The Faux Fashionista- Diary of a Shopaholic

Spring is here!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 02:53:00 +0000

My Spring Wardrobe is Mint

It's been a long dreary depressing winter. After months of wearing drab colors mainly grey and black staples I set out to find my new spring palette. It's not easy wearing green. (Still haven't forgiven my sister for making us wear pistachio bridesmaid dresses).

But hope springs eternal in spring

and I feel in love with soothing pastels . Particularly mint green .

Here is my spring start !

Love this bracelet from Tai. Almost got into an arm wrestle over this pretty thing as it was the last one at the boutique ! I emerged victorious!

Rebecca Minkoff. I happy to have this bag cross my body!

AG jeans in sulfur sage . Love!

Cynthia Steffe . Maybe more Aqua? But

Still a winner in the pastel palette !

See ya later winter!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 01:08:00 +0000

Baby It's Cold Outside!!!!

It's a new year and I have a new blog post!

You can guess what my resolutions are! Blog more, shop less. I love a fresh new start , but hate the Northeastern January weather.. I'm a sumner girl ( see my tank top post). I hate the cold, snow and windchill factors give me the shivers. I would rather spend my hard earned money on a Caribbean getaway than on snow boots or a ski jacket. It's hard to look fashionable when your freezing . But I try ... Here are my faves to keep me warm:

UGG wired earmuffs. The pair I received as a holiday gift has a wire that attaches to your iPhone/ iPod. The warmest headphones on the planet!

Aquatalia weather proof boots. I saw a photo of these on Princess Kate (Middleton). They retail about $700.00. Stylish and warm... They are perpetually on my wish list. Sadly, I don't have the budget of a princess....

For half the price I bought a similar pair like these from Canadienne. Water resistant and Good for walking the city streets if you are not a princess!

Shearling gloves. I hated UGGS for years...but nothing is warmer.

Hand and Toe Warmers. For two bucks buy some cheap gloves or wear those fashionable but not lined boots. These mini heat packets warm up when exposed to air. Peel and stick to your socks and your extremities will be toasty warm for hours!

And if all else fails..., call your travel agent!!

Happy New Year....stay warm and fashionable!

Transitional Subway Style

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 23:55:00 +0000

I hate transitions. When seasons change faster than I can rotate my wardrobe I'm thrown for a loop. 50 degrees in the morning yet 78 degrees in the afternoon? Flip flops or boots? Wool or linen? White or Black? Perhaps September is the cruelest month? Deciding what to wear each morning during a transitional month makes me late for work. So I took cues from my fellow subway riders for some ideas. What I love is that a person wearing a $300 shirt rides next to the person wearing $10 shoes . And it all works! Only in New York!

What color to wear? Purple and orange are great for fall! White laces for summer, grey for fall! I thought this was nuts or she was colorblind. But glad to see someone on the subway as equally indecisive as I am!

ORANGE! The perfect transitional bag color into fall. I think I counted 10 orange bags on one subway ride!
Bye bye straw tote!

I LOVE A MAN IN PINK AND IN STARCHED WHITE MONOGRAMMED CUFFS! AND CUFF LINKS!

Got shoes?

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:31:00 +0000

If you know me...you know I love shoes!
I haven't bought a pair for a while (not since my boot shopping spree in the fall). Flip flops are not shoes right? I'm someone who likes to try on shoes, but sometimes great deals can be had on Zappos, Jildor and Piperlime. A running joke with my doorman is I always ask him If I got shoes in the mail package
room. "You got shoes alright! Iss-
shoes!"
So I admit I got issues.., with shoes!
Hence I couldn't help falling in love with this cute whimsical print from J Crew... of what else shoes! How old is too old to wear cute prints? I say If the shoe print fits.. wear it!

Chasing the Blues Away!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:14:00 +0000

It's been a long dreary winter. Spring arrived on March 20th along with rain and snow. I'm tired of winter and my black and grey wardrobe. I have yet to shop for spring clothes let alone do a spring cleaning of my closet. How did I chase the winter blues away?
The first harbinger of spring is the crocus and the robin. So I decided to follow the popular trend and painted my nails robin egg blue. Or is it Tiffany blue? Maybe it's the color of the Caribbean sky I miss?
My friend's 5 year old said it was " off the hook." My husband asked " when's home room?" My best friend wondered if my corporate day job will send me home.
Maybe I'm crazy? Or maybe I just hate winter!
Only if it wasn't OPI gel. My nails will be blue for two weeks! Happy Spring!

Fashionista Office Supplies

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 23:35:00 +0000

I love shopping but not for office supplies. Boring right? So I thought until my trip to Staples today!

If you accessorize your wardrobe why not your desk? I found a shoe tape dispenser, a handbag post-it holder, and a compact post-it dispenser! Oh what fun! Maybe I will even look forward to my day job!

shoe tape dispenser

compact post it holder!

purse post it dispenser

Ooh Baby Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:14:00 +0000

Ooh Baby Baby!

shopping for baby clothes!

I said it once, but will say it again, I'm a bad blogger. A busy day job, a new apartment, social obligations (travel, holidays, weddings) left me with little blogging time. My goal in 2013 (aside from decreasing debt and curtailing shopaholic habits) is to be a better blogger. This bad blogger forgot to mention I have a new baby niece Julia. She is beyond precious. And I discovered buying baby clothes is more fun than buying grown up clothes! Almost addictive, and not cheap! But my niece does her fashionista aunt proud with a wardrobe I wish I could wear. This fall wardrobe courtesy of Baby Gap and Aunt Nicole's Visa! Thank heaven for little girls!

pink heart sweater

match striped pants

a denim jumper. layer a onesie under!

mini skirt, hard to get on and off, but super cute!

baby booties for cuties! faux Uggs=love!

