RSS and Email Update Notification Links....

Can now be found to the right - just in case you use RSS or would like to receive an e-mail when I finally get around to posting new content! (I'm new to the whole RSS, e-mail notification thing -- so I hope this works!)

Are you an Apple, a Pear....

Or a Ruler?

Well get yourself over to A Dress A Day for a great post on body shape types and how to dress them to achieve different looks.

I think one of the great obstacles women face as they grow older is the change in their body shapes. All of a sudden the clothes you wore so successfully for so long, no longer work. Coming to terms with that change and learning how to dress that new body is one of the first and perhaps most difficult hurdles to get over - but once you do, I'm thinkin' that the rest of the trip to a look you can live with, and yes maybe love, is a lot easier to develop!

You Know the Drill.......

'Nuf said!

Shopping Alert!....

Okay. It's Friday and payday (for somebody, I'm sure!). So if there are any dollars left after the bills get paid.....


Kate Spade's got another sale going on (What, is she taking tips from Macy's?):



Kate Spade Sale

Looks like the Liz C. group is firing with both barrels for fall:




Liz Claiborne Fall Sale




Elisabeth Fall Sale

(Now if you have been reading this blog, you'll notice that I posted the 15% off sale in an earlier post. However, as the e-mail I just recieved stated "up to 60% off" -- so I figure it might be worth it to post it again....)

And Forth and Towne is already getting on their holiday groove....




Forth & Towne


Enjoy!

Okay...Now this is just wrong.....

Look, I've got a soft spot for Hello Kitty, but really how soft a spot do you have to have to justify this....





Hello Kitty Diamond Pendant

$4,250.00 baby!

And for those of you who have another $5000.00 to blow and feel you need a matching ring....




Hello Kitty Pave Diamond Ring

Honey, where else but at Needless Markup. Enough said.

(But I have to admit -- they are pretty cute! Just not 10 grand worth!)

Bargains from The Budget Fashionista....

Keeping on the subject of deals.....

If the Elisabeth sale has just wet your whistle, get thee over to The Budget Fashionista for her October coupons and deals newsletter...

The Budget Fasionista Coupons and Deals Newsletter

And while you're over there, if you haven't signed up for the newsletter, do so! EVERY Fashionista can use a bargain!

Speaking of Elisabeth....

There's another sale going on over there! 15% off any regularly priced item.

If you've got a mind to, surf on over! Here's the link....

Elisabeth 15% Off Sale

A tale of 3 Returns - Part 1

As you know if you’ve been reading the blog, I’ve made several clothing purchases over the past month or so - some in the real world and some in the virtual. Of course with varying success. And varying success leads to – yeah you know – returns.

So far I’ve had to deal with three from three different retailers – Sears.com, Lane Bryant and Elisabeth.com. Here’s the first post on how each of them faired as far as dealing with returns:

Sears.com: The online Sears site states that you can return your online purchases to any physical Sears store (that sounds so weird as I type it!).

That’s exactly what I did with a pair of black Covington pants that did not fit correctly (which was weird in and of itself since I already own a gray pair of the same model which fit perfectly! This is the kind of thing that makes women crazy when it comes to shopping – but I digress).

Actually I had to try this return twice, but through no fault of the store – I did not read the instructions for returns as carefully as I should have. Seems that the confirmation e-mail you’re sent is the important document to have with you when making the exchange – not the packing slip – because the RC# for each item is listed in that e-mail. The sales clerk will need that number in order to complete the return. By the way, my sympathies to the Sears sales staff – on both occasions they were aware that online purchases can be returned at the store – but it does not appear that they have been trained on HOW it’s to be done!

Despite that fact, both times the sales staff was very accommodating and took whatever time it took to find out how to do the exchange. Once the how was established, the return went like clockwork – no troubles!

So hat’s off to Sears.com – they are as good as their word! Kudos to their sales staff as well!

Note to Sears: Do your staff a favor and give them some training on this process okay? You can make both their lives and the lives of your customers just a bit easier!

It's been a crazy few days....

So I've not had a chance to post. Watch this space, through! New posts should be coming up starting later today!

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A visit to the The Pretty Pear and the ever popular The Budget Fashionista has brought to my attention that it is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

So....

1. Ladies, if you haven't had the girls checked out for this year, get to it! Yes, it's an uncomfortable, boob squeezin' experience - but a potentially life saving one as well. So don't put it off!

2. Make a visit to either of the sites mentioned above for tips on how to contribute to the cause. Both have several entries outlining offers from businesses donating part of your purchase to Breast Cancer research. In addition, the Pear has a link to The Breast Cancer Site where a click on the Fund Free Mammograms link can help provide free mammograms to women in need.

3. For more info click on over to the National Breast Cancer Foundation site. And of course the American Cancer Society website.

My newest bag.....

As I said in an earlier post, I unfortunately did not have 200+ bucks to drop on a Kate Spade - even on sale! (It looks like SOMEBODY did through -- when I checked the Kate Spade sale page the next day there was not a one of the bags I liked left!). However, I did have 60 bucks...And I did buy a purse!

