February 01, 2009

It's a gift, really.

No...it's not having a golden voice, nor is it clairvoyance or psychic ability. My gift is the ability to find bargains.

You should know, I do not love shopping for clothes. I do not like the trying on, the tailoring to fit my (odd) shape, the way I look in clothes. I like none of it. But when your work clothes become threadbare, and your trouser socks and stockings have more holes than a good Emmenthaler, it's time to act. And use The Gift.

I went to
Stein Mart on a quiet Friday night at 8:00 p.m. (For The Gift to work it must be unimpeded by screaming children or ornery women.) I didn't think I was the Stein Mart-type of woman (I'm young! I'm hip! Right? RIGHT?!) -- I didn't even know what a Stein Mart was until we "headed south" (south Jersey, that is). And this is what I learned: If you're patient and willing to poke around clearance racks, and you come bearing coupons, there's gold in them thar hills.

Behold, my bounty (bad photo...yikes!). In at just a hair over $100:



Let's take a look at the highlights:

That tissue-thin cotton Calvin Klein ivory-colored sweater in the lower right corner of the photo...$4.04. That's right...I even took a picture of the receipt, because just seeing "Calvin Klein" and "$4.04" together for something that isn't socks...well, rocks my socks.

Then there's the Nine West belted fancy dress for $14.51:

And a
Kenneth Cole Unlisted clutch for $8.69. OK, I didn't *need* this. Mea culpa. But so cute with the Nine West dress:


Besides, shouldn't we be working together to stimulate the economy? Didn't I try so very hard to do my part?

You're welcome, dear readers. You're welcome.


;-)

24 comments:

heidi said...

You are an inspiration to us all, my friend!!! Great finds! Now, if only I wasn't tied down by ornery children and screaming women...

The Quintessential Magpie said...

You got some great deals there, Laura! I love to poke around Steinmart, too. They have great sales! But you, my friend, hit the jackpot! :-) That purse would have walked off with me as well... SO cute!

Score big for the Shorehouse!

XO,

Sheila :-)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

P.S. I think you need to model all of your goodlooking finds for us. Bet you'd look fab in all! That dress is hard to beat as are the other pieces. :-)

XO,

Sheila

Linda Lou said...

You did very well Laura, I have a Steinmart near me, go with those coupons and you can get a screaming deal....I love that dress! They also have some awesome shoes...nothing like a bargain, and at 8:00pm at night you probably had the whole place to yourself!

tam said...

LoL! You sure did do your part Laura! Good for you sister! Great finds-notin more satisfyin then finding great bargins!~Smiles~Tam!

Jean Martha said...

You done me proud!! I have tears in my eye.

Unknown said...

I love Stienmart myself, but we don't have one here!

Love your new bargains, but I'm like Shelia...want to see you model them!

Sue said...

I'm very impressed...Steinmart has never been known to have bargains like that....they are going out of business down here. I guess I need to take a ride over and see what they have....just what I need to do.... spend more money....

Maureen said...

Oh my, you are good. I do love that dress. I am also very envious because I could neither fit into nor find someplace to where that dress. I also realized that we couldn't shop together because I would be that ornery woman with the screaming kids.
Thankfully, I can read your blog and feel a part of the stylish, and successful bargain-hunting world. :)

Joyce said...

WOW- blow me over!! You do have a gift for bargins. The other day a tree today a whole closet full! Very, very nice though! Oh my love would fall over if I would learn to shop like this. I really do try, but for some reason it is short lived. I hope you took your love out for dinner to celebrate all that $$ you saved.
Is there a pattern or way you do this hunt? I'm always willing to learn.

Enjoy... xoxo

j.cro said...

Damn skippy sister! I hate shopping too! Maybe we should go together some time... I need your bargain hunting skills to help me out!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a little goldmine. I don't like shopping either, but I do love Emmenthaler Cheese!

Newburgh Restoration said...

hmmmm gotta find me a Stein-Mart but TJ and Marshalls are quite similar in my opinion

Blondie's Journal said...

Laura,

As they say in Michigan, you did good!

I know I have seen a Stein Mart around here but I will have to ask The Husband. After 23 years on the Southside you would think I knew my way around! Great buys, we have similar taste. I love a purse with a chain and I certainly love the little black dress (for hopefully making me look little hee hee! :-)

Kudo's to you for going out shopping at 8:00 p.m. By that time I'm shriveled up in a ball on my bed with my nose in a book. Day done!

xoxo
Jane

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

WOW! I never heard of Steinmart, Laura! You got some incredible deals. I love stores that have low prices and give coupons too. You know you can't find that in Manhattan!

Fifi Flowers said...

GOOD way to stimulate the economy and get GREAT deals... they have some AMAZING prices!
ENJOY your week in new clothes!
Fifi

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

What would we do without you? Thanks for doing your part for our sagging economy. You've inspired me to go forth and do likewise. ;-)

Beachy Rustica said...

Just wanted to alert you to a great new handmade coastal market, The Boardwalk. It's all coastal art, fashion, photography, etc. made in the USA and direct from the artists. It's at http://boardwalk.1000markets.com and there's a forum there too.

Ms. Tee said...

Oh my, you are sooo gifted. :) I love all of it - and the fact that it can all be interchangeable. How come I never find good deals like this?! ;)

Liz Harrell said...

Fabulous deals! LOVE Steinmart, they always have the best jewelry too.

Anonymous said...

wow. i never have that kind of luck.

Anonymous said...

You are a true role mdel for the economy stimulus package! You know, our Stein Marts don't have those kind of brand names! I'm jealous - and I'm in the south where they are abundant, I wonder what's the difference? I love bargain hunting, so I'll stop by again to see what you've discovered.

Rue said...

Hi Laura :)

I finally found a way out of my box maze so that I could come visit you LOL

You DO have a gift! Not only for finding a bargain, but also for finding cuteness :)

I loved the pictures of "The Napoleon Room"! You did a beautiful job in there and I loved that you named it ;)

hugs,
rue

Caren said...

Great job! You got some really cute stuff. I think we have Stein Mart somewhere kind of around here. I'll have to keep them in mind!

Oh! I wanted to let you know, I'm adding you to my blog roll. I love to read your blog and had somehow forgotten about it until I was recently poking around in my comment archives. I'm solving that problem by adding you! Just thought you might want to know.