"When I shop, the world gets better, and the world is better, but then it's not, and I need to do it again".
- Rebecca Bloomwood (Confessions of a Shopaholic, 2009)

October 25, 2010

oh where, oh where are my winter boots?

Do you ever have that ONE thing that you are looking for? One thing on your list and nothing else..Well, right now, there can only be one thing on MY list of things to buy. ..WINTER BOOTS (my one exception!!) I have been searching since last year for a good pair of winter boots. I started looking last year, and I never found the perfect pair. So, I toughed it out for the winter with my cheap old pair (which started to get a hole in the heel, and my feet got soaked a lot of the time, sadly). I thought, "I will find the perfect pair....eventually!" In the end, I never found my new pair of winter boots. Luckily last year's winter didn't seem to last too long!

And so this year, the hunt begins (again)!! I am looking for a simple, leather boots, very low heel, warm, and good quality (heel/sole & material).

I found a pair while I was in Toronto this past week at 'Winners'. They are Ralph Lauren $129.99 leather (brown) boots, size 7.5. I bought them (as a back up) while still searching for the same style in black. I found out the return policy was after 10 days, I would get a full refund. And so in those 10 days, I was hoping to find the same pair but in black to replace the brown ones.  I brought the boots back home with me to Ottawa. Here, i continued my search for the boots at almost every single 'Winners' in Ottawa. I found a size 8 (too BIG) and a 6.5 (too tight!), and more brown pairs! Not what I was looking for. I finally decided to just return the ones that I had already purchased. Although I really like the brown ones, I felt like a black pair would be more practical and easier to match with my winter wardrobe (clothes and coats). And as my sister puts it, "You don't want BUYERS REMORSE"; where I would regret buying these without being completely satisfied and always wanting more. Since I am only allowed to buy one pair, I felt like waiting to find a pair to my standards was worth it! What do you think..good decision??

boots I originally purchased.
boots I was searching for but couldn't find!

I just want the search to be done! The thing I dislike most (possibly even more than not shopping at all) is looking for that ONE item and not being able to find it. I am the kind of person to just leisurely shop, and will buy whatever I like when I see it. I eventually bought so much of everything, that I never actually had a list of necessities (aside from these winter boots). Shopping was like therapy for me...super calming and worry-free! It's my 'sanctuary', and now it is ruined by this annoyingly ridiculous chase.

If you are looking for winter boots too, I hope you are having better luck than I am!
Love,
T

October 13, 2010

for the love of a "good deal"

So, 'A' and I are back in the same city. After starting this little 'project', I think that it has definitely brought us closer. In the past, we still kept in touch and got together whenever we could. But, I feel like in doing this challenge, it is making us realize how much we think alike. We are finding new things about ourselves and more things we have in common. Just recently, we met up and tried to start a new part in our challenge, we wanted to introduce a section called "Clothing Re-Invention". Where we would like to alter old clothing and make them new again! However, it is taking us longer to start then expected. We began looking at some of the potential clothing to use for this project, but somehow got sidetrack and talked for hours on a lot of things happening in our life; basically a huge catch up time for the past 4 years of university. Good times for sure!

Anyways, while we are usually on the topic of shopping/fashion, it was bound to come up in this particular conversation. We talked about how to us, shopping is not just about us buying loads of merchandise for ourselves. When we shop, the satisfaction (a lot of the time) is in finding that amazing deal; something unique, useful, and at a good price (of course)! And when we find this great deal, it doesn't necessarily have to be for us. As long as someone we know is getting the good deal, it is still most definitely satisfying for the both of us. We can resist for ourselves (sometimes, because we realize that we have too much already), but will try to convince another to buy it just because of how much we think it is a good deal.
I wore this dress to a wedding this past weekend. My favourite part is the detailing on the shoulders; very origami-like
The shoes I paired with the dress! [Comment: "those are beautiful shoes!" - my mom's great aunt (made my day)]
For example, when I was shopping with my friend last in Toronto, we were searching for a dress for her to wear to a wedding. Therefore, it wasn't a dress that I needed at all, it was all for her! And so our search began. She tried on so many dresses, and she wanted to find the perfect one for the wedding. So, we came across this great dress, 100% silk, black & simple, with a dash of purple colour. Everyone needs something like that, don't they?? I mean, it wasn't exactly the kind of dress she envisioned herself to wear to this particular wedding, but it was a great dress! and everyone needs that "little black dress" somewhere in their closet! And, to top it all off, the dress' Original price: $129.99 and Sale price: $69.99. To me, this was a great deal - for quality, style and use! What do you think?? I tried my hardest to convince her that she "needed" this dress, but I failed. I wanted someone to have this dress. Her will power was too strong. In the end, she didn't end up buying the dress. And, as for me...a little while after, I ended up buying the dress because I loved it so much haha. Also, I believe that 'A' and I saw this while we were shopping a long while ago, but it was too expensive at the time.
If you would like some company on finding your own deals, I would gladly come with..&be your "personal shopper"? I promise I won't buy anything for myself!

Love,
T.