Grrrrrrrrowl!

How cute are these simple round toe ballet flats? They are trimmed with ribbed grosgrain at the rim and bow made of cording. The printed design has a patent glossy finish while the sole features a flat, kitten heel. Yes, you are seeing the price correctly....$7.50! Get them now before they sell out!!!

Smart and Sustainable Shopping

via College Candy

As you may have gathered from my previous articles, I am a shopaholic. Even if I have no money, I can’t help but scour the internet for deals at the online sample sales (seriously, check out Ideeli, it’s amazing). And even though I can’t always buy sustainable products, I still try to buy in sustainable ways.

Here are my favorite shopping tips to don’t just save the environment, but they can also save you money.

Read on, my fellow “Frugalista” (thank you, Target.)

Shop in stores. Preferably ones you can walk or carpool to. Retailers get their shipments in bulk, which decreases the amount of packaging material used to deliver the products. When you shop online, shipping costs (and all that wasted paper and cardboard) can add up quickly, so spare yourself and hit the local mall (with your reusable tote!). Be sure to try on before you buy so you can avoid the extra gas needed to return something to the store.

Look for local labels. Try to buy from companies that are based in the your state to cut down on energy needed for transportation. If that’s not possible, look for brands that produce their products within the United States. American Apparel, C&C Cailfornia, Splendid, J.Crew, Lucky Jeans, Joe’s Jeans, True Religion, Juicy Couture, 7 For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, and Rock and Republic (just to name a few) all manufacture their clothing in the U.S.

Shop smart online. If you’re going to shop online, be sure you do it in an ecologically responsible manner by using the following tips.

Buy in bulk. Wait until you have a large order before ordering online or combine with friends to save on the environmental and financial costs of shipping.

Ditch the rush order stress. Plan ahead so you don’t have to choose expedited shipping over standard shipping rates. This also gives the Postal Service a chance to fill up their trucks with packages before shipping them out. More packages = fewer cross-country trips = a happy planet.

Choose your delivery address wisely. Be sure to have your packages delivered to a convenient address. If you have them delivered to your apartment, for example, be sure that your roommates will be around to pick it up for you. If they aren’t available, leave a note on the door telling the postman that he can just leave the package on the doorstep without a signature. This avoids the annoying and fuel-guzzling trips back and forth to the Post Office.

Switch to Paperless Statements. Once all your earth-friendly shopping is done, you’re going to have to pay that credit card bill. But make Mother Earth proud and do it all online. No more 5-page bills coming to you in the mail. No more wasted paper (and money!) on mailing that check back to the company. It’s the greenest way to pay.

Updates

As I mentioned back in June Carlos Falchi is doing a collection for Chez Target. The wait is almost over! It will be launching November 1st in stores and online. Hobos, satchels, shoulder and messenger bags in great fall colors can be found in the collection, with a price range of only $19.99 to $49.99. I think the price is a little steep but, maybe it's just because I'm not overwhelmed by anything. Check out the images below, what do you think?

Sale Alert

Sale Alert

Who Up Next For Target?

Jean Paul Gaultier is doing a Target collection, reports The Cut via WWD. The over-the-top designer's collection will be available at more than 250 Target stores across the country and naturally Target.com on March 7 through April 11.

Following Alexander McQueen and Anna Sui, Gaultier is the third established designer to do a collection for the mass retailer under the Designer Collaboration series. His chosen muse? The American woman, "celebrating the forces of style both past and present in American pop culture," a Target spokesperson says.

I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes out with but, I take the whole thing with a grain of salt. Anna Sui was a little bit disappointing.

Participate!