Sample sale mania! Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 04:26:00 +0000

Tis the season. For sample sales. I've been staying away. Still recovering from JCrew spring sale that took YEARS off my life!
That being said I'm on a jewelry kick lately. My former favorite designer Alexis Bittar (a he, by the way) let me down the past few seasons.
A friend bought me earrings a few years ago for a milestone bday and I was addicted. But during the following few seasons I lost interest.
Then come this fall, I fell in love with two pairs of earrings at Bloomingdales and bought them both.
Today I learned Alexis Bittar (www.alexisbittar.com) had a sample sale and ran down to Chelsea to see what I could score. 30 minutes to push and shove and pile gold and silver gems onto my tray. The prices were discounted but still pricey. $290 later I had a gold link necklace, turquoise and crystal earrings and gold link drop gemstone earrings. What gemstone you ask? I have no clue! But I have some cool discounted designer gems and had male sample sale worker tell me how fabulous my earrings were. Bring cash,fortitude, your own mirror (they have none) and a hot cup of Starbucks to splash on your competitors as there are many "one of a kind pieces"you won't want anyone else to take!

FNO or MDNA?

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:51:00 +0000

There are two things I love in life (beside my husband). Shopping and Madonna .
Of course when I was 15, I spent my babysitting money on her first LP "Madonna" and on dozens of rubber bangles. I vowed I would be a material girl!

Fast forward three decades later, I am a self-proclaimed fashionista with a closet full of "material things." Several months ago when Madonna tickets went on sale , I was determined to get them .
And I did. So this Thursday, September 6 , 2012 , I will be one of thousands of fans watching The Material Girl aka Her Madgesty, perform at Yankee Stadium. click to hear new album if you LUV MDNA

What I did not realize however is that Sept 6th, is also Fashions Night Out. Why did I not research this ? Hindsight is 20-20. What to do? click to see if what I may be missing at fashions night out.

Studies have shown that people ultimately value "experiences" rather than material "things" click for study. Contemplating my overstuffed closet, the hours spent obtaining tickets and looking forward to the concert, I decided to forgo the crowds and the temptation to spend money on Fashions Night Out and go to Yankee Stadium instead.

This material girl is hanging up her fashionista uniform and is going to enjoy a night of fun that I already paid for. The Material world will still be there when I get back!

Getting Tanked

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:58:00 +0000

So the lazy hazy days of summer turned me into a very lazy blogger. Actually I haven't been lazy at all, I've been working like a dog and been busy moving. If you are like me and are a shopaholic you probably have a lot of clothes. Moving my clothes was not an easy task. When my husband told me I had to empty my dresser in order for it to be moved, I panicked. But it was now or never. so I started going through my crammed drawers.
I first attacked my tank top drawer . "You have a tank top drawer???" my husband exclaimed. Doesn't everyone?
I have a lot of tanks. Almost too many to count. Cotton tanks, ribbed tanks, concert tanks, workout tanks, sleep tanks in a rainbow of colors.
Why so many tanks? Well like most woman I often focus on my bodily flaws. I don't love my hips or butt. My thighs could use some help. But I will say I have pretty great arms. My sister used to say I had Madonna arms. (that's the ultimate compliment to compare one material girl to another)!
A personal trainer once told me she wished she had my biceps.
If you got it flaunt It. And I guess I did, by buying a ton of tank tops. Tiedye tanks, nautical, monochromatic, my favorite? An edgy blank tank emblazoned with NYC across the chest.
How many tanks do I own? I counted 86. 86 tank tops. Not counting
silk tanks, sequined tanks or camisoles.That's like wearing a different tank every day for almost four months. Too bad summer is only three months.
Do I wear all of the them? Of corse not!
The funny thing is I can't part with most of them. I threw out some ratty ones.I won't be buying any more for maybe 86 months. The best thing? I can almost close my drawer now. Tank God for that!

A TANK TOP TOWER!

Sample Sale Redux

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 03:48:00 +0000

Here I am again.. Amex in tow waiting in a line in the rain to get on another line to get into a sample sale for Diane Von Furstenberg. What us New Yorkers will do for a discounted wrap dress! Never mind one for nearly wholesale.

I love sample sales. Love. In what other city can you get a 400 dollar top designer iconic dress for $150.00?

After being stripped of my coat, my tote, and handbag, permitted only my wallet, I entered the playing field of the NYC's most competitive indoor sport- The Sample Sale. "It's like rugby for females." I always say. "Its kill or be killed."

I see a woman with a pretty pretty dress. I must have it. But she's in the size 10 section. I go to the size 4-6 section, however, her dress is no where to be found.

I find a wrap dress in my size . Pink and blue. Is it last season or this season? Do I even care? Time is ticking away I need to grab the goods before they close. One of the frazzled workers screams out "One half hour left ladies!" galvanizing a mad rush to the dressing room. I find the end of the line only to learn its actually "the middle of the line" and I am rudely directed across the room behind at least 30 other voracious fashionistas.

My hanger gets caught on some aggressive girl's armload of clothing she tugs away so hard I almost topple to the ground! And then she curses me out for slowing her down!!!
The gestapo operate the dressing room. The is no room for me or my clothes. I'm told I have to share space and another sample saler is pushed aside. Once again I get cursed. "15 minutes!" the dressing room warden barks, "You cannot try on things twice! You have no time to look in the mirror."
Mirror? Who the hell can get to a mirror in this fire code violation fashion sparring match?
I grab two dresses, my reflection unseen, and leave $278 dollars poorer. But with two pretty dresses, I emerge victorious. I almost expect a medal with my receipt.
I vow never to put myself in this gruesome situation again, until 2 weeks later when I take my place as person #168 in the J crew sample sale line!

DVF dress the color of the sunset

Vacation: What I Saw, What I Bought, What I Wore.

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:47:00 +0000

Okay, so I know I said no clothes shopping for three months, but taking my first vacation in 13 months (which turned out to be not much of a vacation) was kind of a special occasion. I declared it a fashion emergency and therefore exempt from all rules. OK maybe not all.

