nearly everything I see from KS, whether it's purses, tights, skirts, dresses, shoes, sunglasses or coats, is right up my alley and speaks to my personal style in a way that no other brand does. If money weren't an issue, I would have closets full of Kate Spade.

ATTN SoCal ladies! Dolan sample sale next weekend

2010-11-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

Dolan is an L.A.-based designer label that is sometimes carried by Anthropologie. Recent Dolan pieces at Anthro included the "Flowering Pasture Blouse," the "Echoing Dress" and the "Northern Latitudes Blouse." This coming weekend, Dec. 2-3, Dolan is having a rare sample and overstock sale in Los Angeles. Details are on the flyer posted above.

This sale interests me because Dolan's prices at Anthro are usually quite unaffordable on my budget, but at 75% off, I'm hoping I can score a few things that I missed out on the first go-round. I'm looking at you, Flowering Pasture Blouse in the yellow colorway (*shakes fist in the air*).

OOTD/Review: Did someone say "pie?"

2010-11-24T15:25:00.000-08:00

You know, I'm not a huge fan of pie as a dessert, but Anthropologie's "Easy-As-Pie Dress" from Edme and Esyllte may have just made me rethink my stance. As soon as I saw this dress on the website, I knew I wanted it. Something about it just called out to me. I love the colors of the skirt, and I love the structure of the top. Normally this type of dress design doesn't really look that great on my body type, but I threw caution to the wind.

My husband thinks the dress has a vaguely South American look; my friend Vanessa thinks it gives off a Swiss (Swedish?) vibe. All I know is that it took me approximately two seconds to get dressed the morning I wore this, so that's a "win" in my book. For reference, I'm 5-foot-6 and I'm wearing the 10 -- it's a bit snug around the ribcage and the waist hits me higher than on the Anthro product shot. I tried sizing up to a 12, but the blouse part fell off my shoulders. My favorite part of this dress is the tiny little ricrac trim that peeks out from underneath the skirt when you sit down.

Let me share something with you

2010-11-14T16:24:00.000-08:00

I posted over on Anthropologie Treasurebox about a blue version of a Tracy Reese dress that I spotted through the site MyShape.com. I get emails from this site all the time, but never before today bothered to fill out their questionnaire, which is supposed to aid them in making clothing suggestions tailored toward the best fit for your individual shape.

It asks for a lot of measurements! It's very thorough. I plugged in the basic numbers like height, weight, bust, hips, waist, etc., and then it asked for about 20 more measurements including shoulder circumference, the length of my forearm, the distance between my shoulder and the middle of my bust, the circumference of my thigh and the distance between the middle of my knee and my foot.

After you enter all those measurements in, it recommends clothing for you. I was kind of excited to see what it would suggest, because in addition to putting all your stats in, you also pick your favorite retailers and brands. I checked off boxes for Anthropologie, Ella Moss, 7 For All Mankind, LOFT, J. Crew, etc. -- you know, all the usual suspects that I love and blog about.

A few hours later, I received a custom email from them with their recommendations.

Most of what they recommended to me was from Lane Bryant or Amazon and fell in the range of a size 18.

Um. OK. I know I'm not skinny, but that really shocked me.

I've never been dishonest about what size I wear or my weight. I'll gladly tell anyone those true numbers. For the past two years, I've weighed 154 pounds, and I'm 5-foot-6. I didn't think that was a size 18, because none of my clothes are that size. In general, I wear a size medium in tops and a 10 in skirts, pants and jeans. But who the hell knows? Maybe I just look like a stuffed sausage and everyone around me is too nice to tell me that.

I'm sure the MyShape site helps a lot of women with clothing. But for me, it just made me feel like shit and reinforced all of the body issues I struggle with on a daily basis.

This, of course, brings up a lot of other issues. Plenty of my family and friends are plus-sized and they are all gorgeous. I never even THINK about what they weigh. I hate to admit that I am self-obsessed with this, but I am, and it's one of the reasons that I love to read blogs like Sally McGraw's "Already Pretty." Her blog talks a lot about self-acceptance and loving your body for what it is right now. Unfortunately, I can't quite beat my brain into believing that.

It's also disheartening when I read other bloggers who use phrases like "My true size 6," because I have yet to meet a woman who is consistently the same size in every garment that she owns. Even if Ms. True Size 6 were to wear only clothes from one store or designer, there are still wild variations. Everyone knows that all size sixes aren't created equally. I myself have things in my closet that range from a size 4 to a size 14. In general, like I said, I fall in the range of a 10. So I kind of get where they're coming from, but a more accurate -- and less condescending -- way of putting it in a review would be to say something along the lines of, "In brand X, I generally find that I wear a size X, but this seems to be cut more narrow through the waist/bust/hips." Now that's a useful review.

There are a lot of beautiful bloggers out there who would do the world a huge service if they were more honest about the size of clothing they wear. I'm reminded of that line in "The Devil Wears Prada" where Stanley Tucci's character tells Anne Hathaway that none of the girls eat "since two became new four and zero became the new two." And then he goes on to say that a size six is the new 14.

