“A Christmas shopper’s complaint is one of long-standing.” – Anonymous
This post shamelessly inspired by Janssen’s fab one on present giving – though not quite as impressively frugal. I’m in the midst of Christmas shopping and nearly done with it, but still very much in the mood. Let’s do some fantasy shopping, ducklings, and pretend that none of us are paying off our husband’s student loans, prepping for a baby, a bit cash strapped this year, putting a wedding together, or just generally Scroogey, and spend fake money together. Ladies first, just click to be linked for more info on what I’d buy you all if I could.
Note to friends and family, ha! As if I’d post your prezzies all over the internet, nice try. Move along and stop trying to peek into the proverbial parents’ closet to figure out what you’re getting, just trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
For your stylish best friend who organizes her bookshelves by color - because they look better that way.For the Francophile, cheese addicted couple.For the globetrotting best friend who still prefers handwritten letters to emails.For the best friend who manages to look chic in sunglasses nearly as large as her face.For the Jane Austen addict best friend.For the best friend who can say she's a writer, and not mean it wistfully.For the girlfriend whose extended family won't stop asking her when she's going to spawn.For you Potterhead/valedictorian friend.For your East Coast relations.For your history nerd friend.For fellow London cronies currently marooned stateside (and other items for the friend who can literally wear anything and get away with it).For the nail polish addict.
What random things have you come across that instantly put a specific person into your head when shopping?
“Know first, who you are, then adorn yourself accordingly.”
– Epictetus
Traveling posts return. After you’ve gone through your closet and gotten rid of at least a third of it (stop hyperventilating, it’s going to be fine. Fine, here’s a paper bag), you may become aware of a few glaring holes in your wardrobe. And you should correct them – see, I told you there would be shopping. Do you – or your husband who will be living there for 5 months without you – have a winter coat or rain gear? Do you have a plethora of heels but no nice, casual shoes for day to day? The clued up traveler recognizes when an item is necessary, but is also smart about obtaining it. Here are your rules for shopping:
Take a thorough inventory of what you already have, you don’t want to spend money on an item that you already own. Or one that you, frankly, don’t need.
Using that inventory, make a list of what you need to get. Stick to it.
Never buy something on sale that you wouldn’t buy at full price. And never buy something at full price if you can find it on sale.
Be honest in sorting things in the categories of “Need” and “Want”
Stick with your own style, with one or maybe to exceptions. You don’t want to kit yourself out in stuff that, upon reflection, you don’t actually like.
Shun impulse shopping.
Quality over quantity. It is better to buy items that will last you a long time than spending more money replacing them over and over again.
Shop wisely. Is a sale coming up? Wait for it. Are there coupon or free shipping codes? Use them. Do your research, lots of companies use Facebook, Groupon, and email offers that you can use to save money. Seek them out.
You're prepared. Shoulder your guns and go forth, minions. Everything in moderation though, eh?
Look for the woman in the dress. If there is no woman, there is no dress. – Coco Chanel
Let’s face it: you, and yes I am looking directly at you with a smirk of approval, are fabulous. And if you were going to live abroad, “abroad,” or even just pop over to a city for a week or two, you would invariably have cause to dress up. Maybe the ambassador would need to invite you to a lavish supper because the country had no other citizens of your nationality to ask, maybe you do something heroic and save an entire city from destruction and have to sit for a parade in your honor, anything could happen, kittens, and like the Boy Scouts you should Be Prepared.
Admittedly in this scenario you are a lot more impressive than I, the best I am hoping for is the wedding of a friend, a Christmas party, or a night out on the town, but the principle is the same. If you’re going anywhere for several months, you are going to need a pretty frock that looks really good, travels well, and doesn’t break the bank.
Remember our cardinal rule: everything you pack must be able to pull double duty. I love a glam sequined dress as much as the next girl but consider, gorgeous as such an item is, you probably cannot wear it to a tasteful country wedding (unless you’re Scarlett). Choose something you could wear to both Christmas mass and a Christmas work party, a New Years Eve bash, a cocktail party, a night out, and – in my case – any graduation festivities that may arise.
