Head for the outlets ...

Since I've tailored this blog around bargain shopping, I know luxury brands don't really tie in realistically with my message. But, there is a way to get those luxury items without paying full retail price for them: outlet stores. I happen to have grown up 10 minutes away from one of the most popular in the Hudson Valley -- Woodbury Commons. I spent many an August weekend there doing back-to-school shopping ... a tradition I have still held onto even though I am 4 years out of school haha. They also have great sidewalk sales which feature extra discounts on top of the already-low sale prices.

Yesterday I happened to head there with my boyfriend after a visit with the family, and we decided to check the Coach outlet for the wallet I'd asked for for my birthday next month -- a beautiful whiskey brown leather french purse-style wallet from the Legacy Collection. I was thrilled to find ONE left in the store -- and it had been heavily discounted (!) from the MSRP of $218 to $199 to $99 less 20%. This is an absolute no-brainer ... especially if the styles you are looking for are several months gone from the stores ... something that the outlet stores specialize in. So I left with a genuine Coach leather wallet for about $80. Such a steal. And they had great discounts on their bags, too.

At many of these outlet centers you will find Gap outlets, Banana Republic and J. Crew outlets --- American Apparel even has outlet locations. I remember last fall I got a classic velvet navy blue blazer from J. Crew for $60 -- they retail for $150 and up in the stores. Honestly, you need a whole morning or afternoon, comfortable shoes, and a lot of energy to navigate the stores, but the discounts really do make it worth it.

Alloy is actually kind of cool.

Alloy is one of those catalogs that almost everyone gets in the mail without even requesting it. I have to admit, I used to thumb through it and then throw it away, dismissing it as a teeny-bopper catalog. However, the last couple of times it's come to me in the mail, I've found myself looking at the clothes in a different light, and I might even order some pieces from there for Fall.


I had been looking for a pair of light brown flat ankle boots for I cannot tell you how long ... I open the catalog, et voila.

And they're under $50 to boot.

Then ... I started to check out the dresses. Okay, sometimes a dress that looks like two pieces can be tricky. But this looks just like an expertly-matched scoopneck tank and high-waisted plaid skirt ... how cute is that?

Not to mention it's only $42.

Then, I found this adorable fedora with a peacock feather in it, worn along with a bow neck blouse ... totally chic.

These pants also deserve a test-drive, because they are knit skinny pants disguised as pants with a defined waist and a zip fly. Genius at $29.

They always have some sort of offer going on, too, whether it's 15% off or free shipping on orders over $75.

(Images courtesy of Alloy)

Loving the cotton tote trend ...

The absolute outpouring of adorable cotton tote bag designs as of late has made it nearly impossible to still be able to justify walking around with dinky (not to mention socially & environmentally remiss) plastic shopping bags.

It all started with the whole Anya Hindmarch "I'm not a plastic bag" craze early last year, and now they are everywhere! And they are so freaking cute.

Target has a whole collection of reusable shopping bags on their Web site.

There is also of course the iconic Strand Books tote that comes in an array of colors ---

(Image courtesy of Strand Books)

And how cute is Map Tote, with their neighborhood-specific cotton totes? I got my Queens tote at the Queens Museum gift shop during a recent visit.

The Container Store also has an ingenious invention with regards to this trend -- one that folds into its own little pouch and can fit into your purse when not in use.


And of course, one of my personal faves, Forever 21 has their own assortment.

We've gotten pretty much completely rid of them in our apartment, and you really feel like you are making a difference.

Expect the unexpected ...

Would you ever expect to find vintage French-style notebooks at Forever 21? I certainly didn't, but when I was browsing the accessories section of their Web site, that was exactly what I found.

And at $3.80, they're definitely way more chic than some plain old Mead notebook.

(Images courtesy of Forever 21)

My new favorite place...

Last week, I ventured down to SoHo to check out Madewell, a new brand from J.Crew that launched around Christmas time. Now, I have loved J.Crew for years, but I have also felt like at times like I've been shopping there ahead of my time. I've been getting a good percentage of my clothes from there since high school, partly because I never really fit into junior's clothing. I love the preppy aesthetic, but sometimes you just want to mix those piece with something slightly younger and trendier.

Enter Madewell.

It's like J.Crew-meets-Urban Outfitters for the twenty-something set, and at Urban Outfitter's price point.

Their self-professed forte is their demin, and they have quite an extensive collection of it at first glance. I however, as per usual, was more drawn to the flowy dresses, light cotton scarves, and hip tunics.

They are definitely worth a look --- www.madewell1937.com.