Thoughts on Various Footwear

About those sneakers that seem to have alot of people crying foul over whether the first lady is going overboard with spending money on clothes and shoes...one angle I have heard little of is the possibility that they were a gift. If so, the Obamas will have to make it public and I have faith that they will.

I heard from an insider involved with Imelda "5000 pairs of shoes" Marcos' racketeering trial in New York City that she didn't buy all those shoes herself. Rather, they had been given to her by the Filipino shoe manufacturers who wanted their first lady to promote their shoes and wear them. I'm in no way, shape, or form excusing the things she and her husband did while he was in office, but given the source I heard this information from, I believe she had all the shoes given to her.

Sometimes appearances are deceiving. But speaking of footwear and having multiples of footwear, I'm inclined to hoard my latest favorite shoes. A couple of weeks ago, I ran across a Lands' End online shoe sale and picked up shoes for my eldest who needed a new pair. While I was at the site, I grabbed these for me:

I fully expected to have to return them because I have a sad history of falling for driving mocs and finding them just too narrow for my wide-ish feet. But no, I am nearly living in these and am happy that my size got back in stock in the last 24 hours, yayyyy. What's more, I got stuck in a downpour on Monday and had to make a dash for my car, pushing a fully loaded grocery cart while I ran. Again, I fully expected the worst, a wipeout. Didn't happen. And the shoes made it through the soaking without falling apart or getting otherwise ruined. So if you need shoes that look good in a preppy meets fashionable kind of way, aren't pricey and won't hobble you when keeping up with kidlets or dodging rain bullets, these may be a good bet for you.

Yes You Can

Still shop that is.

What inspired this post was an interview I heard with Michael Hirsch of Newsweek on WTOP radio this morning; that people have reduced their spending and that cutting back on all spending threatens any economic recovery. But if we want to help stimulate the economy, where do we draw the line? Mr. Hirsch said the key was cautious spending - OK, not a surprising response. But the anchorperson then speculated on whether he should buy a new camera right now. He sounded like someone who's into photography and going for top of the line. Still though, I couldn't help but think had he never heard of Ebay? Or Costco? Would it be possible for him to find either the exact camera or an acceptable substitute with all of the bells and whistles for a reduction of the retail price by utilizing a discounter or an online retailer or getting onto a mailing list for instore and online codes?

I applied this principle to clothing and accessories of the Preppy variety. No this isn't camera shopping but then again, the Preppy look can be quite pricey. After all inherent in it is the looking like you don't NEED to make money. But for those of us who do and are on a budget I found bargains at three different types of stores; the Cole Haan website, an online discounter, and our beloved Tarjay.

The Cole Haan handbag above is $229.95 on sale. You then get an additional 30% off that price at www.colehaan.com with code SPSALE09 and you get free shipping. This works out to a quality handbag from a quality company for less than $100. If you keep it another 15-20 or even 30 years and a good preppy silver buckle style will probably be around that long, you're looking at cost per wear of something like 1/100 of a penny. And no, this isn't a minibag - the bag measures 13.5 inches long, 6 inches high by 2 inches deep. Narrow yes, but has has length to it so no, it's not a mini.

My second find was from a site the wonderful Preppy Princess clued me in on, 6pm.com, zappos.com's sister site with the deeper discounts. Here are adorable Keds that are pink and preppy and $21.56 a pair:

Last but not least, this skirt is on Tarjay's website for $19.99 and there are also cute madras shorts at the brick and mortar store:

The blue madras says summer and can be worn with just about any Lilly-ish color. I also like that it's not a mini-mini but stops 2-3 inches above the knee. Very cute.

I haven't even begun to scratch the surface with the wonders of Ebay, where probably 40% of my eldest's wardrobe comes from. But my guess is if I can spend a few minutes and track these down, yes that camera could be had for less than retail too.

So in conclusion, Yes You Can

Getting Better Acquainted With the Cole Haan Sirens

We might be sharing toothbrushes at this point. Seriously though, I have been looking for a nylon or microfiber shoulder bag in black, and my LeSportsacs, much as I love them don't look right this time of year - not with temps plunging tonight to cold enough to freeze a witch's nether regions. I want a lightweight bag that will look right for the remainder of the winter.