As always, stick with your own tastes and don’t try on a new persona at the last minute. Knits are easier to travel with, but might not look as polished unless you really hunt for them, so put in the time to find a good dress you really love. If you’re really flush, I recommend both a Little Black Dress as well as another frock in color. Don’t forget that you can pop down to Camden Market or Portobello Road (or your travel destination’s equivalent) to find a fascinator for a wedding, thrown on a necklace and earrings to glam up for an evening out, and experiment with hair, makeup, and nail colors to change your look. With only two dresses, you may have a closet full of different different looks!
Have at least one pair of really nice dress shoes that you can wear with any formal frock, black is a good standby. It will save suitcase room and won’t let you down.
“When abroad in hot climates she wore a great many white dresses, said very little, and all the men in the hotel fell in love with her.” – Stella Gibbons, Cold Comfort Farm
Naturally, just after I wrote a post yesterday praising Spring, we were graced with a snow flurry/rainstorm. And even more naturally it had all cleared off by 5pm and I walked to my car beneath blue skies and a crisp breeze. Living in the West subjects one to the most schizophrenic weather…
But snow flurry or no, I’m still doing my best to force the issue of Spring. Yesterday I wore a tangerine cardigan in defiance, and I came very close to actually working out for the first time in weeks – didn’t quite make it, but I will! No, honestly! Stop rolling your eyes.
In the meantime, I’m indulging my shopping bug by sticking to internet browsing and wishlisting – my birthday’s in two and a half months after all. Especially Shabby Apple’s new line “Roamin’ Holiday.” Shall we look at some pretty?
I wish I had (respectively) the figure and the aplomb/height to pull these beauties off! For some reason vivid greens like the top of the Gondola dress are calling to me these days (and paired with stripes!), and everyone needs the opportunity to wear a red Gypsy-esque dress like the Rosso at least once in their lives.
I am actually longing for someone to get married, pick me to be a bridesmaid and obligingly order me to wear this cream and coco appliqued Spanish Steps dress. And I’m belying my winter-imposed hatred of neutrals by admitting to being very fond of this cream jersey SPQR frock.
Isn’t this white Palatine Hill dress perfect for summer in the office? Growing up I remember getting a new Easter dress and hat to wear to church every Easter Sunday, and I’m thinking about resurrecting (pun? Or too sacrilegious?) the tradition in my old age, and this purples La Vita E’ Bella pretty might just suit the bill!
Honestly, the whole line is making me want to go on vacation. I’m getting stir crazy in this office! If I could, I’d snatch up that daring red Rosso frock, grab J. and gallop off to the Cinque Terre region of Italy to lay in the sun, eat good food, and go sailing to all the terra cotta colored villages tucked into the coast.
How about you, ducklings? You suddenly inherit a small fortune with the proviso that you go on holiday at once, where do you go?
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!'”
~Robin Williams
After months of self-imposed austerity, the fashion gods decided to toss temptation my way…and I threw up my hands in defeat.
In my defense, it wasn’t a fair fight! J. Crew sent me one of their promo cards for 20% off and Gap Inc. did their 30%-off-and-5%-goes-to-charity sale, so what was I to do? J. needed new jeans and khaki trousers, and I needed a couple of summer work shirts. So Saturday I headed into the City and indulged before returning home and atoning by doing massive piles of laundry and watching the NCAA tournament.
Of course, this faint whiff has revved my appetite and I can’t help noticing that cute new clothes are popping up like daisies. And to make it worse, the weather has started feeling like Spring too – prompting the desire for vivid skirts, glaring cardigans, and cute sandals.
Calm down, C.! You know your winter-fogged brain can't handle this overload!
Spring always makes me go a little crazy, and not just with clothes. I want to rip anything I own in black, navy, or gray to shreds because I’m sick of neutral and sensible. I want to eat tons of vegetables and fruit in chilled pastas and smoothies and never see a pot roast again. Hearing birds after months of silence makes me giddy (starlings and sparrows roost in our building’s roof, J. hates waking up to them, but I love it). Seeing the grass slowly, teasingly turn green thrills me. And, freak that I am, Daylight Savings Time makes me happy. I’m no longer driving home in the dark – which makes me want to curl up on the couch under a blanket, snack on junk food, and refuse to make dinner. Instead I get home with at least an hour of light, which makes laundry feel doable as opposed to a drudgery.
