Invitation Only Shopping

At the beginning of the fall semester of my junior year of college, my roommate's older sister sent her an online invitation to join a sample sale group called Ruelala. Lindsay trustingly accepted the invitation. I remember all 8 of the roommates curiously peering over her shoulder as we examined the website and digested how sample sales exactly worked. Lindsay quickly sent out an invitation to the rest of the roommates of 734 Greenwood and we've all been hooked on sample sales ever since.

Online Sample Sale sites are exclusive shopping communities that offer their members private access to high-end designer brands at incredibly discounted prices, normally around 60% off. These sample sales feature designers that regularly fill the racks at Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdales and high-end boutiques. Each day opens with a new sale, featuring a handful of luxury designer at a time. The designers are always changing and the sales are known to sell out very quickly.

It’s absolutely free to join. But due to high demand, insider prices and the many perks and privileges that come with membership, access can be extremely limited. Each sample sale website is invitation only. Like I mentioned earlier, in order to join one of these exclusive shopping communities, you will first need to be invited by someone who is already a member to the site or sign up to be put on a waiting list.

The sample sales that I am recommending to try out are the websites that I am personally a member of. I have made multiple purchases from all three of these websites and have obsessively shopped with each site for over a year now. I am a member of Hautelook, Gilt and Ruelala

At the beginning of each week, each website shows upcoming designer sales for the week. And since there are a limited amount of items and sizes of each item, if there is a specific designer sale that is coming up that you adore but can’t normally afford, it is important to make note of the sale so that you can log in right as the sale is about to open and hopefully get your desired item in your size.

For example, I have always loved to own a Kooba Jaylin bag, which can be regularly seen hanging on the arms of celebrities like Gossip Girl star, Blake Lively, and would cost $485 on expensive designer shopping websites like ShopBop.com. However, sample sale websites, Hautelook and Ruelala, both have had Kooba handbag sales within the last year, selling the coveted bag for over 60% at a price of $150. I missed my first opportunity to own a Kooba bag because Ruelala had sold out of Kooba Jaylin bags within 15 minutes of the sale first opening. But when I saw Hautelook was having a Kooba sale, I made it a priority to “win” my dream bag. So in order to beat out all the other online shopaholics, I may or may not have taken a break from taking notes during Chemistry 105 to claim my prize as soon as the sale opened up during my 9am class.

So hurry up and get on the waitlist, found at the homepage of any of these websites by clicking on the links above. Or if you’re too impatient to remain on the outside looking in, send out a mass email to all the shopaholics closest to you requesting an invitation to a sample sale. So you can continue to fuel your shopping addiction by becoming a member to these exclusive circles of people who appreciate high-end fashion but are unfortunately restricted to an ordinary budget.

The New Caricature

Look carefully, what do you see?:

I see caricatures of black men and women.

The ones from days long gone are blazing and unabashed in their racism. The new ones are thinly masked by the veil of style and music. These images are current and past mass distributed media of African-American people. The dominant narrative surrounding people of color in two different eras is remarkably similar. The miserable thing is that these messages are widely consumed by people across the world. 

“Apple Bottom” jeans, Rocawear, and G-Unit, all of these brands allow us to consume a stereotypical appearance and prejudiced ideas. Years ago the common sentiment towards people of color was a set of trepidations, a picture of an animal race: oversexed, dirty, stupid, and goofy. Now the widely diffused images carry mirror messages: ignorant, hypersexual, materialistic, and unintelligent. Now us consumers can pick up a shiny, freshly wrapped package of that old-time oppression and racism. By buying that bag of “hood-ware” we are participating in an institution that continues to oppress.

DIY Lesson: 90s Biker Dress

I’ve put together a step-by-step guide to show how cheap and easy it can be to make your very own "au currant" dress.  You need only a few items and, if you shop creatively, it should cost you less than $20.

