Donald J. Pliner - Good shoes, but needs my help

I discovered Donald J. Pliner (DJP) in the early 90s at an outlet in Seacaucus, NJ. By the late 90s, my devotion was cemented at Lord & Taylor when I laid my eyes upon a pair of black leather boots that I was sure had been made expressly for me (see photo, right side). I have considered donating them to Good Will many times, but have not been able to part with them. I get them refurbished every so often, but there's only so much you can do!

I have since purchased a pair of DJP stretchy crepe boots with a silver plate at the heel (see photo, left side), and a pair of black leather sandals for my mother. They look and feel great. That, I cannot deny. However, I have two issues:

1. I am pretty sure that the prices have been jacked up, surpassing inflation, in recent years. This is probably due to growing the brand's popularity, which is understandable from a business point-of-view. However, as a result, they have lost The Guerilla Shopper as a regular customer. I recently saw a potential DJP replacement for my beloved favorite boots, but they cost well over $300...so I just couldn't do it.

2. I have been finding it increasingly difficult to find styles that are "fashion-forward." There's no doubt that the shoes are well-made, high quality and tasteful. But I'm missing that edge that I need. I need to feel like a sexy bad ass goddess with class. Only then can I consider making a purchase of relative monetary value. So sue me (well, don't, actually, I obviously couldn't afford such action).

So I'm on the fence on DJP, but not ready to throw in the towel yet. I still get a rush when I see that a store carries the brand, so there is hope.

Loehmann's - Questionable

I've mentioned Loehmann's a few times already, but I haven't yet provided my insights into the discount department store located in the old Barneys spot on 7th Ave., mainly because my mother told me, "if you don't have something nice to say, come sit next to me." OK, I actually stole that line from Olympia Dukakis in Steel Magnolias...and now that I've rendered myself completely uncool, let me continue.

Loehmann's is fantastic in theory. The ground level floor offers an accessories/jewelry section, a handbag department and a shoe boutique. One of the upper floors offers a huge selection of European and other ecclectic designers. They have some cool styles and interesting brands, and I have bought a few things there over the years, including the pictured Stella Forest sweater, which is nice, but wasn't that cheap.

That's IT! I don't think that the prices are low enough. I was shocked by the 'tag on some leather gloves the other day. $50? Thanks, I'll go to Old Navy or Daffy's. I also have a really hard time finding anything that actually fits me.

They do offer a shopping card through which you can earn points and get special coupons for additional discounts, but somehow I rarely come out feeling like I won. I want to win!

In fairness, when dealing with these kinds of discount department-type stores, you do have to accept that sometimes you score BIG, and other times you come up empty-handed. However, I shall still stand by my gut (unfortunately it's always standing by me), and implore the good people of Loehmann's to impress us with a new pricing strategy.

Financial Times: how to spend it

Do you read the Financial Times? It's the pink newspaper that is not The New York Observer. It's also the daily newspaper with the highest demographic in the world, i.e. its readers are global moguls with average incomes of like $47 billion. And they read it to figure out how to make even more next year.

I read it most everyday for my day job -- it's actually a great paper. But the best part is its weekly weekend magazine, "how to spend it." Aside from recommending exotic vacation spots and where to find the best cigars and cognacs, it features some of the most astounding couture, with styling and photography that rivals the top fashion books (or so I've heard, I hardly ever read women's magazines, believe it or not).

Like spending a day in Barneys and Bergdorf's, I merely read this insert to find out what is happening in the world of high-end fashion. I will not likely ever be able to...I mean want to - I have my principles, of course!...spend so much money on clothing. However, it is one of the sources from which I form my ideas about what looks and which designers are driving fashion. It arms me with a mind's eye of what I should be looking for as I cruise town as a (wo)man with a mission.

In the edition pictured above, an embroidered lace dress by Alexander McQueen tickles my fancy. And it only costs 4,190 GBP, which, when you take into account the strength of American currency, tranlates into something like $57,000.

Success at the Clothes Swap

I just returned from my friend Miss Meghan's apartment where she hosted a great clothes swap among friends. Everyone brought their cast-offs in hopes that they would find something better -- seeking new inspiration, for free! There were mountains of great stuff, people, food and drink, and when the dust settled, we each brought a bag of "unwanteds" to Housing Works, which is more than a thrift store, it's a non-profit that benefits homeless people living with AIDS and HIV.

