Christmas in February

Or by another title, 'How to Get Winter Boots and Accessories for Cheapity-Cheap'. 

By yet another title, 'The Lifespan of the  Retail World's Version of Winter'

This winter season I have to admit I was very naughty. 

Despite living in a northern region I was loath to buy a pair of boots and skated by mostly okay with just my regular shoes. I know you're thinking 'Is she crazy?!?!' - but in my defense my northern region while being impressively chilly simply wasn't producing much in terms of the white stuff. 

Thus it wasn't till a storm actually hit that I realized how damn desperate I was for a good pair of boots. I was annoyed to see most stores sold out or in stock either with styles I hated or sizes I couldn't wear. 

If I was a lesser woman I might have given up then and shrugged it off 'What are the odds we'll get another storm' - well pretty good as we got several more. Each one only increasing my desperate need for some cute winter accessories.

Finally I put my fashion brain to work. 

You see in the retail world there's a careful amount of supply and demand. In order to stock the shelves with countless tantalizing styles of boots they have to be produced in the summer (some dedicated designers starting even in late spring). In order to set a fashion trend you have to stay ahead of the game and this means laying all your cards on the table at one stage in order to spend your time planning for the next fashion season. 

For most designers winter accessories and clothes start appearing around the end of September slowly evolving to become thicker and more concealing around October. November signifies the start of the full 'winter season' for the retail world stretching towards December which as we all know is when they try to get the majority of their items off the shelves with countless sales leading to the BIG one, day after Christmas. 

With the economy being what it is many of those items are simply staying on the shelves leading to a wonderful situation for the fashionista with her eye on the ball. 

Most stores fully recognize that even though the designers are pushing their wares around February for the upcoming spring the weather is still perfectly synchronized with a 'winter wonderland' theme. I'm sure we've all experienced the painful irony of seeing pastel sandals well in stock while it's snowing outside. Some of the smarter designers release their winter styles in installments spacing them out till the weather outside actually reflects what's in stock. 

For this reason the gal who called winter's bluff is proudly stocking up on discounted styles for future snowstorm's to come. 

Some tips.

1. If you feel like you can't live without it - don't. I saw a pair of painfully cute white fur ear-muff's one day at an unintentional visit to the mall. They haunted my dreams forcing me to go to the mall the next day only to find those were the last pair and the online store was cleaned out. This was in December till NOW those lost ear-muff's haunt me. But...and I mean this. Weigh it out. If it's totally not budget proof and you know you've got other things that really need your paper - WAIT. Those muff's may haunt me, but I've found several beautiful cheaper options on the internet. $6.95 anyone? (and yes, they're made of the same material. Key)

2. Know what's going to fly off the shelves and what won't. In reality there are your fast movers and your slow movers. A simple pair of black boots without anything distracting or unique on them is going to be gone. Period. Many women prefer to have atleast one pair of really simple boots and since this is a mass-appeal item it's going to sell out quickly. 

Women's Funtasma Dame 05

If you're going to go for something slightly plain, then look for the small details that smart it up. Case in point, the lace featured in this boot gives it a classic feel with a Victorian twist. Oddly enough it's a costume boot, but that makes it even better. 

Currently: $ 39.95

On the other hand if you see a pair of red patent leather boots with a platform heel the reality is...odds are those will be slow moving styles. 

alice + olivia for Payless Red Rivington Ankle Boot 

It's  not to say they don't look amazing and you can't totally rock them it's to say that there are some women who don't got the stones to have and thus...you can actually linger. Keep an eye on them for any deals that will appear both online and in person. Finally don't be afraid to hold out till you feel comfortable and bounce from site to site. I was vaguely interested in these boots from Payless but wasn't ready to pay 55 dollars for something I wasn't even able to see in person. Thanks to the power of the great American sale I'm now planning on plucking them up for $13.75. 

Patricia Field for Payless Conga Boot - Patricia Field 

Originally: $55.00

PF on Sale: $13.75

3. I know a lot of people suggest picking up your basics and some good staples every wardrobe needs and etc etc. but that's never been my style. In my own mind I've come to realize that what is a staple is different for every person based on their age, style, carreer and needs. A staple for me (excessive shoes) may seem like an absolute frivolity to someone else. What I suggest honestly...never have a simple piece. In order to be a hardcore stylist I have to look and act the part. I like buying items that are bold, colorful, that can be paired and layered to magnificent effect. 

Pyramid Stud Vest

Currently: $27.80

I've come to realize confidence is something we all slowly grow into and while it's great for you to look as confident as you feel it's also great to look as confident as you don't. Crazy right? Not at all. It's strange the amount of power you can get from standing out, from making a choice to not wear a t-shirt and jeans but a silk top with sequins. You stand out - no denying that but you also STAND OUT. Some people deep down will envy you for doing that whether or not the words ever cross their lips and when you catch an image of your reflection in the mirror unexpectedly I hope a smile crosses your lips. 

