The Closet Project

One woman's adventures in clothing

[shoptologist]

Going out with a bang.

After two years of budget outfits (well, for the most part) this New Year’s Eve feels like an opportunity to go out with a bang. Displaying a different outfit each day of the year while keeping every day under $100 (or $150 with boots) is a worthy goal, but it’s time to move on to something new. What will that be, you may ask? Not sure (so if you have any suggestions, send them this way), but before that happens, why not go a little crazy?

The outfit has been constructed from the ground up, starting with the boots. By themselves, they blow the budget at $199.48, but they are Prada. Yes, that Prada. No, not one of those knock-offs you see out there with similarly-spelled names. These same boots are selling on eBay today at an asking price of nearly $1000 but were purchased yesterday at Nordstrom’s Last Chance for $200 (and who knows what their original retail price was?). That seemed like an excuse to live a little high on the hog. The dress was another splurge from anthropologie. It probably was something purchased with a 15% off birthday coupon, but still, at a sticker price of $228, it would also have blown the budget all on its own. But it is New Year’s Eve - the year is over and it’s time for new beginnings. 

Hope you are going out of 2017 and into 2018 with a bang!

[shoptologist]

Après ski?

There are many rituals associated with downhill skiing. Some people wear their lift tickets like badges of honor, leaving them on their ski jackets long after the season is over. Others measure their worth based on the number of days “on the mountain” they log in any given season. But for many, the most important ritual is après ski: the time spent socializing at the lodge after a day on the slopes. Cross-country skiing has no such rituals. It is more of a lone sport, which could explain why this INTJ is attracted to the solace found in quietly swishing though the countryside. 

Despite the cold (single-digit fahrenheit) temperatures, the all-too-rare snow on the ground combined with a non-work day meant a trek to the forest preserve was in order. The trick with cross-country skiing is finding a way to stay warm while getting warmed up without being so bundled up that you are left sweating profusely once up to speed. These 25 (!) year old sweats, layered over long underwear, do just the trick. They were “free” - issued by the Swiss National Team to athletes and coaches back in the day. Obviously there were also cross-country ski boots involved (not shown), which were purchased off-season at REI for something like $59 in their member sale/markdown area. 

There may not have been any raucous after-ski social activities, but perhaps the in-home jacuzzi tub will suffice?

[shoptologist]

It’s not whether you win or lose...

...it’s (what you wear to) the game. Okay, that’s not how the saying goes, but it may as well be, at least as far as this blogger is concerned. THE Ohio State Buckeyes will be playing the USC Trojans tonight in what would have been the Rose Bowl back in the days when the Big Ten Champ played the winner of the Pac-10 in that celebrated bowl game, but instead is the Cotton Bowl (since the inception of the College Football Playoff Series changed the “rules of the game” relative to bowls). No matter the name of the bowl, bragging rights are at stake. While the Buckeyes are favored, it will not come easy: USC has a 7-game winning streak against Ohio State. They don’t play often - the Buckeyes’ last win agains the Trojans was back in 1972. 

The outfit for the day was clearly chosen for game-watching comfort and support of THE Ohio State Buckeyes. The velour sweats are several years old and have no receipt evidence, so you’ll have to take it on good authority that they were likely no more than $50. The scarlet & grey t-shirt came from Target and was less than $15. Since silver is just a better version of grey, these American Living shoes rounded out the outfit (from Macy’s, less than $20). 

To all of you Buckeye fans out there - wear your colors proudly tonight and sing the fight song loudly. Our honor defend, we will fight to the end, for O-Hi-O!

[shoptologist]

Wind chill.

Much of the country is under a deep freeze which offered a good excuse to stay indoors. Sweats - no need for color coordination - were a welcome change from the the usual push to come up with some combination of items that work within budget. The Merona sweatshirt came from Target and was probably about $30 and the C9 fleece pants were likely about $20. The floral madden girl sandals came from Carson’s and were purchased for the low, low price of $14.99. 

While some might claim there’s no upside to windchill, an excuse for a day spent in sweats might count as a valid counter argument. 

[shoptologist]

The times they are a-changin’.

“Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown...”

So goes the song by Bob Dylan, apropos to a day where our household saw events that will change our lives significantly. Much will be different in the days to come. There was no way to predict these sorts of things - better to simply be prepared to deal with change when it comes. 

Rather than write about an outfit today (there’s nothing exceptional to report), there was another change afoot requiring adjustment that seemed worth writing about: DSW’s shift to using yellow stickers to designate another step of %-off (currently 70%) rather than a separate, special indicator of a final markdown to 80%. Yellow sticker clearance will never be the same. It used to be you could count on those yellow stickers to signify a final, 80% off markdown. Now, it is hard to say what it will mean, or whether there will be a replacement for those beacons of bargain-shopping glory. So while it was exciting to receive notification of being on DSW’s “Nice List” (with the accompanying free gifts, shown here), as a bargain shopper, that 80% opportunity, however infrequent it may have been, was a more valuable benefit. This change of policy will take some getting used to.

