It's the Mean that matters

Math was never one of my strong subjects. I suffered through it during high school,  didn't take it the one year I was in college, and came away with two valuable skills. Figuring out percentages, as in percentages off, and getting the average, or mean of a bunch of numbers.

I'd mentioned a few days ago I was having shopping lust, and when a coupon for 20% off at Kohl's came, I decided to go there. I hadn't been since April, the night before I left for Italy when I was seeking last minute stuff I needed to pack. I'd spotted a dress that night, a Simply Vera for $78, and I told her I'd come back for her, and that we'd be together soon.

At the freshly reduced price of $31.20, I snatched her off the rack. I didn't stop there, I went on to this sheer abstract top for $20, and two pairs of sunglasses, that had been reduced to $5.20. Total after extra 20% discount: $49.28.

Rather than heading straight home after my splurge, I stopped at a thrift store along the way and found the clothing racks were half off that day. I spotted this cute polka dot chiffon wrap top for $6, and this Ann Taylor zig zag skirt, also $6. The skirt is a touch big, but the construction is simple and I can take it in. As a wool blend it's not exactly summer fare, but I think it will be fine for work in the A/C.

My total after 50% discount: $6.

Now for my favorite part, the mean. I got six articles for $55.28, which means the average piece was only $9.22. Pretty awesome.



Moments ago, I was showing off my two newest thrift finds to my sister, when she said to me, "I can't understand why you keep buying things at thrift stores. It's psychotic, you don't even know where that stuff has been."

I'm not going to say I found her comments hurtful. If she wants to go through life without the luxury of a three dollar London Fog trench, that's her business. Of course I then suggested that the Lulu Guinness should just become completely mine, and her rebuttal was that bags are different because you don't wear them.

I've never found the idea of wearing secondhand clothing psychotic. You wash it, and you are good to go. I don't have issue with the things I don't usually wash either, like coats or shoes. It's just fabric, and I figure as long as it doesn't stink, there isn't a problem.

Since I know so many of you have wardrobes based around thrifted clothes, I don't need to ask you to defend second hand purchases, but I am curious, is there anyone who doesn't thrift? And why not?

$78? Naw, I like $3.26 better.

I received an email from Kohls with a $10 Kohl's Cash coupon in it. (I would post it here for everyone, but it was exclusive to my local Kohl's).

I know this ploy. Offer me free money so that I will go into the store and spend more money than I normally would, just because I know I'm getting the $10 off.

Well, Kohl's, you don't know who you're dealing with. I found this cute dress by Simply Vera on the clearance rack. Originally $78 (ummm, it's made of polyester, what is so $78 about that?) marked down to $15.60. I had a 15% off coupon, plus the $10 - bringing my total to a nice $3.26. Can't beat that.
Now onto important matters, like the shoes, tights, cardigan, and jewelry to wear with it!
Shoes - Mia Davis T-Strap - Endless, $38.47
Tights - Mesh Dot - Urban Outfitters, $14.00
Cardigan - Textured Stripe Sweater - Charlotte Russe, $21.99
Bangle - Peacock - Forever 21, $5.80

An Extra 30% Makes the Sales Even Sweeter

I spent far too long in Khols today. And yesterday. But they kind of forced me to come back - no really! Here's what happened:

Yesterday morning I went into Khols to pay my bill (which was necessary to avoid late fees) and while walking around, I found this super cute pinstriped jacket which was half off. Khols always likes to mail you secret scratch off bonus coupons, and I always get 15%. My aunt however, always seems to get 30%, and then braggs about it - so I knew that she had the 30 coupon, and I wanted it to get the jacket for a nice $20.

So, later in the day, I return, coupon in hand to get the jacket. I do, and it's lovely. As I'm leaving, the securty alarm goes off, but those things go off all the time and I don't think anything of it - until I get home and realize the device is still afixed to my jacket.

This moring when I return, I notice a new sign has appeared on all the clearance merchandise - Now an extra 25% is taken off. Extra..... my mind starts whirring with calculations. It is a very slow whirring though, mental math is tough and it took a few mintues of staring blankly at the wall, visualizing the numbers in my head to come up with the new figures on the items i'd been eying.


I decided that the Vera Wang short sleeved faux fur jacket, originally $168, reduced to $33, and now to $17.33, might just be worth it. The look and feel of it is actually quite posh - I think I'll have to wear it out tomorrow night and act like I own the town in my "$168" acrylic fur. When it comes to fur, I would always prefer that it be fake. And yet when it comes to leather, I'd prefer it be real. I'm complicated like that.

My final insanely discounted purchase was this white cotton summer dress which really looked like it had been bumming around the store for the last nine months. It is all covered in dust and various threads pulled off of other garments. But there it was, alone in a sea of sweaters, adjacent to an odd rack of last years bikini bottoms (there was not a matching top in sight). The cut of the dress is very flattering, wrap style with a bottom that flares away, and a preppy little collar. It was originally $89.50 and I paid $18.80.

The moment I saw it I was having visions of it with a woven leather platform sandal, like this one by Jessica Simpson for $60 or this Payless one for $30. I also keep wanting to see it with these perforated suede boots by Chinese Laundry. They are currently $125, but if I keep on waiting, perhaps they will be on sale by the time I'll actually be wearing the dress.