Playing Favorites

Alas, I am not dead! (Though I felt like I wanted to recently.) No, I've just been a combination of stressed out/uber busy/under the weather. After a long and un-lovely day at the emergency room, it's been discovered that I'm suffering from sinusitis, and it certainly is not fun, my friends. However, now that I'm popping antibiotics, hopefully I'll be making a speedy recovery.

In addition to being a sicky-poo, our computer decided to kick the bucket last week, so now I'm stuck using a rather decrepit and senile substitute that must have been built when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Hence, I can't upload any of my own pictures for fear that this computer might also snuff it. So it looks like daily ensemble and W.E.I.O. are on hold for an undetermined time period.

Anyway, seeing as how I can't show off my own duds and toot my own horn, I've been wistfully perusing wardrobe_remix and enjoying the other gals' supreme sense of fashion. Like other fashion bloggers, I can't help playing favorites. There's just some ladies that continue to inspire me time and time again.





(Click the pics to be magically transported to each gal's flickr account.)
Thank you, irene_adler, liebemarlene, mystery bugs, nemrešpobje?odnedjelje, persephassa, piksi_, Sally Jane Vintage, the snail and the cyclops, and duckrabbit for being as lovely as falling leaves.

Steal Beyonce’s Steal…

Jacket: Marc Jacobs Cropped Tweed Jacket, $685, www.catwalktocloset.com
Pants: Wide-Leg Cuffed Trousers, $32.50, www.oldnavy.com

Top: Puff Sleeve Drape Top, $9.99, www.wetseal.com
Hat: Space Dyed Beret, $24, www.urbanoutfitters.com
Necklace: Rose Bead Necklace, $7.80, www.forever21.com
Bag: Bow Dacious Large Tote, $99, www.endless.com

I’m guessing most of us can’t afford the $685 Marc Jacob classic cropped jacket (the original cost was $2800!). So in true I Like Her Style! Fashion, I found this Plaid Tailored Blazer for $98, at www.freepeople.com. It’s not tweed but it’ll get the job done. Oh, and don't forget a brooch for your jacket ;)

meretrix mehndi

Setting- Paying for newspapers at a market stand.

Guy: Hey, I like your mehndi.

Me: Thanks.

Guy: I tried it once. On my back.

Me: Cool.

Guy: It reminds me of what's-her-name... um... you know. Red hair. In the bible. Jesus's girlfriend.

Me: Mary Magdalene?

Guy: Yeah! You look like her.

It's that time of year again . . .

Time for the rhododendruns to bloom. And time to drag Boris out there and try to get him to pose in front of them for a photo. There he is, Little Doggie, feeling perfectly fine now, no breathing trouble at all. Super engergetic and rarin' to go! My Dad had to sit next to him to keep him still long enough for a photo.

Funky new finds from IGIGI

IGIGI just got some really cute stuff in stock. Although they stock a variety of pieces, my favorite items of theirs tend to be their dresses.

I've raved before about their Satin Dream gown before, which is so soft and comfy that it feels like you are wearing pajamas but look appropriate for a black tie event. It's also a great dress for cleavage - and its covered up enough to wear a regular bra with!






Here are some of their other items I am fond of:




L: Fur Shrug, $90
R: Brocade Lace Wrap Top, $65




L: Fiorella Lace Gown and Shrug, $209
R: Pencil Skirt, $52

My pretty blue slips

Several of my pretty blue slips have been featured in a post on A Slip of a Girl -

http://aslipofagirl.blogspot.com/2008/06/vintage-slip-blues-in-such-good-way.html


Thank you!

Marraccini Jewelry

Lapidary and Metalsmith

In 1972, 25-year-old Lee Angelo Marraccini accompanied his wife Pam to the art studio in Washington, DC, where she was taking pottery classes. On a whim, he enrolled in a jewelry-making workshop. Within a year, he and Pam had left their jobs as high school teachers, outfitted their GMC van with a bed and camp stove, and set out on a road trip through the United States and Mexico, during which Lee met jewelers around the country and refined his technique.



From the Inlay Collection:



18k Gold & Gemstone Link Bracelet

Rectangular links inlaid with all natural black Jade, Costa Rican yellow Jasper, Lapis, Maw Sit-Sit, Sugilite, and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.





Moldavite Earrings & Pendant

18k rectangular inlay earrings with Moldavite inlay

18k rectangular inlay pendant with Moldavite inlay

Necklace: 20 strand 14k cable necklace with crocodile clasp 16 in.





Gold & Gemstone Pendants

Clockwise left to right:

18k textured round pendant with flush set .03ct TW diamond

18k round pendant with natural Lapis and .03ct TW diamond

18k textured round pendant

18k round pendant with natural Maw Sit-Sit - a beautiful gemstone

18k dome pendant with .11 ct TW flush set diamonds

18k round pendant with natural garnet and .03ct TW diamond

Necklace: thin black, blue, or green silicon 16 in. necklace with 18k clasp



In the summer of 1973, Lee and Pam landed at the Belles Artes San Miguel de Allende School of Art, where for $32 a month, they enrolled in a bohemian course of study that included drawing, ballet, guitar, and jewelry design. What artistic little vagabonds they were!



By 1974, they were back on the East coast. In the Allegheny Mountains in Paw Paw, West Virginia, they eked out a living farming organic vegetables, while Lee put all his energy into making jewelry. He started Moondance Silver that year, and peddled rings and bracelets at craft shows around the country.



From the Gemstone Collection:



Diamond Surprise Rings

Left to right:

14k ring with squared off back and 10x8mm emerald cut Amethyst, and .015 ct flush set diamond on back side of shank

14k ring with squared off back and 10x8mm emerald cut Citrine and .015 ct flush set diamond on back side of shank



Commercial success proved elusive, but Lee honed his inlay technique, and became exceedingly skilled at shaping stones on the wheel. He sought out and studied under some of the country's top jewelers, including Heiki Seepe, Robert Ebendorf, Ivy Ross, James Meyer, and Ronald Hayes Pearson. His pieces became warmer, cleaner, and more linear - the foundation of a style that would eventually become synonymous with the Marraccini name. He was designing jewelry he loved, and that he believed people would buy.



Armed with new creations, Lee hit the craft shows more frequently over the next several years. Business grew. So did his relationships with other jewelers. Gabriel Ofiesh and a group from Charlottesville, Virginia, were especially encouraging. At the same time, Wild, Wonderful West Virginia was becoming a little too wild. When floods, isolation, and harsh weather sent Lee and Pam searching for a new place to settle, Pam suggested Charlottesville. They moved in 1984.



Lee continued to develop new designs. He studied intermediate and advanced stone setting at the Revere Academy in 1986. His pieces became stronger, yet retained a sense of playfulness. They reflected his theory that jewelry should be "serious fun" for the wearer.



In 1998, Lee opened Angelo, a jewelry store in the Old Michie Building off Charlottesville's Downtown Mall. Angelo is a show house for Lee's strong, geometric designs - like his signature series of stacking rings - as well as new pieces and jewelry from other top artists.



