Black Friday Tips

Spring & summer have gone, and now the leaves are changing colors and have fallen to the ground. Halloween has passed, all the candy is gone. What is next on this journey to winter? BLACK FRIDAY!!! Okay, it's really Thanksgiving, but if you're a shopper, Thanksgiving is the dinner event before the big day. Now, I know Black Friday is the day when all consumers get to go crazy & kill each other for a bargain.... And it's legal, too!! `=D However, there are ways to be safe and still be able to get what you're looking for. As a retail store employee, I've worked many Black Friday's, and frankly, I think that if customers knew what we went through, we'd get some more respect on a day like Black Friday. Just a few tips, from me to you..

1.) Patience is ALWAYS a Virtue

As a retail employee, I can tell you from experience that rushing a sales associate (or anyone else helping you find something) is never a good idea. Why? It will only create confusion, aggravation & frustration with all party's involved. Yes, everyone in the store is there to assist you in every way possible, but that doesn't mean you are the sales associate's main focus. Sales people are already bombarded with random questions, and customers who do need their assistance. But on BF, rules change. It's a "first come, first serve," type of mentality. Sales people are most likely helping at least 2 other people out. As a customer, the best you can do is BE PATIENT. Give the SA time to help out the people before you approached them, and remind them every minute or so that they remember they're also helping you.

2.) If At First You Don't Succeed..We Don't Do Returns!

Okay, no store that I know does not--not take returns. In fact, most stores make their bread & butter from "welcoming" back certain customers...and their returns. Ironically, a customer making a return can be considered a form of "loyalty." If they're coming back to return something, it's a chance for a store to persuade a customer to buy something else in place of the item they're returning. Consumer-wise, you're full within your right to return something you're not happy with. Also, remember to always read the return policy! I can't stress that last fact enough. I've seen customers throw a fit because they can't return something because they've gone past the return time limit. Let me tell you, read the receipt and/or sign(s) near or at the register regarding ANY return policy. PLEASE. It will save both you & the sales associate some time & grief, and Black Friday is supposed to be stress free, or as stress free as possible.

3.) Location, Location, Location!

This is another important fact. If you're going to hit up the major stores on Black Friday, anything from Wal-Mart to Saks, consider your location. It's always best to get to the nearest location to save you some time & hassle. Plus, it'll be easier to lug all your loot to your car and/or to your house if you live nearby. Less gas cost! Also, take into account how busy one branch will be from the other. If you're going to go flagship, consider your options & chances of either being helped or finding the item you want & getting as quick as possible. Most of the time, that will not happen at a bigger store. If possible, see if the store has another branch, which will probably be smaller, and make sure they carry the brand/item you're searching for. Remember, just because there's more than one store in the area, doesn't always mean they'll carry the same things. Each branch is tailored to fit the area they're situated in, so take that into account when considering where & what you're going to try & snag on Black Friday.

4.) Shop Before You Drop!

What I mean by this is to pre-shop before you decide to head to the store. Shop the website first so you can decide what you want & to avoid #2. LOL. Although, be mindful that some (if not all) websites will have their own Black Friday specials & deals not applicable to the store itself. Thanks to technology and the popularity of online shopping, stores with websites now take into account the amount of sales they do both online & in-store. Most people nowadays want to avoid crowds all together and shop online for their deals & steals. If you decide to go online shopping for Black Friday, make sure the laptop's charged up and the cards free of debt!!

5.) Last But Not Least---Safety First!!

If you all remember last Black Friday, a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death by the crazy crowd waiting at the door. This year, Wal-Mart is taking precautions to try and control the crowd so that everyone gets out in one piece & with their loot. While I know it's fun to stampede like the Pamplona running of the bulls on Black Friday, take note of your surroundings. No need to wrestle the person next to you for that toy for your kid. Your kid would probably rather see you alive on X'Mas, instead of being black & blue on Black Friday. As easy as it is to say, "Play nice!" in this sense, it's not. (I know that! I ain't no fool!) If you're part of the big crowd waiting at the door, don't push & shove your way through. The best way to get in quickly is to arrive early. Sleep over if you have to! Okay, maybe not. But, arriving early Friday morning is best. Awaiting a store opening on Black Friday is like trying to be the first one to get to Ticketmaster for Jo'Bro's tickets. It's the rush, it'll get to you.