  

(L: Christopher Kane for Topshop, R: Alexander Wang, Fall 2009, images via style.com)

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of what could best be described as “early 90s bad girl goes uptown to a chic nightclub dresses" popping up on all the Internet fashion sites. I guess it must be part of the current biker/grunge/punk/lowbrow craze in fashion, which includes band-aid and cutout dresses, leather, and lots of spike or pyramid studded apparel. As much as I try to avoid adhering to obvious trends, I couldn’t deny the fact that I really wanted a studded cutout dress. Probably because I think they’re cute in that kind of “alternative” way, like something I would have loved in the 9^th grade but didn’t have the guts to wear to school. Moreover, making my own version of the dress seemed like an easy and fun (not to mention cheap) activity  - it appealed to my primal arts-and-craft-sy side which, sadly, is often suppressed.

First, you need a plain black dress. Your dress can be in whatever style works best for you. However, shorter and tighter dresses (preferably from the early 90s) tend to convey the overall look with a lot more authenticity. If I remember correctly, I purchased mine from the Salvation Army store for $7.

  

Second, you need several items from your local fabric store –  I love the big Jo-Ann Fabrics out by Ypsilanti. You want scissors (which I assume you already own), fabric glue (Aleene’s Fabric Fusion works great), and several packs of metallic appliqués. You can really choose whatever appliqués you like best for your garment, but keep in mind that certain choices (rhinestones, faux gems, etc) can veer toward hokey and even bedazzled-esque. I settled on some fake metal studs because they were cheap ($2.99 for a pack of 30) and would give my dress that “authentic” look I was going for.  Finally, you might want to buy a white fabric pencil to mark the cutout patterns on your dress. I should have gotten one of these but I’m cheap and, for better or for worse, trust my eye’s instincts.

 After you have all your supplies ready, mark the cutout patterns on your dress. You are entitled to your own artistic freedom, but cutouts that are symmetrical and that mimic the conventional design patterns of dresses tend to look the best. Cut out the chunks of fabric leaving several holes in the dress.

Next comes the fun part (or the tedious part, depending on whom you ask…). Arrange the metallic appliqués in a pattern that you like and glue each of them down using the fabric glue. After the glue dries, your dress is complete!*

*Depending on the fabric, you may want to finish the seams around the cutouts so that the material doesn’t fray. I’m super lazy and impatient so I skipped this step, but hopefully will get around to finishing it later…

 

A Wonderful Winter

When I first got to the University of Michigan, I noticed that the main concern amongst the freshman was the weather. We all know that the state of Michigan gets cold. Not cold as in brrrr it’s chilly, I need to grab scarf on my way out. But cold as in, if I am outside and not wearing four pairs of socks, three sweaters, and the warmest coat in existence I will get frostbite and/or die. Now, I am no stranger to cold weather. I grew up in the city of Chicago, about four hours from Ann Arbor, and along with wind so strong it can lift you off your feet, we have plenty of days so cold it’s dangerous to go out doors.

The thing about winters in Ann Arbor that makes them seem so much colder than they are is the amount of time spent outside in the cold. The time I spent outside during my adolescent winters in Chicago was minimal. I went directly from my house to the car and directly from the car into my school, followed by the reverse process to get home. Therefore, my coat did not need to be the most practical piece of equipment.

When talking to older students about how people deal with the winter, all replied the same way. “Ever girl in Ann Arbor looks the same in the winter, they wear those long black North Face coats and a pair of Uggs. We can never tell who any one is!”
After hearing this, I thought, Okay I can get a long coat, that seems practical. But look like everyone else? Not okay with me. Thus I embarked on a mission to find a long, warm winter coat that was not only different, but one that did not empty my wallet.

DKNY "Bethany Circe" Down Coat

The classic long North Face “Metropolis” coat hits just at the knee—depending on your height—and boasts a very warm 600 fill down insulation and costs about $280. Working within this price point, Bloomingdales.com offers two great coats that meet all your needs for winter. The first is the DKNY “Bethany Cire” Down Coat that costs $278. This coat not only has a hood, but an extremely warm knit collar to keep any wind or snow from sneaking inside and cooling you down. In addition to the warm down fill, there is an inside zipper that keeps your coat close and snug to your body for extra warmth.



Laundry by Shelli Seagal Coat

The second is a coat from Laundry by Shelli Segal and costs $286. This coat is as long as the DKNY
 coat and it has great angled stitching so even thought you are covered in puffy material your figure doesn’t get lost and you don’t look larger than you actually are—a common problem with puffy down filled jackets. Along with warm down fill this coat has a hood lined with faux fur, which is great for blocking snow from your face and keeping those cheeks warm.