I know I play into these awful stereotypes by being outraged that MyShape recommended I shop at Lane Bryant. There's nothing wrong with Lane Bryant. It's a great store and they have cute things. And I did recently go in there, and the sales associate asked me if I knew their sizes started at 14. I will remember that day until I die, because she was telling me that they didn't have anything small enough for me. And I will also remember how ashamed that made me feel, too.

Holiday shopping at the thrifts

2010-11-11T10:03:00.000-08:00

About this time every year, someone on the eBay Clothing, Shoes & Accessories board usually brings up the topic of whether it's acceptable to give a pre-owned item as a holiday gift. Granted, the audience on the CSA is obviously going to be weighted toward saying "yes," as many of us are eBay sellers. But some do feel that giving a pre-owned gift isn't acceptable. Sure, we've all heard about re-gifting something new, but deliberately purchasing something that has been worn/used before is a little different. And everyone has their own opinion on this, and none of them are wrong.

Personally, I draw the line depending on what the item is. If someone wanted to give me a used toothbrush, obviously I'd have to question why I was allowing that person in my life to begin with. But if someone gave me a pre-owned Eastern Flyaway Coat by Elevenses from Anthropologie, I would be enormously happy. (Hint, hint.) What it comes down to is knowing the person you're buying for.

I think I would be hesitant to give a pre-owned item to a business colleague, but I wouldn't hesitate at all to give my parents something pre-owned. Especially, for example, my father, who has a really nice collection of Tommy Bahama camp shirts. Nor would I hesitate to give something pre-owned to my husband, especially if I could find duplicates of his cherished early 90s Type O Negative or Alice in Chains long-sleeve tee shirts. (In fact, I'm sure he would PREFER getting something like that over another pair of J. Crew chinos for work.)

Thrift stores, eBay and Bonanza are great gift venues. You can find one-of-a-kind items that are really perfect. When you shop pre-owned, you really have to know the person's taste and preferences, so in a way, it shows that you're putting a lot of care and thought into finding something unique and tailored to that person's wants. I know if someone went out thrifting and found things for me that fit into my wardrobe and style aesthetic, I would be thrilled! I wouldn't consider it an insult at all to receive something that wasn't new.

Bear with me ...

2010-11-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

I know I've lost a couple of followers the past few days, and I suspect it's because I haven't been updating this blog as much as I should be. Right now, it's been very busy at my workplace and I haven't had much free time to thrift OR blog. And for that I apologize. (Or, if something I've written has offended anyone, I'm sorry about that, too!)

Anyway, please bear with me and I hope to be back blogging consistently again very soon. Thank you all for reading!

Just when I'd given up hope ...

2010-11-01T21:18:00.001-07:00

Last year, I was really coveting J. Crew's Merino Ethereal Cardigan in the rust color. It was $88, and it just seemed like that was too much to pay, even though it was super cute and I was gaga for the color. It eventually went on sale, but by that time my size was long gone in the rust color. I kept hoping it would pop up on eBay, but it never did, and my guess is that even if it had, it would have been priced too high for me.

Since then, I've kept my eyes open for a suitable alternative, and I'm pleased to say that over the weekend, I spotted one at Target. It's by Mossimo, and it is called the Ultrasoft Cardigan Sweater. Really creative name, Target (*rolls eyes*). While this one isn't merino wool and doesn't have the chiffon ruffle down the placket, the color is a dead ringer. Target calls the color bronze, but it is truly a rust color just like J. Crew's color.

The sizing on the Mossimo cardigan runs small, as it's junior sizing. There was only one left in my store and it was a size too big, but I bought it anyway because I loved the color so much and it's workable. The fabric is very soft, not scratchy. The buttons are easily fastened, and the sleeves are a nice 3/4-length. The best part of this cardigan, though, was the price: $18. That's the full price -- not a sale price!

This cardigan is available in several colors; the bronze is sold out online, but you can check it out here. The cardigan is also available in plus sizes here.

OOTD: Harley Quinn

2010-10-30T00:45:00.000-07:00

The title of this blog post is a nod to my husband and his comic book habit. Admittedly, Shawn's not a huge fan of the Batman character, with the exceptions of Grant Morrison's arc and Christopher Nolan's movies. Nevertheless, Harley Quinn is an interesting character and she obviously dresses in a duotone scheme, which is what you see on me in this outfit.

Nerdy references aside, I like this outfit because it's a bit unusual for me. There is a lot going on here, but I think it works, and it generated a lot of compliments. The cardigan is an absolutely stunning piece from Nanette Lepore that I picked up at a Salvation Army in Chicago for $6.86 (Chicago's thrift stores have oddly specific prices). This sweater has to be one of the best-fitting garments I own; it's like it was tailored for me. It's the softest merino wool and the beading is exquisite.

The tank is a simple cami from a boutique store at our local mall, and the skirt is from last season at The Limited. I've had really good luck finding nicely fitted skirts there, though to be honest, I haven't checked out many of their offerings as of late. (Note to self: Must check The Limited.)

The shoes were a find a couple of years ago at a local Goodwill; they're from Banana Republic. I love the details on these shoes; the suede black with the cream-colored ribbon running along the side and ending in a bow on the toe. The only thing that I'm not 100% about is the shape of the toe; it's oddly old-ladyish. It's not a square toe, it's not a round toe, it's not an almond toe. It's more like a ... oblong toe. But they're pretty overall, and they're versatile, so that makes them a winner.