Lee's jewelry is meticulously handcrafted at his studio several blocks from the store. They incorporate platinum, yellow and white gold, colored stones, and diamonds in warm playful designs. Lee prides himself in working with customers to create unique pieces that reflect his clients' individual tastes.



This man knows how to make some jewelry!

See full article.





Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

Caroline Ballou Jewelry - 26 May 2008

Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry - 27 May 2008

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The Penny-Pinchers Toolkit: 100 Money Saving Tips for Online Shoppers

Online shopping is the way to go for consumer looking for convenience and efficiency. What could be easier than sitting in your own living room, picking out a new TV from the comfort of your recliner? But aside from this convenience, online shoppers get a benefit that brick-and-mortar shoppers don't – great deals and discounts. Shopping online allows for simple and quick price comparisons between different merchants on virtually any product and retailers often offer promotions to their online customers that aren't available in the store. Here are some great resources that will help you save money and gas.

Price Comparison Websites

Websites that allow you to compare prices on multiple items are helpful for a variety of reasons. First, they allow you to get a good sense of the product's price range in just a few seconds. You'll know the higher end of the price range, the lower end, and where to get the best deal. These sites also help you determine if you can save money by ordering the product online or if you'd be better off driving to a local store. Always do your research before you buy.

1. BizRate.com: BizRate is a great place to get price comparisons on a number of different products. Whether you are looking for a television set, men's clothing or even just a pair of sunglasses, Biz Rate has the 411 you need to get a great deal. They claim they compare prices for items sold by “anyone, anywhere.”


2. PriceGrabber.com: Like BizRate, PriceGrabber compares a plethora of household items, appliances, and electronics. You can even check out the price differentials on music instruments. Call them the superstore of the internet, their “Bottom Line Calculations” approach allows consumers to compare the final total from each site – including shipping and handling.


3. Shopzilla.com: The parent company of BizRate.com, Shopzilla's most attractive feature is it's simple, modern design and easy searchability. The home page features lots of shortcuts to find the best deals of the moment. Shoppers also post reviews about each deal, so you know which vendor boast the most customer satisfaction.


4. DealTime.com: Like its competitors, DealTime offers consumers price comparisons on just about any product you can imagine. It's database includes information from thousands of online and big box merchants and customer reviews. The site even calculates the tax and shipping costs of ordering from a specific vendor.


5. Shopping.com: The parent company of DealTime, Shopping.com is owned by eBay and conducts international searches of different product comparisons. Like DealTime, its site is a bit barebones, but very easy to navigate. Shopping.com boasts the world's largest product catalog and is consistently in the top 10 Internet destinations globally.


6. Kaboodle.com: The product comparison site for the more trendy and modern-minded shopper, Kaboodle goes beyond big box store items and allows users to search for products even on sites like Etsy, a merchant system for individual designers. Kaboodle also incorporates a good amount of social networking into its interface design, allowing shoppers to chat with friends and fellow shoppers, post reviews, and create profiles. Find the hippest, cheapest products on this site.


7. Jellyfish.com: Owned by Microsoft, Jellyfish.com offers a truly innovative approach to Internet shopping by allowing shoppers to set the prices of products through an interactive system. Its signature approach is called “Smack Shopping,” named, appropriately, after a group of jellyfish. Smack Shopping is an online auction show run through the web site that allows shoppers to bid on products within a certain time frame. Auctioneers never disclose how many products are up for auction, and the prices drop second by second. It's a new, fun way to set about finding a discount.


8. Roboshopper: If you have ever used SideStep.com to purchase a plane ticket, then you will be familiar with the model employed by Roboshopper. Instead of searching for deals through standard discount sites, Roboshopper searches for deals by searching other price comparison sites and then redirects you to the vendor wit the best prices. It's a valuable service that will save you a lot of leg work and maximize your efficiency.


9. Froogle: Froogle is what Google termed its own price comparison service. It's a Beta system that's as simple and thorough as Google itself. Type in what you're looking for and Froogle will pull up a variety of brands, giving a price range and number of stores or online locations the product is available from.


10. NexTag: One of the more popular price comparison sites, NexTag offers shoppers the ability to not only compare prices for a new blender, but also prices for plane tickets, travel packages, financial services, and real estate. It has consistently been named one of the world's fastest growing companies by several publications, including Inc., 500, and it also has sister sites in the UK, Germany, and France. NexTag's comprehensive service boasts 17 million users each month.


11. Yahoo! Shopping: Most of the major search engines offer price comparison services, but one of the most popular is Yahoo! Shopping, mostly for it's comprehensive approach. Not only can you easily search for and find discounted products, but Yahoo! has teamed up with distributors so it's able to offer shoppers coupons and extra discounts on its site. You can choose to shop by brand, by store, or simply by what's available in the coupon center.


12. mySimon.com: Now owned by CNET, mySimon.com got off to a big start when it launched several years ago. It's one of the foremost product comparison sites out there mainly because it caters to the serious discount shopper with a number of features, like a periodic newsletter, column describing the most popular items purchased, RSS feed that consistently updates subscribers about the latest deals. The site also offers links to consumer reports right off its home page.


13. Pricesbolo.com: This fast-working price comparison site is based in India and is one of the fastest growing price comparison services in that country. One of Pricesbolo's best features is that it serves the consumer by working more closely with the sellers. Sellers and merchants who agree to drop their prices even further will benefit from having Pricesbolo drive more traffic to their businesses. It also rates the merchants in your area so you know which are the most reliable.


14. PriceRunner: PriceRunner was founded in 1999 and now has sites in several languages and countries. Retailers can pay the site to include them on product searches, but PriceRunner also includes deals from non-paying merchants. You'll be able to tell them apart by whether or not the merchant's logo is included in the advertisement. While there's nothing fancy about PriceRunner, it's a reliable and efficient service.


15. Become.com: A somewhat strange name for a price comparison website, but nevertheless it is a great, user-friendly site. Become.com offers easy searching for shoppers and lets them zoom into the kind of information they want to hear about each product. For example, if you are looking for a new stereo, you'll be able to compare competitive prices, as well as click on user reviews, customer forums, or published consumer reports. You can also create a profile through the site that will allow you to interact with other users. Become.com also has a philanthropic component, allowing you to donate to a featured nonprofit from its homepage.


16. AOL: Similar to Froogle, AOL's shopping site turns simple searches into a wealth of information. Type in the product and it will turn up a host of results with price ranges from multiple vendors. You can also access great deals through AOL's coupon portal, keep up with the newest products, and read articles posted on the shopping blog.


17. MSN: Again, this is another service available from a popular search engine provider. MSN Shopping allows for price comparisons on over 33 million products in its database. You can also get tips on how to purchase certain items from MSN's shopping gurus, access coupons, and read about the latest deals. If you're a person who has trouble making a decision, this site's helpful advice tools will be an attractive option for you.


18. DealOz.com: Are you a movie buff? Are your DVD spending habits getting a little out of control? Then this is the site for you. DealOz.com compares prices on any and all DVDs available. So what if the list price is $30; DealOz will find it for half that, at least.


