CheapJAP

Sartorial Etiquette

MAILBAG: A Clutching Conundrum

[Note: MAILBAG is copied and pasted directly from cheapjap@gmail.com’s inbox and is therefore exempt from any and all grammatical, capitalization and/or spelling errors.]

Subject: Question for CheapJAP
Dear CheapJap,
Sarah P. introduced me on to your funny blog. Our senses of style are very different (I kind of dress like Charlotte York and have never been in Forever 21, though I like finding Theory and Lilly Pulitzer on sale at Filene’s Basement!) but I thought I would write to you because you come up with great ideas an how to pull off somewhat odd clothing. So here is my style connundrum (sp?): I purchased this bag in black thinking it would be so cute and spruce up a black winter coat or tan trench….

It says “medium fabric” but if you read the fine print (which I didn’t) its actually straw. The patent leather and bronze channel-ish chain strap comes off and its like a perfect size not too big but not too small clutch but its F-ing STRAW and Animal print and has patent leather trim! Do I return it? Do I wear it with neutral/black outfits to be a little sexy during the day? Can I wear a straw bag at night? I kind of love it but I also think its the strangest thing.

Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Emily

Subject: Re: Question for CheapJAP
emily,
filene’s sells theory?! um, OMFG. thanks for the tip. now, to address your conundrum:

do NOT kick your own ass about this purchase; i literally had to zoom in nine times on the pic to determine what the material was. you’re right about one thing - it is effing STRAW, and straw ain’t easy to pull off. but there is a way. there is always a way.

firstly, get rid of that chanel-wannabe chain strap because it ages the bag, (and its wearer) about fifteen years. super. now it’s a clutch. this clutch has a few qualities that up its wear-ability ante - its color, its print and its trim. Continue reading →

Cheap JAP 101

The Elusive JAPgasm

When I used to put outfits together, I had the luxury of concerning myself only with aesthetics. Why? Because any brand I owned was a JAPtastic one. When I put outfits together now, I have to concern myself with balance. Why? Because even I won’t walk out the door in head-to-toe Forever 21. I might be cheap, but I’m still a JAP, goddammit.

The peak of Cheap JAP outfit perfection - the JAPgasm, if you will - occurs when the outfit in question achieves practicality, class and originality in perfect harmony. Clothes from budget chains a la H&M/Forever 21 make an outfit practical; coveted labels purchased as splurgy poos or at discount a la Loehmann’s/Century 21 give it class; thrift store finds and/or items from Mommy’s closet make it uniquely yours.

The shorts pictured are Forever 21 and cost $19.80: Practicality accomplished. The polka-dot blouse is a Beacon’s Closet find, snagged for $11.95. Originality? Done and done. The shoes are Manolo slingbacks, purchased with Daddy’s Amex back in college. While it makes me nauseous to think about paying full, retail price for them today, I can’t say I regret doing so back then (probs because it wasn’t my money I was spending…whatevs). Even so - four years later - they still make me look and feel a lot more loaded than I am. These three items combined result in a totally JAPgasmic outfit. Ohhh yeah, baby. Yeah. (!!)

Sartorial Etiquette

Hope Nuggets

So, last night, I’m hauling ass to the R train in my Gold Michael Kors Pumps and I breeze by this woman on the street. As I’m about to descend the subway stairs, the following exchange occurs:

Very Nice Woman: Miss? Miss?!
Me: (irritated, I am so effing late) Yes?
Very Nice Woman: Can I share something with you about your outfit?

I’m assuming she’s going to tell me how fab I look, obvs. My irritation subsides, and I put on my sweetest, most gracious, compliment-accepting face.
Me: Of course!
Very Nice Woman: You look very nice, but, umm, it’s your shoes. They still have the pricetags on the bottom.

Tres Faux Pas! Fessing up to scoring pumps at thrift stores is one thing, but being outed via unremoved pricetags is quite another. This lovely lady saved me from the kind of embarrassment akin to traipsing around with toilet paper stuck to one’s heel. What a doll. I laughed aloud at myself, thanked her immensely, and we continued on our separate ways. Our exchange served as a refreshing reminder that where fashion’s concerned, us women are actually capable of comradeship. Kumbaya, beotches.

Navigatrix

Tar-jay Lives Up To Petname

Mmkay, so I got down to biznass yesterday afternoon with my Target GO International Private Label loot and came up with some decent outfits. And by decent, I mean fabulous; false modesty’s a crock. I was more concerned than usual with making sure each combo boasted at least one loaded, JAPtastic ingredient. This is probably because I have never, ever worn Tar-jay in public, and needed my old brandbyes to make the idea more palatable. Anyhoo, here we go. Let’s break it down.

