Tag Archives: outlet mall

It seems like just as soon as I clink the champagne glasses I notice they’re half empty.


Todays is a better day.  I am exhausted, bloated, and staring at $1000 dollars worth of textbooks on the couch.  Sounds like the ideal friday night, right?

Actually, it’s slightly refreshing to be completely worn out.

I finally finished my job hunt- I think.  I was asked to work for THREE different places.  It’s really flattering, but I forgot how much work, work is. If that makes sense.

I decided on taking jobs at Coach and BCBG, and thanking but declining Ann Taylor’s offer.  I was really excited about Ann initially, but did not expect the incredible response.

These job opportunities are making it easier staying home.  It gives me another purpose!  But, I have a feeling 2 20-25 hour a week jobs and 23 credit hours is going to make me declare an insanity plea.

In my Coach interview I did say my weakness was biting off more than I can chew.

Except you have to understand where I am coming from.  Coach only hired me for 2.5 weeks, seasonally.  And then they have to make the decision to keep me or let me go, and this goes through Coach headquarters.  The store is only allowed to ask a certain number of seasonal people to become part time employees, if any and I won’t know until February 3rd if I am one of them.  I couldn’t resist the job though, such a big job and a generous wage that I was unfamiliar with in small town USA!  I am taking the risk, but I changed my starting date at BCBG to February 4th in case Coach is not interested or I decide it isn’t for me.

I think it was a smart decision, that way I am not “looking a gift horse in the mouth” as my dad says.  I am happy with the outcome, although there are cons to working at such a strict serious company.  The dress code of indigo jeans, british tan or cognac shoes, white pressed and starched button down, navy cardigan or v-neck sweater (no sparkly buttons), light make up, only essie ballet slipper or really red nail polish, and understated jewelry is definitely preppy.. but I feel identity-less, even if it isn’t an atrocious blue pilled K-mart polo.  BCBG is flexible with leggings and dress pants, but there are cons to that too.

Don’t get me wrong, both stores are wonderful and as my contracts with both stores entail I am not revealing any company secrets or something..  I just forgot how nice not being told what to do was.  How working retail no matter the status is tedious and fake feeling..  It’s constantly about impressing people, and being treated like an ID number in some clock-in clock-out system.

I’m reading a book in Intro to Entrepreneurship about.. you guessed it: Entrepreneurship.  And I completely understand the appeal to being your own boss.  I don’t mind waiting on people, I just like being treated with respect.

And after a man rejected my 30% Coach coupon, because he did not need my pity cash (after purchasing nearly 1000 dollars worth of inventory, I think that’s incredibly dumb) and many people walked past me greeting them saying they were so happy not to have me job.. Respected wasn’t exactly what I was feeling.

So maybe that means I pay my 2.5 weeks dues, and move on to BCBG. But maybe it’ll be the same deal, just a little less pay. So is that worse?  I know I need to work, I need the money.

Or I want the money.

I need a thicker skin. I need a more positive attitude.

3 out of 4 locations I applied to at the outlet mall wanted me!

It seems like just as soon as I clink the champagne glasses I notice they’re half empty.

In case you weren’t aware, Black Friday is one big marketing ploy.


As a world renown shopper and a lover of all things fashion related, Black friday SHOULD be a day with my name written all over it.  After my cousin scarred me with taking me black friday shopping in the 8th grade and ditched me at an outlet mall I was completely unfamiliar with, I’ve been a little biased against it.. but at 18 I decided to give it another chance.  After all, I’ve developed a very soft spot for all things kate spade and it’s a wonderful thing to purchase at 70% off when you are on a college student budget.

So when my cousin texted me about the opportunity to crazily attack this holiday with her at the outlet mall only a few minutes over the boarder from Canada, I smiled and agreed. I would rather take a risk like this in the company of a friend.

The reason I mention Canada, is because every Canadian and their mother entered the country to go to the Niagara Falls Outlet mall last night. It was pure insanity. I did not purchase a purple kate, because the wallet above that I was extremely tempted by was still 100 dollars. You’re supposed to hold my money, not be the reason I don’t have any money to store..?

