theCityShopper

2010-01-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

As a longtime resident of Oklahoma City, I have been excited to see the renewed interest in some of OKC's historical areas. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops, recreational areas, hair salons... these are all nice improvements to see in any district, however, what I love is retail.

BD Home is a recent addition to the Automobile Alley area. They are located next to Sara Sara Cupcakes & Iguana Lounge on NW 9th Street (just east of Broadway).

BD Home carries furniture and accessories from a bunch of cool modern designers like Knoll, 18 Karat, Voluspa, Herman Miller, Innermost, and Chilewich to name a few...

A glimpse at the Risom Lounge chair by Knoll:

Nice touches for your table:

Chilewich place mats:

Stop in and say hi to owner Brittany Branscum -- you might get the chance to meet Cairo too.

2009-11-26T16:51:00.000-08:00

Black Friday Quick List:

Lime Leopard - 8 am to 10 am only... $35 off of $150 purchase, $60 off $250, $100 off $350, $175 off $500 purchase. 10:01 am to noon... 20% off, noon-6 pm 15% off. Christmas merchandise is excluded from the discounts.

Marcy & Abbey's - Friday & Saturday, all merchandise 20%, select merchandise 40%-75% off.

Tres Chic - 10% off already marked down merchandise.

Pink Sugar Show Boutique - 10am to noon, buy one get one 1/2 off. All day... 15% of entire purchase...10% off gift cards. Also, shoppers can create a wish list to help their family and friends find the perfect gifts!

Allyson's Closet - 10 am to 2 pm... 50% off one item (limit, one per customer), all day Friday and Saturday... 20% off.

The Makeup Bar - 8- 9 am... 25% off, 9-10 am... 20% off, 10-noon... 15% off.

Silver Accents - Round the clock savings of up to 40% off.

Larie Marie - free winter scarf with $50 purchase, all denim... buy one get one 50%, BCBG...25%.

Lush Fashion Lounge - Friday, starting at 8 am.. 20% off any single item, 75% off any sale item, free Humanity bracelet with denim purchase, 8 am- noon, 20% off entire purchase & raffle drawings.

I can't wait to support these local retailers! Let me know if there are more discounts to add to the list.

Send your Black Friday shopping pics to allison@allioppe.com. Happy Shopping!

Stella Dallas- Stephanie Johnson trunk show!

2009-11-18T16:48:00.000-08:00

Stop by this weekend for an Stephanie Johnson trunk show at Stella Dallas!

Missoni Trunk Show at StellaDallas

2009-09-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

When the weather turns chilly, it's always nice to have a bright reminder of spring and summer. What about a colorful throw or pillow to add a splash of color to your living room this winter?

You are in luck!

StellaDallas on Lovers Lane is having a Missoni Trunk Show starting Thursday the 17th through Saturday the 19th. There will be bedding, linens, pillows, & throws galore. On the even brighter side, take 20% off any Missoni purchase!

Red Fox Grand Opening

2009-09-16T19:58:00.001-07:00

Several months ago, during a Northpark Mall (OKC) sidewalk sale, I learned that Red Fox Paperie would be moving. At first, I was scared... What if they moved too far? What if I couldn't find them? What if I couldn't feed my greeting card addiction?!?!

Well, be relieved to know that Red Fox Paperie moved to an easily accessible location in the North Penn Plaza near Penn Square Mall. I took a peek at their new spot last week & it's fab!

Their Grand Opening celebration is Thursday, September 17th from 5:00-8:00 pm. It's rumored that there will be giveaways, libations, & foxy treats. Love it! What I love even more is that a portion of the proceeds from stationary sales will benefit Oklahoma Literacy.

Red Fox Paperie

5623 N. Pennsylvania Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73112

2009-09-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

I had been feeling the need to purchase an investment item. No, I'm not talking Roth IRAs or mutual funds here... I am, however, talking these super sweet boots:

Meet the new member of my family. Cole Haan Air Petra Tall Boot in Sequoia Patent. Until now, I haven't owned a pair of Cole Haan's since the 1st grade. I think it was time again. What do you think?

While meandering through 50 Penn Place (which is where I bought Cole), I was reminded of Route 66, a fierce eco-chic boutique. From homemade soaps to mason-jar recycled bracelets to Nanette Lepore to backpacks made from tires to license plate photo albums. If you are having a whimsical moment, stop into Route 66. I thoroughly enjoyed my 40 minute distraction at Route 66 and left thinking about how I could make used dryer sheets into a hair accessory.

Have a static-free Tuesday.

Semi-Fabulous Friday Features

2009-09-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

First of all, thanks to all who participated (boutiques, designers, and shoppers) in the Labor Day weekend shoppe crawl in Dallas. I can't wait to do another Dallas, or maybe Norman Shoppe Crawl??

After all of that activity this weekend & having to console my husband on his favorite team's loss... I was worn out. So, I refrained from posting dull and unfabulous posts. Now, I will make my reappearance...

