Shopping Spree Summer

It's summer! It's July! It means lots of sales!

First off, Lord and Taylor is having its Clinique Bonus Time with a $21.50 purchase. It's a really good deal since the colors are pretty and the bag is decent, not gaudy as some of the extras have been in the past! The Bonus Time will last until mid-July. Excellent as I've been needing desperately my dramatically moisturizing lotion!

Bonus Time!

In other makeup news, you can get free lip gloss from the Brass Plum Department at Nordstrom. I haven't tried it yet but it looks slick! All you have to do is visit the website, and click on the coupon to print it out.

If makeup doesn't strike your fancy, why not clothes? Stores are having sales everywhere. Case in point:

• Banana Republic: Up to 60% online and in stores (I picked up several tops from the spring collection. Tops and skirts are mainly on sale. There are pants also. Prices are $14.99 and up.)
• American Eagle Outfitters: Up to 65% off on clearance items (I picked up a halter top for $4 and several workout shirts. A lot of shirts are on sale.)
• Express: Up to 70% off (This sale disappoints me for several reasons, mainly because of overpriced stock and poor selections. The lace top I bought from February 3 is now $7.99 along with other tank tops. Other tops are $9.99, $19.99 or even $29.99. Skirts and pants are $19.99 but they are patterned or striped; there are no solid colors. Camisoles are $14.99. The best bet is the dress rack, where dresses that were originally $180 have been marked down to either $29.99 or $49.99 depending on the style of the dress. While it is an incredible markdown, the dresses are very casual with a lot of gold beading. Too gaudy for my taste. The red leather tote bag that I have had my eye on forever is $19.99 but I can't find it in me to spend almost $20 on something that I covet but will probably never use because a) I'll be afraid of spilling something on it and b) it's really red. But if the price goes down on that, I'll be first in line to buy one!)
• Limited: Up to 60% off (This sale has camisoles for $9.99. I am currently on a hunt for the black camisole with black lace; I bought one for a friend recently and now I am looking for one for myself because it has totally grown on me! I can't find ANY in the stores though. They have other tops for $6.97, which are really leftovers from the winter sale or thin shirts. Some other tops are $14.99. Their spring button shirts (short-sleeves) are also $14.99. Pants are $19.99. There are also winter clothes and suit jackets for different prices. I recommend checking out the accessories at this sale; belts and scarves can be found for $6.97, which I definitely bought, and jewelry is under $10 also.)
• delia's: Clearance sale has shirts and casualwear for $4.99 and up. I picked up a pair of pajamas here!
• Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale: Your usual, although I'm not too sure if I got in on this when it's about to end or whatnot, but the pickings sure are slim.
• bebe: An extra 50% off clearance items (Tops are now starting at $30.)

And if clothes don't do it for you, here are some more sales:

• Franklin Covey: Up to 50% off so get your new calendar book today.
• Kate Spade: 30-50% off selected items online and in stores.
• Bath and Body Works: They are having their last days of their semi-annual sale so if you haven't stopped by, do so. If you make a purchase, they'll give you coupons for a free lotion that's coming out in July and the American Girl lip balm coming out in August. Both coupons are free products with a $10 purchase.
• The Body Shop: They are having a great sale with things from $1 to $10. Bath soaps, aromatherapy, and body butter are just some of the things on sale. I managed to pick up lip gloss in passionberry and sugar 'n spice flavors for just $1 each!! They are the best lip glosses on the market, in my opinion. They also had free samples of body butter to take home; I took home soy body butter, and it smells delicious.
• Urban Outfitters: All home furnishings (read: books, rugs, pillows) that are on clearance have been marked down an extra 50% off. Also, I got some bangles and bracelets for $1.99.

In other things: Benetton closed at Woodfield. It's really upsetting considering that it was one of my favorite stores. At least there are still Benettons in Northbrook Court and Old Orchard. Last week at Old Orchard, I snapped up this gorgeous thin white shawl at Benetton for a mere $11. I was going to get this black cowl dress too (it was a ridiculous $50 compared to its orginal $198), but I couldn't think of anywhere to wear it to. I wonder if it's still there. I guess if I get desperate enough, I can always make a stop in Europe.

An Express Pass

An avalanche of directed marketing cannot possibly make up for a sale that isn't quite up to par. Although, I am still scratching my head over this new sudden thing being marketed as the Spring Sale at Express, complete with the red signs proclaiming an "Up to 60%" savings which takes its similarities from their January and June semi-annual sales.

Regardless, a sale is a sale, and no matter how disgruntled I am as a fan, I just can't help checking it out. Most of the stuff that have been in the stores since January have been thrown into the bins and discounted. The clothes that have been on the sale racks for the last month are the ones that are being discounted further. Tops are running from $9.99 (like the tank tops and the flirty top I bought back in February) and $14.99 (like the mat sweaters). Button-down shirts are $29.50, like they have been since February. There are a bunch of pants that are $29.50. The frou-frou pretend jackets are $49.99 and the 1/2-length trench coats are still a whopping $69.99. Belts are $9.99. Skirts range from $19.99 to $29.99. The best deal that they have going are the brooches, all marked down to $9.99. Get your new trend today while it lasts.

So it's pretty disappointing. If they mark stuff further down, I'll probably buy some stuff...I have my eye on some tops that I am ambivalent about, but if the price is right, I would snap them up. It's just that nothing screamed to me as a good buy. I got to hand it to them though; today's customer service was a lot friendlier than I had expected it to be.

In other world news, Abercrombie had their $9.99 sweater sale last month for all the teenyboppers, me included, out there. Although, I realize with each passing year that my body has morphed into that of a fully-grown 20-something from the thin coltish teenage body I was blessed with. I realize this because my body does not seem to want to fit into many of Abercrombie's sweaters; I have lumps where no one wants to see lumps. I ended up buying two scoopneck sweaters, but I'll end up returning one once I decide upon a color. One of these days, I'll have to give up Abercrombie for good.

Aeropostale is also having their mid-season sales. Everything is marked down; it's a pretty good sale, but again, unless you have teenybopper tendencies, it would not be the store for you. But who can turn down $12 polo shirts and $4 t-shirts with suggestive sayings.

The one sale I would check out is the winter Benetton sale. Final markdowns have been made to 70%, and the sale will only last a couple more weeks. Lots of sweaters, skirts, and professional clothes on sale. I highly recommend it.