2008 Woodie Awards
Shopping can be fun as well as frugal
By Jill Sarver-Monk
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 2/3/06 Section: Life
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Bare midriffs will be trashier than ever. This spring (and I'm predicting summer as well) will be about shirts worn down to the hips or lower, that are either cinched at the natural waist with a wide belt or banded low around the hip.
There are four kinds of shopping; there is shopping out of necessity, event, leisure and sport. I've developed these four kinds of shopping from extensive research and field experience. Here they are, from my least favorite, to fantastic.
Shopping out of necessity is strictly for surprise events (a lady should never wait until the last minute to shop for a planned activity). This is the kind of shopping done when your girls insist you get out of the house for once and you have absolutely nothing to wear.
Shopping for an event should be done far in advance. It presents problems like time, budget and deciding what is appropriate dress for that event. Strategy is a key part of finding the perfect ensemble, so you always have to have an idea of what you need and where to get it before you walk out the door, which doesn't leave much shopping freedom.
Relaxation and information are the keys to leisure shopping. It is done to spend quality time with friends or alone with no other purpose than to shop. There are no pressures when leisure shopping, no deadlines, budgets or guidelines to add stress. This time can also be used to soak in ideas for future purchases when you're shopping seriously. But right now you have time to stop in every shop you desire, and if you find a must-have or a great deal, that's great and if not, oh well.
My final and favorite style is shopping for sport or extreme shopping. Shopping for sport is pure adrenaline and passion. This should be done once a season to replenish your wardrobe. Make a list of all the fashion staples of the upcoming season, and then add in all the extras.
You must be in the mood to get aggressive and put those scavenger skills into overdrive for the next step. This is where discount stores like T.J.Maxx, Gabriel Bros. and Marshall's come in handy. First, hit the discount stores and stores you know are having great sales to pick up as many of the staple items you can. Once you've gotten everything you can salvage from these stores you can go to the mall full of ideas to complete your outfits. Then you can splurge on the items that will make your simple outfits simply fabulous.
My favorite shopping style leads me to the Deal of the Day. Storewide clearance started Sunday, Jan. 29 at T.J. Maxx. You can save up to 70 percent off department and specialty store prices. You already know T.J. Maxx is on my list of hot spots for a guaranteed deal, so if you feel up to it, now would be a great time to get a jump start on spring.
This week's Splurge vs. Steal is all about Valentine's Day. Nothing makes a statement like red. Why not be cliché and slip into a red dress? Embrace the holiday and show how much you love to be in love, whether you are or not. I'm always promoting the outlets, but this time I'm going too show you how rewarding it can be.
I found the perfect Valentine's Day dress from the retail BCBG Maxazria. It's a spaghetti strapped red dress with a sweetheart neckline and the bottom is slightly flared. The top layer of the dress is a gorgeous silk and chiffon overlay. This festive red dress will cost you $340 before you even begin to accessorize.
The BCBG Maxazria located at the outlets has a red dress that could also fit your style and your budget. It's a spaghetti strapped red and white v-neck dress. This dress also has a flowing chiffon overlay and very trendy baby doll cut. The outlet dress will only cost $75.60, which leaves you extra cash to buy yourself chocolates in case you don't have a Valentine.
So Ten Minutes Ago -
The sequin disc purse is an unforgivable fashion sin, and has been for over a year. Your 13-year-old sister still might pull it off at the roller rink on Friday nights, but you shouldn't even be caught dead with it lingering in your bedroom.