19. Reseller Ratings: This site is interactive for both shoppers and merchants, and aside from a running blog advertising the latest deals on its homepage, Reseller Ratings lets users rate both products and merchants. Owners of the site claim it's most attractive feature is reviews by “real people.” Subscribe to the site's RSS feed to stay on top of the latest and greatest deals available minute by minute.


20. Pricewatch: Established in 1995, this somewhat minimalist site lets computer shoppers compare and contrast prices on technologies from multiple vendors. The site also offers users up-to-date technology news on hardware, software and games.

Coupon Code Sites

Most of us probably received our first lesson in discount shopping techniques from our dear, old coupon-clipping grandmothers and mothers. But in the age of eco-friendly behavior, it's time to shun the tree-destroying Sunday circulars for more accessible and efficient vouchers. There's hundred of websites out there devoted to the world of coupons — check out these helpful sites that allow you to apply deals to products found online.

21. RetailMeNot.com: RetailMeNot is a cute and highly useful coupon code site that features up-to-the-minute deals from all of the major retailers out there. Save 25 percent on a book from Borders or 30 percent off your purchase from Ann Taylor. Expiration dates are prominently displayed, and the site also puts out a weekly newsletter about the latest deals.


22. Fat Wallet: One of the more popular and user-friendly coupon sites, Fat Wallet offers tons of discounts and coupons and employs the “cash back” incentives so popular among many coupon sites these days. Cash back incentives work like this: purchase a product with a site's coupons and you'll get cash back on your purchase. That's because some coupon websites get commissions from retailers for driving traffic to their site.


23. CouponCabin.com: Coupon Cabin is a well-organized site that let's you easily find the most popular coupons available or search for deals with specific retailers. Coupons are categorized by expiration date and the site even has a section devoted entirely to coupons on the verge of expiring, so you won't ever miss a deal.


24. CouponCode.com: Coupon Code is another highly popular and highly useful coupon site, which has all the features any shopper would need to keep track of the best coupon deals available. Not only can you create an account where you can save coupons you want to use in the future, but the site also allows shoppers to compare prices and kill two birds with one stone.


25. CouponCodes4u.com: This site is for the serious shopper who is looking for daily deals. Its system is based on its user population – resourceful shoppers who collect rebate codes and coupons and email the codes into the folks who run the site. Register with this site and you'll get alerted each time a new deal pops up.


26. CouponHeaven.com: Another useful site that combines all of its deals into a simple and easy-to-use interface that doesn't overwhelm shoppers with flashing ads and messages. While the site does offer a “Featured Deals” section on its homepage, it really puts most of the onus on the user to know what they're looking for and conduct a search, either by merchant, category, or brand name.


27. CouponChief.com: With Coupon Chief, you will never have to worry that your coupons are out of date. It is updated daily and organized into a user-friendly format. At the very top, shoppers will find featured deals for the very day they're shopping and then right below the most recently-added coupons are listed, as well as all of the coupons expiring that day.


28. CouponShack.com: A well-designed and easy to use site, CouponShack has a frequently updated blog, staff recommended deals, and discounts that apply to a variety of products. Aside from products found in big box stores, look to this site for grocery coupons, travel deals, and discounts on financial services. Also be sure to check out their Deal of the Day.


29. CouponCactus.com: Aside from offering over 2,000 coupons daily, CouponCactus has even more incentives for shoppers. By registering with the site and helping to spread the word about the discounts offered, you can earn a commission. Every time someone uses a coupon from your referral, you'll get a percentage of the sale.


30. CurrentCodes.com: CurrentCodes.com knows that shoppers don't want to waste their time searching coupon sites only to find that all of the deals listed have already expired. Their full-time staff spends all day every day updating their information and making sure you have the most relevant and timely coupons at your fingertips. The site isn't flashy, but it's easy to use and definitely useful.


31. CouponAlbum.com: True to its name, Coupon Album offers coupons on everything imaginable, from actual products to travel to coupons that just cover shipping costs. One of the great features of its site is that listed with each coupon is an accompanying list of current sales offered by retail outlets that don't require coupons. The site also maintains several user forums, though none are very heavily utilized.

Blogs

Shopping is a popular topic, not just for adolescent girls, but anyone with a credit card and a moderate amount of disposable income. Sure comparison sites and coupon codes are great, but sometimes you really need a personal voice to help you find what you're looking for and locate the best price. Which is why these blogs about discount shopping are great resources to check in on periodically for the latest news from folks who make knowing about shopping their bread and butter.

32. The Budget Fashionista: This blogger's mantra is “Be Fabulous for Less,” and its thorough content and plethora of deals is a God send for any girl who wants to stay in style without blowing their budget. This blog is so successful, in fact, its founders even wrote their own book about how to shop on a dime. Content includes not only burgeoning fashion lines, but readers get access to coupons and up-to-the-minute information on all the latest sales. The blog also maintains an active forum so readers can communicate with each other about other deals they've found.


33. Gretchen's Closet: This fun blog is heavily headline driven with deals galore. Not only does this blog keep you up to date on all the fashion trends – even the ones you can't afford – it has more coupons than one shopper could hope to find in a single spot. There's also a frequently-updated section about all the latest and greatest sales available online.


34. Cheap Laptops: This U.K.-based blog is an excellent resource for those of you in the market for a cheap laptop computer. The laptop-per-day approach means there's lots of information to be found, even if you will have to do a little price conversions to figure out prices in American dollars. Search by brand or sign up for periodic updates.


35. Ebates: Ebates is an “online mall” that profits from commissions whenever its readers click and buy from one of their links. Therefore, the maintainers of this blog have a real incentive to keep shoppers informed of the best savings. To get more shoppers to participate in shopping through Ebates, the bloggers even offer shoppers a “cash back” incentive – forking over a percentage of their commission to the folks who helped them earn it!


36. Infomercials TV: You won't find any coupons on this blog, but you will find a great round-up of all those discount, too-good-to-be-true products you've probably seen on TV infomercials. Infomercials often offer viewers excellent discounted rates for buying over the phone, but how do you know the products work? This blog allows for readers to post comments and disclose their own research, helping you make a more educated decision.


37. The Bargainist: The ultimate discount shopper's guide, The Bargainist leaves no stone unturned in its quest for the cheapest products on earth. Heck, one entry even notified readers about a Krispy Kreme promotion for a single free donut. Chock-full of coupons, this blog is updated so frequently it will make your head spin. Recently, bloggers posted 10 entries before the clock even struck Noon.


38. Save, Save, Save: A very purple blog maintained by a U.K.-based woman who decided to start a blog after realizing that her own online shopping experiences were often times pretty humorous. Admittedly, this blog seems to have strayed from its initial purpose, as most entries fall in the category of random diatribes and non-shopping related topics. However, it's still worth a look, since the blogger has compiled a pretty extensive list of other blogs – some of which deal with discount shopping.


39. Deals, Coupons & Bargain Guides: Not a very catchy name, but this blog will surely catch the eye of bargain shoppers in the market for some cheap electronics and computer equipment. Updated several times each day, this blogger scours the Internet for the best technology deals and then brings them to his readers free of charge.


