Fossil Analog Black Dial watch versus Burberry Black Chronograph watch and Geneva Platinum Black Round Bezel Link watch versus Michael Kors Black Midsize Ceramic Chronograph watch.
Jennifer Meyer 18K Gold Small leaf necklace 18" versus Target 14K Gold-Over-Silver Leaf Charm Necklace 18"
Givenchy Chain Belt Maxi Nightingale in Ivory Bone versus BCBGeneration Rembrant Satchel in Oyster.
British girl group Girls Aloud. I've been obsessed with their single "The Promise" for months now, but I decided to venture out and listen to more of their music and it is definitely reminiscent of the 90s wave of girl groups. Their latest CD Out of Control has gone double platinum in the U.K. and they just won a Brit Award for best single of the year. Though they've been around for 6-years (they were founded through a reality television show Popstars: The Rivals in 2003) they have yet to make a splash across the pond here in the U.S.
Cartier Tank Americaine White Gold Women's Watch versus Citizen Women's Eco-Drive Stainless Steel Watch.
Tanger and Premium outlets are meant to house discounted name brand merchandise, but no ones says it has to be aesthetically pleasing discounted merchandise. The problem with outlets is that they have products from the retail chain no one wanted to pay $89.99 for, so they believe that slashing the price by $20 will make a difference. It doesn't. If a blouse is ugly at $90, it's still ugly at $70. The only time the blouse will become attractive is if it is reduced to $10. Today's Live Richly, Shop Thrifty Tip highlights one outlet that seems to get it right: J.Crew.
The J.Crew outlet receives similar, if not identical (from last season) clothing reduced heavily and usually with an additional percentage off. J.Crew outlets are filled to the brim with accesories, shirts, shoes and handbags... it's the one outlet where a sale is a sale and you receive your money's worth.
Today's Live Richly, Shop Thrifty Tip: The Gap. The Gap is the best place to find real style steals at deep discounts! If you're looking for classic pieces to add that perfect finishing touch to any ensemble, then your best bet is the Gap where there is a minimal amount of large boisterous prints and an array of plain colored shirts and skirts. Gap can be pretty pricey, with a newly introducted cardigan at $39.99, but one that's been around for a few weeks in a similar color can go for $17.99. With Gap, you have to be patient. That dress you eyed when you first walked in for $69.50 can be as cheap at $24.99 only a week later.
Your best bet is in store. Gap Online may have exclusives, but those usually come with exclusive prices + shipping and handling. All in all, Gap is the best place to score your perfect new piece for a perfect good price.
Being a product of middle class America, luxxe celebrity handbags appeal to me, but do not belong to me. A leather carryall by Miu Miu can be identical to a leather carryall by Francesco Biasia, yet one costs $2,000 while the other is $500. Celebrity style websites and entertainment shows would like to make the public believe that the $500 bag is a steal, and it is. It steals from your wallet to make you unable to buy lunch for a month. If they don't feature a bag for half the price, they feature a cheap pleather rip off that rips to shreads after being used for two months. Today's Live Richly, Shop Thrifty tip comes thanks to Dillards, Marshalls and TJ Maxx.
If you want to carry a leather bag that looks expensive, feels expensive, but ISN'T expensive, then these retail chains are your best bet. While some of their leather purses can hit upwards of a C-Note, they're really good at red-tagging after a few weeks. Dillards is the best place to find a perfectly pretentious purse at $259, that is reduced 50% with an "additional 30% off of already reduced merchandise." Dillards brands include Kate Landry (hit or miss at times with styling, but highly recommended), Antonio Melani and Gianni Bini. Fair warning with Kate Landry: you will not find the most attractive of her collection online; in store is the best way to catch the fab bags and deals. Marshalls and TJ Maxx are the best places to find last season's MICHAEL Michael Kors purses and wallets for over 60% off. This at times can still put the bags around $129-$179, but the best part about Marshalls and TJ Maxx is that they exercise LAYAWAY, which allows you tuck away your find for 30 days and pay in installments. All they require is $5 to store it.
Image c/o Dillards and Brand Antonio Melani "Luci" leather clutch for $74.50.