Sugarland - I will be hanging out with some buds, singly too loudly off-key, and watching Sugarland perform on Friday night. It will be a great show & Jennifer (the lead singer) must have a great stylist because her clothes always rock. Tickets are still available at the OKC Zoo Amphitheater.

Ketch the Spirit - A few friends at work introduced me to this new designer. Check out www.ketchthespirit.com for some really inventive ways to support your favorite college team. There are never enough girly options out there for gameday, so I was stoked to see this website. It looks like they are available in a few boutiques too. Let them know you discovered them on Allioppe.com!

Also on Friday night, Collected Thread in the Plaza district (OKC) is celebrating their anniversary at Live on the Plaza. If I wasn't going to Sugarland, I would be here.

That's all for today, folks - have an awesome post-Labor day weekend.

Shoppe Crawl discounts

2009-09-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

15% off the Blues Jean Bar
20% off any one item StellaDallas
10% entire store at Indigo 1745
10% fall styles at Status trunk show

Shoppe Crawl feature - STATUS

2009-09-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

During tomorrow's Shoppe Crawl, Indigo 1745 will be hosting a Status Design Studio trunk show. Status does great things with some great fabrics. I am really excited to see the fall collection that will be showcased tomorrow. Status will also be offering a discount on select summer items. See you tomorrow at Indigo 1745!!

2009-09-03T19:36:00.001-07:00

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Indigo

Violet

As a child, I subconsciously thought Indigo was an outlier in the Roy G. Biv sequence. I had never heard of it before my 2nd grade class on rainbows. As an adult, I realize that being an outlier is a pretty cool thing. Speaking of cool outliers... Indigo 1745 in the Bishop Arts District is a very cool outlier.

Besides an exceptional selection of clothes (no, they are not all indigo-colored), they also carry several lines of denim (including Fortune Denim) and tees & accessories & lots of other creative pieces. Come see what I have been talking about this weekend at the Shoppe Crawl!

Shoppe Crawl feature - the Blues Jean Bar

2009-08-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

Although I designed the Allioppe Shoppe Crawl after the pub crawl concept, it will be missing the usual bar beverages (as far as I know...jk). We will, however, be featuring quite a few of our denim faves on tap at the Blues Jean Bar. William Rast. True Religion. People's Liberation. Earnest Sewn. AG. Genetic. The list can go on and on. Bring your boy with you too - they have a great selection of hard to find men's jeans too.

I want to take time to compliment the decor of the store for a few minutes. I am really digging on the sturdy stained wood bar, next to the shades of denim, mixed with the well-placed vintage style tees. This is the exact type of bar that I would want in my own home... it doesn't hurt that it serves one of the best selections of denim around.

Make a point to stop by the Blues Jean Bar on SATURDAY! Download the map here. Maps will also be able in each of the shoppes on the crawl. first come first serve.

2009-08-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

Allioppe.com will be hosting the 1st ever Dallas Shoppe Crawl this Saturday, September 5th from 10 am-5 pm.

What's a Shoppe Crawl?

Like a traditional pub crawl, Shoppers can bounce shoppe-to-shoppe all over Dallas and get great discounts at participating Allioppe shoppes. To make it easy, Allioppe has provided you with this super cool map: www.allioppe.com/map.pdf

How can I be a Shoppe Crawler?

Just show up a participating boutique Saturday morning & pick up a map!

What shoppes are participating?

The Blues Jean Bar, Stelladallas, Indigo 1745, & MAKE. We also have an exclusive trunk show by Status design studio at Indigo 1745.

What kinds of promotions can I expect? How can I get the discounts?

The Blues Jean Bar - 20% off, Indigo 1745 - 10% off, promotions at Stelladallas and MAKE will be available in store. Status will also be featuring 10% off of their new pieces. These are such great deals, start making room in your closet now! To get these deals, you need to sign up for a shopper profile on Allioppe.com & add these awesome boutiques as a "preferred shoppe." Check with each boutique for more details about their special offers for the Shoppe Crawl.

I am so excited for this event! Each day this week, we will be focusing on one of participating boutiques/designers.

Fabulous Friday Features - Aug 28th

2009-08-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Shop.

The Dustbowl Arts Market is this Saturday in Norman, OK on Campus Corner. It's a market that features art and handmade goods. Some of my favorites from the OKC area will be selling their goods.... Tree and Leaf Clothing, Collected Thread, dna galleries, Clinton Dean Bowman, Cut Out and Collect... I won't have a booth, but I'll be making an appearance with my debit card at multiple booths.

Grab a pair and get there.

Pair = Durango boots. This brand of boots is nice because the real cowboys won't blatantly make fun of you, but you can also pull them off with a sun dress. They are also really comfortable, which is nice. The French Cowgirl in OKC has a pretty good selection of Durango boots.

Get there = The Range Roundup @ OK State Fairgrounds, Friday. Members of the Oklahoma Cattleman's Association will compete in events, all of which are quite entertaining. Proceeds of the event benefit the Children's Miracle Network. Yeah!

Congrats Chelsea!