Tar-jay Outfit No. 1: Office JAP

Working in an office environment is one of the better excuses for donning new outfits. Even if you hate your job, you can still love what you’re wearing! I paired a black cami with a Forever 21 Pencil Skirt, and knotted the Tar-jay Button-Front Ruffle Top over it to give the look some shape. Not only is sheer fabric like, sooo hot right now; a thin, transparent blouse can be shaped in varying degrees of awesomeness depending on how it’s buttoned or tied. It’s almost as versatile as the silver Manolos that complete the look. As for what they cost: They were a gift, and I’d prefer to wear them in blissful ignorance.

Tar-jay Outfit No. 2: Summer JAP

I tend not to fool around with multiple patterns at once - I’m not that kind of girl That being said, when I was looking for something more interesting than a gray t-shirt to pair with my Tar-jay Jacquard Floral Ruffle Miniskirt, this Scoop top (purchased last summer for the ludicrous price of $150) caught my eye. When I’ve tried to wear this top in the past, I’ve paired it with jeans, found myself bored to tears and changed outfits immediately. The floral mini updates it and rejuvenates its cool factor without a color clash. (Note: Mixing patterns/prints is fine, provided they have something to talk about - the navy and silver top picks up the blues and grays in the skirt, and therefore works. Obvs.). Same Manolos here too - man, am I a snoot.

Tar-jay Outfit No. 3: Cocktail JAP

I didn’t mention this Tar-jay Kimono Dress yesterday because it’s a satin muumuu sans waist accessory. With a belt or a scarf, however, it’s a fab take on a style superfood: The little black dress. I used my grandmother’s vintage Louis Vuitton scarf to give it some shape, (oh, and to make it scream CLASS :P). And you already know those Michael Kors pumps were sooo not full price; $21.95 at Beacon’s for those not in the know.

Hots and Nots

DESIGNER SLUMDOWN: Target for GO International vs. Everyone Else

Know how I know the lines by everyone else “for GO International” royally sucked? Because I never wore a goddamn thing from any of them. Most of the Erin Fetherston stuff screamed Alice in Wonderland on Crack, the Jovovich-Hawk line boasted nine different versions of the same, baggy “minidress”, and don’t even get me started on the animal-print, eco-obsessed disaster that was Rogan Gregory.

While the full name,
Target GO International Private Label, is a bit much, the clothes from their in house designers aren’t just cute, y’know, for something from Target; they’re fabulous, no concessions required. So fabulous that I bought three thangs, two of which are pictured here.

You can find the Button-Front Ruffle Top and Ruffle Miniskirt on Target’s website for $26.99 each. If you’re a snob like me, you’ll be totally turned off by the fact that these pieces are among Mossimo, Cherokee and all those other icky lines. To assure you of their fabbiness, pics of them in outfit form will be up later today.

I’ve never really used the term Tar-jay because I’ve never thought of this massive brand conglomerate as even remotely chic. Until now. And the best slummer is… Target for Target. Bravissimo!

I Love A Good Story

Love At First Grope: The Verdict

I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with bated breath to hear the verdict on the Abaco bag. A brief schpiel on my biggest shopping conundrum to date: After I posted about the bag, I hit Petticoat Lane again - I needed the Abaco’s presence to determine whether it really was love, or just puppy lust. Or so I thought. This was on a Monday; the one day of the week on which Petticoat Lane is closed. Guess what’s never closed? The Internets, yo. I came home that afternoon to comments from you beotches; only after reading them did I realize the answer to my handbag problemo.

The best advice came from one Stazh, who wrote:

“…If after you buy this bag you can still pay your bills, have enough for food, going out, and other necessities before your next paycheck, then by all means treat yourself. But keep in mind that you may not be able to shop for anything sartorial for a while. If there is no way in hell that you can buy the bag AND have enough $$ to live, then forget it…”

Had I bought the Abaco, I could have continued to “live” in the general sense of the term. The rent would have been paid; the fridge filled; the friends met for cocktails. But one thing would have seriously suffered. And that’s this blog. When I think of the amount of Cheap JAPtastic things one can buy with $500, I just can’t rationalize spending that same amount on one splurgy poo. It’s not that I’m about quantity over quality. It’s that these days, $500 buys me a hell of a lot more than clothes; it nets me weeks of pics, ideas, content, and, obvs, eternal wisdom that I get to share with you.

Sooo, the cheeseball in me wants to say thank you. Not just for saving me a chunk o’ change that can be better spent elsewhere. But for showing me that, unbelievably enough, there’s something more satisfying than carting around a big, buttery, leather bag: hearing from all of you.

