Thursday: gold Jimmy Choo sandals

Gasp! Has hell frozen over? Because I’ve decided to put myself on a shopping diet…. Though it does depend on what you think the word “diet” means. I’m not into the whole cold turkey thing, by any means. That never works; depriving yourself completely just makes you more susceptible to bingeing. I’m all about easing into things. So, as I mentioned, on my West Coast trip (during the sales no less) I bought a mere two items. Perhaps I’ll be able to get down to one item per week… then one item per fortnight… then…

Granted, this is a lousy time to begin a diet. Right in the middle of the sales? But when is there ever a good time? It’s like, beginning a diet-diet just before swimsuit season — but then there’s Easter and Passover and all that good food. You can’t start during the summer, either, with all the entertaining you do. Then comes fall, and before you know it, it’s Halloween… then Thanksgiving… then Christmas and Hanukkah… then New Year’s… then Valentine’s Day… I could go on forever. And just the same way, this is a bad time to cut out shopping, since the sales are going on. And then the fall merch will be in stores, and God knows how much I love fall clothes… There are temptations year round.

But once you make that momentous decision, you gotta start sometime. (Thank goodness I did plenty of shopping this year already, so I do still have some new things to enjoy…) So here I go. Day one: 0 in-store purchases, 0 online orders. 0 window shopping excursions. V. v. good!

Technorati Tags: shopping, diet, self-restraint

Tuesday: lemon Manolo heels

On my travels this week I had the chance to check out some West Coast (and Pacific Island) shopping, and my oh my! Honolulu had all the trappings: a great big Texas-style (or Jersey-style, depending on your upbringing) mall, the Ala Moana, that boasts Neimans, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Jimmy Choo… the works. And then there’s the Americana-style shopping along Kalakaua Street in Waikiki (another Louis, Cartier, Hermes). So the stores are all there, but the merch was just so-so. I snagged a Marc Jacobs bag — looks way cuter in person — and a black ruched Marc party dress on sale at Neiman’s (thanks, Madge!).

But then things got really interesting in San Francisco. Who knew that the Neimans and Saks stores on Union Square were so well-stocked! At both stores there were racks and racks of designer stuff on sale — everything from Prada to Tuleh, Moschino to Missoni. Maybe I was just so overwhelmed by it all, maybe I just lost my mind. But I didn’t buy a single thing! There was this Marc Jacobs skirt that I loved at the beginning of the season, but I didn’t even try it on because it looked so oversized on the hanger. I would have been dwarfed by it. Oh well. And try as I did to buy some shoes at Saks (30% off markdowns plus a rather nice salesman), I just didn’t bite. Uh oh, take my temperature… What could be wrong? Well, hopefully whatever ailment it is will be gone by Last Call. I know where I need to go for that!

Technorati Tags: sales, Neiman Marcus, Saks, San Francisco, shopping

Thursday: Chanel slides

Oh the horrors have I seen! Sitting by the pool and walking along the beach these past few days, I’ve been shocked at the number of people who still slather up with suntan oil, lay out and bake. Now to be sure, we pasty New Yorkers, after a long winter, can all use a little sun and vitamin D. But I’m not talking about moderation here. I’m talking about shake-and-bake, lay out until your skin has the color of a boiled lobster and the texture of a cheap leather handbag. To top it all off, many of these sun worshippers (or should I say abusers?) were smoking.

Not to sound like Debbie Downer or a Puritanical nag, but that’s really bad for you! I’m not even talking about your chances of getting cancer — just think about the wrinkles! If you don’t care about your health, at least care about your appearance. A hint of color from a trip to the tropics is nice. Looking like you just came out of an Italian leather factory? Not so much.

Technorati Tags: tanning, sun, wrinkles

Tuesday: red Louboutin espadrille slides

I’ve never had a job that lets you take off early on Fridays — it’s my dream to find one, someday — so I’m going to institute summer hours for the blog. For the next few months we’re going to a Tuesday-Thursday schedule. Time to hit the beach!

Speaking of which, this week I’ve been in Hawaii for a work conference (don’t call it a boondoggle!) and there has been a raging debate on what people should wear. While some people say you should wear what you’d wear to any other work-related event anywhere else in the 50 states — i.e. jackets and ties and closed-toe shoes — the locals insist it’s appropriate to wear sundresses and “aloha” shirts (what mainlanders would call a “Hawaiian shirt”) even if it’s supposed to be a professional environment. After all, what do you expect when every day is summer?

I’m all about living like a local — you know I’m all about the dresses anyway. Throw on a cardigan instead of a jacket, since the air conditioning is going to be full blast. Sandals of the strappy variety are fine, but I must draw the line at flip-flops. Oh, and tank tops are probably not a good idea (much less bikini tops!). But leave the navy suit and matching pumps at home. This is, after all, a conference of writers, not investment bankers. As the locals would say, no need!

Technorati Tags: Hawaii, casual dressing, dresses, island wear

Wednesday: yellow floral Gunmetal peeptoes

So I had sort of sworn off sample sales, but I couldn’t help myself. I had gotten great stuff at the Tory Burch sale last year (and I went on the last day, at that) so I found myself slipping out of the office on a ridiculously busy day to hit the first day of the sale.

And good god almighty, I made out like a bandit. Remember what I said about that bottom category of things you wouldn’t necessarily buy at full price but might feel compelled to get on sale? And these prices were in most cases 50% off the current sale prices at Saks! Yes, dear reader, I did say compelled.
Without further ado, the loot:

• white cotton tank with sequin fish
• ankle tie beaded sandal
• gold macrame flats
• fish-diamond print sundress
• printed tunic with sequin bib
• canvas tote with sequin fish

I think I can safely say that I’m just about stocked up for the beach days of summer. Then again, there was also this white beaded voile tank… and this sequin fish scarf… Ack, I gotta go back!

Technorati Tags: Tory Burch, Tory TRB, sample sale, summer shopping