And, that concludes this post. I'll leave you with this one last tip:

6.) Don't Eat Too Much Turkey!

Why?! You might oversleep & miss the store openings!!! YIKES!!

Just kidding. LOL.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!! Eat, Drink & Be Merry!! `=D

Stella McCartney for Gap Kids

Well, I'm jealous. `=T Kids shouldn't look this fab unless I, too can get a share of the action. While I am the size of a child, I, by no means, fit into their clothing, and for once, I'm saddened by this. Why? Because Stella McCartney's done a line for Gap Kids!!! This isn't Stella's first foray into the price-conscious shopper's realm, she's done this before...err, twice, to be exact. A few years ago, she did a line for H&M (she was after Lagerfeld, if I recall) and has been doing an exclusive line for Addidas. In regards to her H&M line, I couldn't even get near the store during the opening day for it for two reasons:

1.) I was in school.

and

2.) I was broke and it was utter chaos.

What made it even worse was that my school was a block away from the flagship H&M in NYC. By the time my lunch hour rolled around, the store was sold out. `=T I saw the whole line for H&M and it was nothing short of gorgeous. And Stella doesn't disappoint this time either with the tots. This is what makes me jealous, and yet endeared at the same time. I haven't been able to see the line in person yet (it's not sold at a Gap Kids store in my area.), but from the lookbook alone, I'd definitely buy it if I had a kid of my own.



It's funny when I think back to kids clothes and to the days when mine came from Kids R'Us, and how that was the cool thing, then. My, how times have changed. Back then, kids clothes was just a mini version of teens/adults clothes with a cartoon character on it and/or a pretty pattern on it. Not anymore, it seems. Designers and top brands have tapped into the kids market in their quest to constantly expand the brand. And tap into it they have. Kids clothes have become completely redefined & redesigned to look alot trendier so that kids clothes aren't so basics anymore. Not only that, they've also become designer.



Looking at Stella's line on the Gap site alone, I have to say I really am jealous of the kids who'll get to sport these clothes. They'll be the coolest kids on the playground! The one thing I'm sure most parents will have a problem with is the price range. Gap was never a high-end brand, but they're definitely in a stratosphere where they don't charge $50 for a child's sweater. However, this is Stella McCartney we're talking about, so they can slide with that. The price range of the line is more than what the average Gap customer/parent usually pays, but you can't put a price on style, can you? I think not! Okay, not every parent will share that sentiment during a recession, but it's the logic Gap is willing to run with. Either way, I can see where Gap as a company is going with this. They're in major trouble and have been for the last few years. They've tried bringing in designers to jumpstart the adult line to almost no avail. But, by taking the focus away from the adult line and concentrating on the kids, they might be able to find a way back into the market. I can tell, they're starting slowly & carefully. Good move.

Palette That I Love--- PIXI Eye Beauty Kit in Blue Energy

Normally, I'm pretty basic about make-up, I leave that up to my friend Monica or my other friend, Sha...they're both make-up freaks. I usually wear my basic foundation with pale lip gloss and/or light blush. When I do go all out, I throw in eye shadow, but even then, that's almost a nude-ish shade, just so I look like I have a certain glow. However, recently, I became enamored with a certain make-up palette that I probably wouldn't have heard of had my cousin not lost her job. She worked for a major magazine company that folded and called me over from my internship to drop by & raid their beauty/fashion closet. To which, I happily accepted. I even risked being late to work that day. SO WORTH IT THOUGH! I made out like a complete bandit, and it was that night while looking through all the stuff I had gotten, I discovered Pixi Beauty. I had a tiny eyeshadow single palette in an infamous nude color that I love. I tried it out for a day and fell in love with it. So, I decided to look up this make-up company and see where else I can buy their product.

