90% off, Steals my Heart Again.

$278 shoes for $26

$195 shoes for $26

$265 pants for $29

$255 shrug sweater for $29

This time every year, Cherry Creek hosts a sidewalk sale for all the merchants. Discounts vary by store, but without a doubt, there are some amazing finds.  Traditionally, the sale runs from Thursday to Sunday, but a lot of retailers are starting the sale early.  Garbarini's is one of them, and their sale cannot be missed. 

I went in today and, without exaggeration, could have easily spent five times the amount I did.  I was so impressed with the selection, I brought a client into the store, right after I left.  She proceeded to spend a fair chunk of change on two dresses, two pants, two pair of shoes, two tops and jean shorts.  She easily bought $3000 worth of merchandise for a faction of the cost. 

The best way to tackle the sale, is to go early, and ask for help!  I don't care if you need to take a vacation day to get there before Thursday, I am not here to judge you.  Come Thursday, it will be so busy, you'll be lucky to see whats available.  Two of the four items mentioned above are pictured below.  These are the work staples I found, your selection will likely be different.  If you are a size 2-6 the selection is unreal. Beautiful dresses for $95, that were well over $400 to begin with. Novelty denim galore with super fun tops to match.  Not a size 4, that's ok!  There is still plenty to choose from, including gorgeous leather jackets, shoes, beautiful handbags, tops, etc.  

 

 Milly Cropped Trousers, originally $265, now $29.  Proud these are now my pants, sad that this is not my butt.

Michael Kors, Suede Wedge Sandal, originally $195, now $26

Please go visit Garbarini's and tell them Gelty sent you, 239 Detroit Street, in Cherry Creek North

Fashionable Finds Fit for Those Approaching Forty and Those Already Forty-Four

Do you see these pants?  Of course you do. I've put them front and center to the page.

Banana Republic, Sleek Wide Leg Gaucho Pant

Why you ask? Because between now and the end of August, or possibly later, these pants are going to be front and center of your wardrobe.  In the last two days I have helped two women build out their work wardrobes.  One needed a complete overhaul (she also bought these in white) and the other needed some refinement for a business trip. One was a  super sweet mom of two boys who runs a business with her husband, the other, also super sweet (I have to say this, she's my friend), works in Tech and travels abroad regularly for work.  The latter is also my Sunday drinking partner, which is a total digression, but clearly illustrates how these two women live totally different lives.

They do however, have one two things in common. 1) Both were apprehensive of the pant at first sight. 2) They fell in love instantly, once they put them on.

The versatility of these pants is endless.  Tucked in blouse with cute shoes, like the model above, is great for work.  A lace top with sexy heels turn this look from work to workin' it. You can match it with a cropped top and flats. You can throw on a t-shirt and some espadrilles and go to brunch. 

Have I convinced you yet?  No? Ok, what if I told you they are on sales now at Banana Republic for about $62. And, for another $20-$30 you can find a really cute, event appropriate, top in their countless sale racks that are now an extra 60% off the sale price. 

I hear all of the women out there standing at 5'2" saying "I cant wear a cropped pant."  Yes you can!  All you need is a high heel to elongate your leg. Try one in nude and everyone will think you're 5'5".  Save your flip flops for your sweatpants.

Long story short- go to Banana Republic this week and elevate your style a bit, without spending a ton of money.  If you need my help, needless to say, I am well versed in their current inventory

Pure beauty in Denver

This quite possibly might be my favorite time of year! There are sales galore going on, with seriously deep discounts.  I found out about Lawrence Covell from a client of mine a few months ago. When I found out their summer sale started today, I was effectivly knocking down the down at 10:30 this morning.  I had my heart set on everything in the store, on sale, marked down from 30% to 80% .  From basic jeans and t-shirts to beautiful slacks and dresses, everything at LC is well curated and exquisite. I probably had my eye on about twenty things, but the two dresses below really caught my eye as being different, beautiful and a steal!

From top to bottom, here are the details.
Dres Von Notten, Doria dress, originally $1995, now $1100.

Chris Benz, Lame Rudy Dress, originally $895, now $210

Dres Von Notten, Nepalese Fringe Sweater Camo, originally $430,  now $240

Now all I need is a larger shopping budget and somewhere to wear these stunners.

I'm not overall it, yet.

1995, Whittier, CA, baggy overalls with tight t-shirts were all the rage. I was thankful as my freshman-fifteen was more like the freshman-forty. My girlfriends loved the look too, though their weight gain was significantly less.  Walking around campus, we all looked the same! It is amazing any of us got dates or even invited to parties.

Today overalls are so different, and so cute.  Think edgy and sporty instead of Salt n Pepa.