40. Ransacker: Ransacker is a blog run out of the U.K. that is dedicated solely to price comparisons on various different running shoes. This blog is one that should be bookmarked by athletes or athletic-shoe aficionados. Again, you'll have to break out your exchange-rate calculator, but if you're looking for cheap shoes that can be ordered online this blog is a great, current resource.


41. Coupon Codes Mall: A blog that doubles as a coupon code site, bloggers post multiple entries a day about the latest coupon codes and go one step further to educate readers about the product and the deal. It also offers links to tons of other coupon sites and allows readers to join a mailing list, as well as read product reviews.


42. Shop with a Vengeance: With the exception of uber-rich celebs like Madonna and Paris Hilton, most of us don't know what it's like to march into a store and throw every item we encounter into a basket. Rather than shopping with a vengeance, we shop with a calculated timidity. That's why this blog is so liberating – find great deals and fill your virtual cart without worrying about going into debt. Check out, specifically, the “Bargain Finds” section.


43. Buy Better and Have a Better Life: It's a mouthful of a title, and it's not the most straightforward of all discount shopping blogs. But this blogger does manage to sneak in a fair helping of information about product deals and current sales. The blog is kept current, and in addition to talking about ways to save when shopping this blogger conducts personal product reviews and also writes about ways to live better holistically.


44. eDaily Shop: A busy blog that focuses on deals to be found when purchasing electronics, DVDs, computers, and other technologically-advanced items. The fact that the site is powered by a Google search engine is a good thing, since there is so much information to take in. Each product post comes with a review, and readers can also quickly search the sites archives for past reviews.


45. Frugal Fanny: Not so much a discount finder as a blog dedicated to helping discount shoppers live within their tiny budgets. This blogger gives readers useful tips for how to live well on a budget and take advantage of the discounts that are widely available. It's not updated daily, though, so think of it more like light reading to peruse in between your purchases.


46. Giveaway of the Day: This blog, updated daily, is a great find for computer geeks and software developers looking for the latest technology deals. Each day, the bloggers give away a new program or other application. The blog often notifies readers of giveaways in advance, so you can be sure to check the site on the day. Also, the blog features a pretty active forum.


47. Everybody Loves Coupons: This is a quirky blog maintained by the folks over at UltimateCoupons.com, which features a daily blog on topics ranging from Indiana Jones to Violence vs. Nudity. What's the connection to online shopping, you ask? Each blog entry is followed by a few great promotional coupons. The blogger also maintains a current list of freebie items up for grabs. Find deals and be entertained at the same time.


48. Real Looks for Real Women: Oprah would love this blog. It offers great fashion tips for all women, as well as links and reviews to the latest fashions from affordable designers. Staying in style this season doesn't mean sacrificing your savings anymore.

Articles

Online discount shopping has become such a phenomenon that it's even newsworthy. Every major newspaper and magazine has covered the topic at one time or another, studying its growth in popularity. These are stories that retailers pay attention to, since online sales have become such a large percentage of their overall profit. Here's a round-up of some great articles that will help you educate yourself more thoroughly on the topic.

49. Benefits and Advantages of Shopping Online: A helpful article written by the folks at Coupon Codes Mall. This article discusses the flexibility and the ease that online shopping offers shoppers in comparison to retail outlets. Short and sweet, this article make a good case for utilizing your computer more in your quest for earthly goods.


50. Shopping & Selling Online: Author Richard Seltzer covers everything anyone would need to know about both buying and selling items online in this 10-chapter article. Get a great overview of the benefits of using the internet for your shopping needs, while also learning how to use search engines to find the best sites. Want to make a buck or two while you're at it? Consult Seltzer's chapters on posting your own goods for sale.


51. 8 Top Sites for Online Shopping Deals: An article by MSN Money writer Jennifer Mulrean, which chronicles the best sites for finding product deals. These sites range from general online retailers to sites that offer shopper discounts and coupons.


52. New York Times: The Times published an article last year, which pointed to the decline in online sales in some markets. But the decline was also thought to be the result of the fact that with Internet sales reaching over $116 billion in 2007, it was difficult for retailers to keep up with the previous growth trends in online revenue. Some retailers, like Dell, who were strictly into online sales have even started hocking their wares in brick-and-mortar establishments.


53. Safety Tips: When shopping online, the consumer is frequently entering highly private information. Aside from credit card numbers, there is also the home address and phone number. This quick article discusses some general tips to keep in mind so your identity and finances will stay secure.


54. Consumers Buy Into Online Shopping: A good article that precedes the NYT's article about the slowing down of Internet shopping. This article, written in 2005, chronicles the boom of online shopping and it's growth during the first few years of the decade.


55. Shopbot Article: An informative summary found on MoneySavingExpert.com, which defines shopbots and rates the best ones. A shopbot can be defined as any price comparison website that allows consumers to compare and contrast before making a choice, such as PriceGrabber. The article also has useful information on cash-back sites, or those which return a commission to the shopper for buying through their promotions.


56. 10 Reasons Not to Shop Online: As a comparative shopper, you should always be in the market for the contrarian point of view. This article about why people shouldn't shop online plays the perfect devil's advocate. Most arguments are unconvincing, though it's hard to argue that privacy issues cease to be a big concern when exchanging cash for goods in person.


57. Marketing Myth: A great Business Week article that seeks to dispel the myth surrounding “Cyber Monday.” That's the Monday after Thanksgiving that is said to be the biggest online shopping day of the year. Business Week reporters find that it only ranks 12th.


58. Translating Digital Body Language: An interesting article from The Washington Post that examines the psychology of shopping online and how the lack of a face-to-face sales pitch can lead shoppers to abandon their items before purchasing them. New companies are sprouting up that help online retailers tailor pitches and deals to an individual shopper's interests to help increase the percentage of sales that actually go through.


59. Online Shopping Doesn't Always Deliver: An article from the Wall Street Journal in which a columnist laments the shipping costs and other hassles involved in online shopping. This is an author with the opinion that shopping online doesn't really save time after all.


60. Online Shopping with Froogle: Many Internet users swear by Google and its many, many applications. If you are one of those people, than this is the article for you. It's a straightforward look at the ins, outs and benefits of Google's shopping portal, Froogle.


61. Flaws of Online Shopping Cart Design: An especially informative, if not overly academic, article from the Usability News, which discusses the main flaws of online shopping cart designs. Average shoppers should probably skip this one, unless you're purposely looking to kill some time. But online retailers and those of you looking to start your own e-commerce business may find it helpful.


62. Allowing In-Store Returns: A short article that makes a solid point. Recently, a study by Ispos MORI found that more people would shop online if the retailer would allow items purchased electronically to be returned in local stores. Seems like a no-brainer, especially for retailers looking to keep their online sales up.


63. Safe Online Holiday Shopping: PC World put out this helpful article in 2006. The holidays are, obviously, the biggest time for online shopping, which means they're also the biggest time for scammers and hackers who want to get their criminal hands on your credit card information. Check out these tips for safe Internet shopping.


