Posts Tagged ‘shopping’
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Thursday, December 1st, 2011
Illustration by Elisa Glass
With the holiday shopping frenzy upon us, it can make heading to the mall to buy a tie for Uncle Kevin a daunting task. Martin Lindstrom, the author of “Buyology: Truth And Lies About What We Buy,” shares his insights on what the retailers are doing to entice shoppers and how to make your list, check it twice—and stick to it.
—Lorin Drinkard
Is BOGO a bogus deal? Most of the time. “How often do you really need two t-shirts, two bags or whatever you’re required to buy to get a second product? Rarely, if not never.”
Designed to sell. “Products placed at low levels target kids, products in the middle are bestsellers, and products high up are selling the least.”
Time for a babysitter. “Don’t bring your kids with you. They make you spend up to 26 percent more.”
Eat a sample, buy more. “Remember, once you eat or drink one, you activate your senses, generate hunger and craving, and, as a result, begin to buy more.”
Beware the Tunes. “Music establishes a sense of ‘oasis.’ [So] we tend to respond by buying stuff linked with the songs—like the ‘special Christmas offers.’”
Limited-time offers? “Even though stores claim the sale only lasts to a certain day, rest assured it will continue.”
Colloquially Speaking…
Boo-tiquing [boo-teek-king]
v.t., the process of dragging your significant other, usually male, through a marathon shopping day spent in the Northern Virginia area’s mostly female-friendly boutiques; as in ‘”boo,” a pet name for a boyfriend or girlfriend
From the French word for “small shop,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a “boutique” often refers to a “small shop selling fashionable clothes or accessories.”
The colloquialsm “boo,” is thought to have come from the French word beau, meaning beautiful, and may trace its eventual American English slang etymology from the rich branches of Afro-Caribbean language.
Recently, the term “boutique” has evolved to include niche items or those produced in intentionally small numbers at very high prices.
Like a boutique sporting goods or electronics store?
One can dream.
—David Gignilliat
(December 2011)
After Turkey Thursday Comes Black Friday
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, November 25th, 2011
Occasionally Cake holiday goodies
Are you one of the obsessed Black Friday shoppers waiting in line at 3 a.m. this morning?
If so, all the power to you. I, on the other hand, can 100 percent guarantee that I’ll be passed out in my bed in the heaviest turkey-gravy-stuffing-pie food coma of the year as I sleep in, dreaming about eating leftovers for breakfast.
Either way you choose to spend your post-Thanksgiving Friday morning, a couple of Friday mid-day treats await you.
The Little Washington Winery will be serving a special holiday tasting with warm mulled wine and bonus bottle deals in the Gallery from 11 a.m. till the sun sets (that’s 4:53 p.m. for you less abstract minded). At 2 p.m., they’ll be making yule logs — because on post-Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas season also officially starts.
Occasionally Cake in Alexandria will be serving free hot cocoa and coffee as well as a 20 percent discount on holiday cakes and cookies (to name a few: vanilla chocolate-chip pound cake, brown sugar pound cake with Virginia whiskey glaze, pumpkin pound cake with maple glaze, peppermint candy-cane cake truffles, hand-decorated sugar cookies, chocolate-dipped macaroons, gingerbread men, and sugar plum, gingerbread pumpkin pie, candy cane and Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes).
-Julia Harbo
Give & Get at Urban Chic’s 5th Annual Coat Drive
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
Hello, shoppers!
Now that we’re getting closer to winter (or feeling those holiday pounds) most of us are cleaning out our closets — and they certainly do need it! If you’re planning on donating a new or gently used coat, donate it at any one of Urban Chic’s four locations (Georgetown, Bethesda, Harbor East and their newest one at Fairfax Corner) for their Fifth Annual Coat Drive from Dec. 1-11!
Urban Chic 5th Annual Coat Drive (photo courtesy of Urban Chic)
The donations of men’s, women’s and children’s winter coats that Urban Chic accepts will benefit the The Women’s Housing Coalition, which aims to break the cycle of homelessness for women and children in need. PLUS, you will receive 20 percent off one item at Urban Chic for the first coat you donate and receive 15 percent off per item for each additional coat donated.
Talk about a win-win!
– Lexie Ramage
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, November 4th, 2011
Hello, shoppers!
Have I got some breaking news for you!
Urban Chic is throwing a chic soiree to celebrate the opening of their newest Urban Chic location in Fairfax Corner … this weekend!
