Am I wrong...

Okay all 2 people who read this blog (including me). As you will recall, when I started this blog I mentioned that I have had to make some creative maneuvers in the past in order to hide my shopping from my husband. Well, lately I have started to agree that my spending is slightly out of control and I need to be a little more careful. However, I knew that going totally cold turkey was never going to be an option for me. For the past 2 years I have been putting away a little bit from every paycheck just to start saving a little bit of "rainy day" money . Now I am not talking about a large sum, I put aside $30 from every paycheck, $60 a month. Over the months, this adds up and I have a nice little nest egg to buy some clothes with the change of the seasons. My husband has known that I save this money for the past 2 years. But he just realized that I actually use it to shop. He says I am selfish, that it is OUR money and should be going to our bills. I think he is upset because I had managed to save up almost $900 and he couldnt get his hands on it. Am I wrong to think this is a totally legitimate thing for me to do? Or am I selfish? Please let me know what you think because I really dont think anything is wrong with this and have decided not to speak to my husband again until he apologizes for being a total butthead. Am I the butthead?

xoxo
Shopgirl

Consign Your Life Away!

Okay, let's get the awkwardness out of the way. I haven't written and you have spent your summer wandering aimlessly around town not know where to get what. All I can say is, I am sorry. Truly sorry.

Now let's talk buying...and selling. These days you can't swing a cat in Greenville withough hitting 10 consignment stores. But these are not your mother's consignment stores, or even your big sisters. These stores all claim to be "Designer" or "High End" in other words if you are looking for some $25 Abercrombie and Fitch jeans circa 1995, these are not the stores for you. Nor should you expect to pay $50 for a Chanel bag (NO FAKES).

The great thing about consignment stores is that you have the chance to MAKE a little money. Let's face it, these days people are looking for anyway to stretch a dollar, and what is better than finding designer duds at a discount AND making some extra cash all in the same place. The way it works for most places is they put your item up for sale at a certain price. If it sells, you get 40% and the store keeps 60%. Simple. But before you go throwing your "3rd Annual Beasley Family Reunion" t-shirt in a bag with dollar signs in your eye, stop. These places have rules. They specify which brands they accept, what time of year they are accepting seasonal items, and the items have to be clean, in good shape, and hanging. In other words, THIS IS NOT THE GOOD WILL. However, I will say that my first time consigning, I had an extra $80 to burn within a couple of weeks, and more closet space!

Deja Vu is the pioneer in designer consigning in Greenville (www.dejavuconsignments.com). The store has been open since 1992!Here you can find a Prada bag for $300 where, in its prime, the bag would have cost around $1000. I'll be honest, at first glance I am turned off by Deja Vu, I have never been a "digger" when it comes to shopping. Places like TJ Maxx stress me out and dont even ask what happened to me at Century 21, the mega designer discount store in NYC, can anyone say panic attack? I am a sucker for merchandising, to me, presentation of the product is everything. But once I start to poke around a little, I see that the store is actually arranged very neatly and prettily. I also start flipping through some racks where I found an ABS dress that looked exactly like the pink Oscar de la Renta dress that Carrie (Bradshaw) wore to the opera with the Russian artist. Sidenote: if you don't know what dress I am talking about, this blog is clearly not for you either, BUT everyone should be exposed to the dress so, she the picture above. Not one girl didnt gasp when they saw that dress worn with a simple ponytail and ordering french fries at McDonalds...but I digress. Other treasures that I found at Deja Vu was this amazing sequined skirt that I never would have paid full price for. This is a place where you find what you didnt know you were looking for and everything is unique and one of a kind.