Usually I use a vacation as an excuse to buy a new "resort" wardrobe. That includes jewelry, waterproof makeup and expensive sunscreen you can only buy in Sephora. But since I had my "No shopping for 3 months rule" (which I had held myself to, more or less) I had to do things differently. No Expensive Milly cover-ups, no Trina Turk bathing suits, no new wardrobe from my favorite resort store in the world Calypso St Barths. (Thank goodness, I was not going to St Barths, I would have to take out a second mortgage!)

My budget vacation dictated a budget wardrobe. So I shopped my closet, did some laundry and found some very suitable things from last years wardrobe. Like The cover-up I bought in Target, yes, Target) and never wore. I dug out my favorite fit flops (they are exercise sandals for your butt and yes, they really do work). A turquoise and green Lily Pulitzer dress I bought two years ago, which is oh-so-tropical and I ironically still LOVE it!

But I still needed stuff... I mean I can't wear an old stained stretched out bathing suit on the beach can I? So I stuck within a budget of under $200 and bought a few staples at Loft, Gap and shhh... Bloomingdale's

I bought this crazy zebra print bikini by Ralph Lauren for about $110.00 dollars. It's a little wild for me, but wanted to do something different for a change. The model rocks it better than I could, but hey she is a bikini model probably half my age! What do you think?

I bought this tank at the Gap for about ten bucks. I also got one in white because you can never have too many white tank tops (mine usually turn yellow or gray by the end of season).

tangerine

I also bought a sun washed tee from Loft in a tangerine color. It was so summery and reminded me of a color you would find in a sunset. It was not on sale, but so soft and pretty, so for $20.00 I decided to buy it. I wore it to death while on vacation so now it is double sun washed.

Vacation is all about fantasy and excess, and so is shopping for some of us shopaholics, so...

I developed some rules of thumb for vacation shopping .

1. Take Inventory . See what you have before you buy. A trip to the cleaners, a bottle of Tide and some bleach can make last seasons crumpled dingy clothes squashed into a drawer or closet look brand new!

2. If it ain't totally broke (and you are ) it is OK. I thought I needed a new pair of designer sunglasses. My old glasses were slightly scratched and there was a chip on the frame near the hinge . But they worked. To have new glasses tossed around in the sand and on a snorkel boat made no sense, so I made do.

3 . Have a budget and stick to it . I thought $200 for clothes, a bathing suit, sunscreen and waterproof makeup was too little. It was not! I did not even get to wear one of my tank tops .

4. Beg and borrow . During my sunglasses crisis, a friend with a sunglasses "collection" offered me to borrow a pair of her Guccis, Prada ,etc. I didn't, but if you need earrings, a clutch or accessories and can't afford - ask around! This is especially true if you are travelling off season. Your friends will be wearing snow boots while you are on the beach! Borrow their flip flops!

Remember vacation is all is about the experience not your wardrobe! But I wish I had gotten a spray tan...

The Sample Sale Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 03:08:00 +0000

Hello again! Been a bad blogger since I was away on vacation and came back with a bout of bad bronchitis!
So here is a mini mobile blog post...

I remain on my shopping detox although I made a purchase or two for my trip (blog post to follow). Hence,my elation and trepidation when a coworker asked me to go to the sample sale of my favorite outerwear designer Mackage. Never heard of Mackage? They are a Canadian based clothing company (www. Mackage.com) that recently opened a flagship store in Soho. All the great trendy coats with signature leather belts you envy on those NYC fashionista types? Mackage!! Boy do I hate those girls! Why? Because I don't have one! Why don't I have one? Because I am only a faux fashionista who doesn't have $800 to spend on a trendy winter coat. Every time my friend Nina and I would see a girl in one of these coats, we would mutter "bitch!" under our breath!
One time I actually bought a Mackage from Bloomingdales, but returned it because it was ill-fitting and too expensive. (Or so my husband said when he saw the price tag!)
So I go to the sample sale with my friend/coworker,who has a great fashion sense, and already owns a Mackage (by the way she can be a bitch at times but I couldn't classify her as one). There are hundreds of coats. I try on half a dozen! And they are all half price! $360 for an $800 coat!! With fur! I am in love!!! Ok maybe the fur is fake but who cares! For a deep discount, I can be the girl you love to hate! I can be a Mackage bitch!!!
It's a deal of a century! But then I remember... I have no money. I no longer use credit cards and just paid 3K off my Amex bill. I can't afford to be a bitch right now. I fill out a card to win a free coat in their drawing but don't buy a thing. I leave in my tattered old Burberry as the same old sweet girl I was this morning. I passed the Sample Sale Challenge! Spring is here, but there is always next winter!

For the Love of Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:54:00 +0000

Happy February! February is the month of love. I love flowers, chocolate and the fact that winter is half over. But there is nothing I love more than shopping. They say if you you love something set it free, and on January first, that is exactly what I did. I made a resolution not to shop for any new clothes or shoes for THREE months .
Three months may not seem like a long time, but for a fashionista it is an eternity. So how am I coping?

Good question! I am proud to say for that past month and a half I have not bought any clothes or shoes. With the tiny exception (no pun) of a pair of underwear for $3 in an extreme emergency ( I forgot to pack a pair in my gym bag if you must know).

So how does one go three months without shopping for new things? Well I guess I can shop for old things but I hate thrift stores . And someone else's "old thing" would still be "new for me," so that would not count now, would it?

So... I went shopping in the most convenient place of all... my closet! I found some old things that were brand new.With tags! And some in red, just in time for Valentine's day!

Trina Turk Wool Coat

My favorite find, was the holiday present I forgot about. A wool Trina Turk coat in pretty shade of crimson. I love the asymmetrical buttons, the retro collar and the elegant cuffs. Modern meets classic! What a way to brighten up a dreary day!

Trina Turk Mirren Dress

Another great non-shopping find, was something I bought off my fall wish list, during my November shopping spree, also by my favorite west coast designer Trina Turk. The tweed Mirren dress, which was steal on sale. I found this in my closet, still with tags on . A few snips of the scissor followed with pairing of black tights and boots, I walked out the door feeling brand new!
I received five compliments before I even finished pouring my morning coffee at work! And no, I did not style my outfit with the silly beret as I work in NYC, not Paris .

