DSW to open in old Filene's Basement space on 79th & B'way

DSW to open in old Filene's Basement space on 79th & B'way.  I just noticed this as I traversed the expanse of my new 'hood yesterday.  Stay tuned for an Upper West Side survival guide as my eons-long renovations come to a conclusion.

Filene's Basement Seeks Chapter 11!

Christmas Tips: Filene's Basement 15% off

OK, so you may have heard that the off-price department stores are chock full of amazing inventory because the retailers need to unload unload unload. So now is a better time than any to visit TJ Maxx, Daffy's and Filene's Basement (15% off coupon ). I've been to 2 out of 3 and have made some incredible scores.

I call B.S. on some Discount Stores

I recently read an article about how some discount stores that claim to have top designers at low, low prices are in fact selling sub-par apparel to the masses. "Hmmmmmmmm...." I thought to myself. Could this be true? So I did a little investigation at a Filene's Basement and Marshalls and have come to the conclusion that it is true. I tried on Kors by Michael Kors at one, and looked at Tahari suits at the other. The clothes were crap.

The same article mentioned that the only places that you can be sure to find the real deal for less are sample sales or Century 21. Shoot. I guess I believe it, but shopping those is a real nightmare pain in the ass.

I guess the lesson is to be very discerning when considering purchasing "designer" clothing for less - if you think about it, how could all of these discount chain stores that continue to pop up all over the country carry top-of-the-line apparel? It's just not rational. I'm not necessarily saying that these stores are selling false or counterfeit goods, it could be that the designers are licensing out their names to mass manufacturers who are creating select items using less expensive materials and designs.

Since so many of these labels are owned by publicly traded companies, they have to continue to figure out new ways to make more money year after year. So be a smart consumer and don't be "had!"

Decent Pants from H&M and Filene's

OK, so I've started to make one of my dreams a reality...pants...

I probably watch way too much of "What Not to Wear" on TLC, but it has encouraged me in new ways. One way being: buy pants that fit you in the waist and get them altered. I have taken this idea on board because I believe in my heart of hearts that if you are wearing well-fitting trousers, you will be a happier human and your life will blossom before you.

So this weekend I flitted over to Filene's Basement and H&M. I picked up the two pair you see on hangers (combined cost: $75) and have gotten them altered. I even had the pockets removed and sewed shut on the gray pair, because I decided I did not want to resemble a gas station attendant, more than perhaps I sometimes already do. Granted, the alterations jacked up the price, but also increased the chance that I would wear them -- often -- and happily. And isn't that what pants are for?

The other photo is of my Closet #1 (I have four), where said pants live. Granted, they don't have a lot of breathing room, however, they are in good company.

Filene's Basement in Union Squuuyawn...

Realizing that I write ad nauseum about DSW in Union Square, I thought I'd change things up a bit and scribe on Filene's Basement, which is located in the same building. Except first I need to admit that while at DSW, and in between taking calls from Guerilla Shopper groupies, I bought New Balance all-terrains to replace my current ugly-ass sneakers. I need to play the part if I am to achieve fitness zen at Equinox.

OK, so anyway I scoured the second floor of Filene's, which is actually the third floor of the building, which isn't really a "basement" at all, and came up with...

NOTHING!

I tried about 10 items on, and they did nothing for me, except make me look drowned out. Now, had I been looking for a semi-conservative suit, I'd have to admit that they have some decent options from Tahari and Calvin Klein (reg. $320 reduced to $130), but alas, I was not.

What I was looking for was simply not present and accounted for. There were lots of non-structured, picked over, fancy T-shirts and pants that don't seem to go to one's ankle. What is it with all of these knickers and shorts these days? I mean having a couple of pairs is fine, but why is the whole store full of this crap?

I really need to put the pedal to the metal on hooking up the spring into summer wardrobe...but where do I go now that Aaron's is gone?! I am going to have to recreate my approach. Wish me well. I'll be back.

No Really, February is Not Good

I know I keep saying this, but I continue hoping that I will be proved wrong.

This is just the worst shopping month ever.

I ventured out last night after work, seeking the pants of my dreams at Lord & Taylor and Banana Republic and came up completely empty handed. The pants I stumbled upon, were in a word: gross. Then, this morning I found myself outside of my favorite Filene's Basement on the Upper West Side, and again, nada. I tried on one pair of brown Laundry pants that seemed like they might be acceptable at $50...but they were too big. Damn.

Can someone point me in a better direction? Yes, this is me, Guerilla Shopper, asking for your help. I am man enough...Let's celebrate our love of pants together.

Love, GSNYC

Aaron's in Brooklyn: CLOSED

Well, you heard it from me back in October that Aaron's, the women's designer discount store out there in Brooklyn, had decreased in size by 50 percent and declined in apparel quality and intrigue by about 100 percent. Then, last week I heard from a friend of mine who knows the son-of-Aaron's that the store was closing. Today, I checked online and the website is down.

It is a sad and unfortunate demise of a great, unique store that I learned about from my fashion-forward-father who had been going there since at least the 70s. Every time I went out there - taking a 45-minute train ride each way - I ended up spending hours trying on scores of items. I rarely got out of there for less than $700, but with piles and bags of beautiful, high-quality clothing.

I'm not sure what happened - perhaps it was overtaken by the designer discount behemoths such as Filene's Basement,

Union Square: Growing Shopping Oasis

Ah yes, Union Square as photographed by me from inside DSW. What used to be a marginal wasteland dotted with a few good restaurants is now feeling comfortable in its new retail skin. Barnes & Noble, Sephora, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's (nearby), Virgin, DSW, Filene's Basement, Diesel, Puma, Shoe Mania...the list goes on. And situated between 5th Avenue and the East Village, you really can't go wrong by taking one of the many trains that empties into the Square for hours of shopping until you are dropping.

Granted, the turning of New York City into a big huge giant-ass mall hasn't really thrilled me during the last several years that I've seen it happening. But if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. What choice do we have if we continue to choose to live in this teflon town where money continues to pour in no matter what happens? It's quite awesome, in the sense that it instills awe.

I will surely be driven out of dodge in the near future as there is no way that a barely middle class lass such as myself can continue to afford the spiraling prices of...everything... That is, unless I find myself a sugar daddy. Perhaps I should start wearing that Banana Republic outfit my mother bought me (see post from a few days ago) after all.

My Favorite Filene's Basement

There are three Filene's Basements in Manhattan. My favorite is on Broadway @ 79th St. because it has the best clothing - don't let the dowdy window display on the 79th side fool you. The ground floor (especially on the left side, as you walk in the door) is stocked full of designer labels - from the tried and true to the more obscure. It's not a huge area so the clothes are packed in and the racks are very close to one another - so get ready to maneuver.

I had spent far more time in the other locations (on 6th Ave. and 18th St. and in Union Square - above my beloved DSW!) because this one is the furthest from my apartment. But I should have known better - I found my mom a great Adrienne Vittadini outfit there a few years ago.

The two pieces shown in today's pulitzer-prize winning photo are both Ted Baker - each, originally $195, were given a home (by me) for $69.99 a piece. Thats both for a total of $139.98, still $55.02 less than one piece would have cost at retail.

The line for the dressing room in here can get a bit long and tedious, snaking through the exercise gear -- so volunteer to do your fittings in the "community" room located in the rear of the dressing room. Three-to-four people can fit in there, and we're all Ladies with a capital "L," so who cares. You need to use your time wisely so that you can squeeze more econoshopping into your day. Time is money!