Divas Die Poor

Intermix Warehouse Sale

Get there early!!

Intermix.  Metropolitan Pavilion.  125 West 18th Street.  2/26-2/28, 9AM-8PM. 3/1, 10AM-6PM. Upto 70% off on See By Chloe, Stella McCartney, and Elizabeth & James.

Home Cheap Home

I love home products. I can’t get enough of candles, pillows, linens, and modern home furnishings.  But you don’t have to shell out loads of dough for Frette sheets and Jo Malone candles to get luxury.  Here are some cheapies but goodies.

1) Archipelago Botanical Candles.  These candles are made with soy so they burn longer and cleaner.  They have a great look—very minimalist chic.  My favorite is the signature candles offered in delicious flavors such as Black Currant, Mango Tangerine, or White Fig.  PRICE:  $10-$40 on Froogle.com 

2) Garnett Hill.  Huge selection of sheets and linens—they are especially known for flannel sheets.  Also check overstock.com & smartbargains.com for some great deals on 400+ thread count sheets.  PRICE:  $22 and up

3) Design Within Reach Outlet. Secaucus, NJ.  Can’t afford a $10,000 couch? Head to the Outlet and get the couch for 1/10^th of the price.  Has a broad selection of its signature modern design at significant discounts.  Best thing about the Outlet is that you can bargain!!

Shift to Thrift

You don’t have to compromise your style to save money.  Shopping vintage has always been cool and a great way to save cash.  Altering and customizing vintage clothing to suit your own body is even cooler.  Clothes always come full circle.  It's all about the 80's now isn't it?

Fashion is circular; its only clever marketing that makes it look different.  Whatever trend your heart desires can be found on the cheap or assembled together. It just takes some creativity and a little bit of time.  Don’t waste your money.  Retailers pocket up to 75 cents on every dollar you spend with them.  Why are you giving away your money?  Besides why waste on new clothing when the pieces you want already exist? And lets learn to leave less of a footprint on this earth. 

Here are some of my favorite vintage shops in NYC:

Resurrection.  217 Mott Street, Nolita. Amazing collection of vintage Chanel handbags in superb condition. Their selection in dresses is super stylish and always chic.

Foley + Corrina.  114 Stanton Street, LES.  Very girly shop with a great selection of vintage and new clothing. Great one of a kind pieces for day to evening attire.

Marmalade. 172 Ludlow Street, LES.  Great selection of the moment fashion.  Has affordable tops and shoes.  Very cool and not pretentious.

Butter Consignment.371 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn.  Impressive collection of shoes, handbags and vintage tops and dresses. Also carry sale merchandise from Butter (non vintage) that adds depth to its offering.  Marc Jacobs, Marni, and Derek Lam are names that you will find here.

Bag the Expensive Moisturizer

Women spend close to $3 billion on skin care each year.  Can you get the same effect with inexpensive moisturizers?

As the old saying goes, the best things in life are free. Good skin is a result of lots of sleep, a balanced diet (preservative free), lots of water, not too much sun, alcohol, or smoke, and of course, good genes.  Expensive brands engage a ton of expensive scientists and celebrities to endorse the efficacy of their products.

Don’t believe the hype.

Here are a few of my favorite cheapies that are good for your body too: 

1. Pears Soap. Created in 1789 in the UK. It’s hypo-allergenic and doesn’t contain colorants.  It won’t clog your pores. PRICE:  $1.47/bar on Amazon.com 
2. Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream.  It serves all skin types.  My skin always feels soft after using.  It contains all natural ingredients—and none of the junkie parabens that are linked to breast cancer. PRICE:  $29.00 on Froogle.com
3. Weleda Iris Day Cream.  It’s free of synthetic fragrances, colors, and preservatives. It leaves your skin soft and doesn’t grease you up.  Feels lightweight.  PRICE:  $10.80 on Froogle.com 
4. David Babaii Shampoo and Conditioner.  It doesn’t contain parabens, petrochemicals, or sodium laurel sulphate (SLS). Parabens are cheap preservatives linked to cancer and can irritate your skin. SLS makes things foam. Basically it is a harsh detergent and can strip your hair of natural oils. This shampoo is free of all those junky chemicals and is much more affordable then salon shampoos/conditioners.  PRICE: $9.99 at Sally Beauty Supply.com

Proud to Be Prudent

It’s so 2006 to splash around your cash—the new cool is being able to spot a deal from 100 miles away.   The growing movement in frugalness is probably due to the current credit crunch, environmental issues we face, and a realization that an extravagant lifestyle isn’t always the road to happiness.  But finding a great deal and staying fabulous is still gratifying. This blog is my quest to find ways to save money while maintaining your own personal style.