Shopping is the best therapy ever, and I love to do it. I have never been to the outlet stores in Casa Grande, but I've heard great things. It's my birthday today, so maybe I'll hit it up with my b-day cash. I've actually never been in Off 5th cause I thought it was full of ugly old lady stuff (that's what I got from the reviews my friends gave me)...have I been wrong all this time?? Yay, time for new clothes!!!!

Knock-offs and fakes
 

I don't think there's anything wrong with purchasing a fake bag. I think I owned a few fakes from "the purse man" who sells purses at the hair salon! :D

At this point in my life though, I would rather get a "lesser named" handbag "inspired by" than get a fake. For example, Target has some really cute Moschino suede kidney shaped bags (I think I'm going to break down and get it this weekend!) for $17. Newport News has a black bowler bag with leather handles on clearance for $19.99. Both of these bags were probably inspired by Prada, Gucci, Fendi or whomever but they don't pretend to BE Prada or Gucci, Fendi or whomever. I guess I would rather get these bags than to head to Ebay and pay $150.00 for a fake LV Cherry Blossom bag (usually running $900-2000) or get a "Chanel" bag from the "purse man" for $40.00. I could get two or three "lesser-prestige" bags that I think are really cute for the same price I got ONE fake.

I figure that true fashion sense come from making the season's styles work for YOU rather than being a copycat anyway--hence why one week I bought a pay of Pliners from Saks and the next week buying Juicy Couture "knock-offs" from Target! If I wanted something that looked just like the hottest Prada, LV, Tod's or Lambertson Truex ((sniff, sniff)), then I I'd just save up my pennies and dimes and get the real thing.

And yes, shopping is indeed a beautiful thing!

purses and classic clothes
 

Believe it or not..way out here in the middle of nowhere...we have a really nice consignment shop that sells name brand items in good condition. Last week, I picked up a wonderful Dooney and Burk (SP?) purse in super condition for $5 and a 3-piece Casual Corner suit (with the tags still on all three pieces!) for $10.

When I shop for new clothes, I stick with Brooks Brothers, Casual Corner, or Petite Sophisticate. :D

My husband says that I wear entirely too much black.

Silver

Therapeutic shopping
 

I needed a pick-me-up after the horror of last night's playoff game. So I ended up at an Ann Taylor and found these for a cool $30. Very comfortable, wearing them today:
http://fp.anntaylor.com/@v=0112@/Ima...5553_6000l.jpg

I also picked up intimate apparel.

So cute!!. I'm going shopping today (you gotta love b-day $$) And I'm gonna check out those shoes. I also need new black sandals, and a new bag, and new jeans, and new tops, and new dresses, and and and......too..many..things....sensory overload.....*blips, beeps, sizzles* system shutting down......

For spring I just bought two new Coach purses, so that knocked two good things off of my Wishlist.

The square demi-bag in the mini signature C's in black... and the cream/khaki Soho tote.... My next acquision will be the Kate Spade straw basket tote!

Also bought a loooooverly dress from BCBG for my formal! Formal's over now, though, but I don't want to retire the dress!

Am now searching for:

A CLASSIC GROSGRAIN BELT. GEEZ. Just a pink grosgrain belt with D-links. How hard is it to find one of these classics?! I've checked Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Brooks Brothers, even Gap... grrr. Any ideas?

I'm dying for the Burburry print ballerina flats. Soooo cute!... and perfect for interning this summer in a law firm.

The perfect little black dress... I managed to ruin mine!

I think that's it for now.

XOXO,
Annie.

i saw them on the sale rack at bloomingdales a few weeks ago..i think they were only $230 i think as compared to $300

Thanks Steeltrap for showing those shoes. i need some close toed shoes for work because my 3 inch boots just aren't covering it.
Why don't shoe makers make more close toed cute shoes? Seriously most places only allow you to wear close toed shoes.:rolleyes:
As much as I love open toed shoes I am pretty sure no one wants to see my hideous feet that have curled toes.:eek:

Try CK Bradley. www.ckbradley.com

Right place right time
 

Was cruising a Nordstrom Rack in OC last night. Stopped by the handbag section, which usually doesn't have much unless you hit a new arrival event that day. But look what showed up, down from $395 to $80 because it was "refurbished." :rolleyes:
It's a leather KS Mae's Messenger. It gets carried this weekend.

http://images.andale.com/f2/115/106/...benedetto2.jpg

I too just bought a fabUlous dress from BCBG. I have a wedding to go and I fell in love with the dress when I laid eyes on it (too bad I haven't fallen for its price yet!)

What color/style is your dress?

i forgot to say what else is on my wish list:

even though i too have gotten a few things in pink: pumas, a blouse from urban outfitters.

i have to say that red (like a cranberry red) is making a comeback thanks to banana republic. i got some satinlike capris from there last week.

and this is my summer of the 2- to 3-inch heeled sandals. no more of those thongs and flats for me. i'm 23 and i need to start dressing like the professional lady i am....

I too agree that you have to mix and match though. I have bought a coach bag and some payless shoes in the same day.

ROAR!

Hey, there is a special skill in knowing when to trick up your money and when to scale back on the spending. Always gotta have some money left over at the end of the day. :D :cool:

ETA: Steeltrap, can I move in with you? I must get to those stores at once!!!!!!

so today i FINALLY bought these today in black..yay!

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/products/n/F3X2706_n.jpg

i too have purchases to share:

i got my FIRST kate spade bag/continental wallet last week from bloomingdales. woohoo.

i'm on my way to being a REAL lady!!