 L.L.Bean Coat

For those who want to spend a little less, L.L.Bean makes the coat for you. At $149 this coat keeps all the bang for way less buck without losing a bit of style. With 650 fill down you’re going to be warm wherever you walk in this coat. It also has a faux fur hood, quilted stitching and a boxy fit. If you find yourself getting tired of buying a basic black coat winter after winter, this one comes in five different colors including a soft periwinkle blue and a vibrant red.


  

Marc New York Coat

The final and cheapest option is a Marc New York coat, sold by the Burlington Coat Factory for $99. This coat is filled with 60% duck down and while it is definitely a warm coat, it’s probably not the warmest option out of all the choices. It has a faux fur hood for keeping your face warm and vertical stitching to elongate your frame and keep you from looking too big in a puffy jacket.




   

 Mukluks

Now, what is just as important as your coat are the accessories you wear with it.  If you are looking for an alternative to Uggs, endless.com sells knockoffs of the very stylish and very warm boots called Mukluks.  They have furry insulation and are covered in faux rabbit fur on the outside.  However, the prices range on the high side (around $200) but the original Mukluks cost about $400 and to me it’s worth it to keep those toes warm.  I’ve found that Urban Outfitters always has very cute and moderately priced hats and gloves. Urban Outfitters has several great knit beanie hats for keeping you warm. My two favorites are the BDG Cable Knit Beanie for $20 and the BDG Ribbed Slouchy Beanie for $28 both of which come in five different colors. These hats are thick knits and they are offered in a wide variety of colors so you can match them with whichever coat you choose.

Another accessory I would not face the winter without are convertible gloves. I hate mittens because I always find myself needing take them off in the cold to pick something up or use my fingers. With convertible gloves there is a pocket that you can cover the tips of your fingers with, creating a mitten, but if you ever need to use your hands you can take off the mitten part without completely removing the glove. Genius! Urban Outfitters sells the Solid Convertible Glove for $16 and it comes in four great colors, my favorite being the red. To add just a little more individuality to your look, check out forever21.com for a huge assortment of cheap scarves in many different fabrics and patterns.

I am fully confident that with a little careful shopping we can all face this winter with a minimum risk of frostbite or blending in with the crowd.

Sky-High Heights or Steady on the Ground?

       











Let’s get creative for a minute. Imagine it’s nine o’clock on a Friday night and you’re standing in front of your closet trying to decide which shoes go best with the ensemble you’re wearing. A pair of dramatic sky-high heels or a pair of elegant yet comfortable flats? From my experience, there are “heels” people and there are “flats” people. “Heels” people will always be wearing heels on a night out. Always. No matter how many blisters they have or how far they have to walk. They are wearing those heels. “Flats” people would rather die than trot around in pain all night. They need to be comfortable. Period. And their outfit will just have to deal with it. Granted, there is that population that falls in between the two extremes. Their choice between heels and flats depends solely on what they are in the mood for at the time. So what should we wear? Should we teeter around in pretty heels that make our legs look great and end our evening crying in pain? Or should we sacrifice the extra inches and saunter around gracefully in our sleek flats never needing to carry a secret stash of Band-Aids in our purse?

Now, I’m going to be honest here, I am hugely biased. I have an unhealthy obsession with heels. I would wear heels rain or shine every day and everywhere if it was physically possible. Unfortunately, those great pieces of architecture make my ankles hurt. Badly. However, I can take the pain for several hours because anything that adds a few inches to my 5’3’’ frame is a friend of mine. To me, a pair of heels is the ultimate accessory that can perfectly complete an outfit. They can be the perfect statement piece when six inches high and covered in straps and buckles or in the great bold color of your choice. Or they can be worn undercover, under wide leg jeans to make your legs seem way longer than they actually are. And besides, everyone just looks better when they are wearing heels. End of story, no negotiating. A woman in a great pair of heels demands attention. She looks tall, powerful and, in the words of Tyra Banks, fierce. If I am ever having a bad day, I’ll put on my favorite pair of heels and walk around a little bit and instantly feel better.

