From Black Friday and Midnight Madness to Cyber Monday Deals!

Folks,

It's that time of the year!  Most stores are rallying for the big Thanksgiving weekend sales, better known as Black Friday, Midnight Madness and Cyber Monday.  My friends often laugh at the many strategies I employ during the holiday weekend to make sure that all of my holiday shopping is completed by 7am on the day after Thanksgiving.  This year will be no different.  I have gotten some awesome deals and I want to share some of my strategies with you so that you too can be the fabulous gift giver that you ought to be. 

1. Midnight Madness Sales- Many stores open at midnight on the day after Thanksgiving for special sales.  If you are interested in burning off those Thanksgiving calories by milling around the aisles in the outlet malls, check out this link to see where the local Midnight Madness sales are near you http://couponing.about.com/od/blackfridayshopping/a/blackfridayhrs.htm.
2. Black Friday- The trick to emerging a winner at Black Friday sales is to have a plan.  First, check out the Black Friday ads for deals that appeal to you.  I tend to visit http://www.blackfriday.info/ because it permits me to log in (create an account first, of course) and create a shopping list. based on the sale ads.  You can also check http://www.blackfriday2010.com/ for ads.  These sites will show you the Black Friday sale ads for many stores.  Browse them and identify those items that you want to purchase.  The next step is to research the products online. Check reviews to see if it is worth dragging yourself out of bed to stand in the long lines for the deal.  Then compare prices for the items that you want to purchase.  You can check sites like http://www.pricegrabber.com/ and http://www.buy.com/ to see how much other merchants are charging for the merchandise you are looking to buy,  After you decide on what you want to buy and where you want to buy it, plan your shopping strategy.  I suggest you go to these sales early.  If the store opens at 5am, get there at 3:30am.  You'd be surprised how many people will already be there.  Do not go to ANY store with an ambitious agenda.  Go in and get one or two items and get out!  Visit the stores a few days before and get a lay of the land.  You will want to have a mental map of the store (Walmart passes out a map to shoppers while they wait in line; Target often passes out reusuable shopping bags with goodies in them) and figure out the fastest way to get to the department where you can find your merchandise.  For example, if I am buying something in Walmart's electronics department, I have a tendency to walk through the clothing section (nobody is going to be over there) and then make a hard left towards electronics, passing the shoe section on the way.  I usually go with more than one person so that we can split up and grab the merchandise.  The first one who gets to a check out line will text us to tell us where they are.  We meet them in line and they take all of the merchandise so we can check out together.  We are usually done in 20-30 minutes.  Totally worth the hassle.  You want to apply that strategy at every store you visit.  By employing this strategy, I am usually done with my shopping by 7am on the day after Thanksgiving.  Remember, the early bird catches the worm.  Most stores have early bird specials and limited quantities, so get there early and only go for those things that you really, really want.  Keep in mind the stores' opening hours when you plan your strategy.  I usually go to Walmart (5am), then Target (in line by 5:30am, opens at 6am), then Old Navy (in line by 6:30am, opens at 7am) and then to A.C. Moore (walk in at 8am after my stop at Starbucks for coffee).  When all is said and done, I'm back home and in bed by 9am while the rest of the world is searching through the scraps.
3. Cyber Monday - If you hate lines and don't get up early, check out the various online sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving, also known as Cyber Monday.  To check out the sales going on at different stores, visit http://www.cybermondaycentral.com/ and http://www.cybermonday.net/ for the sales at your favorite stores. 
4. Last Word on Holiday Shopping- Sales can be tempting and overwhelming.  If you want to continue to be a Discount Diva and avoid buyer's remorse (post-holiday credit card bill blues), write a list and a shopping budget and stick to it.

I hope these tips help you as much as they help me.  Now get shopping and don't forget to get me a gift too!

XOXO- Ms. Diva

Best and Worst Warehouse Buys

Ok ladies, my Discount Diva swag is not just limited to fashion. I look for a deal wherever I can get it. So, when I read these two articles today, I couldn't help but to share it with you.

As a card carrying member of BJ's Warehouse, I know that I need to be careful about what I choose to buy in bulk because I may just be getting ripped off. I also know that buying certain things in bulk can be both a life saver and a money saver. So, here are the tricks of the trade.

