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Red Carpet Event at TJ Maxx

amber — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:17:22 +0000

I don’t know if a red carpet event qualifies as such if it starts at 8am at a discount department store and there is no booze or paparazzi involved… If, however, it means that a corporation spoils the spit out of you for 24 hours, then yes, I attended a red carpet event. In Glendale, California.

Thank you very much to TJ Maxx for inviting me, putting me up at the Hilton and then, so very kindly, offering to buy my “return” leg to Tucson. You could say that the price of my interstate move was on the dime of a corporation. That’s how I roll. Thanks again, TJ Maxx.

Two rad DKNY dresses. The one on the left is, like 99% off. Or was it the right one.

photos by Kimberly of My Good Cents

Anyhow. Style expert and TV personality, the lovely Alison Deyette, explained to us the ins and outs of why off-price retailers, Marshalls and TJ Maxx are so effing rad. In the words of legit wordsmith, Well-Heeled With a Mission:

TJ Maxx buyers travel 40 weeks out of the year to speak to vendors all over the world.

Off-price retailers engage in “opportunistic” buying, i.e. when forecasting mistakes, canceled orders, or overproduction result in more items that a full-priced retailer can buy, an off-price will come in and buy the merchandise at vastly discounted prices.

Most of the merchandise at off-price retailers are in-season, and are released at the same time as full-priced merchandise at department stores. (i.e., you can find a dress at Nordstroms and the same dress at TJ Maxx in the same week.)

Off-price retailers have a fast turnaround time of as short as 2-3 weeks from the time a shipment is ordered to the time that the products are delivered, processed, and shown on the floor.

Department stores have the option of shipping back merchandise they don’t sell, but off-price retailers’ purchases are final.

As you know, I am not huge into “labels” and “names,” but I do, indeed I do, appreciate quality and a good deal when I see it. At this TJ Maxx, I managed to score:

A cozy blouse for $1

A gorgeous liberty print tiered halter dress by Grass (missing the neck tie – a 2 millisecond fix) for $3

Some Amplify styling mousse with moisturizer sample for $4

An amazing zebra print backless one-piece swimsuit for $15

And… a pair of wowza 70s-licious cornflower J Brand jeans made out of the softest denim in the known universe. I literally had to close my eyes as I smoothed them on. Only $39. A splurge for me, but leaving them in the store would be akin to leaving my first born on Michael Jackson’s doorstep (Ok, sorry! Even I cringed at that one. TOO SOON).

I am currently editing photos from the Preen Glam Rock Fashion Show! Here’s a teaser:

These WILL be joining the ranks of my closet soon enough. That is legit vintage python. BELIEVE.

check me out: wishes do come true

amber — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:03:03 +0000

So I had my birthday on Saturday.
I would like to tell you that it was a badass Chicago blowout where over a hundred people sang me the Happy Birthday song and I danced my face off with some of my closest friends for 12 hours… Well, slap my ass, I did enjoy telling you that because it really happened, but it wasn’t my birthday party. Congratulations to my dear friends Andrea (of Forkable-the food blog equivalent of Painfully Hip) and Ira (of Being Totally Sweet in Chicago – the best Chicago blog in the webosphere) on their funky, sweaty, no holds barred, beauteous wedding!

But you know what else happened? I had honed in on this shifty 60s summer number (a murderous vintage confection of crisp-as-a-freshly-starched-mens-shirt cotton, scalloped eyelet lace, bijou buttons, and thoughtfully placed darts) the day before my birthday whilst shopping at a high end vintage boutique (US#1) in Wicker Park with Rory, but had practically swallowed my own tongue gulping back a tear as I slowly backed away from its glorious perfection and $60 price tag. Instead I resorted to sneaky fitting room cellphone shots and the half-assed plan of a pathetic, blurry blog post about The One That Got Away.

The tag reads, “Designed by Mary Quant for Penny’s.”
MARY fucking QUANT. She’s like the Andy Warhol of 60s fashion. She practically invented the 60s.

Eat your heart out, Alexander McQueen for Target.

