Question of the Day: To Return or Not to Return

As much as I am a shopaholic, I am a return-aholic. I almost never make my mind up right when I see something, so I bring it home, try it on...and usually return half of what I buy. This is great, in theory, except that in practice two disconcerting trends emerge:

1) I end up buying stuff I wouldn't really buy in the first place, reasoning that I can always return it
2) When I go to return it, I find something else I like instead, and usually end up blowing the whole refund.

Now, the issue is this: I have two things to return from Banana Republic, amounting to a pretty sizeable $200. One is a top I like, but admit was not worth what I paid for it; another is a dress that was unanimously voted on by my friends to be returned. But what if I go to return it, and get drawn in by the sales all over again? Sure, I can pretend that I am strong enough to resist that, but at this point, I am not sure that I am. On the other hand, it is $200 just sitting there.

What to do? Any ideas?

The Dawn of a New Day

The time has come, people. As much as I love, love, love to shop, I am slowly starting to recognize that sometimes it can be a teensy bit much. And while I have tried the justifications of 'I'll only buy things I REALLY love' or 'I'll only buy investment pieces' blah blah blah, the truth is, I cannot resist the lure of a sale. Of a bargain waiting to be had, of the last pair of shoes, of a bag that will inspire murmurs of reverence when I step on the subway.

So I have decided to go cold turkey for a month.

I realize that a month for most people is nothing and will elicit snorts of contempt from most of you. But for me, a month without shopping is a big thing. I cannot set foot into a fabulous summer sale for a month, I cannot stop and pet the back-to-school goodies for a month, I cannot even kill time by wandering into the corner shop for a month. I MUST BE STRONG.

I will be chronicling my month of no spending (on clothes and accesories) here, and taking a good, hard look at why I feel the need to buy. But don't worry, I won't get all self-righteous and eco-holic about it. As long as gleaming leather handbags and silk dresses exist, the shopaholic in me lives on.

And now, to help me through this difficult journey - what do you do to curb the urge to shop?

Lovely letters

WHAT: Typewriter Charms
WHERE: Tokens & Coins
HOW MUCH: $34 and up

Being a writer, I have always had a fascination for all things type-related. These adorable charms from Tokens & Coins make me want to haul out the old typewriter and start plonking away again, technology be damned.

Cufflinks! Precious! They bring to mind Girl Fridays typing away in 50's detective stories. I adore the quaintness of it all.

The perfect work companion

WHAT: Behemoth Coffee Mug
WHERE: Starbucks
HOW MUCH: Around $20

Admittedly, its shape does not appeal. In fact, it bottom-heavy silhouette calls to mind my own unfortunate pear-shaped figure. But trust me, this is the best work mug you will ever own. Its firm rubber-backed bottom means it will never topple over that important spreadsheet for the meeting with the VP. Also, it acts as a coaster, so no more embarrassing cup stains on the polished boardroom table. But the best part is that the bottom half is stainless steel, keeping your coffee hot to the last drop. And let’s face it – it’s a lot prettier than all those Howard & McGeezer Morning Show mugs that are stacked in the office kitchen.

Frugal Friday

WHAT: Pretty gift boxes

WHERE: Dollarama

HOW MUCH: $1! Hurrah!

After my recent posts leaning to the exorbitant side, I though these pretty boxes from Dollarama would be a refreshingly affordable change (not this box exactly, but similarly cute ones. I guess the $1 price tag precludes them from having a website with product photos.) For a measly loonie, how can you go wrong with cute and whimsical gift boxes to brighten up your desk or dandy up a birthday present? Dollarama, you are my hero.

Start saving those pennies, girls

WHAT: Leather City Satchel
WHERE: M0851
HOW MUCH: around $300

One of my first orders of business when I moved downtown was to get myself a city satchel. When I used to make my sporadic jaunts to Queen Street from the depths of Scarberia, I always looked with envy upon the cool urban hipsters with their funky sneakers and capacious shoulder bags. Being from the ‘burbs, the concept of a bag needed for walking places was alien to me – I got in the car and drove to the corner store which was 30 feet from my front door. But when I moved downtown, I quickly realized that my clunky, pretty bags with the miniscule handles would be useless. I needed a trusty bag I could throw over my shoulder and walk with comfortably for countless city blocks. But of course, it had to have style.

