Online Shopaholic

Lately, I've been on this shopping kick that I can't seem to break, despite the rapidly depleting funds in my checking account. I tend to be a bit of a cheapskate when it comes to buying clothes, often waiting for a good deal or a sale. I also tend to stay away from online shopping as I am super-scared to buy something and then not have it fit, and then have to go through the trouble of returning it.

Recently, though, I hit up http://www.oldnavy.com/ and http://www.gap.com/ to buy some sale items for me and some new fall clothes for the boy. And now? I'm addicted.

I guess I shop so much at those two venues in person that I just know my size and I'm comfortable ordering and then, if need be, returning something to the store.

I am a taller girl, blessed (sorry) and cursed with long legs. This makes pants shopping a bit tough, especially of the velour lounge variety. In store, there are no options for "tall." And when I spend my money, even if it's only $20, on a pair of velour lounge pants (with matching jacket, of course), I want them to fit past the first washing. I have this tendency to shrink things. I'd rather buy pants that start off a bit too long and give myself a fighting chance when it comes to laundry.

When I saw these at Old Navy a couple of weeks ago, I just knew I'd found a winner!

Women's Velour Lounge Pants

Not only do they come in "tall" sizes and pretty colors, they are now on sale. I also just washed and dried this pair and they did NOT shrink! Which means that I can still wear them out of the house on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

*Apparently, we now have to post disclaimers. Old Navy doesn't know who I am. These are all my personal opinions and experiences.

Sandals!

I'll admit it. I've been obsessed with buying these shoes since I first saw The Possessionista featured a question about them on her site (Jennifer Anniston was wearing the cream colored variety) last summer, I believe. I searched high. I searched low. I searched everywhere in between. But when Dana (a.k.a. The Possessionista) said that the Stuart Weitzman Alex Espadrille was sold out? She meant it. So imagine my surprise in January when I saw the above shoe at my local Neiman Marcus? I was ecstatic! Thrilled! And I adored the new color! I then requested a pair in my size, tried them on, and was almost crippled with pain. My foot wan decidedly unhappy I had done that to them. So I left Neiman's dejected and flat, much like the soles of my shoe of choice that day.

Fast-forward to last week. I was browsing Amazon.com after a long self-imposed shoe and Amazon moratorium. I stumbled across THESE! What are "these," you ask? They happen to be The Steve Madden Fantastik Open Toe Espadrille. Since I know my size in Steve, I ordered a pair, along with a few others (a girl cannot have too many wedges for summer, no?).

Today, I wore them for the first time. My feet are in love. And more importantly, my bank account thanks me as well. You see, The Stuarts cost $365. The Steves? A smoooth $71.28! I picked up three pair of wedges that day, plus a mystery, for under $300!

I'm all set for summer!

So Sad

I was at Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance Center (side note: There used to be only two of these in the US. The original two were in Austin, Texas and somewhere in New York) in Austin not too long ago.



I always peruse the shoes there as you never know when you can get acid green Manolos for $70 or Gucci stilletto sandals for under $100...



Typically, shoes for me are few and far between. Let's face it, shoes usually don't make it to a clearance center anywhere if they are popular and fit well. Lo and behold, there were multiple pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes in a variety of classic and fun styles in my size!!! I gingerly pulled the shoes out of their spot on the rack and headed over to try them on. I was so excited!!!



Um. Yeah. I don't know if was just these particular pairs or if it is all Louboutins, but... I could not for the life of me squeeze my wicked stepsister foot into a reasonably and correctly sized pair!



Poor me. But yay for my savings account!

It's that time of year again...

Time to start the ole "Wish List"...
So. I want this. The only thing I can't decide upon is the color... Brown is always stylish, but pink or indigo are a little more fun. And I have a pair of shoes that would match the lime color perfectly. Decisions, decisions...

Lately, much like Victoria Beckham, I've hated "flat" shoes. I mean I've gone out of my way to not wear them. But I'm a realist and I recognize the need for them (maybe your pants shrunk and are too short, maybe you plan on being on your feet all day, no matter). Two weeks ago, I got out my trusty "go-to" flats, my Nine West ballet flats. Sadly, they had been worn so many times, they were at the end of their lives.

