eBay Alerts

Have you ever fallen in love with a too-expensive something, waited for it to go on sale, and then missed it altogether?  Seen something in a magazine, on a blog, or Pinterest that's "an old flea market find" or "no longer in stores?"  Or broken a favorite old necklace long after it's no longer sold? 

eBay is your remedy.  You can find just about anything for sale on eBay, with luck, patience, and an extremely handy trick: eBay alerts.

When you search for something (in this case, I'm looking for this sparkly necklace that I had, loved, and broke) but don't find it right away, you can save the search.  Just click on the "save search" option on the same line as the results.

eBay will then send you an email every day that something comes up and hits your search terms.  So you don't have to check over and over (and you can cabin any obsessive tendencies that you might have and resist the urge to do the search multiple times a day).

I've gotten lucky a few times with this trick (these sandals, this dress, and this chandelier were my greatest triumphs!).  Happy shopping!

PS: remember this "It's better when you win it?" commercial for eBay?  It's so true!

Happy Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July!  Relax and enjoy the day off!  

(Images: Habitually Chic (original source unknown -- if you know, please drop me a line!), Catbird, and Max Wanger.)

Pardon the interruption...

But I'm going to interrupt Tall and Salty's regularly-scheduled (and sized) posting for a special public service announcement for the taller ladies who read this blog.  Those of you who can purchase jeans in a regular store, well, this one's not for you (but I would strongly encourage you to look at these polka-dot jeans because they are adorable). 

Now, for the rest of us: through the magic that is Pinterest, I ended up on the website for TallWater Jeans.  Twin sisters (who are 6'2" and 6'3") started the company because they were so irritated with trying to find pants that fit.  So basically, they actually did what all of us keep saying that we're going to do, but don't quite get around to doing.  And I thought, wow, those actually don't look that bad. 

I got extra lucky and was able to try them on in a store, which is huge when you're dealing with clothes for a person who has serious fit issues.  (For Chicago tall ladies: both locations of The Denim Lounge, on Oak Street and Roscoe Village, carry them in-store.)

And they are AWESOME.  Seriously, truly, awesome.  There are three styles for sale on the TallWater web site, but the only pair I've tried so far is the Elle bootcut.  Not only are they long (which, as we all know, is the most important part), they have this amazing fit that is precisely made for a tall body type: among many really clever adjustments, the one I found the most helpful is that the rise is slightly longer, so the waist sits where it's actually supposed to sit on your body and makes you look thinner and leaner.  You look like you're wearing a completely normal pair of Joe's or J Brand Jeans, but that actually fit.  And miracle of miracles: they're a classic, dark wash, gloriously devoid of bedazzling, flame-embroidery, excessive whiskering, or any other manner of hideous adornment that frequently defile other pairs of tall jeans.

The Denim Lounge folks, who are super knowledgeable about all things denim, told me that they met Lynn and Kate, the sisters behind the line, and that they are lovely.  (I have to imagine that they're fun: anyone who dresses as My Little Ponies for Halloween gets my stamp of approval.)  Which is neither here nor there, but I'm always intrigued by the people behind ideas like this.  Well done, ladies!

Bottom line: HIGHLY recommend.

And now, back to regularly-sized programming.

Vanities

When I was a little girl, I would spend hours -- hours -- sitting at my grandmother's vanity table.  It was gold, with metal legs that formed in curlicues, and had a matching little seat with a round lavender cushion on it with a button in the center.  She also had one of those light-up mirrors that you could adjust to mimic different kinds of lighting.  (Obviously imperative to know how an eight-year-old's complexion would look in an "office" setting.)  And this was all independent of the dozens upon dozens of bottles, brushes, compacts, palettes, and other grown-up-lady-stuff that I had gleeful free reign over.  It was divine.  There was no place I'd rather have been than smearing red lipstick all over my face, unless, of course, it was playing with the shoes and bags in her closet. 

Wouldn't it be lovely to have a little space to sit and do your hair and makeup?  (Maybe this would help me have a better outlook on the whole process!)  My sister-in-law is moving soon, and I've been looking at lots of pictures with her for decorating ideas.  My number one suggestion: make room for a desk-sized nightstand in the bedroom!

In my vanity-playing-days, I just assumed that I too would someday have my own, but alas, my bedroom is too small for such a luxury.  And, let's face it, 90% of my makeup applying takes place in the car. 

That hasn't stopped me from collecting ideas, though. 

And someday, Scarlett-O'Hara-God-as-my-witness-style, I'm going to have one.  And it's going to have a fancy mirror, a dainty little chair, and a little bottle of Chanel No. 5, my grandma's perfume, just like she had.

How about you?  Do you have a handly little spot like one of these to get ready?  

(Images from Martha Stewart, i suwannee, Good Bones Great Pieces via Little Green Notebook, House Beautiful via Apartment Therapy, Sunset Magazine via Apartment Therapy,  Country Home via Apartment Therapy.)

Dropped, high and low

This Diane von Furstenberg dress is awesome.

Wouldn't this be perfect for a summer wedding with minimalist gold sandals (to offset the ruffly, girly shape), or bright turquoise slingbacks for a fun punch of color?  Or with flat sandals and a neutral clutch for a shower or more casual party? 

Later, in the fall and winter, this would be so fun for holiday parties with black opaque tights, black booties, and a studded black bag.

Bummer: it's $485!  With a color that bright and a cut so distinctive, that's a lot.  Enter: Topshop.

 

 $84.  You're welcome, wallets!