64. Phone Shopping: This CNN article covers a recent study released by Cisco, Inc., which identifies the mobile phone as being the next big channel for commerce. With more and more smart phones coming onto the market, shoppers can access the Internet anytime, anywhere. Shopping can now be done from the subway, in class, or surreptitiously at work.


65. Peak Online Shopping Hours: eMarketer.com is a great website with lots of informative white papers and articles about e-commerce. This one helps dispel the myth that online shoppers are all insomniac computer addicts who spend the dark hours of the night running up their credit card bills. Turns out, peak shopping hours occur during the workday.


66. Security: “Is Online Shopping Ever Secure?” That's the title of this article, which begs to ask the same question. Reporters conclude, actually, that with all of the hacking technologies available these days it is hard to ever truly know if a transaction is completely secure, no matter what the seller promises.


67. Pricing Alerts: Want to know just how you are getting access to so many fantastic deals through so many fantastic deal-delivering websites? Here's an informative summary of how online coupons come to be and how they are processed on the retailer's end.


68. Shopping with Kinset: With the launch and popularity of virtual online worlds like Second Life, web developers are entering a whole new world of technology. Take for example Kinset, a 3D virtual environment that recreates a store's physical interior for online shoppers. This blogger questions if it will be the new wave of online shopping.


69. Shipping Fees as Deterrant: A recent study commissioned by PayPal found that most shoppers abandon their orders during the last phase of the checkout process because of the high shipping fees. This helpful article details other findings in the study, which looked specifically at why online shoppers back out of their orders before finalizing the sale.

Forums

It's great to get all of this information about online shopping from blogs, websites, and the media, but what if you have actual questions you'd like to ask? Shopping forums are abundant online and allow shoppers to have interactive conversations with other buyers and sellers, so you can ask questions and get multiple opinions and answers within a matter of seconds. Check out these shopping forums and start making some like-minded friends.

70. Epinions: Epinions is one of the foremost consumer review sites on the web. Owned by Shopping.com, Epinions has thousands of members who post product reviews and assist one another in the comparative shopping process. It's a great, thorough, and highly-usable forum for discount online shoppers.


71. Smarter.com: It's a forum, it's a blog, it's a price comparison website all rolled into one! While many websites offer consumers all three of these features, Smarter.com is one of the more fun sites to peruse. You can also sell your items online – becoming a merchant is easy with this user-friendly interface.


72. Dealighted: Find coupons and customer forums on the best deals all in one spot on this handy site. The forums section boasts 4,500 members, all of which are extremely active. Compare “Hot Deals”, find “Free Stuff” or just chat with fellow shoppers.


73. Slick Deals: Slick Deals is a huge online forum with minute-by-minute postings from its hundreds of members. Members are constantly posting online coupons, information about rebates or just simply chatting about the latest videogames or lending each other technical assistance.


74. Deal of Day: Not the most attractive site out there, but Deal of Day is certainly a useful one. With some forum categories boasting over 100,000 posts, this site is thick with information for the discount shopper. It's a great way to make friends, too. Check out the General Discussion section and chat religion with the guy you met in Rebates.


75. My Coupons: My Coupons is – you guessed it! – both a coupon code site and a shopper's forum. Users can post pictures of themselves and entries about their latest saves. A great resource for the most frugal of shoppers.


76. Deal Hunting: A comprehensive discount site with coupons, blogs and a highly popular forum. Don't expect to get too off topic here, though. Most discussion boards are dedicated solely to shopping.


77. Travel Notes: When searching for travel deals, especially, you'll want to learn about others' experiences when they traveled to your desired destination. Travel Notes lets wanderlusts compare notes about traveling on the cheap with an active forum.


78. Tech Bargains: Technology is expensive – especially computers and other savvy gadgets. That's why the forum at TechBargains.com is so great for both the experienced and the novice alike. Users post about tech products, but they also post about savings on everyday stuff, like groceries.


79. Big Boards: Big Boards is a simple bulletin-board site that offers forums in multiple categories. The shopping forum has several different categories and links even to forums on other coupon and price comparison websites. It's a diverse community of chatters, and definitely worth a browse.


80. eShop Forums: A terrific message board and forum dedicated to those of you who actually run your own ecommerce site or are planning to start one. Here you'll find great conversations and tips on the best software packages to support your business, as well as the best shopping cart providers to use. They even let you shamelessly plug your business on one thread.


81. Motortrend: While the Motortrend forum deals specifically with, you guessed it, cars and trucks, there are some chats that deviate from that tradition. Regardless, vehicle shoppers will find all the information they need to make an informed decision on just about every make and model out there. Even find out how to negotiate for the best deals.


82. Hub Pages: Hub Pages is an online community where people can create profiles and join forums dealing with just about any topic. Thankfully, there's one dedicated solely to discount shopping. It's free to join and publish your own thoughts, but even if you don't want an account, you're able to read what others have already posted.

Discount Shopping Sites

Discount shopping sites are plentiful on the Internet. Just think of all the discount stores out there that you can physically drive to in your vehicle. Most all of them have online components, and several of those retailers offer extra incentives to online customers that aren't available to people in their brick-and-mortar shops. But there are also several discount shopping sites that can be considered “virtual stores” since they don't have a retail outlet. Here are some of the most popular discount shopping sites consumers flock to on the web.

83. Amazon: When Amazon first got it's start on the web in 1995 it was in a class of its own. Though its main attraction was, at first, its extensive supply of discount books, Amazon soon expanded its focus to include all sorts of consumer products, like electronics, DVDs, and home appliances. Today it is one of the web's most booming discount shopping sites, and it's even formed some impressive alliances with other discount retailers.


84. Overstock: Like Amazon, Overstock.com has a big warehouse somewhere where few consumers have actually gone. Its business model is built on acquiring overstocked items from other retailers at a heavily discounted price and then marking it up a bit for the average consumer. While the business is best known for its impressive furniture and jewelry offerings, it, like Amazon, has also expanded into other area, like electronics and clothing.


85. eBags.com: Looking for cheap luggage? Look no further than eBags.com, which claims to be the world's largest online discount bag retailer. They carry over 500 brands and offer a plethora of online discounts.


86. Smart Bargains: These guys have deemed themselves “Your personal bargain hunter” for all of the deals they find. Set up as an online marketplace, the site gets its competitive prices much like Overstock does – by purchasing canceled orders, overstocks, and closeouts from big manufacturers at rates that can't be beat. They then turn around and pass those discounts off to shoppers.


87. Pricemad: Pricemad is an online discount site that frankly hasn't received the best reviews in the customer service department. Do your research before placing any big ticket items with them, but their site can be helpful from a comparison standpoint. Pricemad focuses largely on electronics and computers.


88. Netmarket: Netmarket offers its shoppers discounts on items from cameras to swimming pools precisely because it doesn't stock anything. It simply forwards your order onto one of its subsidiary vendors and the item is shipped from there. It's inventory is somewhat limited, however, to household items and outdoor appliances.


89. Best Buy: If you live in the suburbs of a major city, chances are you have a Best Buy on nearly every street corner. But most people don't know that Best Buy is also one of the top 10 websites for e-commerce traffic. Perhaps it's because extra deals are available to shoppers online through the store's web-based outlet center.


