Sales!

You know I don't go clothes shopping that often. OK, I'm sure that's a total lie, but I don't go nearly as often as I used to - or nearly as often as many others who totally love clothing (as I do).

On the weekend, after my great Club Monaco score, I was motivated to do a bit of shopping. Truth is, I didn't want to make something. I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to consider math. I wanted to go into a store, beautifully set up for the holidays, touch all of the things, look at the sparkles, consider the possibilities. And then buy a few things that fit me well right. fucking. now.

Fortunately, I have a gift in that respect.

Club Monaco (really the only high-street store I visit - I really do love that place and have done forever) is having some of the more amazing sales I've seen. This whole Americanization of Thanksgiving/Xmas has totally transformed the landscape of holiday shopping. I can't say - as I love to shop and I love a deal - that I'm unhappy because of it. Even though it is a wholesale change to the philosophy with which I holiday-shopped for most of my life.

The store was a zoo. I don't like crowds but it was under my freak-out threshold so I persisted. I was there to by Scott an Xmas outfit - really adorable merino sweater in electric blue and hipster jeans. He's gone back to the gym in the last year so he's rather trim. I needed to buy him a couple of things in his current size. I have to say, for a guy who'll be 50 in June, he's looking fine. How many men in that age range fit into 31" slim jeans designed for 20 year olds - and not look like they're trying?

Anyway, enough about him. This is about me.

I bought 3 things - 1 of which is a wide(ish) / deep(ish) v neck black Italian merino slim-fit sweater. There are no good photos of it because CM insists on showing everything oversized on models with no curves (not even the kind of curves the curvy models have) and it's unfortunate. Sweaters benefit from boobs. So I'm not showing a photo, but you can find it in store and online.

Shoppers take note: Everything in store and online, which is currently on sale, is on sale for an additional 30% off. You did read that right. This means that, after tax, a total haul which would have cost me $412.00 ended up setting me back $180.00. And for that I got BEAUTIFUL garments that I'll be able to wear under many circumstances. They feel gorgeous, they look gorgeous. They fit well.

In addition to the sweater mentioned above (originally well-priced at 90 bucks, I got it for 59 bucks) I bought the following:

Georgia top - I'm showing it without a body cuz, of course, they style everything over-sized and I find that lackluster...

It's silk and merino - very fine merino - and I love the construction. The dolman sleeve gives some interest and a looseness but the sweater portion fits snug. It's a bit sexy but in no way inappropriate. The colour and textures are rich and I can totally knock this off with my own fabrics, when the mood strikes. To give you a sense of the over-sized ridiculousness, I bought mine in XS and it's not tight. Original price: $119.50. I paid: $44.00.

And finally, some more pants - cuz really I need them. Casual pants only have a certain lifespan, especially when you walk miles in them every day:

Carolina Skinny Waxed Pants in navy

Fun story: When I was seeking these out in a size 8 (the size I tend to be in pants these days), the SA urged me to go up a size, since they fit "super small". Alas, there were no 10s, so I just said, whatevs, let's try the 8 anyway. Well, the 8 fit pretty well, which makes me feel like maybe the work I've been doing, to undercut the ravages of perimenopause, is having some observable effect. These are super-cool - waxy but not shiny, and not thick in their waxiness. They're a dulled-navy shade and, while in a perfect world I'd have the rise an inch higher - the height is not a deal-breaker. I will say, if you carry mass in your hips or thighs, these may not flatter. They're also pretty short. I don't need to alter the length at all. While my legs are long, proportionately, I'm only 5'3". Original price: $149.50. I paid: $69.00. Seriously, who can find a pair of pants for that price?? You can barely make a pair of pants for that price.

At any rate, may I urge you to get yourself online, or in store, if you're in the market for anything chic but casual for Xmas. They also have ZILLIONS of gorgeous gift items (cashmere everything) for great prices. If I were buying gifts this year (other than the rare few for M and Scott), I'd be all over this stuff (as I usually am). Note: I'm making my gifts this year. It's not that I'm totally bah-humbug...

So, whatcha think??

You Are Going To Love This Story.

Remember this post?

Then, remember when I decided to be frugal and mature and returned the loot I'd purchased?

Well, my lovelies, there's a silver lining (or, perhaps a pleather one?) to share...

Club Monaco online is not known for sending a whack of promo code discounts. Sure, the site has sales, but it's no Banana Republic. Well, today I was on the online site - they're have 30 per cent off cashmere till tomorrow - and I signed up for the newsletter (I'm already on the newsletter but I figured it wouldn't hurt to reapply since it came with a 15% discount code.)

Then, on a whim, I decided to see if they had the pleather leggings I'd bought and returned. They're a continuity item, which was in stock in my preferred colourway (black on black) in my size. 15% off the price I'd paid first time seemed adequately motivating. I've thought of those leggings many times since I returned them.

Somehow, and I swear I wasn't looking, I came across the paisley sweater I'd also returned. It was there - on sale for 30 per cent off?! before the 15% discount?! OMG people. Can you say click, click? I repurchased the exact same loot, only this time I saved 85 bucks. And the shipping is free.

I can't tell you what a thrill this is. 5 minutes of shopping. Savings. Items I love (that should fit, unless this stock is of a different batch that is radically differently sized). It's a beautiful shopping tale.

You've got to admit, that's awesome.

A Bit of Autumn Shopping...

If I have one RTW weakness it's Club Monaco. I come by it honestly. I was there at the CM opening in the early 80s. I had the T shirt (my kid wears it now). And, over the years, things have only improved, in my opinion.