That was when a coworker introduced me to the glory that is M0851. His bag glowed with the richness of Italian leather the colour of vintage Cabernet. Its butter soft hide gave of an air of effortless élan and old money. I had, had, HAD to have one of these bags.

After many, many lustful looks at the window displays and few trips inside where I covetously stroked the bags one by one, I finally broke down and bought a medium size shoulder bag in rich dark chocolate. It is my weekend bag; it goes with me everywhere, over a down parka or a yoga hoodie or a jean jacket, and lends an easy style to my weekend wear.

It may be expensive, but it is worth every penny. (And sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can find it at 20% off at Sydney’s in Queen west.)

My Saviour

WHAT: The Cropped Jacket

WHERE: Club Monaco

HOW MUCH: $179

I come from a long line of generously-hipped women. And by generous, I don’t mean Kate Winslet; I mean ancient Sicilian peasant women who spend their days planted in front of a stone counters rolling out acres of pasta. It all starts off well enough; I am what you would euphemistically call pear-shaped. When I look at my mother, she has graduated to more of a butternut squash shape and my Grandma resides somewhere between the squash and an upside down mushroom.

Needless to say, this level of junk-in-a-de-trunk precludes me from sashaying down the streets of Toronto in the season’s hippest skinny jeans and slouchy boots. While I have resigned myself to a lifetime of A-line skirts and dresses that cinch the waist, I am thrilled to see that there is one trend that I can happily indulge in: the cropped jacket.

The 50's glamour and Audrey-Hepburn feeling of the cropped jacket enchant me; I can just see myself slinking into a party wearing one paired with elbow-length leather gloves and accessorized by an uber-long cigarette holder. Here, my favourite from Club Monaco; the graphic print and clean lines would look fantastic with a pencil skirt or even my trusty A-line. At $179, it’s a bit pricey for a trendy item, but I hold faith that it will go on sale before the season is out. Will keep you posted.

The mother of all shoes

WHAT: Clarks Privo shoes
WHERE: The Bay; Winners
HOW MUCH: $59.99 - $100

Since moving from the sprawling suburbs to my downtown apartment three months ago, I have prided myself on becoming the quintessential urbanite. Instead of fretting over drag-racing teenagers as I stroll down tree-lined streets, I now neatly sidestep screaming schizophrenics on my way to the corner store. Of course, the challenges of urban life do require me to be fleet of foot. Which is why I have traded in my stilletos for the cushioned glory that is Clarks.

I have always equated Clarks with yawn-worthy practicality. Growing up, my mother had a pair of dependable, faded Clarks sandals that she used for gardening every summer. She raved about their comfort, but after my Birkenstocks debacle of 1993, I had decided to stay far, far away from any item of clothing whose principle benefit was comfort. But upon seeing Clarks' new line of casual shoes, called Privo, I was instantly in love. The little knobby-things on the insoles massage my feet with every step, and the streamlined styles make them cool enough for the most urban hipster.

You can find them at the Bay for around $100, but if you are lucky enough to find them at the end of the season or happen upon a pair at Winners, you can get them for $60. Happy hunting!

For the woman who has everything - somewhere to put it.

WHAT: Latico Leather Bags
WHERE: Winners
HOW MUCH: $100 - $200

Few things in life beat the the beautiful simplicity and practical functionality of a well made leather bag. Having studied my mother's shopping habits closely since I was a wee one, I have always appreciated the beauty of the perfect bag. But while she goes for vintage clutches, I have developed an obsession for the capacious yet fashionable leather purse. Sure, a modest little pocketbook always looks charming, but give me the bag that will hold my notebook and lipgloss and the apple I was supposed to have at lunch yesterday and still look gorgeous doing it.

The line of leather bags from Latico has everything I dream of in a bag - useful organizational pockets, madcap colours, stylish flair and of course, good strong leather that will stand up to anything. Their laptop bags are particularly useful - I have one in apple green that I never fail to get complimented on (pictured here) and a more casual one in poppy orange.

Unfortunately, they only sell wholesale - but if you go hunting at Winners, you can often find one out of its natural habitat.

Cinderella's folly

If the shoe fits...buy one in ever colour.