Warehouse Clubs Best Buys:

• Over the Counter Drugs
• Electronics
• Wine, Liquor and Beer
• Books
• Office Supplies
• Dry Grocery Items/Nonperishable Items
• Soda

Warehouse Clubs Worst Buys:

• Milk
• Diapers
• DVDs
• Toilet Paper
• Holiday Promotions
• Nonbulk Items

I also note that I have purchased some high-end items from warehouse clubs. For example, I purchased my first Movado from BJ's for $250. I recently saw Bottega Veneta bags there as well. I didn't check the price because I'm not shopping for a while, but it's worth a peek if you are in the market for a high-end bag.

Anyway, if you are interested in reading the full story on the tricks of acing warehouse club shopping, check out the following links:

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/04/22/worst-buys-at-the-warehouse-club/

http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/finance-bestwarehousebuys/best-buys-at-warehouse-clubs/

Enjoy!

Lesson 1- Buy the Basics . . . for Less

You will find lots of books and articles professing to be the rules that you MUST follow in order to be fashion forward. As a self-professed "diva on a dime," sometimes I find those rules somewhat offensive, particularly when they suggest that us divas will not be whole without a pair of $800 shoes or an expensive logo-ridden bag.




Take for instance, the latest installment from Nina Garcia, who reached fashion icon status as a judge on Project Runway and as Marie Claire's Fashion Director. In her book, The One Hundred: a Guide to Pieces Every Stylish Woman Should Own (Collins), she suggests to readers that they should own one investment bag, i.e., an Hermes Birkin Bag ($7,000+) or a Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag ($695) or any other bag of that status. At the outset, while these bags are gorgeous (I have 3 Speedy bags myself), most women cannot afford to spend that kind of money on a bag. More importantly, in the grand scheme of things, I can come up with a lot of other ways to invest $7,000.


Nevertheless, there is something to be said about having some classic pieces for your wardrobe. So I urge you to read these lists and books (check out Tim Gunn's 10 Essential Elements or InStyle: Secrets of Style: The Complete Guide to Dressing Your Best Every Day) simply to get ideas, but don't feel bound by them. Here are some of my top pieces that I use to build the foundation of my wardrobe (excluding shoes and accessories- we'll leave that for another day):

• White, black and grey t-shirts- There are none better than the Hanes brand as far as I am concerned. They practically invented them. So why on God's green earth would I spend more than $10 on one when I can get a Hanes tee for $5 at Wal-Mart. I wear these under blazers, on weekends, as shells under cardigans, over turtlenecks and button down shirts, etc. . .



• Black dress pants- They are a must have for any wardrobe. They match everything, but are only as good as their fit. I just brought a pair of DKNY boot cut black slacks for $75 at Loehmann's. These pants retail at $225.

• A white, crisp-button down shirt- I have several, and I wear them in every way possible. I where them with slacks, a skirt, under sheath dresses, tucked in, belted and untucked, under sweaters or blazers, black shorts, denim, rolled up on the sleeves, tied at the waist, etc. . . I really love wearing a men's oversized white button down because I can wear it as a dress with a cute belt and stilettos. And what better to wear to bed than your man's shirt. Sexy is an understatement! The styling possibilities are endless. And the price is reasonable as well! I purchased my favorite men's button down from Marshall's for $19.99 on clearance and it was a Ralph Lauren! My latest purchase is the Zac Posen for Target white shirt (Regularly $29.99, but i got it for $15 on clearance) pictured here. I am huge fan of high end designers' pedestrian lines. Zac Posen's was no exception. Once you get into the swing of things, you'll want these shirts in different colors!

• Trench Coat- Trench coats can be worn in the spring, fall and the early part of the winter, which is why owning one makes good sense. They can also been worn alone as a dress. I brought one from Joyce Leslie for $15 in black and I wear it as a dress or as a light weight cover-up over evening attire. The Gap and it's older sister Banana Republic have great ones for reasonable prices. Of course, Burberry is the master of the trench coat. But for divas on a dime, you can find hip trench coats that are fabulous for prices. Check out this Jean Paul Gaultier for Target khaki striped trench coat that I bought for $59.99. I get loads of compliments on it and it is the perfect weight for crisp New York weather.

• Little Black Dress (LBD)- You've heard this time and time and again, and it's a fact. Every woman should own a little black dress. I have several because I go out so much. I have to say that my favorite is a Calvin Klein jersey knit dress that is so forgiving to my curves (and lumps) that I wear it several times a month. I wear it with simple jewelry, statement necklaces, cardigans and blazers in different colors, denim jackets, bright statement shoes or demure black pumps or flats. Like the white shirt, the possibilities are endless. What makes my fave LBD even better? I got it for $20 from Burlington Coat Factory! It fit so well that I bought it in blue as well.

