Owner: The Fashion & Beauty Bargain Queens URL:http://fashion.thebargainqueen.com Join Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 01:32:52 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: The very best fashion & beauty deals online, to help you look great on your pay cheque. Site statistics:Click here
This week's best sales 2007-01-17 09:56:55 There are two types of sales: publicity stunts with barely-worth-bothering discounts, and real-deal clearances that are definitely worth a visit. Making sure you only go to the latter saves a lot of time and effort.
Here’s the sales I’ll be visiting this week:
(Three in Australia and one online for U.S. readers)
Best Sydney sale: Tigerlily
What: Tigerlily do great women’s swimsuits and casual separates. Their clothes are especially great for girls with curves. I recently bought one of their skirts on ebay and love it!
Where: Unit 101/level 1, 267 Cleveland St., Surry Hills.
When: Friday 19th Jan. (10am-6pm), Saturday 20th (10am-4pm), Sunday 21st (11am-3pm)
Why: This has all the hallmarks of a real-deal sample sale, so expect to find steep discounts, one-off sample garments (but only in ridiculously tiny sizes) and possibly the accessories from their catwalk shows too.
(Sydney readers — the Sambag sale below is a
Sample sales: what you need to know 2007-01-18 02:08:34 Once upon a time, fashion sample sales were strictly insider events. Now, there are ads for sample sales everywhere… except that a lot of those heavily promoted sales aren’t really sample sales at all. The real sample sales are barely advertised and rarely use the words ’sample sale’ in their ads, so only insiders can tell that they’re sample sales.
Sounds confusing? I’ll cut the confusion by explaining what a real sample sale is, how to spot them, and how to avoid faux sample sales.
(Now with some extra info from Kathleen Fasanella, a clothing manufacturing expert who writes at Fashion Incubator.)
What is a sample sale?
Simply put, a sample sale is when a designer sells sample/prototype garments they no longer need. These samples are one-offs that designers make so they can give influential fashion insiders a preview of their merchandise for a coming season. They’re used in fashion parades, magazine shoots and appointments with buyers (i.e. Read more:Sample
Sydney blogger meet-up 2007-01-19 02:05:15 The Sydney
blogger meet-up last night was a great event. Here’s what some other Sydney bloggers had to say about it:
Sydney blogger meet-up
Community-Minded
To be noted, be noteworthy
(If any other bloggers write about the evening, send me an email and I’ll add your link.)
The Bargain Queen in the news 2007-01-19 01:31:43 If you’d like to see what the media have been saying about The BargainQueen
, take a look at our new press archive.
Links for 20th Jan, 2006 2007-01-19 22:01:51 My favourite web articles for the last week:
10 Ways to Save Money on Books
Great tips for all the book-lovers out there.
Credit Controversy
Is it better to pay with cash or a credit card (paid off every month of course)?
Personal Stylist Series, Part 1: Color makes you slimmer
Tips for using colour in your outfits, from a professional stylist. (Not the usual ‘black is slimming’, either!)
Bargain basement paradise
Cheap holiday packages to visit Fiji or New Caldonia, available for the next couple of months. (For Australia & NZ readers.)
colouring cloth
A cute idea to personalise IKEA fabric.
Seriously Thrifty? 22 Outrageous Ways To Save (Part 2)
Odd and outright bizarre things people do to save money.
Facing and Fighting Financial Trolls
How to deal with the people and thought patterns that stop you from becoming well-off.
The Budget Fashionista’s Second Annual Shopping Survey
Take the survey to help The Budget Fashionista learn more about people’s sh
Valentines dates under $20: part one 2007-01-19 23:14:30 Valentines Day is less than a month away, so if you’d like to treat your honey and save money, it’s a good idea to start planning now.
Here’s some ideas of Valentines Day dates
that will cost you $20 or less, for both of you.
(Two ideas today; two more tomorrow.)