Well, allow me to clarify: I believe the brand is more fashion-forward than ever, if slightly out of my age demographic at this point. The garment quality is excellent. I did prefer it just before it was sold to Ralph Lauren in 1999. Mind you, that transaction was fairly seamless and it brought CM to a broader market than before. If only Ralph Lauren hadn't killed Caban, I wouldn't have to hate it.

But back to the topic at hand...

There's a point to be made that CM caters to a slender, straight frame. It's true that many of the more sophisticated designs, dresses especially, fall into that category. But there are terrific t-shirts and the knits are fantastic. They do great denim and awesome accessories. IMO, the best high-street cashmere anywhere is at Club Monaco. (BTW: You pay for that quality.)

If ever I were to start a brand, I imagine it would design and stock many of the clean, luxe items the likes of which one finds in the windows of CM (of course on a smaller scale, if only to be exclusive :-)). Everything feels beautiful. It's a tactile dream. And I do LOVE the interior, architecture and ambience of the flagship at Bloor St. and Avenue Rd. Yeah, peeps'll try to tell you that the flagship is in NYC but that's bullshit. This is a Canadian company, created by two sportswear pioneers (Joe Mimran and Alfred Sung), and it feels that way. To Wit: You can open TopShop wherever you like, but it's always gonna be English.

Anyway, for a couple of reasons - namely that I make my own clothes and I'm not as architectural in shape as certain of the more exciting, recent offerings - I don't shop there much these days. Time was, I had a problem walking by without spending half a paycheck. In truth, during the Xmas sales it's practically impossible to stay away. The guy stuff is as nice as that for women and the accessories work for everyone.

However, while lulled into shop-mode vis a vis the child's back-to-school needs, I found myself checking out the latest collection and, ahem, making a couple of purchases:

Mia Printed Sweater

I should mention that this top couldn't fit more differently on me. I bought a medium and it's closely fitted. Furthermore, my sweater has much less white to it; the background is heather grey. Plus, mine looks like an actual slim-knit sweater - not like a sweatshirt (as the photo makes it seem). Sorry, Adorable Model, it looks better on me.

I also bought these awesome leggings (a continuity garment, though they routinely update the look with new fabrics and colourways) - which couldn't look more real leather and HOT if they tried:

Tasha Leggings

Apparently, you can hand wash them?! (Don't quote me on this, I have to do some research.) The 4-inch wide, high-waisted waistband is SO my scene. And, unsurprisingly, they feel like leggings! Note - they look like tight leather pants. I'll be happy to wear them with a long-ish, fitted top (see above). But I've got to sort out footwear. They'll seem weird with boots and I'm not gonna wear them with pointy heels - just not practical!

While writing this post, I checked out the website - for photos - and discovered that there is a pretty sweet sale that started today (with an extra 50 per cent off off the sale-priced items). A lot of the good stuff is already gone, but you might get lucky. Oh, and check out the new, high-end CM line: Collection. It's a bit Stella McCartney and the prices seem to be about 30 per cent higher than those of the regular line. Mind you, it includes beautiful cashmere and fur.

Today's questions: What's your go-to RTW brand? What do you think of Club Monaco? Is it a notably "Canadian brand", in your opinion? What do you think of my new purchases? Let's talk.

Something I've Been Doing

What do you do when you don't have energy to blog, sew or knit? Well (duh), if you're me, you shop.

Can't say that's excellent for the cost saving, but I've bought so little in the last year, I'm indulging that druggy comfortable feeling that comes with the activity.

Thing is, I can't show you internet photos of my gorgeous new McCardell-esque, navy sleeveless shirt dress - fitted in the waist, button-down, circle-skirted in a kind of mystery fabric (cotton and elastane) that works like mega-crisp, sticky-outy lawn, cuz the people who run the substandard Club Monaco website post about 20 items a season (nothing on Google Images either...). And there's just no way I'm motivated to stage a photo till this weekend at the earliest.

Then there are my fantastic new shoes by Sweet de Pindiere, which I also can't show you because that site sucks too. Not to mention that it took me a full hour even to locate the site in the first place, never mind finding a shot of my new, conical-low-heeled taupe sandles with mother of pearl disks covering the centre strap. They are very rich, and perfect with the dress.

Furthermore, I purchased a belt at Cole Haan that looks more like this than any of the others I could find on that site:

...only mine's black. Kinda misleading and boring (esp. as you can't even see the real thing - thanks, website) but my other black leather skinny lady belt was literally falling apart after 12 years.

I realize I could take all the shots with my nice camera all by myself. But is it so wrong to feel ripped off that the web isn't supporting me in my marketing efforts?

The belt was on sale for $40.00 (from $79.00). Given that belts seem to last 12 years, this is a pretty good cost per wear scenario, not to mention that the Bloor Street (Canadian) flagship is a very elegant store - as much a lady-shopping experience as anything else.

The shoes, bought in the 'hood at Balisi after Friday night dinner, were 20% off and came in under $125.00.

Where I (vaguely) went off the rails - at least by my own "make it yourself or, for God's sake, buy it on mega-sale" standard - was on the dress purchase. I bought that puppy for full price - $200.00 - which is somewhat out of my high-street comfort zone (esp. since, were I to wait 6 weeks, it's very possible that the price will drop). However, in 6 weeks, it won't have much wear-time left before the fall - and it's such a great piece (truly well-tailored) that I'm pretty sure - and I rarely make such predictions - it isn't going to make it to the sale rack.

Does it really matter that I need another summer dress like a hole in the head?