All told, I have about $50 in this outfit, whereas if I had bought it all at original retail prices, I would easily have had $600 or so in it. Nanette Lepore makes some beautiful cardigans, but they're even more beautiful when you can score them for under $7.

Built By Wendy online sample sale this weekend

2010-10-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

I was listing a darling little jacket from Built By Wendy over on Anthropologie Treasurebox this morning (see it here) and decided to pop onto the BBW site to see what was new. Lo and behold, I discovered that there is an online sample sale going on this weekend! The prices are FANTASTIC!! Dresses are marked down to $80 from their normal $300+, and tops are as low as $30. This is an incredible deal on Built By Wendy items, at least in my opinion. So hop over and check it out! You can get to the site here; the sale continues through to this Sunday (Oct. 31).

OOTD x 2 redux

2010-10-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my recent photos and found a couple of cute OOTD photos that I thought I'd share. One of them features me wearing an Anthro sweater given to me by my sister-in-law's future mother-in-law (how's that for a mouthful?) and the other features two pieces that I scored off eBay (a J. Crew cardigan with Anthro's "Endless Diamonds Shift" by Floreat). These are pretty accurate in terms of how I am styled most days. I tend to dress toward the more casual end of things during the fall and winter, although I do have plenty of lovely pieces. There's a lot of things out there that I'm loving right now, but I haven't -- gasp! -- felt an overwhelming urge to shop. (I know; someone needs to take my temperature!!)

Time flies when you're having fun!

2010-10-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

Shawn, his sister Kim, his mom & his dad

The Fowlers: Barbara, Melissa, Erica & me

(Do you remember the line from "The Blues Brothers?" This one: "We're getting the band back together." That's all I could think of when Shawn told me his band Schlitz Family Robinson was going to play a reunion show.)

Me & Marley!

Nate (Marley's husband) and Shawn (my husband). This is what I imagine their internal dialogue was: "If I just smile and act like I'm having fun, they'll leave me alone and then I can go with Nate to find some beer and listen to music. Please, please, please. Oh God, I'm carrying shopping bags!!"

I just realized this evening that I surpassed 300 posts on this little ol' blog 'o mine. I had originally planned to mark the occasion with something special, but I guess I didn't even notice while I was on vacation. So it goes when you're out of the office and out among family and friends.

As you all know, I spent a lot of time thrifting while I was on vacation, hitting up about 40 stores total in two different states. Can you tell it's my passion? LOL! I scored some great finds, some of which I'll be selling through my eBay store and some of which will be sold through my other blog site, Anthropologie Treasurebox, which just relaunched this morning! I hope you check it out; feel free to contact me if you have questions or comments. And don't forget to sign up for the mailing list!

I think my favorite "finds," though, were all the gorgeous NWT baby clothes that I found for my friend Vanessa, whose daughter Alexa is due to join us in January. This little girl is getting spoiled, but not rotten.

Speaking of babies, I'm planning Vanessa's baby shower. I ordered the invitations from Etsy and got the proof from the designer last week. I am so excited for these to arrive because they are so adorable. They have two cute little owls and a baby owl on them and the colors are so delicate and feminine -- perfect for a Momma Owl and Baby Owl. The shower's going to be co-ed, and I already have some good games planned. Throughout the pregnancy, Vanessa has been craving Mexican food, so that's our food theme. There's tons to plan, but it's fun.

I'm also planning my 35th birthday party and am ridiculously excited because my friend Marc from Ohio is coming out to help me celebrate! I asked Shawn to come up with an idea for my party, but I'm incorrigible and can't keep my own planning tendencies in check. It looks like we're going to be taking a drinking cruise off the coast of Laguna Beach if we can nail down the specifics. There's nothing better than sailing ... except celebrating with close friends!!

I also got to meet my friend Marley while I was back in Chicago; her husband is originally from Rockford, IL, and since my husband is originally from Palos Park, IL, we decided to split the difference and meet up for a day of shopping at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. We did some damage at H&M, Anthropologie, Nordstrom (where Marley shared a secret of how awesome the Nordstrom Cafe and Nordstrom Juniors' Department are), Lush, Forever 21 and Janie & Jack. Here are photos of me & Marley, and my husband and her husband (can't you tell they're thrilled)? It was so great to meet Marley; I just love her to death. I only wish she lived closer so we could hang out more often.

There were so many awesome things that happened when we were back in the Midwest. My bestie Erica had her wedding reception in Dayton at the Polish Club (!!) and it was so wonderful to hang out with her, her sister (my bestie Melissa) and their parents (who were like my adoptive parents in Dayton while I was in college). Erica and her husband Chuck are so beautiful, inside and out. I also got to meet a new friend, Teresa, who is now out in L.A. on business this week! While we were in Chicago, my husband's old band, Schlitz Family Robinson (LOL @ the name) also played a reunion show of sorts and I got to pretend I was a rock journalist again, taking pictures, gabbing with the crowd and downing shots of Jack Daniels like I was 22. That last part may explain why some of my pictures are a little ... blurry.

