Jimmy Choo Sample Sale - What I Wore & What I Scored!

When the Jimmy Choo sample sale popped up I quickly assessed what my must-haves would be. Jeweled booties were at the top of my list and once again I walked away Choo-less. No worries, I still managed to score some other killer deals and a couple extras for my lovelies :)

Let's start with my look;

• Sunglasses: Ray-Ban, 90% off at Century 21, $8 (retail $145)
• Earrings: Av Max NYC, sample sale, $4 (retail $45)
• Dress: H&M, clearance rack, $3 (retail $49.95 I think - may have been more)
• Jeans: Chip Foster, Nordstrom Rack $19.98 (retail $220)
• Bracelet: House of Harlow 1960 gold textured cuff, rent the runway sample sale, $17 (retail $85)
• Bag: 3.1 Phillip Lim medium Pashli, Nordstrom Rack, $160 after using some Nordstrom Notes (retail $895)
• Shoes: LK Bennett Florete, sample sale, $20 (retail $305)

I do confess that I changed into my Crocs for the sale because the yellow was too noticeable and I did not want to be thrown out of Choo again. I'm still not sure what happened last time (they said I was there too long???) but I was determined to fly under the radar and stay till the end.

I first walked in at 2 pm because they were scheduled to close at 4. Typically they start discounting in the last couple hours. However I was thrown a curveball - I saw a model considering a pair of sky high knee boots so I pulled her aside and told her that they would be cutting prices any minute because they always cut prices two hours before close. She informed me that they extended closing until 6!!!! GAMECHANGER! I slowly put back all my finds and walked out the door. I was so frustrated because I became emotionally attached to those items and there was no way I would find everything later on.

After a small hiatus and impromptu photoshoot with fellow bargainista, the Fashion Sherlock (thanks again for shooting me with my new Nikon!) we returned a couple minutes too late. Price cuts were in effect! We quickly scrambled to reclaim our goods. Too bad that model didn't come back because her $375 boots got slashed to $200. In the end, bags were mostly $250 (some smaller ones were $200) and they had a $50 upcharge for exotic skins. Ladies shoes were $100-200, men's were $100-150 and belts and scarves were $25.

I didn't take any pics from inside the sale but honestly it was the same stuff from previous years but more beat up and even less of a selection. You can look at a previous report here.

I did manage to find some of the pieces I put down including;

The Bella (retail $785) and Bonnie (retail $880) belts. They were cut from $50 to $25 each. I mistakenly grabbed the thinner one in a size too big. So stay tuned for extras in my next blog sale.

I still have not worn my Candy clutch from last year but I figured I'd try again. In retrospect I probably should have tried for a Sweetie clutch which is the longer version of the Candy. Found the limited edition Hawaii clutch (retail $995) for $200 after being cut from $250.

My piece de resistance was this violet Charm satin clutch that's fully strassed in Swarovski crystals. After extensive googling I found it online (but sold out) for 2,295 Euro which is around $2,600 right now. I got it for $250 after being slashed from $350.

I first spotted this pouch on the small leather goods table for $100 even though it had a green tag for $200. The woman said the cashier should talk to her if there is a problem. I later found it again mixed in with the $200 bags and snapped it up thinking it would $50. When checking out they tried to charge me $200 so I spotted the woman and she told them $50 - and they marked it as a SLG (small leather good) but when I went to the line to pay (they had two lines, one to tally and one to pay) it came up $25 for SLGs!!! I love my satin pouch oh so much more for $25! I believe it's the Zena pouch but can't find this exact bag google. Looks like it's from their Spring 2015 collection and I found the similar fold-over version, called the Nyla floral jacquard clutch that retailed for 315 Euro (about $350+). It's exactly what I was looking for and I have a bunch of pieces to coordinate in this neon yellow :)

 That's it. I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing some $100 shoes but everything I wanted was $200 and looked worn or I couldn't walk in them. Next time.

I'm linking a few of my pieces (or similar) here to shop my look and finds :)

I've been KILLING IT at the Rack - stay tuned for that post :) I have a busy couple of weeks coming up so I'll have lots of adventures and outfits to share! And yes, blog sale is in the works...

XOXO
Shoppinggal

Mall-Crush Monday & TGIF!