2009-08-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

The winner of our first orientation contest is.... Chelsea Epps from Oklahoma City University! Chelsea won a "Home Sweet 'homa" tee from Tree And Leaf Clothing company. Printed on 100% organic cotton, this is one of their most popular tees.

The entries for this weeks' drawings are from Allioppe's tables at OU & OCU's orientation events. Thanks to all that entered - you still have several more chances this week.

Today's prize was provided by our wonderful supporter, Tree & Leaf Clothing. Visit their profile. Add them as a preferred shoppe. Check them out at this weekend's Dustbowl Arts Market in Norman, OK. Actually, you can check them out almost every weekend at some neat event in the OKC area. Seriously, last weekend they were at a graffiti show in downtown. That's just plain cool. And, you will be cool too if you wear one of their tees.

It's time for football season, it's time for Blush

2009-08-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, people are going back to school (I wish I was - college was fun!). To kick-off fall shopping season, I visited orientation events at two campuses: OU & OCU. Thanks to everyone that came out and entered our Allioppe raffle! Starting tomorrow, we will have some fantastic gifts to give out on the blog. Check the blog to see if you won!

Being around all the college folk reminds me that football season is approaching. How convenient that Blush in Norman, OK posted these pics of their crimson & cream fall apparel on their facebook page.

Allioppe via RSS!

2009-08-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

The Allioppe blog is now available on RSS Feed! Start readng us today!

2009-08-20T21:39:00.000-07:00

Last week, I started this little thing called "Fabulous Friday Features." Well, guess what? I'm going to make it a weekly event. This week has some great entries, but if you have suggestions for next Friday, send them my way!

Texas Tax Free Weekend! I am so glad that Oklahoma and Texas got together and decided to maximize our tax free time by doing different weekends. Texas is having their tax-free weekend this weekend. The rules seem pretty similar to Oklahoma's except Texas allows school supplies to be tax exempt also. I see no mention

of girdle anywhere on the Texas tax exemption list...

Design Your Own Purse Party @ Stelladallas: August 21st, 6-9pm, Dallas, Texas. Select from their fabulous assortment of fabrics and bag styles to design your own custom-made bag! 1154 LILL Studio will bring the fabrics and bag samples...Stelladallas will bring the drinks & treats...You just bring your friends for a FUN girl's night! And the best part... All orders placed Friday receive 20% off!

Tres Chic, Oklahoma City - 15% off all fall merchandise on Saturday... stock up for colder weather now! Located in Northpark Mall at 122nd and N. May, Tres Chic has a great collection of designers including Nicole Miller and Cartise. Tell them Allioppe sent you in -

Fabulous Friday Features - OKC

2009-08-13T18:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!!

Fortune Cookie Friday @ On A Whim (7118 N.Western Ave) This Friday, On A Whim will be giving shoppers a chance at $5, $10, $15, $20, 10%, 15%, or 20% off their purchase. Each shopper can open a fortune cookie to reveal their discount, how cute! Fortune Cookie Friday is a regular event at On A Whim, however, this week there's also a special promotion for the upcoming movie Post Grad, starring Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants... ). Free movie promo items and advanced tickets are on a first come, first serve basis. Get there early!

Fanny Pack Fashion Show @ dna. galleries (Plaza district, 1705 NW 16th, 8:15) Brooklyn, NY designer Junkprints makes cool fanny packs. They also make a lot of other cool stuff, see it here. Dna.galleries will showcase their latest fanny packs from Junkprints in their fashion show friday night. Wear a fanny pack too & you can win a cool prize :)

Live on the Plaza After you've Fanny Pack-ed, take some time to walk around and visit the other Plaza District businesses. Get a coffee at Coffy's. Check out Collected Thread. Friday night is the district's monthly "Live on the Plaza" event - a night of open shoppes & friendly faces in a really neat area. I'll be there!

Forget cookies, grab a pair of jeans!

2009-08-10T20:24:00.000-07:00

I am so pleased to welcome Allioppe's newest designer, Fortune Denim. And, I wasn't kidding in the title, each pair of Fortune Denim jeans comes with a fortune right inside the waistband.

In August, Fortune Denim is featuring several of their best designs. The Anna (in Dynasty wash) creates a long, lean silhouette with some great detailing at the waistline.

Another feature for August is the Renee cut in the raw wash. This is a favorite style of mine - it can make even me feel tall and runway- worthy (and, I'm 5'2"- those are some powerful jeans...).

Fortune Denim is available at two Allioppe shoppes: The Blues Jean Bar and Indigo 1745. Guarantee yourself some good luck and wear a pair.

Sorry, no girdles or earmuffs...

2009-08-06T19:57:00.000-07:00

Starting at 12:01 am Friday, Oklahoma will begin their tax free weekend! Here's a quick synopsis: All non-athletic clothing and shoes under $100 are eligible for tax exemption. There are a few limitations - you can't buy wedding apparel, garter belts, footlets, beach capes (not kidding), or as I mentioned in the subject line...no girdles or ear muffs either. For a complete list of the non-exempt items visit the Oklahoma Tax Commission page.