Last, but not least, was a past impulse buy at the DVF sample sale.

Barely breathing in my DVF sample sale dress.

I love the color, also red, a departure from my all black wardrobe. I really like the dress but don't love the fit . Too much holiday indulgence left this a little to snug for work, but it was fine for play. I decided to wear it at to my friend Corina's engagement party. I wish I loved the dress as much as she loves her fiance, but sometimes it's OK to be "in-like" especially if you hate your credit card balances!

If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you are with. And that goes for the clothes and shoes in your closet. Stay tuned for more hidden closet finds, my next wish list, and whether or not I ended up buying vacation clothes!
xoxo
N.

p.s. if you even just "like" my blog, please leave a comment and/or become a follower!

The Future is So Bright -Gotta Wear Shades!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:07:00 +0000

Welcome to another mobile blog post. I have had a lot of issues with this iPhone app so hoping they will upgrade it soon so I can blog more!
So the other day while shopping (for a gift, not for myself) I came across displays in Bloomies for the coming season's Brights. The color of the year Tangerine Tango is cropping up in store windows everywhere.
Kelly Greens, Bright Blues are the new "it colors." But I am not so sure I want to be Spring's "It Girl." Maybe if I lived in LA or Florida, but as a hard core New Yorker I am reluctant to give up the Costume de rigueur of head to toe black. I'm afraid of color like some people are afraid of snakes! Maybe it's because I went to an art school where "goth was the new preppy"? Or is it just functional to wear dark colors when you live in a filthy city? Most definitely wearing all black makes you five pounds thinner! So regardless of what the magazines will be promoting, I'm not buying it, or anything else for that matter as I am committed to my own bright future of not buying new clothes or shoes for the next three months! But I think I may need some new shades( if I were to shop, I would click here), those colors hurt my eyes!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:53:00 +0000

American ~~Express~~ Excess- Dont Leave Home With It .

I have holiday hangover and I am not talking about booze. It was tis the season... to overspend . And overspent I did. It started with Black Friday and ended with one last hurrah of finding the almost perfect new years outfit. (See last post).

Of course I didn't have the cash and since I no longer use credit cards, I put everything on Amex. I would just pay it off at the end of the month. After a plethora of holiday gifts and medical expenses combined with a non-existant Christmas bonus and an insurance check that never materialized,the end of the month came and I could not pay the balance in full .

I longed to be an American Express member since my college days. Maybe it was those celebrity endorsed commercials? Or perhaps the time my college boyfriend took me to a fancy hotel and the condescending clerk suddenly lost his "attitude" when he tossed his Amex onto the counter (he was probably a member since kindergarten, but that's another story). That's when I learned membership has it's privileges .

Post college, my friends began applying for and receiving their own Amex cards, some through their employers, but many held claim to their own "personal card." It was the status symbol of the 90's. So I applied. Not for a gold, not for a platinum, just a measly little green card. A month later, I received a "Dear Nicole" letter that made me cry. They rejected me!

So you can imagine my elation when in 2004, I was finally granted membership into the special Amex club with my very own GOLD card! A gold card would teach me responsibility because unlike a credit card, it is a charge card- you have to pay it off at the end of the month (click to see difference between charge cards and credit cards). And usually I did (or at least within the grace period) .

The privileges of membership? My sister booked a trip to China on the Amex points she racked up. Another friend paid for her honeymoon with points alone! But they don't treat you as privileged when your bill is late! I put everything on Amex. The dry cleaner, my gym membership dues, tomatoes. Yes tomatoes. They can be expensive. I pay a hefty annual fee in exchange to show off my shiny gold card and collect "points." I am saving up for a trip to The Amalfi Coast!

I put so much on my Amex this past season, the Huffington Post even wrote about it in a story about shopaholics click for article. Then, on December 31st, somewhere in my stack of holiday cards I noticed a letter from Amex. And no it was not a discount to the Amalfi Coast! They said my bill was overdue and they threatened to contact the credit bureaus!

Now for a shopaholic, my credit is pretty good . Why? Because I pay my bills. On time. Almost always. So I freaked out and called customer service. I spoke to a young man named Jared, who was probably VPO (very pissed off) he had to work on a holiday. I was sweet and friendly. He was not. I soon learned that if you play hardball with your Amex, they play hardball back. I explained my predicament: no Christmas bonus this year, an insurance claim that never paid, a Diane Von Furstenberg sample sale (okay, I left out the sample sale). All Jared wanted to know is "Can you pay this bill? Yes or No?" My answer was yes, but not right now. I somehow managed to channel the "holiday spirit" and flirt my way into a payment plan. I was assured my credit score would not be adversely affected.

So three incremental payments later, I paid off a third of my bill on the schedule Amex set up for me . So you can imagine my surprise while getting a pedicure last week at Zen Spa in NYC, my cell phone rings. It was Amex demanding full payment! Talk about ruining my zen! How did these guys even get my cell number? How did I know it was not some scam artist asking for my bank routing number? Yesterday, Amex called my house, threatening my spouse's credit score, even though we do not share an account and our finances (including our tax returns) are managed separately! I also learned that over 15,000 points I had earned over the past 7 years had been frozen because I may have been several days late on past payments! Can I get them back? Sure if I pay a fee of several HUNDRED dollars! Being a member of this club is not all it is cracked up to be. Amex demanded that my friend , who never had a late payment and paid his balance in FULL EVERY MONTH, produce several years of tax returns to prove he can justify his AMEX spending! Is not religiously paying your bill in full enough? We are not the only ones disgusted.( click here for consumer complaints)!

So I am starting to think maybe I am allergic to plastic and maybe the club I wanted so badly to be a part of, is not all that, (sort of like my ex-college boyfriend with his very own Amex card). My number one New Years Resolution? Pay off my Amex card and never use it again! Unless of course there is an emergency...or a sample sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:49:00 +0000

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/3397879/the-faux-fashionista-diary-of-a-shopah?claim=p6d9z8ktpmm">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

One Last (Shopping) Hurrah!

