What Was Your Best Consignment Store Haul Ever?

I'd be lying if I said that I'm shopping consignment and thrift stores more frequently due to the recession -- the plain and simple truth is I've been shopping those places for years, not only for the good deals on designer goodies, but there's something about things having a "past" that I find utterly romantic and glam.

Reminds me of the scene in the SATC Movie where Big turns to Carrie and says, "you must be the only person in New York who still reads library books" which prompts her to bury her face into her book of love letters and take a huge whiff.

I've acquired many lovely pieces over the years, adored them, archived them, and then set them free again to be enjoyed by another similarly obsessed gal. One of my all time favorite scores was a simple pair of Manolo Blahnik "jazz" flats. I was making minimum wage at the time and these babies cost me about $25 but every time I wore them I felt like a million bucks.

So please share - what's your fave consignment / thrift store purchase?

And one more thing which is kinda sorta related: why is it that the price of these Something Blue Manolos was quoted by Carrie as being $525 in the flick when in actuality they're $945?

Preorder Patricia Field From HSN

If you fancy yourself a "Carrie" then you may want to head on over to HSN tout suite. The Home Shopping Network is now taking preorders for Pat Field's "Destination Style New York" collection. It's a limited edition collection, so you know the drill.

Here's my pick for this week:






A trench is always in style, but a fab black swingy one? Get outta my way girls.

It looks like HSN is breaking down the preorder in phases. Next week this baby comes up and I'm pretty certain I'm going to make it mine:



All joking aside, limited edition items are always hard to get but add that to a site where thousands of completely addicted home shoppers visit several times a day and the whole collection is bound to disappear in a New York minute.

Go. Now.

Dior Gladiator Knockoffs

Remember when the Sex And The City movie premiered and every one wanted to get their well manicured mitts on a pair of Carrie's Dior gladiator pumps? Though it feels like eons ago in actuality it's only been about two months...or about the time it takes for someone to come along and knock them off.

If you're still craving a pair, thank The Fashionable Housewife whose mad internet skillz turned up a pair for under $20:



Available through a seller on eBay, natch, they come in black, grey, and ivory and come in multiple sizes. Of course with shipping they're more like $30 -- but heck -- that's still way cheaper than the Steve Madden & Baker's knockoffs that turned up earlier.

Curious? Check out the goods here.

Not Older, Better.

I read a somewhat harsh editorial in this Sunday’s New York Post that essentially said women in their 40s aren’t exactly considered “hot” in the obligatory hot spots (just to be fair, he threw 30-somethings into this category as well, swell guy) and then drew parallels from the SATC flick.

Determined to produce evidence that women don’t get older they get better I dug up these treasures:

Oy, the hair (methinks I know where Carrie’s lost Manolos ended up), the style (or lack thereof)…please, basta already! Granted, it was the '80s, and everybody was doing it, but just look at what a difference flattering hair and makeup make. I heart Sarah, funny hats and all, but I do love her best in classic ladylike looks that suits her to a tee.

Trying to dig up old photos of Cynthia Nixon on the internet is like trying to get George Dubya to admit he was wrong – nearly impossible. Cyn must have a friend at Google that has managed to hide every embarrassing photo of her ever taken. I did find this shot of her as a young girl which I must admit is pretty cute (I rocked the braid-y thing back in the day too) but just look at the tall drink of deliciousness she has morphed into. My personal pick for best dressed on the SATC red carpet. (Breaking news: wouldn't ya know that as soon as I upload these pics, I find an even better one from Cynthia's past) And yes, I rocked this look too:

Undoubtedly Kim Cattrall has been the star in many a young boy’s fantasies since Porky’s hit the big screen but is it me or does that dusty pink sheath and vava vavoom curves make her look eminently more drool-worthy?

While each of the gals has gotten better with age – the exception is Kristin Davis who miraculously looks EXACTLY as she did when she first appeared on Melrose Place over a decade ago. With her skin so perfectly preserved I am convinced her beauty products contain embalming fluid. Not. Fair. At. All.