Around midnight after a birthday nightcap, I was again considering blowing my internet bill money on something that I had convinced myself would be inexplicably magnetic to all forms of processed tomatoes. As I turned the corner to our gracious hosts’ guest room, there it was… lying there like a freshly printed $100 bill on the sidewalk, The Dress.
Thank you sweet Rory, and Jeebus too!
I even considered wearing it to the wedding next day because technically the bride’s dress wasn’t white, so why couldn’t mine be? I abstained.

mary quant for pennys

When I returned from Chicago and got together with my twin sister Eve for our belated birthday dinner and she unceremoniously handed me these pristine vintage mary jane ankle booties in the most amazing goldy green color of peachfuzz suede, I nearly shed a tear.
The best part is that my boyfriend had actually managed to talk the price of the frock down to about $30 (so proud! sniff!) and the shoes were scored at a thrift store for $2!! Coral beaded earrings were $3 at Target and the metallic wrap bracelet (belt) is from Thunderhorse Vintage and is available here.

So, kids? Just promise me you’ll never stop hoping.

Best birthday ever.

Again, apologies for the photo quality, I should have some form of functional camera sometime next week.

Oh and make sure you check out the Crossroads Trading Company Fashion Photography Contest! Vote for my PHDC Summer at the Ranch photos and I will continue loving you forever.

Supa-scores! Things I am in love with this week

amber — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:24:38 +0000

I have been on a major vintage-scoring roll lately. Here are my absolute favorite things in my closet to sport this week.

High-waisted leather pin-up shorts (Thunderhorse Vintage, $22) – For SERIOUS. These made of the most soft, thin, buttery leathah ever. I cannot believe my luck. The shape is EXACTLY what I’ve been craving- with the slight flair at the bottom, they breathe well enough that I just might be able to wear them into the depths of summer, and believe me, I will be wearing them every chance I get.

Oversize fish necklace (Thunderhorse Vintage)- I always feel like I’m wearing some kinda whimsical breastplate when I’m wearing this. Makes me think it could stop bullets.
Filigree bird earrings – I just have a filigree fetish. I’ve had the black ones for a while and are consistently my favorite pair, so when I saw these colorful rooster ones for $5.99 on eBay, I just had to own them too (BTW, if you like vintage bird earrings, Penelopepups Vintage has an AWESOME pair here.
Native American necklace – I scored this at a flea market for $10, the dood said he made it with his own two hands. So I guess this doesn’t qualify as vintage, but… SCORE.

Buckle boots – $8 at the flea market. By far the most comfortable and versatile boots I own.

70s deadstock terrycloth dress (Thunderhorse Vintage) – Eek! Sherbet-colored chevron stripes?? Sign me up! This still has tags on it from the 70s, but it just felt wrong to remove them when they’ve been on this long – call me crazy, but I just tuck them in and wear it anyway.

Orange woven wedges (Atelier, $1) – Comfy cozy and sexy as hell.

Of course, this is just the tip of the ‘berg. I have some amazing things in great condition that weren’t my size that I just couldn’t abandon to the unnamed masses. They’ll be up in the Etsy store later this week!

Also, welcome Chicagoans! I was featured on the front page of ChicagoTribune.com via Being Totally Sweet in Chicago today! Thanks, Ira, and CONGRATS!

Slip on your hottest jeans and get Lucky

amber — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:22:09 +0000

Everybody loves contest time!

Do you ever wear jeans? Or maybe go out on the town? Do you ever do those two things simultaneously?
Then you TOTALLY QUALIFY to enter to win.
Win what, you ask? Oh nothing… just the chance to be featured in Lucky effing Magazine AND maybe even style a photoshoot for Lucky Brand Jeans!

I know, RIGHT?

If that prize isn’t good enough for you, Ms. Fancypants, then the deal’s about to get sweeter. Take your insulin shots now, because if you enter the contest at Lucky Style Spotter and then paste the URL of your entry into the comments of this post, voila, you are also entered to win this lavish cornucopia of goodies worth $250!
Click to zoom.

Holy hell, are those TIC TACS??

TAKE NOTE: This part of the contest is only for the legion of the Painfully Hip (US residents only), and after we vote on Tuesday November 4th, we’re going to feel empowered enough to choose the 3 best outfits! Each one will win $250 worth of awesome, so your chances to win are seriously colossal.

To Enter:

Lucky Style Spotter

Easy Peasy.

Remember, you must paste the URL of your Lucky Style Spotter “My Denim Transformation” contest entry into the comments of this post to be entered to win the gift bag from Painfully Hip!

So hurry up and show us yer denim. Make us proud. Blow those previous entrants out of the proverbial water. They wouldn’t know hip if they broke one. Oh wait, I’m totally one of those entrants (you expect me to pass this up??). I take it back.

Good Lucky to you.

Winners will be announced on Election Day Tuesday, November 4th 2008!