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:02:00 +0000

2011 was quite the year. I came out to the world as a closet shopaholic (no pun) and made a resolution to stop using my credit cards. If you have been reading my posts however, you probably learned I did stop using my credit cards (it will be one year on January 26!) but did not stop shopping. Stopping shopping, is akin to stopping breathing, for me at least.

What I did learn in 2011 is that even if you pay cash, or use a charge card like Amex, it is still quite difficult to pay down your debt. Especially if if your cash flow is being diverted through the retail flood gates of Madison and Fifth Avenues. Hence, as we welcome 2012, I resolve not only to continue on my credit card ban, but to stop shopping and commit to not buying any new clothes for three months! That may not seem like a long time, but for a shopaholic/fashionista it is an eternity.

That being said, how did I end 2011? With a shopping spree!
With the clock rapidly ticking and New Years Eve celebration just hours away. I hit the stores hard. And they hit back even harder . Even with the after Christmas sales, I learned that ANYTHING sparkly was marked UP not down.

My dilemma was that I was going to a nice restaurant for dinner, but then to Times Square to watch the ball drop. Born and raised in NYC, I have only seen this spectacular event on TV. The challenge was how to look fashionable at dinner, yet stay warm and comfortable standing on my feet for several hours. I had bought a J Crew sequin tank on sale, but did not have a suitable bottom (no pun, once again). One friend advised me that you can't wear sparkly on top and on bottom, because it becomes a clash of the sequins! I was also informed sequins make your ass look ten pounds heavier. I was about to give up when I was saved by the Japanese... who can miraculously combine fashion with technology.

I found a great dress by Tashishi Shoji. With ruching across the bodice,sheer sleeves and sequin detailing, it was sophisticated,sexy and sparkly!
And it was on sale! At 40% off from $345, it totalled, well... who had time for math? It was on sale!
To stay warm I turned to my favorite fashion invention, the Japanese brand Uniqlo's Heat Tech line which is super thin microfiber that retains heat sans bulk. I layered a tank underneath my dress and layered Heat Tech socks over my tights then finished styling with a pair of last years Cole Hahn boots . No peep toe stilettos on this night. I was going all for the Nike Air technology!

I then hit the Chanel counter. Can they do my makeup? The associate laughed at me."Do you know night this is?" she asked.

Me in Tadashi Shoji and Laila Rowe!

She helped me pick a new lipstick and gloss and sold me a concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes, I mean the night had not started, and I already looked exhausted! What is a girl to do?
Then off to my hair at Frederick Fekkai. Michael, a brilliant stylist made me look like a million bucks .It also cost me nearly that! I almost forgot- I needed accessories!
Accessories? I had no money left.
So, I was off to Laila Rowe for cheap jewelry. Yep Laila Rowe. I don't shop there. Really, I don't. But with a near zero bank balance, I wasn't exactly marching to Harry Winston!
I bought a set of sparkly bangles and a pair of earrings for $20 total that were too cute!
My total for the last night of 2011 was close to $400 including tax and tip and a lip gloss application.And this is with wearing last years shoes!! Was it worth it?

For the first time in my life, I experienced Times Square on New Years Eve, rocking away to Lady GaGa and feeling that NYC energy turned up to a volume I never knew existed. Words cannot describe what it was like to be in the center of the universe when the Waterford Crystal Ball descended at midnight. The experience, however, was more about the people and places, not the price tag of my outfit!

Yes I watched the ball drop, but when it came to spending , I was the one who "dropped the ball." Another lesson learned. Here's to a Happy Healthy 2012, and all my NEW resolutions!

Some of My Favorite Things..More Gift Ideas.

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:20:00 +0000

So the holidays are here, and it's no joke, I'm broke. Not much in my gift budget this year, but I decided to post some of my favorite (and maybe not so favorite, but unique) gift ideas, that won't break the bank . A continuation of my last post, as I aspire to keep my blog posts short and sweet.

Sephora Emergency Kit

For your favorite girlfriend: because a friend in need is a friend indeed!

Ever have one of those days where you get a run in your stocking, lose your earring back and your nail breaks on the same day you run into your ex-boyfriend ? This gift is one of my favorite picks of the season. Found at Sephora, it is an emergency kit by Mr. and Mrs. click here. This cute little silver pouch contains an emery board, a tampon (for your other "friend"), a nail polish remover pad, double sided tape (for loose hems), dental floss, fresh breath drops, Advil, and
other emergency essentials.

The best thing about it is smaller and weighs less than an iPhone. The price? Only thirteen dollars!!! The problem is I want to buy ten of them!

Texting Gloves

Speaking of iPhones, I can't live without mine. I love to text but not in the cold. And did you ever try to use your Rue La La app with frozen fingers? Thankfully someone invented texting gloves. I bought myself a pair from Echo in RED and LOVE them!! They have some sort of metallic fabric tip at the finger and thumb. The weather outside may be frightful but you will never miss a text, email or sale again , available at Zappos (click here) Lord and Taylor , Bloomingdales and other department stores. Prices range from $23-$48 depending on style . Look for sales!

The Sweet Smell of Perfume

Did you ever get on the train only to realize you are standing next to someone who smells like Febreeze? An even worse scenario is sitting next to the coworker, who at the end of the day, in preparation for her date, sprays an obnoxious amount perfume across three cubicles that smells like Glade. Have no fear , because I found the perfect gift to save your senses and perhaps her social life. My favorite designer Tocca, also makes some delicious perfumes. I never know which one to buy, but now they have little samples of each, with names like Cleopatra and Colette, who can go wrong? Gosh , I wish there a scratch and sniff blog post!

See good things come in small packages and it is only $18.00! Click here for site!

And last but not least.....For the pre-teen who has everything...