Of course there is a story to this purchase (Isn't there always for any purchase?)...

In the past, I was not a big fan of wristlets. If there was a reason, it was probably because I didn't see it as a legitimate purse -- after all what the heck can be carried in that little thing?

My pride, however, was brought low when I purchased a couple of pairs of pants that do not have pockets (through I could have sworn when I ordered them that the description said with pockets!).

Now, I'm not a person for pocketless pants, but I came to love these - and that left me with a quandary - where do I carry my stuff when I make those short trips during the day, far enough to need money and/or keys on me, not far enough to need to carry a purse.

The answer - a wristlet that came with a loved Franklin Covey tote bag I was carrying at the time.

You know the rest -- I fell in love - and hard - with the whole wristlet thing!

I decided that I'd like to get a black one (the wristlet that came with the tote is blue) so I thought I'd splurge a bit and spend around 50 - 60 bucks to buy a Coach.

But then I was in my local Franklin Covey to get a refill for my binder -- and what should I see but a black hobo tote! And, as it is with the Franklin totes, it had a wristlet (Or as Anna Johnson charmingly describes it in her wonderful book, Handbags: The Power of the Purse "a satellite (or dinghy) bag") that came with the bag.

The cost for the pair? About $60.00 on sale!

Hummm....$60.00 for a leather wristlet - or $60.00 for a leather bag AND a wristlet -

I brought the bag of course!

Here's the new ship of state with the "dinghy":

Franklin Covey Tote and Wristlet

Here's the inside. I'm not usually one for pink, but it does work well with black. And I love the little detail of the dragonfly print, continuing the dragonfly motif from the enamel charm on the purse, in a pale almost mint green.




Now I know that most women don't think Franklin Covey when they go handbag shopping. But over the past few years, they have developed an excellent line of business totes - ostensibly to carry your binder, pda, cell phone, etc. But this is my second one, and I find that they make great, durable and good looking bags in general. And you can often find very nice ones on sale. So if you have a Covey near by, check them out -- you might be pleasantly surprised at what you find!

Shopping Alert!.....

When I said the sales just keep on comin' -- I had no idea!

Looks like the Liz Claiborne group is making a full court press this fall...

An extra 25% off sale items on the Elisabeth.com site. Check it out at the following link...

Elisabeth Sale

And yes, this time I could not resist! I've made the following purchases:

Elisabeth Silk Charmeuse Pleated Skirt

Elisabeth Silk Blend Pointelle Shell

Elisabeth Silk Blend Pointelle Cardigan


As I've stated before, I own a couple of pieces from Liz C's plus size lines, but I've never purchased anything from the online Elisabeth site. So I'll let you know how this turns out!

Shopping Alert!......

They just keep on comin'.....


Elisabeth Liz Claiborne's Plus Size division, is having a sale on their Fall 2006 collection. Check it out at the following link:


Elisabeth Fall 2006 Sale

Liz has a lovely plus size collection covering both career and causal clothes. I've purchased from the old Village collection (a navy summer jacket and drawstring pants that remain sleek enough for work, wonderfully comfortable and one of my favorite spring - summer outfits.) and I also own an Emma James sweater. The quality is everything you would expect from Liz.

I've not ordered from the web site as yet, so I can't speak to the experience of buying these clothes online. But if the quality is anything like what I've purchased in the store, you'll be pleased.

So if you have a chance, go on over and check them out!

To: NY Mag Fashion Page - I love ya, but....

What is up with the snub of the Elena Miro runway shows!

For you who don't know, Elena Miro' is an Itatilan fashion house who specializes in clothes for plus size women. Beautiful, ready to wear clothes.



Take a look....From the Fall 2006 collection...










As you can see -- no fear of curves here! All pics credit to FirstView - get yourself over there and check out the whole collection! 'Cause you sure as hell can't do so on the New York Magazine Fashion Show Page -- gee I wonder why!

Fear of curves perhaps?.....

Shopping Alert!.....

Kate Spade is having a 25% off sale on selected styles....

Kate Spade 25% Sale

My favs from the sale:

Madison Park Eley Small

Madison Park Eley Large

Sigh...Unfortunately I don't have 200+ dollars right now to drop on a purse (I did however, have $60.00 -- but that's an upcoming post!)

Anyway, if you do -- check it out!

Shopping Alert!.....

Forth & Towne (The Gap's "grownups" store) is having a 50% off sale on new fall pieces.

Check them out at the following link:

Forth & Towne: New Season, New Elegance

I've not had a chance to check out their stores here in the ChiTown area (but I signed up for their e-mail list - go figure!) -- I'll have to plan a field trip! But the pieces on the website do look lovely. Even better - their sizes range from 2 - 20! Go Gap! (But come on guys -- get an online store going on on this site, okay?)