EDIT: Ok, its been 24 hours and only two entries?? We have THREE PRIZES to give away. C’mon guys, I know you have a photo of yourself wearing some futhermucking jeans! Git ‘er dun.

bovine beauty: the elusive leather jacket

amber — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:07:30 +0000

my husband recently bought one damn sexy motorcycle, a beautiful collector from 1971. he was elated of course, but my first thought? finally an excuse to invest in THE PERFECT leather jacket!

sounded like fun, but it wasn’t easy. i had major monetary restrictions to deal with, and after losing an eBay auction for this lovely Allen Schwartz at only $25:

and then missing out on this Bebe one at $49:

[actually, i'm gonna have to pause a moment here for a public service announcement regarding why i lost that first one. did you know that if you place a bid that is under the reserve price and then the seller lowers the reserve price to under your top bid, that eBay will automatically lower your top bid to under the reserve and you will have to reconfirm your bid before the end of the auction?? does that make sense? no? well i had no idea that was the case and it sucks, and i got screwed. ok, i'm done now.]

… the planets then aligned and the eBay clouds cleared and i finally scored this one by I.N.C. for only $22 including shipping!!!

it’s not exactly the skinny bomber style i was hoping for, but it’s totally adorable and much more timeless. and at that price? i can buy 3 more if i wanna.

these sailor shorts be floatin’ my boat

amber — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 23:41:37 +0000

i went vintage shopping in seattle this weekend and scored some amazing high-waisted cuffed sailor shorts, beautifully altered from authentic wool US Navy pants! they even have the original tag with the sailor’s name inside, a lace-up back and all the buttons on the front. they fit perfectly.

(sorry, my camera is still lost, no photos)
my friend and i almost got in a catfight over them when i yoinked them off the rack. then i almost had a score-gasm when i saw the price tag. only $7!!

ok, so maybe it’s not quite as good as eve’s “love” accessory, but who needs drugs when there’s the thrill of the bargain hunt?! maybe that’s why all those filthy rich celebri-whores, even with their ginormous chanel and dior-filled wardrobes and never-ending charge accounts all end up in rehab eventually. perhaps their retail therapy (or simply paying their Zoe-bot) just doesn’t work quite as well as it does for us bargain-istas. we have to work, save, scrimp and endlessly search, and be creative to look good, but it sure can pay off!
then again, i guess pretty clothes are my prozac, i’m just that shallow.

EDIT: really truly photo here.

BADGERMANTIS

Eve — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:40:45 +0000

Hello, I’m back from IEP hell, I apologize for my absence.

Although I’m sure my power animal is a whale, I love obscure animals on my clothes and my husband got me this amazing handpainted badger necklace from Etsy and my mom got me this beautiful embroidered Praying Mantis Tee from Nordstrom Rack for $16 for my birthday. The necklace is my talisman from evil and the shirt is so soft and cozy (and I’ll bite your head off if you try and steal it from me).

I paired them with my new mauve twill city shorts and my chocolate mary jane Crocs (I know there are those out there that hate Crocs, but they have obviously never owned a pair. These are the first model that are actually aesthetically pleasing. I feel like a futuristic Wednesday Addams hippie farmer in these and since I like to garden AND cook, I can wear these all day brewing beer, pulling weeds and cooking a ginormous meal and they are no worse for the wear. So with this cute new style, Crocs have gone from “functional: yes, stylish: no” to “functional: yes, stylish: YES!”. Ok, now just let me step down from my soap box….) and voila, I feel like I could snatch a humming bird out of mid-air and use my spiny left foreleg to impale it through the chest.

UPDATE: I found the tee-shirt here but unfortunately, unless there’s a Nordstrom Rack in your town, it’ll cost you $44.

check us out: we almost dropped

amber — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:38:26 +0000

thank you so much for the birthday wishes, oh stylish readers! we had a great one. a birthday present-funded shopping spree, and a birthday party to follow. i think we spent about 3 hours saturating the Nordstrom Rack Outlet with our twin drool. Eve went with quantity, while i opted for quality. of course you can’t really lose with Nordstrom’s quality.

Eve scored a sweet royal blue tunic (pictured), a wicked black tee with a preying mantis design embroidered on the front, a hoodie, a stupidly sexy brown sweater dress (she and her husband mysteriously disappeared when she tried it on for him), a pair of adorable dark wash cropped jeans with button details (pictured), some brown tweed bermudas, and a pair of white hot linen short shorts.