So, it seems that the times they are a-changin’, shakin’ windows and rattling walls. What else will 2018 bring with it?

[shoptologist]

Changing your spots.

As the year winds down, it seems like a good idea to consider what’s next. This blog seems to have run its course, at least in its current incarnation, and a new theme could be in order. How many times can anyone write about wearing bargain clothes? But how does one go about changing? You know what they say, “a leopard cannot change its spots.”

Perhaps it is good to start slowly. Today, rather than trying to go whole hog into expensive-land, the outfit was chosen more for its uncharacteristic color palette (muted tones rather than brights and shades of black or grey). The green cords are from JCrew.com and while originally $89.50, they were purchased for a much more reasonable $25. The Sam Edelman leopard-print sandals were also purchased at a significant discount at $33 (down 80% from their suggested retail price). The brown cashmere turtleneck does not have a receipt handy, but was likely in the $30-$40 range, keeping the outfit within budget.

What do you think? Is it possible to change? Could a good New Year’s resolution help this leopard change its spots?

[shoptologist]

I know, right?

While the majority of modern memes are captioned photos that are intended to be funny, memes can also be verbal expressions. The ubiquity of the saying “I know, right” suggests it has achieved meme status. Many attribute its rise to Tina Fey, either for its usage on Saturday Night Live when she was a writer, or for its inclusion in her movie “Mean Girls.” In our home, its use is even cause for a drinking game. 

So it was not surprising when today’s t-shirt found its way into the Christmas stocking. Santa apparently made it at The Makery in the Elmhurst library. Since it was a gift it counts as free to me and made dressing for the day a bit easier. The red corduroy pants came from the Talbots Outlet and were $5.99 or free, depending on how you look at it (a “buy three get one free” sale brought the average price down even more). The black b.o.c. loafers came from Carson’s and were picked up for $12.97, down from an original $95, making this a very frugal outfit, all things considered. But you already knew that, right? 

[shoptologist]

I’m dreaming...

While many are dreaming of a white Christmas this Christmas Eve, it already seems assured in Chicagoland and much of the United States that we’ll be blanketed in show. So instead, I’m dreaming of holidays packed with fancy dress-up occasions. In a world that has gone hyper casual, it is harder and harder to find a reason to dress up. So today, despite an evening spent at home watching A Christmas Story beneath the glow of our tree, the need to get through more fancy clothes left no other choice than to wear this recently purchased Trina Turk dress. 

The blinged-out black tank came from Nordstrom’s Last Chance and was found for $40 - likely a significant discount from its original price. The shoes came from Macy’s and while not a perfect complement, were good enough for the cats. 

So I’m dreaming of a white Christmas and a new year filled with easy, inexpensive outfits. What are you dreaming of?

[shoptologist]

Putting it all together.

With a little over a week left in 2017, it is getting harder and harder to find any semblance of an outfit out of the items that haven’t been worn yet this year. Sure, there are still too many unworn items, but turning them into an outfit that can be worn in public is a bit of a challenge. Yet somehow, today’s outfit looks like something that might have been conceived much earlier in the year. 

The jeans came from the Bloomingdale’s Outlet about 5 years ago. They were a bit pricey by this blog’s standards - somewhere between $50-$80 - but the receipt is currently M.I.A. Fortunately with a pair of booties, there’s a little extra room in the budget. The blue velvet Steve Madden booties were originally $100, but with markdowns, discounts and coupons came down to $26. The white long sleeved t-shirt came from Macy’s and was marked down to $3.23. The blue velvet Tommy Hilfiger blazer is likely about 10 years old. All pricing evidence is long gone, but memory pegs it around $35 (after heavy markdowns).

There may not be much left in the closet, but where there’s a will, there’s a way to put it all together.  

[shoptologist]

Donation Nation.

The recent passing of a new tax bill has thrown many a household into tax planning overdrive. Should you pay your state taxes this year or wait until next? Sell equities or hold? Move to Costa Rica and hope this craziness blows over? Regardless of your strategy, there’s one year-end activity that will have positive benefits regardless of Washington’s shenanigans - making charitable donations.  In that spirit, this post will not be about what was worn today, but rather about what will not be worn by this blogger ever again because it was donated to charity. If the crowds at the local Salvation Army are any indication, we are all in a “donation nation” state of mind.

These photos show an inventory of what was gathered and donated: 35 dresses, 22 pairs of pants, 15 pairs of shoes, 12 blouses, 7 blazers, 3 skirts, 3 t-shirts, 2 suits, 2 sweaters, and 2 jackets/outerwear. It felt so good dropping those bags off and clearing out room in the closets that another bag has already been gathered with 10 t-shirts, 3 blouses, 3 dresses, 4 pairs of shoes, and 2 sweaters.

It’s hard to imagine that the folks at What Not To Wear would not be proud of the progress made (although there’s likely more to do before the year runs out).

[shoptologist]

It’s electric! During the holidays, adding a bit of holiday bling is in order. This “ugly Christmas sweater” with battery operated lights is a seasonal favorite. You’ll have to trust that the outfit is within budget because holiday partying has made coherence precarious.