I was a lot weaker at the knees for michael kors though. The mile long line that wrapped past hugo boss, kate spade, coach, and the lindt truffle store was a small price to pay, I thought: until I talked to a store associate that informed me even at a minimum of 20% off everything, the GORGEOUS hamilton I wanted would still ring up to nearly 320 dollars. Thankfully, I found this out after waiting in line 10 minutes. How humiliating would it be (not to mention how much it’d piss me off) to be waiting in line for 2 hours and only be able to drool over the great deals?

 

Not to mention how similar it looks to my pink Kate Spade that I love so dearly.. Some day when I am a professional women I plan on buying this gorgeous bag along with a classic black pair of Christian Louboutins. It’ll happen.

So what did I wait in a 2 hour line for then? Why go out Black Friday shopping as a Fashionista if you don’t plan on splurging?

A DOWN COMFORTER. Well 3. My cousin wanted. And it’s totally okay, cuz I got the experience I wanted Black Friday shopping, but lets just say goose feathers and never going intrigue me to wait that long at Bon Ton ever again.

At the outlets I bought a cute shiny top from Charlotte Russe. It was 12 dollars, so not that great a sale but nice none the less. It’s turquoise and I’d show you a picture except the internet hates me and doesn’t believe this top exists. You’re gonna have to use your imagination.

Imagine, its nice. But not nice enough to say it was worth going black friday shopping waiting in lines, not sleeping, and getting lost.

Oh yes. Black friday is a much more enjoyable experience when you remember where you live and how to get back there.

I lived in the middle of nowhere until the day before I went to college in August, I can partially blame that for the fact that besides my address and the fact my house is in between canada and a yacht club I had no idea where my house was at 6 am this morning.

My cousin and I took a TWO HOUR detour to figure this out.

Not enjoyable. I was running on the fumes of coconut frozen yogurt and a large sweet tea with so much sugar, I thought my tongue was crystalizing. My eyes were barely staying open, so God bless my cousin that was driving. I took us to the bridge that brings us to Canada, and the town we go to Church in. I even remembered where my brother’s friend lived.. but my house? Lost cause. My phone, which I am completely dependent on when it comes to directions: died. And her little nokia track phone was of no help.

My parents were sleeping and being the 18 and 21 year olds we were, it would be a disgrace to call them and ask for rescuing when we were sure we knew where we were going..

Next year, I’m sure I’ll plan better. This whole black friday escapade, is nice for some people. But I like to enjoy my shopping experience and feel rest assured I’m getting deals and with a lot of things I couldn’t say that. I went to the mall the day before thanksgiving and saw many of the same sales in action.

It’s all a marketing ploy! There are exceptions, but people need to do their homework! Kate was 20% off more than normal, and the Coach riding boots I wanted from Macys were on sale too.. but in a sea of sale and clearance signs people need to realize they probably aren’t saving that much at all. You get stuck in lines that wrap around the store filled with point of purchase displays, slowing sucking all the money you think you’re saving out of your pocket.

Black friday is good on paper, but so is communism.

Okay.. that’s a whole other topic, Im over tired pardon me.

Allison

 

She tucked her coral lipstick away and floated back to the party.


Morning sunshines!

Actually, its 4 in the afternoon.. I’m just so bright and cheery thanks to my adventure today that I had to start my introduction that way.

Why might I be gushing optimism and happiness?

KATE SPADE ❤

I went to the Niagara Falls Outlet Mall today, and was given 4 generous hours to wander and drool over everything I could possibly want.

The result: A sheer blouse with rhinestones on it, a navy jacket for fall, socks for my sperry boat shoes, yogen fruz frozen yogurt, and A NEW KATE SPADE.

My first.

I feel like suchhhhh, a grown up. Even if it’s hot pink, it’s classy and practically costs an arm and a leg vs. my typical bag.

Not to diss vera..

I’m just on cloud 9 right now because this bag is me in a nut shell. From the duster bag that it came in, to the fact that it’s pink yet straight lines and classic design. I just feel it represents me so well.

Since it’s labor day weekend, the sales were HUGE.. and Kate thankfully wasn’t an exception. 50% off!!! My bag was 50% off.

I could never be so impulsive otherwise.

I’m supposed to be the poor college student after all.

Canisius is covered in Michael Kors and Coach; but  I’ll be so proud to flaunt this kate spade. Words can barely describe.

Allison

Psst: The title was the quote on my duster bag. Like how much cuter can you get?!