On the other hand, when worn incorrectly, heels can have the opposite affect. There is nothing worse than seeing a woman wobbling around in a pair of heels that she just cannot walk in. In this case, even I would advise said person to take them off. It is possible to master the art of walking in heels; you just have to be wearing the right ones. When it comes to gracefully walking in heels, it’s all about the fit. In my opinion, a heel with a wedge, sling back, or strap that fastens around the ankle are the easiest to walk in. When wearing a simple slip on it’s easy for your foot to come out the back, which makes walking a very difficult task. Also, if you’re going to be wearing heels, go all the way. Three inches or more ladies, nothing less. If your foot is larger than a size 6, a short “kitten” heel, can actually make your foot appear larger than it is. And lets be honest, duck feet are not very attractive.

If you are like a certain 5’9’’ friend of mine, you would rather eat paste than wear a pair of heels in public. She is a true “flats” girl through and through. No matter where she is going, she is in flats. A chic pair of flats can add a great amount of sophistication to an outfit. A white shirt, skinny jeans, and a pair of black flats is my go-to outfit when I want to be comfortable but still look classic and chic. Now, my friend’s height helps her get away with flats when heels would have been the better option, but flats go with just about anything. On a night out when you just can’t bear the thought of heels, there is nothing wrong with throwing on a cute little dress and a pair of flats. If you don’t own a pair already, simple black flats are the ultimate staple item that everyone should have in their wardrobe.

So, heels or flats? The choice is yours but with either option you can’t go wrong. If you run into me on a night out, 99.9% of the time I’ll be wearing a pair of heels, but catch me during the day and I’ll definitely be wearing my perfectly worn in black ballet flats.

images from Style.com and Google images

my post about trench coats...

I’m sure you’ve all heard of those girls - whether real or fictionalized – who can never have too many of the same thing…shoes, handbags, earrings, etc. While I can’t really relate to such fashion obsessions, there is this one item that I am constantly coveting: the trench coat. Perhaps my love for them stems from the fact that the weather in Michigan is so unpredictable. It could also be their classic design and comfortable fit. No matter how gross I feel, when I put on a trench I instantly feel put together. When I pair a trench coat with some nude nylons and low-heels, I easily complete my “signature look.”

The trench coat made its first appearance on the battlefields of World War I. Worn primarily as military gear until the end of the Second World War, the trench coat became fashionable around the middle of the century and has been so ever since. Female style icons such as Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s popularized the trench coat as chic outerwear, and fashion houses such as Burberry have cemented the trench coat in the canon of quintessential fashion – making it so that that every woman can pull off a classically cosmopolitan style.  The trench continues to be a favorite of flashers and fashion lovers alike.

I probably own at least a dozen trench coats, and my collection is always growing.  I rely on second hand stores to facilitate my love of trench coats. As I’m sure you know by now, I invariably prefer vintage coats to new ones. However, all personal aesthetic preferences aside, a vintage tag usually means higher quality. Further, since the trench coat is one of those rare clothing items that will never really go out of style, you can wear one from virtually any decade without looking overly retro or costume-y. For example, compare a classic tan trench to a polyester llama trim jacket – which do you think is more practical? 

I get really excited whenever I find a trench coat that fits well since most tend to be too large on me. The other day I was utterly delighted after unwittingly finding this adorable trench coat at Value World. My friend, who was naturally concerned with my monetary well being, told me that I really didn’t really need another one. While she may have a point, I feel that no two trench coats are ever alike and each one lends a unique twist to a classic style. I have compiled a list of my favorite ones in order to prove that you don’t need to pay a lot of money to infinitely enhance any fall or winter wardrobe.    

     $7 at Goodwill. I bought this one in Hibbing, Minnesota. It is conveniently waterproof, and the tag says “Made in Yugoslavia” – which automatically makes it cooler than any other garment in the room.

2.    

     Also $7 at the Hibbing Goodwill. For some reason, this trench coat reminds me of something Catherine Deneuve would wear in Belle de Jour. It fits me perfectly and the classic French tailoring and white piping detail makes me feel very sophisticated, no matter how disheveled I actually am. Good for anytime I want to look “fashionable” – whether I’m riding my bike or heading off to somewhere really high-end.