Anyway, enjoy the pics!

XOXO,
Sara

Ohio thrifts: Selection and price

2010-10-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

A comment left by an anonymous reader on yesterday's post got me to thinking about the differences I've seen among thrift stores in Ohio, Illinois and California. I figured I'd talk a little bit this morning about what the thrifts are like in NW Ohio, which is the area I'm originally from.

Overall, the prices are ridiculously low in NW Ohio. My mom and I have been to three thrifts since we arrived here earlier this week. Yesterday was incredible; we went to a Goodwill in tiny Bryan, Ohio (population 8,210) and a church-run thrift. The Goodwill recently moved into a new, bigger location. The racks were so jam-packed that it was almost impossible to look through the clothes, but that doesn't deter me in the slightest. I figure the more clothes there are, the better possibility of finding some gems in there.

One of the things people have asked me in the past is whether it's possible to find items worth selling in small-town thrift stores. Of *course* it is!! Each area is going to provide you with unique items, whether it's clothing, furniture, housewares, books, knick-knacks or vintage items. My mom has done well with antiques and knick-knacks, going to auctions, estate sales and garage sales. But if clothing is your area of interest, I have good news for you: There are plenty of mid-range, bread-and-butter brands to be found at small-town thrifts. We found pieces by Flax, Coldwater Creek (plus size), Icelandic Design, Ann Taylor Loft, J Jill and Talbots. All of these brands are reliable sellers on eBay. While they aren't necessarily "woo hoos," they can be counted on to make a modest profit (especially when you consider the initial investment is also very modest). My mom also found a vintage men's Hawaiian shirt and swim trunks set, as well as some vintage lingerie with the original tags still attached (vintage lingerie is a great category on eBay!).

(Icelandic Design boiled wool cardigan)

I managed to find some really good things for myself, including a NWT dress and bloomer outfit for Vanessa's baby ($1), a Peter Rabbit book ($1), a Kate DiCamillo hardback ($1) and a cassette tape of Iron Maiden's "Piece of Mind" (50 cents). (OK, let me explain. The car we have here has a broken CD player and a working cassette player. Therefore, Shawn and I have been trying to find good cassettes in the thrifts. So far, it's been Iron Maiden and Fleetwood Mac. Don't judge.)

When we went to the Goodwill in my hometown of Defiance, Ohio (population 38,637), my mom scored a Magaschoni sweater (those sell new for upwards of $300 at Neiman Marcus and Bluefly), a Citiknits top (slinky travel knit similar to Chico's Travelers) and a J. Crew "Celeste" gingham blouse (so darling and unfortunately not my size!). These were finds that I would have picked up at an L.A. thrift, too. Sure, the quantity of items is smaller, but the inventory turns over quickly and if I were selling on eBay full-time in my hometown, I feel confident that there would be enough variety to make it a feasible career, especially if you added regional thrifting excursions in the mix once or twice a month (my hometown is about three hours from Detroit, Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago and Cleveland).

Obviously, I sell a lot of upper mid-range brands on my own blog, Anthropologie Treasurebox. I specialize in Anthro and add things like Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Taylor, Nanette Lepore, J. Crew and others into the mix. Admittedly, it would definitely be harder to have my blog here in NW Ohio. On the other hand, I would probably have a much better chance of launching a vintage clothing sales blog. In L.A., people place a high mark-up on vintage for resale at the thrifts, and it's harder to find pieces because everyone understands the high resale potential. In a place like NW Ohio, vintage clothes are sold much more frequently and priced the same as newer clothes. This means it would be easy to develop a niche market, offering items to clients and customers at much more reasonable prices.

In the end, where you are does dictate what you sell, but it doesn't have to dictate how big or small your business has to be. It only limits you if you let it.

Have fun out there, folks!

When thrifts attack

2010-10-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

We're in Week 2 of vacation, and I have to say that I'm tempted to keep on going and forget about coming back, LOL!! Seriously, though, it has been a great trip so far. We've gotten to see a lot of friends and family that we haven't seen in a long time. I've also gotten to do a lot of thrifting with my friend Amy. She took me on her thrifting route one day in Chicago, and we went to a thrift store that had tons of Anthropologie and J. Crew items. Problem was, most of them were priced outrageously. Here are just two examples:

I had to ask myself who they thought they were kidding. I mean, seriously? These prices are outrageous. Can you imagine buying those items for resale? Hardly. I'd be hard pressed to even buy them for personal use! Those are truly outrageous prices. Luckily, there were other items much more reasonably priced, but I wanted to share these simply because I still can't wrap my head around it.

Oh, baby!

2010-09-29T23:31:00.000-07:00

So one of my best girlfriends is pregnant with her first. She's having a baby girl, and I have to tell you ... I am having an absolutely wonderful time shopping for this baby. She has all kinds of goodies coming her way. My most recent find was a pair of brand-new Pediped Shoes at the thrift. These shoes retail for $45 online, while I paid $4.99 -- score!! They are adorable; they're the Isabella style. This same trip, I found what looks to be a new floral cardigan by French baby designer Jean Bourget. Clothes by this designer can reach up to almost three figures, and I paid $1.99 for this cardigan. Score two! I think my favorite baby find so far has been an authentic Burberry jacket, though ... that one set me back $9.99 but it was worth it, LOL!! I keep bugging my friend to buy a baby armoire, but she just rolls her eyes at me and says things like, "I'd like to buy her a crib first." OK, I get it. But it's fun being the impractical aunt.

