Top Shop Anticipation...

Ever since Top Shop announced they were opening their first US shop in Soho, I've been dying of anticipation! First the opening was supposed to be in November '08, then it got moved to this month, now we finally have a definite opening day of 2 April. I have been a long time lover of Top Shop, and its always at the top of my list when I visit London. Unfortunately last trip was such a whirlwind that I barely had a look around as we were so pressed for time and didn't get to purchase anything ): So you can bet I will be at the opening as I'm completely jonesing for a Top Shop fix! I've always got some shoes I'm drooling over and one of the things I've noticed is the typical incorrect sizing for shoes in European sizes. I wear a European 36, American 6, UK 4. But on their UK site, they have 36 listed as a UK 3 which would be a US 5. So I've missed out on so many pretty shoes when I've checked the US site because I'm confused on the sizing. Being able to try them on will be my only way of knowing for sure. I'm completely in love with three styles (click on the links to take you directly to purchase at Top Shop):

Safari VooDoo Inspired Sandal $145




Latice Caged Sandal $145




Pyramid High Sandal Boot $190

One of these babies will be mine.... I just can't decide! The Pyramid High Sandal and Voodoo Inspired Sandal are very similar, but those Latice Caged Sandals are oh so YSL (which I can't afford ): ) Which do you think I should get?

There are also a few handbags I really like:




Leather Tassel Shoulder Bag $160





Suede Stud Handle Bag $145
I just don't have any suede bags as I think they usually get worn looking really quickly, so I'm apprehensive.




Leather Trim Slouch Bag $100
The colour is really appealing to me, but its also a bit out of character for me. Plus, again its suede.





Stud Detail Holdall Bag $160
Grey might be different for a change, I'm just not sure I'll adore grey in a year or so.

They also had a cute bucket style, but it seems now its only in stock online in white, which would be completely ruined in a day around my kid. I don't recall if I've ever purchased handbags from Top Shop. Does anyone know what the quality is like?

I'm so excited that they'll be debuting the newest Kate Moss collection as well. She collaborated with Liberty on this one, and I have some gorgeous vintage Liberty prints, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what she did. I'm also happy that last month they started a blog, called Inside Out. According to the blog, they'll have a van driving around the city giving out goodie bags starting on the 23rd, so look out for them and maybe you'll get lucky! Racked has had a countdown with pictures of the progress if you are interested in having a sneak peek.

Anyone planning on going opening day?

Cheers!
Suzanne

Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik... Caveat Emptor!

"Let the buyer beware..."

I was just over at one of my fav sites -- The Shoe Goddess -- reading about a website that is scamming people by saying they have Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik shoes for sale at very deep discounts. The name of the site is High Heel Home and you can read what happened over at the Shoe Goddess here.

They are intentionally misleading people into thinking they are getting the real deal by using the brand names, styles, as well as stolen pictures from legitimate sellers sites such as Neiman Marcus (I'd spot those pics anywhere, I've drooled over them!) I'm always bargain hunting for high-end shoes, and I know my brands, their styles and prices inside out as well as who the legitimate retailers are. Just a glance at this site told me something was fishy, but others desperate to own beautiful shoes at a discount price may not be as savvy. Most of us are on very tight budgets, and saving for months to buy the perfect pair of shoes is common, so use your common sense and don't purchase from an unknown internet seller!

What I find even more insulting is that the prices quoted are approximately the sale price that Louboutin's and Manolo's sell for in legitimate retail stores when they go on sale! If you hunt you can even find them cheaper at the designer outlets like Neiman Marcus' "Last Call", or Saks' "Off Fifth"! In addition, you can often find barely worn or sometimes brand new high-end shoes at consignment shops. I've seen them go for under $100 a pair, depending on the style. Most consignment shops will only accept current styles not more than two years old so your chances of getting something that's up to date are very good. Even better -- when you tire of them, you can bring them back to re-sell, and make some of your investment back!

Now that Louboutin HQ have been alerted, I hope the site will be down and out of business asap, but I'm sure there are other sites like this and that they pop up all the time. So please -- if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you investigate before handing over any of your hard-earned cash!

I'll leave you with some eye candy... my newest and most prized Louboutin's! My husband went all over Manhattan trying to find them in my size, and gave them to me as a Xmas gift this year. It's finally staring to warm up so I can wear them without freezing my toes off!

Cheers!
Suzanne

Vintage Spring Jacket! And, Glamour Magazine Deal

In January while at a fav thrift shop I came across an rarity. Its tough in this part of the country to find interesting vintage in thrift stores. The market has been tapped out for so long due to the fact that people in the Metropolitan NY area have been pretty hip to vintage for some years now. Imagine my surprise to find a mint condition, dead stock with tags 1960's vinyl jacket that fit liked it was custom made for me. I was being stalked by a few dealers and several young women (none of whom it would have fit -- one good thing about being petite is that you can always find great vintage garments that fit really well) I have no doubt this would've ended up on eBay which I don't think is a bad thing, just would have been bad luck for me! My husband actually had to guard our cart against the competition!

