Cheryl Shops

Last week I posted the dream birthday gifts I would have asked for if I had my act together. And now, here are the gifts I actually received.


From left to right:

I always treat myself to something classic that I've been wanting for awhile; last year it was a pair of Christian Louboutin 85s; this year, a pair of Isabel Marant Dicker boots. I am trying to limit myself to wearing them only once a week because I love them so much, I don't want to get tired of them ever.

The middle gift was from my parents, and while it's hard to see in this slightly blurry iPhone photo, it's a badass Eddie Borgo pyramid stud bracelet. (Okay, my parents actually got me a giftcard to Neiman Marcus, but this is what I bought with it.) It will say "Don't eff with me" while I walk around my, um, not so dangerous neighborhood of Lower Pacific Heights.

You might recognize the gift at right from this post; it's the Clare Vivier duffle petit and, yep, those are my initials on it. MW claims I'm the hardest person to shop for, at which point I usually say, "I write a blog about shopping. Read it." Hence this gift, which I adore and which, like myself, hopefully gets even better with age.

My birthday was last week; everyone kept asking me what I wanted, and for the first time in what seemed like years, I had a hard time coming up with ideas. I am trying to--and, I think, succeeding at--buy fewer, albeit nicer things; for the time being, I'm also living in a smaller apartment, which I'm trying to keep as uncluttered as possible. (Ha, good luck.) So while I ended up with some great gifts--more on those in an upcoming post--here's my belated dream birthday shopping spree.

I will admit, I don't pay that much attention to Chinese astrology, but I was born in a year of the horse, and considering some of the competition (rat, ox, snake), I think that's a pretty good sign to have. As of this Friday, January 31st, we're entering another year of the horse, and while one would hope that means good things for those born in that year, for everyone else, it simply means a good excuse to buy cool horse-themed stuff. Giddyap!


1. Long horsebit necklace, $26.95

2. She's a Lucky Gallop scarf, $19.99

3. Equipment Wandering Horse-Print Blouse, $268

4. Frye Lindsay Boots, $313

5. French Connection Hatched Horses Dress, $149.99

6. Z Gallerie "Haven't Met You Yet" Print, $129.95

Hello and happy new year, dear readers! Guess what I've been doing! Shopping! (Quel surprise.) 'Tis no time like the weeks following Christmas to score incredible deals--if you're hitting the big department stores and websites, you'll find good stuff at 50%, 60%, or even 70% off. As I've noted before, clearance time is not the time to stock up on basics--I say go for crazy prints, wild colors, and designer items that you would never pay full price for (Chloe wedges, I'm looking at you). Forget Christmas--clearance season is truly the most wonderful time of the year.



1. DVF Mae Mikado Pencil Skirt, $109

2. Lulu Frost for J.Crew North Star Bracelet, $99.99

3. Rebecca Minkoff Holographic Mini M.A.B. Covertible Crossbody Bag, $115.50

4. Chloe Heritage Buckle Wedge Sandals, $329

5. The Elder Statesman for J.Crew Blurred Cashmere Crewneck Sweater, $289.99

6. Madewell Rhinestone Festival Necklace, $49

7. Mara Hoffman Peplum Dress, $167

Conventional wisdom says that if you wouldn't pay full-price for something, you shouldn't buy it on sale. I say conventional wisdom is boring. When prices hit 50%, 60%, even 70% off, that's the time to go nuts and buy something kah-ray-zy. Sequined shorts? Okay! Scuba dresses? Why not! Fun prints? Totally! When you take a risk and push your fashion boundaries, you end up with cool statement pieces that live in your wardrobe forever. July is the perfect time to score major fashion bargains with staying power; here are some of my favorites.


Clockwise from top left:

B Brian Atwood Fontenay Hologram Pumps, $222
Milly Neon and Mesh Dress, $170
Diane von Furstenberg Suki Sequin Shorts, $159
Rag & Bone Large Pilot Bag, $359
L.A.M.B. Carter Lucite Sandals, $130
Joie Mehira Printed Blazer, $180
Marc Jacobs Leopard-Print Pouch, $150
Milly Twill Peplum Skirt, $80
Giles & Brother Cortina Bracelet, $82.50
Equipment Brett Silk Leopard-Print Blouse, $125

In terms of shopping, I've been a very, very good girl for the last two months, refraining (for the most part) from all the clearances and sales. But my birthday is Saturday, and I'm itching to spend some money, so here are three events that are tempting me.