Blast(s) from the past

2010-09-25T00:12:00.001-07:00

I love looking for older Anthropologie items, especially those from 2006 and earlier. When I first started thrifting, I would sometimes see Anthro items that were so old that they were simply tagged "Anthropologie" on the inside of the item rather than one of the house brands that Anthro now uses.

I recently stumbled upon some super-old items that were posted on the Stylehive website more than four years ago! I don't know what many of these pieces are named, although I do have pics of some of them in my personal archive. But I thought they would be fun eye candy to share, so enjoy!

Goals

2010-09-22T23:06:00.000-07:00

I've been taking a hiatus from my other blog, Anthropologie Treasurebox, for various reasons which I outlined over there. But I've also been inadvertently taking a hiatus from eBay ever since I started up the Treasurebox. Selling through the Treasurebox was a lot more fun and fulfilling than selling on eBay. The downside is that I'm about to lose my PowerSeller status on eBay and I just lost my Top-Rated Seller status tonight when I logged into my eBay account.

I didn't lose my Top-Rated Seller status because I suddenly suck at customer service; my Detailed Seller Ratings are all 5.0 out of a possible 5.0 score. Nope. It's because my number of transactions during the evaluation period wasn't 100; I only had 77 transactions during the period.

So now I have to figure out what my plan of action is going to be. Shawn and I were getting ready to launch some auctions on that account, but honestly? We're leaving for home very soon and I can't be schlepping inventory across the country to make sure it gets mailed out in a timely fashion. I guess this is a period of enforced introspection, a time to consider strategy. I've never thought of myself as a "casual" seller because we do depend on eBay for part of our supplemental income. And I certainly don't think of myself as having a casual attitude toward it; I take it very seriously.

But ... now comes the time when I need to buckle down and become more disciplined. Shawn has told me repeatedly during the last week that he wants to start shopping with me and really become my "partner" in eBay. This is great news, but I am afraid, too, because I know myself and know that I'm extremely OCD and have a hard time delegating and letting other people help me. Nonetheless, we've never really done projects as a "couple," so this might be a new and good experience for us after six years of marriage, LOL!

So, now comes the fun part of envisioning what we hope to accomplish and developing strategies for how to get there. I'll keep you posted.

Cheeky Chic

2010-09-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

I recently spotted a couple lower-priced versions of some Anthro items, so I wanted to pass them along here in case anyone was interested!

First up is last year's Skirted Peacoat from Idra. This item retailed for $168 at Anthropologie. Alloy has released a lower-priced version of this coat, currently available on their website for $39.90. It's called the Military Jacket; you can see it here. The Alloy version has a little less flounce along the peplum, so that might actually provide a more versatile fit.

I also found a similar item to Anthropologie's Well-Wisher Jacket from Mise en Scene by Ruffian.

While the jacket is still available at Anthropologie for $80 (see it here), Alloy has a version in gray French terry for only $39.90 (see it here).

Bulletin: Vintage blowout sale on Etsy

2010-09-20T23:10:00.000-07:00

My good friend Vanessa has decided to close her vintage clothing shop on Etsy. I'm sad to see her end this endeavor but she has a lot going on right now -- including a new baby girl on the way!! So, before she closes her doors for good, she's having an epic clearance sale where everything has been marked down to $10 per piece. She has some beautiful clothing, so get yourself over to her Taste of Honey vintage store on Etsy before it's all gone.

Shoe sale worth noting

2010-09-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

Miz Mooz Abott Knee-High Boot (see here; now $153.96, was $219.95)

I got an email in my Inbox this morning that I thought was worth passing on. Endless.com is having a big sale on new arrivals from Miz Mooz, a very darling shoe brand that's been carried by Anthropologie in the past. I own a few pairs of Miz Mooz shoes and I think they are very well made and quite comfortable. So, if you're in the market for some cute shoes, this is a sale worth checking out. Click here to see the offerings; the sale is only good through 11:59 pm PDT today.

OOTD x 2

2010-09-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't done an outfit of the day post in awhile, so I thought I'd give you two for the price of one! The first one I wore to work on Tuesday.

I took this picture on my cute new Samsung Freeform phone. My husband and I decided to drop our AT&T service because it was outrageously expensive. While we hope to be able to get iPhones within the next year or two, for now, we needed a cheaper plan that has unlimited talk and text. Enter Metro PCS. $35 a month for everything, and so far, the service has been pretty good!

Anyway, on to the outfit details. I'm wearing a tank from Papaya, which is an inexpensive clothing brand based out of San Jose. I see a lot of their clothes at the thrifts; some of their pieces are super-cute and remind me of Anthro (such as this tank). Papaya has an online site that you can buy direct from here. I scored this tank from the thrift on $1.99 day. Woot! I'm also wearing a drapey jersey cardigan from Forever 21 ($13.80), a pair of William Rast Jerri Skinny Jeans (which I scored at the Bloomingdale's after-Christmas sale last year for $30), and a pair of peep-toe flats that I bought at the Benetton store in Cannes, France, in 2008 (30 euros). Not a bad little outfit for less than $90, considering that the most expensive thing is my footwear, LOL!

