A Shopaholic's Guide to Pinching Pennies

I don't know about you, dear readers, but my wallet has certainly felt the strain of the economic crisis over the past year, and with all the doom-and-gloom talk on the news lately, I just haven't felt willing or able to splurge much on fashion (or at least as much as usual). Despite these limitations, the fact remains that I am a shopaholic -- a savvy shopaholic, I like to think -- and I always devise ways to make myself feel like I'm getting a treat while not breaking the bank. I thought I would share with you a few of the little things I can count on to take my mind off that "sale" dress on net-a-porter or those new Frye boots at Urban Outfitters...because, alas, they will not be mine any time soon. What little things do you treat yourself to when you feel the need to shop, but can't spend a lot?

I've heard that nail polish sales go up during economic crisis -- perhaps because it is a small luxury women can still afford. OPI's new "La Collection de France" has the most rich, romantic colors for Fall:




(left) Parlez-vous OPI? (right) Eiffel for this Color.

A great new hat always makes a tired outfit feel a bit more exciting. Forever21 has some cute accessories for Fall and and winter that are amazingly cute and inexpensive:


Blue felt cloche, $12.80. Pointelle pom beanie, $8.80.

A new lotion or bath product always lifts my spirits, especially if it has a great smell (and it's cheaper than perfume). I want to try everything on the bath product specialty site ebubbles.com -- it even lets you choose your product by favorite scent.

Daub & Bauble Arriba Cacao and Spice Hand Lotion with Shea Butter - 10 fl. oz. $9.00



Alba Hawaiian Coconut Cream Body Wash, $8.95.

I'm no shoe snob -- A cute shoe is a cute shoe, whether it's from Payless or Nordstrom's. These new Payless boots look far pricier than they are, and they would make my old standby jeans and dresses feel new again.


Raven platform lace-up, $39.99


Zoe patent button boot, $37.99

A new lipstick is almost as good as a new haircut when it comes to making you feel revitalized. I'm so glad dark, moody shades are back.


Urban Decay lipstick, $22.

Can This Be Made into an Outfit?

It's that time again to use Polyvore as a tool of artistic procrastination and unveil the second edition of my Domino magazine-inspired post series. This time, I thought it would be fun to imagine an ensemble appropriate for the bustling streets of Berlin, circa 1914 -- inspired by the bold paintings of Expressionist painter Ernst Kirchner. MOMA's new exhibit "Kirchner and the Berlin Street" runs from August 3–November 10, 2008. According to the MOMA description, the "charged atmosphere and energy of the city was felt in an expression of acute perspectives, jagged strokes, dense angular forms, and caustic color. The street life in Berlin, in particular the familiar presence of prostitutes, identified by their elaborate plumed hats, captured Kirchner's eye and inspired this spectacular series."
So, I guess I should really call this post, "How to Dress Like an Early-Twentieth Century German Prostitute(?)" Of course, I included cigarettes and a bottle of Absinthe to complete the ensemble. Seriously though, I want all of this stuff... except maybe the Absinthe.

Kirchner. Berlin Street Scene. 1913. Oil on canvas.

[From bottom left, roughly clockwise]
Dark Romance Night lipstick. Harrods.
Low Lace-Up boot (grey and black). Victoriassecret.com.
Tracy black dotty blouse by Malene Birger. Net-a-porter.com.
Navy Blue 1950's leather gloves. Stardustonline.co.uk.
Ivory chiffon ruffle jacket. Charlotterusse.com.
Vintage black hat with feathers. Ambersattic.com.
Frye Adrienne Lace-Up boot (black). Urbanoutfitters.com.
Bottle of Absinthe (i.e. the green fairy).
Blue bow neck coat by Dorothy Perkins. Dorothyperkins.com.
Camel Fox fur collar vintage coat. Poshgirlvintage.com.
Black feather and net headband. Forever21.com.
Scarlet Woman red coat. My-wardrobe.com.
Sobranie cigarettes. Cheap-cigarettes.org.

Inspired by Kirchner by Nothing Elegant

We've All Got Them. Here Are Mine:

Dear readers, I've been tagged! This is my first tag, so I'm ridiculously honored and excited. The answers are, as is usual for me, long-winded and wordy. Oh well, I guess there are a few people who don't mind!! Thanks Saavy-Mode!