90. Label Spree: Save up to 75 percent on designer clothing labels by shopping through Label Spree. Shop by label or by season on this site and get the latest fashions for a fraction of what you would pay in the store. From Betsey Johnson to Antik Denim, Label Spree lowers prices on items continuously throughout the day and is able to offer the prices it does because it sells only out-of-production garments. You can also sign up to receive alerts when the price on the item you want starts dropping.


91. Bluefly: Like Label Spree, Bluefly offers heavy discounts on designer clothing. The company formed in 1998 and sells the latest discounted designer items at about 40 percent off the retail price. One of the best features? Customers can chat live online with personal shoppers for advice on the latest looks.


92. Fashion Bliss: Similar to Bluefly and Label Spree, fashionistas with small checking accounts can get the same look Julia Roberts sports for a fraction of the price. It's not clear how Fashion Bliss secures the discounts they do, but they do say this about their stock: “Our fabulous items come from a variety of sources and we carry only the highest quality products. Each and every piece is selectively hand picked by our fabulous team of buyers while traveling around the continent and the globe in search of the latest and greatest fashions to share with YOU.”


93. Target: Everyone knows about the wondrous styles and prices available at Target. And while it's probably easy for most of us to get in our cars and drive to the closest retail outlet, you can find some extra deals online, including free shipping of some items over a certain amount, as well as coupons.


94. eCost.com: eCost.com is one of the best online discount warehouses out there, specializing in computer hardware, software, and electronics. They say their most unique characteristic is the fact that they keep the customer in mind at all times and have customer service representatives online to help with confusing purchases. Their signature marketing ploy is the “Bargain Countdown” section, which offers a small amount of a product at a really low price for a given time period. It's definitely an “act fast” sort of deal that serious shoppers will want to monitor daily.


95. Smart Shop: Smart Shop is another discount site dedicated to bring consumers the best prices on electronic and computer equipment and household appliances. With warehouses located throughout the country, Smart Shop promises customers a quick turnaround time on their purchases. Their homepage conveniently features items that are “hot”, as well as those on sale.


96. E Half Off.com: This site has teamed up with Overstock.com to bring you great prices on products – some of which have been discounted to the tune of 80 percent! Like Overstock and most other discount shopping networks, E Half Off makes its money when other retail businesses buy more than they need. They have over 750,000 products available and offer a flat shipping fee of $2.95, no matter how big your order.


97. Sidestep: It's hard to know whether to categorize Sidestep as a price comparison site or a discount shopping site. Really, it's both. Sidestep is an easy-to-use site that helps consumers find the cheapest flights around by performing a search of all airline websites and airline search sites. In the end, you can mix up your destination airports and times to find the best price. An incredible tool for the frequent or infrequent traveler.


98. Woot: Woot operates on the principle of “one day, one deal,” and it's a great concept. Every day, Woot features one item for sale that has been deeply, deeply discounted. That's it. You either purchase it or you don't. Unsure what to do? Consult Woot's active blog and user forum for product reviews.


99. Craigslist: Craigslist is a different kind of marketplace altogether. While it's not an online merchant, it is more than entirely possible to find the best deals on used products on this free classified site. Maybe you're in the market for a bike and a new apartment? Craigslist has you covered. It's the most comprehensive online bulletin board and it's the perfect spot for the discount shopper who doesn't care about having everything brand new.


100. eBay: You didn't think we'd forget did you?!? Last but not least is one of the more popular online shopping destinations for buyers and merchants alike. eBay allows for competitive shopping by having buyers bid on products within a certain timeframe. Merchants can also rake in the cash selling stuff they just don't need anymore. It's a virtual online yard sale where the savvy shopper can find just what they need.

Plaid Jumper From TopShop

Plaid, plaid, plaid. I love plaid. Through out my trip in Europe I have picked up no less than four items covered in plaid.

In Belfast I wandered into thrift shops and cheap trendy stores and found a plaid dress with a voluminous skirt, a thick plaid fitted button-down and a plaid vintage corset soon to be worn with jeans. I also purchased an overpriced plaid romper from TopShop in London.

To veer away from plaid for the moment, I was not impressed with TopShop. Quality is lacking in 80% of the merchandised but priced retarded high. $300 for a thin hounds tooth coat with buttons hanging off it? I think not.

Also, the Kate Moss section of the shop had very little to offer and the price point averaged 130 pounds ($260). Obscene I tell you. Mostly because it is supposed to be an inexpensive store. The only thing I saw there that was cheap were the seams.

On a positive note, there were a few cute pieces for sure and some of the leather jackets were quite lovely.

Back to plaid, I love it! The only warning I would say is no short girly plaid skirts: too outdated. If you want a plaid skirt, veer towards a high-waist pencil skirt. Chic!

Lonna Keller Jewelry

Lonna Keller, a metalsmith and jewelry artist, focuses on wearable art forms. Her work has been highlighted in Metalsmith magazine, Iowa Alumni magazine, and Art Jewelry Today, focuses on enhancing the feminine form through work that is elegant, versatile, and wearable. Keller earned a Master of Fine Arts in metalsmithing from the University of Iowa.



The Silver Collection



Sterling Silver and Hematite Bracelet



The Pearl Collection



Sterling Silver and Pearl Earrings

Sterling Silver, Freshwater Pearls, 2" long



The Rubber Collection:



Sterling Silver and Rubber Earrings



Lonna Keller uses simple lines, well-integrated components, and neutral colors to enhance a wide range of styles without attempting to dominate. Varying degrees of texture add substance without additional weight. The use of precious and semi-precious materials in fluent, uncomplicated forms allow these pieces to travel to the boardroom as well as a night on the town.



Artist Statement

My work is a celebration of the female form and sensuality, with pieces that enhance a variety of body types. Many pieces are meditative, a repetition of materials that does not furnish a focal point but invite touching. These one-of-a-kind pieces are meant to confront the boundaries in both the common perceptions of sculpture as it relates to actual body adornment and the materials used to create them.



I incorporate materials, such as swivel hooks, garbage bags, zip ties and rubber cord into pieces that enhance the female form in ways that are carefree and playful, yet all relate to women's formalwear. Instead of drawing the viewer to a specific part of a woman's body, as would a bracelet or necklace, the form of the individual woman is central to the sculpture. The pieces range in complexity from elaborate accent pieces to the complete evening gown.

See full article.





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Native American Inlay Jewelry - 14 January 2008

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Stephen LeBlanc Art Jewelry - 27 May 2008

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Polli Austrailian Jewelry

Polli creates unique and contemporary jewelry, designed and crafted in Australia. Maja Rose and Tess Lloyd met in 1999 while studying Industrial Design at the University of Technology in Sydney. After graduating into professional roles, the designers soon sought the fulfillment of creating their own products.



Polli earrings are bold, simple designs that play with form, pattern, and color. The stainless steel and gold anodized ranges of earrings are etched from thin sheets to create fine patterns and details. The thin metal sheets allow the earrings to be light to wear while still being elegant and striking.