Romantic home-cooked dinner for two
A romantic dinner for two in a nice restaurant can easily cost $150 including wine. I love fine dining so I certainly won’t discourage you from eating out it if you have the money… but if not, you don’t have to miss out.
With a little planning, it’s easy to cook a very nice meal at home for under $20. Here’s how:
Pick a recipe (that suits your cooking ability)
Make sure you own all the necessary equipment
Raid your pantry for grocery ingredients
Buy your fresh ingredients on the day
Cook!
Personally, I’d make something simple, but with one or two pricey ingredients we wouldn’t normally buy… say, a half-dozen oysters from th Read more:Valentines
Valentines dates under $20: part two 2007-01-22 03:50:38 Valentines Day is less than a month away, so if you'd like to treat your honey and save money, it's a good idea to start planning now.
Here’s two more ideas for great Valentine’s Day dates
that’ll cost you less than $20 for both of you.
(If you missed it, you can read part one here.)
Picnic in the park
If the weather’s nice enough to be outdoors this time of year where you are (perfect here in Sydney; not so great in New York), a twilight picnic in a park is a lovely idea for Valentine’s Day — and can be very budget-friendly, too.
Pack a basket with yummy food, add a rug, cutlery, plates, champagne glasses and candles (if you’re planning a twilight picnic).
Need some ideas of what to prepare? Check out these picnic menu ideas.
Any fun activity
You don’t have to stick to the Valentine’s Day standard of taking your partner out to dinner — any fun activity works for a Valentine’s date.
Here are some ideas you might lik Read more:Valentines
Valentines dates under $20: part two 2007-01-22 03:50:38 Valentines Day is less than a month away, so if you'd like to treat your honey and save money, it's a good idea to start planning now.
Here’s two more ideas for great Valentine’s Day dates
that’ll cost you less than $20 for both of you.
(If you missed it, you can read part one here.)
Picnic in the park
If the weather’s nice enough to be outdoors this time of year where you are (perfect here in Sydney; not so great in New York), a twilight picnic in a park is a lovely idea for Valentine’s Day — and can be very budget-friendly, too.
Pack a basket with yummy food, add a rug, cutlery, plates, champagne glasses and candles (if you’re planning a twilight picnic).
Need some ideas of what to prepare? Check out these picnic menu ideas.
Any fun activity
You don’t have to stick to the Valentine’s Day standard of taking your partner out to dinner — any fun activity works for a Valentine’s date.
Here are some ideas you might lik Read more:Valentines
Valentines dates under $20: part one 2007-01-20 23:14:30 Valentines Day is less than a month away, so if you’d like to treat your honey and save money, it’s a good idea to start planning now.
Here’s some ideas of Valentines Day dates
that will cost you $20 or less, for both of you.
(Two ideas today; two more tomorrow.)
Romantic home-cooked dinner for two
A romantic dinner for two in a nice restaurant can easily cost $150 including wine. I love fine dining so I certainly won’t discourage you from eating out it if you have the money… but if not, you don’t have to miss out.
With a little planning, it’s easy to cook a very nice meal at home for under $20. Here’s how:
Pick a recipe (that suits your cooking ability)
Make sure you own all the necessary equipment
Raid your pantry for grocery ingredients
Buy your fresh ingredients on the day
Cook!
Personally, I’d make something simple, but with one or two pricey ingredients we wouldn’t normally buy… say, a half-dozen oysters from th Read more:Valentines
Links for 20th Jan, 2006 2007-01-19 22:01:51 My favourite web articles for the last week:
10 Ways to Save Money on Books
Great tips for all the book-lovers out there.
Credit Controversy
Is it better to pay with cash or a credit card (paid off every month of course)?
Personal Stylist Series, Part 1: Color makes you slimmer
Tips for using colour in your outfits, from a professional stylist. (Not the usual ‘black is slimming’, either!)
Bargain basement paradise
Cheap holiday packages to visit Fiji or New Caldonia, available for the next couple of months. (For Australia & NZ readers.)
colouring cloth
A cute idea to personalise IKEA fabric.