I hate transitional looks. I'm a flip flop or UGGs kinda girl so either I'm all in or I'm out. So far this weather has been confusing - it starts in the 50s and heads up into the 70s. I decided to finally let go of summer and just go for it already. So yeah, Thank G-d It's Fall :)

From head to toe;

• Sunglasses: Moschino, free from Century 21 (I had $60 in rewards)
• Earrings: Banana Republic, $3, Yosca sample sale
• Shirt: Electric Circus T Shirt, $3.50 Nordstrom Rack
• Jacket: Hache, $73, Century 21 (90% off - retail $3,090!)
• Skirt: $20, Nordstrom Rack
• Bracelet: Dannijo Valentina, $50, sample sale (retail $595)
• Bag: Jimmy Choo Blare, $250, sample sale (retail $3050!)
• Shoes: Valentino Rockstuds, $170, Nordstrom Rack (Retail $925! - I did use $60 in Nordstrom Notes on these)
• Lipstick: NYX Black Label in Natural, around $3 at Nordstrom Rack

I also figured you would want to take a peek at what's in my bag. In addition to my camera I have my Jimmy Choo wallet (sample sale, $75 - retail $825!), Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya, Moschino sunnies and my last free Apple & Eve juice box from Influenster.

Since I was all dressed up (from meeting a client) today I decided to walk around the mall and see what's new. It's crazy how many comments I get from strangers when I wear my Rockstuds. I popped into Sephora first to get a few new samples and try the new Marc Jacobs perfume (yum!) and spotted a small Jem and The Holograms display. As a child of the 80's, I'm so excited for the upcoming movie and got a kick out of the Manic Panic hair color. Very tempted by the pink but I'm not so sure it's age appropriate. We'll see.

Nordstrom didn't have anything too exciting so I headed to Neiman Marcus for my fashion fix. I wanted to try on the Chiara Ferragni winky flats but they didn't carry them so instead I admired these NM exclusive patent flecked Pigalle Follies Louboutins. So pretty.

I keep trying to find a pair of fashion sneakers but they're never all that comfortable and I guess I prefer splurging on heels. Although these Saint Laurent Court Classic Suede Fringed sneakers are pretty darn cute...

And because I'm fringe obsessed I snapped a pic of these Stuart Weitzman Mane suede fringe over the knee boots :)

Over in bags I wandered around but I found myself always coming back to the Givenchy Antigona. I've thought about it for a while and even got the Rebecca Minkoff Perry for $50 at the sample sale but it's just not the same. Fingers crossed I finally find a cheap one soon!

So that's what's on my radar for Fall. I'm linking up some of these pieces (or similar) below :)

Would love to hear what's on your Fall wishlist!

XOXO
Shoppinggal

Thrifting 101

Yesterday I skipped a couple sample sales and went thrifting instead. My son shot up a couple inches this summer and outgrew all of his dressier clothing. Usually that's not a problem but for some reason I skipped his current size when buying ahead. So for $12.50 he has a new suit, a pair of dress pants, and a dress shirt.

For myself, I grabbed this Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Cleansing Butter for $4. When I opened the lid to test it I saw it was sealed - and then I knew I had to have it. Typically, thanks to my couponing, I don't spend $4 on a body wash but every so often I splurge on a premium product. I found it on QVC.com in a 2 piece set for $47 so I'm thinking I made the right call here.

I'm a sucker for vintage dresses and coats and I tried on a stack of them today. Today's winner was this Oleg Cassini sequin number - and the funny thing is I already own this exact dress in green LOL. I was on the fence but it was half-off today so for $12.50 I couldn't resist.

With thrifting it's easy to take home piles of crap you just don't need. Do I need another sequin dress? Probably not...and it could easily end up hanging in my downstairs closet right next to my other unworn sequin dress. However, all I need is one event and voila - I'm all set! And I just saved myself $200+ and loads of time hunting for the perfect evening dress because I already own it. After 20+ years of thrift shopping I'm awfully proud of my thrift-editing skills.

A journalism major at Drake University recently reached out to me - she is currently writing an article for class about thrift shopping tips from bloggers. For some time I've been meaning to write some meatier posts so I figured instead of just emailing her back I'd answer her questions here and share a few tips for all of you :)


1-Do you have a favorite store or type of store/function (swap meet, flea market, etc.) that you thrift at? Why?

I love thrift stores. I don't think I've ever attended a swap meet and I haven't been to a flea market in years. For me it's the thrill of the hunt. I'll try any thrift store once but I'm all about efficiency. I tend to only go to stores that I know will have a big pay-off. When I see a store gets a new manager and prices go up or the designer goods tend to disappear, then I move on. My number one tip is to look for the stores in the bad neighborhoods near the good neighborhoods. Not sure why, but that's what's always worked for me. I find that in the more affluent areas it's either trash or overpriced decent stuff. I prefer high-end goods so I spend a lot of time in questionable areas looking for bargains.


2-What are the best items to find at a thrift store? Are there any items that you would NOT recommend purchasing secondhand?

Honestly, you can find almost everything at a thrift store. I pick up furniture, toys, clothing, household goods, beauty products...you name it and I've probably thrifted it. I'm a DIY girl and pretty handy so I'm not afraid of cleaning and fixing something slightly imperfect. Goodwill gets lots of stuff from Target - so if I missed something on clearance at Target, it will probably show up there a few weeks later. My SIL would sooner light herself on fire then walk into a thrift store. She's terrified of bedbugs and germs. Personally I've never had a problem with either. Then again she won't buy anything on sale either because she believes that there is something wrong with it if it got marked down LOL. Thrifting isn't for everyone. Like all bargain hunting, it takes a lot of time and patience.


