Shop-O-Matic

Great buys at DSW Shoe Warehouse

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:05:17 -0500

Sometimes great shopping tips come from the most unexpected places. My friend, Paul, who doesn't consider himself a "shopper" gave me a blog worthy tip. He found a pair of sneakers and a pair of work shoes for a total of $62!

But the ultimate tipster was his dad, who is also not a "shopper." Dad was in the Palm Beach Mall and discovered a great sale at DSW Shoe Warehouse because this branch was going out of business.

Paul, who had bought a pair of basketball shoes at another store for $32, found a comparable brand for about $22 that were originally $35. He also found a pair of work shoes that were originally marked $69.95 for about $39. The receipt said he saved $115 over what he might have paid in another store. Women's shoes are also on sale.

DSW Shoe Warehouse is located at the Palm Beach Mall, 1801 Palm Beach Lake Blvd #272A, West Palm Beach, 561-478-1332. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. See www.dsw.com

There's no closing date, but a customer service reprsentative said the store might be closed by the end of the month. Better hurry!

Bravo, Paul. Thanks for the tip. By the way, he returned the first pair of regular price sneakers.

-- XOXO Shopper Girl

Sayonara Angsana: 75 percent off Asian furnishings

Mon, 12 May 2008 11:25:39 -0500

If you haven't gone to Angsana's "going out of business" sale yet, better hurry. The stylish store, which features Asian home furnishings, accessories and gifts, will close its doors on Saturday, May 17.

Prices are now rock bottom -- with 75 percent off of everything. Even the fixtures are for sale. Some of the bargains include: silk boxes from Thailand, $2 and $3; Wayang Golek puppets from Indonesia (in picture at right), which were $75, now $18.75; a trio of mesh round baskets, which were $40, now $10; and a room divider with horizontal pieces of bamboo hung on a frame, which was $445, now $111. And there are still plenty of Buddhas, tables, chairs and other items left.

This is another closing that breaks my heart. Angsana was always one of my favorite stores because owner Michael Lipkowitz is a master at finding unusual and handmade pieces from his travels to Southeast Asia and Indonesia. He located just south of Swinton Avenue in a house because rents on Atlantic Avenue got too high. But, after he moved, the economy stalled.

"We just can't stay open," he said. "Everyone is hurting. No one has any money to spend any more." Lipkowitz said he is going to concentrate on his interior design business.

Angsana is located at 20 S. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; 561-330- 6676; angsanaimports.com. Hours are 11a.m.-6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

XOXO--- Shopper Girl

Ideas for your Ikeas

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:34:41 -0500

Many folks who have been Ikea fans for years know that once the fabric starts to look old and worn, they can get slipcovers to create a new look especially made for their furniture at bemz.com. But here's the dish for those of you who had your first experience recently at Ikea in Sunrise.

Bemz is the brainchild of Lesley Pennington, a Canadian and former Apple marketing guru. The latest Bemz approach to selecting slipcovers lets you see them in home settings and visualize how they could look with other furnishings in the room.

"Some people find it easier to visualize how a new fabric will work in their living room when they see it in the context of a real living environment that is evocative of their own style," Pennington says.

Categories include Bohemian Chic, Country Romance, Downtown, Nordic Home, Playground and Swedish Grace. One of the cool online features allows you to drag and drop different fabrics to create your own custom look.

The slipcovers fit all Ikea furniture, including lines that have been discontinued. Covers are washable and treated to reduce shrinkage. And you can order fabric swatches to help you make a decision. Prices start at $43 for the Ikea PS chair.

For more information, see bemz.com.

XOXO-Shopper Girl

Short-sleeved sweaters

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:13:43 -0500

Just when I gave up and sent my mother a gift card from Kohl's for Mother's Day, I find what I've been looking for: short-sleeved sweaters from Talbots -- 25 percent off two or more.

My mother, like a lot of women of a certain age, doesn't like to wear sleeveless tops or sweaters. But try to find a cardigan and short-sleeved matching sweater. It doesn't exist!

Talbots has a nice selection with different necklines. I like the V-necked, $58, and cap-sleeved sweaters, $38. There's a wide choice of colors.