       

     $5.80 at the Ann Arbor Value World– this jacket’s material reminds me of a space-age eggshell. It’s very sleek and modern, but with a dingy feel to it– sort of like how I imagine New York City was in the early 80s – and has effortlessly stylish feel to it that comes across without trying too hard. It also has a zipper instead of buttons. I took several inches off the bottom and made the shoulders slightly less accentuated so it would look more timeless.

      

     $11.80 at Value World. I love this trench coat because it makes me feel like a 1970s spy. Proof that you can sport a leather trench coat without looking like someone out of The Matrix. Good to wear to a smoky bar, or somewhere else where you want to appear rougher than you really are. It also has a hood which makes it well suited for rainy weather. Also, its grungy feel perfectly compliments any hungover or un-showered look (whether intentional or not).

        

    $6.80 at Value World. This one is my aforementioned purchase; so obviously it is currently my favorite trench coat. It has a hood (which I love…) and the inside and piping is a maroon shade that peaks out around the cuffs and collar. Its stylish puff sleeves make the coat look very sweet and demure. Also a plus: it was made in Romania... 

[On Second Thought, I'll Try Not To Address You With Unsavory Language]: Students of SWC 200

Today, I would like to drop a little bit of knowledge into mental spheres. I don't use my angry Black woman voice for my health, if I thought you all understood I would not be writing this. Women are not limited to talking about or wearing solely women’s clothing. Gay men are not the only men who dress up nicely on a regular basis. Non-gay men do not always dress like slobs. Every style falls into a stereotype, which one are you conforming to? This is a set of interviews, this is a loaded topic, and this is a review. Let's scale the tip of the iceberg and explore this overview of how individuals are steered to think.  Think of this as a “Clothing and Society: State of the Union”.

After class last week, I drew up some questions about the role of clothing in stereotypes, conformity, and rebellion. I met with several different people of various minority identities and picked their brains so that I could present to you the various different ways there are to think about, write about, be about fashion.

Nice clothes are not just for queers.

“I like to wear colorful clothing and that is associated with homosexual men. People have come up to me and asked if I am gay. However, I dress this way to be perceived as business like.

It’s about conditioning.

“I’ve always been stylish. My family has always been stylish. Dad would dress up just to go to the store. Stereotypically, I’m supposed to be a thug… with baggy jeans, tall tees, but I don’t like that. The way I grew up has directed me to appear in a way different from society projects [for heterosexual Black men].”

Dress (and express yourself otherwise) as you would like to be perceived.

“I want to dress nicely because I have a higher standard. Button ups, slacks, the way that I dress is not a reflection of homosexuality, it’s a reflection of how I want to move up in society.”

Put on their shoes.

“When I dress androgynously I feel like people judge me more now because I have shorter hair, but at the same time, it is more acceptable or me to dress this way than it is for a man do defy the gender norms [through dress]. It’s all about personal style. I love guy’s shoes, the leather dress shoes.”

I’m a – insert identity + preconceived notions about said identity here -

“I do dress feminine, but I do like to mix it up sometimes. I think that people see me as ‘the quirky Asian’. Like on TV, Gilmore girls for example, you have the quirky Asian.”

Why does it matter?

If you identify as a heterosexual male and you are currently wearing gross old sweat pants, a grey hoodie, sporting an awful hairdo or cap, you are conforming to a stereotype too, and there are negative connotations attached to the way you present yourself. Is it a bad thing to be gay? Is it a bad thing to be Black? Is it a bad thing to be female?  If not, why do people get so bent out of shape, wary, or confused when individuals choose to break the stereotypes of their various identities and express themselves in the way they feel most comfortable?

Go Blue, Live Green...Really?

Must I be the first person to admit to shopping at thrift stores and not be ashamed? If you were wondering, I SHOP AT THRIFT STORES AND I DON’T CARE WHO KNOWS IT! Not that the cat is out of the used bag I invite other thrifters to stand up here with me, the view is quite nice *Tips hat to fellow U of M clothing blogger Lauren A*. For a community that relishes recycling and canvas tote bags, people are awfully shy about where they shop and what they spend. Everyone is so wrapped in what they look like that they forget that purchasing new clothes, shoes, and accessories produces waste and helps drain the worlds resources. By shopping at places like Goodwill, Value Village, and other second hand stores, money is saved and so are resources.

