STYLEnosh

HOW TO MANUEVER THROUGH THE SEA OF SALES WITHOUT BUYING EVERYTHING YOU SEE

We made it through another holiday season. Woo-hoo! Shopping, hanging out with friends, and visiting family, it's a busy time of year. And much of it's focus is externally based. Now that we're on the other side, we can focus on, dare I say, ourselves?

There's nothing wrong with a little "me" time. Or shopping for "me". The sales are bountiful for sure. Those after Christmas sales are 50% off here or take an additional 40% off there. And who doesn't love a great sale? But buyer beware. All those tempting discounts could result in purchases that simply languish in your closet for months.

Think Logically While Shopping

When you're in a store combing through a clearance rack like your life depends on you finding that black sweater with the slashed price tag, stop and ask yourself, do you really need another black sweater? If you already own one or two in good condition, the answer is most likely no. Buying yet another thing that you don't need, no matter how cheap it is, constitutes a waste of money. (Note: It's really hard to complain about money when you're spending it freely.)

Buy with Purpose

Let's be clear. I'm not some shopping Scrooge encouraging people to forgo sales for the sake of forgoing them. This is the perfect time to buy things that you want to complete your wardrobe. Some things that come to mind are a great fitting pair of jeans, shoes that can take you from the office to after work networking, or a winter coat that you'll wear for years to come. When the deal makes sense for your wallet AND your wardrobe needs, that's a deal you definitely want to grab.

Choose Your Shopping Companion Wisely

How many times have you purchased something you weren't certain of because your friend was pumping you up in the background squawking, "You should definitely buy that dress. It looks really good on you"? Don't let your friends fashion opinions cause you to spend money on things you should just say no to. Of course it's fun to shop with your friends so I wouldn't advise not doing it. Just be prepared to stand firm when she's insisting you can wear those $10 jeggings with a long shirt.

 

 

STILL SHOPPING, YOU CRAZY NUT, HERE ARE A FEW DEALS TO CHECK OUT TODAY

I saw this guy at Macy's and thought, "I know how you feel." I guess he had enough waiting on his wife (or daughter or friend) to finish shopping. Gotta catch that nap when you can. This morning I heard a host on NPR use the term "frugal fatigue", which describes everyone's general boredom with being fiscally responsible and not spending money. By the looks of this pic, there's some shopping fatigue going on too.

So it's 3 days until Christmas. Everyone's having a sale at this point. Here are a few key ones worth a quick gander. Good luck finding what you want because it seems to me that there's slim pickings this late in the game.

MACY'S  One Day Sale today. Most stores close late at midnight.

BANANA REPUBLIC  Take an extra 25% off already-reduced items. Use promo code BRSALE25 for the discount. There are plenty of things

GAP  Up to 50% off select items for women, men, kids, and baby. There's surely a shirt or something you snag for your Christmas list.

NEIMAN MARCUS  Today is the last day to take an extra 25% off select gifts for him, her, and home.

Are you close to saying forget it? There's always the gift card option.

 

 

SHOPPING TODAY? WHY NOT SAVE A FEW BUCKS.

We're two weeks away from Christmas and I know many of you will be hitting the mall (or dare I say, malls) today. There are plenty of sales to scope out this weekend. Here are a few I'm checking out.

The Limited  Take 40% off everything today only. Offer good in-store and online. The online price reflects the discount. And don't miss the gift guide, which has a nice selection of inexpensive choices for your office secret Santa gift.

Belk  Take 20% off regular and sale priced items with "very limited exclusions". Click the link to get the coupon, which you'll need for shopping in the store. Or use promo code 39854259 for online shopping.

Ann Taylor  Take 30% off full-price purchases in-store and online. Enter promo code PRESENTS at checkout to receive the discount.

And for those of you who refuse to go to an actual brick and mortar store (maybe you're lazy or really smart), here are some online only deals worth a peek.

Gap  Take 20% off your online purchases. Offer good through December 12th. Use promo code GAP20.

The Outnet  I'm not going to pretend that you'll be shopping on The Outnet for holiday presents. When you're on this site, you're strictly looking for goodies for YOU. And that's okay. At least you're snagging your designer essentials at an additional 50% off. Discount taken at checkout. Offer good this weekend only.

 

WILL WEARING THAT COCKTAIL DRESS TO THE COMPANY HOLIDAY PARTY LEAVE YOU JOBLESS?