Has anybody found short-sleeved sweaters they like elsewhere? Let me know. Mom's birthday is coming up as well -- Marcia Heroux Pounds

Get thee to Steve & Barry's

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:10:37 -0500

Looking back at your retail shopping experiences, are there highlights?

First time winding yourself through the rooms at Ikea? Ever been to a Trader Joe’s? Or what about the Gap back in the day when they sold classically cut, moderately priced, decent quality clothing?

Last weekend, I had another “important” retail experience. And not because I left with bags full of clothing.

I finally made it to the low-priced fashion outlet known as Steve & Barry’s on 163rd Street in North Miami Beach, which opened last December. Right now, everything in the store is $8.98 or less.

The fully lined navy blue pea coat is $8.98. The Ben Wallace sneakers are $8.98. The message T-shirts emblazoned with everything from the Ford Motor Company logo to the University of Miami are $8.98. The all-cotton button-down collar shirts are $8.98. The EleVen line by Venus Williams is $8.98.

Obviously, we’re not talking top quality, but has anyone noticed that quality is more or less a thing of the past when it comes to clothing? Put this place on your list of retail field trips if you’re outfitting teenagers. Heck, moms might even leave with a piece from the Sarah Jessica Parker designed BITTEN line. I left with a pair of black pants and a shirt.

All for less than $20. Unbelievable.

Mother's Day Gifts: A (gift) basket of love

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:00:58 -0500

Is your mom hard to buy for? Mine sure was. And the gift card cop out isn't something you can do for mom with good conscience.

One cool alternative is a gift basket geared to her interests.

Have a gourmet mom? How about a gift basket filled with crackers, cheese, biscuits, nuts, dipping oil, bruschetta bites, sweet pears, chocolate covered grapes, wine wafers and a bottle of wine? The price? $125.

Or does your busy mom just need a push to relax? Get her a gift basket filled with bath soaps, body lotion, a body brush, shower mitt, scented candle, tea and cookies? The price? $55.

Check out these and more at bocagiftbaskets.com. Boca Gifts Baskets is located at 940 Clint Moore Road, Boca Raton, 561-994-8495.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

Who has better trash -- Britney Spears or Paris Hilton?

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:05:34 -0500

Celebrity worship has gone too far. Even for shoppers who will buy anything.

This just in: Items from the trash can of Britney Spears are up for bid on eBay. When we checked a few minutes ago, the bid was $117.49 with three days to go.

The trashy stuff includes an Ed Hardy thong (size small), fan mail, a receipt for the Hustler store, a dog leash and a discarded toothbrush.

The trash collectors are the folks at HollywoodStartrash.com. If you are really starstruck, you can watch the mask-wearing dumpster divers m on the Website collecting the trash.

These are the same guys who dove into trash of other celebs such as Paris Hilton, Jennifer Gardner, John Travolta, Ben Affleck, Jim Carrey and Nicole Richie. An email from these folks claims that a piece of used floss found in the trash outside Paris Hilton's Hollywood home sold for $1,000 to GoldenPalace.com last year.

Also up for auction on Ebay.com is an entire bag of Paris Hilton's trash. The last bid was $50 with three days to go.

What do you think out there in blogland? Is this sick or slick? I vote for sick.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

Ford model shops vintage

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:30:20 -0500

We girls just love to shop, don't we? But gas and food are eating into disposable income.

Well, if your budget is tight, get some vicarious shopping through this video.

An aspiring Ford model, Desiree, and her friend shop vintage at Zachary's MIle in Soho.

Even a fashionista can learn something. Did you know that anything before 1980 is considered vintage? News to me.

Enjoy!

-- XOXO Shopper Girl

Great sunglasses with a Celtic touch and star power

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:45:09 -0500

These are really cool looking sunglasses -- for you or your mom.

Designer Edward Beiner, a native Brazilian, says he was inspired by Steve McQueen, Elvis, Audrey Hephurn, the sunny skies of Miami and Celtic designs for his new eyewear collection.

Beiner, who has lived in SoFla more than 20 years, is considered a design guru to stars such as Lindsay Lohan, Thalia, Alicia Keys, Gloria Estefan, Shaq, Jennifer Lopez and Sarah, the Duchess of York. But you don't have to be a star to afford his cool shades. They sell for $380. For more, see edwardbeiner.com.