3-Any suggestions for cleaning/fixing used items?

Clothing is easy - you wash it or dry clean it. It helps if you're handy with a needle and thread or have a tailor on speed dial. It helps to know what's fixable. A moth eaten coat is beyond repair but a missing button or undone hem is an quick fix. Shoes and bags are a little trickier. Sneakers can be thrown in the wash but everything else you have to Lysol or spot clean. I have a whole arsenal of shoe products -  sometimes a little polish and those Pradas look brand new.


4-Tips for pre-shopping (ie. Do you do anything before you go to make the process easier? How so?)

I always have a plan if I'm hitting a new store. I spend a few minutes on mapquest charting out the fastest route instead of just hopping in the car and Waze-ing it. I look for other possible locations to try in case any one store is a bust. Always do your research. Find out which days have discounts. At Salvation Army almost everything in the store is half-off on Wednesday. I also tend to avoid stores on Senior discount days because some nursing homes bus in residents and it gets CRAZY. Ideally you want to be there in the morning when they open their doors - it tends to be less crowded. If you're a regular try to figure out when/where they put out new merchandise - most of the good stuff barely has time to hit the floor before some savvy shopper snaps it up.

To simplify things - here are my top 10 thrift tips;

Be patient. Don't expect to walk out with a Chanel bag after 5 minutes the first time you thrift. But the more you thrift, the more likely you will strike gold. And no, I still haven't found my Chanel or Hermes bag yet. Still looking.

Be prepared. Know where and when to thrift. Let google and yelp be your best friends. Ask other thrifters where they go - sometimes they will share and sometimes they won't. (Also refer to question and answer #4 above.)

Take your time. Walking up and down those aisles is literally a walk down memory lane. I always get a kick out of seeing something I had 20 years ago or the same dress my daughter wore as a baby. You're gonna need lots of time to dig. You don't want to miss that designer dress shoved in between those two H&M dresses.

Train your eye. For the days you don't have time to look at every single item, just walk through the isles and look for designer fabrics or patterns. At this point I can spot something special from across the room.

Know your brands. I spend lots of time in higher end stores (and online) learning the names of obscure fashion brands. The stores know Gucci so they're gonna jack up the price but they don't know labels like Reiss, Rick Owens, or Band of Outsiders. I picked up a LK Bennett dress last year for $2.50 - it somehow had made it to 75%. I would have grabbed it at $10.

Don't buy for just the label. A rookie mistake is to take everything with a designer tag. If it doesn't fit or you can't rework it, it's not a bargain. Now I look for pieces that still look current, even if they are 10 years old. You can always google or check eBay to see what similar pieces are selling for.

Try it on. It's the first thing I tell all my personal shopping clients - you never know. Most stuff in thrift stores doesn't exactly have hanger appeal. 

Will I wear this or can I sell it? I have so much that I try to only buy something that will elevate my wardrobe. I don't need just another LBD but a vintage Bill Blass sheath will always be a welcome addition. I am a vintage designer whore. I try to buy things I need (as in missing from my closet) or something with resale value should I decide to part with it.

What's it worth to you. Sometimes I find something overpriced and I ask myself what it's worth to me. In the metropolitan areas thrift stores charge a lot more than $1.99 a piece. I always chuckle when I overhear the crazies muttering to themselves about how expensive things are. The other day I had to convince a woman to take a beautiful Soia & Kyo peacoat for just $24.99. She thought it was overpriced but I told that her that for less than $25 she was getting a $400+ coat that looked amazing on her. If something seems expensive for thrift, ask yourself what you would pay for that item in a discount store. You can't even get a designer coat in Marshalls/TJ Maxx for that little.

Don't beat a dead horse. If prices are up or you haven't found anything good at that location in a while then it's time to find a new haunt. It's also easy to spend all day waiting for something to come out of the back room. Try to give yourself a time limit for how long you'll spend in a store so you won't kill your day.

Some people thrift for necessity, some people thrift for profit, some people thrift because it's eco-friendly, but I thrift because I'm a girl who loves to shop. I can get my kicks for $ instead of $$$. There is nothing for gratifying that walking out the door in a killer designer outfit that cost you just ten bucks.

My homework to you is to google local thrift/consignment stores and check a few out. If you're a shopaholic and you haven't thrifted - it's a whole new world out there. The first time I took a cousin to Goodwill she was horrified...until she found a super cute jeweled J.Crew sweater for $7 and she was sold. Most of my kids baby designer clothing was thrifted for a dollar or less - even the navy quilted Burberry coat all three of my kids wore. And now I'm saving it for future grandkids :)

As always, happy shopping!