Seriously Thrifty? 22 Outrageous Ways To Save (Part 2)
Odd and outright bizarre things people do to save money.
Facing and Fighting Financial Trolls
How to deal with the people and thought patterns that stop you from becoming well-off.
The Budget Fashionista’s Second Annual Shopping Survey
Take the survey to help The Budget Fashionista learn more about people’s sh
Sydney blogger meet-up 2007-01-19 02:05:15 The Sydney
blogger meet-up last night was a great event. Here’s what some other Sydney bloggers had to say about it:
Sydney blogger meet-up
Community-Minded
To be noted, be noteworthy
(If any other bloggers write about the evening, send me an email and I’ll add your link.)
Sample sales: what you need to know 2007-01-18 02:08:34 Once upon a time, fashion sample sales were strictly insider events. Now, there are ads for sample sales everywhere… except that a lot of those heavily promoted sales aren’t really sample sales at all. The real sample sales are barely advertised and rarely use the words ’sample sale’ in their ads, so only insiders can tell that they’re sample sales.
Sounds confusing? I’ll cut the confusion by explaining what a real sample sale is, how to spot them, and how to avoid faux sample sales.
(Now with some extra info from Kathleen Fasanella, a clothing manufacturing expert who writes at Fashion Incubator.)
What is a sample sale?
Simply put, a sample sale is when a designer sells sample/prototype garments they no longer need. These samples are one-offs that designers make so they can give influential fashion insiders a preview of their merchandise for a coming season. They’re used in fashion parades, magazine shoots and appointments with buyers (i.e. Read more:Sample
This week's best sales 2007-01-17 09:56:55 There are two types of sales: publicity stunts with barely-worth-bothering discounts, and real-deal clearances that are definitely worth a visit. Making sure you only go to the latter saves a lot of time and effort.
Here’s the sales I’ll be visiting this week:
(Three in Australia and one online for U.S. readers)
Best Sydney sale: Tigerlily
What: Tigerlily do great women’s swimsuits and casual separates. Their clothes are especially great for girls with curves. I recently bought one of their skirts on ebay and love it!
Where: Unit 101/level 1, 267 Cleveland St., Surry Hills.
When: Friday 19th Jan. (10am-6pm), Saturday 20th (10am-4pm), Sunday 21st (11am-3pm)
Why: This has all the hallmarks of a real-deal sample sale, so expect to find steep discounts, one-off sample garments (but only in ridiculously tiny sizes) and possibly the accessories from their catwalk shows too.
(Sydney readers — the Sambag sale below is a
New-look Bargain Queen 2007-01-16 01:16:18 You might’ve noticed that the site looks a little different now. Don’t panic, it’s still the same BargainQueen
, just re-designed.
I hope you like it!
If you spot anything that looks broken, please email me so I can fix it.
UPDATE: A couple of gremlins got through despite days to testing. Darn computers! They should all be fixed now. Many thanks to Katie, Dave, Benn, JonK, The Shopping Sherpa and MrBQ for the tip-offs.
PS: If you’re reading this in the newsletter or RSS feed, click here to take a look at the new design.
How to recover from fashion mistakes 2007-01-15 00:58:09 It looked fab, you bought it, you took it home. You put it on to take it out for its public debut and felt… blah. For some reason, that thing you loved is now leaving you cold.
Or, you love it but it doesn’t love you. It didn’t stretch like it was supposed to… the ankle straps cut into your feet… it doesn’t work with anything else in your wardrobe.
It’s a Fashion Mistake.
Don’t feel bad about it — we all make them sometimes. The sooner you let go of the item, the more likely you are to get your money back so you can move on to something you’ll really love.
Here’s your options:
Return it to the store
If your fashion mistake hasn’t been worn (or doesn’t look like it’s been worn), you might be able to take it back to the store and have your money refunded. It helps if you also have your receipt and the store tags, preferably still attached to the garment.
