For the record: I’m well aware that these pants are, at first glance, utterly ridiculous. When I saw them in American Apparel I initially balked at the price. Forty-two dollar leggings. Really. REALLY? What could possibly be so special about American Apparel leggings that made them nearly fifty bucks? They had the appearance of denim, [...]

My recent experience at Bloomies’s “sale” affirmed for me the ridiculousness of paying full price for certifiably JAPtastic tees. I’m the first to admit that tees of the Splendid, James Perse and C&C California ilk tend to fit better and last longer than their cheap counterparts. But they can and should always be purchased on [...]

Growing up, Bloomingdales was to me what Saks is to my mother: Mecca. I’d gaze at the throngs of brand-name clad twentysomethings and think, “Someday, when I live in the city, I’ll shop here, and be just as stylish and loaded and vain as those girls.” I couldn’t effing wait.
In my epilogue, I’ve got [...]

Aside from social intelligence and charm, both of which I obvs have in abundance, waitressing doesn’t require a whole lot of brainpower. But after working five nights out of the past six, I can say with complete confidence that it’s among the most grueling things I’ve ever done. My entire body aches, I’ve got bags [...]

Sooo, Safari Garb is – for the moment – utterly In. When I play with trends, I ask myself the following questions, in this order: What’s in my closet? and What trend should I try? Asking these questions in this order forces you to integrate an old item into a new outfit, with the added [...]

Hey high-end designers! Think you can bullshit your way through your budget line and get away with it? Think again! Every week (or whenever I feel like it), Designer Slumdown pits the wallet-friendly lines of two high-end designers against each other, and sees who slums it best.
Rogan Gregory for Target vs. H&M x Marimekko

Sooo, [...]

I’m pretty sure my father’s going to have a conniption after he reads this post, so Dad, apologies in advance – one day, I’ll actually be loaded, and I’ll buy you an airplane.
When I opened my Chase checking account, I was told I had good credit. Really, really good credit. $15,000 to be exact. Free [...]

Let’s start with a few disclaimers: 1. I heart most of American Apparel’s stuff and 2. Not my ass pictured at left. I don’t have a problem with the company’s penchant for provocative photography. I have a problem with the notion that it’s okay to wear the following items in public.

This Nylon Tricot Figure Skater [...]

When you see the “Now Buying For Summer” sign in the window at Beacon’s Closet, they’re not screwing around; show up with winter stuff to sell and they’ll neg it immediately, regardless of its cute factor or brand origin. This is uber annoying if you’re trying to score some cash on old sweaters, but seriously [...]

I’ve got no problem hauling around my life during the day – my tote tends to have everything from Sugar-Free Redbulls and extra packs of Camel Lights to inspirational books my Dad thinks I should read and/or Us Weeklies. But when I’m out at night, I like to appear less high-maintenance than I am. This [...]

Generally speaking, I’m just not that into online shopping. I think it’s a cop out (also a one-way ticket to credit card debt). Shopping requires blood, sweat and tears, people, not logging into your shopbop account, clicking the SALE, Marc by Marc Jacobs button, duping yourself into thinking the Party Girl Starburst Tote is more [...]

Soooo, Barney’s is teaming with Target because the economy sucks, err, I mean, because they want Middle America to have access to high fashion. Barney’s’ medium for this beautiful union is designer Rogan Gregory. I would care about this if I knew who Rogan Gregory was. Based on the looks of his collection, he constructs [...]

The Shirtdress is one of those eternally In warm-weather items. It’s easy, flattering and – with the collar popped – endearingly obnoxious. But if I see one more shapeless, solid-colored version of it at H&M, I’m might have a narcoleptic episode.
Thrift stores – Rags-a-GoGo in this case – usually offer much more interesting (and [...]

The fashion blogosphere has been in a tizzy over eco-chic style for quite some time now. I’m generally open to eco-friendly fashion. I’m also generally opposed to the idea of handbags made from anything other than leather. Sure, a few of the latest Stella McCartney Pleated Bags are decent looking. But if you think [...]

Guess who influences approximately 98% of fashion’s trends?
Gay men. And guess who gay men have in mind when they’re designing women’s clothing? Other men. Hence the re-surfacing of one of the most non-female friendly styles ever conceived: the one-shoulder top.
Even women built like prepubescent boys have boobs to contend with. I suppose strapless bras are [...]

When Krip (a childhood bestie) recently asked that I take her shopping, I had visions of transforming her into a fellow Cheap JAP. In addition to the Fendi shades, diamond earrings, and Charriol watch pictured at left, Krip donned a Francesco Biasia Tote – “It wasn’t that bad, like $200 or something” – for our [...]