That also happened to be the day that my mom was in town and she, too, was distressed by the state of my shoes. She suggested we go to Nordstrom and take a look at these ballet flats she loved. Never one to pass up a trip there, we were on our way.

I found these. They are the cutest little snub-nosed, cap-toe ballet flats I've seen in a very long time! I adore them and want them in many colors. I ended up walking out of the store with them on my feet and I've worn them at least 8 times since I got them.

As a side note, the man who helped us told us that BCBG is actually making Jessica Simpson's shoes now. I'm not sure how true this is, but it seemed interesting. It's funny, though, as there are not very many shoemakers around the world and most shoes do originate out of one of four major factories.

Way to go, Sak's!*

*And the lovely, lovely La Mer representative.

Question: What happens when you walk up to the La Mer counter, tell the representative what you want, and also that it is your first ever purchase of their product line?

Answer: You get set up with samples of the entire La Mer skincare line, including the wondermous, fabulous, cult and celebrity favorite Creme de la Mer.

I think I'm going to be in a LOT of trouble if this kind of treatment keeps up. ;-)

A slave to mass marketing...

If a commercial tells me that I absolutely HAVE to have something to make my skin clearer, wrinkles less noticable, abs tighter, hair softer, cleaning simpler, well you get the picture, I really decide that I must buy it.

I typically don't buy it. But it's oh-so-hard to resist.

My parents own enough items of work out equipment to warrant their own home gym. Literally. My dad built a 16 x 20 standalone workout center out behind their house. With air-conditioning and cable. They can't resist a good infomercial!

Me? I am proud to say that I have only made one purchase from an infomercial and it's something that even if I don't ever use it again (don't worry Dr Pop! I'll use it again, I promise!) I'll have gotten my money's worth. But that's not to say that the lovely in-store displays don't draw me in like the Pied Piper.

Today's little bit of fabulous...

When I saw these hot pink and chocolate brown leather mules with a 4" heel last year at Nordstrom's, I knew that they would be mine. I ended up having to order them because they didn't have my size, so I did not get my instant gratification that day. {sigh!} I did receive these lovely Paolo shoes (size 9 1/2) in the mail that week, however. And the icing on the cake? They were ON. SALE.

Trying something new..

My name is Ellen and I'm obsessed with shoes. There. I've said it. Nothing gives me the warm fuzzies quite as much as finding and purchasing that perfect pair of shoes. You know the ones I'm talking about. These are the shoes that you see someone else wearing and know you MUST own them. Or something with the same amount of fabulousness. The shoes that you see in the stall next to yours and you immediately as, "Where did you get your shoes?" much to the discomfort of the poor soul who just wanted to pee.

Every now and then, I have myself discovered the perfect accessory. And on a down day, nothing really makes me feel better than knowing that even at my worst, at least some part of my outfit is fabulous. So from time to time, I'm going to post what makes me feel fabulous.

And, uh, yeah, this is slightly narcissistic. But really, aren't most blogs?

Is it wrong to want...

THESE FABULOUS SHOES?!?!

I didn't think so.

It's coming together

I got my brown cowl-neck long sweater (sleeveless), long-sleeved white t-shirt, and grey flat-front pants the other day. I did pretty good on the spending, too, having a gift card to Ann Taylor and taking advantage of a sale at Express. :-)

The unfortunate thing, though, is that I've added lots more stuff to my list. Oh well. I'm a shopaholic, I guess. Or perhaps I'm just a "want"aholic. I want everything. I did find the leopard shoes that I plan to get. They're so cute! Peep-toe 4.5" platforms from bebe. I found them online, though, so I need to try them on this weekend.

I see a trip to Last Call and that mall down south with the Nordstrom's in my not so distant future...

I've decided that I need limitless funds and a personal shopper to keep me content with my wardrobe. That and a professional organizer and custom closet. Sadly, those things are slightly out of reach at the moment. Ah, well... A girl can dream.

And on a side note, our Sak's is finally stepping up to the plate in the shoe department. Manolo and Jimmy are in abundance!