I got only a few classic investment pieces: a sultry green Michael Kors keyhole maillot with gold hardware, a divine cotton mini shirtdress with trench styling and a drop-waist, and an amazing tan linen swing jacket by Mac & Jac which i completely fell in love with and finally decided to whisk away with me despite the “sale” price of $60 (i heart birthdays). it’s just one of those pieces that you know you’ll still love in 6 years, something that could class up the laziest of outfits and make you feel like audrey every time you throw it on. i also grabbed a cotton pinstriped pinafore top and a pair of aviators. and then we raided payless shoes for sandals.

so here we are being silly downtown on the most temperate and beautiful birthnight a pair could ask for…

here’s what we’re wearing:

on amber ( i decided to go strawberry blonde with brunette lowlights for my birthday. i rather like it, but now we look slightly less twinish)-

chiffon babydoll with geometric pattern, a gift from the mother-in-law.

brown nylon short shorts, army navy $15

eve’s Enzo flats, my $2 thrift store bracelet and $3 target necklace (once again)

on eve -

blue tunic and cropped jeans, nordstrom rack, a gift from mum (under $30 for both)

paisley 70′s stewardess scarf worn on head, thrift store 50 cents

my steve madden peeptoe flats, $26

on both – handmade person pins, Niece Sophia originals, priceless.

our birthday may be over, but the party has just begun. we can’t WAIT to get to the coast. it’s hot in the valley!

Haand Them Over

Eve — Wed, 23 May 2007 01:55:23 +0000

Loafers are the new flat. I love loafers! So hot with knee highs and a skirt, so coy with capris, so geek chic with skinny jeans. And now I am the proud owner of a pair of vintage Cole Haans! Check it:

I found these at the thrift store for $3.99.

I pictured the previous owner as being a Diane-Keaton type. She had a loafer addiction and decided to leave her plumber husband to run off with her accountant to Fiji and write her first novel. She only had time to grab her Enzos and her Coaches before her flight (Besides, she’d worn them on their honeymoon to Paris back in ’84). Her husband couldn’t look at them and tossed them onto a thrift store parking lot on his way to an AA meeting.

(All prices include shipping)
Crocodile penny loafer $24.99

Coach Sig. Driving Shoe $74.87

Miraculously, Eve, who was about to turn 3o, had been wanting to feel classic and luxurious but was also broke. Her feet happened to be the same size and have the same contours as Diane’s. So the Cole Haans and Eve lived together, through beaches and brewfests, happily ever after.

White Driving Mules, $31.49

I just feel so hip in these, I don’t care that people will say, “Haha, I had a pair of those in high school. I used to wear them with my paisley vest and my bunchy sox…with my jeans tucked in!!!”

Happy Birthday to me!

Naked Lady Party: Like an all-girl pillow fight minus the pillows.

Eve — Tue, 15 May 2007 15:47:09 +0000

My dear friend Angie threw a naked lady party the other night, have you guys ever BEEN to one of these? SUCH a great idea. Unfortunately, my arms were so full of bags of clothes and shoes when I left my house that I completely forgot my camera to document this frantic and ecstatic event.

Basically, what a Naked Lady Party consists of is a bunch of ladies bringing their old clothes, shoes and jewelery to the party and swapping with their friends (that is if you consider a bunch of half-dressed, inebriated girls, “ladies” and the process of flinging mounds of clothes all over the place whilst giggling and squealing, “swapping”). Well, I tell you what, even if it was just sitting around awkwardly and civilized (aka., baby shower), it would be worth it because I SCORED hardcore on Friday night! I must thank my mother for my quick snatch skills, as she birthed my 4 siblings.

Here are some of my favorites:

Tank top with buttons (Forever 21): FREE

Silk 3/4 sleeve turtleneck (Ann Taylor): $0

Corduroy a-line skirt (Zinc): a hay penny

Military zip-up (Stussy!): a few brain cells

Red button-up with mandarin collar (Vintage): years of searching

Sleeveless print top (Sele): ~~$$$~~

Grey hoodie with tiny stars (Forever 21): Nada

The coolest thing about a Naked Lady Party is that you don’t feel as guilty getting rid of some of your cuter stuff that you just can’t bear to give to some anonymous, nameless face. Instead you are giving them to your friends, seeing them look radiant in them, and with the other eye, scoping out their pile of treasures. AND, you’re saving the environment and a few little sweatshop hands.

Everybody get NAKED!