The latest in his nine SoFla shops is at The Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens.

Love them. Too bad my birthday has already passed. Hint. Hint.

XOXO -- Shopper Girl

Slippers for the politico

Thu, 01 May 2008 16:13:45 -0500

This item comes from our friends at the Los Angeles Times:

Because of its relatively short shelf life, much campaign-season politico-wear tends toward the down-market (“Babies for Obama” onesies, Clinton belt buckles, McCain zip-front hoodies).
But Stubbs & Wootton, the Palm Beach, Fla., purveyor of upscale slippers, took the race-for-the-White-House wardrobe a step in the luxe direction with a presidential-looking version of its classic black velvet slip-on.

Available in men’s ($395) and women’s ($350) at Stubbsandwootton.com, the tuxedo-worthy footwear is embroidered with a silhouette of either the Republican elephant or Democrat donkey in gold metallic thread (or split the ticket with one of each).



-- K.V.W.

Is Mom a fan of healthy food or Hungry Girl? We've got the gift for her

Thu, 01 May 2008 16:04:25 -0500

Here's an item from our sister blog The Skinny:

Is your mom or wife a fan of all things healthy? Vitalicious has a Mother's Day gift for you. It's their Mother's Day Vita Baking Gift of Health basket, which contains all four 100-calorie VitaMix varieties (Vita Brownie, Blue Bran, Banana Nut & Deep Chocolate) and a VitaTop non-stick silicone baking pan plus the book: Hungry Girl: Recipes & Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World. The whole deal is wrapped in a gift basket with a greeting card and is $36.99, plus shipping.

Check out the deal HERE.

A poll for Mother's Day!

Thu, 01 May 2008 11:57:58 -0500

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Win $25,000 in home furnishings

Thu, 01 May 2008 11:05:37 -0500

Want to redecorate, but running out of money to do it?

Ballard Designs, the home decor catalog that offers designer looks at reasonable prices, is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a contest that could earn you a $25,000 shopping spree and a free design consultation with Ballard’s vice president of merchandising and a senior editor for Southern Accents magazine.

Enter the sweepstakes by visiting Ballard’s Web site at ballarddesigns.com and entering your contact information. You also have the option to participate in a quiz to determine your decorating style — Traditional, Sophisticated or Bohemian.

There will be one grand-prize winner and 250 instant winners, who will get Ballard Designs tote bags. Cool, isn't it?
XOXO-- Shopper Girl

Victoria on a cruise

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:30:26 -0500

I stopped shopping at Victoria’s Secret when I walked into the store and found everything designed for teen-agers. What grown woman wants to wear something stamped with “Love Victoria”?

But, occasionally, in their online store, you can find real bargains. Check out http://www.victoriassecret.com

Recently, I spotted a swimsuit -- $15 top and $15 bottom -- as well as summer tops and dresses for $15-$30. Great filler for your Florida summer wardrobe or if you’re heading out on a cruise this spring or summer. This top is only $9.99.
Click on the 70 percent clearance sale to find really cheap items, though of limited size selection.

I’ll never look at good as the Victoria Secret models in these outfits, but when it’s 98 degrees in South Florida, who cares? -- Marcia Heroux Pounds

Mother's Day Gifts: Cool handbag for you or mom

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:15:02 -0500

I have been looking for months for the perfect bag to go with my pair of gold tone, snakeskin shoes with a wedge heel.

Everything I found was either too glitzy or the wrong tone until I found this bag at Giovagio at the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton. My gold tone leather bag has pockets on each side for a cell phone or phones, two open pockets and a zippered compartment inside. It looks like a designer creation and sells for far less -- $75. Giovagio also sells jewelry and belts.

Joan Leger and her mother, Florence Leger, operate the kiosk located near Nordstrom and in front of Lucky Brand in a kiosk. It is open every day except Sunday. For information, call 786-873-9331.

I finally trained my husband. He no longer asks "Do you need another handbag?" He knows now that need has nothing to do with it. A new handbag is what a new hat was to another generation.

XOXO-- Shopper Girl