In the last few months 3 more "designer" consignments have popped up, 2 within a half mile of each other! L's is on Augusta Rd, on the Church St. side. To be honest I have not been in here, but I hear you can get Ralph Lauren flip flops for like $12 (usually $40). But the window display and building have never been appealing sop I havent pulled in (told you I was visual). Lables (www.labelsonaugusta.com) opened up a few months ago in McDaniel Village. It is next to Chloe and Grace (fabulous gifts) and Davanis (seriously the best pasta in town, and Rocky, the owner, is the nicest man ever). I found labels to have more of a selection from things I would wear as opposed to Deja Vu, it was a little younger. They have Citizens jeans, cute boots and pretty jewelry. I also recognized several pieces from recent J.Crew and BCBG collections. This isnt surprising given that the owner has not cleared 30 yet.

And then moving out to the East Side is Glam on Woodruff Rd. I will be honest, the first time I drove by this store I had no idea that it was a consignment store. It is in a cool, hip space that has a little more edge than its competition. The inventory is a little edgier too and more wide ranging. In the same place I found a Marc Jacobs jacket and an American Eagle hoodie. I also bagged a gorgeous Charcoal M&M Couture cocktail dress for $40!!

The moral of my story is this...times are changing and in the words of the owner of Deja Vu, "it is time to shop smarter". Looks like consignment boutiques are the perfect way to get started.

xoxo

Shop Girl

Shop Girl gets a New Face

These days all you here about is cutting costs and pinching pennies. I admit that this is not my strong suit but even I have started trying to cut back in an effort to save. But there is one place where you should not skimp and that is your face. No matter what you are wearing, what color your hair is, or how much you weight, your face is going to be your face and you have to protect it. I wandered into Benetz in the West End the other day while browsing the sales rack at Augusta 20 (what?! Buying things on sale is a method of saving!). I was looking for a new face wash, something gentle and good for every day use. They sent me out the door with a Soy face wash by Fresh. Granted, the price was a little steep ($40) BUT you don't have to use a lot and it is AWESOME! I can already tell that my skin looks and feels better. Also, they have some great moisturizers to help you battle the fierce SC July sun. Splurging on your skin now can save you a bundle on plastic surgery in the future. Check Benetz out during the week for make over specials also!

xoxo
Shop Girl

No Time is a Good time for Good Bye....

But it is always a good time for a good BUY. In sad news, Sarah Boutique is closing its doors tomorrow. I am so sad to see this store go, the store had a great selection of tops, dresses, jeans, and accessories. It was always colorful and the owner (Sarah) was so great at helping you find the perfect outfit for the perfect occasion. Even though I am hearbroken to see Sarah go, there is one day left to show her you care and get some amazing deals while you are at it. Everything in the store is 75% off....what excuse do you have not to go check it out? But hurry, the doors close tomorrow and remember that Shopping Local is ESSENTIAL to making sure our cute little boutiques are around for a long time. Bye Sarah! We will all miss you!!

Sarah Boutique

931 S. Main St

Greenville


xoxo
Shop Girl

Shop Girl is MIA

Hi Friends! So I have been MIA for a few days. But stay tuned this week as I get ready for my annual beach trip. There will be lots of shopping trips to make for bathing suits (eek), beach chairs, hats, and lots of other fun stuff. I can't wait to tell you what I find so be sure to check back!!

