Shopping

So.

You're getting ready to go on a little trip.  

OR

a big trip.

Which of these philosophies do you follow?

* OR *

 

Me?

Pfft.

If you know me even just the littlest bit, you know I am, without question, a "Let's Shop" kinda gal.

And when my favorite on-line shopping spots have a really good sale, I am one of the first through that virtual front door.

A GOOD sale.  

And I don't mean some skimpy 20 or 25% off.

My mother would declare that a sale for amateurs.  

Because several of you have asked, my best on-line sale shopping recently has been at Poshmark where I scored a NWT good deal (40% off) on a pair of Margaux ballet flats.   (that's New With Tag for those of you who aren't familiar with on-line used clothing shops)  

I LOVE Poshmark.  

Other on-line used clothing shops include The Real Real, 1st Dibs, Gently and I'm sure there are more I'm not aware of.

Poshmark is my go-to spot.  I have found them to be trustworthy.  Their webpage is very fairly friendly once you get the hang of it.

Shopping Hint:  If you see something you like, "Like" it.  This adds a little red heart to the item.  The seller will sometimes/fairly often contact you privately through the web page with an offer.  You then have the opportunity to accept the offer or make a counter offer.  Remember to go back and check for messages!

I also bought a dress I had been coveting from JohnnyWas at their semi-annual warehouse sale for about 70% off.

Another Shopping Hint:  if you see something you like while shopping your favorite on-line shop, put it in your shopping cart and leave.  Sometimes, the vendor will send you an email offering free shipping for that item, or a discount for becoming a "first time" shopper.

There are deals to be had.  But you have to search.  Some people would rather just skip the work and buy at regular (gasp!) prices or a not so significant sale price.

Not me.

There are some pretty terrific "Sale on Sale" deals that are worth looking for and waiting for.  Sometimes the wait is well worth it.  (see above comment about the semi-annual warehouse sale).  

Some I check regularly are J. Crew,  J. Jill, Anthropologie, Farm Rio, Sundance,  Frank & Eileen, Madewell, and Johnny Was.

Have Fun!

Bathing Suits, Blue Jeans and Bras - oh, my!

originally posted at Jungle Red Writers


I love to shop.

I love pretty clothes.

Pretty Shoes.  Pretty Bags.  Boots.  Scarves. Hats. 

Coming home with a pretty new dress makes me a happy girl.




And coming home with a new white shirt is never a surprise.  Sometimes Don Barley, smart-ass that he is (oh yes, I love him but he is a smart-ass), will say, "Oh, look.  A new white shirt.  52 white shirts is just never enough."  (For the record, I do not have 52 white shirts).  Although, as you may have gathered, I pass by few white shirts that I don't fall in love with.  Cotton.  Silk.  Linen.  What looks nicer with jeans, pants or leggings than a white shirt?

( oh, yes, I'm partial to a guy wearing a white shirt with nice fitting jeans also.   Indeed.)

So.  Yes.

Donald Barley has a few white shirts in his closet also.



Speaking of jeans.


We all know how hard it is to find the perfect pair of jeans.  It always has been.


It's a royal and major pain.


Finding a style you like that fits the way you want in the right size should not be so difficult!

And I always worry that when I go into the fitting room with 12 pairs of jeans in different styles by different designers in different sizes, the lady in charge of fitting rooms is going to think I'm a sneak thief!


Well, actually, no, I don't think that at all.


Usually, the fitting room lady is more than sympathetic having been through this same scenario many times herself.


So.


Yesterday I went shopping.


Not for jeans.


I did that a few months ago and found jeans I loved so I bought 3 pairs of them.  Isn't that what everyone does??  Don't you just have to do that?



No.  Yesterday I went shopping for new bras.


LordAMercy.


Lord


A


Mercy



Same as shopping for jeans.


First I looked for a bra I liked the looks of.

Then I grabbed that bra in several different sizes.


Several.


Let me tell you.


It should NOT be this difficult.

And it's exhausting!






That bra I liked and tried on in several different sizes?

No.  Nope.  Nada.  Ugh.  Nothing!  Not a one of them fit properly.



I got dressed.  Put those bras back on their flimsy little hangers with the straps woven through those dumb little teeny narrow slits at the top of the dumb plastic hanger and took them back to the floor.


Found another bra I liked the looks of and grabbed it in several different sizes.


But this time I was a little smarter and looked for yet another bra I liked the looks of and grabbed it in several different sizes also.


I walked into the fitting room with more bras than I am going to admit to here.


I found one bra that fit well.  In a size that just does not sound like "my" bra size.  

That's okay.  I don't care what size it is.

I am not questioning it.

It's perfect.

I once again put those damn bras that didn't fit back onto those stupid plastic flimsy-as-all-get-out hangers with that absurd little thingie that I had to put the strap through and over (I only broke 3, I think) and returned them to the floor.


Then I looked for more bras exactly like the one I liked so I could buy them all.  In every color. 

Because.

The next time I need to buy bras, THAT bra will have been discontinued.


Guaranteed.


But.


There were no more bras like it.


None.


Not in white, nude, black, red, purple, pink or polka dot.  Not in zebra, or leopard, or giraffe print.  


I came "this" close to just sitting down in the floor and crying.


Instead, I got tickled and the sales associate got tickled.  After a good laugh she offered to see if there were more in the warehouse.  And there were.  Hooray!!!!  Three of them.  I don't even remember asking what color they were.  Who cares!   The only good thing about this experience (besides the good laugh) is that she told me they were on sale - "Buy one, get one free!"  YeeHaw!  


Four new bras.  For the price of two - wheeeee!!!  Who doesn't love a bargain?!


I considered, at this point, shopping for a new bathing suit.

But.

As I said, I was exhausted.

So I did what a lot of smart women would do.

I came home and had a glass of wine.