There's nothing like an office, holiday party to get you all in a dither. What should I wear? Is my dress too short? Do I have to wear black? All good questions. Ask 20 different people their opinion and you'll get 20 distinct answers. That's what makes this wardrobe challenge such a pain. Do you follow your mother's advice or side with your more fashion risk-taking friend?

Maybe you're thinking you should just stay home.

 

                                    

   SAFE

   vs.

   RISKY                                                                                                        

Before you forego the party all together, consider these key factors for looking fabulous at your work holiday function while keeping your income source intact.

Just ask  The easiest way to find out what's appropriate to wear to your work holiday shindig is to ask. This tip is especially useful if this is your first time going to the party. Garner the opinion of someone you trust at work and inquire if there's anything you should absolutely stay away from.

Consider the corporate culture  Every company has a culture. Is the office conservative, fun, laid-back, etc? Think about what's encouraged at work or deemed important. If you're company likes to party, they're probably more lenient on the dress code. If you work at a religious-based company, you may not want to wear your slinky, gold dress and 4-inch stilettos.

Cover up  I'm what you'd call a fashion risk renegade. I live for the opportunity to do something different and mix it up when it comes to what you can wear in the work environment. But I still don't think it's a good idea to have body parts hanging out when you're around your co-workers. Save your super sexy wear for your personal parties. (Ah, no pun intended.)

Still confused about what to wear your holiday party? Leave your questions in a comment or send me an email at stylenosh@gmail.com. I've been tackling these questions for many people and I'd love to help you too!

Images: Both at Bloomingdales.com.  Sequin dress by DKNYC for $119.

TAKE AN ADDITIONAL SOMETHING OFF! SALES WORTH GIVING THE ONCE OVER

Macy's  Take an extra 20%, 15% or 10% off select regular, sale and clearance merchandise when you use the Wow!Pass. Offer good through Monday, December 6th.

Last Call by Neiman Marcus  Take 40% off cold weather styles including sweaters, boots, scarves, gloves, etc. Sale valid through Monday, December 6th.

Lord & Taylor  Take an extra 20% off select regular and sale-priced items. Visit their website for the saving pass for in-store shopping or use promo code READY if you're buying online.  Sale good through Wednesday, December 8th.

 

 

MANEUVERING THROUGH HOLIDAY SHOPPING WHILE MAINTAINING YOUR SANITY

I almost didn't survive Black Friday. Between the amped up, frenzied shoppers and ridiculously poor driving motorists, it was actually a bit dangerous to be out in wee hours of the morning that sparked the beginning of this holiday shopping season. A very brave friend and I decided to venture out at 11:30 pm on Thanksgiving night to head to the Houston Premium Outlets. The stores were scheduled to open at midnight. I mistakenly figured that it wouldn't be too crowded. Ha! I love being wrong.

It took almost an hour to get on the parking lot. Once we snagged a space (we caught someone leaving out), we wandered through the crowds and marveled at the lines of people waiting to get in certain stores. You know I love a great sale. But honestly, most stores weren't offering discounts worth waiting for an hour in the cold. We quickly developed a strategy to get in and out of the stores and back home as soon as possible. Here's a recap of how we survived one crazy shopping night.

Know what you want  If you're a big Kate Spade fan (ahem...) or if you love Michael Kors, target those stores first. Wandering in, and often quickly, out of stores is a huge time waster and patience drainer. If you only visit a few select stores, you can severely reduce shopping fatigue.

Decide what's important to you  We ventured into the Banana Republic Factory Outlet store ready to do the dang thing because at 40% off, the store was full of fantastic deals. Unfortunately, the line was so long, I couldn't stomach the wait. If it's not a priority to you (I didn't really NEED another sweater), don't spend your precious time (and money) just because there's a sale in progress.

Work as a team  Use the old, trusty stand-by of having one person shop while the other person holds a place in line. This trick is the reason I prefer not to shop during busy holiday times alone. You can cover a lot more retail square footage if you bring a shopping partner.

Pack a lunch  In the past, I would enjoy having a lunch break at one of the mall restaurants. But if the malls are crowded then you know the restaurants are packed too. Why not take your own lunch and save yourself the restaurant wait. We were able to sneak back to the car and dine in peace without someone waiting behind us for our parking space. If you're not as lucky, enjoy your shopping fuel (as known as lunch) at your next destination. Even if you only take some fruit in your handbag, you'll be glad you didn't leave the house empty-handed.

Remember, shopping with a distinct plan helps preserve sanity. What are your tips for getting through this holiday shopping season without inflicting bodily harm?