How cute is this look? I want to be this girl, on a multitude of levels.  This look is from Shopbop, who is now offering 25%off their sale items, taking discounts to as much as 85% off.

Alexa Chung x AG Tennesee Overalls originally $325, now $170.63. 

Mother's Day or Father's Day, you choose.

I came to a conclusion this morning, that Mother's Day is about the moms.  Dads of the world take their kids for the day, so moms can take a break.  Father's Day is also about the moms.  Moms convince their husbands that they need to spend much needed time with the kids, alone. Being the methodical creatures that we are, we support this bonding activity in an attempt to have another "break."

After wearing this kids out at the pool this morning, we went home so they could take a nap. Sadly, the hubs needed a little rest too, so off I went.

 If you've never been, Gabarini's is a fantastic boutique in Cherry Creek, with great labels and amazing selection.  I normally save my shopping trip to Gabarini's for July's sidewalk sale, when it is common to find items originally over $100 for 75% off or more. But today, while on a detour to Target "Boutique" I stumbled upon sales signs, outside their door, calling my name. I had to go in.


Let's say is together now, "buy one, get one free".  I couldn't believe it.  Racks upon racks of goodies.  Here is the shoe rack, where I easily could have bought every pair in my size. 

But then I hit the clothing racks, only to find more things I wanted.  Thankfully, the sale wasn't full of stipulations.  If I wanted, which I did, to buy a pair of shoes and get a pair on pants for free, that was o.k.  Simply put, this sale was like a dream come true. Below are just some the amazing finds from today, from left to right.

Benson NYC camo pants- $29, originally $113.
Monrow purple linen pants- $49, originally $140
Etienne Marcel printed jeans- $98, originally $175
Marrakech stripped linen pant, with the cutest ruffle pockets- $109, originally $135.

 The sale lasts until the product is gone. So go in, buy the pants I love, since I didn't, and get a free pair of something else awesome.

The pants I could live in. 

 

 

My Case for Dresses

Nothing says summer like a breezy dress.  Well, one hundred degree heat also says summer, but I digress.

Dresses are the end all be all of easy dressing.
1) There is nothing to mix and match
2) Getting dressed is a one step process
3) Buying a dress can be the most economical way to get dressed, especially when they are on sale and the marked down again.

Imagine this... Monday morning, after hitting the snooze button five times and now running more than five minutes late and you have no idea what to wear to work (I am not saying this always happens me Monday through Friday ).  Quick check of the weather and sweltering heat is in the forecast.  You go to your closet and find this or this....

Whit Cow-Print Swingy Dress, $86.80

Halston Heritage Sleeveless Ruched Dress, $72.28

You think to yourself, life is good, your dressed in two second flat and walk out the door.  You might even have time to get a Starbucks coffee with the time and money you saved.

True Love + Frugality = Closet Disasters

We all do it, buy clothes for our husbands, in the style we wish they were, instead of how they are.  Thank God for this, or we would have a bunch of men running around in gym shorts and sports jerseys. I have officially stopped buying clothes for my husband.  Ninety-nine percent of the time when I come home with something for him, it is returned for a plaid shirt of some kind.  My husband has the short sleeve version, the sporty version, the going out version, and the flannel version, all of which he owns in a variety of colors.  Fortunately time is measured by the change of seasons, not the change of clothes.  I guarantee I wouldn't know how old I am if I had to use my husband's weekend "uniform" as the gauge.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with a wonderful couple and their three kids. Lindsey hired me to help her husband go through his clothes and organize what he wears.  She felt like he was lost when getting dressed, whether for work or going out.  

In any closet edit the one of the questions I ask about every article of clothing is "do you wear this?"  Responses to the tune of "I didn't know I had it" or "I haven't ever/ in a few years" means it needs to go. Lindsey's husband was holding on to stuff because she bought it for him, and she was buying him stuff because it was a good deal.  This combination of true love and frugality can only turn out one way...

 I present to you the donation pile.

In these bags are clothes that have never been worn, AC/DC t-shirts from the late 80's, pants so wide Lindsey and her husband could have fit in them together.

When your closet gets to the point that you have more swimsuits than shorts, you never have to wear the same pair of jeans twice in a month, and you can't see what you own, something has to give.  Thankfully, we created five bags for donation, two bins of seasonally inappropriate clothes, and recycled about one hundred dry-cleaning hangers.  Our day was officially done!

Viola

My suggestion to women of the world, stop buying things for your husband because you think they need it.  I promise when they are down to their last dress shirt and all the buttons have fallen off their pants, with replacements no where in sight, they will let you know they need more clothes.  At that point you can go crazy, have a heyday.  Until that happens, spend the money on yourself!