Awesome Things I Discovered This Week

The week has finally come to an end, and even though I only worked four days this week, it seemed like it went on and on and on and on...and on. Despite the laborious length of the work week, it was actually very productive. Here's a rundown of what I did, what I discovered, and what I'll be checking out this weekend:

I've finally transitioned into the digital data-geek world of infographics and found a really cool website that allows you to create them FOR FREE! It is called infogr.am, and they provided the templates, widgets, and spreadsheets to create any number or style of graphics. You can post them to Facebook, Twitter, or embed them onto your website. And although I will mainly use this for work, I will probably, most definitely, try to incorporate it into a blog post here.

A great and momentous moment in broadcast 24-hr news was revealed to me this week via The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Yes, I know, The Daily Show has nothing to do with fashion or bargains, but the laughter evoked by the outstanding humor and satire of it is the best bang for your buck any day of the week! Here's a clip of the gem that had me chucking for quite some time (skip to 3:33 to see what I'm talking about).

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

The best part of my week is typically Friday, when I know the weekend is right around the corner and the potential for some good...great...awesome sales are on the horizon. In a succinct round-up of weekend sales, here are my top five:

• LOFT: 40% off all full-priced styles including new arrivals. Online (use code WOW40) and in store.
• Kohl's: (They are always having sales) But, it looks like this weekend they are having a full store sale with up to 60% off items.
• Macy's: (It looks like they are extending their sale from last weekend) Super Saturday Sale where you can get and extra 20% off sale and clearance specials with a special Macy's WOW! Pass.
• Gap: Online only sale on Saturday for 30% off men and women sale items and 25% off maternity, kids, and baby.
• Piperlime: Up to 40% off dresses and sandals.

And, finally, I will leave you with the most adorable photo of my parent's dog...ever! She is such a hoot, and even has her own blog! Check it out here: The Tails of Missy O'Shoot

Une Petite Femme Chic

It ain't easy being short. Especially when it comes to clothes. Just ask my sister. She is 4' 11" and despite the fact that the average height of American women is slightly under 5' 4", she is still considered relatively short -- or what some might call "extra petite." And that has unwittingly forced her into a fashion-industry box that limits her access to ready-made clothes. Even petite brands don't always fit her properly -- probably because they fit the average 5' 4" frame -- and she usually has to get things tailored or just deal with the extra length or bulk.

It is unfortunate that there are a limited number of clothing brands and designers that accommodate real petite women. And that doesn't mean skinny women -- I've often seen the word petite used to describe women who aren't just short, but teenie-tiny in the weight department. Sure, they are petite, but so are woman who are a little larger but under 5' 4".

So, here's the thing. The fashion world needs to step up. They need to start redefining what it means to be petite. 5' 4" is not petite. It is average. Just as they've started to accept that the average clothing size for women is a 14, they've also got to start accepting the fact that a lot of those size 14 women are also short.
Thankfully, though, there are some brands that have taken the plunge to offer a decent number of options for true petites like my sister. LOFT, Gap, Banana Republic, and various Macy's brands like INC and Style & Co. are a few of the brands that actually have petite clothing that is designed specifically for small and short women.

Here is a sampling of what you can find from these petite brands.

 First row: Petite colorblocked dress, $69.50 (+40% off), LOFT; Anne Klein belted a-line, $84, Macy's. Second row: Sexy boyfriend jeans, $69.95, Gap; Style & Co. boot cut rinse wash, $32.99, Macy's; Marisa trousers, $69.50 (+40% off), LOFT. Third row: Ponte knit peplum top, $49.50, Banana Republic; Stripe crochet yoke shell, $54.50 (+40% off), LOFT

P.S. Telling a petite woman to "just wear heels" to increase her height is like telling a large woman to "suck it in" or a tall woman to "not wear heels." No one should have to feel like they have to adjust who they are physically to fit into clothes.

Holiday Sales

Every holiday calls for a holiday sale. And while today is really about remembering the service men and women who gave their lives to protect and defend this great country, it is also a day where we get together with family and friends to enjoy each other's company over food, drinks, and -- well -- sometimes shopping.

