Spring has almost well and truly sprung (although judging by the volume of welly-wearers and inverted brollies here in the UK, you’d never know it!). With the sunshine and cute baby lambs come the impending boom of car-boot sales (that’s yard sales to most of you), a tradition which is to me like soil is to the newly blooming flowers. Sort of.

Whilst the mass population flock to high-street retailers in a desperate bid to exchange plastic for summerwear, I on the other hand will be relaxing in the fresh spring air (global warming pending). My bargains will come from charity shops and markets, rather than the Reduced To Clear section of my local River Island.

Not only do you gain the positives of air and exercise whilst indulging in some cheaply priced Mills and Boon titles (not that, y’know, I’d know from personal experience or anything..) but you gain the sheer satisfaction of knowing you’re recycling, and in some cases helping a charity or two along the way.

Second-hand shopping is a shopping experience like no other; the feeling of knowing you are helping others can bring a perpetual glow to your cheeks. And if that’s not a true bargain, then I don’t know what is.

Got any favorite Yard Sale or Bargin Shopping areas? Let us know!

February has just started up, and since I like to get ahead of myself, I’m pretty sure that means spring is just around the corner. I’m that much closer putting away my many pairs of black opaque tights and letting the legs go bare.

Spring wear has been settling in stores for a few weeks now, so we’ve all gotten a glimpse of what to expect this season. But what’s really stood out to me are all of the bright colored items from dresses to handbags. Bold hues of blue, yellow and red are everywhere. Luckily we can all get the runway look for less, thanks to Forever21 and the like. Read More »

Roll-Up Sleeve Shirt Dress $14.99; Tie-Waist Shirt Dress $99.99; Solid Ruffled Shirt Dress $69.50

When it comes to fashion, I can’t say I’ve ever been one to get in touch with my masculine side. Ties, suspenders and loafers really don’t do it for me — or flatter my figure for that matter. However, ladies. Wearing shirts as dresses, now that’s sexy and trendy.

Yep, shirt dresses keep on making a comeback. I absolutely adored one that I bought from Express in high school. And I’m kicking myself now for letting my mother convince me to part with it. Hopefully, whoever snagged it at the Salvation Army appreciates its timelessness.

But as someone who always looks on the brighter side, I’m making the best of my loss. I’ll just have to buy a few to replace it. Yes, a few. Just in case Janet (my mom) decides to do any more spring cleaning — gotta have some back-ups. Read More »

Ballet Dress, $69.50, Strapless Tulip Dress, $69.50, Silk Voile Pleated Dress, $69.50

I’ve never been much of a Gap fan and when I have found things I like, I’ve clipped the tags off my purchases and refused to divulge where they came from.

There’s just something about the Gap that reminds me of suburbia. I hate suburbia. There’s just something ominious about the sprawl…like a fungus or something. I’d rather live in West Virginia than live in ‘burbs. I don’t want to go crazy and say that I’d rather live in some godforsaken state like Kansas…but I could do West Virginia. I’ve always liked banjos after all, especially ones which duel. Read More »

He’s been around as long as I can remember. Our love affair began in the seventh grade. We met at the mall. I was shopping for the first day of school; he was sitting near the window in Nordstrom.

Well, not actually him, but one of the many fruits of his labors: the black elastic slide with the little platform bottom. A staple for any “it” girl in 1998.

And that was only the beginning of my nine year relationship with one Mr. Steve Madden.

We have both grown and changed over the years. I got boobs, curves and went to college. Steve went to jail, got out of jail, started going by Steven and created a much more sophisticated and sexy line of shoes.

And now, just as I have finally gotten comfortable with who I am, Mr. Madden has changed once again; this time adding dresses to match his already popular wedges, flats and oh-so-high-heels. And they are everything you would expect from the King of Shoes….and a whole lot more. Steve Madden dresses are flirty, flattering and perfect for Spring (if it ever shows up!). The cuts are beautiful and definitely draw attention to all the right parts (like those boobs I mentioned earlier…) Read More »