The Justin Beiber Singing Toothbrush

I could not make this up if I tried. You have your choice of two Justin Beiber song options on this singing toothbrush which play for two minutes, the recommended brushing time by the ADA. (click here if you don't believe me)

Because it is only fifteen bucks and when you smile, Justin smiles! Or so the lyrics say.Then again, there is always the ubiquitous gift card!

Happy Holidays to all my fellow faux fashionistas!

Very odd gifts for the ones who have everything

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:11:00 +0000

Happy Holidays! This is my first mobile blog post, I do apologize in advance for the formatting or lack thereof. I have gotten positive feedback on my blog with the caveat I don't post frequently enough. Hence the Blogger app! Hail the iPhone!

So I started my holiday shopping. Start is the operative word. The challenge a shopaholic faces while Christmas shopping is that during the process of searching for the perfect gift for your sister, best friend,etc it is inevitable that you find the perfect item for,yep, yourself .
On my list: Italian boots, 2 Milly dresses , 2 Trina Turk outfits . And that was just for me! It's hard to shop for other people because if you like to shop, you put a lot of thought into your purchases. But in my trials and travails of holiday shopping this is some odd stuff I found:

For the pampered pet:
What do you do when you can't keep Fido or Fluffy off your beautiful
new sofa? Don't let what happened to me happen to you. Our kitty turned our brand new Mitchell Gold Sofa into a four thousand dollar scratching post! The solution is simple:
A leather couch for your pet! I saw this at Home Goods.(click here for more ideas) For the pet that deserves the ultimate in luxury!

The next gift on my list is for the whiskey lover. Got ice? No ice? No problem! Try Whiskey Stones.
Made of soapstone, they will keep your drink cold. Just pop in the freezer for an hour or two. No more watered down whiskey! Available at www.thinkgeek.com

Another funky gift? Something legal to get the stoner in your life? How
About some smoking buds? That's right! As in ear buds. Something to help you get comfortably numb! At WWW.BESTBUY.COM

So there you have it. Some funky gift ideas from my first mobile post! Happy shopping!

Black Friday , Fuschia Thursdays ,Cyber Mondays..Succumbing to the Sales or Not?

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:30:00 +0000

Tis the Season. It used to begin the day after Thanksgiving. You put up your tree, holiday decorations miraculously appear in the department stores, and the 5th Avenue windows are resplendent in all their Christmas glitter and glory. All before you can even digest your turkey and unbutton your pants.

But what truly mark the beginning of the holiday season are the mega sales on Black Friday.

The term originally was coined because the retailers make up for lost revenue with the onset of Christmas shopping by discounting prices for the early bird shoppers and are “back in black". What is a shopaholic to do? Luckily, I shop all year long. Black Friday is really not a trigger for me as it is not worth my time and effort. My favorite time to shop is a weekday, when I have an entire store and their staff all to myself.

Plus reading stories about people, who bring pepper spray to Wal-Mart to keep away the crowds from their coveted items, really scares me. (click here for story). Not that I shop at Wal-Mart, but it makes me wonder if shoppers at Bloomies carry Tasers to guard against the last Chloe Bag in this year’s color?

I recently learned, however, Black Friday no longer begins on Friday. It begins on the day before Thanksgiving. At least on-line. “Fuchsia Thursday” my email read. "Beat the rush... 20% off, but only till midnight." The Wednesday edition of the NY Post had an insert on how to navigate black Friday, by on-line sites, early opening specials, discount codes and neighborhood!

Seriously when did you have to take a course on how to shop?

Maybe I don’t want to be trampled to death in a sale … but to shop and get an early discount from the comfort of my own home on Thanksgiving, while my pants are unbuttoned? The temptation was greater than that pumpkin pie! I mean there is nothing worse in my opinion than fighting with others of over the last large size pair of skinny jeans. (Yes, I ate too much pumpkin pie, this year, so sue me).

The family was saying grace and I was shopping! With my smart phone under the table during the meal, I filled my shopping bag with coveted items; Anthropologie had 40% off, on the very items on my fall wish list in my last post! Trina Turk – had 20% off the dress I loved, finally in my size! And Milly, don’t even go there…

When I got to my desktop and went to submit my order Black Friday Eve (formerly known as Thanksgiving Night), my bag was empty. Everything was out of stock! I lost out on the sales. Except for one. Bloomingdales offered 25-40% off select items and had some good deals. Not great but good. Not good enough I say…until I saw an early bird email with a special code that allowed an extra 25% of the sale prices IF YOU SHOP BEFORE 4 AM. Online!!!

I’m a night owl; I would rather stay up all night than get up at dawn, even to shop! No sleep tonight!

There I was, at the stroke of midnight, on Black Friday, seduced by sales and a tall dark smooth Italian pair of boots for 50% off. No lines, no broken ribs, no pepper spray. Just one click and Salvatore Ferragamo was on his way to my house! I literally saved hundreds of dollars. My husband however would argue that when you spend ANY money you are not saving anything because you spent it. Ah, the philosophy of shopping.

Friday is when the big box stores cash in. I however got to sleep in! Having spent all my cash on Friday, I had none left for Small Business Saturday, where consumers are encouraged to support local small stores, (which is where I did all of my Christmas shopping last year). Now I am obsessing if even better deals are to be had on Cyber Monday…which is tomorrow.

You know I‘ll be checking my emails to see how much I can really save -or is it spend? Happy Holiday Shopping to all!

My Fall Wish List - What to buy and why.

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:17:00 +0000

If you read my Madonna post from last fall... you will remember, I am a summer person. I despise the fall and wear my summer clothes for as long as possible. I mean you practically have to pry my flip flops off my feet with a crowbar.
So this year, when fall snuck up on us Easterners in early September, I was not prepared. Linen dresses sans tights with my beloved sandals did not serve any purpose, aside from causing me to catch a dreadful cold . Hence with a closet full of enough summer stuff to live in a tropical climate year round, I realized I needed to make a list of items I need, or should I say want that are within my budget. sort of...

