Outlet Shop

Mission Level
Success!

I’m Cheap
I'm pretty cheap, unless I know I am paying for quality. I do love earning money, saving it and then buying stuff I need and want. I am not one of those girls who ever spent all day shopping, I'm very target (not the store) orientated.

Now, I have friends who have two or three closets full of clothes and get a buzz out of it. Beyond that, they love the outlets - there are a couple around. I think depending on how far you travel, making outlet shopping an all day thing would be a good idea.

Good thing I got friends all over the place and getting to some outlets is not that hard

Welcome to All I Don't Know
I am not a brand-centric person. A consumer, yes, but brand loyalty? Crash and burn! I can be bought by the highest quality for the lowest price and I enjoy nothing more than watching the great tumble.

Master of Fashion!

That’s not entirely true. I think it’s important to be on the look out for yourself when it comes to where you spend your money. You have the money, you have the power. Don’t hand it all away on some name if it’s not the best possible thing you can get or it bring you twice as much joy as it cost. 

For example, my Visconti pen is worth every penny and when I get around to squiring my Conklin, it’ll be worth it.

Ok, I have one brand I am fairly loyal to - Lucky Brand. Sure, jack your prices up, I have jeans from the early 2000 that are just as fantastic as when I first got them. I was told this is strange to own jeans for so long. 

Plus, the people they hire at the retail level are super, 100% of the time.

The Outlets
My destination was the Philadelphia Premium Outlets. Lots of brands. Lots of stuff I am not sure how to value. The area is mostly an outdoor shopping circle, not a mall. Picking a day when the temperatures were waving at the negative range and snow started to fall.

I went shopping needing some warm clothes for work and keeping warm. A dress or two would be nice as I have another challenge coming up that has to do with them. Suspense!

I didn't have a plan. I was just super happy Lucky Brand had a story there. Even if I could get the normally priced $150 pair of jeans for $100 I would be happy. I really like the Charlie Flare cut I got last year for my birthday.

The Trip

Can we just take a moment to again address my super-hot boyfriend who came with me to the outlets? Seriously, of his own free will. I would never force a guy to come shopping with me. Love his company, of course.

The Hunt
I’m target oriented. I know companies spend millions of dollars on top marking people who carefully arrange displays to attract my attention, blast “I need to get rid of my money” music and carefully choose the best fashions to display. 

This is why I spend 60 second tops in a store. If nothing catches my eye, I move on. 

I went through about 8 stores in an hour leaving MacGyver stunned at my efficiency.

Lucky Brand
I was happy to see that the Lucky Brand Outlet was just a neat and charming as the normal retail store. However, they did not have the Charlie Flare jeans I wanted. I tried on the Charlie Straight (the lady said I would look great in them) but I am not into carrot –leg looks.

Honestly, no one looks good when your pants or jeans tapper. It makes your ankles look skinny and the rest of you looks huge. Stop. STOP!

I did buy two tops – for the price of one at normal retail. I have some remorse for the second top I got because I’m not sure I can pull it off. I’m going to make it work.

Verizon
I really want a new cell phone case. I want the one I have, sort of a white argyle pattern. I go into the store and ask – “We have pink.”

Yeah, we’re done here.

“I mean, we could order it for you.”

Yeah, I have Amazon dot com. It doesn't suggest I get something in pink.

Steve Madden

This is my shoe store of choice for pumps - Steve Madden. I love a nice pump in some bright colors. I prefer the suede look rather than matte or shinny, but, I could be convinced. They did not have the color I have been looking for, so, that was out.

I'm not into platform pumps, by the way. It's a wear look to me. I know the peep-toed, platform boot is all the rage. I still think it looks funny.

The nice sales rep was nice enough to put down the customer service number for me to call to see where the shoes are. I did not have the heart to tell her “Amazon dot com.”

Forever21

I bought a sweet skirt here on a whim in the summer and I really like it - I even found this awesome picture of it. I wear it with a simple sweater and some tights since it's a little short sometimes. 

Some of my friends really dig this store, but, it’s got too much see-through stuff.. I recently found out my favorite t-shirts are at H&M when I use to avoid that store like the plague.

 So, I give Forever21 a shot when I can to see if I can find another, well, find.

Ann Taylor
A friend told me I could find some nice stuff here. My Amazon wish list has a couple nice looking dresses for work from here, so, I figured the outlet might offer me some idea on how the store sizes things and maybe a couple pieces.

I’m not emotionally ready for Ann Taylor. I tried to force interest in a dress, but, it was super thick material, a somewhat awkward green and the embroidered design on it were two triangles, with the largest size highlighting the widest part of the hip area.

I don’t have much of a need to accent my child-bearing hips, so, I passed.

New York & Company
I don’t know why I go into this store but I know why I use to. Talk about a downward spiral. I use to get a lot of staples here – great sweaters and pants and shirts - I could never leave New York & Company without something. Every time I go into one of the stores it looks as if a pack of 5-year-olds have trashed the place and to compensate, all the racks are double-jammed with items. Urg.

The sizing is also always off. I am not a “small” but I need to get “XS” at this store. I know their “Size 10” is not a real size 10. It’s great if you want an ego boost that is related to the size of your clothes, otherwise, it sucks.

The store is also packed by color, so, you have a bank of ROY G BIV (red, orange, yellow, green blue, indigo and violet) across the store. This is great if you don’t care what you get as long as it is a certain color. I don’t shop this way – except for shoes.

Also, they now have horrible fashion stuff. I want a normal sweater. Not a sweater with some cheap sequence attached.

As a side note, I have notices when NY&C has mannequins up, I want to buy the stuff it is wearing. Only problem, you can never find even one of those items.Needless to say, the outlet version left my inner child weeping and my cardio up.

Yankee Candle
I normally get my candles from Home Goods rather than directly from Yankee Candle because they are super cheap. Sure, you have to hunt a little, but, everything is in one spot. This store is a little small. When my super-hot boyfriend walked in, he basically almost died from the wall of smell.

I lasted only a second longer to prove I’m a woman.

Final Thoughts

Yep, that my friends is how I shop. 

Now, I will be going back there, for sure. I think I also didn’t want to linger too long because this was not something my boyfriend was enjoying as far as an afternoon activity. He’s great, but, I know when not to push my luck with people. I really liked having him along but I didn’t want to spend hours there searching and hunting for items.

However, with my Mom. We’re going to own that place.

Outlets. Who would have thought! Actual good stuff, nice stores and really reduced prices.

Be Part of the Adventure

Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Image Credit

Skirt from wanelo.com