XOXO
Shoppinggal

My Free Box of Juice :)

I recently signed up for the Influenster community after seeing that they send you free boxes of stuff to review. Hello, I'm all over free stuff and got very excited when I heard they were sending boxes of YSL products. So yeah, I was a little disappointed when my first box was juice.

Or more specifically a box of juice boxes. I received a "VoxBox" of Apple & Eve Organic juice. My kids (and husband) who also love free stuff (and juice) were very happy to be my taste testers.

Ella quickly claimed the Orange Pineapple so Keva thought it was only fair that he took both the Berrylicious Lemonade and the Fruit Punch Burst. We saved the Razzberry Apple Splash for Ava.

I'm not a huge juice girl but my kids all agreed how yummy they were. My husband has since made off with the rest of the Orange Pineapple. They are all certified Kosher except the lemonade - which we only realized after Keva finished drinking it (oops!)

I personally tried the Orange Pineapple and it was impressively good for a boxed juice. If you see these babies on sale I would most definitely recommend trying them :)

Fingers crossed that my next box will have some beauty products!

XOXO
Shoppinggal

Week in Review! More Rockstuds, $3 H&M Scores, Nordstrom Rack & Thrifted Finds :)

Looks like my dry spell is officially over. These are all actually from the last couple weeks but the Jewish holidays have been keeping me pretty busy.

So let's start with my brand new lipstick red Valentino Rockstuds. I would have been happy with just one pair but G-d has been good and delivered not one, not two, but three pairs of Rockstuds over the past few weeks. Crazy. I know I don't need all of them but I waited so long for a pair that I just can't seem to let any of them go. My 8 year old daughter fell in love and made me order a fake pair from China in her size. As soon as they come we'll take a mother daughter pic and I'll let you know if you need to buy your girls a pair too :)

A week ago I found a few pieces for my girls for $3 each at H&M but then again today they marked everything in the women's clearance to $7 or less. I found this cute denim vest and cropped blouse for myself for $3 each. Kicking myself for not checking in earlier in the day because you guys know the damage I typically do.

After a long break from thrifting I went last week and scored big time. For my daughter I picked up these almost new Lelli Kelly hightops for $3. Actually her whole look here was less than $10 head to toe - all thrifted. That Hard Tail skirt is hands down her favorite skirt right now.

I also found this Pucci bucket hat for $3. It didn't have a tag but the print and lining was a dead giveaway. These go for $100-200 easy.

In addition to a killer $10 80's dress that's currently at the tailor I picked up this vintage Bergdorf Goodman houndstooth blazer for $7. I even found the missing button on the floor at the store. My husband actually hates it so it's a good thing I dress to amuse myself. Love a huge 80's shoulder pad!

I also found this cute Les Copains dress for $7 (they tend to retail for around $500). I used to get tons of their stuff from Daffy's back in the day.

But my piece de resistance was this Salvatore Ferragamo suit for 30 bucks. It was originally $60 but I found it for half-price. These seriously go for several thousand dollars. I want to loose a little more weight before I tailor it. It looks so money.

The Rack has also been good to me of late. Lots of markdowns and Clear the Rack actually starts tomorrow. I finally have a ton of stuff to bring back for a price adjustment. There have been a few rounds of CTR that I had nothing to adjust because there was nothing to buy.

There were a few things I found before the 7 day adjustment period, but they were so cheap that it's OK. I wanted a signature jacket and I'm not sure this Vertigo peacoat is exactly what I was looking for but for $7.49 I'm sure I can put it to use. Love the drama of the oversized collar.

For my BIL I grabbed this $395 John Varvatos blazer for $29.98. for some stupid reason he didn't want it. (Hello, it fits him like a glove and it's probably nicer than everything he owns combined...) I'm holding on to it in case he reconsiders.

I also found a Hugo Boss suit for my husband for $99 (#amazing) and a ton of designer jeans for less than $20 a pair but they are all currently at the tailor. 

And it's been a while since I've shared penny finds but I wanted to share my recent favorites:

Yes, these $685 Stuart Weitzman Tass black suede wedge boots were just a penny. I wish the calves were narrower but you heard the penny part, right?

I got a bunch of penny (boots &) sandals that day but I am so obsessed with these Vince Camuto Effel sandals. The season is pretty much over so I'll be saving them for next year.

Last but not least I picked up this jade green medium Chloe Marcie for about half price but I'll be having it price adjusted tomorrow. If anyone is interested email me or DM me on Instagram :)

Pretty good couple of weeks, right? I'm linking a few similar items below in case you NEED them and are OK spending a little more...

FYI, I still have a few pieces left in my blog sale. And don't forget to hit your local Nordstrom Racks for Clear the Rack tomorrow - you'll get 25% off all red ticket items this weekend!

Happy Shopping :)

XOXO
Shoppinggal