The Bag

I am still wearing my white summer bag. My black Marc Jacobs circa 2009 is in need of repair . But to find a stylish yet affordable bag is hard. But I think this one from the Michael line of Michael Kors is perfect at a good price. It is roomy without being overwhelmingly large..click here- Jet Set Chain Bag

The Dress

I love dresses . I recently counted how many I own and was shocked . But the answer will be the subject of my my next post. There are so many I love this season, all not within my budget. But I am chanting for a sale to come soon!

Trina Turk Mirren Dress

my favorite is this Mirren Belted Dress from L.A. Designer Trina Turk . This is in charcoal . I prefer camel which is found in this :link. I would lose the beret unless the husband takes me to Paris for weekend .

Milly Cristina Toggle Shift Dress

My ultimate favorite dress designer is Michelle Smith , founder of Milly. Somehow she combines timeless classic elegance with a modern twist. Every time I wear Milly I get a compliment . Need I say more? (to see the collection click here)

DVF Alexandria Knit Sleeveless Dress

Diane von Furstenberg. anything she designs is on my list. As long as I can squeeze into it . The red can brighten my mood on a dark dismal day. click only if there is money in your bank account

This is a slightly more affordable option . I love it , the front is plain , but I am enamoured with the detailing in the back. Alas ,still not in my budget. I will be stalking those sales...This can be found at Anthropologie. (click here) . And guess what I majored in in college? Anthropology! click here..to go to site

Sweaters ... if you must

Thousand Carat Pullover

...

Some people love "sweater weather" not me. But if I am forced to bundle up, this cute sweater, also from Anthropologie, is a good transition piece. Light and airy, it is perfect for early fall days, but is whisper thin wool pointelle. I like the orange autumnal color, but it also comes in green or cream and has a back zipper. It was on sale but I did not buy it.. sigh

Burberry Sweater

I saw this in the window of the new Burberry Store on the Upper West Side of NYC. I was scared to ask how much. but I took a photo with my iphone, so I can keep on looking at it .So what if it is not on my body?My guess is about $500, but if is not made of acrylic, I would say a least a grand.

Last but not least ..BOOTS

I am still paying off my three pairs from last year. But I am coveting something with a chunky heel.

prada boots

I love this from Prada , but can't spend two weeks of pay. so looking for a knock off . like theese from Stuart Weitzman which would set me back , just a week and a half's salary! Only kidding!-not buying them..unless they go on sale!

Looking for feedback and links to knockoffs of my coveted items! Stay tuned for next blog posts when I reveal how many dresses I own and disclose what I actuaklly purchased this fall..if anything!

Share my blog!!!!

The Faux Fashionista- Diary of of Shopaholic: Fashions Night Out, New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:20:00 +0000

The Faux Fashionista- Diary of of Shopaholic: Fashions Night Out, New York City: Fashions Night Out in NYC is a local shopping event held in NYC to kick off fashion week. Stores entice aspiring fashionistas to view their...

Fashions Night Out, New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:15:00 +0000

Fashions Night Out in NYC is a local shopping event held in NYC to kick off fashion week. Stores entice aspiring fashionistas to view their collections, by providing free drinks, yummy snacks, and limited edition items while DJ’s spin the latest tunes. Best of all, you have an opportunity to meet the designers themselves and even the celebrities they dress!

It’s a shopaholics dream, or a nightmare, if you are a shopaholic who is trying to stop shopping. Devastated that I missed last year’s event I was faced with a dilemma. On Fashions Night Out – do I stay in once again, or do I go out? (click here to learn more about the event).

It happens once a year, and it was my only chance to mix with the real fashionistas. So I accepted an invite from my best friend and her sister, and armed with my Amex and debit card … this uptown girl headed to a remote fashion haven otherwise known as “Downtown.”

Live Mannequin at Calvin Klein

SoHo once known for starving artists and galleries is now like a mini Madison Avenue for the international set and the fashion savvy. There were so many stores, so much to do and such little time! Where to begin? Did we want free booze, and tasty treats? Or were we more interested in celebrity sightings?

The streets looked like a Sex and the City casting call. Never had I seen never saw so many tall, beautiful and stylish women before. Everyone looked like models. Then I realized…they were models! My first experience of FNO was the Calvin Klein store where window mannequins displayed Calvin Klein underwear. Except the mannequins were live. That’s right; the store had living breathing, perfect human specimens, ABSENT OF BODY FAT, modeling UNDERWEAR! Right in the window! Who needs to go inside? The store was empty. The sidewalk was packed. I vowed never to eat a carb again.

My first actual stop was the DVF store. Diane Von Furstenberg, herself, was there, looking even more elegant and stunning in person than she does in photos, to launch her new line of perfume called Diane. Photographers took paparazzi like photos of the shoppers on a “virtual red carpet” (I did not want to wait in line). I enjoyed some very delicious champagne and sample hors d'oeuvres served by pretty boys in-between modeling gigs. I have to say I love love, love her fall line. Mohair dresses, jeweled tone colors, famous prints, all were to die for.(click here). Despite the fact I purposely wore a vintage wrap dress, I sadly did not get to meet my fashion icon, because of yep, long lines. Hence, the life of a New Yorker facing the city's ferocious fashion crowds.

Across the street at Betsy Johnson – girls were dancing in the windows, bartenders were pouring some bubblegum colored champagne drink and the dance music was spinning. Stylists were on site to curl and style your hair . They were also offering free makeovers with any purchase, and were giving away Yoplait yogurt. Yogurt? Not sure what that was about, but my friend Karen was happy to get one for free! I passed on the makeover, because I don’t think a woman of a certain age should experiment with electric blue eyeliner, but hey- that’s just me. We soon realized we were in the wrong demographic .and headed to our next stop.

My absolute highlight of the night was the Ralph Lauren Polo, store. I fell in love with some beautiful rain boots, which I would have bought had the tag not read $400. Perhaps rubber is worth more pound for pound than gold these days? What do I know?