I've been getting emails all week about some of our favorite boutiques offering specials. Here's a list for your shopping pleasure:

The Lime Leopard is doing a fabulous denim sale - nice!
Spring Creek shopping is offering 10% off. Great retailers like Marcy & Abbey's, Pink Sugar Shoes (Taryn by Taryn Rose - Corona, in love), Retropolitan and so many more!
Allyson's Closet - 10% off your purchase

I hope you enjoy your tax free weekend and support some local shopping establishments-

Allison

2009-08-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

If you haven't picked up this week's Oklahoma Gazette, do it! Allioppe was mentioned in the Shop Girl section. Here's an excerpt of the article

"Bailey (that's me!) said she is working to grow the site wit boutique entries, in the hopes it'll become a nationwide resource for local shopping. I think it could. I'll be keeping my eye out for future developments."

I couldn't agree more! Thanks for the mention-

Bye Bye Raccoon eyes...

2009-08-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

So, I know you have been waiting to hear what the "invention that you wished you had invented" is... let me set the stage.

You have a hot date with mr. big and you decide to glam it up with a smokey eye and a hot little dress. After a nice primer and a quality shadow, your eyelids look amazing. However, what's that under your eye? SHADOW FALLOUT!!

Prevention: add the Shadow Shield & you're good to go.

These neat little strips stick right under your eye before applying shadow. When you're finished, re-

move the shield and reveal a clean under-eye.

Now, what a neat invention!

Shadow Shields are available at the MakeUp Bar.

Many Thanks!

2009-08-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

I have a knack for tardiness. Apparently, the Allioppe blog is not exempt from this tardiness. On Friday, I promised a prize blog post. I will not disappoint!!!

I will be giving away super cute letterpress pom pom mum thank you cards. The front reads "many thanks" and the inside is blank. I bought myself these exact cards at stelladallas in Dallas, Texas. Stelladallas not only carries chic furniture and colorful office supplies, they also have a well-selected paper and card section. (Go add them as a preferred shoppe!)

While reading through their anniversary greeting cards, I LOLed violently. I highly suggest visiting if you are having a down day.

To win these notecards... comment below and answer the following question: "The fall fashion item I can't wait to wear is __________" I will randomly select a comment at 11 pm, August 3rd. Good luck!

2009-07-13T20:17:00.000-07:00

It just might be Tulips (Norman, OK).

They have everything you need to have an exquisite home: Bella Notte bedding, Company C Rugs, and my most favorite Capri candles (seen below, ahhhh):

Stop by for the perfect wedding shower gift or the perfect gift for yourself! I am so happy to welcome Tulips to Allioppe-

Epiphany!

2009-07-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

Continuing with the theme set earlier this week... I am going to talk about Dallas shopping! A really neat area that I shopped was the Bishop Arts District. AND... a very neat shop in the Bishop Arts District is Epiphany!

Epiphany is a great addition to the Allioppe family. They sell local artists, jeans, cute printed tees, and some amazing jewelry (just to name a few things).

Add them as a preferred shoppe and you won't regret it!

technical difficulties

2009-06-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

I want to thank all of our boutiques and shoppers that have signed up for an Allioppe profile. You guys are great! Since the website is so new, we are still experiencing a few errors and issues. Please bear with us for the next week, as we continue fixing and revising small pieces of the site.

To make your experience better, please email me at help@allioppe.com to let me know if any errors or mistakes that you see. Here is a partial list of the functions that we are currently revising:

the appearance of boutique phone numbers (spacing is incorrect)
logout function
adding more "add to preferred" and "suggest a boutique/designer" buttons
timestamps on status updates

Thanks again!

welcome stelladallas!

2009-06-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled to welcome stelladallas to Allioppe! I visited this shoppe on my "tour de Dallas" this weekend & absolutely fell in love. If you have time, read a few of the very funny cards in the back of the shoppe - they will make your day.

Don't forget to add stelladallas to your preferred shoppes!

So Excited!!

2009-06-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to welcome Krimson and Klover as Allioppe's first official boutique! Check out their Allioppe profile and add them as a preferred shoppe!

Spencer Stone Company

2009-06-17T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today in the Gazette, Spencer Stone Company advertised 20% off until June 21st. The advertisement says "kids receive 20% off!" Well, I have a dad... does that make me a kid? I hope so, because that is a fantastic deal!

Several months ago, my husband, Kevin purchased a Robert Talbott dress shirt at Spencer Stone. The shirt was such nice quality & the staff at Spencer Stone was so knowledgeable. We will definitely be back to take advantage of this sale!

Visit Allioppe.com or else!

2009-06-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

Allioppe.com went live today! We are still working out minor errors. As the week continues, you should see the site really come together.