Its a gorgeous shade of lemon yellow, and the lining is tone on tone stripes. Today its already hit 60 degrees, so my new treasure may make its debut. I only wish I could find my vintage early 1960's yellow patent slingbacks (with trim in red and blue patent) as they'd go perfect with my skinny grey jeans, classic white tee, and this jacket. Instead, I'm wearing my skinny grey jeans, a thrifted Calvin Klein short sleeved yellow ombre lightweight cashmere sweater and my black Colin Stuart studded booties from Victoria's Secret (too lazy to dig out some vintage grey shoes!) I love grey and yellow as a clothing and decor combination and since obtaining this jacket I've got yellow for spring on my mind. Last month I was lusting after some Bebe "Liza" pumps that would have been a perfect match but they've disappeared from the site. (You snooze, you lose. The shape was a dead ringer for the Louboutin "Rolando" pump and they came in bone, yellow, and orange ): I find Louboutin's extremely comfy, but I've never worn Bebe shoes so was apprehensive. Are Bebe shoes, especially the super-high ones, comfortable? Anyone?) Last night I was at a mall and noticed that Aldo had a few different styles of pumps that would have matched perfectly as well... got me to thinking how much I'm looking forward to seeing the crocus, daffodils and tulips coming up in the garden!

And for those of you who are Glamour magazine fans....

image from Glamour.com

Today I ran across a deal from Glamour magazine, where they are running a special in celebration of their 70th birthday. You can subscribe for $1.50, the same price it was to subscribe 70 years ago. Click here for the link: Glamour Magazine Subscription Special This special rate expires on 15 March, so if you're interested, hop to it asap!

I no longer read Glamour, but while going through some old ephemera the other day (found in my parent's attic) I found clippings from Glamour that I had saved back when in junior high and high school. Interesting to see things from the '70's I had deemed worthy of saving. They included articles on how to fix your car, sell your writing, and decor. Oddly, I also found a recipe file. I say 'oddly' because I always hated cooking back then, and didn't really find I had a knack for it until I was in my 30's, over 15 years later!

I'm sure most people know this but just in case... Here's a little tip if you're a magazine junkie like me: This past Autumn I had a bunch of airline miles that were about to expire (on an airline I no longer fly with) and one of the things I could use them for was to get magazine subscriptions. They were all pretty mainstream, but it does keep me out of trouble at the book store and news agent (except for my fav imports, can't break that habit!) and the best part is that it didn't cost me a cent!

Cheers!
Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen

Tuesday Goodies

When I arrived home today I had a package from "My Catwalk" in Australia in my mailbox. I had purchased the regular Sass and Bide Black Rats awhile ago, and have worn them so much that I decided I needed the PVC version. Being a compulsive bargain hunter, I searched around for a better price than the $240 I found in shops and online, and came across their site. They quoted prices in US dollars, and had a special free shipping scheme to the US, and the best part was that they were almost $100 less than the usual US price. Helloooo PVC Rats! I'm a total sucker for packaging, and was thrilled to see the attention to detail they put into this simple little package. A grosgrain bow around the box, which my daughter immediately appropriated and said she wants made into a headband.

They don't look as shiny in the pic as they really are. But they seem to be just like the old stretch vinyl I used to make hip hugger leggings out of back in the mid-80's. (Gosh I wore those to death.) Its been so cold here that I've been wearing my regular Rats as a layering piece, like tights, so these will be fun to try out the same way.

I also hit up Target today, hoping they'd put out some of the McQueen pieces early so I could get a head start and get the correct sizes for a few items purchased in the pre-sale. They had exactly two scant racks, no shoes (boo!) and not that many pieces from the line. I was able to get the scarves and grey/ black zigzag dress in my size. The blue strapless tattoo print dress is gonna have to be a no-go for me. It has a built in bra, which only succeeded in squishing me flat. Exactly as the one shoulder swim suit does. I'm quite happy with what I've been able to get, and I suppose I'll stalk Target's online site to get in on the little booties.

Oh and btw, the scarves are quite generously sized, I can easily wear them as a sarong low on my hips in the summer (and trust me, these are not model thin hips!) I tried to measure without stretching the silk and got a measurement of 45 inches square.

Now that I'm done (well...) I promise to stop talking about this McQueen stuff. I have to crack down and get writing on a magazine feature I'm on deadline for by next week. But hope to do a post on some vintage in between.

Cheers!
Suzanne aka Punk Glam Queen