xoxo
Shop Girl

A Weekend Romp(er) for Shop Girl

That's right kids...they're back. Rompers. But relax ladies...these are not your Laura Ashley rompers of the late 80s, with Mom and Daughter matching floral prints. Nor are they the wide short rompers of the mid 90's, that never quite fit right in the um....crotch area, for lack of a more lady-like term. No, these are a throw back to a more "Charlie's Angels" romper, designed to make the wearer feel feminine and sexy. So you may have seen the beginning of the Romper comeback on TV. I first saw it when watching the Bachelorette, don't judge, Jillian was wearing an adorable denim romper. It had a short-sleeve button down top ad short denim bottom...all in a sleek dark wash. It looked great on her...but what is she, a 100 pounds soaking wet? Everything looks great on her. I had pretty much told myself that the romper was not for me and I would ride this trend out.
So the other day, I got an itch for some Gladiator heels and decided to head to Monkees on the West End. Toryburch.com had some on sale and I thought Monkees might be carrying them. They weren't...so I started browsing the clothing racks. Usually, I find Monkees insanely out of my price range...but was pleasantly surprised to find some "reasonably" priced items. I spotted what I thought was an adorable strapless navy dress, with embroidery around the top and bottom...perfect sundress for weekend and beach wear ($75). But on closer inspection I realized it was...A Romper. I decided to try it on, just to see how this trend would pan out for me, but my hopes were not high. Into the dressing room I went and stepped into the romper...which looked huge but that was because it has to get over the hips (by the way I am 5'7", about 130 lbs, and I have exercised twice in 6 weeks. Needless to say, things aren't as "firm" as I would like, which is part of the reason I never expected what happened next. I pulled the romper up, tied the drawstring belt tight around my (sizable) hips, and looked in the mirror. Adorable! It was comfortable, it looked cute on me, and I could dress it up for night, but still bum around in flip flops! I stared in the mirror for a long time trying to decide if I was actually going to buy this trend which I had written off in my mind. I decided I had to do it, thinking that one day my daughter will go through my old clothes and think "what were y'all thinking?!" and that thought sealed the deal. The moral of this story is, give the romper or any other seemingly bizarre trend a shot. You just might discover a whole new look for yourself this summer!

Oh and if you had also decided that Monkees is out of your price range...I implore you to give it another try. While they still have the high dollar items, I found they have mixed in some more affordable and stylish options as well. Tell them Shop Girl sent you...it won't mean anything to them, but tell them anyway :-)

xoxo
Shop Girl

The Shopper is an Artist

So when the economy is bad and your hobby is shopping you could find yourself in a Catch 22 of sorts. I have been feeling restless not being able to afford all the great things I see on my travels and was starting to get really frustrated when inspiration hit. My husband and I were walking through the Artisphere festival during a break in the rain, and I thought to myself "I wish I could do something like this." Then I started thinking about what was stopping me. My whole life I have told myself that I don't have any artistic ability and I think its because I was limiting myself to thinking that in order to be artistic I had to draw or paint things that looked exactly like my subject...which I can't do. But what was stopping me from pushing some paint around a canvas? So we drove to Michaels and I bought a starter kit of oil and acrylic paints and a whole set of brushes and a couple of different size canvases, all for $30! Now I am sure they aren't the greatest supplies in the world, but I'm not Van Gough either.
When I got home I thought I would just play around with some shapes and colors. But then I saw a photograph of my husband and my dog that I LOVE. And I thought I would try to paint what I loved about the picture, the colors and the image of the 2 of them laying in a hammock at the beach. When I stopped trying to make my painting look exactly like the picture I felt really good about what I came up with. A painting that captured what I loved and that used my strengths instead of showing off my weaknesses. All of that and I had a great time! I found a hobby and now I look at almost everything differently. When I see an ad for a beautiful dress or amazing bag, instead of feeling sad because I can't afford to buy them, now I see something that I can take and make my own in a different way. Plus...it's a lot easier on the check book. I will try and post some pics of my new hobby when I get a chance.
So take it from me...old dogs can learn new tricks. An environment that is limiting how much you can spend might just be an opportunity to find out something new about yourself.