I was told this weekend that I need to put a description of the website on the blog so that people will understand what this site is. Here it is:

Allioppe is a way for shoppers to find local boutiques and designers more easily. Shoppers can search by State/City, types of items sold, designers sold, or randomly through the entire Allioppe population. For example, you live in Oklahoma City and have a favorite brand of jeans. You can't find a boutique that sells them (argh - so frustrating!). You can search for that brand in OKC or for designer jeans in OKC.

There are also features that allow you to create a profile and sign up to receive information about your favorite stores.

As the site progress continues, I will be featuring different sections of the website that can help shoppers. I also look forward to hearing suggestions for all of you!

Later-

The Concept - Allioppe.com

2009-05-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

At the age of 9, I was sent to the principal's office for soliciting other students to buy hand-made friendship bracelets during my recess. Up until this moment, my parents didn't understand the level of enterprise my hobby had reached. In those days, I was selling between 3 and 5 friendship bracelets a day. At $.50 a piece, I was doing pretty good for a 9 year old.

Apparently, my elementary school principal didn't understand budding entrepreneurship and banned me from selling anything during recess. I attempted to hand deliver bracelet orders on my bicycle, but athleticism was never really my thing... so the business started to flounder. In an effort to diversify, I started selling "potpourri" (consisting of fresh berries, leaves, and flower petals from my yard) to my neighbors. For some reason, the potpourri business never took off...

Anyway, following that was the "code club," (where I made my friends pay for a membership to a club in which I ran and gave them insider information about various things), my street-side face-painting business, pet snail business, etc... the list could go on and on. I came up with businesses right and left. Over time, school got harder and I got more involved with activities and my extra time faded.

Fast forward to 2005. I am in a Business Strategy class at OCU. Assignment: develop a business idea and write a plan for it. Sounds like fun, right? Problem: It's a group project. I think you can see where this is going... I spend tons of time coming up with the grandest idea ever and it gets shot down by the male group members. If I remember correctly, we ended up using a log cabin rental as our business. whatever. lame.

If there is a positive thing about that particular experience, and there is... it's that I really did come up with a grand idea. Originally called CityShoppe (thus thecityshopper), Allioppe is a website that connects local boutiques with customers. There is a social networking aspect, but the coolest feature will be the ability to travel anywhere and locate a boutique in that area. You can see what designers they sell (like Chip&Pepper, free people, Tory Burch, Kate Spade Paper, etc...) and what genres that they sell (like women's, men's, shoes, papers, etc...).

I have been working non-stop this year in order to get Allioppe up and going. I would say the official countdown to public viewing is about two weeks. Extensive testing and some editing must still take place, but I see a light at the end of this tunnel.

YEAH!!

52 in 52

2009-05-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

My friend Mary Jo is taking on a new dating challenge. Check it out on the blog 52inFiftyTwo. I will also be authoring a few posts in the future...

back again - this time for good.

2009-05-20T10:28:00.001-07:00

I haven't posted on this page in forever, mainly because I have been working on my dream project, Allioppe.com. I will have a blog page on Allioppe, but more and more I am wanting to write about personal struggles that wouldn't quite be appropriate for my company website. So, I'm back - this time in a little different format. Originally when I started this blogger account, it was as an alternative to Allioppe - featuring my favorite local boutiques and talking shopping. Now, I see this as a more personal page. If you want to read about shopping - the blog on Allioppe will be great for that.

Starting a business from scratch is hard. It's even harder when it's a completely new concept. I read a quote today on my igoogle:

"Don't worry about people stealing an idea, if it's original, you will have to ram it down their throats." - Howard Aiken

In some ways, this is so quote rings so true. I believe in the concept of Allioppe and I believe that it will do wonders for the boutique shopping industry. I just can't wait until I finally have users that see the same vision that I do. I will keep you all up to date on the progress of Allioppe. I expect it to go live to the public next week some time.

Tomorrow, the concept from start to finish...

We're Moving!

2008-08-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in forever, but I have been busy at work on a new project of mine. It's going to be big. The CityShopper will be moving to a new site very soon... keep for fingers crossed that everything goes as planned!

The Consignment Theory - great stores

2008-06-14T12:24:00.001-07:00

In OKC, I have two favorite consignment/thrift stores. They are my favorites for a wide variety of reasons...

The Remarkable Shop (NW 32nd & N May) This is my favorite store (hands down) to shop due to their high quality of merchandise. The store is set up in two parts: consignment and thrift. Although the thrift is exceptional, the consignment is even better. Expect to see brands like Betsey Johnson, BCBG, Oscar de la Renta, Joe's Jeans, Citizens of Humanity, etc... The downside is that when you consign clothes, they also have to be of exceptional quality (high end designer brands only) to be accepted. A great selection of vintage items and wedding apparel as well. www.jloc.org

Our Sister's Closet (SW 60th & Western) This thrift store provides a great philanthropy to the YWCA and women of OKC. Women that are currently in the YWCA shelter can pick out outfits from the thrift store in a time of need and, of course, the store is open to the public. I donate some of my clothes here and have bought several items in the past. The also have quite a few pieces of high-end merchandise. Check out the glass case at the end of their cash register... coach purses and shoes, Kate Spade, juicy couture... The staff is really friendly.

sorry kids.

