Discount Store
K-Mart’s Saturday Sidewalk Sale: Daily Deal
The Deal: On June 14 from midnight to noon, head to kmart.com for discounts for you, your home and everyone in it. It’s worth it to stay on your computer instead of fighting the crowds that are always in K-Mart on Saturdays.
What We Say: Don’t be afraid to shop from a discount store—their clothes are stylish and fun, and trusted brands such as Levi’s and Route 66 make great jeans for women of all body types. Stock up on your beauty supplies during this sale too, and save on basics like makeup bags and hair dryers.
Check out our picks:
This studded tunic is a hot choice for going out at night. $19.99
Levi’s are one of America’s trusted denim brands, and these stretch bootcuts match with the above top perfectly.
Dress, $24.99. We love this retro and colorful, fun print. The braiding beneath the bust line is a particularly nice detail.
A.P.C Opens Discount Store in Brooklyn
A.P.C., sort a like a French version of Zara with even higher prices, recently opened an “outlet” store called A.P.C Surplus. The store sells previous season’s merchandise for up to 60% off their retail price, which makes their clothing somewhat affordable. I like Zara better.
See for Yourself:
A.P.C. Surplus
33 Grand Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
ph: 347.381.3193
Fashion Advice: How to Get Designer Boots Online
Dear Budget Fashionista:
My question is - I live in a small town in Ontario, Canada and my shopping is limited. I started doing more online shopping because my shopping time is restricted as I work two jobs and when I do get the chance to shop, I have to travel 2 hours to Toronto. I’ve always dreamed of purchasing a pair of either Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin boots, but I’m not wealthy. There are so many sites to order from - can you recommend any trusted ones (I don’t know if I can trust eBay even though some of them look authentic!
Help!!
If you want them on at a discount and authentic, then Bluefly.com(ships to Canada) is your best bet. However, Bluefly.com
can sometimes be as expensive as shopping online at NeimanMarcus.com (ships internationally by calling 1.888.888.4757). In fact, you can sometimes find designer shoes for LESS online at high end stores like NeimanMarcus if you hit them during a major sale event (check the sites in mid to late January). You can also try YOOX.COM
(ships EVERYWHERE), which carries true Haute Couture (high fashion) versions of the high end designers like Jimmy and Manolo. These stores won’t be cheap, but you may be able to find a good deal on the boots.
eBay is an option, but unfortunately, most of the designer things you see on eBay
are fake… that’s the sad part of the whole system. However, eBay
is one of the few sites (STILL) that reliably ships to Canada and, if you’re lucky, just might score a great deal.
Here’s some of my tips for shopping eBay:
- If it’s too good to be true, it is—look out for deals that seem too good to be true. You can’t purchase a pair of brand new real Jimmy Choo leather boots for $25. Not going to happen.
- Check shipping—Many auctioneers make up for the low auction price by charging ridiculous shipping rates. Go to usps.gov to figure out how much shipping costs to your part of Canada.
- Don’t be fooled by the pretty pictures—Avoid auctions with pictures that look like they were lifted right off Saks.com and focus more on the auctions that look like they were taken by someone with a digital camera inside their own closet. Yes, that means the items may have been used, but you just might find a deal from someone who either received the item as a gift and didn’t like it, someone who is moving or who is trying to raise a bit of extra dough.
Great Online Discount Stores
figleaves.com
- One of the biggest online lingerie stores in the UK now has a US based site and if you have a hard to fit bra size, this is the place to buy your bra!. They have a huge selection of designer undergarments,
sleepwear, and swimwear from Dolce and Gabbana, La Perla, Chantelle, and more.
They also have great online coupons and a huge selection of bras from sizes AA
to JJ.
Alternative Outfitters. Prior to discovering Alternative Outfitters, when I of thought vegan clothing I thought of large, unstylish pleather shoes. This online store has cruelty-free versions of the latest trends that even self-centered fashionistas like myself would wear.
Angelamoore.com. The popular Angela Moore catalog comes to life on the site, with quick links to their handcrafted beaded bracelets and homeware items like vases.
Asos.com. A British based site that has affordable “designer inspired” clothing. The site is arranged according to the celebrities who wore the more expensive versions of the clothing.
Bare Necessities.com. Head to Barenecessites.com and view their bra and underwear guides for detailed information and tips on finding the perfect foundation. They also have a nice selection of bras for every size.
Beauty.com. This online store stocks the top beauty products from brands like Philosophy, Nars, and more. Plus, they almost always have online discount coupons.
Bluefly.com. This site has a large assortment of designer bags from Marc Jacobs, Anya Hindmarch, Fendi, Ferragamo, and more for up to 65% off. They usually don’t stock that many of these bags, so when you see one, you need to buy it ASAP.