Welcome to the KS owner family.:cool:

thanks kindly. It's the from the noel collection and it's not bc that's my middle name. i just love the bag that i have and i think i've started a craze. another girl at here at my job just got her first ks too and some kate spade shoes. they are adorable.

It's an addictive label. I'd like more shoes, however. They're a bit hard to find, even in SoCal, but maybe I'll find some in Vegas at the Neiman's outlet.

A KS store just opened up by me in Georgetown. It's all I can do not to go in with the credit card.... you girls are killing me!

I'm putting a new pair of jeans on Mr. Jaggerboy's Spring Fashion Wish List. I read on a fashion cite that the jeans Adrien Brody wore at the MTV Movie Awards were Levi's (don't know what kind. Red Tab? Type 1?) so we may need to head to the store. Adrien was looking real good.

Also: what do you girls think of parisols? You know those little paper umbrellas that keep the sun off you? I saw some when I was in SoHo and I'm thinking about picking one up for the summer.

Where I live, the summertime temperature can be 100 plus on some days, so I will put up my regular umbrella.

So I say, if its hot enough...get one!

For those who have big caiche-fu
 

Hermes' sale starts Aug. 22. I've heard, however, that scarves and classic stuff may not be on sale, but there may be shoes and clothes.

i just bought myself a little present...

http://www.coach.com/assets/product_...20_KHDO_d1.jpg

i am LOVING it :)

well i just bought my FIRST piece of tiffany jewelry. i know many of you are well ahead of me in this department, but i just wanted to share my purchase with all of you! I bought a silver chain with an open-heart pendant. i love it. i really wanted to get the platinum horseshoe (like the one carrie wears on SITC) but it was a bit out of my price range... maybe i'll get that for myself for christmas...

YAY for me!

My sister just got this for her b-day.
http://www.tiffany.com/shopping/zoom...p?sku=13650101

you know that's something else that i want too. i want that and the mesh ring to match. that's very nice.

Re: Re: In my dreams:
 

why am i feeling you on this? i have TOO much pink in my summer wardrobe: shirts, skirts, sneakers, pashmina... People are like: "aren't you a zeta? where's your blue and white?" But i can't help myself. Pink is the color of this season and it looks good on me.

I am wearing pink right now. I bought a hot pink bikini for my trip. ;)

TTT/more pink
 

It's too bad that these are a size too small. I would love having these lil' numbers from J.P. Tod's:

http://ebay2.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_...1001/i-1_B.JPG

I want Seven Jeans, a pink Coach purse, Tiffany Jewelry, a Burberry bikini and a body that would actually look good in the bikini. KLP colors aren't pink either, but I don't care cuz it's not like someone's exactly rushing out to design a summer collection in navy blue and gray.

I HEAR YOU!!!
lol
I'm still waiting for blue and white to become the hottest colors.

They are in Israel, but I doubt that really helps ya. ;) :cool:

Re: TTT/more pink
 

Cute shoes. :) Perfect for that outfit that I was wearing.

Now I am wearing blue and grey. :)

eBay
 

These are wonderful. Size 7s, for $45, you can have these. I'd get them if they were in my size, and of course, they are pink:

http://ebay3.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_...401d/i-3_T.JPG

ETA: Speaking of major crackrock (reference to earlier post), Neiman Marcus is having its shoe sale. Great stuff, but how come those shoes cost more than my car payment?
:p

Re: eBay
 

I SAW that sale, thinking it was going to be a real "sale." Uh, no. Some of those shoes were more than I'll be paying for rent--in Manhattan! :eek: I consider myself a seeeeerious bargain shopper.

bluz4, pink is the color for EVERY season. ;) I don't think my sorority colors (green and red) will be hitting the stores together anytime soon. :D

I need to get a new totebag for this fall...any suggestions? Many of you here have more fashion sense than I'll ever have.

Re: Re: eBay
 

well i never noticed the wide array of pink offered till this spring and summer. and i've fallen victim to it. hell my shirt right now is a pink/white stripe blouse from urban outfitters.

as for totes, i heard coach is coming out with some great bags for the fall. they drop the line in august, i think. great and deep browns, reds and plums.. woohoo. i need more plums. if coach is not in the price range, my mom got this great tote from gap. a vibrant orange. not my speed, but still a great bag.

Re: Re: eBay
 

The shoes had me shaking my head with those prices. Yes, I like a nice kitten-heeled Manolo Blahnik, but not at $300 or so.

has anyone used ebay and been satisfied? that site sells everything from manolos to louis vuitton bags. i'm like whoa at the bidding prices. i mean if you're going to bid 1,000 on something, just go in the store and get it. but i remind myself that not everyone lives in a city where neiman's and saks are right around the corner.

i'm just hesitant to bid on prada purse. i mean suppose it's not real? anybody use that site to get those to-die-for items?

I surf eBay all the time, but have never bought.
I also shake my head at some of those buy prices -- I guess that's because I'm in an area where there are plenty of retail outlets and alternative retail.

Mainly, I use eBay as a comparison tool. And most of my deals were scored at secondhand or outlet stores, such as my last Kate Spade.

And I think your hesitation is justified about bidding on some of these items. Somewhere, I read that only 2,000 of the LV Murakami white purses, a particular model, were made. So I highly doubt that the flood of 'kamis on eBay are genuine. Same thing for many of the Hermes Birkins.

that's why i love GC. Thank you for that validation!

What about selling stuff on ebay? Has anyone tried it? I have a pair of shorts with the wrong letters (they have Kappa Alpha Psi on them and I'm in Kappa Lambda Psi) on them that Greek101 sent me by mistake and let me keep and I'm obviously not gonna wear them since it's the wrong organization, but I dunno if it's reliable to sell something on ebay.