Gold Anodized Earrings & Pendant

Etched from aluminum and then anodized (dipped in an electrically charged bath), these pieces are beautifully light to wear and have a warm golden finish. They hang from gold-filled hooks and coordinate with the gold anodized pendants.



Maja and Tess have designed and created a line of jewelry using manufacturing techniques usually reserved for industrial products. Polli is a hybrid of both product and fashion design. It appropriates materials and processes from other industries for mini mass production.





Red Anodized Brooch & Gingko Leaf Earrings

Polli brooches are made from thick sheets of aluminum. The detailed pattern is etched just below the surface creating fine detail in the contrast of finish. All designs come in silver, gold, black, chocolate, and red finishes.



The intricate designs and folding methods in these exquisite pieces are inspired by Japanese and Danish paper designs in either geometric or natural patterns, and the finished product is incredibly intricate and unique.





Stainless Steel Pendant & Earrings

These pendants coordinate with the stainless steel earrings range and are available in selected designs. Made from fine stainless steel, they are threaded onto a delicate sterling silver chain making them light and comfortable to wear.



The materials chosen allow them to express their interest in color and light. Aluminum anodized in gold, finely-etched stainless steel, and intriguing designs add interest to every piece. Color and light reflect off the material and through the patterns, increasing their modern and unique appeal.



This Australian brand doesn't just create earrings, pendants and brooches. They also sell bags and home products, like mobiles and jewelry stands.





See full article.





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Dawn Vertrees Jewelry Designer - 14 March 2008

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Dana David Jewelry Collection - 14 May 2008

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Jewelry Trend: Colorful Gemstones

Summer 2008 Jewelry

Classic designs in gemstone jewelry will be the hot trend for summer 2008. The bright colors in fashions also translate to colorful jewelry. A large gemstone ring in a bright candy color, whether real or costume, is an evening-out staple. Or, a more intricate design might be exactly what you need to give your flirty dress a down-to-earth feel.





14k Yellow Gold & Aquamarine Pendant

An emerald cut AA quality 7x5 millimeter aquamarine is perfectly solitaire set in 14k yellow gold and comes with 14k yellow gold 18" rope chain.

$340



And the hottest color in summer jewelry will be blue. With its stylish staying power, blue tones will always be a perfect fit! Blue gemstones like sapphire, tanzanite, aquamarine, and blue sapphire will be very popular. Blue jade, moonstone, lapis lazuli, and blue opals will also be seen in a variety of jewelry designs. Handmade lampwork beads in blue and blue cubic zirconia are also excellent choices. With a full range of shades of blue, you can match the best one for your style.





14k White Gold Blue Topaz & Diamond Ring

One amazing topaz stone is held beautifully by 14k white gold to create a stunning ring. Diamond highlights add to the beauty.

$325



Blue will be followed in popularity by purple and green. And the gemstones that will be most popular are amethyst, peridot, green garnet, and emerald.



And if you're looking to complement your gemstone pendant or earrings with other gems for added color, you can choose from citrine, yellow topaz, amber, and colored diamonds. All of these gorgeous colors will coordinate beautifully with summer clothing.





14k White Gold Amethyst Teardrop Earrings

Purple teardrops in your ears. These 14k white gold amethyst teardrop earrings make a terrific accessory.

$210



If you want less expensive jewelry, look for sterling silver - an alluring substitute for white gold. The cool hue of sterling silver combined with the warmth of colorful gems create an enchanting look. If you can't quite afford the genuine gemstones, you can find terrific deals in the colors of cubic zirconia. Not only is this stone created to imitate a natural diamond, but it can also be colored to mimic a variety of other popular gemstones.





Sterling Silver & Peridot Ring

This ring is high polish sterling silver comfort fit & is uniquely designed with three pairs of marquise cut peridot that looks like three pairs of leaves.

$95



If, on the other hand, you buy only what you like and don't cater to current trends, you can still enjoy knowing what's in fashion for the upcoming season. If you already own blue topaz, aquamarine, blue cubic zirconia, peridot, or amethyst, you can take great pride in knowing that your choices in jewelry are what everyone will be searching for this summer.

See full article.





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My Picks!

Left to right: Stretch Skinny Jean, $27.80, www.forever21.com; Erika Super Skinny Jean, $29.80, www.forever21.com; Denim of Virtue Women's Patience Red Wash Skinny, $170. www.shopkitson.com; Colored Denim Jean, $21.99, www.drjays.com

Left to right: Stretch Skinny Jean, $27.80, www.forever21.com; Ankle Grazer Colour Jean in Purple, $80, www.topshop.com; Neon Skinny Jean, $24.50, www.wetseal.com; Dittos the Classic in Grass, $110.60, www.pinkmascara.com

Skinny, colored jeans seem to be what's hot in the virtual streets of online shopping. I did find one flared pair from PinkMascara.com. I'd caution againgst high-waisted colored denim - it makes you look a little too much liks a fashion victim. Only those who live in LA can get away with such a style bold statement. See below for some ideas on what to pair colored jeans with.

Friday Furnishings: In A Concrete Fashion

Welcome to our new Friday feature, dear readers: Friday Furnishings! That's right, the DCGF is branching out into new territory. And what, pray tell, do I know about such things? Well, let me tell you...

Goodwill is not just a place for fabulous fashions, oh no. One can find great furniture, frames and pictures, knick-knacks, pots and pans, computers, stereos - why just the other day I bought a 10-speed road bike for 20 bucks! So you see, it's not just clothes, although that's a huge part of our retail business.

So I thought it would be nice to branch out for the summer. You know, take a little vacay from all fashion all the time and share with you what's hot in vintage and contemporary furnishings from all over the world and right in D.C.'s back yard. And today, it's all about concrete.

That's right. I said concrete. Every year in Las Vegas the World of Concrete hosts an Artistry in Concrete event. Why do am I so interested in this? Because my parents finally broke down and replaced their crumbling driveway two years back with - get this - a decorative concrete one, replete with colors, and the Notre Dame insignia (my sister graduated from there) in one corner. Crazy, I thought.

But then I started checking out pictures from previous Artistry in Concrete exhibits and the results are amazing, like Rick Fischer's work with stencils and staining on plain ol' concrete. This has become such a hot topic in the last few years that no less than Architecture Magazine covered the event in 2005. Who knew?

For those of us living in tiny city apartments, however, a massive concrete driveway is only appealing in the abstract. I wanted something more tangible to connect me to the trend. I found it in Oso Industries "Pine Bench," which, of course, is made out of anything but. Yep, the awesome bench to the left is cast out of a single piece of concrete, using a rubber mold of an actual tree to create the amazingly realistic finish.

I love a combination of the natural and man-made in my own furniture, so the bark-like texture juxtaposed with the angular center cut-out and highly polished top are perfect. And it's available in 10 colors! Oh but here's the catch: it costs $2675. I forgot to mention that. Shipping's probably rather expensive, too, come to think of it. Hey, I didn't say Friday Furnishings was going to be affordable, did I?

