Thoughts that were duct taped to my cerebrum

good deals in abundance

Saturday my dad took me shopping to get some more wintry/wintery (which one is correct?) wear. I had been wanting to go to Gordmans and attack the clearance section, so we did. First of all I got a Miss Cheivous hoodie with teal and gray stripes and this awesome little ruffle thing at the hem. It has 3/4 sleeves and is really soft. That was $10. Then I got a solid brown Currants hoodie for $12. It’s really long and has lots of buttons so it looks a bit like a henley AND has a bit of that warm fuzziness to it like a sweater. Both hoodies are amazing and I will wear them to shreds. But probably the most impressive thing about the trip was the great sweater I got. Appropriately, I think the brand name on the tag is a division of Great American Sweater Company. Not positive - don’t quote me on that or anything - but this is really just a trifle compared to what I’m about to tell you (hang in there while I take the conversation in the complete opposite direction so that when we come back, my sweater will sound even more astounding than usual!).

While doing my usual designer website hopping the other day, I came across joanshepp.com. Like most designer showcases and outlets, I can afford absolutely nothing on there. HOWEVER, sites like this are fantastic for inspirational purposes. On this particular occasion I had the honor of being inspired by the great and fluffy cable collar sweater by ADAM, which is pictured above. This gorgeous sweater, though it is very pretty and probably is even more “lofty” than the product description promises, also has a lofty price of $425.

Yow.

With that in mind, and despite knowing that my room is not as great a photography setting as some, I thought I’d provide a lovely camera phone pic for you guys so you know what my very own sweater from Gordmans looks like:

No, it does not have buttons, is not quite the same color, and it doesn’t seem to look as soft. But comparatively, I think my non-button one is better. This more solid gray will match better with more colors than the above ADAM sweater. And the picture simply cannot convey the level of warm-fuzziness in this thing. Mine looks to be thicker and simply have more substance to it, which is better for winter here since Nebraska weather is weather gone wild. And regardless of your preferences in fashion, the amazing part is that mine cost only $14! That’s MUCH better than $425!

* singing to designers * “…anything you design I can find cheaper, I can buy anything cheaper than you…”

okay, moving on…

Btw, i do not wish to discredit designer work with this post. I just think the pricing is so outrageous sometimes. I suppose I should go easy on them because designers have to make a living too, after all, but although I can limit my opposition to their methods I will never be able to support their cause with cash [:

Alicia <3

Tags: bargain, cheap, clothing, designer, designers, expensive, Gordmans, hoodie, lofty, price, shopping, sweater, websites

my awesome possum shopping trip(s)

So as promised, i will tell you what exciting things i got at the store the other day. In case you haven’t gathered from my fond mention of thrift stores, I am cheap. Not in quality though - I just don’t believe in dumping a ton of money into something if you can get something just as good for less.

For example, I realize that I do not attend public school and maybe i have no clue what i’m talking about, but i have seen public high schoolers and they have such diverse tastes in fashion that IT CANNOT POSSIBLY MATTER whether you have popular name brand clothes or not. If you have some, then go you. Have a squeal fest about it with your girlfriends or something. But honestly, if you have a brand of jeans on that look amazing but they’re a brand that no one has ever heard of, it just makes you look cultured. Like you’ve been shopping boutiques or something. Plus, i’ve found name brand stuff at the thrift store by my house every single time i go: Paris Blues, Abercrombie, American Eagle, etc. So get over it people, and start shopping at thrift stores! (you can spend the money you saved by shopping bargains on the gas it took you to get there and back.)

Okay that was my weird campaign for the day. To get on with things, i’ll tell you what i’ve bought at reasonable prices the last few days:

- stretch flare Levi’s. (less than $3)

- bootcut Old Navy jeans with adorable bronze rivet things on the pockets. (also less than $3)

- ridiculous OTB pink capris which i think are denim-ish, but there’s really no telling. they are sooo cute too, and fit me really well. ($.99)

- a giant lace robe which i plan to make into something magnificent such as… hmm… ($1, i think)

- aqua and white striped skirt which turned out to be a skort - even better! it is so soft and i wear alot of aqua anyway, so i’m happy. ($.78)

- one of those silver wrap belt thingies. i dunno what you call them or what brand but mine was waaaaay cheaper than buying new. ($1.50)

- brand new with tags crochet-ish shawl thing from Hot in Hollywood… it is bright yellow and amazing, like you have no idea. ($4)

- tiny little silver owl-shaped salt and pepper shakers with blue eyes. Yeah, i’m not sure why either, but they are so adorable and I will store them until i move out if i have to. ($3)

- a nice sophisticated teal leather purse with kind of brassy looking rivets and loops on it. I don’t know what brand this is because it doesn’t flaunt the name all over like some (ugh), but it is a perfect size and a great fall purse. ($3)

- last but not least, my pride and joy at the moment: my suitcase! ahhh! i love it! it’s amazing. i bought it. it’s really amazing. it’s blue with polka dots on the inside. and it’s amazing. yay!

It’s the old Samsonite kind with the latches on top and the hard sides - the kind you sit on to make them close completely [: (it looks like the one in the picture above, only that one isn’t mine and it started out red. yay photo manipulation.) I found it with all the other unloved luggage in a dim corner (literally, i am not making this up) and i decided to open it. Now, i wanted one of these before and meant to go back and get one, but i had never looked inside one before and i was really afraid that it’s amazingness would fade once i saw the interior… but it didn’t! THE INSIDE IS AMAZING TOO! i brought it home and cleaned it for like an hour and a half or something because i love it so much (i also like cleaning, maybe that helps). I got most of the marks off but it still has a few perfect amazing scuff marks for character on the outside, and i think i got most of the last owner’s shampoo out of the zippered compartment… lol. (btw, scuff marks are toast with Magic Eraser. Those commercials? yeah, they aren’t kidding. go get one.) Anyway, it cost me only $5 and i am so in love with it, in case you cannot tell. I am going to look for travel stickers at the store next time i go, so it can look even more awesome and retro [:

And that is my spastic entry for the day. I hope you have enjoyed it and next time, i will have to blog about something really deep. Like the ocean.

Alicia <3

Tags: bargain, brand, cheap, money, save, suitcase, thrift