6 Unspectacular Quirks About Me:

1. I love watching people (i.e. staring). When I lived in NY, my sister would pinch me when we were on the subway because she was embarrassed by how much I stared at people. I just like trying to figure out what people are all about (or at least making up stories about them in my head).

2. I like mixing things together. I think that if things are good by themselves, they must be even better when combined. For example, I will mix three different hair products together in my hand before putting them in my hair – I figure, maybe something magical will happen (?)

3. I don’t like my legs at all, so I rarely wear short skirts without tights or leggings.

4. I actually enjoy organizing and "purging" my closet(s). I am not a pack-rat (though I do have things I keep for sentimental reasons). I probably go through my two closets once every 2 months and take out items I no longer like and take them to the Goodwill. It makes me feel both organized and generous at the same time.

5. I’m not a phone person – I much prefer e-mail or texting. I think I have phone anxiety. I don’t mind a quick chat, but the possibility of a long, drawn-out phone conversation kind of freaks me out. I would rather just hang out in person!

6. I am obsessed about my teeth (too bad grad students can’t afford dental care!). I can’t live without my Sonicare toothbrush and my whitening strips. I just recently purchased this stuff called Oraparx that is supposed to remove as much plaque from your teeth as a dental visit. My other career alternative (to being a college professor, which is the one I chose) was being a dentist. Yes, strange.

I am tagging Sharon Rose Vintage , Cupcakes and Cashmere, Loveology, Stylish Bug, Sarah Millionaire, and Little Molly Cake, because I want to know their quirks too.
1. Link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking to them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers blogs letting them know they've been tagged.
6. You can now display this charming dalek image Songy that Style Discovery created when tagged!

Dark Glamour: Halloween Fashion

I was a bit of a morbid child...
My dad loved horror movies, and I always wanted to watch them with him, even though I would close my eyes in terror through half the film. I also distinctly remember getting in trouble for hiding a copies of Dracula and Edgar Allan Poe's short stories under my bed to read at night when I was supposed to be sleeping. As a teenager I became fascinated by the goth kids I would see at the mall, coffee shops, and clubs. Needless to say, it was downhill after about 16 -- my dad nicknamed me Morticia, and I don't think I owned a non-black item of clothing for about 5 years. Of course by now I have LONG grown out of the notion that I need to belong to a certain style tribe in order to express myself, either fashion-wise or value-wise. Despite the clarity that comes with age (and the ever-present pull of the "real world"), I am still not-so-secretly obsessed with all things dark and macabre. It's no surprise then that Halloween is my favorite holiday, and what better time to indulge my dark fascination?

[I collect vintage Halloween postcards -- I wish I had this one. The owl perched on her head is too cool.]


Thanks to a tip by the ever-clever and informative Bobble Bee, I have become obsessed with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) online museum, particularly the current exhibition curated by Valerie Steele entitled, "Gothic: Dark Glamour." One of these days, I swear I am going to go all-out and splurge on an amazing, elaborate Victorian gown for a Halloween costume, but until that day comes, I will just have to be satisfied by looking through FIT's collection of Gothic-inspired fashion. Steele does a great job of putting the clothing into a historical context, with emphasis on mourning traditions, goth/punk music, and subculture fashion.
Here is a seductive sample...if you are in the NY area, check it out before it ends in February.

Alexander McQueen
Hooded suit and thorn necklace
Black silk crepe, satin, and silver Spring 2007, Sarabande collection, England

Mourning dress and hat
Black silk taffeta
1870s, USA
Lent by Evan Michelson, Obscura Antiques

h. NAOTO
Elegant Gothic Lolita ensemble with Angry doll
Black silk satin, lace, chiffon, faux bone, metal and patent leather
Fall 2008, Japan
Museum purchase, 2008.57.1

Rodarte
Evening dress
Hand-dyed silk gauze
Fall 2008, USA
Museum purchase, 2008.55.1

Bat belt buckle
Gunmetal with paste
Early 20th century, Europe
Lent by Collection of Mark Walsh Leslie Chin: VINTAGELUXURY.COM

Jean Paul Gaultier
Dress and neckpiece
Black striped silk and leather
Fall 2001, France
Lent by Lee Sheppard

Yoshiki Hishinuma
Evening dress
Black and burgundy polyester
Fall 1996, Japan
Gift of Yoshiki Hishinuma, 2007.33.1

Givenchy (Riccardo Tisci)
Evening dress
Black felt, silk tulle, wood, glass, and leather
Fall 2006, France
Lent by Givenchy