The second outfit is what I like to think of as my "Mod Squad" outfit. I wore this to work today and got a ton of compliments. The top is from Ann Taylor Loft (scored NWT at the thrift for $5!!). The skirt is from J. Crew, purchased NWT on eBay for $15 or so (it's the Nicky style). The shoes! Oh! The Shoes! They are the Tangerine Rind Clogs by Rachel Comey. They were purchased from Anthropologie on second cut for $99.95, marked down from their original $395 price. I'm carrying my awesome Kate Spade bag that I stalked forever and finally scored at a huge discount on Amazon. (I've posted about this bag multiple times on Serial Thrifter.)

I know a lot of people shy away from the whole "matchy matchy" look, but I'm really into this streamlined duotone color palette. I love the Mod feel of it, and it always makes me feel very smart and put together. Now I just need a Vespa.

Book nook: Recent reads

2010-09-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

I'm a voracious reader. It's always been my favorite way to while away the hours; when I was younger, my parents could usually find me curled up on the bed reading a book. I was an only child and books made for great company.

Thrift stores are awesome places to get books. I love the feel and smell of old books, the promise that lurks behind the tattered covers of old tomes, the adventures peeking out from the dogeared covers of mass-market paperbacks. Give me a book, a glass of lemonade and a friendly cat, and I'm set for the day.

Here are some of my recent reads:

Petal Pusher: A Rock and Roll Cinderella Story by Laurie Lindeen. My friend Vanessa gave me this book to read because she said it would make for good "research." I've blogged about this before, but I used to be a rock critic/rock writer/show promoter when I lived in Ohio. I spent about six years doing that before I flamed out and went to work as a technical writer in the suburbs of Chicago. Lindeen was the founding member of Zuzu's Petals, a Minneapolis-based band that existed around the same time as The Replacements, Soul Asylum and The Jayhawks. Vanessa thought it would be interesting for me to read a memoir from another girl who lived in the rock-n-roll world for many years. The book has an extra dimension, too, because Lindeen was diagnosed with MS at age 24 -- right about the time she decided to chuck convention for good and try to make a go of the rock star thing. I'm about halfway through, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who was a part of or lived through the indie rock explosion.

Another Bullshit Night in Suck City by Nick Flynn. I am *way* late to the party on this one. I first heard of this book from my friend Amy (who, like Laurie Lindeen, has spent many years rocking out in Minneapolis/St. Paul). She was a big fan and after having read it, I can see why. Flynn, like Dave Eggers, has a true literary "voice." His writing, while not difficult in the way of say, James Joyce, is nonetheless challenging and heavy. He's dealing with a difficult childhood and a father who is both an alcoholic and homeless. There's no particular climax to the story, no pat resolution. It is simply a reflection, a pause, a desperate attempt to make sense out of a series of events.

Blameless by Gail Carriger. This is the third book in Carriger's "Parasol Protectorate" series, which is set in 19th century England and Scotland and concerns the lives of vampires, werewolves and "preternaturals," beings with no souls who can neutralize the supernatural. Alexia Tarrabotti is the main character and she is a female preternatural, an almost unheard-of thing. Tarrabotti is half-Italian (a gasp-inducing social quality in conservative London at the time) and decidedly forward for a woman of her social status and age. She's smart, she's well-educated and she's (gasp again) opinionated. These books follow her adventures with Lord Akeldama, a vampire fop with an Andy Warhol-like quality for knowing all manner of gossip, Lord Connall Maccon, the head werewolf of the Woolsey pack, Queen Victoria and Ivy, her scatterbrained friend with a penchant for awful hats. These books are very well-written, a breeze to read and very funny.

Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky. I have this weird love-hate relationship with fish. They freak me out, and I'm allergic to the ones with shells, but I also sort of love eating codfish-n-chips. I also like to read narrative non-fiction, and Kurlansky does a great job telling this "fish story." It's really sad, because I learned how we've essentially almost killed off a fish that used to be so plentiful it created a nation: Iceland. From before the U.S. became a country, cod was a major part of our history, playing a role in everything from settlement to our war for independence.

Next on my list?

"Guardian of the Gate" by Michelle Zink and "The Imperfectionists: A Novel" by Tom Rachman

A Taste of Honey Vintage / Me as a Model?

2010-09-10T00:48:00.001-07:00

(yes, that's me)

I've posted before about my good friend Vanessa's vintage clothing store over on Etsy. She calls it A Taste of Honey and she has a really cool selection of pieces from the 1950s through the '80s (visit her store here). She kept pestering me to model some of the clothes for her a few months back, but I was a little wary about doing it because, well, I'm not all that comfortable with my looks. I never have been; I never probably will be. But whatever; Vanessa's my friend and she wanted me to model, so how could I say no and not look like a total meanie?