I've always wanted one of his rings, so it may be time finally to treat myself to one at the David Yurman Friends & Family Sale. No word on discounts (according to Madison Avenue Spy, they're usually around 30-60% below retail), but on the first day of the sale, 10% of proceeds will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. You'll find me there right after work, hopefully with a sparkly blue stone on my right-hand ring finger. 2/28-3/3; 3-8 Th, 10-7 F-Sat, 11-5 Sun; the Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.).

I'll admit, I'm a huge sucker for beauty gifts with purchase, so I will also head over to Saks for their  Beauty Week event. Spend $100 and you'll receive a sample-filled tote; if shopping online, use code BEAUTY5C and get free shipping too (through 3/4).

Not to be outdone, Neiman Marcus is also hosting a Beauty Event online and in stores through 3/3; unlike Saks, they're more forthcoming about their tote and samples, free with a $125 purchase:

• Clé de Peau Beauté Le Coton, 5 sheets 
• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, .14fl oz/4mL 
• Kiehl’s Since 1851 Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream, .25fl oz/7mL 
• Molton Brown Patchouli & Saffron Body Wash, 1 fl oz/30mL 
• Oribe Shampoo & Conditioner for Beautiful Color, .3fl oz/9mL each 
• Robert Piguet Mademoiselle Piguet Eau de Parfum, .034fl oz/1mL 
• Tom Ford Beauty Black Orchid Eau de Parfum, .05fl oz/1.5mL 
• Valentino Valentina Assoluto Eau de Parfum Intense, .05fl oz/1.5mL

As you may expect from someone who's written a shopping blog for nearly 10 years, I treat sale shopping like a competitive sport. The important thing to know is that markdowns get steeper as the season goes on, but the stakes get a bit higher too. In my previous sale-shopping post, it was early in the season, and thus a great time to snap up more classic pieces—things you're almost willing to pay full price for but are excited to find on sale nonetheless. Now, in late summer, retailers just want to clear out merchandise to make room for fall items, hence the markdowns are at least 50%, and sometimes up to 70% or 80%. The catch, though, is that what's left is sometimes a bit tricky: trends that didn't quite resonate, extreme sizes, adventurous prints and colors. Which is why when I buy stuff at the end of the season, I take chances. Hey, it's fashion—it's supposed to be fun! A bright-yellow bag, a crazy tribal print, metallic jeans...why not, right? Here's what I've been eying.

Clockwise from top left:

Fallon choker, $50

Rag & Bone Jasmine sweater, $198

3.1 Phillip Lim Lemon Lark tote, $438

Antik Batik Opyla Mini Dress, $154

Thakoon Addition Hawaiian Print Blouse, $105

Loeffler Randall Valentine Wedges, $224.99


Rag & Bone/JEAN metallic jeans, $99 (plus extra 40% off)

I grew up in cold, snowy Chicago, and for a week every spring, my family made an escape to Florida. It came at that time of year when you were just about at the end of your rope in terms of weather, and there was something about sun, sand, and sea that just totally revived your will to live. Even though New York is not quite so desolate (especially with the exceptionally warm winter we've had this year), MW and I like to preserve the spring break tradition. This year we went to Turks & Caicos, which I'd highly recommend—white sand beaches, the most gorgeous turquoise-blue water you've ever seen, great snorkeling, beautiful weather, friendly residents, and so on (it should be noted, T&C is ridiculously expensive, however). As I consider myself somewhat of a pro at packing for a beach vacation at this point, here are my essentials for a chic spring break.

This is the time of year where everything is on sale for like 9000% off, and while you can score some amazing bargains, I generally walk into a store, take one look at the clearance racks, then turn around and leave. I'm just getting to the age where my time is worth more than my money. An exception: Shopping the sales just seems so much easier on the Internet--there are no crowds, no craziness, and no sad, dirty clothes to weed through. Not to mention it's easier to find what you're looking for. In other words, it's official: I'm turning into my mother. Next stop, Chico's.