That is where I met Nacho Figueras, the Argentinian polo player, who is the face of the Polo ad campaign (click but you may not want to click back ). Seriously, if he is not the most handsome man on the planet I don’t know who is. Even the free Pinot Blanc however, could not help me gather enough courage to ask him for a photo. A fellow fashionista saw my hesitation, and asked if he would take a photo with me. That is when this hard core New Yorker let her guard down and handed my brand new iPhone to a perfect stranger, who agreed to snap a pic. In retrospect, I really wish I had that makeover. And maybe even plastic surgery to make me look like Brooklyn Decker. Not only is Nacho gorgeous, he is genuinely nice. I told him he is my favorite polo player in the world, because he is. So what if he is the only polo player I know? Now I can die happy.

Me and Nacho Figueras

Dr. Ruth at Taschen

Next was the Taschen store; where the art of the book is curated within retail setting.(click here for the coolest art books ever) Upon entering, we were asked to sign a waiver, as a segment was being filmed for the television show of interior designer Nate Berkus. Nate was charming and friendly, as was his latest client and guest of honor,sex therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Free drinks and free sex advice all in the same place.

At Burberry there was a lot of loud music and a crowd so dense you could not even tell you were in a retail store! The party atmosphere was in high gear and there was more free champagne to go around! But tired , buzzed and hungry , we left as the party was just getting started, as tomorrow was a work day.

At Burberry party. I love this pic because I appear as blurry as my vision was...

We grabbed diner at a typical downtown trendy restaurant, where the service and cuisine were lacking in every aspect , but you pay for the privilege of being there. The price was right, because we did not have to pay for any more booze. My Amex and debit card went untouched and my expensive shopping night out, only cost me about $30.00! Talk about having fun with no money. Of course, my wish list for the upcoming season is longer than a six- year-old’s to Santa. But that will be in my next post. I’m off to count shoes, dresses, and let’s not forget it’s time to bring out those tights!

Let’s Make a Deal! The Real Scoop on Groupon and other Online Discount Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Nikki B) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 03:41:00 +0000

Let’s Make a Deal! The Real Scoop on Groupon and other Online Discount Sites

My Friend Sara just told me about a great deal she found on Groupon. Online discount or deal sites have been cropping up on the internet like weeds. Groupon(Click here non-shopaholics). and Living Social (click here), are the most popular, followed by Daily Candy Deals, Bloomspot and Gilt City. Even my favorite sample sale site Rue La La(only the brave click here) now has “local picks.” Facebook apparently is not far behind and is soon to start their own daily deals.

You may have seen the commercials for some of these sites. “Skydiving usually $150, now only $75 for two!” “Romantic Seaside Dinner for Two –just $50! “ You can get great deals, on great experiences for only a fraction of the price! So what’s the problem, you ask? There is no problem. There are lots of problems!

Take my friend Sara, for example. I wouldn’t say she is a type A personality. She is a type A + personality. So you can imagine my surprise when she told me that her deal consisted of a 5 pack of Yoga Classes. Sara and Yoga? A Zen moment for my dear friend entails drinking a cup of coffee and smoking a cigarette, while simultaneously sending an email on her Blackberry, as her iPad is powering ON. Seriously, I am not so sure she realizes that she cannot bring personal electronic devices into the Yoga studio

Yes, yoga is great for stress and anxiety, but only if you actually GO to the classes

This brings me to the first issue with these “deals.” Many times the bargains are time limited. You may receive your email voucher for the service you purchased in early July, only to realize that it expires on August first! You better find that motivation, to get to your yoga class, Pilates session or sky diving lesson A.s.a.p. Because if you snooze, you lose, both your money and your experience! Not such a great deal is it?

It is also important to read the fine print. That romantic dinner for two in City Island on the water, may only be valid on Monday nights after 9pm. How romantic is it to drag yourself out after a manic Monday at work, and have your meatballs show up at 10:00 pm in an empty skeleton staffed restaurant?

Not wanting to miss out on all the great deals out there my friends were enjoying, I recently jumped on the Groupon/Living Social / Deal of the Day bandwagon. Since the deals are fleeting (usually available for only 24 hours) I dug out my Gold Card and charged ahead. It’s now or never-my deals can’t wait!

I loved what I found. Spa Treatments! A juice cleanse (the perfect way to jump start a diet for summer)! A river cruise! Before I knew it, I purchased $500 of future opportunities in less than 2 weeks!

That was back in June. Now I find myself in August, calendar in one hand, Amex bill in another, trying to figure out how to schedule it all before the expiration dates take effect. I basically had less than two weeks complete a 3 day juice fast, get a massage at a luxury spa, take a ride on a Schooner and gather up the courage for a Brazilian wax at 50% off (no pun intended). Talk about stress! Do I invite Svetlana the waxer and Brando the masseuse to drink spinach juice with me on the boat? Do I call in sick to get a massage? Can you say stress? Maybe I am the one who needs yoga now?

Issue number three: unlike regular services, “deals” require vouchers, usually sent to you via e-mail. Emails get lost, or deleted. I purchased a beer and cheese tasting Hudson River Schooner Cruise for my husband’s birthday. He loves beer. I like cheese. It sounded dreamy! My dream however turned into a nightmare when I realized on the day of the event I had accidentally deleted the voucher! My husband’s romantic present was lost in cyberspace forever! I spent nearly two hours searching Hotmail through my deleted trash items , emailing Rue La La customer service, and manically dialing an 800 number trying to get a “live English-speaking concierge” to help me. (FYI, Rue La La has excellent customer service; Matt somewhere in the Midwest gladly reissued my voucher and calmed my hysteria).

fish tank design by Aquarius Aquariums NYC

The cruise turned out to be lovely, despite the fact I had spent the previous three days imbibing liquefied kale as part of my juice cleanse. For the record you do not want go on a boat during a “cleanse.” When the captain said there was no “head” on the boat, I though he meant the stern. He was actually referring to the bathroom! And the consequences of breaking a three day juice fast, with beer and cheese? You don’t want to know!

So the moral is read the fine print, don’t purchase things you normally would not and keep your calendars open, because often what lies beneath the thin veil of a great deal is a dud in disguise.