And look right when I go here in approximately four weeks. Can you say I'm too lazy to swap bags out between now and then? Yep, that's part of my motivation. But the other part is I want a bag that will hold all the necessary kiddie acoutrements I'll need while down there but that is lightweight enough I don't end up walking like the hunchback of Notre Dame by the end of the week. The flight bag will be as lightweight as my LeSportsacs but look more sophisticated, which means I get to be snarky about what other people are wearing and carrying there - ah the ubiquitous fanny packs -since I know my carryall will look good.

Like the green tote, this bag was on sale. The free shipping Siren has gone away so I had to pay for shipping but it still ended up being only about $145-ish. To me an affordable final figure when accounting for cost per wear, and I plan on that being about 1/100th of a cent before year's end.

Nordies Rack Lunchtime Run

There's a Nordie's Rack 5 minutes from work so I regularly troll there for all things Lilly for the Elder and Younger Preppycrat Princesses. I saw no Lilly there this time and was honestly saddened to see a particular item in the racks; a pink pair of velour pants size 4t with the word 'Roxy' written across the right bum cheek. The velour look and words written across the bum are awful enough when you're an adult but the messages this sends when worn by little girls is downright scary wrong - Bratz dolls are frightening enough, actual little girls dressed like Bratz dolls unthinkable.

But here's the good news - I saw some cute Hartstrings separates for kids including this:

Price was $14.99 at my Nordies Rack. It has Elder Princess Preppycrat written all over it but alas, was not in the size I expect her to be in come next Summer.

They also had this cardi in navy blue:

Which looked a lot nicer than this green version - I just can't find the navy version on the net, drat!- but it was also not in Elder's size. I did, however want to pass this along to any of y'all who have preppy kids and want to help Santa bring them clothes for the holidays via our friends at Nordie's Rack.

Handbag Update

It arrived! My new Cole Haan bag is a bit more of a yellow green than in the pic, but will still look great with my coats and clothes. The size is roomy without being overly so as it's slim vs wide. And a nice thoughtful touch, especially with so many website hassles/delivery issues of late, and the wet weather in the DC area yesterday, was putting the cardboard box the bag came in into a plastic bag.

I'm very happy with the experience and the product!

Merry Xmas to Me

This was completely unplanned, but sometimes the Sirens lead you to the Holy Grail not to your demise. The sirens of Cole Haan that is; first the email Siren offering 30% off of sale items, then the Free Shipping Siren, and last but not least the Sale Siren herself. Yes, good things come in threes.

I bought the bag above and think it will be a keeper - unlike many bags in this shade it's made of plain ole leather, not a patent, or an ombre, or a faux snakeskin. I think this will keep it looking good from year to year whereas had I bought a green patent bag, not so much. It's a large enough size for all of my crappe. I'm in a green groove these days because emerald is back after a few years of being impossible to find anywhere. My coloring is on the very cool side, dark brown hair and fair skin, so any green with yellow in it makes me look...green. Not stylish, not very preppy either (the point is to hold one's liquor well not the opposite). But emerald is one of my fave shades and maybe what's happening is though I swear not to buy more stuff, subconsciously I think I fear this shade will go away again for another several years.

Best of all? It was $425 originally, then marked down to $229 but thanks to the sirens, I paid a grand total of $183.71.

The code for online shopping is DECSALE30 and yes, if you want to hit the Brick n Mortar store, their sale styles are an extra 30% off too.

Shop For Shelter December 3rd Alexandria

Yahaira at Tu-anh has let me know that this is happening next week in Alexandria and all to benefit the Carpenter's Shelter of Alexandria. Here's the info:

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 2008
The Westin Alexandria
400 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314-5700
6pm-930pm

A number of area boutiques, designers and artists will have their creations at this sale. When I explored Tu-anh's site, I was intrigued by the little beaded clutches and the polished to professional section particularly because I need to polish my own look up a bit from the uber casual of my workplace to something more authoritative for the union meetings I'm regularly going to. Finding ideas on how to do it while not looking ridiculously overdressed at my workplace is always a challenge. Tu-anh appears to have worked with people of all ages, with all kinds of wardrobe challenges, men and women alike.