2008-05-06T15:24:00.001-07:00

And so, I have done what every blogger swears they will never do... abandon the blog. For those viewers that continue to read my stale entries (and yes, there are several of you), read on. I have a few fresh thoughts, but first I am going to complete my Consignment Theory entries.

The Consignment Theory - Key Maneuvers in Selling

2008-04-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

Not only does the Consignment Theory require buying, but also SELLING. Here are the key maneuvers:

Bring clean and wrinkle-free clothes. Some stores are picky about what they will sell. I suggest making a test run with the nicest clothes that you are planning on consigning to see what their standards are. Before bringing them, check whether the clothes should be on hangers or in garbage bags.
Check the Sales Policy guidelines for that particular store. How do they pay you? ( I prefer to be mailed a check b/c I will forget to pick it up.) Do you have to pick up your clothes if they don't sell? What percentage of the sales price do you get (50% minimum)?
Make sure your clothes fit with the style of store. If the clothes are similar in value, style, and age group (teens vs. middle-aged) with the rest of the store, they have a better chance of selling.
Sell often. If you wait until your clothes are worn and out of style, you won't make any money selling them. I go through my clothes often, and cut out the weak links. Everyone has their own threshold for trends: I keep my trendy things for a season and usually consign them shortly after, for other, more-fortunate shoppers, it's like 2 weeks (I like to buy their clothes!). Yet others hold on for 5 years (these people don't make any money in consignment). The key is to find a timeline when people will still buy your clothes, but you aren't that interested in still wearing them.
Do you like the sales staff? Some of the consignment store sales associates that I have encountered have been pretty b*tchy. If they are rude or condescending to you (the award for most condescending goes to Daisy Exchange in OKC), they will likely be rude to the customers looking at your clothes also.

Colorado & skiing.

2008-03-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

Last year was the first year that I had tried skiing. I apparently, didn't get enough abuse, so I agreed to ski again this year. Besides a few falls getting my ski legs back and a major wipeout caused by an inexperienced snow boarder, I had an excellent time skiing. Most importantly, I got to see Colorado for the first time. Never drained of opinion, I have included all of my opinions in a bulleted list below. Enjoy.

United Airlines - Where is the Dr. Pepper?? In the future, on any flight out of Oklahoma city, it would be in your best interest to supply Dr. Pepper.
The Windy Saddle in Golden, CO - I am told this is a relatively new cafe in Golden, but I was very pleased with my sandwich and the atmosphere (see picture at the right) We had a few sandwiches and drinks for about $15. Get the Berry bar for dessert, it was delicious. After you have eaten, grab a coffee and stroll the main drag in Golden. Delightful. www.goldencochamber.com
VRBO.com - VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owners) is a website where vacationers can get in contact with vacation property owners. I used it (for the first time) to rent a condo in Dillon, CO for this ski trip. It worked like a charm. I noticed that they had some great deals on properties all over the US, even NYC. www.vrbo.com
Virgin Island Ski Rentals in Dillon, CO - We got a great deal on ski rentals and a few cold weather purchases. They even sell lift tickets, dude. www.virginislandsski.com
Dillon, CO - Dillon (and the neighboring town, Silverthorne) is a perfect place to stay if you plan on skiing Breckenridge, Keystone, Vail, A Basin, Copper Mountain, etc... The community is full of retail and food accommodations and we found it to be much cheaper than the ski towns. 15 mins to Keystone, 25 to Breck.
Red Mountain Grill in Dillon, CO - We ate here the only night that we went out for dinner. First, I was impressed with the architecture. Amazing sconces and baskets hanging from the ceiling, chairs made in the shape of the restaurant logo... it was neat. Secondly, I was impressed with the food. I had an alfredo pasta creation that was the special of the day and it was divine. Two things I wasn't too impressed with: Service and the margarita. The Service was a little inattentive (and he forgot our appetizer completely. I thanked him later when I was too full to move without it though) and the margarita was so strong I didn't finish it. Neither of those issues were enough for me to not visit the Red Mountain grill the next time I am in Dillon. check it out www.redmountaingrill.com

After skiing, we headed back to Denver via the always-downward-sloping I-70. Little did we know, Denver was having their major St. Patrick's Day festival (marathon, lots of people, green beer) that day. This of course, changed the course of our day. We dug out what little green paraphernalia we had brought and joined in.

First stop was dinner, we went to Sonadas Sushi downtown. I understand this is a local chain of sushi places. I enjoyed it and the basic rolls were very affordable. After ordering several of these rolls, we discovered a special sushi roll menu on a dry erase board in the restaurant. Thus, we ordered more. Those were fine too. Not as good as Kangs or Neiko, here in OKC, however, I was impressed with the service - the bartender and waiter were friendly and enthusiastic. Sonada Sushi 1620 Market Street www.sonadassushi.com
St Pat's - Getting in the green spirit, we saw the most people leaving this location with green beer mustaches, so we hit it up. It leaned toward the college bar atmosphere that I am used to seeing at places like Hudson's. The music was good, the beer - not so much, but hey, I didn't expect that anyway. Yes, it was fun, but most importantly, they gave us this amazing hat. Kevin models it in the picture to the left.