Okay, you can go throw up now. The bitch will be back in the next post, fear not.

Navigatrix

Bottoms Up at Forever 21

Shopping cheap can be really freeing sometimes - at least that’s what I tell myself when I forgo Bikram yoga for field research, which is often.

Had I seen these suspender-jeans in a pricey boutique, I would have looked at them longingly, convinced myself of their impracticality and left empty-handed. But in the blinding florescence of Forever 21, I saw the notion of suspender-jeans in a new light (and one that only cost $29.80 ;)). They were so unlike anything I owned, borderline ridiculous even. I was obvs buying them immediately.

(Note: Suspender-jeans should fit loosely around the waist and butt area, otherwise, there’d be no need for the suspenders to hold up the jeans (duh). Don’t go a size down or they’ll really look silly.)

Life’s all about balance, so I paired the loose, wide-leg suspender-jeans with an old, fitted Theory top (fine, and a push up bra…no one’s are that perky). Heels are also a must for this look, particularly for shorties like me.

I don’t know if suspender-jeans incur wrath or merit praise from the fashion gods. I do know I don’t give a shit. Continue reading →

Cheap JAP 101

Facebook Fans: So Hot Right Now

We heart trends here at Cheap JAP (most of them), so if you’re not on Facebook yet, you’re like, totally Out. Get on that. Why? So you can FAN CHEAP JAP’s FACEBOOK PAGE, which is something I know you’re all dying to do. Don’t get all huffy. This is more than shameless self-promotion, scout’s honor. This is a place where you’ll post pics of your latest Cheap JAPtastic finds and budget chic outfits, weigh in on what you lurrve and loathe about Cheap JAP, ask advice on your latest wardrobe conundrum, and trade shopping tips with your fellow fab fashionistas. You might even meet some girls who aren’t total beotches, who knows.

This isn’t about me, amazingly enough, and I’ll prove it to you by posting the best of your outfits, videos, comments, tips and questions on the blog each week. Cheap JAP’s giving you the power, so don’t eff it up. Be a fan, and go play.

Label Whore

Re-Assess, Re-Vamp, Re-Wear!

I don’t just recycle paper goods (my building doesn’t recycle plastic or glass bottles, how effed up is that?…I mean, not that I have a lot of empty wine bottles laying around…wait what) - I use the three Rs to recycle my clothing too. Sometimes I sell stuff to Beacon’s for store credit. Sometimes I perform hemline surgery on tired pieces. But never before have I taken a pair of scissors to a pricey, JAPtastic item. Until the other day.

Last summer, Mommy bought me this Nanette Lepore dress. While Mommy’s Jewish in the religious sense of the term, she’s a beauteous blonde WASP where personal style’s concerned. This means she’s frequently - and often correctly - concerned that my outfits lack a certain level of, ahem, class. So she insists on my needing wardrobe staples like $300 Cocktail Dresses.

I wore this dress once last summer, and haven’t thought about it since. OMG, it’s Nanette, what’s wrong with me?! Many things, mi guapas; let’s talk about what’s wrong with the dress first. Continue reading →

Blog Lurrve

It’s WebSnob Time

Dress Yourself
55 Secret Street has a few Simple, Sexy Tops that You Can Wear With Jeans.
Stiletto Jungle shows off 5 fashionista-worthy plus size dresses for summer.
Coquette loves the summer look tiered ruffles.
KRiSTOPHER is wanting, wearing, and hating things for summer tripping.
Stylenotes brings you the list of classic skirt silhouettes and our picks for the best of each style.
The Fashionable Housewife is crazy about African Prints. Hard to find at affordable prices, but well worth the search! Continue reading →

Sartorial Etiquette

MAILBAG: Sleeveless in Seattle

[Note: MAILBAG is copied and pasted directly from cheapjap@gmail.com’s inbox and is therefore exempt from any and all grammatical, capitalization and/or spelling errors.]

Subject: question about taming an inner label whore
I moved from Florida to Seattle, WA. So all of my summer wear has been shut up and no longer in style since last summer. Your east coast but I was wondering if you’d heard anything about shopping in the Emerald City without having to sell your soul. I found your blog on stumbleupon.com and have been cracking up while my boyfriend remains glued to the tv with some kind of killing game, because what other kind is there? Thanks for the laughs, and hopefully you may know of some hidden gem in this big freaking city.
Teresa

Subject: Re: question about taming an inner label whore
hey teresa,
the closest i’ve been to seattle is portland, oregon - a city whose thrift stores put nyc’s to shame - so fear not! fabulous shopping does exist outside of the tri-state area. i did a bit of research; it appears your new city boasts a Forever 21, an outlet shopping mall that includes j.crew, banana and burberry (and fine, coldwater creek and eddie bauer - ICK - but hey, i guess it’s chilly out there), and - according to yelp.com - a “TON of vintage stores,” with Sugartown Vintage being the heavy fave among them. shopping in your new hometown seems like it requires a car - i’m hoping you have one. if gas prices are getting you down, sell your boyfriend’s xbox and killing games - you’ll get at least a few tanks out of it, and he won’t mind because vehicular access will help you to look and dress awesome 24/7. Continue reading →

Oy Vey!