Lo & behold, they had a gorgeous site that reminded me of Tinkerbell, and I started thinking that this is probably the make-up she'd wear while hating on Wendy & trying to get Peter Pan. While browsing the site to see their other eyeshadow colors, I found that they also came in palette's, which made me excited. More bang for my buck!! `=D They had so many variety's in each palette I almost couldn't decide!!



After much deliberation, and consulting with Monica, I decided on the Blue Energy palette.



I always did love blue. Plus, it had all the colors I knew I'd use on an almost daily basis. The best part of this whole deal was that the price was reasonable, $28 for one whole palette with 8 colors. And, it was available at my local Target. Yes, you heard right! I was not traipsing through Sephora, and going through the aisles because it's alphabetical...And I'm sure PIXI would've been at the back. I was in Target, shopping for my Tinkerbell make-up, my bras AND a box of cookies. `=P

Anyways, I've worn almost every shade of the palette this week at work, including Halloween, where I brought out the blue, and I'm thrilled to say that I've gotten compliments on all the colors I've worn. `=D It really does make your eyes pop, and works well with sensitive eyes. I have sensitive eyes and while wearing it, they weren't irritated at all. The other best part? It helps improve the skin on your eyes.

And, I quote:

Beneficial Ingredients and what they do: 1. Aloe Vera Leaf Extract: Soothing and healing for the sensitive eye area. 2. Vitamin E: A powerful anti-aging vitamin with antioxidant properites. 3. Titanium Dioxide: Natural mineral with SPF factor.

Straight from the site, folks!!! `=D I wish I had been able to take a picture with all the looks I did with the palette. But, since I mostly wore them for work I forgot to do so, and you'll just have to take my word that I looked great. `=P My one piece of proof is this one video I did to show my buddy Monica that I took her advice to blend 2 of the colors. Enjoy!!




All in all, I really do love this palette. I really do recommend it for anyone who's not in the mood to run through Sephora and pay about $40 for the same thing, only to be disappointed in the end. However, a bit of a warning... The eyeshadows are a bit more powdery than most, and it can get everywhere. Although, that can be remedied by blending and/or water. Don't forget to check out PIXI Beauty's other products!!!

Me with the Blue Energy Palette:

Yeah, I only did one eye. LOL.

A Video for Monica

I did this video a few weeks ago for my friend, Monica, who's stuck in the DR for awhile. She's a big make-up freak, and I got this amazing palette for free, and thought that it would be my gift to her. She won't be back til December for the holidays, so I thought this would hold her over. LOL.

This was my first time ever doing a video via my webcam on my laptop. So, pardon the appearance of the whole video, and the fact that I look like a wreck. It was late, and I was bored. LOL.

Sweaters, Sweaters, & MORE Sweaters!!!

If you're on the east coast, Jack Frost has started nipping at your nose pretty early in October. I'd like to go with Al Gore's whole thing of global warming. There's usually a transition period between summer & winter, called fall, but mother nature felt like skipping that this year. For what reason, I have no idea. She was probably PMS-ing. Unfortunately, thanks to her sudden mood swing, east coasters have been forced to completely forgo (what I call) sweater season & dig out their winter coats! None the less, that won't stop me from posting sweaters that are in style at the moment. Besides, it's winter...we will need sweaters to layer underneath our winter peacoats. Plus, if you work in an office, it'll be your best friend and keep you warm just incase the heater breaks. `=P

I've put together a small list of sweaters that I think every woman should have. Why? Well, because you can't have too many sweaters!! Although, I've also said the same thing about bags, but that's a whole'nother post all together.