The Consignment Theory - Key Maneuvers in Buying

2008-03-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

My clothing budget drastically decreased when I bought my house last year, but I have compensated and continued my love of fashion by mixing in even more consignment (and thrift) store purchases. Here are my key maneuvers to making consignment work for you.

Buying Consignment:

Have a list of items that you want/need. Unlike walking into The Gap, there is a variety of single items all thrown together in your size (okay, similar to the Gap post day-after-christmas). This can be overwhelming & soon you start telling yourself, "I need this pink leopard tube top" or "I have always wanted a flowered jumper." No you don't and hell no. Just like with grocery shopping, stick to the list. It doesn't need to be specific, but don't be so general that you can mentally justify any article of clothing with it. Here is my list for the last time I went consigning: "Dark designer jeans that are nice enough to wear to work, retro shoes w/ heels, colorful scarves, and shirt dresses."
It must fit. When you find that stellar article, try it on. If it doesn't fit, don't buy it. There are a few exceptions... if you are someone who regularly gets things tailored, having a minor alteration isn't that big of a deal. However, it will be a waste of your money and closet space if it never fits you.
Pick the good stores. Don't waste your time on a store that won't carry items that you would be interested in. I prefer going to women's charity consignment stores. I like the idea that my purchase helps someone else out, but I also tend to find the best designer clothes there. I have also found that many boutiques send their excess merchandise to these stores for a tax write-off.
Go often. There are plenty of consignment shoppers out there, and inevitable, they will beat you to those vintage Coach purses and Betsey Johnson dresses (FYI, the Remarkable Shop has several right now). Be Monica. Be competitive. Get there first.
Negotiate. One of the biggest concepts that I have learned from my dad is that unless an item is marked FIRM, it's negotiable! You especially have the upper hand when you are buying more than one item at a time. I usually start with a minimum 10% bid at the register. Look for any minor flaws that don't bother you (deodorant and makeup are a pretty easy fix) that you can use to your advantage. It's a good idea to approach the register when no one else is there so that the store can call the item's owner to okay the price discount if necessary. Be prepared, however, to decide whether to pay the listed price or return the item to the rack. Overall, be nice to the employees.
Get a punch/discount card. Many stores offer punch cards or discount cards that you can accumulate points on. These pay off. I don't keep them in my wallet b/c they take up so much space, but I always grab them before a big shopping day.
Have fun with it. I have found some fabulous items (a fur-collared bolero jacket circa 1940, a turquoise clutch, a Project Alabama cardigan, etc...) that take a little fashion risk to wear and enjoy. Embrace those unique articles and strut your stuff when you wear them!

The Consignment Theory - Three R's

2008-03-26T19:50:00.003-07:00

Although I am only recently trying to jump on the bandwagon and "go green" around my house (enter squiggly light bulbs, organic fruit, Al Gore...), I have been following the Three R's in my closet for years. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. This acronym is very useful in understanding the consignment process, as related to clothing.

Reduce. Cleaning out your closet is the first step to the process. Eliminate those extra pieces of clothing that take up space in your closet and provide no benefit to your wardrobe. If you don't appreciate it anymore, there is a chance someone else will. If it doesn't fit you anymore, it might fit someone else. Reduce also applies to your checkbook too. Consignment clothes are very affordable.
Recycle. It's really one big trash/treasure life cycle. Great pieces can make it through several different hands throughout their lives.
Reuse. When you buy consignment clothes, you are giving new life to an article of clothing that someone else put in their "Reduce" pile. Wearing used clothes has sometimes gained a negative connotation. However, most consignment stores have a more thorough clothing inspection process than I use on my own clothes. They are very picky!

One more "R" to remember, Read the next Consignment Theory article.

The Consignment Theory - Day 1

2008-03-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

One of my daily hot-spots is www.thesimpledollar.com. Trent, the author, writes great articles about down-to-earth finance topics, saving money, and making solid decisions. Although personal finance doesn't seem enthralling at first thought, he keeps his page interesting by doing cycles of stories, i.e. writing several articles in a row on a continuous topic and forming discussion with the readers. The link to his site is listed on the right-hand side of the page.

I was inspired to do the same here at TheCityShopper. Today begins my series on The Consignment Theory. Happy reading.

be Fierce!

2008-03-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Do not keep reading if you haven't watched the finale and actually care who won. I will start with the beginning of the end...

Chris March - a great costume designer, and really, that is where he should remain. I loved the personality and craziness that he

brought to the show (where did he get that hair anyway, does he have a bald friend walking around somewhere?). I hope that some production company sees his talent on the show and picks him up.