• Great fitting jeans- In a world where jeans are retailing at obscene prices, it's nice to know that our favorite weekend staple still has a reasonable price tag in some places. For me, shopping for jeans has always been a nightmare. With a size 10 waist and size 14 hips, a very rotund derriere, and a size 37 inch inseam, you can imagine how difficult it is to find a pair of well-fitting jeans. I have found a godsend in PZI Jeans (http://www.pzijeans.com/). These jeans come in long and short lengths, go up to size 18, they are made in every wash and fit imaginable, and they stretch! Even more, they are constructed to avoid gapping at the waist. They are also reasonably priced vfrom $19.99 (clearance items) to $109.00. I prefer and get more wear out of dark washed jeans and I find boot cut jeans to be most flattering on various body types. My friends tell me that Kohl's also carries great Levi jeans at great prices.

• A cardigan- I just became a fan of cardigans when I discovered how versatile they could be. At first, I thought they were a bit homely, but FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States) proved me wrong. Then I fell in love with the DKNY Cozy, an extra flowy version of the cardigan, which can be worn a cazillion different ways (that means 12), and I knew that this was my long lost love. Worn with a tank or tee underneath, the Cozy is a fabulous investment at $195. However, I found cheaper alternatives at Joyce Leslie and Loehmann's for much less ($20). So don't fret. The quality is not as good, but it works just the same and if you have 5 of them, they won't wear as quickly. In any event, I found a grey Cozy at Marshall's for $45 so it isn't impossible to have such a fabulous piece in your wardrobe for less. Just Google "DKNY Cozy 12 Looks" and you will find videos and pics of how to rock the most fabulous cardigan every invented. Trust me, you won't regret it.

• A blazer- I think I am partial to this staple because of its versatility and because it screams "I mean business." I have a few because of my profession (which I will not disclose), but they are awesome. I have them in key colors, black, white, off white, beige and grey. I also have them in fun prints, colors and fabrics. They go great with jeans and a tee, over your favorite LBD, paired with a white button down, over black slacks, etc. . . . I've even worn my boyfriend blazer over a formal gown and a cocktail dress and it was so chic! In other words, this great addition to your wardrobe rounds it out perfectly. So invest in a well-made, great fitting blazer. I recently found an off white tuxedo blazer by Theory at Neiman Marcus Last Call, for $45 that fit me perfectly. With my 6ft frame, and giraffe-like limbs, that is a fab find! Better yet, the blazer originally retailed at $375, so I made out like a bandit. So keep an eye out for the next Theory sample sale at Lohemann's or the clearance racks at Las Call. And if $45 is too rich for your blood, I found a basic, black boyfriend blazer at TJMaxx for $15. You just have to commit to sifting through the racks.

So ladies, these are just my thoughts on foundation pieces for your wardrobe and where to find them for less. As you can see from my descriptions above, these pieces can easily be mixed and matched and do not have to cost you an arm and a leg. Hope this helps!

Welcome Discount Divas!

Welcome to the Diary of a Discount Diva, home of the best tips to get the look for less. As a self-professed Discount Diva, I have many "tips of the trade" that I want to share with women everywhere who want to be divalicious on a dime. Let's face it, being fabulous costs money, and in this recession, there isn't a whole lot of that going around. But just because you have a limited budget doesn't mean you can't be just a s fabulous as the rich and famous. Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking. "Ms. Diva, how can I afford my champagne taste on a Kool-Aid budget?" In some respects you can't. If you only have a small amount of disposable income for clothes and home goods, don't expect to wear Louboutins exclusively. That doesn't mean you can't own any at all.

Take me for example. A year ago, you could not tell me that I could own some of the more high end items I have now. At the outset, I make a comfortable living, but I am by no means rich and I refuse to spend thousands of dollars on any clothing item. It's just absurd to me. A cotton shirt is a cotton shirt. Seriously. A name will not change cotton. You have to be realistic about some things. Plus, I have an unusual body type. I am six feet tall, wear a size 11 shoe and I am thick in the thighs, behind and hips. Designers did not have me in mind when they were creating clothes for the slim-line hangers they call models. So, while I love designer clothes, they weren't exactly made for me.

But as a marathon shopper. I have discovered that having little or no money,or being odd-sized is no excuse for lacking fabulosity. So I decided to start this blog to help all my struggling and rising divas around the globe. So please check in for my latest bargain shopping and fashion tips and get ready to unleash the diva in you!