A few samples:

From their Allegory collection - A great work outfit:

Ruffle shirt and skirt

From their Prize collection - This one would move easily from work to evening:

Silk Blouse and Trouser

From their Vocabulary collection - a simply lovely silk dress:

Silk Dress



As you can see, the Gap is really kickin' it up a notch with the Forth and Towne stores! And the prices don't make you feel like you're choosing between a dress and your rent!

So if you've got a F & T near you, check 'em out -- and let me know if you find something you love!

Okay - We buy their stuff but they feel free to dish us? What the f*ck is up with that???

Seems that the Budget Fashionista got trashed by the LCYRA rep at NYC Fashion week Denim Lounge. For all the dirty details go to the following:

Spring Fashion Week Day 8: LYCRA to Plus Size Women: Don't Wear Our Products?


Her comments on this tale of the sorry behavior of this company's rept brings to the fore the basic conflict between the people who produce "fashion" and the majority of the folks who buy it.

Her observations on the back door way designers treat the general public are quite right. Designers tout their "collections" and fawn over the celebs and well-heeled clients in public -- but the bread and butter of their operations are the nom de plume clothes they knock out in anonymous sweat shops all over the world and sell in JC Penney's, Macy's, Walmart, Target, etc.

Meanwhile they turn their collective noses up at the sight of the "unsightly" common folk (e.g. Karl Lagerfeld, who obviously has NO sense of irony - or how ridiculous he sounds taking about other people's girth - as if we've all forgotten how HE used to waddle through the world) -- who's money they're happy to take while pretending they don't. (Case in point: I love the AK Anne Klein clothes line -- but if you go to Anne Klein's site you'll see no mention of it. What's up with that?)

Kudos to the Budget Fashionista for not taking such treatment lying down and at the same time remaining a class act. To bad LCYRA can't say the same for the people they pay to represent them!

The Budget Fashionista Reviews Isaac Mizahi's Latest at Target

Get yourself on over to the The Budget Fashionista for her take on Isaac Mizahi's latest offerings at Target.

Stuff I love....

If you get a chance, try out the Olay Moisturinse in Shower Body Lotion. I tried it on a whim and I'm glad I did! It works like a charm and is particularly great if you're in a rush in the morning and want to be ready to roll right out of the shower!

The catch (and there's always a catch, right?) is that it's sometimes hard to find -- for awhile I thought they'd decided to discontinue it. But I'm happy to say it appears that is not the case -- so feel free to love it! I'm most successful finding it at Target.

you can find more info at the following link:

Olay Moisturinse In Shower Body Lotion

Give it a go -- I don't think you'll be disappointed!

When is thin too thin?…When it IS damn it!

I’d thought that I would do a long post on the whole too thin vs. normal model thing that I’ve been reading about as of late. However, since the whole controversy has been going on for at least a week, it just seemed like old news.

I figured I could sum the whole thing up as follows:

1. Spain is right -- the models walking down the runway right now are little more than walking skeletons – THAT should be apparent to any but the blind. So much so, that after looking at pictures of the fall and now spring collections, my eyes began to hurt – that’s how painful all those boney knees were lookin’. And it does become a distraction at some point – you’re looking harder at the model and wondering what the hell is up with how she’s looking than you are at the clothes!

2. Fashion is one of the only places that misrepresentation of your wares is acceptable – because it is just plain misrepresentation to display clothes for women on little girls who are not only bone skinny, but mostly 13 – 18 year olds as if they will look that good on your customer – 30 – 60 year olds who are the ONLY ones who have the money to buy these things!

As for the designers complaining that it will interfere with their “creative vision” if they have to pick models with a more “normal” (I’m thinking normal for most women 5‘ 3” these days is more like 130 – 40 lbs rather than 125 lbs – but I guess you have to start somewhere…) models – well that’s just an admission on their part that they can’t really create clothes that look good on women as they actually exist in the world.

3. Women are as much to blame for this sorry state of affairs as any designer is. We not only tolerate this nonsense – we encourage it by oohing and ahhing over these collections and, where the dollars are there, buying the clothes. Why? – Because very few women can face how they really look. We WANT to believe that these clothes will make us look like those “willowy” young things on the catwalk – when a simple, unvarnished look in the mirror would dispel that fancy in a hurry! But how many of us (myself included) can really bring ourselves to do that? Instead we usually end up doing one of two things:

a. Putting ourselves in clothes which make us look absolutely ridiculous or
b. Giving up and allowing ourselves to look like something the cat dragged in.

What we should do, in my humble opinion, is dress ourselves honestly – in other words, take an honest look at ourselves, find ways to dress ourselves that take advantage of our good points (and every woman alive has some good point she can play to!) and minimizes the things that, frankly, we wish we didn’t have to deal with. And we should reward those purveyors of clothing that display their clothing honestly – on various sized models and mannequins that really allow you an idea of what these outfits will look like on real women. (Yeah, yeah it will be a shock all the way around – but get over it!)

We’d all live – and dress - a lot saner for it.

(And yes, this still ended up being rather longer than I intended!)