Daily Archives: October 31, 2010

How To Survive Black Friday

 in General Fashion / Shopping  tagged black friday / holiday shopping / holidays 2010 by

How to survive Black Friday is a skill every Fashionista needs to master. Black Friday is one of the most popular shopping days of the year and generates large amounts of revenue for shops. Shoppers tend to go to the stores and malls on Black Friday for a variety of reasons ranging from sales, limited time discounts, family tradition, curiosity, nothing better to do; the list goes on. Whatever the reason is that we, as Fashionistas, flock to the mall the day after Thanksgiving, we need to survive by maintaining our energy and staying focused.

If you are a seasoned, day after Thanksgiving shopper, then this guide is mere entertainment for you. BUT, if you are venturing to the shops for the first time on Black Friday, this guide will help you stay fresh and focused for shopping success!

1) Wear a cross-body handbag. The last thing you need to fiddle with is a handbag while carrying ten shopping bags. Do not attempt to wear a fanny pack. Even if you have a Louis Vuitton fannypack, it is still a fashion don’t. Sell that thing on eBay and buy a decent cross-body bag!

2) Leave the 4″ Prada pumps at home. There is a good chance you will stand in multiple lines which are 30 minutes long. This is a time for heels that are no higher than 2″ tall. Or, better yet, wear a fabulous pair of Balenciaga ballet flats. Your feet will thank you 

3) Bring your own shopping bags. Let’s turn Black Friday into Green Friday. The reusable totes that we use at the grocery store can also be used at the mall. Take out the plastic bottom and fold them into your handbag. Then you can pull them out when you purchase something. The fabulous thing about the reusable totes is that the straps are long enough to wear on your shoulders; this frees up your hands for more shopping. Love it!

4) Keep a Pez dispenser in your handbag. Standing in line for 30 minutes in order to buy a $10 bobble head can make any Fashionista hungry, or worse, drop your blood sugar. Keep a cute little Pez dispenser in your purse for a quick sugar fix while you are stuck in line. If you do not own a Pez dispenser, they can be found at Target Stores. Any candy will work, but Pez dispenser’s are slim and easily fit into small spaces inside of a handbag, as well as the lipstick pocket that some handbags feature inside such as Chanel.

5) Buy something for yourself. While getting your Holiday shopping done is fine and dandy, you deserve a little somethin’ somethin’ for yourself. Treat yourself to a fabulous pair of Chanel rain boots, a Balenciaga Handbag or a Loro Piana wrap. Why not, you deserve it!

6) Arrive early, leave early. Arrive at the mall thirty minutes before the shops open. This way you can park close to the door and you will be there when the stores open. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee or cocoa while you wait for the shops to open their doors. Since most shoppers will arrive around 1pm, you will be done shopping and at home with your feet up by the time the shops get really crowded. Fabulous!

This is a great time of year to shop, so have fun while doing it! Happy shopping and stay fabulous. 

Holiday Shopping: Early Gift Shopping versus The Last Minute Rush

 in General Fashion / Shopping  tagged holiday shopping by

There are two types of Holiday shoppers; those who shop early and those shop at the last minute. The shops are already anticipating the early shoppers by setting up Holiday decorations, gift boxes, chocolate displays and pumping the scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla through air ducts in order to create the feeling of the Holiday season. For shoppers who like to wait until the last minute, the Holiday displays are easily ignored; but for shoppers who enjoy finishing their list before Thanksgiving, the Holiday displays are a magnet for finding items to purchase for friends and family.

There are pros and cons for both types of shoppers. The early shoppers have an easier time finding the items they are looking for, as well as more time to think about what exactly to buy for each person. This usually results in more carefully planned gift giving and more time for celebration after the Thanksgiving holiday. The cons to shopping early is that everything is still full price.

Shoppers who wait until the last minute may find the items they are looking for are sold out, and will need to buy plan B for their loved ones. The good part about last minute shopping, is that many times the sales will begin early and last minute shoppers will find they can spend less than they anticipated for Holiday gifts.

Wondering whether or not to shop early this year? The easiest thing to do is to make your shopping list now. List people in order of when they will receive a gift. For example, if you know you have people on your list who are leaving for vacation over the Holidays, list them first. You will want to give them a gift before they leave town. After the early gift receivers are on your list, write down names in order of difficulty. You may consider shopping early and spending full price on people who are more difficult to shop for. This enables you to find your first choice gift in stock and you can avoid any last minute gift emergencies. The easy people on your list can be put off until he last minute.

The recession might be officially over according to the White House, but consumers are still planning on keeping a tight lock on their wallets this Holiday season. This is good news for shoppers who would like to save money, since the sales tend to start early when people are not spending their money. The best time to shop for the easier people on your list is at the beginning of December when stores start to mark down gift items. There will still be a large stock of goods on store shelves and you will be able to save roughly 10%-30% on the perfect gift for your loved ones. Want more of a bargain? You can wait until a few days before the Holiday of your choice and you may be able to score something at 40% off, but you will take the risk of not finding what you want in stock. Happy Holidays, happy shopping and stay fabulous!