1. The Wrap Sweater

I've noticed that this type of sweater has become insanely popular, mostly because you can do almost anything with it. Wear it backwards, wear it frontwards, wrap it all over your body...And it'll still look great!! `=D The one thing I'll advise is that if you're petite (like me! well, I'm more of super petite), is to watch the length of the sweater. Yes, you'll be wrapping it around yourself like a colored pretzel, but the longer the sweater & the shorter the body, the more you'll have to wrap it around yourself. And even then, it may still drag on the ground. You really don't want that. Best piece of advice, try it on first! Try it on and wrap it around yourself once or twice first and see how far off the ground it hangs. If you think it's a reasonable length, then, head to the register & give the name of the sales associate who helped you find that pretty thing. `=D

2. The Fly Away Cardigan


















This cardigan will give you wings!!! Well, not really. It's just called that because it's flowy and it does look like wings on the wearer, well, that's what i think. There are so many variations of this cardigan, I can barely name them all!! But, I do think women should have this in their closet. Unlike the traditional cardigan, this one is more casual and sparks up any outfit. Even if you're just in track pants & a tee, throw on a fly-away cardi on & head out the door. You'll look chic, comfy and best of all, it'll add some color to your outfit/wardrobe. (Okay, maybe not the one pictured above, but you get the point.)


3. Shrug It Off!!



Ahh, the shrug. A compounded fashion term stemming from the phrase "shrunken sweater." I have no idea where the "-ug" came from, though. I remember when these first came into style, I was a freshman in college..broke & had the dorkiest wardrobe ever. I envied the girls in my classes that could afford such cool clothes and that was the year Ya-Ya introduced shrugs. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford one of Ya-Ya's, so I tried looking for a similar one at Forever21. Didn't work. It wasn't the same! Anyways, I never did get a Ya-Ya shrug, but I do have one from Ann Taylor Loft that I adore. Like it's larger counterpart, the fly-away cardigan, the shrug has multiple purposes for your wardrobe. It can say casual, relaxed & "I'm going to the mall to find more sweaters!" OR it can say professional, polished & stylish at the office. I believe in getting a neutral colored one so that it will be easier to throw on with any outfit. However, colors are always encouraged by yours truly. `=D

4. Turtlenecks, the new scarves


Okay, maybe not really. But, if you're not in the mood to get tangled up in a scarf, turtlenecks are the best way to go in keeping your neck warm. I say go for a turtle neck that's either wool or cashmere to spare you from adding on more layers when it gets colder. Believe it or not, I never liked turtlenecks, but now I can't get enough of them. I usually reserve them for fall/winter. But these days, fall is feeling like winter, so best bring them out now!! Best part, they'll go with almost anything..skirt, pants..work, going out...it just about works! Although, don't wear one to a club. You'll get hot. `=P

5. The Sweater Jacket... 2 Ways.

Version #1
Is it a robe?!



As much as Old Navy's mannequin commercials scare the crap out of me, I have to say, they tend to be on spot with trends. If you've seen the newest ones (or just watch too much TV like me), you'll see that their two girl mannequins have taken a trip to the Big Apple & sporting their "Cardi-coats" from Old Navy. This style of a sweater isn't exactly new, but it is a new twist on wearing one. It can take the place of a light jacket or can be layered underneath a heavier one. I remember watching Princess Diaries 2 and there was a scene with Anne Hathaway sporting a version of the "cardi-coat" while walking around with Andrew (the guy who wasn't Chris Pine) and loved the way she tied the belt back. That is definitely a great way to style it without having it look like a robe while you're running around town.
Version #2
Go edgy!


Sweater jacket indeed, eh? It looks almost as cool as a leather jacket, doesn't it?! Yeah, that's what I thought, too!! But no!! It's a sweater, and cool one at that. If you're not the type to run around in a sweater that looks like a robe, go for one that passes as an actual jacket. I chose this one from Express, since.. I liked all the zippers. I wanted to try this one on at my local Express store, but alas...it was sold out when I went. `=( So far, this is the only one I've seen that's really caught my eye, but hopefully other brands will come out more styles similar to this one.

