Charming Charlie Opens an Online Store!!!

Mes amies, I've got great news.

I really love this local brick-and-mortar store called Charming Charlie.

They have REALLY fun accessories: jewelry, purses, scarves, wallets, even some shoes, apparel, luggage, and watches.

I've made it a staple place to visit for buying my friends' birthday presents, but was until now dismayed that they had no online shopping capabilities. I have hesitated to mention them in the past, because I knew that non-local folks would have a tough time getting their fun things.

However, they have just opened an online shop, for the glory of all fashtionistas.

I recently purchased their silver shimmer dusting powder, for no real reason other than I am inexplicably drawn to sparkly things, and I have a compulsion to squeeze the bulb of all perfume bottles.

Silver Shimmer Dusting Powder from Charming Charlie, $15

Get it here. 

Look at all these funsies!

All available from Charming Charlie!

My Best Kept Secret- eShakti

Mes belles-

It is only because I love you that I am sharing this secret with you. I love this next retailer so much that I have actually LIED about shopping there, because the deals and dresses are SO FANTASTIC that I want to keep them all to myself. 

But that's selfish and wrong, so now I will share.

eShakti is amazing. They make clothes in sizes 0 - 36. Which, on its own, is commendable. However, they also CUSTOM MAKE clothes to your measurements, for only $7.50 added onto the garment's price. BUT WAIT. They also let you customize garment features, like changing hem length, adding or removing sleeves, different necklines, and removal of pockets and embellishments. 

Voila:

Just when you think it can't get any better....... they have sales. And coupons. OH THE DEALS!!! They have a special overstock section with discounted items, as well as contstant- and I mean CONSTANT- sales. I must get 3 emails a week with amazing discounts. To the point where (don't tell them!) I have even gotten things for free once I have a discount on top of a coupon code on top of a sale. Amazing.

Also, if you use the code ABBOND65QD at checkout on your first purchase (before 11/30/2013), you get $30 off!!!! 

Cheries, this is my best kept secret. I urge you to use it well.

Faux McQueen is NO McQueen... but it's cheaper...

ALEXANDER McQUEEN YOU ARE THE GOD OF MY FASHION IDOLATRY.

Okay, now that that's out of my system, let's discuss. When I offer a cheaper version of a designer item, I in no way mean to say that the knock-off is the same quality or prestige as the original. I *do* mean to say that the knock off is cheaper.

That being said, this piece of art is a lovely knuckle clutch that is just the right combo of classy and edgy- both things I aspire to be.

Knuckle Box Clutch by Alexander McQueen, $2,295

Get it here.

Someone somewhere did a solid job of making a hack version of the little beauty, and selling it on Amazon.

Skull Knuckle Rings Clutch at Amazon, $26.99

Get it here.

I haven't purchased this little guy, so I can make no reports as to its physical appearance or quality. However, any time I am inspired by a piece of couture, I immediately google the crap out of it so that I can find a similar piece for myself at a price which my (lack of) funds can afford.

Also, stores like Century 21 offer designer (and non-designer) brands at huge discounts. You can find fancy knuckle clutches there as well...

Check them out here.

So I offer you this. It's no SMcQ, but they're cute. And cheap. And if you leave one in a cab after a night of drinking in high heels, then at least you won't be out two months rent and a piece of priceless art.

Fashion Fake: Wednesday Addams Dress

Mes Amies-

I love Halloween, and was thinking of reprising my senior-year-of-high-school costume of Wednesday Addams. However, I need a Wednesday dress. Google searching happened me upon this one, which I think would work for Wednesday, but I would also likely wear to work.

Mary Stretch Flared Dress from French Connection, on sale for $89.99

Get it here.

However, $90 for a Halloween costume is too much for me, and they are conveniently out of ALL sizes, let along only going up to size 10.

Well, FCUK that, because I found this copycat:

Black and white collar shift from Dorothy Perkins, $29

Get it here.

My friends over at Dorothy Perkins also have a 20% off sale. Huzzah.

Honestly, I'm not sure I will end up going as Wednesday, but the dress is cute enough anyway, that I just might buy it to wear. 

NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR THESE THREE THINGS

I don't mean to yell, but I think it's very important for me to relay this message to you. There are some things that you should never pay full price for. Probably most things, to be honest. But here are some of the ones I have noticed... more suggestions are always appreciated!

1. Smelly Candles. The Good Kind of Smelly

I love Yankee Candle. Their scents are magical and delicious, to the point where once I licked a Vanilla Cupcake one because I was that convinced it would be tasty. (Spoiler alert- it wasn't. Tasted like wax. Also the sales associate thought I was completely insanse, and my friends will never let me live it down.)

 Anyway, I'm not saying not to shop there. I'm just saying that when you DO shop there, ALWAYS USE A COUPON. If you need another smelly de-light, always Google "yankee candle coupon." There is ALWAYS a coupon. I usually save at least $15 and/or get a free candle. If you need help finding one, let me know. It's that important.