I like to do my part in saving the earth at Value Village. The first time I experienced Value Village I was walking around Capitol Hill with two of my good friends (thrift shopping is always more enjoyable when accompanied by people as adventurous as yourself). We ventured into the old building, which was surrounded by hipster bars and cafés. At first our trip to Value Village was a grand joke. We tried on outlandish shorts, ridiculous hats, and made fun of the multitude of bizarre objects. I found a pair of horrendous black, neon pink and teal Bermudas, made out the strangest tracksuit material, they were almost to terrible to speak of… but as soon as I discovered a pair of retro blue pants and my hipster friend found a red plaid blazer we were in gear.

Value Village on Capitol Hill is two stories high. Rack after rack of used women’s clothing, T-shirts, blouses, and jeans call the first floor home – in addition to Halloween props, accessories, and hats. The second floor houses cookware, knickknacks, appliances and men’s clothes, and my favorite, TIES! Half of the back wall is devoted to ties. You won’t find necessarily the most professional assortment of ties but there is a fun assortment. All in all our excavation produced 7 For All Mankind denim, ties and some neat vintage pieces, with all of that we headed to the dressing rooms. While dingy, a bit dank, and lacking mirrors, they did serve their purpose. Value Village provides Seattle with casual, funky, and some professional pieces.

The reason that I like Value Village so much is because everything is organized and sorted by size. Crossroads Trading CO (while high end and hip), Goodwill, and Salvation Army help give thrift stores a bad name. In all of those locations, treasure after treasure can be found except for that they are covered in unorganized piles of rubbish. I don’t care what any other thrifter says, my time is valuable and straining through heaps of rubbish does not make the experience of thrift shopping “more fun”. In addition, At Value Village, the staff doesn’t try to make their customers self-conscious about their fashion picks, unlike Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange. Yes, the employees are generally hipsters but Value Village chooses to employ nice hipsters. With all of this said, help your wallet, your style, and your earth and go get some second hand stuff.

ShoeDazzle: Dazzling Business Venture or Business Dud?

Like Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian is famous for being famous. She was sprung into the spotlight thanks to an amateur sex tape scandal combined with her exotic looks and a notoriously large rear-end. And both of these west coast socialites turned their good fortune fame into lucrative entrepreneurial careers.

Kim Kardashian’s latest business venture is ShoeDazzle.com; a personal shoe shopping service that specifically caters to stylish footwear without having to pay an arm and a leg. Kim Kardashian and her fashion experts refer to ShoeDazzle as a monthly membership society.Every month for $39 you will receive a pair of shoes.

How it works: Once you’ve taken the personal fashion survey which asks questions such as “Of the following, who do you think is dressed better?” and “Which shoe do you like better?” then it gives three runway snapshots or images of shoes to choose from. They also survey your favorite brands and celebrity styles. Five to seven business days later you will receive an email with 5 shoes hand picked by ShoeDazzle stylists based off of your survey results. From here you have two options: you can pick one of the 5 choices, all shoes cost $39, or if none of their selection fits with your personal style you can select “skip a month” and you won’t be charged for that month. This cycle of shoe selections occurs on the 1^st of the month, on a monthly basis, kind of a more modernized version of a CD or Book of the month club except its stylish shoes. Please note that you do not return the shoes after a month, the shoes are yours to wear into the ground.

Having trouble keeping up? Or are you still waiting for the catch before you make your own critique? As far as I can tell there is no catch unless you sign up and forget about your subscription and don’t either select a shoe or skip the month then you would be charged for that month and not be sent a pair of shoes.

I have mixed feelings about this website. I must admit, I do have a weakness for beautiful designer shoes. But Pour la Victoire or L.A.M.B. heels are not meant to be worn around Scorekeepers, Rick’s or other college bars. It’s just not practical; they would be stained and ruined after a weekend of bar hopping. Not to mention how brutal Michigan winters are on heels, the combination of snow and salt can forever stain a pair of heels. But stylish shoes that only cost me $39? I wouldn’t be heart broken if I was forced to throw them out after a season.