6. Classic Sweaters--The V-Neck, Crewneck & Cardigan


If we all wondered why & how the other styles were created, these three are the reasons why. These are the classic sweaters. They can be redone a million times before someone is going to get tired of them. But the best part about these styles? They'll never go out of style. They go with anything, and the best part is that price point wise, you'll be able to find something both affordable & questionable. However, nowadays, I think everyone is just going to spring for the Forever21 & Old Navy knock-offs of these sweaters. Don't you just love price conscious retailers?! They're your best friend during these times. Although, a splurge is always nice, too. `=P

Brands Featured:
1. DKNY
2. James Perse
3. Vince
4. Vince
5. Old Navy (Version #1) & Express (Version #2)
6. Ralph Lauren Polo, Blue Label (V-Neck), Lacoste (Crew Neck) & C&C California (cardigan)

Dresses-- Why every girl can't have too many!!

*ORIGINALLY POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 16TH*

I was never the girly type when I was younger. In fact, nearly the opposite. I was forced to wear a skirt almost everyday of school (thanks, private-Catholic school!), and on weekends, I preferred jeans to give myself a break from skirt wearing. I went through this phase until I about got out of high school and into college, where I actually got to choose my own clothes. That was a new experience in itself, especially since I went to fashion school. LOL. As of late, dresses have been making a come back...Not that they ever went out of style, but I guess I've found them more appealing since you can wear a dress for almost any occasion. I've learned this for a fact, since I have two friends' birthday's coming up, and while they're scrambling to find what to wear, I tend to have my outfit all picked out.

Since it's fashion week in New York, I've been looking at some of the shows of my faves and some that are piquing my interest. I've been seeing that most of my favorite pieces are dresses. Sure, I've seen other pieces in some of the collections, but I've mainly picked out the dresses, at least for this post.




Badgely Mischka Spring/Summer 2010
No one says evening elegance like these two. If I were ever famous, or had all the money in the world, I'd probably own a good portion of their evening gowns. I always love the material they use and it always says "simple & elegant"...



Stemming from this past spring/summer season, anything neon colored was in fashion. Bright, loud & nothing with a hint of black or gray was part of it. Which, considering the season, you'd have to be nuts, (nuts I tell you!) to wear black in the summer. Unless you're a Bloomies employee. ;)
Seems like bright colors are going to be back, just not as loud. I love that Badgely Mischka took the neon colored trend and was able to translate it into evening wear.

While appealing to the younger crowd with bright & fun colors to wear to formal events, BM also doesn't forget the...err, more..mature crowd that doesn't want to be loud & crazy while at a formal dinner.



Black, gray and white, will never go out of style, Badgely Mischka reminds me of that.

Like I said before, dresses can be worn for almost any & everything. I think the Marc by Marc Jacobs line proves that. This line is always fun & energetic, just like a bridge line should be. This line is really aimed for a younger crowd who likes to have fun, and if I thought spring/summer 2009 was loud & bright, Marc amp'd it up for 2010. I was only able to pick two dresses that really caught my eye, but this isn't to say that the whole line is tragic. It's the complete opposite. I really liked the pieces in it, and this entry is all about my faves..so.. `=P



I've always loved blue. However, as a kid, and a girl, we're programmed to think that blue was the color of boys(IE: all NY sports teams have the color blue!!). I beg to differ. Blue can be just as feminine as it can be masculine, and this dress from Marc by Marc Jacobs proves that theory. It's bright, it's loud & it wants to party!! The second dress I picked because I liked the print on it. A little darker for a spring/summer line, but never the less, it goes along with the line & theme that Marc's going for in 2010.



Dresses don't have to be overly decorative or ornate to be classy, elegant, beautiful, etc., and any other word that goes along with the ones I just listed. They really can be just simple and it's up to the wearer to do what they want with them. Dress it up, dress it down..put jewelry on with it, or wear nothing else but the dress & a smile. And, probably some shoes. `=D My all-time-forever other favorite dress designer is Vera Wang, so pardon the slight bias that may be detected here. `=P



I could probably write a whole term paper on why I love Vera Wang..Oh, wait, I did that already. Sophomore year of college, got a B+ on it (Believe me, I was happier than a person who got an A that day. LOL.). `=D Vera Wang once said that she'd like to design clothes for every type of woman, and thank God she's kept that philosophy up! She's got a line at Kohls, that I, unfortunately haven't been able to buy anything from since it looked more my mom's style than my own. But, I did like what I saw at Kohls. Anyways, this isn't about her Kohls line..It's about my favorite dresses of hers from her Spring/Summer 2010 line!!