On Nov. 5 and 6, meet at the Urban Chic in Fairfax Corner (11889 Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax) to enjoy bubbly, treats, store-wide savings, contests and giveaways as well as a free gift with purchase (can you say Swag?)!
Check out the chic invite! (Photo courtesy of Urban Chic)
Have fun, shoppers!
– Lexie Ramage
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced in late summer that Virginia had a surplus of $545M. That had us thinking how we would improve NoVA. While at first we thought we could take on a lot of projects, we quickly found the bank running dry.
iPads
For the 362,510 students in NoVA, we would buy each an iPad, and have almost $365M leftover.
Taxes
We wanted to pay everyone’s property tax for a year, but we could only afford one of the counties, or all of the cities.
Metro
Costing approximately $100M per mile, we’d get a metro line to Fort Belvoir from the Springfield station.
Weight-loss programs
We would pay for five years of the Weight Watchers program for the 20.3 percent of Northern Virginia residents who are obese.
Bike Share Program
Annual membership to Capital Bike Share for all NoVA residents (with over $400M leftover). Currently the program is only in Arlington, we’re hoping our generosity with the state’s coffers will have the company expanding.
19% of Foreclosures
NoVA has approx. 9,000 foreclosures, coming in with almost a total of $2.8B in value, we’d buy up just a small piece to alleviate the burden.
2,400 Flying Cars
Yes, they are an option since the U.S. National Highway Safty Administration approved Terrafugia’s model (costing approx. $227,000) in July. We’d set it up ZipCar style so everyone could have some fun.
Sources: Virginia Department of Education, U.S. Census, Tax Foundation, Weight Watchers, Apple, Capital Bike Share, Virginia Department of Health, Fox news, RealtyTrac
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Claire Cocktail Dress, $58 (gossipon23rd.com)
Hello, shoppers!
Here’s an event you won’t want to miss! Arguably NoVA’s top resource for bargain on-trend apparel, Gossip on 23rd, is having their four-year anniversary celebration on Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., an all-day soiree chock-full of discounts and giveaways! Also included in the festivities: At 8 p.m. Tortoise & Hare Bar and Grille, across the street, will host a fashion show with complimentary appetizers and drink specials!
RSVP by Nov. 4 to Katherine@gossipon23.com with the number of guests you’ll be bringing and the names of those lucky plus-ones! All guests will receive a free raffle ticket for a gift bag worth $50 or more upon arrival to the party so it’s very important that you do RSVP.
Have fun, shoppers!
– Lexie Ramage
Style Sense: Meet Chris Leotta
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, September 30th, 2011
Shoppers, meet Chris Leotta. This man knows fashion. He’s worked at Express, is currently a sales associate at DSW and is a local who knows how to dress. Originally from New York, he now resides in Burke.
Photo courtesy of Chris Leotta
Q: What’s your fashion style:
A: Casual dress. My favorite thing to do is to take a pair of jeans and dress it up so it works for a night out.
Q: What do you normally wear?
A: Usually jeans, it can involve a button down shirt and either a tie or a graphic tee on top. For the complete picture, a pair of casual dress shoes. If I’m looking for a bit more casual style for the night, I will do a graphic tee with a vest on top.
Q: What’s your fashion mantra?
A: Wear what’s comfortable because if you’re not comfortable then you’re not going to like wearing it and people will know.
Q: What’s your biggest fashion disaster
A: When I found old clothes from high school and I tried to wear one of the sweatshirts. A 26-year-old should not be wearing what he wore in high school.
Q: How did you get into fashion?
A: I worked at Express for a while. It started with the graphic tees and once I realized that t-shirts could be stylish, I decided to elevate my own wardrobe.
Q: What’s one popular trend that you don’t understand?
A: I’ve never understood popped collars.
Q: Favorite trends?
A: Going into the winter, I really like all of the outerwear. I love the wool jackets.
Q: Favorite place to go shopping?
A: Lord & Taylor, they have something for everyone whether you want high fashion or a more casual look. When I’m home [in New York], I love going to Saks.
Q: Favorite designers?
A: Calvin Klein and Kenneth Cole.
Q: Any tips?
A: Make sure what you’re wearing you’re going to be comfortable in. Also, keep color in mind. A simple outfit can look really stylish as long as you’re matching your colors.
Shoppers, let’s keep Leotta’s fashion tips in mind — comfy and color rule above all!
– Lexie Ramage
S.W.A.G Presents: Mid-week sales
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
Shoppers, even though it’s mid-week, we’ve got some great deals going on around Nova!