Just like fashion and style in general, I figure shoppers will respond subjectively to this new shoe shopping concept. The only negatives that stand out to me is that I never have been a fan of ordering shoes online in fear of the hassle of having them not fit and having to send them back. Also, if you don’t like the 5 initial shoe selections or the second round of 5 pairs of shoes the style experts picked for you, you won’t be charged for that month but you still have to wait an entire month to get a new round of shoes to choose from.

My roommate, Jamie, a fellow senior girl in college, introduced me to ShoeDazzle. She has been a member for three month and has received three pairs of heels. She feels that it is "an easy and convenient way to get great shoes at a competitive price." She has had to return a pair of shoes because the heels didn't fit correctly, however she commented that "ShoeDazzle prepaid for my shipping, so I had a new pair of heels within 10 days of me shipping back my unwanted pair of heels."

So to be perfectly clear, if you’re a shoe snob and are looking for the highest quality material, don’t bother replacing your Bloomingdales bookmark with ShoeDazzle. Kardashian’s shoe society is the place for smart shoppers that are seeking the latest trends without the designer price tag. The only other place you'll have luck finding inexpensive "stylish" shoes for $39 is at a BOGO sale at Payless.

Why Value World isn't that gross...

For those you who appreciate the slightly irreverent charm of vintage clothing but don’t see the point in paying over-the-top prices for hand-selected used items, you may be sorely overlooking a place that most people have heard of, but few dare to venture inside of. It’s called Value World and, to be honest, it's the place where many “trendy” vintage clothing stores a find their merchandise, then mark up the price to go with their whole “downtown-chic” ambiance or whatever you want to call it. If you have a discerning eye for fashion, you can just cut out the middleman and save a bundle on your next clothing purchase.

I have been buying second-hand (I couldn’t think of a good euphemism, so let’s just call it what it is) clothing for years now and, as a result, am able to afford many, many more pointless things that I could never accumulate if I stuck to buying only newly minted apparel. Personally, I think I tend to go a little overboard with the whole recreational thrifting thing, but even I was a little weary at first. I understand how one can be grossed out at the though of buying someone else’s previously owned and, in most cases, used things. However, the dubious provenance and faint odor of many of Value World’s items can be easily forgotten with a good machine-washing and, if you’re the crafty type, some slight alterations. If you are interested in buying second-hand but don’t know where to start, try stopping by to create an DIY Halloween costume. Trust me, the stuff here is way more interesting than some expensive, clichéd, mass produced stuff you would find at a typical costume store. You can still go slutty, retro, firefighter, etc. Whatever you want, with a little creativity, you can find here. They have pretty much everything you could think of.

Even if you consider yourself “into fashion,” you are likely to come across some pretty good finds that translate well into the arena of contemporary style. Last winter, I found this 80s dress that instantly reminded me of Balmain’s Fall 09 collection for only $2.80. I’ve also found vintage items by Oscar de la Renta and Yves Saint Laurent at record-low prices. It’s actually kind of rewarding such great finds. However, don’t expect to simply stumble across such “gems” right away. To be a truly good second-hand shopper takes a lot of sifting through seemingly endless racks of what is mostly terrible clothing, (an activity which, if done the right way, can be rather amusing), multiple visits and, as they say, luck.

If you're at all interested, the Value World closest to the University of Michigan is located at 345 N. Maple road in Ann Arbor.

My Top Four

Some people refer to me as a shopping addict because of the insane amount of time I spend on the Internet surfing fashion shopping sites.  There really is nothing better than finding that perfect sweater or pair of boots that will look oh-so good with your new jeans.  And there is really nothing worse than realizing this great new item is about four hundred dollars over your budget.  In spite of being the stereotypic broke college student, 85% of my procrastinating time is spent on shopping websites that sell items way over my budget.  However, shopping websites are not just about buying things, surfing clothing websites is about seeing what is out there.  I love fashion as an art form and enjoy seeing what the high-end designers have produced and how the commercial designers help to perpetuate certain trends.  So when I see a piece I love but simply do not have the means to purchase, I am not bothered because I view it as someone might view a sculpture or painting.  I frequent around twelve different shopping websites but the top four I cannot live without are netaporter.com, luisaviaroma.com, singer22.com and shopnastygal.com only two of which sell things I can actually afford. 

