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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.

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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 →

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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 →

I Love A Good Story

The Reverse Fake, Courtesy Forever 21

So I’m at Something Else, Park Slope yesterday buying flats, and the shoe gal’s wearing this cute sweater that I swear I’ve not only seen but also tried on at Forever 21. Not wanting to blow her cover as a fellow Cheap JAP, I quietly say, “Love the sweater. Is it Forever 21?”
She glares at me, tells me it’s L.A.M.B. and that she got it at Bloomies. I’m pretty sure she wants to kill me for mistaking her overpriced goody for its low-end counterpart until a look of concern crosses her face. Continue reading →

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Century 21 and Not Spazzing Out

I’ve been avoiding Century 21 for quite some time now. Some of my friends have big enough cojones to actually shop there; from their reports, I’ve gathered that one’s tolerance for the orange level of stress and insanity of the place directly correlates with whether or not one acquires a kickass designer discount item. Century 21 is like Macy’s on crack. Every day is Black Friday. But - as is the case with many scary things in life - if you strap on a pair and jump in with both feet, you might just find what you’re looking for.

The handbag section at Century 21 is kind of like Magic Eye; if you look too closely, you’ll never see the picture within the colorful, splotchy mess. Take a step back, and poof! the picture - (read: the massive brown leather L.A.M.B. bag on the top corner shelf) emerges. I waited patiently for the saleswoman behind the counter to bring the ladder out of the stock room and climb it precariously in order to show me the bag. The gem was originally priced at $795. Century 21 had it marked down to $279.

Buying this bag coulda, woulda, shoulda been a no-brainer. It was big. It was leather. It was brown. It had multiple pockets. It was L.A.M.B, goddammit. And if I hadn’t paid my $260 cable bill earlier that day, it would have been mine. So fuck you very much Time Warner.