And that's what I did today with my mom and sister. It was a good day, too. I was able to reflect on how grateful I am to live in such a magnificent nation, while also contributing to the economic well-being of it. Oh, yes. I did contribute. But I also saved. And now, I shall share with you my bounty.


Happy Memorial Day friends!

 Clockwise: Abstraction Tunic, $39.95, Anthropologie; Pattern Gather Shell, $39.95, Anthropologie; Gatsby Cocktail Shaker, $24.95, Crate & Barrel; Levi's Jeans, 525 Straight Leg Jeans, $54 (Sale: $39.99), Macy's; Lauren Ralph Lauren Striped Boat Neck Top, $22.99, Macy's; Duplex 10" Vase, $29.95, Crate & Barrel.

The Great Gatsby Style

There’s been a lot of talk about The Great Gatsby movie recently, and since it has recently become one of my favorite novels – and time periods – I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to post about the fashionable inspiration that has come out of the movie, the novel, and the time period.

Baz Luhrmann's movie is quite a spectacle that bridges the old with the new to make a spectacular time period come alive to current-day audiences. The 20s were a time of excess and merriment, and The Great Gatsby certainly captures that. The elusive “American Dream” seems to be at the heart of the story, and although everyone eventually must wake up from it, it sure is fun while it lasts. And that, old sport, is why The Great Gatsby is such a glorious caricature of a time when champagne flowed, luxury was king, and pleasure and passion were the essence of a good life. 

The fashions were preppy and cosmopolitan, decadent and elegant, and whimsical and refined. It was the beginning of personal expression and style – and if you had enough money to pull it off, it became your calling card. Today is no different, although having enough money to pull off “style” doesn’t have to be a hindrance. There are plenty of stores that are budget-friendly and offer stylish looks for less.  In fact, there are two in particular that seem to cater to retro fashions with a modern flair: Anthropologie and ModCloth. Here are a few finds from both stores that offer their contemporary take on the fashionable Roaring Twenties.

 Clockwise: Posh Petal Earrings, $10.99, Modcloth; Ruffle Stream Maxi Dress, $298, Anthropologie; Presentation and Accounted for Dress, $147.99, ModCloth; Stop Sign and Look Heel, $179.99, ModCloth; Tisa Swing Dress, $128, Anthropologie.

Starting Over

Graduation, May 11,
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ

So, it has been about a year and a half since my last post, and although I eagerly declared back then that I would be changing the direction of the blog and writing about things other than fashion and bargains, I did neither. In fact, I stopped posting all together. The reason? I was working on my Master's degree in English. That meant hanging up my fashion-bargain hat and putting on my academic one instead. I was still writing, though, just not about the latest trends or how to find designer looks for less. Rather, I was writing about literary theories, Greek and Roman Rhetoric, and critical analyses of great literary works.

I am proud to announce, though, that all that hard work and time away from Bargain Chic has paid off -- I graduated a few weeks ago with my MA in English (with distinction, thankyouverymuch).

And because free time doesn't seem to exist in my vocabulary, I thought what better way to keep up my writing skills than to return to my trusty little blog. And, so here I am. Again.

My goal now is to revamp the site. Get a new look. Simplify. Modernize. And regroup. Over the next few days and possibly weeks, I'm going to be shopping around for how to make the blog look better. I may try out a new template, decide it's not what I am looking for, and try another. I may even experiment with my own website design. Just be patient with me, as the site may appear "under construction"  for awhile.

I've decided to keep the general theme of the website intact -- although with a broader focus on bargains that includes, but is not limited to, fashion. I am also entertaining the idea of starting another blog that will focus on topics outside of the bargain/fashion world. And I hope that if -- or when -- that blog gets started, you'll join me over there as well. I'll keep you posted on the 5Ws -- the who, what, when, where, and why of it all. In the meantime, welcome back. Be patient. And stay tuned for some delicious bargains and fantastic finds.

My best,
TeeKay