One of the dresses a girl can never have too many of, is a little black dress, or LBD. Vera's line didn't run short of those, even though, that's what most of them were. *rim shot* (Get it?! Short dress...Running low...never mind.) Not gonna lie, the first dress is my absolute fave of the whole line. I have a dress similar to it, but in green and it's from BCBG, and I've worn it on two different occasions, and have gotten compliments on it. I can only assume that whoever wears the first LBD will get just as many, no matter where & when they wear it. The second dress it a little bit more casual, and you could probably do anything you wanted to it. Wear it out shopping, wear it to a casual dinner...Err, wear it to work? Maybe not that last one. It's more grungy and probably looks best with Doc Martens. However, best way to make it stand out is with some bling, just like the model there.



If there's one color that can sway me, it's the color gray. Why? Well, just like life it's neither black nor white..It's both. Philosophical? Yes. But, that's how I feel about the color. Plus, it's also a versatile color. You can make it shimmery, you can make it dull, it can be bright, and it can be plain. Plus, both silver & gold jewelry go great with it. And, if you're in Vera Wang, you can make it so girly that I'll love it, and the fact that it's a Vera Wang gray makes me love it even more. Case in point:



And, btw, I realize that the second shot is actually more of a tunic, and not an actual dress. But, I just felt the need for it to be posted with this. `=P However, I'm sure there will be a few ladies out there who will wear the second one was a dress, and for them..I pray they go somewhere with no back lighting.

Now, I can't necessarily do a post about dresses without posting a few from the lady who brought LBD's back in in the 90's... Nicole Miller. I've never been that partial to Nicole Miller, but she, like Vera, has gone to both sides of fashion, high-end and moderately priced. Nicole has a line at JC Penny's that's more suitable for work wear. However, my focus are her dresses at the moment. I'm going to be biased again because...well..She used my favorite color, gray in most of her dresses for her spring/summer line. LOL.





If there's ever a way to make simple dress brighter, it's to add an additional color. Nicole Miller teaches to forego the jewelry and all the heavy bling and let her do it for you! Buy one of her dresses and she'll add the splash of color for you. Honestly, I like that idea. By having a two-toned dress, minor or obvious in color(s) it adds more to the dress than jewelry would.



Spring, they say, is the time to shine. What better way than to wear a dress that sparkles!! Although, not in the Edward Cullen way. (Not a Twilight fan, btw. Although, I think Jacob's pretty cute...Even though he's jailbait.LOL.)Anyways, back to dresses...More importantly, dresses that *sparkle*...

What else can I really say about dresses that are already my favorite color and that sparkle?! None, that's what!! The second dress, actually, I like because the blue embellishments kinda harks out to another trend of the past spring/summer season, peacock feathers. I have no idea why but it was such a big trend early in the season and then took a back seat to the neon. But I like the subtle shout on the second dress there.

Last but not least, is my little tribute to the LPD...little pink dress. Pink dresses usually conjure up memories of nostalgia if you're a girl. Ballet tutu's (check the icon. ;) ), easter dresses, pink ribbons..anything that's girly from childhood. Pink is the ultimate girly color, and I actually don't oppose to men wearing it, either. As long as they make it work (Tim Gunn, I've been following you too long. LOL.). Thanks to the great 80's trend (which, I kinda wish would go away..just a tad), pink is a "color of the moment", borrowing a phrase from my buddy, Gabby. While pink isn't every girl's favorite color, DKNY's spring/summer line is out to change their minds about that.





DKNY had one message for spring/summer 2010... PINK IS EVERYWHERE!! LOL.

And, that concludes this post!! `=D