I feel more confident and in control when I'm prettied-up to the 99's than I do if I'm not. 

H81 Lace Back Metallic Knit Vest

Currently: $19.90

Bumming and slumming for a day is fun, slipping into crowds with ease like a princess incognito amongst the town's people - but soon you're just craving your crown back. 

4. Know shoppers. If you learn how to follow basic patterns in shopping trends then you'll always come out ontop of a good sale and a great item. Earlier I mentioned that the majority of designers simply lay all their fashion goods on the table for a season before moving on to design for the next. I also mentioned that on the other hand some designers work with stores to ensure that for each shopping period they have  items come out until the season TRULY ends. Example these alice + olivia boots which only recently launched.

alice + olivia for Payless Jake Platform Slingback Bootie

Currently: $38.00

The key to snatching up a faboo item like this for cheap (I'm a how-low-can-you-go kind of girl) is knowing your enemy (or in this case your fashion competition). You see the majority of people whether they realize it or not have been buying different items since the start of the winter fashion season in September. A scarf here, a pair of boots there, etc. etc. Item after item they've plucked up ravishing new styles and final sales alike until they find themselves in a quandry for the late installment items. Maybe you've heard it from a friend, maybe you've thought it yourself, it goes something like 'I have four pairs of black boots, I can't in good conscience buy another pair of black boots' Some will, no guilt there, but the majority won't. This means less items purchased and that the amount of time the stores have to sell the boots ticks by until they REALLY need to get spring items on their shelves and slashes are priced deliciously. Look for this, it's the sound of the earth rumbling before oil shoots out. 

5. Wait for perfection. That's an oxymoron I know. There's really no such thing as being perfect, but in the design world there is such a thing as mastery. I know we elevate them to god-like levels awed at their talent and skill but let's face it designers simply aren't perfect. Her'es a great example, in the middle of the night a designer is awoken by intense dreams of lanky-legged models rushing past a grey background hailing a taxi in toe-less sky-high booties. Gorge right? How painfully grating then when the style is replicated, copied, and just plan manipulated to greater success or failure. Boo-hoo for them but on the plus a true stylist won't have another peaceful night until they've taken their idea to the next level and created something unique and beautiful. 

Case in point. 

Revenu

Currently: $129.95

It's not budget proof I know, that comes with patience and careful watch, what it is however is unique. I've seen dozens upon dozens upon hundreds of black open toed booties. This is the first studded pair I've seen. I'm only speaking in generals but there's a greater chance of finding some truly unique items near the end of a season, if you hold out you stand a chance of being the girl in a sea of sames who's different. 

It's a good thing. 

6. Plan ahead. Some lessons can only be learned through experience. I was betting on winter to be it's usual bad boyfriend, late to the proverbial party or not showing up at all. I've had my bitch and moan fest, I've learned my lessons, and now I've got a mental list. I know what I want in the future, how I want to look and be. Sure new styles and trends pop up all the time that's a given. Who knows according to the mags I may be painfully 'so last year' or some other nonsense. One life lesson learned darlings - NO ONE can dictate your personal style or tell you what's right or wrong. You'll know exactly what fits and when you feel like a fashion goddess it will show. Your personal style will become a thing of envy and people will be looking to you 

To Be or Not To Be Cheap?

I've got a moral of the story moment for you all today. 

While dining out with some friends recently the conversation turned to clothes, (all too typical) but rather than head down the tried and true road of gush and bash our coversation took an even more interesting turn.  As if at a midnight sleepover we all began to share what our real fashion fears were. 

Of course there were the more understandable ones .

'I fear my favorite pair of jeans makes me look inexcussably fat and I don't know it'

Or the amusing ones.  

'I fear deep down I'm only one sweatsuit set away from being an Aeropostal whore' 

But one confession came up that sparked my curiousity, perhaps you've heard this one before. 

'I love a bargain, but I fear telling people some of the stores I shop for fear I'll lose my fashion cred'

Cue my somewhat stunned look. 

At the time I was quick to comfort and laugh 'Unless you're stealing from the Church Donation Box then of course we'll all still respect you' - but this topic stayed on my mind. 

Have I been guilty of this? Oh yes. While proud to admit to a bargain from somewhat more obscure and acceptable stores I at times bit my tongue when even my mental image of the store I'd purchased from was cheap and somewhat tacky. 

Have I ever judged anyone else for this? I don't think so, but that might have just been out of secret solidarity for my own fashion guilt. 

Countless magazines are guilty of this as well. I don't know about you but when I see a section labeled ' Mixing High and Low End!' I don't want the low end piece to be in the lower 80's. That rather defeats the whole 'on a budget' aspect. 