So aside from doing some good works for the community, I was happy to have found a new home for my Isaac Mizrahi (pre-Target) purple velvet pants that I bought in the late 90s, and in exchange, picked up tons of stuff for myself: shoes (see pic. - Anne Klein!), jewelry, a handbag, brand new tights and more.

I also met Jason Campbell, editor of the JC Report, the online fashion mag the reports on global fashion trends...before they become trends.

And perhaps best of all, it forced me to go through my closets and drawers, and really ask myself, "am I EVER going to wear this again?" and "Why did I buy this P.O.S. in the first place?"

Fiorucci - remember?

Since I already began an 80s retrospective, I thought I'd go with that theme for a while...
There was Betsey Johnson, Benetton was new (or seemed that way), Guess? hadn't gone mass-market yet, AND there was Fiorucci...right there near Bloomingdales -- I believe it's a Diesel store now.

And while some of you may know that Fiorucci reopened downtown (and quickly closed again), it was in vain, because there is no way to recapture the 80s-Madonnaesque-retail excess of the 80s. High-end, but not. Artistic, but accessible. Trendy, and then some.

Spanning two floors, Fiorucci offered the curious tourist T-shirts and sweatshirts emblazoned with the "duo-cupids wearing sunglasses" logo. But this is where we separate the boys from the men. As in, I never bought one of those. I went for the real deal.

Now I admit I was looking at this, and likewise recalling it, from the perspective of a 13-16 year old girl. But humor me! The only evidence I have from that store are the pink rhinestone hearts you see pictured here. But I maintain vivid images of a black short-sleeved sweatshirt that didn't have a numeral printed on the back, but the word "FIRST." I still think this is genius. Then, I recall bright blue wool "skinny pants" (as the kids are calling them these days) that could probably only have been adorned by my sophmore-in-high-school frame. It was the first place I ever saw - and bought - fluorescent orange nail polish. And then there was the black "jumpsuit" (for lack of a better word) with a drawstring, made from T-shirt material.

Anyone who knows me knows that, for better or worse, all of this still influences my choices to this day! Good thing parachute pants weren't my thing...

An Ren Boutique: The Coat that Saved Me

I have such a tale of angst and woe. A story of epic proportions. A tragedy about a Christian Dior coat -- stolen! -- right out of my friends' apartment at a New Year's Eve party several years ago...

I found the best coat ever in the whole wide world on major sale at a store in my beloved Seacaucus, NJ. This was a long time ago when I had minimal expendable cash, so it may have been the find of my life. I loved coatie - as I affectionately called him - and coatie loved me. People would oggle at coatie's fine, singular design. Alas, you already know how this sad tale ends. I quested for many many years to find a replacement, and my dear dad even gave me the money to do so. I did purchase several nice coats over the years - some at Century 21, some at Aaron's, but none truly mitgated my sense of deep loss.

Then, last year, I came upon An Ren, a women's clothing boutique located at 315 East 9th St. Although coatie can never be truly replaced, the garment I found here, at a somewhat reasonable price (less than $400) is unique, fresh and has the sickest (sickest in a good way) pink satin lining I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Perhaps not fully realized in the photo, the coat is made from a very tactile material, and the style is reminiscent of a tuxedo jacket with tails on steroids. It's freaking cool. Thank you An Ren.

Side note - if anyone is interested in getting a "Friends and Family" coupon for 30% off regularly priced merchandise at Mexx (I will write about this store one day soon) let me know, give me your email address and I will forward it to you. It's good Oct. 27 - Nov. 5 only.

Betsey Johnson: A Bit o' History

Betsey Johnson solidified my place in 80s fashion history among the minds and memories of the very small town I am from. My dad, who scoured the streets of New York for the coolest, most cutting-edge clothes around (read my first entry for the dad-shopping tale) introduced me -- believe it or not. I mean, what better place to outfit your 14-year old daughter for her 8th grade graduation, especially when she was on tap to make a speech in front of all of the students, teachers and parents? At the time, I think the only two stores in the city were on Columbus Ave. and E. 60th Street (both stores still exist). And if memory serves me, I bought the pictured dress at the Columbus Ave. location. See how I fade into the background among my friends? When my mother first saw me in it, she screamed in horror. (And the very red shoes, what little you can see of them, are from Kenneth Cole - Columbus Ave. Didn't anyone else's mother tell them that WHITE SHOES ARE UGLY?)

