Posts Tagged ‘Zappos’

Waiting for sales to start?

November 4th, 2009

When the fall shopping season started, I read the articles that said shoppers shouldn’t expect the same deep discounts they found last year. I thought that was good, last year was excessive. Many retailers went out of business because of the steep markdowns. I felt guilty at some of the prices I paid.

But I also don’t want to be the one poor sap that pays full price when waiting a couple of weeks would get me the item I love at 30% cheaper.

Stuart Weitzman 50/50 OTK Boots

Stuart Weitzman 50/50 OTK Boots

Now we are approaching the sale season. Stores are starting, or getting ready to start, their fall markdowns – many have already been doing “special” promotions here and there. But inventories are running thin. I know in my store, we are out of a few of the season’s most coveted pieces.

Then a hard lesson for myself – the one item that I had my heart set on for the season was a pair of Stuart Weitzman 50/50 over-the-knee boots. These boots are at Zappos, Shopbop, Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdales, etc. The problem for me is that every store is sold out of my size. Yes, if I were a size 5 ½ I could still get those lovelies. But as it stands now, I’m out of luck because I didn’t want to be the one that paid full price unnecessarily. My fault, I know. They were the subject of so much attention, I should have known better.

The truth in retail is that fashion pieces are bought early. Those of us that want the best items are going to have to pay full price. So if there is something that you love, you want, but you are waiting for it to go on sale, know that you risk losing it. There is a price for getting exactly what we want – and sometimes it’s full.

So maybe retail is on the comeback after all and that is worth losing my boots over.

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Accessories Wardrobe Part II – Scarves

October 19th, 2009

For Part II of building our accessories wardrobe started after Can the US Ever Lead in Fashion, let’s look at scarves. While definitely a staple in the European closet, they seem to be an after-thought in many parts of the US. Sure we use them in the colder areas of the country, but that’s usually to stay warm. The idea of a scarf as a basic accessory is still foreign to us.

Generally when we purchase a scarf, we will opt for a make-sure-it-goes-with-everything approach. This is the complete opposite of major European cities. A scarf is their accent and it transforms an outfit.

So cheap or expensive? Both and either.

bluechetascarf

A good friend from Paris goes once a year to Hermes and buys herself one new scarf. She proudly walks around that day with her distinctive orange bag feeling special. She now has 8 Hermes scarves in her closet. While I don’t splurge on Hermes, my personal favorite is Pucci. I love the color mixes they use. I’ve had some for more than a decade now. That’s the thing about buying an expensive scarf, you will have it for years and they are always “in” (or at least coming right back).

But buying an inexpensive scarf is also smart. It’s an easy way to add a trend that you don’t feel like spending a lot of money on. I saw the girl on the left in London and loved the way she added animal print in a trend color for little cost.

Jessica Simpson Knit Scarf - Zappos $46

Jessica Simpson Knit Scarf - Zappo's $46

Here’s an option from Jessica Simpson that has the same colors but in tartan. The turquoise gives an edge to what can be a plain-jane pattern. The fantastic part about inexpensive scarves is that you can experiment with colors and prints that you like but are a little nervous about. For me, I’m not really a red girl, but I’m going to add a red scarf this year. (Maybe it will break me out of my fear of that color).

Getting ready for this post, I went to some of my favorite US fashion blogs hoping to link information from them into this post. Each one listed accessories, but skipped scarves completely. Then I went to one of my favorite blogs abroad – Nicky’s Rag Tag Tales – and found an amazing gray and pomegranate pompom scarf. We are missing out, time to embrace the scarf.

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Accessories Wardrobe Part I – Belts

October 14th, 2009

A few weeks ago I wrote about how in my view, the US lagged behind the Europeans when it came to street fashion. Several great comments came back, but one of the best comments suggested that it was because the Europeans accessorize but in the US we tend not to bother with accessories.
we’re not so great at accessorizing–something that’s essential to street fashion (Linda Dyett, freelance writer and editor).

That got me thinking – what about our accessory wardrobes? Have we neglected them too long? How do we build one without wasting money?
The perception we have too often is that accessories are not a good use for our money, better to save for that great pair of jeans. Unfortunately if you don’t accessorize, those great jeans look like just another pair. So let’s build a smart accessories wardrobe.

Start with belts. We need a minimum of three. Your money should go to one wide, one skinny, and one studded.

A wide belt sets off a shirt dress (both should be staples in every gal’s closet).

Wide Belt

Wide Belt

It also goes with tunics and leggings, long oxfords that you grab from a boyfriend, or even a baggy tee that is terribly comfy but looks sloppy without some definition.

Banana Republic Wide Belt $60

Banana Republic Wide Belt $60

One nice thing about a buying a wide belt is that they are always in style so you can always find one, and you can usually find one on sale.

Cheta Print Skinny Belt

Cheta Print Skinny Belt

The skinny belt is the next one to add. Skinny belts should either be textured or patent.

Gap Skinny Belt $35

Gap Skinny Belt $35

If you opt for plain leather on a skinny belt, you might as well skip it because it can get lost in the outfit. Skinny belts are best for waist defining with jackets and sweaters. The more material you have, the smaller the belt should be or you risk adding bulk (something I am not fond of myself).

Calvin Klein Studded Belt - Zappos $51

Calvin Klein Studded Belt - Zappos $51

The last absolutely necessary belt is the studded belt for jeans. Pick a studded belt that has black, brown, and some metallic accents. If you find a belt with these three colors, it will go with everything.

Belts don’t have to be expensive, they are usually one of the first items each season that gets marked down so check the sales section. Make sure you have these three types then start adding ones that stand out to you. Also check vintage stores – maybe you’ll find an Hermes or Chanel belt that you will have for years.

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