The whole experience was interesting. She had a few bins of clothes picked out, and we spent a good four hours or so creating outfits. Obviously some of the things didn't fit, but many of them did, and I wasn't paying attention to size; we were going too fast for me to really stress out about whether something made me look "fat" or emphasized a part of me that wasn't the most flattering. In a way, it was a really good experience for me because it got me out of my head. I didn't obsess over fit or the number on the label. It also helped that Vanessa told me she'd cut my head out of all the photos. (*screams with laughter*)

The other odd thing I realized during the photo shoot was how comfortable I am around my friends. Vanessa's husband and my husband were there during this shoot, and I was flinging skirts and heels and tops all over the place. I didn't have time to walk back and forth to the bathroom to change, so I just yanked off one thing and pulled on another. No one was even paying me the slightest bit of attention -- which made me realize that a lot of insecurity is actually internal rather than external. It's created when we project our own insecurities through the eyes of other people. I know this is true; I am hardly ever concerned with how someone else looks in their clothes, but we're trained to think everyone is always judging us and our appearance.

I think about that a lot when I'm thrifting because I so often buy for resale. I keep waiting for the day when the cashier looks through my armful of size 2 clothes, looks back at me and snorts with laughter. I create all sorts of answers in my head for why I might be buying a size 2; it's almost as though these cashiers are the IRS and I am Al Capone, living in fear that my empire will be brought down by a rogue agent with an agenda. "Uh, honey, these won't fit you," I imagine the cashier saying. "But ma'am," I'll reply, "these are for my sister-in-law/gay roommate/cat/cousin in Idaho/minister/craft project." Oh, I'm *more* than ready.

But here's the thing. I've only been asked ONE time about the clothes I was buying, and it wasn't about the 18 different sizes I was purchasing. Oh no. It was, "Man, you found some great stuff!" So ... no one cares what you're buying at the thrift, and no one cares what size it's in. And it does me good to remember that I'm not the center of the universe, even if I often feel as though small planets could orbit around me.

Spotted: Target dupe of Anthro's Rensselaer T-Straps

2010-09-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

Target version (left) vs. Anthro version (right)

I've been eyeing Anthropologie's Rensselaer T-Straps since they came out a few months back. I like everything about them: the T-Strap shape, the ruffles, the bow, the dark chocolate color, the contrast stitching ... the list goes on and on. Quite frankly, they aren't that expensive for a pair of leather shoes ($148), but it's still an investment and I'd rather wait until they go on sale. (You can see the Anthro ones here.)

However, I was trolling the interwebs this morning looking for a pair of plain, medium-brown heels (harder than you think to find). I was using ShopStyle to narrow it down when I ran across a pair of heels at Target that reminded me a lot of Anthro's Rensselaer T-Straps. While they're definitely not an exact match, they're similar -- and they're on sale right now for $13.98, which is insane.

Target's version is from Xhiliration (a junior's brand carried at the store) and is called the Tabitha T-Strap Peep-Toe Pump. As of this morning, it looked like pretty much all sizes between 5.5 and 11 were still in stock in the dark brown color. You can see the Target version here.

Tips from frugal billionaires (or, how to get annoyed very quickly)

2010-09-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

I really need to turn off the Yahoo! news feed. This morning, I got a message to check out Jean Folger's article entitled, "7 Spending Tips From Frugal Billionaires." I should know better than to read this stuff by now, but like a moth to the proverbial flame, I can't resist because I always hope these articles will shed some light on how to live more frugally or give me solid tips that I don't already know.

After reading this article, I can safely say that the advice isn't geared toward the non-billionaire; it's geared to people who are already wealthy. I don't know a single middle-class or working-class person who doesn't already follow all of these painfully obvious tips.

Folger suggests that we should:

1. Keep your home simple. This is not a problem when you can't even afford a house and have lived in the same rent-controlled apartment for over five years.

2. Use self-powered or public transportation. OMG, did you hear about these things called bikes and buses?! WHO KNEW?!?!!? And did you know that we could also WALK! OMG! I wondered what our legs were for.

3. Buy your clothes off the rack. This one made me laugh out loud. Seriously? Who in the real world has all their clothes custom tailored and purchases them from showrooms of high-end designers? This tip is about as obvious as suggesting that if you want to save money on your food bill, it's best not to eat out at restaurants all the time.

4. Don't spend $800 on a haircut. I pretty much stopped reading after this tip because it was so inane. Really, Ms. Folger?! Really?!?! How many working-class people do you know that spend thousands of dollars a year on their haircuts? I get my hair cut about twice a year, if that. If I color it, I do it at home with a $10 kit. Seriously, if you need tips like this to help you budget, you might as well just throw in the towel. (Or put it over your head, thereby saving the need for a haircut at all.)

5. Drive a regular car. I'm not even going to dignify this with a rebuttal.

6. Skip luxury items. Hey, no problem. *rolls eyes*

The kicker is that there isn't even a seventh tip in this article, despite its title. I suppose it may have been a literal demonstration of frugality? Promise more, but deliver less?

OK, enough ranting.