But I'm done with my days of fashion judgement (oh however would this blog survive if I meant that). Ultimately it's about honesty. We're in a recession as depressing and unfashionlike as it is to admit that, and while we all have our own definition of what an acceptable cheapie store is (Charlotte Russe Forever 21 or Wet Seal) there are those red-headed step children folks like to deny and put down (Walmart, K-Mart, Payless). 

Whatever your personal reason is for not liking a certain store don't apply it to another individual. Everyone's income (and the amount they're willing to spend on clothes) is different. Most of us care more about how we look than our labels (atleast we should by now, right?)

In the end it's easy to judge and all too easy to come up with reasons. If your reason's valid no need to totally ditch it, but no need for fashion snobbery. To support my friend  recall once one visit I took to some unnammed website that was hosting a discussion about Walmart clothes, the air of SUPERIORITY that was wafting off some of the posts was too much. One poster even going so far as to see 'Well let's face it, the prices are so low because people who shop here don't really care what they look like' 

Say what? 

High school's over and the cheerleading table ( go with the imagery) isn't the oh so coveted spot it used to be. Everyone wants to look cute and we're all achieving that in different ways. 

In the spirit of full fashion disclosure I'm going to reveal what picks I have recently fallen in love with from one red-headed step-child Kmart. 

Jaclyn Smith Women's Textured Shell Top 

Jaclyn Smith Women's Short Sleeve Textured Shell Tee

I'm planning on pairing one of those with one of these. So cute

New York & Company: City Style V-Neck Cardigan 

I just can't figure out what color I want yet. 

Moral of the story. Cute is cute. Period. Wicked

To Accept is Human, To Improve is Divine

(I love this. the romantic image of generations of women connected by thread and fashion)

One undeniable facet of life is the truth that anything can be improved. 

Update, adapt, change, detail...there really is no end to the amount of creativity that can be put into making an already great outfit even better. 

Would the little black dress not have gone the way of the dodo if someone hadn't put an exciting spin on the classic?

(speaking of which, if you can believe it...this is the same dress merely reversed, how's that for an exciting spin?)

For myself as I go through my fashion journey I realize that keeping an open mind also means that like a fierce animal one must keep evolving. 

Usually within minutes of wearing an outfit I'm already thinking about what I love about said piece and what would make it even better. Thriving in the garment even as I stay  ahead of the curve and think of the next step. 

Today I wore an outfit that I dubbed 'Dead Poet's Society'. The whole basis started with a navy blue cotton blouse I've had for a while. While being fairly plain it's also fairly fabulous and even better, comfortable. 

Based on this single piece I constructed an entire outfit which amounted to dark-grey/blue jeans, gray suede flats, a large ornate silver owl necklace and my ever familiar empire waist gray coat. 

I loved the simple outfit but even before I stepped one suede foot out the door I already felt like it needed more (oh it always needs more)

I love clothing that evokes a mood, a time period, a sense of connection from the garment to a million other parts of the world. Thus I love to let my imagination run wild and try to come up with a title that somewhat expresses this intention. 

Dead Poet's Society. 

With moody colors of navy blue and gray, the literary symbol of a watchful owl dangling around my neck and a general feeling of coolness I felt like I would be heading to a cottage to debate rhyme and reason among flickering candlelight and dark skis. I decided to up the factor. 

An image of one of the many vests I have fluttering around in my closet appeared, my mind already devouring how it would cut the smooth silouhette in half. Next visions of rows and rows of moody blue bangles danced like sugar plums on my wrist. Before I could take a breath I saw berets, red boots (a nice bold step back from all these dark shades) , and dangling earrings. 

As soon as I got home I tried on the vest I had been fantasizing about  only to realize it would immediately require some tailoring - it was a tad dissapointing if only for the sake of immediate fashion satisfaction, but it also made me realize that in improvment there is life. 

In change there is divinity and thus Darlings, we must keep an eye on the horizon and never stop adapting. Wicked

A Proper Lady

As I've been searching through several different clothing sites and stores I've started to notice a major style trend appearing in a number of different ways. 

Lady-like clothing. 

I'm not just talking about the usual season's colorful skirts and attention to jewelry - I'm talking lace gloves, pearl necklaces, pencil skirts and silk tops. 

Before visions of your great-nanny in her hey-day start fluttering through your mind...please know this isn't your (great) mama's classy pieces.  

Case in point, isn't this lovely lady the perfect picture of modern feminine chic?

She chose a bold lovely color and paired it with a lace coat and black tights. (Extra-points for matching shoes!) Perfection. 

Many of these styles are complimented by atleast one extreme piece as well as an eye on modern cut and color. 

I'm personally adoring this new shift in the fashion world, especially in the attention to detail. 

So far I'm keeping my eye on the lace gloves and colorful skirts. 

French Vanilla Tights 

Currently: $24.99

I'm also loving these beautiful white tights, so girly.

What are you looking forward to clothing-wise as the warmer weather starts rolling in?

Wicked