Some stores put a time limit on returns or offer a Read more:recover
Links for Jan 13th, 2007 2007-01-12 23:41:39 My favourite web articles for the last week…
How to reupholster a couch — for amateurs
Got a grotty couch? Here’s a cost-effective way to turn it into something nicer.
Unsightly Closets, Pantries, Storage areas, Workshop?: Make the Simplest Possible Doors
(Some carpentry skill required.)
Manage Your Finances Like a Professional Gambler: Small Things Add Up
A professional gambler’s tips for managing money.
Skin Care: All You Need Is Soap and Sunscreen
A growing group of dermatologists recommend a minimalist (and cheap) skincare routine — no Creme de la Mer required. Sounds a lot like what I do already!
Patrick Blanc's vertical gardens
Oh boy do I want one! No price tag though, so I guess if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. *sigh*
How to shop the sales
Tips from a professional stylist
Welcome Take5 readers! 2007-01-11 23:48:53 For those of you who first saw The Bargain Queen in this week’s Take 5 magazine - welcome, and thanks for visiting!
You can find out all about the site on my welcome page, and get updates on new stories through my newsletter or RSS feed. (Look just a little to the right and you’ll see them.)
I hope you find the site helpful, and look forward to hearing your bargain stories.
Read more:Welcome
, readers
How to avoid expensive sale mistakes 2007-01-23 06:00:36 This time of year, the post-Christmas sales are coming to an end, and stores really want to get rid of the last of this season’s stock to make room for all the new deliveries that are about to arrive.
It sounds like a great time to find bargains… but not everything that’s on sale will be a great buy. If you don’t need it or it isn’t quite right for you, it doesn’t become a bargain just because it’s 90% off the retail price.
If you’ve ever been seduced by the markdown and bought a ‘bargain’ that turned out to be all wrong, you probably don’t want to repeat the experience.
Here’s three types of sale items you can buy with confidence — they’re unlikely to be a bad buy.
Things you really need
Your favourite black jacket is threadbare from years of use. You see a cute new one on sale. You like the style, it fits you well, it’s good quality… do you buy it?
Definitely. Something you genuinely need
Valentine's survival for the cheap man 2007-01-25 10:25:49 Men, Valentine
’s Day is not optional, and complaining about the blatant commercialism of the day will not make it go away.
That said, you don’t have to spend a fortune to show your appreciation for your partner. The five tips below will help you come up with some great ideas Valentine’s Day ideas that won’t break the budget.
(Of course, these tips aren’t just for men…)
Tip one: Start early
Leaving your Valentine’s Day preparations ’til the last minute is a guaranteed way to spend more than you’d like. If you want to escape this day with your wallet intact, you have to start planning now.
Tip two: Expend thought and effort
Here’s the thought process that many men seem to go through in preparing for Valentine’s Day:
“February 12… Darn! It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow! When did that happen? What do I get? Um, women like flowers. I’ll get her flowers. That’ll work! But where do I get flower Read more:survival
Links for 26th Jan, 2006 2007-01-26 00:26:18 My favourite web articles this week:
The bearable lightness of being
The Budgeting Babe describes how she lost weight — no fad dieting involved.
DIY: Whiten your Teeth with Strawberries
A cheap way to make your pearly whites sparkle.
Making the Most of Cheap Cuts of Beef
Cook your own steak dinners for less.
An oldie but a goodie
SRR raids the dark corners of her wardrobe for some new outfits. Check out the results.
Personal Finance Sites from Around the World
J.D. compiles a list of personal finance sites outside the U.S.
Who needs cable when you have cable internet?
How to get your TV fix online (for U.S. readers only)
Top 10 Australian fashion blogs 2007-01-29 02:49:38 If you’re interested in finding some great new fashion reading, take a look at my updated list of the Top 10 Australian
fashion & shopping blogs.
This week's best sales: 29 Jan 2006 2007-01-29 02:30:52 Where to find some great bargains — the sales I take the time to attend.