Anyway, just because you can't deal with clearance racks doesn't mean you can't score some amazing deals this time of year. One of my favorite places to bargain-shop on the Internet is Yoox.com, which has been one of my go-to sites for as long as I can remember. The experience is great, it's easy to narrow down sizes, items, and designers, and it's amazing what you can find. While most retailers tend to hold onto items only for a season or two, Yoox is like a veritable archive of designers' recent collections, and whenever I'm looking for a specific item that I missed several seasons ago, it's usually the first place I go. Not to mention, the longer something has been on the site, the cheaper it gets. Here are some of the things I've been stalking, ranging from a $35 ADAM skirt to a $275 Be&D bag (which, by the way, was going for $375 at their most recent sample sale). With Yoox, who needs end-of-season clearance sales?

Clockwise from top left:

3.1 Phillip Lim pants, $65
ADAM by ADAM LIPPES skirt, $35
Eddie Borgo metal bangle, $138
Cut25 draped dress, $69
Dries Van Noten skirt, $145
CURRENT/ELLIOTT denim jacket, $168
Thakoon silk blouse, $125
Be&D leopard-print bag, $275
Ash leather sandals, $55

On my recent trip to Greece, I picked up quite a few evil eye bracelets. It's kind of hard not to--nearly every tourist shop sells them in one form or another, and they are quite affordable, especially in Athens. Having some cash to blow on my last day there, I picked up a bunch of delicate silver ones in a veritable rainbow of colors, and I've been wearing them religiously since. Like my tan, they kind of broadcast the fact that I was recently on vacation in Greece, but the good news is that there's no shortage of evil eye bracelets stateside. All the styles below are available for under $50 at the excellent Max & Chloe—a bit more than the 4 Euros each I spent, but definitely a bargain compared to the cost of a flight to Athens!

The year was 1987. I spent my summer riding my bike, going to see Adventures in Babysitting multiple times, and making friendship bracelets. I had a basic design--it involved tying knots in embroidery floss--that, as the summer progressed, got more intricate as I experimented. I let my bracelets pile up on my arms, to the point that when I finally took them off in the fall, I had big bands of tan lines around my wrists. I'm glad to see friendship bracelets making a comeback this year, albeit in a more intricate, sophisticated way, with chains, beads, and silk cords involved. I, for one, have fully embraced the trend; most days, I wear a minimum of three colorful bracelets. They're a great way to perk up your outfit, and looking at them reminds me of being a carefree 9-year-old. I've been stocking up whenever and wherever the mood strikes--at Topshop, from street vendors--but here are some of my favorite styles from around the web.

In my last lazy shopping post, I noted that winter clothes had started to disgust me, but that I wasn't yet sick of my own clothes. But now that time has come. Every night when I pick out the next day's outfit (yes, I'm one of those night-before people), I open my closet to thick, fuzzy sweaters, dark wool dresses, and tired ankle boots--I am so over all of it. Why, oh, why is it not spring yet? I want color and lightweight fabrics and bare legs and sandals. I'll even settle for a lightweight jacket. So while I continue to soldier on with my Wolford tights and sweater dresses, I'm already plotting what to buy for spring, and let me tell you, it can't come quickly enough. Here's what I'm dreaming of wearing.


Clockwise from top left:

I saw this T by Alexander Wang Gauze Back Cardigan ($170) at Barneys last weekend, and I have a feeling it's going to be my go-to layering piece for spring. Plus, when the weather gets really hot, it has built-in air-conditioning, thanks to the gauze inset in back.

After hearing about it back in December, I finally tried  Dior Addict Lip Glow ($29) today, and I can report it gives your lips a perfectly natural, just-been-kissed shade of pink. Perfect for spring, when you don't want to overdo it with heavy makeup.

I saw these Belle by Sigerson Morrison T-Strap Sandals ($265) today at Bloomingdale's, and they are going to be a must-buy for me. The heel is nice and sturdy (and not too high), but what they lack in height, they make up for in the leg-elongating nude T-strap.

I am completely obsessed with this 3 1 Phillip Lim tote ($725)--the shape is absolutely perfect, and it's big enough to carry all the essentials. And while I somehow now live in a world where I think $725 is a semi-reasonable price for a handbag, well, it could be worse.