[shoptologist]

Bronze Age.

The Bronze Age typically refers to the time in history when bronze came into widespread use along with other early milestones of urban civilization. That definition might work for historians, archeologists and other scientists, but those more concerned with fashion might suggest we are living in a modern day bronze age, given all of the use of metallics in fabrics and details. 

Today’s outfit makes use of such fabrics, starting with jeans from Robert Rodriguez. Originally $79, these beauties were found online on clearance at Carsons.com for a mere $10.84. The AGL cork platform oxfords metallic leather were also a great deal. They were found at Nordstrom’s Last Chance for $15.97, but based on a little searching online, were likely in the $200-$400 range originally. The size seemed to be mis-marked, which likely did not help them sell, but for those who are willing to eyeball and try things on, that wasn’t a barrier. The Indian cotton tunic blouse came from the Macy’s clearance racks and while there is no tag or receipt evidence, it was certainly not more than $20. It is a little out of season, but hadn’t made it into rotation yet this year and worked well enough with the rest to be pulled into service.

Is the use of bronze a sign of modern civilization? When it comes to fashion, its hard to argue.

[shoptologist]

Black I.

Perhaps my outfit got the best of me today. It is black and black and black all over, so maybe that set the wrong tone. Let’s just say that I’m not proud of my performance and if do-overs existed, one would be in order. As it stands, my black I turned into a black eye.

But enough blaming the outfit, which in all fairness, was probably more of a solution than a problem. The deco-inspired, black velvet burn-out top came from Macy’s and while the receipt for this one is missing, a second purchased in green suggests a price in the $30 range. The black pleather-front leggings by Lauren were also purchased at Macy’s - originally $125, these were found for over 80% off at $20. Rounding the outfit out were the shoes that came from DSW. The final purchase price is unknown, but with a clearance blue sticker of $39.94, they were likely at least 30% off that price, so clearly keeping the outfit well within budget.

There’s no way to turn back time on the day, but perhaps a pop of color could help tomorrow go a bit better?

[shoptologist]

Need I say more? When you find a pair of Tory Burch boots that originally sold for $450 for less than $100 (in this case, $85.13) you should buy them and run for the exit as fast as you can. Need I say more?

[shoptologist]

Put a cork in it!

...Or better yet, put a cork on it! The former is a way of telling someone they ought to stop talking but the latter is simply a way of bringing a wine-sensibility to any outfit.

This is the time of year when nearly every day brings some sort of event or occasion. Today was no different, with a charity event at Bar Siena hosted by Fabio Viviani of Top Chef fame on the agenda. While the festivities probably did not require full dress up, it was a good excuse to break out a dress that is a bit too fancy for your average day at the office. 

Typically, it is fairly difficult to get an outfit to come in under budget when a pair of Tory Burch flats are involved, but occasionally the stars align and you get lucky. This pair of cork and black patent Jolie ballet flats were purchased at the outlet for a mere $64.40. While that didn’t leave a lot of room, it was enough to work with in the hands of a bargain shopper who knows how to pair a discount dress to keep costs. down. The black lace and gold satin dress by Gabby Skye came from Carsons.com and was originally $108 but purchased for $21.59, keeping the outfit within the daily $100 budget. 

The cork shoes were perfect for an evening of menu tastings with wine pairings. Put a cork on that!

[shoptologist]

Guessing game.

After having worked through a vast majority of the closet, it becomes a guessing game as to whether there will be an outfit that comes together on any given day. With few days left in the year, finding anything that works together gets harder and harder when you are trying not to repeat any items. Today’s outfit was a bit of a surprise - not something that would have made the cut under normal circumstances, but in a pinch, it worked. 

The mock neck and reversible vest came from Macy’s - no receipts on-hand, but each likely no more than $20. The pants came from the Talbot’s Outlet. They’ve been worn before and you may remember them from the store closing deals where all pants were $5.99 as well as buy 3 get 1 free. The tan logo sneakers are G by Guess and were purchased at Macy’s for $12.25, keeping the outfit safely within budget. No guessing game there.

[shoptologist]

Par-tay!

“It's the holiday season... With the whoop-de-do and hickory dock, And don't forget to hang up your sock, 'Cause just exactly at 12 o'clock, He'll be coming down the chimney, Coming down the chimney Coming down the chimney, down!”

Yes indeed - it is the holiday season, which inevitably brings plenty of celebration, and that requires a bit of dress up. That’s a good thing when you are trying to wear everything in your closet because there are so few reasons to break out the occasion-wear anymore. 

This dress is a bit on the pricey side for this blog’s standards. The Studio M dress was originally marked $138 but was purchased for $62.10 - nothing to write home about, but reduced enough to leave plenty of room for the Bandolino two-tone sling backs which were purchased online for $14.07. While they would not have been the first choice for this dress, when you are down to the last items of the year, the old saying “beggars can't be choosers” starts to have resonant meaning.

Bring on the holidays, bring on the festivities - there’s plenty more occasion wear that needs to come out of the closet and par-tay!