DESIGNER SLUMDOWN: Urban Outfitters vs. Rendez-Vous by Paul & Joe Sister (for Urban Outfitters…what?!)

Now, I was under the impression that designers collaborated with budget chain stores like Target, Kohl’s, etc. in order to market and sell affordable versions of their high-end (i.e. overpriced) lines. So I was understandably puzzled when Urban Outfitters - a chain that pretends to be a whole lot cheaper than it is - took Paul & Joe Sister’s “middle ground” line, Rendez-Vous under its faux vintage wings.

See, Paul & Joe charges around $500 for one shirt. Oh it’s handmade, oh it’s silk, oh I don’t give a shit. It’s a shirt, for fuck’s sake. Not a handbag. Their overpriced absurdity of a brand must not have been selling well, because Paul & Joe went ahead and made Paul & Joe Sister (great name, guys); a line whose dresses fall in the “reasonably-priced” range of $250-$400.

One would think they’d consider a noticeable price reduction for the line currently being sold at Urban, Rendez-Vous by Paul & Joe Sister (just keep tacking words on dudes, it’s working). One would see this $188 Kenya Safari Jumper and be wrong. Continue reading →

Navigatrix

The Top Five Reasons to Endure Century 21

Yesterday, after extensive iPhone camera-snapping and note-taking, I came to the following conclusion: Century 21 is a Cheap JAP’s dream…provided she has the shoppers’ stamina to survive the experience (and I thought I wasn’t an athlete!). The Top Five Reasons that make this store worth your while - read on.

1. The Denim
After observing the dynamic selection of denim styles and brands, I see no reason to pay full price for JAPtastic jeans ever again. I’m not effing kidding. Joe’s, AG’s, Paper Denim, Hudson, J Brand - you name it, it’s there. And it’s usually at least half of what you’d normally pay. Eek!

3. The OMFG Shoe Section

The shoes at Century 21 are the shit. The big cheese. The holy grail of discount designer shopping. The cheaper stuff and new arrivals are upstairs - while I usually don’t have a problem ponying up a Benjamin for some hot Stevens, it’s nice to know they can be had for $60 or less. But the downstairs is truly where it’s at. I’m talking Chloe, Giuseppe Zanotti, Celine, Marc Jacobs - the best of the best. Did I want to kick myself for buying $115 Dolce Vitas after I saw their high-end Chloe inspiration on sale for $119? You bet.

Continue reading →

Navigatrix

No Pain, No Gain (Century 21)

I’ll say it. I spent two hours in Century 21 and all I got was this lousy t-shirt. Siiiike, it’s a C&C California Striped Classic Tank which usually retails for $48, which is disgusting. Mine was $15.97. Word.

It’s okay that I only ended up with one item after two exhausting hours of trekking and scouring. Because this heinous psychotic bitch of a store and I had it out, and ultimately reached an understanding. Continue reading →

Label Whore

Indulging Your Inner Label Whore

Part of being a Cheap JAP is rejecting the notion that labels define an article of clothing as good, bad or ugly. Where tops, bottoms, jumpers and dresses are concerned, I’ve pretty much kicked my inner label whore’s ass; she doesn’t blink at the amount of F21 and H&M in my closet, and even concedes that some of it’s cuter than my more JAPtastic garb. With shoes and handbags, she’s a little less forgiving. So sometimes I need to buy her a brand treat to shut her the eff up. This is where Beacon’s Closet comes in.

Beacon’s is one of the few places where you can be a label whore without actually paying for it.

Sure, there’s def stuff from GAP, Zara and the like lining the racks, but all that’s pretty cheap to begin with. As Beacon’s brand offerings range from very budget to uber high-end, I’m always on the hunt for the gems in the latter category. A $20 top from F21 reduced to $7 is good; a $200 Marc Jacobs jacket reduced to $30 is better. Capiche?

These Michael Kors gold pumps - oh sorry, MICHAEL by Michael Kors, how budg of me - probs originally retailed for around $120-ish, which isn’t outrageous to begin with. Alas, I got them for $21.95, reconciling my thrifty and my snooty sides. What a beauteous compromise!