In a Save the Garment Center demonstration! On Wednesday October 21 at 12 p.m. on the corner of 39th Street and Seventh Avenue, the fate of the Garment District is in your hands. The Save the Garment Center initiative is hosting a rally to stir discussion about the industry's (and neighborhood's) current state. Supporters to take to the podium include Nanette Lepore, CFDA executive director Steven Kolb and Simon Collins, the Dean of Fashion at The New School for Design.Designers, CDFA members, factory workers, Workers United Union employees, as well as Parsons and Pratt students, will assemble to coax Mayor Bloomberg and city officials to reconsider the effort to rezone New York City's Garment Center. The current statistics are staggering. "I'm concerned. I want to preserve and build on the 5% on manufacturing that is left here in New York City," said Nanette Lepore Monday evening during the screening of Marc Levin's documentary Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags, which will premiere on Monday the 19 on HBO. Community members will gather outside the Button and Needle Statue to fight for the district so that it does not literally fall apart at the seams.

Private Sale

I know, it sounds so exclusive! I will let you in on a little secret. Tory Burch is having an absolutely awesome private online sale. I love the casual easy feel of her classic styles but, normally they are way out of my price range. The sale is definitely a good one but, still a little pricey. If I see something I am absolutely in love with though it's the perfect reason to pick it up because this is probably the best you are going to get.

Wardrobe Jackpot: Boring Stores Reinvented

This recession totally sucks. But, if you ignore the unemployment rate and rising cost of beer, some good is definitely coming from it. And one of those positives is the fact that the plummeting sales of retail chains has caused them to re-evaluate their brand and reinvent themselves for fall. Suddenly stores that used to make me feel nauseous (boasting window displays stuffed with mom jeans and fugly tablecloth patterns), actually have some adorable stuff that us college girls would actually consider wearing.

For the closets of fashionistas, this is great news. Now there are a dozen more stores that we can peruse online during class and drool over on our weekly treks to the mall. (Plus now when my mom calls and tells me she’s going to Ann Taylor to pick up a suit jacket, I can ask her to pick me up a cute skirt to add to my care package!)

Check out my favorite extreme makeovers (that don’t involve sexy Ty Pennington) below:

The Gap

Then: Uber boring button up shirts and polos.
Now: Cute staples essential to layering.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: The perfect dark wash jeans – soft, stretchy and with the perfect butt pockets – for us girls with some junk in the trunk.

Express

Then: Going-out clothes that were borderline trashy.
Now: Chic party clothes that are fun, but not slut-tastic.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Fail-safe dress for girls’ night out. The clean lines of this color blocked, one-shoulder dress make it effortlessly chic while still being young and trendy.

Ann Taylor

Then: Boring mom clothes
Now: Classy pieces that have some edge to them
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Edgy, heeled boots. The wrap around leather strap adds just the right amount of personality and these would look pretty killer over a sexy pair of skinnies.

New York and Company

Then: All the store had was 40 different black pants that all looked the same and some really fugly jumpsuits.
Now: Totally on top of the trends (I’m talking leggings, tunics, ruffles…) at prices that wont break the bank.
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: Go-to pencil skirt. It will be there for you through dinners, parties, weddings and any other occasion that forces you out of your sweats and into real clothes. (And did I mention it’s only $32?!)

Old Navy

Then: Cheap, shapeless clothes
Now: Cheap, adorable clothes
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: The ideal fall jacket: satin lined, waist cinching, wide brimmed, bold colors… should I go on?

Banana Republic

Then: Stuffy, sophisticated and over-priced pieces.
Now: Hip, trendy, and totally catering to 20-somethings (with a large bank account).
Must-Have Wardrobe Addition: This darling sheath dress. It’s totally party worthy, but belt it and throw on a cardigan and some tights and it works for an important class presentation, too!

Via CollegeCandy.com

Happy (Budget) Halloween!

No one wants to spend a fortune a Halloween costume. But, whether you are having a quiet night at home handing out candy to the kiddies or partying it up you might want to be a little more festive than the "black dress you never wear/pointy hat" budget standard. Below are a few under $30 options for you to peruse. Happy Halloween!!!

Pop In

The Limited hasn’t had a store in Manhattan in decades and who knows why because they have great a great classic style. But, that’s about to change, at least for a few days! Stop by the new pop-up store in SoHo today, October 14th-17th for a slew of festivities, great people, and shopping. Have fun checking out the new look of The Limited!