But maybe it can be. Konzuk, a jewelry company out of Canada, is making truly innovative pieces out of - let's say it all together, shall we? - concrete.

The necklace at right is stainless steel and concrete and comes on a 16", 18", or 20" cable. It retails for $175, which is still quite steep, but think of the conversations it will provoke! They also have rings, earrings, cufflinks, and bracelets combining concrete with stainless steel and silver - I had a hard time choosing what to show you on the blog! It's incredible how they've been able to take industrial elements and craft such elegant and delicate pieces. I want!

So there you have it, dear readers. The first of Friday Furnishings. Let me know what you think! What do you want to know more about this summer? What are you looking for in your own dwelling space? How has Goodwill played a role in how you style your life? I'm looking forward to this summer and I hope you are too!

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

Swimsuit try-on Session

My friend Mandy and I both have reason for a new swimsuit. She’s going on a honeymoon in Jamaica, and my kids are leaving for sleep away camp for 3 weeks – giving me time to travel with Jeff. We both wear underwire bras, so we tried on the Freya and Fantasie swimwear lines. They range from B to HH size. Mandy is a 34C and I’m a 34D. She’s a dress size 4 and I’m a 6/8, so she’s a full size smaller than me (and about 5 years younger, and never had a baby, but we won’t go there.)

So here’s what we tried on and here’s what we thought:

The Panama Cooler bikini was the first one Mandy tried on. It has an underwire halter bikini top and boyshorts bottom with a cute plastic buckle (shown). The print was youthful and lively – shades of camo mixed with bursts of deep aqua and sky blue. Mandy loved the fabric, but not the cut of the bottom. This swimsuit convinced her that she certainly needed the C on top, but that she did not want to try on any more boyshort style swimsuits. (There is a brief bottom in the Panama Cooler print too, but not in her size.)

Next Mandy tried on the Soda in green. If you want options - this is the swimsuit for you!! This is a great Freya mix-and-match swimwear collection:

underwire bikini top

underwire tankini top

underwire bandeau bikini halter top

soft cup bikini top

brief bottom

boyshort bottom

string bikini bottom that ties on the side (which is very low cut but has a full butt)

fold-top bottom that let's you adjust how much tummy shows.

There is even a soft cup one-piece tank and underwire one piece tank with halter in the Freya Soda collection. Mandy tried the soft triangle bikini top and classic brief bottom. The green shade was very pretty – the colors of fresh spring grass. It would look great on my friend Tanya with her brown wavy hair to her waist. Mandy liked the cut on this one – the soft cup bikini top was secure and flattering without push up, the bottom has good butt coverage and was trimmed with a cute enamel logo charm. Many of these pieces are on sale now!

While she was trying that on, I put on the Mangopolitan. Its white, chocolate and mango pattern of flowers and dots was cute and feminine – just enough to distract the eye from body flaws, in fact! The Triangle halter top in a 34D was a magnificent fit. The girls were secure and the cleavage created was flattering. The bikini bottom has a full coverage on the butt, and around the waist it has a fold of fabric so you can control the height of the waistline. I’m sure this makes the swimsuit more flattering for more body types, but it also allowed me to keep it unrolled and up high to my navel, hiding all signs that I ever had 2 babies in 2 years.

Mandy liked the Mangopolitan and she tried it on too. We both agreed the top was cut impeccably and flattered so well. It was a lot like the Soda top, but a bit more cleavage enhancing. The Vodkatini swimsuit is colorblocked shades of mocha, black and white, and looked like it had the same awesome cut on top, but they didn’t have my size. These colors would probably look good on me for a more sophisticated look. (Freya's Vodkatini also has a retro brief bottom with a big buckle a la James Bond, a boyshort bottom and an underwire bikini top. At 34D the soft cup was cut so well I did not need the underwire. Something about that inch-wide seam along the inside of the cups kept “the girls” happy.)

While she tried that on, I tried Fantasie’s Seattle tankini in black. The top overlapped the bottom enough that it gave the coverage of a one-piece while still being sporty like a tankini. There is a brief bottom, and a brief bottom with some tummy control - it's just a front lining that offers moderate support, not something that squeezes you in an inch. The tankini top is bandeau style - above the boobs the seam is straight across - and has removeable, convertible straps. It had full hidden underwire and buckled in the back with a copper metal buckle that created a pretty keyhole in the center of the back. I tried it on with and without the straps, and also as a halter. The halter look gave the top seam a bit more shape, and under the bustline there was an empire seam with the same copper metal buckle. This helped a bit with shaping, but basically I realized a bandeau cut was not for me. I don’t belong in tube tops, I need to highlight my boobs to take emphasis off my hips.

There is also an underwire balcony bikini top and a sweetheart padded underwire top. And a one-piece tank with full underwire and deep Vneck with front lining that offers moderate tummy control, an underwire shelf bra and foam sling support for chest support, and shirred fabric by the tummy to flatter curves. Mandy tried on the sweetheart padded underwire top in red with a gold buckle. It's not heavily padded, it’s just enough to line and provide modesty, not enough to add a size. There was a pretty gold slide on the shoulder strap and gold rings to adjust the straps just like you would a real bra. In fact, that was Mandy’s complaint. She felt it looked so much like a real bra that she wouldn’t feel comfortable in it out in public. She likes her swimwear to look like swimwear. I thought she looked amazing in it! It was very similar to the Soda bikini in green one she tried on, but with a more structured top.

Last but not least we both tried on the Fantasie Jaipur underwire bandeau suit with adjustable leg – mainly out of curiosity. I had never worn a swimsuit with an adjustable leg before. There were black ties decorated by copper beads at the bottom of the side seam by the hip. You can pull the bottom fabric of the swimsuit up along the strings to allow more hip/leg to show, creating a ruched effect. The beautiful paisley pattern of red, black and ivory hid all figure flaws. This swimsuit was too long for me, there was extra fabric that would have helped someone 3-4 inches taller than me (I suggest this suit if you're 5′8 or taller). It has a full, hidden underwire bra in front with hook and eye closure hidden in the back so it buckles like a real bra. It also had a bandeau top, so I almost avoided it, but the great paisley pattern is set off by a thick black band of fabric across the top so I though it might draw attention up to the neck. The straps are removable and convertible. So basically if had a V top and was cut shorter-waisted, I’d love it. (It was hard to wiggle in to, but an extra 40 seconds in the dressing room is OK with me if I’m going to wear the swimsuit for 3-4 hours.)

I took the black Seattle tankini home and the Mangopolitan bikini. Jeff said the tankini looked good to wear to water parks (translation: sporty, good fit, good coverage, not too sexy) and the Mangopolitan bikini was “exciting” (translation: excited him!!) I wonder if I could wear the Seattle tankini in the sun all day because the back copper buckle is right against the skin and might heat up. (It’s also difficult to buckle on your own. I was happy to have Mandy and Jeff help me secure this one!)

Mandy and I had so much fun and liked the fabrics, colors and cuts so much that I plan to reenact this day in the dressing room with my friend Joy in a few weeks. Stay tuned for that, and for more Freya and Fantasie swimwear reviews after these suits hit the Florida waves!