Charlotte Olympia Shoes
Image from: Google Images

For those of you who love design and high fashion and appreciate clothing as an art form, you should probably stay away from luisaviaroma.com if you ever want to have time to get work done.  Now if you are like me and you just like to see what the creative masters like Giambattista Valli, Emanuel Ungaro and Charlotte Olympia have come out with, visit luisaviaroma.com.  This website features designers that create pieces way out of the box and sells items that department stores just don’t carry.  The items sold here are mostly trendy statement pieces that you might not be wearing a few years from now but will love forever as excellent pieces of craftsmanship and design.  However, if you have just won the lottery and have tons of cash to spend and need that purse for fall that no one else will have, I highly suggest that you pay luisaviaroma.com a visit.  You won’t regret it. 


Balmain Leather Jacket
Image from: Google Images

If you are trying to see what the high end commercial designers like Herve Leger, Balmain, Oscar de la Renta and the other high rollers have come out with, netaporter.com is the place to be.  Netaporter.com is a website that sells all genres of apparel and accessories.  Each category—purses, shoes, jewelry, jackets, and dresses—is loaded up with all the latest items.  Depending on what you are comfortable spending on clothes, there are pieces sold in all price ranges.  You can find a beautiful leather Balmain jacket for a jaw dropping $13,400 and on the same site find a $40 super comfortable Splendid tank top.  Most of the pieces sold are in the $200-$300 range but there are plenty of shirts well under $100 so nearly anyone can visit netaporter.com because of the huge variation in prices.  This site is not for the bargain hunter but if you are looking for the pieces of the moment, netaporter.com carries them.  The clothing sold on netaporter.com differ from luisaviaroma.com because they are targeted to a wider market.  Netaporter.com is aiming to appeal to the trendy and chic customer while luisaviaroma.com focuses on the customer with a very experimental style.  Therefore, if you’re looking for a non-budget breaking dress for date night, a black tie ball gown for the event of the year, or a pair of killer heels that will literally stop traffic, netaporter.com is God’s gift to you.
                                                                                                                                 

Rachel Bilson
Image from: Google Images
If you are someone who is always wondering where your favorite celebrity got their latest scarf, hoodie, pair of jeans, dress, boyfriend (just kidding), top, necklace, you need to be aware of singer22.com.  This website features tabloid shots of celebrities—such as, Ashley Tisdale, Kate Moss, Alessandra Ambrosio, Rihanna, Nicole Richie—what they are wearing, and . . . drum roll please . . . you can buy exactly what they are wearing right off the website.  We all know that celebrities have way too much money for their own good, but a big chunk of the pieces they wear are surprisingly affordable.  That is, if you have the will power to save up for a few months then splurge on that one great item. 


And finally, for those who see no need to follow the latest trends and dance to the beat of your own drum (or whatever instrument you find pleasing) shopnastygal.com is the place for you.  With a name as interesting as that you know the clothes are going to be funky enough to match.  Shopnastygal.com is a more recent discovery of mine with two insanely great qualities.  The first is that it sells both new and vintage clothing and accessories.  The second is that nearly every item is completely affordable.  Shopnastygal.com’s prices for their new clothes range from $12 bracelets up to $168 for an excellent 80s dress and the vintage items range more widely but you can find a great t-shirt for around $28.  Shoes are a little more pricey and creep up into the $300 range, but this website is one of the few to carry the highly coveted Sam Edelman Zoe boots.  (For those of you who don’t know, Mary-Kate Olsen rocked a pair of Balenciaga boots and Sam Edelman came out with a pair that look exactly like them but for an amount ridiculously cheaper).  Shopnastygal.com sells great edgy dresses and unique clothes that you will struggle to find in stores.  They are big on zippers and studs, slouchy t-shirts, and skin-tight skirts.  Buy something from this site, and its nearly guaranteed that you will be the only one with this item, especially if you shop in the vintage section.  If you love tie-dye, sequins, tiered dresses and you wish someone would hurry up and build a time machine already so you could live in the 1980s, the vintage section is your dream come true.  Most pieces here are the only one in stock, so act fast because chances are it will be gone within days. 

Sam Edelman Zoe Boot
image from: Google Images

 I apologize for this post if, like me, you have a spending or procrastinating problem because you will be addicted once you check out these sites. Happy shopping!