Much to my chagrin I didn't find that many great deals during the holidays so I brought a few gifts for my family and friends while my list of must have items continued to grow without actually being purchased. Anytime I see something great I take a mental note while I mentally shop my closet. If I can come up with at least 3 outfits to incorporate it with it goes on my list. It can't just be anything. It has to be an item of clothing or accessory unlike something I've ever seen or have in my collection. I go back to the store or go online to get the style number and write down the price it's currently at then decide what price I'm willing to pay for it. I also decide if it's as cute or versatile as I originally thought it was. If I can't get it out of my mind I know it's a must have. Then the stalking begins. Yes, I am a stalker. Not of men of course because they're not worth the trouble. I stalk merchandise mainly because to date I've never had a calf-hair leopard print belt break my heart.
The stalking is rather time consuming. It's easier to stalk things online because I can get access to the Internet all day long either at home, at work, or through my phone. I will check the items every morning while I'm scarfing down my breakfast, during my lunch hour, or at night while I'm watching my shows to make sure I know it's status each day. Stores usually update their sale merchandise on Wednesdays or Thursdays and weekend sales can always pop up so those are the days I usually check it but certain retailers like to do other random sales so I made sure to sign up for their email lists so I can be notified when they have customer appreciation days or whatever.
If it's a store only item I get up ridiculously early on Saturdays to hit the stores right when they open because that is when they have most of their current stock out on the shelves and the salespeople are the friendliest. Friendly salespeople are alot more likely to do special searches for you especially if there's barely anyone else in the store. Always be nice to them because I've learned from experience that if your a pleasure to work with they will keep you in mind when other sales come up. I've had some of them tell me days ahead of time when a big sale was coming. Others will hold items for me until they go on sale and others have even let me use their employee discount. These are just a few of my shopping secrets which aren't really secrets because I know others use them but they have worked well for me.
My vigilance has really paid off for me lately. In the last two weeks I've been able to get 3 items I was dying to have at incredibly great prices. I got two J. Crew dresses one lace LBD (little black dress) that was $188 which I got for $37 and a beautiful floral taffeta A-line dress that was $228 which I snatched up for $50! This particular dress I have been stalking since September so I would have made out with the UPS guy who delivered it had I been home at the time. I saw someone wearing it at fashion week a few months ago so I know it photographs well.
My other find was a pair of knee high suede boots with a stiletto heel. I found these boots at Von Maur a month ago and had dreamed about them every night since that day but at the time they were only on sale for $185 which was too rich for my blood. Although I knew I couldn't afford them it was still incredibly hard for me to walk away from them. I went back to the sale room last Saturday to look for them again only to be greeted by a room full of shoes strewn about all over the floor. It literally looked like a tornado had ripped through the room and there were shoes on top of shoes that had clearly been picked over. I knew a great deal could be found so I rolled up my sleeves and started digging. It didn't help that some snobby woman came in there took one look around and complained about how awful it looked in there and how she would never spend time looking through that mess for some shoes. She spent a good few minutes standing there very loudly exclaiming how beneath her the sale room was but that did not deter me from my search.
I slipped my feet into those beauties and took a lap around the store. They felt equal parts sexy and fierce and I liked the way they looked on me. Both salespeople gushed about how hot they were and although they may have been saying that just to make a sale I had to agree with them. Luckily I had just gotten paid because I knew I couldn't walk away from them a second time. I took them to the counter and my dream $298 boots rang up as $79. I was so happy I wanted to cry.....ok maybe I did actually tear up a little but they were so worth the wait. I truly hope I can say that about a man someday and that man must respect my shoe collection because it was there bringing me joy long before he ever was.