(This week, we’ve got sales for Sydney, Melbourne and U.S. readers.)
Best Sydney sale: Peter Lang
What: Peter Lang do great accessories, including belts and jewelry.
Where: 12-14 Victoria St, Beaconsfield (near Alexandria)
When: Friday 2nd (12-5pm) & Saturday 3rd Feb. (10am-4pm)
Why: This warehouse sale is likely to have leftover summer stock at reduced-to-clear prices, as well as one-off samples that didn’t make it to the stores.
More info: Missy Confidential
Best Melbourne sale: Willow sample sale
What: Willow (one of Australia’s top designer labels) make stunning evening wear and very special daywear too.
Where: 97 Greville St, Prahan
When: Friday 2nd (10am-7pm) & Saturday 3rd Feb. (10am-4pm)
Why: Sounds like a real-deal sample sale to me.
More info: Missy Confidential, or call (02) 9281 7355.
(Cash sales only)
Best U.S. sale: Proenza Schouler for Target
Not strictly a sale,
How to save money on books and mags 2007-01-30 08:17:53 I’ve just posted two new ‘where to shop’ guides: where to find cheap books and how to save money on magazines. These are listings of the places I go looking when I want to find a great deal on a book or mag.
So if you get through as many as I do, check out my tips… and be sure to leave a comment if I’ve missed any great sources of bargain books and magazines.
Classic Valentine's Day gifts under $20 2007-01-31 06:42:04 With Valentine
’s Day only a fortnight away, it’s a good time to start thinking about a gift for your sweetie.
If you’re on a tight budget this year, these gift ideas will help you celebrate Valentine’s Day and save money.
Today, I’ll show you where to buy the classics — flowers, chocolate and champagne — cheaply. (Mostly in Australia, but with a few tips for overseas readers.)
Tomorrow, I’ve got some creative Valentine’s Day gift ideas for you.
Flowers
Flowers are THE classic Valentine’s Day gift.
There are two places where I reliably find nice flowers cheaply: Woolworths supermarkets and the little florists in city train stations (e.g. there are good ones at Wynyard and Martin Place in Sydney). Our local corner store is also pretty good.
Flower buying tips
Keep it simple — for $20 you don’t get the advice of an expert florist.
Buy multiples of the tiny bunches they sell.
Stick them all in a vase before your swee Read more:Classic
Links for 2nd Feb, 2006 2007-02-02 02:32:04 My favourite web articles this week:
Stop Overspending Now! 14 Ways To Conquer Binge Buying
Sage advice for shopaholics
Navigating Craig’s Waters: A Foolproof Guide to CraigsList.com
How to find great deals on CraigsList.
Frugal For Life: an intro
An overview of all the great stuff on one of my favourite money-saving blogs, Frugal For Life.
Getting the Lowest Price on New Cars
How not to get ripped off by car dealers.
How to Save Big Bucks at the Frame Shop Part 1 and Part 2
Save money on framed artwork by following these great tips.
How To: Turn your Awful Rental Kitchenette into a Functional Culinary Workspace (Part 1) and (Part 2)
Rental renovating a barely-functional kitchen.
Ask a Geek: Canadian online shoe stores
A long, long list of online shoe stores for Canadian readers.
That Choice Added 345 Calories to Your Lunch
Some simple ways to make fast food a healthier choice.
AustralianBlogs launches online florist - FLOWERS.org.au
Last but not least, if you̵
Creative Valentine's gifts under $20 2007-02-01 12:20:48 With Valentine
’s Day less than two weeks away, it’s a good time to start thinking about a gift for your sweetie.
Yesterday, I wrote about where to find classic Valentine’s Day gifts for less.
Today, I’d like to share some creative (and cheap) Valentine’s Day gift ideas with you.
Photo album
A nicely organised photo album is a great way to commemorate anything you and your sweetie have done together — projects you’ve completed, trips you’ve taken, children, pets or even all the things you’ve done in the past year together.