Autumn is still my favorite season, but Spring always wakes me up and I love it when it comes.
“Wal-mart… do they like make walls there?” – Paris Hilton
Walmart is still not my favorite place to shop. I admit there are numerous variations ‘twixt the Walmarts of different areas, but I really do believe our local one to be sort of horrid. It’s disorganized and sometimes dirty, the salespeople have been unhelpful and often rude, and I’ve had several bad experiences with product quality. But I suspect the real reason I avoid Walmart is because every time I enter its doors I meet the oddest people.
Saturday, Sadie needed someone to run her to the store for some last minute shopping and the place she requested was Walmart. So, off we went to print pictures for Pieter – still in Belgium and France for another three months, snag laundry detergent, and shampoo. We exchanged stores of odd adventures we’d each had in Walmart and crossed our fingers that we wouldn’t have one that day. We made it through without incident until we were waiting in line and the great sliding doors of freedom were within reach…
When from behind us a man piped up.
“Do you see that baby?”
We both swiveled from the drooling child sitting in the cart in front of us to the man behind us. He was in a wheelchair and had a pleasant face, but he must have been on several medications affecting his pigmentation because his skin was a strange color between gray and dark blue. He was staring at the baby, Sadie and I alternatively.
“Yes, sir,” I answered his question.
“Well, do you know that I can make babies talk to me in my mind?”
“Oh?” Sadie and I kept our eyebrows from climbing, but just barely.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “I just made that baby wave at me.”
Cheap produce, home goods, and theology, all at a low price!
We both glanced at the child in question, still gnawing on the handrail of the cart and not paying much attention to anyone.
“See, I think they remember me from before they were born when they hear me in their mind.”
“Really?” I asked, not really knowing what else to say.
“Yes. You know, like the Horse Whisperer. Or the Dog Whisperer! I like that show. Look! The baby’s waving at me again!”
It wasn’t.
We politely bade him good day and proceeded to checkout. Walmart is a bizarre place!
“It’s a horrible thing to have champagne taste and a soda budget.” – Mum
I have to keep reminding myself that as fabulous as I am in my head, I still haven’t managed to finagle a book deal, become the mistress of some Italian magnate, or convince Society to sponsor me as a witty companion…ergo I am still poor. Especially since I am still financially recovering from Christmas shopping for approximately thirty million people (and/or the items on my lust list are prohibitively expensive and I could never justify it):
Let's start with the most expensive and unnecessary shall we? Because I cannot have it.An absolutely gorgeous print from Spanish artist Blanca Gomez, and which costs $12 just to ship. Which does not matter because I cannot have it.Also comes in Navy, which is sold out of my size. But it doesn't matter because I cannot have it.
“I can’t think why mothers love them. All babies do is leak at both ends.” – Douglas Feaver
Wise and R2 are both pregnant and due about the same time. I’ve had a slew of acquaintances spawn recently. Last Friday the office girls and I had that conversation about childbirth that traumatized three-quarters of us, and at dinner last night my god-uncle (jokingly) asked when J. and I were going to add to the list. Short answer, not any time soon, Deus Volent. Pregnancy seems to be on everyone’s collective brain these days.
Apart from my completely lack of desire to have children in the near future, pregnancy, as far as I can tell, produces all sort of undesirable social effects. I can’t begin to count the times that pregnant women have been accosted in public places by, as far as I can tell, perfect strangers. People seem to feel it’s their prerogative to run up, clap hands on their stomach, and demand when they are due or coo over them in an alarmingly possessive manner. I can personally guarantee the first stranger who tries that with me when I’m eventually ready to have kids will have their ears blistered.
Also, it seems to turn people (in their minds at least) into friends with everyone in sight. Which can be awkward for the individual on the receiving end of this jovial goodwill.
Friday evening I ran to Nordstrom to find a baby shower present for R2. When I stepped off the tile floor into the carpeted are of the baby section, I might as well has crossed the Bosporus!