xoxo
Shop Girl

Shop Girl and the Oysters

I promised this wouldn't be some ridiculously shallow blog about where to find the best maxi dress on sale. So here is a very very brief bio for now. I am not from Greenville, I would say where I was originally from, but on the off chance anyone is reading this, I don't want to give too much away. I got married almost 2 years ago to a man whose family lives not far from here. I am a little homesick, being an only child, and having a very strong sense of where I am from...and more so a very strong need to be near people who have known me for more than 3 years.
I am also an incredible homebody. I love my friends and love being around them...but it would suit me just fine for them to come hang out at my house rather than go out. I guess I am at the age that I just want to hang out with my friends and don't need to go bar hopping to have a good time.
I don't know where I am going with this awful post...I guess the thing is...I got married. I got married because I was so in love with the person I was with that I wanted to be around him all the time. But 2 years into this marriage...I have to beg him to come out with me...and even when I beg 95% of the time he doesn't come. And when he does come somewhere with me he makes me feel like he is doing me some big favor by being there. It was a friends 30th bday, I wanted to go for 1 drink and leave and he wouldn't come. Am I being a brat for feeling like if I wanted to go places alone, I would have stayed single? And if he asks me to do something I dont want to do and I say no...he wont speak to me.
So there is a little insight into my life...now you see why retail therapy is an absolute reality for me, which brings me to Oysters on the West End. If you aren't looking for it you will walk right by it. But on Thursday nights it is a hidden jewel in an already studded West End. Affordable beers, outdoor patio (covered and uncovered), and the coup de gras...karaoke every Thursday. One beer and a wink from Mark, the best bartender in town, and you will feel right at home. All this...and the food isn't bad either. Just stay clear of "Mean Eddie", a hateful local who hangs out at the bar by himself. Just believe me when I say you'll know him when you meet him. Thanks for listening. Even Shop Girl needs to vent from time to time.

xoxo
Shop Girl

"Imagine" the Possibilities

I was at the far end of North Main street the other day (across the street from the Hyatt) when I noticed a store called Imagine Boutique that I had never seen before. When I walked in, the vibe was a little weird and I wasn't blown away by the clothes; although, it looks like you would be able to find some cute "going out" tops and dresses in there. But the real "find" came when got to their accessories. They had these really great colored glass bracelets that I have started to see in magazines and other boutiques for $20 and up. Imagine had the same bracelets for $3 a piece...$3!! I walked away with blue, green, and orange and have been wearing at least one of them with just about anything. I also snagged a really cool glass ring for $6! They also had some really unique leather bags at very affordable prices and these really cool fabric clutches that are made by a local designer in town. Each one was different and would make a great addition to any bag collection.
Finding this place has made me wonder what else lies beyond the typical Augusta Road/West End shopping scene in terms of clothes and accessories. I also love that I found an inexpensive way to ad some pop to my old outfits. Just goes to show that sometimes price is not the best indicator of quality.
So what lesson should we take away from this? Look for hidden gems in unexpected places, I think once you decide to branch out you will be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Until next time.

xoxo
Shop Girl

Love Your Economy

I'm not sure if you've heard or not, but the economy sucks right now. One of the greatest things about my job is that I get to call on all kinds of local businesses. Too bad for me, they are all struggling for money and are reluctant to buy anything from me. Lucky for them, I am a sucker for a deal and this economy is tempting me in every way possible. Gone are the days of waiting for One Day Sales and lining up at midnight the Friday after Thanksgiving for the all important "Door Buster" sale. These days, every day is Black Friday...or an attempt at one any way. On my journey from one business to another I have found "buy one get one free" deals. 75% off "in season merchandise" and so many more. Visiting all of these businesses has changed something about how I shop. I used to be all about the bigger chains when it came to shopping for just about anything: clothes, gifts, even alcohol. Even if there is not an amazing deal going on I think most people will find that your local businesses offer a much higher level of service which makes parting with hard earned money a little easier. And just think...the more we help our local small business owners the faster we get ourselves out of this mess. Shop Local, friends...everyone wins.

xoxo
Shop Girl

Welcome

I have been thinking about this whole blogging thing a lot. I have been trying to think of different gimmicks for blogs. Different things to pull people in. But I think the best way to blog is as yourself and about what you know. I am a girl living in Greenville, SC and I know how to shop. Now that is not all there is to me...I am not some ditz out of Clueless. But it is my hobby. It is what makes me relax when I am stressed. What makes me happy when I am sad. And what calms me down when I am madder than hell. So this is my blog mostly about me, but also about all the fun different things I find on my shopping adventures in my home of 3 years, Greenville, SC.PS- I should also mention that my husband of two years doesn't view my "hobby" quite as fondly as I do; so stay tuned for helpful tips on being a sneaky shopper.