Just because it's Wednesday, doesn't mean a shopper can't have any fun. (Photo courtesy of ChiqueChic)
Everybody loves BOGO! The Limited is having buy one jacket/skirt/pant/dress, get one free. Just in time to update your closet with their new Irish countryside collection. The sale is in-store and online for a limited time.
We all know grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren. Spoil them more with 10% off on all Wednesdays with Grandparents Day at Dharma & Leopold’s in Gainesville.
Just for all your furry friends, Petsmart is having a Friends and Family sale. Take 15% of entire purchase from Sept. 22-25.
Need some new upholstery? Crate and Barrel is having their biggest upholstery event of the year with 15% off. Sadly this excludes both office and leather dining chairs.
Take the mid-week funk out of Wednesday and do some shopping (while saving some green)!
– Lexie Ramage
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Monday, September 19th, 2011
Here’s a Sure Thing for all those coffee lovers out there: Godiva Coffee.
In case you didn’t know Godiva makes coffee…good coffee. Now, being only 21, I may not have the most seasoned coffee palette but this stuff is the real deal. Sweet but not too sweet. Just strong enough but it doesn’t leave a bitter taste in your mouth. There are five different decadent flavors – breakfast blend, caramel, chocolate truffle, french vanilla and hazelnut creme.
Godiva coffee comes in multiple flavors at $14 per 10 oz. bag. Coffee lovers can even buy a set of three packages for $35. (Photo courtesy of godiva.com)
When Godiva first came out with the coffee, they had free samples in store. I was hooked. Personally, I enjoy the chocolate truffle flavor. I’m generally a creme-and-two-sugars kind of girl but thanks to the rich chocolate flavor I don’t feel the need to add sugar (and who doesn’t want to skip sugar when it doesn’t need to be added?).
The only drawback is that it’s a wee bit expensive at $14 for a 10 oz. bag, but trust me it’s worth it. Godiva stores often have sales on their coffee. Godiva coffee has become so popular that it’s even in grocery stores like Giant or Safeway. It even has its own website! The grocery store locator helps find local stores that have it. Other recipes help make your coffee experience the best part of the day.
Plus, Godiva gives you a coupon. So, it’s settled then. Godiva Coffee is a sure thing.
– Lexie Ramage
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, September 16th, 2011
New York Fashion Week. Just the phrase leaves most of the fashion-conscientious salivating. The oh-so-exclusive, week-long event where designers showcase their selection for the next season (in this case, Spring 2012) has come and gone.
Didn’t get the NYFW invite? No worries, S.W.A.G is here with a wrap up of all the trends:
Yellow is the color of Spring 2012. All shades of yellow, but most common is a pale vanilla yellow.
Pale vanilla yellow was a huge color at NYFW, like in this dress from Calvin Klein. (Photo courtesy of Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW)
Metallics like gold and silver are huge, especially in dresses.
Gold, like in these Elie Tahari designs, was a popular trend in NYFW. (Photo courtesy of fashionizers.com)
Bright lipstick red, like Mad Men lipstick red. On coats, dresses, everything and anything.
Bright red, like this coat from L'Wren Scott, popped up at the NYFW. (Photo courtesy of nymag.com)
White Lace also made many appearances.
Taylor Swift in a white lace dress. Lace is a big NYFW trend for Spring 2012 (photo courtesy of Phil Oh).
Long layers of flowy material (even on the shortest dresses).
Long, flowing layers (much like this Anna Sui) very simply beautiful at NYFW. (Photo courtesy of nymag.com)
Neutral furs (light grey) and white feathers.
Feathers and fur made their comeback, like the feathers in this Naeem Khan dress, on the runways for NYFW. (Photo courtesy of nymag.com)
The sporty look is in. Many outfits were mainly black or white with bold, chunky lines up the sides.
Sports went fashionable, like in this dress from Bill Blass, at NYFW. (Photo courtesy of nymag.com)
Lots of patterns — polka dots, plaid, floras, you name it.
All sorts of patterns, like in the threeasFOUR dress, were splashed all over the NYFW runways. (Photo courtesy of nymag.com)
Make-up was strong (pearlescent colors or strong black) on the eyes with bright lips.
Pearlescent eyes and bright lips, like the makeup from DKNY, stole the show at NYFW. (Photo courtesy of vogue.com)
Shoppers, update your closets! See more collections at vogue.com or nymag.com.
– Lexie Ramage