There were choruses of “Awww!” from every corner, even though I saw next to no people anywhere. A creepy enough beginning, but it got more bizarre. Wandering past a rack of clothes a perfect stranger leaped at me out of nowhere clutching tiny shoes in her fist.
“Aren’t these the most adorable things you’ve ever seen?!” she demanded shrilly before disappearing behind shelves of diaper bags.
A bit shaken I began flipping through clothes when a woman on the other side of the store held up a pair of pajamas, waved them back and forth to get my attention, and when I furtively glanced up, yelled, “These are just too cute, I had to share them with someone!” I nodded and moved away quietly…
Ducks. Gender neutral enough? You decide
Only to back into a third woman who held up two onesies asking my opinion which one she should buy, launching into the life story of both herself and the person she was buying this present for.
“Uh, the one on the left?” I offered.
“My left or your left?” she demanded. “Are ducks gender-neutral enough?”
“Um. Yes.”
“By the way, when are you due? You’re not showing at all,” she said, reaching for my stomach.
“I’m not pregnant,” I managed through clenched teeth, nearly tripping as I backpedaled to avoid her hand.
“Oh. Well, you have time,” she said, patting the shoulder I couldn’t wrench away in time.
“Your dresses should be tight enough to show you’re a woman and loose enough to show you’re a lady.” – Edith Head
If the giveaway isn’t your cup of tea, here’s something else for you to shop with: Shabby Apple is offering a special deal to readers of their affiliates…and that means you!
They’ve added a couple of new frocks to their Yosemite line, I particularly love the Gray Fox and Red Fox dresses. And just a couple of weeks ago they debuted their newest line of Eastern inspired silk dresses, the Silk Road line, all of which just scream to be worn to those lurking holiday parties. The Ming dress especially would be stunning.
So…how’s does 10% off storewide and free shipping sound? Pretty fabulous, I expect! Just use the code fall10off and enjoy the best the season has to offer.
Don’t for get to enter the giveaway, winner announced tomorrow. Also tomorrow the office is dressing up in our Halloween costumes so we’ll be giving you the red carpet breakdown of those too. And I’ll be dyeing my hair red tonight so with my track record, I’ll probably get a good story out of that adventure too…you may prepare to laugh at my expense.
“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” – Sophia Loren
Guess what, ladies? We’re not all Size 2’s. In fact, we come in all sizes and shapes, and we want to look good in all of them, is that so much to ask? I’m petite but, as I’ve stated before, I’m hardly your standard issue short girl. Proportions can be the bane of the prettiest of pretty girls. Plus size, petite, tall, ankle-length…what we’re really saying is that we just want clothes that look good and fit us properly!
Which is why places like Fashion to Figure are as awesome as they are!
Fashion to Figure specializes in Plus Size women’s clothing and as luck would have it, they are sponsoring our giveaway.
Now, I can hear my fellow short girls and other variously assorted sized friends go, “Wait a second! How does this benefit me? I’m not sure this one’s for me…” Hold your horses, ducklings. I, even I 4’11” C. Small Dog, have purchased clothing bigger than my usual sizes, and this giveaway is made for all ladies who want to look good. Heck, my professional and fashion idol Joan Holloway is considered plus sized in the industry because of those fabulous hips of hers and no one looks at her with any thing but admiration/envy!
The item up for winning is…
This pair of delightfully distressed jeans! Wonderfully on point fashionably speaking, and versatile for fall. I love them as they are styled here, rolled up for a boyfriend cut look, but tuck them into boots with a sweatshirt to for a casual chic feel, or pair with cute flats, a pretty tank, and a fabulous cardi to keep warm and lovely.
Now! How to win! There are three chances:
Just click on their banner above and check out their site, then come back here and leave a comment telling me which item of their fine selection is your favorite
Share this giveaway either on Facebook, Twitter, or your own blog, then leave me a comment linking to your link
You get a third entry by leaving me a comment telling me your favorite thing about yourself: gorgeous eyes, lovable freckles, fabulous hips, you name it. Can’t appreciate beauty in others until you see it in yourself!
Make sure you leave contact info so I can get in touch with you. Good luck! Winner announced Friday!
Small Dog Syndrome 