I created a photo album of our renovation and gave it to Mr BQ for Christmas. I printed a selection of photos of our place before and during the renovation, and left space for some ‘after’ photos to be added later. It cost a little more than $20 (I have expensive taste in photo albums), but could easily be done on a tight budget too.
DIY massage
Here’s a gift idea that’s guaranteed to get y
Why I don't cover Fashion Week 2007-02-05 06:30:22 Right now, it’s fashion season. Each week, it’s fashion week somewhere in the world. Last week, it was Paris Fashion
Week; this week, it’s New York Fashion Week; and next week, London Fashion Week is on.
You may have noticed that I don’t cover any of them.
Why? Because I find them largely irrelevant. Here’s why.
Why fashion week is irrelevant to me
Don’t get me wrong, I love fashion. I love looking at beautiful clothes and getting ideas for my own wardrobe.
But on the runway, I see very little I could actually wear. If I got invited to the Oscars each year (and was a little slimmer so I’d look good in designer creations), it would be a different story — there are some fabulous ball gowns out there!
That’s not my life though. My life involves working from home in tracksuits, attending business meetings, running the Sydney blogger meetups, plus some shopping, social stuff and housework as well.
The sort of clothes I need vary from co
This week's best sales: 6 Feb 2007 2007-02-06 09:42:09 Where to find some great bargains — the sales I take the time to attend.
(This week, we've found sales in Sydney, Melbourne and Australia-wide.)
David Jones underwear sale, Australia-wide
What: Need new underwear? David Jones are running a special offer on all their new season stock. Ladies: buy two full-priced bras and get 25% off both. Gents: save 20% when you buy any two full-priced items of men’s underwear.
Where: David Jones stores Australia-wide. (Store locations here.)
When: Now until Sunday February 25th.
Why: Underwear can be tricky to buy in clearances because it needs to fit so exactly, and if you’re female, you probably want it to match as well. At this sale, you get your pick of David Jones’ new season range, plus their fitting services if you need them, and a decent discount — well worth a look!
More info: View the catalogue here. (They have discounts on other new-season stock too.)
Best Sydney sale: Kirrily Johnston
What: Kirrily Johnston ma
Buy spring fashion… in spring! 2007-02-08 05:14:10
At the start of a new season, we all need a few new things: to replace clothes that wore out last year, no longer fit you or don’t work for you the way they used to. This time of year, spring fashion is about to start appearing in stores in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter clothes arrive here in the Southern Hemisphere.
You might have read fashion magazines that tell you to shop early in the season, so you get all the hottest pieces before they sell out.
Personally, I don’t like this approach. Shop for spring fashion in winter, and fall/autumn fashion in summer? I tried it; it didn’t work for me. I now leave as much of my seasonal shopping as possible ’til the middle of that season. Here’s why.
To be trendy, shop early
The most compelling reason to shop early is that each season, some of the hottest clothes sell out early and aren’t necessarily re-stocked. If want all the latest must-haves, you need to get in early. I rarely do… and when I
How to buy spring (and fall) fashion 2007-02-09 03:43:55 Spring fashion is about to start hitting the stores in the Northern Hemisphere, and likewise fall/autumn fashion will soon be on the racks down South.
Yesterday, I wrote about why I shop for spring fashion in spring instead of buying when the new stock first hits the stores. (Long story short: I make better seasonal buying decisions during that season.)
Today, here’s how to avoid expensive fashion mistakes when you shop for the coming season.
(Note: I talk about spring fashion here for the sake of convenience. If it’s fall/autumn where you are, just think ‘fall fashion’ when I say ’spring fashion’. The tips are equally useful.)
Step one: Your (spring) fashion life
I love to study the glossy fashion mags for inspiration at the start of each season, but planning a new-season wardrobe that’ll actually work for you requires a different first step.
That step is: think about your life.
What takes up the most time each week? Do you work? Study? Look
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