Coco & Delilah. Ever hip, this store is great for casual wear from designers like Tocca, Nanette Lepore, and Lacoste for up to 60% off retail prices. I’m also a big fan of the Smashing Grandpa line of funky t-shirts.
dELiAs*cOm. Although this store is known mostly for its causal teen wear, dELiAs*cOm is the perfect source for trendy shoes for Budget Fashionistas of any age. Head to the site and find designer-inspired versions of the latest styles, in sizes up to 11, for up to 75% off the price of the designer versions.
ebay.com. eBay is a Budget Fashionista’s secret weapon. The online auction site is the best place to find designer goods at rock bottom prices. However, beware of auctions on high end items that sound too good to be true. Protect yourself by paying for your items with a credit card with buyer protection or through the eBay owned paypal system.
eluxury.com Owned by the parent company of Louis Vuitton, this online store houses the official Louis Vuitton online store as well as sells bags from designers like Celine, Marc Jacobs, and Christian Dior.
Forzieri.com. Based in Florence, Italy, this online shop has an impressive selection of leather goods, fine jewelry, and stylish apparel. Prices on the main site can be pretty steep, so click on the outlet section for exclusive deals on the best in Italian fashion .
Fred Flare. Great site for those who want a little more edge to their accessories. Hipsters head to Fred Flare to find everything from earrings shaped like guitars to the affordable bling of the Loop Bags.
Gap.com. I will always love the Gap, no matter how much they may stray from their denim roots. Its site is still one of the best places online to find jeans and t-shirts in normal people sizes (up to a XXL in tops and up to size 20 in pants online) and normal people price ranges. Plus they often offer free shipping for purchases over a certain dollar amount.
Ice.com. This site was created with the Budget Fashionista in mind. Quality diamond and gemstones in stylish settings and prices you can actually afford.
Jockey.com. Their incredibly comfortable line of cotton bras and underwear make Jockey an excellent stop for the anti-underwire crowd.
La Redoute.com. French women have been raving for years about La Redoute, and finally, American women can benefit from their amazing collection as well. The site has special lines from high-end French designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Cacharel. This store is probably the only place to find a Jean Paul Gaultier bustier for $29.95.
LUSH. This international beauty phenomena has a wide range of great smelling, cruelty- free products. Their rock star soap goes well with my shower renditions of “Stairway to Heaven.”
Nordstrom.com. The online version of this higher-end department store has a large selection of
shoes and a pretty decent clearance section. The site is especially good for budget fashionistas with hard to find shoe sizes (below a size 6 and above a
10). Particularly impressive is their selection of petite and plus size fashions, which is much more diverse and stylish than their in-store offerings.
Oldnavy.com Trendy items in a wide range of sizes for prices you can afford. Old Navy has firmly cornered the flip-flop market. They actually made the plastic sandals you used to buy at Walgreen’s, stylish and affordable. All you need is $10 and you can buy an entire summer sandal wardrobe. Get an Oldnavy.com Coupon.
Overstock.com . This is the biggest outlet store on the web, which sells everything from scooters to scarves. It is the perfect one stop shop for busy moms who want to pick up something for the kids, but also want to score a little something for their closets as well. Overstock has their own line of clothing, called Prague, which produces “designer inspired” fashions.
SmartBargains.com Loehmann’s and the discount website Smart Bargains, joined to together to put Loehmann’s amazing selection of designer goods online at the joint venture. You’ll find a huge selection of designer bags from Gucci, Tods, Prada and more for up to 80% off retail prices.
Target.com. Target has the best, and one of the biggest, everyday underwear departments in the country. If only they had a fit specialist on hand. I also love their hip, affordable, sleepwear sets from Swell by Cynthia Rowley and Fred Said.
Victoria’s Secret. This lingerie store, with its popular catalog and online site, is a favorite of mall dwellers and teenage boys. Although I wouldn’t necessarily suggest this store for support bras, it’s a great place for sexy bras, trendy apparel, and jeans.
Wal-Mart. Believe or not, Wal-Mart has an excellent selection of designer-inspired pieces for ridiculously low prices. I found a sterling silver heart link bracelet, similar to a version sold at the high-end jewelry store, Tiffany’s, for less than $20 dollars. Only you and the cashier will know you bought it from Wal-Mart.
YOOX.COM.
This European online store is chock full of the best designers from Gaultier to Galliano. It’s sort of like your cool, techno-pop cousin from Italy. You can see what the clothing looks like on the mannequin that strangely floats in the middle of the screen. Selections moves fast, so be prepared to purchase what you like because it might not be there once you come back.
Zappos.com. If you have feet, you can find a pair of shoes at this amazing online shoe store. Zappos lives up to its name as the biggest shoe store on the web, carrying designer shoes and accessories from Vera Wang, Casadei, Judith Leiber, Roberto Cavalli, and more. They have a huge selection and carry tons of sizes. Plus, they always have free shipping.Searching through the site can be a bit daunting, but their huge selection of women’s, men’s, and children’s shoes from Emilio Pucci to Keds, guarantees you will find something to fit your budget. Plus, someone was smart enough to offer both free shipping and free returns.
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