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Outlet (and Other) Finds
July 9th, 2011 05:07 pmTook a day off on Friday and went shopping at the outlets with my mother. I snagged an amazing deal at Banana Republic Factory, which was running BOGO free on all clearance items: trouser jeans and a cardigan for $17 total. (Plus, no tax on clothes in PA.)
I also poked around J. Crew for a bit without seeing anything worthwhile, and Fossil for a long time at the pretty bags. Some good prices at the Fossil store, including 50% off certain clearance items--bringing one leather bag that I seriously considered down to only $40--but I'm still in love with the Lola Patchwork Hobo. The smaller version has a top zip, and I saw the larger version in-store at KOP and it's not large enough for textbooks anyway.
Other stores with good sales: Easy Spirit had a ton of shoes on promo for $15/20/30. Coach Factory was running another extra 30% promotion. Ann Taylor Factory had some decent prices on shirts and well-stocked clearance, though the style is a bit too classic for my taste (my mother picked up a few nice shells). I didn't venture into the Gap Outlet, and ran out of time for the new Talbots outlet at Lancaster (another store with classic, trending-older clothes).
We were there initially to make a return at Calvin Klein, and got merchandise credit because it was past 30 days, so I browsed for a while and tried on a bunch of different pants without finding any that fit perfectly. I did confirm that I'm between a 2 and a 4 in higher-waisted pant styles, that slim-cut styles tend to have a larger, lower waist (= perfect for my body type), and that a 29" inseam is NOT consistent at CK. Also that CK bras don't fit me well at all.
***
Aaaand in related shopping news, all of my recent online orders came in the mail. I'm very happy with my new Lands' End Canvas bikini, which will be debuted tomorrow. Eek. I ended up pairing the Heritage Mini Dot Bandeau Halter Swim Top (fits my 32AA chest surprisingly well in the XS, though I'll never ever wear it without the strap, and does run small per reviews) with the Heritage Retro Hipster Solid Swim Bottom in the matching Deep Sea color (sized up to an XS although I usually wear XXS at LEC), rather than the mini dot printed bottom. Despite my non-existent chest, I feel more comfortable drawing attention to my shoulders--which look surprisingly broad in a bikini--than my tummy.
Maybe I should have gone for the matching set after all, though. Navy solids are much easier to find later than the exact matching print, and I do feel like my shoulders are a little unbalanced. LE's return policy is such that I could wear the solid bottom tomorrow to the beach and still return it later with no problems... though I feel like this might be slightly unethical.
The Talbots T-strap sandals are less of a sure thing; they look exactly as pictured, but I just find them so bare on my feet; it feels a bit more casual than my ideal flat business-casual sandal. (My office has no official dress code and casual non-flip-flop sandals are definitely OK, but I like to be a little dressier than the bare minimum.) I know I shouldn't keep things I don't love, but I will wear them if I do keep them, and the price ($21 for leather, albeit not very much leather, and a reliable quality brand) is probably unbeatable.
Finally, I received an amazing gray jersey Anthro dress by Yoana Baraschi from an EA Trade Market seller. I expect it to get a ton of wear this summer at work, as it's a forgiving fit with interesting pleat/ruching details and a neutral color. (And unlike my neutral jersey J. Crew dress, which has similar pros, it isn't low-cut enough to require a scarf and doesn't have a funny between-rib-cage-and-waist elastic waistline. I mean, I still wear that dress a lot, but it's not quite effortless for those reasons.) The Baraschi dress is a little big up top when I bend over, but the neckline is modest enough that I can easily wear a cami underneath for coverage, and I expect it will stay put once I layer a cardigan over top.
[Sidebar: I am so going to be shopping for unique Anthro cardigans this winter break.]
I also poked around J. Crew for a bit without seeing anything worthwhile, and Fossil for a long time at the pretty bags. Some good prices at the Fossil store, including 50% off certain clearance items--bringing one leather bag that I seriously considered down to only $40--but I'm still in love with the Lola Patchwork Hobo. The smaller version has a top zip, and I saw the larger version in-store at KOP and it's not large enough for textbooks anyway.
Other stores with good sales: Easy Spirit had a ton of shoes on promo for $15/20/30. Coach Factory was running another extra 30% promotion. Ann Taylor Factory had some decent prices on shirts and well-stocked clearance, though the style is a bit too classic for my taste (my mother picked up a few nice shells). I didn't venture into the Gap Outlet, and ran out of time for the new Talbots outlet at Lancaster (another store with classic, trending-older clothes).
We were there initially to make a return at Calvin Klein, and got merchandise credit because it was past 30 days, so I browsed for a while and tried on a bunch of different pants without finding any that fit perfectly. I did confirm that I'm between a 2 and a 4 in higher-waisted pant styles, that slim-cut styles tend to have a larger, lower waist (= perfect for my body type), and that a 29" inseam is NOT consistent at CK. Also that CK bras don't fit me well at all.
***
Aaaand in related shopping news, all of my recent online orders came in the mail. I'm very happy with my new Lands' End Canvas bikini, which will be debuted tomorrow. Eek. I ended up pairing the Heritage Mini Dot Bandeau Halter Swim Top (fits my 32AA chest surprisingly well in the XS, though I'll never ever wear it without the strap, and does run small per reviews) with the Heritage Retro Hipster Solid Swim Bottom in the matching Deep Sea color (sized up to an XS although I usually wear XXS at LEC), rather than the mini dot printed bottom. Despite my non-existent chest, I feel more comfortable drawing attention to my shoulders--which look surprisingly broad in a bikini--than my tummy.
Maybe I should have gone for the matching set after all, though. Navy solids are much easier to find later than the exact matching print, and I do feel like my shoulders are a little unbalanced. LE's return policy is such that I could wear the solid bottom tomorrow to the beach and still return it later with no problems... though I feel like this might be slightly unethical.
The Talbots T-strap sandals are less of a sure thing; they look exactly as pictured, but I just find them so bare on my feet; it feels a bit more casual than my ideal flat business-casual sandal. (My office has no official dress code and casual non-flip-flop sandals are definitely OK, but I like to be a little dressier than the bare minimum.) I know I shouldn't keep things I don't love, but I will wear them if I do keep them, and the price ($21 for leather, albeit not very much leather, and a reliable quality brand) is probably unbeatable.
Finally, I received an amazing gray jersey Anthro dress by Yoana Baraschi from an EA Trade Market seller. I expect it to get a ton of wear this summer at work, as it's a forgiving fit with interesting pleat/ruching details and a neutral color. (And unlike my neutral jersey J. Crew dress, which has similar pros, it isn't low-cut enough to require a scarf and doesn't have a funny between-rib-cage-and-waist elastic waistline. I mean, I still wear that dress a lot, but it's not quite effortless for those reasons.) The Baraschi dress is a little big up top when I bend over, but the neckline is modest enough that I can easily wear a cami underneath for coverage, and I expect it will stay put once I layer a cardigan over top.
[Sidebar: I am so going to be shopping for unique Anthro cardigans this winter break.]