APB: Diane von Furstenberg print names

2010-09-05T21:08:00.000-07:00

I know several of you out there in blogville are very resourceful sleuths, and I was wondering if anyone has a good online resource for identifying Diane von Furstenberg print names. I usually use the DvF personal shopper blog (see it here), but she obviously doesn't have every print name cataloged. So, are there any other good sites out there? Leave a comment or shoot me an email at saraefarr(at)gmail.com if you're comfortable sharing!

Wish List ... Fall 2010

2010-08-30T22:56:00.000-07:00

There are so many lovely things coming out this fall that it's hard to keep up. I know my budget won't stretch to cover all of them, so I figured I'd post a wish list in case some unknown fairy godmother is reading this blog and wants to surprise me. (Just kidding!) (Not really!) (Godmother?! Where ARE you?!) (Hello?!?!?!)

Ann Taylor Tropical Wool Cowl Neck Dress ($158, see here): I need another LBD like I need a hole in the head, but this one has a lot of nice things going for it. It has a modern shape with a retro feel, and I absolutely adore the unique neckline. I love how the neck is high, but it's draped. The dress is a lightweight tropical wool, which means it's seasonless, and the hint of stretch in the fabric promises a nice fit.

J. Crew Jackie Cardigan in Burnished Olive, ($62, see here): I don't actually care whether I wind up buying the Jackie on sale, or getting a cardigan from Merona at Target, or if one falls out of the sky. I am just looking for a cardigan in this beautiful burnished olive color. It's a color I've been wanting to incorporate into my cardigan collection for some time now. I think it's an incredibly versatile neutral, perfect to pair with navy, espresso brown, or even dark red.

True Religion Misty Leggings in Khaki ($172, see here): I'm not usually a fan of True Religion jeans because every high school student and their mom here in SoCal wears them and the last thing I want to do is look like a MILF. But there's something about these equestrian-inspired leggings that just calls out to me. Maybe I secretly have a desire to ride a horse and hold a crop? Polish the Jaguar in the driveway? Have a Tom Collins while reading Jackie Collins? I don't know for sure, just like Angelina Jolie may not know for sure that she's actually not a spy. (Ooo, the triple negative! Grammar nerds, don't attack!)

Ann Taylor Loft Double Wrap Sparkle Skinny Belt ($39.50, see here): I have a hard time with belts; I usually feel like they're attacking me or actually giving me less of a waist than I have without one. (Seriously? I fear cinching it in lest it just lop over. Ugh.) Anyway, I kind of am tempted to try skinny belts with my skinny pencil skirts, because I like the modern update it gives to a classic look. I like this one from Ann Taylor Loft because it's got just the right amount of sass.

Anthropologie "Made to Measure Skirt" by Cartonnier ($138, see here): I tried this skirt on in my local Anthro before it hit the website and I have to say that I was instantly smitten. I am all about the plaid-y, tweed-y looks for fall and I love how one side of this skirt is scrunched up. It has a very Highlands vibe and would look great paired with an ivory twinset, some brown tights and cognac riding boots. Sign me up, please!

Classic Menswear Plaid Coat by Maria via Alloy ($129.90, see here): I have no real use for yet another winter coat, but that doesn't stop me from buying them or lusting after a tailored tweed beauty when I see one! I was a little shocked when I saw this in the Alloy catalog. It's very classic, very modest and very upscale. (Usually I associate Alloy with too-tight jeans and off-the-shoulder drapey things that approximately 1% of the U.S. population can convincingly pull off.) At any rate, I think this coat is pretty awesome and right in line with the looks I'm liking this fall.

Ruffled-Bottom Belted Wool Trench by Express ($168, see here): OK, this is a dupe of Anthro's Two Paths Trench from this past spring, which itself was a dupe of Burberry's trench coat. But hear me out. I like this one from Express because it's wool and it has military-style buttons. Plus, it's black, and I like it in black more than I liked the neutral khaki of the Two Paths Trench. This one just seems a little bit edgier and a little less frilly. It's almost as though someone updated an Armed Services dress jacket to give it a feminine silhouette.

Geometric Leather Cuffs by Urban Boutique ($58, see here and here): After reading "Mockingjay," the final book in Suzanne Collins' amazing "Hunger Games" trilogy, I wanted to channel a little bit of Katniss Everdeen's ferocity into my wardrobe. I'd been looking for some leather cuffs anyway, so I turned to Etsy because I knew there'd be one on there that could combine all the things I wanted: a little Katniss, a little Art Deco, a little Joan Jett, a little New York chic. This Denver-based seller hit the nail on the head with these geometric design leather cuffs. They're high atop my list of must-have items for fall. (The seller pretty much had me at "English bridle leather.")

New York & Co. "Chelsea Corsage Cardigan" in Bronzed Beauty ($46.95, see here): New York & Co. is kinda hit-or-miss, especially when it comes to their cardigans. I don't mind acrylic cardigans, but NY&Co. cardigans sometimes feel a little on the cheap side to me. However, this one looks promising, and I love the design and color. I have about six skirts that I could pair this with instantly to create a beautiful tonal, textured monochromatic look. You can bet I'm checking this one out next time I head to the mall.

I'll leave you with these pretties for now, but there are a few more things I want to highlight, if only to show everyone else what cool stuff I've stumbled across lately. Here's hoping they all go on sale for at least 50% off within the next month!