I continued for years to return to Betsey's, usually buying that which was on sale, and every once in a while springing for a full-price item, such as the bright yellow mini skirt with two giant zippers running up the front that could stand upright on a table by itself, like a lampshade. Or the tight, long red skirt with the silkscreened guns and bullets all over it. This stuff should be in the Smithsonian, and still exists somewhere in the depths of a basement...alas, all I can wear now are two belts - one patent-leather silver studded, the other a bright red (faux) snakeskin.

While her clothing accented my style, I find that she may have 'sold out' a bit in recent years. I seem to find her clothing and hand bags in malls and even discount department stores, such as Loehmann's. What happened to the sweaters with patterns of giant eyeballs or spiders? Where are the patent-leather ankle and wrist belts? Perhaps they are stuck in the 80s, and I may be as well, apparently.

Furniture Part III: Room and Board

About a year ago I decided that it was high time to upgrade my bedroom furniture, most of which were hand-me-downs from a neighbor when I was in SEVENTH GRADE.

So after it was confirmed with the experts that the "junior furniture" look was OUT, I started searching high and low for the perfect replacements - dressers, chests, wardrobes, and the like. Well, I am somewhat sad to report that I am still on the hunt, but I did track down one fantastic piece: a dresser from Room and Board (105 Wooster St.) with an inlay design on each drawer (see photo) from their Clearance Center for HALF price! I believe it was regularly $1,500 and I got it for around $750. It's so great that when a friend of mine recently visited my apartment she audibly gasped and proclaimed it "one of the nicest pieces of furniture" she had ever seen. This from a chick who just bought a house and is refurbishing and redoing each room - so she knows what's out there these days.

Frustratingly, I haven't yet been able to find a sister piece that would allow me to ditch the rest of my junior furniture set. I am usually attracted to the wood/antique/distressed looking genre - not anything too modern. It's a tough one. I sometimes make guilty pleasure visits to Stickley Audi on 5th Avenue between 20th-21st St., but haven't yet been able to justify the expense! Great stuff though...

Shoe Advice from G.S. NYC

Hi everyone - I just got my first real "Dear Guerilla Shopper" letter (and my response), that I thought I'd share:

Dear Guerilla Shopper:
You and I both know I don't really like to shop even though no one can dispute that I have a particular look going -- mostly that look involves lots of black and very particular levels of minimal ornament. It is extremely rare that I'm ever truly haunted by something that I must have. But every once in a blue moon something like these boots comes into my radar: http://www.activeendeavors.com/product.asp?deptid=2739&listtype=d&pfid=AED15593
Now the last time I spent that much money on a pair of boots was 4 years ago. In the heat of the moment I spent $750 on pair of Jimmy Choo ankle boots. Did I regret it? Temporarily. Except I wear them to this day and they are never going out of style, are built like Bentleys and I'll probably have them for at least ten more years. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Not Really a Shopper
**but recently had a bump in income and has no mortgage or children.
..........................
Dear N R a S (brhabiiahnmoc):

Goddamn.
My first thought? "Shit girl those are hotter than blazes, GO FOR IT"
I have short boots with heels like that, and I got them at DSW, so check there first just to make sure, but I have a feeling you will have to pay up on this one. Sometimes, mostly with shoes, you just can't get out inexpensively. If this will make you like the Goddess that you are, than do it. (but just check DSW first quickly, for me...)
Love,
G.S. NYC

Furniture Part II: The Bed

So about a year or two ago I decided that I needed to upgrade my full-sized mattress and metal frame (the cheapest one that 1-800-Mattres [leave the last "s" off for savings] had at the time) to a much fancier queen-sized bed. I'm still not so sure that I didn't get ripped off by Sleepy's on the mattress part, but I did score big on the fancy bed part. After searching high and low for an iron bed without a footboard (I didn't want it to get in the way if I decided I needed to dive on it from across the room like a superhero), I found a store that I had never heard of: Charles P. Rogers at 55 W. 17th St. What I got (pictured above, the "Paris Sleigh Bed") was so great, that my friend who is an interior architect was impressed and suggested I should do some of her shopping for her! It cost about $1,200 - not a small fee, but by furniture standards, not a bad score. The photo above doesn't do it justice (what a shocker), so go to the web link and you'll get a much better view.