2. Smelly Other Things, or Anything from Bath & Body Works

One time, I was really depressed and having low self esteem and hating my body. Probably one of my high school frenemies got engaged.  I was wine-drunk and crying, and as I calmed down, I sniffled, "At least I smell fabulous."

That, sadly, is a true story. Also true is that Bath & Body Works has a migraine-inducing array of fantastically-scented products that can pull you out of even the darkest depression. But they also have a lot of sales. So never ever pay full price. They frequently have sales where you can "Buy 3, Get 3 Free," which means getting six things that made you smell like apples for the price of 3. Genius.

There are also always coupons available via my life partner, Google. Just check, and you will see that hundreds of thrifty folks across the country are blogging and sharing coupon codes and printable coupons.


3. Crafty Supplies
I crochet. Well, sort of. I've made like 5 things. I like to think I'm crafty, even though most of my undertakings end in failure and regret. (I've tried it all, and failed at most things. Candle-making, jewelry-making, sewing, knitting, paper-making, etc). It's usually about as succesful as this...

The good news about my failed ventures is that
a) I saved money by giving my friends poorly-made things for holidays, and they were all too polite to tell me they looked like a 4th grader made them.
b) I always used coupons, so the supplies were cheap.

Near where I live are A.C. Moore and Michaels. I am on both of their email lists, and am a member of A.C. Moore's loyalty program, wherein I earn rewards dollars.

Michael's posts their weekly ad with coupons here. Of course, I also recommend searching around the internet to find any others.

Same deal for A.C. Moore

I welcome some suggestions of any other retailers that always have coupons and deals. Let me know if you've got any!!!!

Fashion Fake: Leopardy V-Neck Dress

OMG, Heidi Klum, you look fabulous in that dress. Can I have one?

L'Agence Dress, $525

Get it here.

No, Annie, you cannot, because this dress costs $525 and goes from size 0 - 10. You are not rich or thin enough.

Well, dammit.

However, you can have this lookalike!

INC Dress, $58.99

Get it here.

This INC Dress is available at Macy's in plus sizes, AND is on sale. Fantastic. I just hope Heidi and I don't wear these dresses to the same event next time we see each other. That would be so embarrassing...

Power Saving through Ebates

Mes amis-

Run, don't walk, and sign up at ebates.com.

If you EVER shop online, which I clearly do, this little tool can help you get bargains.

It's basically a portal site which lists a ton of online retailers. When you go to ebates.com, you see a list of all the places you can shop. When you click through to those sites, you get a certain percentage of cash back from ebates! Plus, they list any available coupon codes, sales, or deals.

They make money by referring people to retailers, and then they share their payoff with you. It's simple, quick, and easy.

I got 8.5% of my total purchase of shoes from Shoebuy.com. Plus, ebates provided me with a coupon code to save 10%. That means I ended up paying $67 for a purchase which should have been like $89 on shoes I was GOING to buy anyway. With just a few extra clicks, I have saved $$$, which I have clearly then just used to shop more :)

I get my cash back from them via a PayPal deposit, and since I always forget when it happens, it's always a fun surprise!

I find that the way I usually use ebates is that I find something I want. Then I check if the retailer is on ebates. If they are NOT, I search ebates to see if there is a retailer with them that has the merchandise I want.

For example, every year, I consider being a Ghostbuster for Halloween:

Plus Size Ghostbuster Costume from HalloweenCostumes.com, $54.99

Get it here.

However, the above retailer, HalloweenCostumes.com, is not a retailer affiliated with ebates. So, I search ebates' list of retailers with "costume" in their name... 

Voila- right on top is CostumeSuperCenter.com. 

Through them, the SAME Ghostbusters costume is $49.99. But when I click through ebates, I automatically get 10% back. So then it's technically $45.

Plus Size Ghostbuster Costume from CostumeSuperCenter.com, $49.99

Get it here.

(Except, don't actually buy it through that link. Sign up for ebates.com first, and then click through to get your savings!!)

 Plus, ebates gave me a coupon code to enter at checkout, which gives me another 10% off. So that's $40.01. Did I just save $10? Yes, I did. Just for clicking.

Intro

Bonjour!

I'm Annie. I love clothes, but I'm an averagely paid regular person, so I really don't identify with most fashion blogs. I'd love to wear only top-of-the-line designer stuff, but my wallet and my waistline just won't let it happen. Sometimes those girls' shoes cost more than my rent. 

Anyway-  I love all animals, especially cats, reading, writing, travelling, and shopping (obvi). I've been a barista, a dog groomer, a church receptionist, and a music writer. I'm an office assistant in NYC who likes quirky, vintagey clothes, whimsical prints, but mostly just struggles to find things that are flattering and don't break the bank. 

I'll share with you my discount finds, shopping tips, faves, experiences, and coupons.

Me and my mini-dachshund, Hennessy