I've been stalking this Diane Von Furstenberg Egg-Zactly Dress in River Leopard ($345) for awhile, and I finally saw it in person today (can you tell I have spring shopping fever?). I can report that it's even better in real life--so much so that I might have to pay full retail for it (gasp!).

This outfit has so much awesomeness in it that when it comes to jewelry, I think it needs just one fabulous statement piece, like a Dannijo Buckle bracelet ($270).

 This is the time of year when winter clothes start to disgust me. I'm not entirely sick of my own clothes (yet--that tends to come toward the end of February), but nothing in the stores is exciting. Seeing so many racks of sad, bedraggled clothes that no one wants doesn't exactly inspire me to shop. So I think of January as a time to start plotting what to buy for spring. And because, as I mentioned earlier, I'm trying to behave myself financially this month, everything here is under $100. So start shopping--everything here is "wear now," as they say.

Clockwise from top left:

In this article in last week's Thursday Styles section, Brandon Holley, the new editor-in-chief of Lucky, noted that the magazine will be ditching the bohemian look it made famous. Which, because I'm a rebel, made me want to go totally bohemian for spring. (And, also, the spring runways were all over the boho look.) This hat is totally J.Lo circa 2002, but it's inexpensive and chic, and you're totally going to wear it all summer long. Elona Floppy Hat, $20

This necklace is called Calamity Jewel, which kind of makes me laugh. Also, I don't see statement necklaces going away anytime soon. This one is over-the-top, in a Bollywood kind of way, and so it's guaranteed to perk up whatever you're wearing. Calamity Jewel Necklace, $24

This leather jacket is on sale (and is only left in black now) but its lighter weight and soft, draped shape makes it a great transitional piece. BB Dakota Cartersville Leather Jacket, $74

As soon as I saw it in the Free People catalog that came last week, I became completely obsessed with this crochet tunic, and I'm clearly not the only one, because it's almost sold out in black and ivory (all sizes remain available in lavender).  Let's hope they restock. Engineered Crochet Tunic, $98

This tote is pretty much a knockoff of Vanessa Bruno's signature sequined canvas style, but for what it lacks in originality, it makes up for in price: at $14.50, you could easily buy one in every color. Women's Sequin-Trim Canvas Tote, $15

I've mentioned this before, but I really need to get a pair of nude platform pumps. This Sam Edelman pair looks good, and the price is right (and they still have my size left).  Sam Edelman Niland platform pumps, $95

I've been wearing skinny jeans for close to 10 years, and if there's a pair out there that gets me to try the '70s flare silhouette that's all over the place for spring, it's likely these Gap flare jeans. I love the slightly higher rise, and these look just fitted enough through the hips, thighs, and knees so as to not make one's thighs look like tree trunks.  Gap High rise flare jeans (faded dark wash), $70

Finally,  as someone who changes fragrance as often as underwear, I can attest that scent can greatly alter your mood. There's something fresh and blossoming yet warm and comforting--and, yes, certainly a little bohemian--about Jo Malone's Vanilla and Anise perfume. Vanilla & Anise Cologne, $55

This post is both an experiment and a hodgepodge. I had intended on doing several more Cheryl Shops Fall Shopping guide posts, but all of a sudden it's the end of November and the holidays will be here before we know it, which means we should stop thinking about shopping for ourselves and start thinking about shopping for others. Also, I've got holiday gift guides and party-dressing posts on the way. So here are some of my favorite items from the trends that I didn't quite get around to. I created this with Polyvore, which I recently rediscovered (I know, I'm late to the party, but to my credit, I wrote about it over two years ago). So, anyway, I ended up having fun creating this, so if you like it, I'll keep doing more posts like this--after all, sometimes I have a bunch of random stuff I want to write about, and this is an easy (and, okay, maybe a little lazy) way to put it all together.

As for the below, the three trends I didn't get to talk about were camel coats, digital prints, and high-heeled lace-up boots (a.k.a. grown-up combat boots--I have a similar style by the same brand shown below). To create a cohesive look, I supplemented with a watch similar to my Timex chronograph (which is sadly no longer available), my favorite Wolford Satin de Luxe tights (although I really prefer the Mat Opaque 80), and the Adrienne Landau cropped fur vest I've been lusting after. All together, it's my favorite wear-now look. What do you think?