If the good cause isn't enough, and the unique variety of vendors isn't enough, discounts of up to 70% off will be taken. Complimentary goodies include: delicious gourmet tastings by The Westin Alexandria’s very own star-Chef Nadine Thomas, jazzy holiday music by DJ Saborinquen, "how to wear red lipstick the French glam way" by tu-anh, hand-writing analysis, palm readings,
and a "strike-a-pose" photoshoot by Charles Martin. Cash bar will be open all night and
plenty of street parking or in the Westin’s garage for only $8. A large portion (50%) of
proceeds will benefit Carpenter's Shelter. Make your holiday season magical by giving to
the less fortunate.

Advance ticket purchase: $10 At The Door: $20
To purchase tickets, visit www.tu-anh.com/save-the-dates.php
Brought to you by: polished by tu-anh
In partnership with: The Westin Alexandria & Carpenter’s Shelter
Sponsored by: Steven Gaffney Company
Carpenter's Shelter, Northern Virginia's largest homeless program located in Old
Town, aims to end homelessness through services, education and advocacy. The
shelter's programs include a day shelter, a hypothermia shelter, an 80 bed long-term
residential shelter, a community outreach program to formerly homeless families and an
Education Fund.

More Tyson's Galleria News - Harolds GOOB

More from Tyson's Galleria, Harold's is going out of business. My impression of Harold's was always reliably Preppy, but overpriced. But now this may be the time to pick up a few sweaters, handbags or other items.

For Preppycrat readers not located in the DC area, you can find a store locator for Harolds here. There are also stores in Palo Alto California and various places across the Southern US.

Happy bargain hunting and shopping.

Because I've Neglected the Preppy

Part of Preppycrat, here's a breath of fresh air from the elections. Over Labor Day weekend, we had a friend from Manhattan visit for the weekend. We had a free morning, it was a beautiful day and we decided to go for a drive to a place that was as different from NYC as it could be, the Virginia horse country.

Middleburg has unsung glories. Amongst the upscale restaurants and pubs, antique stores and art galleries we found an excellent second hand store, The Middleburg Humane Foundation thrift shop. The draw here is the riding boots - not for equestrians and equestriennes only! MHF has brand new boots, all leather, beautifully made for $50/pair. Who would have thunk it?

Another treasure we found was the Salamander Touch, a gift shop selling everything from funny and unique greeting cards, to jewelry and leather messenger bags, to Blue Q gifts, and for the men several scents from Royall Fragrances. You can even find something for the kids here from the Guess How Much I Love You line of baby care products. "Doc" is thrilled with his Royall Spyce cologne and the little princesses love Guess How Much I Love You lotion. Mommy loves that it's paraben free.

And my pal from Manhattan? She had a blast, loved being in the country and seeing the men and boys walking down the street in their polo jerseys only added to the exoticness of the day.

We're planning on going back when she's in town again.

Unsung Spot for Preppy Sweaters

From time to time I will blog about stores in my area and before I do, will make sure that they haven't had much attention, if any, from the blogosphere. I found one on a trip to Tyson's Galleria a few days ago, Knits etc. I'd walked by this store many a time on the way to my friend Bill's store Art With Flowers on the third floor. But this time something caught my eye, a pink A line knit skirt with a solid underskirt and an overskirt that appeared to be the "car wash" style but was actually strips of solid knit sewn over transparent knit. Ahhh, perfect for my company's holiday party later this year (last year I'd made the mistake of shopping WAY too late for it and dammit, the perfect dress was not available in my size). But not in pink...in black. On I go into the store and what finds! Almost everything was on sale, and I found a nice selection of sweaters in classic styles, v necks, cardigans, shells, all in the $25-$50 range. Knits etc carries a variety of scarves, handbags, dresses and yes, the skirt I wanted came in a number of colors including black. The handbags were all in the $85 to $135 range in pleather vs leather if you are looking for manmade options, and nary a magnetic closure on the bags that I could see but pushlocks and zippers. Nice because I'm in that camp that swears the magnetic closures on bags ruin ATM and credit cards.

Knits etc, is on the second floor near the Sur La Table store.

District Sample Sale

Is happening now. More details, list of participating stores and designers, and info on the Fall 2008 sample sale here . Marimekko is one of the featured stores and I especially like their take on the classic LL Bean canvas tote shown above.

One of these days I really need to get to their store in Silver Spring, MD