Jillian - After watching her fashion week collection, I really feel like Jillian isn't embracing what she is good at... flirty little outfits. I think that she shouldn't rebel against her natural feminine tendency by trying to make these hard pieces. My favorite look from the entire collection was the black and white striped sweater with knit looped sleeves. Her hard rock/goth thing that she wants to do only works w

hen she adds the feminine detail. The jacket was amazing though.

Rami - Rami was a bland personality on the show, but a great designer. However, it isn't about how much technical ability that you can cram into one garment (ex: yellow jacket, purple grecian gown), it is about what is artistically natural for you as a designer to create. The evening gowns were interesting as well as the weaving, although it reminded me of a picnic basket.

CHRISTIAN - I love him. Personalities like his are what make a good reality TV show. Not only were his designs to die for, he is a diva and will be successful in the industry. Although at points his pieces seemed like a goth strawberry shortcake, I totally dug them. Never too many ruffles for my taste. Congrats to him for being fierce. www.christianvsiriano.com

Notable definitions used in the last few episodes

Fierce - Christian's favorite adjective, verb, adverb, noun, etc... Ex: My hair is exceptionally fierce today.
Partridge Family colors - Per Michael Kors, Rami's color choices in his collection.
Avante garde - used liberally to describe pretty much anything Christian makes.
Monkey house - where Tim said that Chris March had been living. It smells when you first walk in, but after getting used to the smell, you don't notice it.
Tranny mess - not good, a cluttered piece of crap outfit.

I dabble...

2008-03-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

After a delightful weekend in Houston, I have many things to report: Finding a cab in downtown during the rodeo is unlikely, Pappasito's isn't really that great (It's mainly about cheese, I'll explain more later), Don't do the chain thing (referring to food and clothing), and most of all thank God for GoogleMaps for cell phones.

The Fish (309 Gray Street). Located in the Midtown area, The Fish boasts some great original sushi rolls. I particularly enjoyed the Bubba Gump roll (...shrimp sushi...). I am a big fan of sushi and this was one of the better rolls I have had. It's also great to walk around Gray street for coffee or ice cream or maybe a beer at the Front Porch Pub afterwards.
Jimmie's Place (White Oak Dr & Studewood St). We met some friends at this little dive after dinner. It was an eclectic environment in which I will describe for the Okies as Edna's transplanted in the Paseo. It was great weather, so the patio was hopping. Also, you can bring your dog to Jimmie's. There was a great great dane there that was very friendly. I have heard that he is a regular.
Rice Village shopping. I hate to say this, but since I was in need of work clothes, we mainly hit the mainstream stores (Express, Gap, Urban Outfitters, etc..). Not a whole lot to report except that I bought what I thought was a cute hot pink dress shirt at Express, only to wear it today to work and discover that it is quite poorly constructed and utilizing the crappiest fade-friendly cotton material ever. I will never downgrade dress shirts from Banana Republic again (I swear, Banana makes best women's dress shirt at the mall).
Anthropologie. Yes, I went. It's my Island of the Sirens. Thankfully, Kevin, my boyfriend, was with me to block the temptation from every perfectly mis-matched cardigan and sundress. I walked out with a pair of earrings and some fabulous eggplant-colored sunglasses. Overall, a success.
Bergamos Spa Retreat (River Oaks, 2535 Kirby Dr.) Much to my surprise, I was treated to a delicious massage, which 100% revived me from the pulled hammy, received while diving for a floral tote at Gap. I was so impressed with the atmosphere and the staff. I will most definitely return and most definitely stay for an entire afternoon. www.bergamosSpaRetreat.com.
Red Cat Jazz Cafe (downtown, 924 Congress). Get the Crawfish Etoufee!!!! My mouth waters just thinking about it. We ate a great dinner to the sound of Dean James, a saxophonist and Althea Rene, a jazz floutist. The Anchorman jokes only lasted through the first set... Cover charge to watch the performers starts at 8 pm & I would suggest that you reserve a table because the place was packed by the time we left! www.redcatjazzcafe.com

Pappasito's. Okay, what is with the not-serving-cheese-queso-for-free thing?? In Oklahoma, the city that's on a diet, we get free cheese queso at every Mexican restaurant in town. In all honesty, it wasn't just the cheese that tainted my once-flawless view of this great Texan chain (Don't hate me, I still like Pappadeux)... It was that my $2.50 tea was only refilled at my request (I was thirsty, people), a side of bacon for brunch was $4.00, and a shotglass of queso was $2.00. Thankfully, after biting the bullet on the shotglass queso, the waitress informed us (between flirting with the bus boy) about the exorbitant bacon & we deferred. I would have enjoyed my Mexican food experience much more at Mamasita's in OKC.

Now that I have wrapped up my 3 days in another city, I will be following this entry with some good ole' OKC shopping reviews. Stay posted for more!

Tell me that you've missed me!

2008-02-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I know that you all have been wondering... "where has the city shopper been? We haven't seen a post since february 4th!"

You can blame (at least partially) the Oklahoma City County Court system. No, I wasn't arrested (man, I would really have a story to write then), I had jury duty. Apparently, anyone can get called to jury duty, not just the unemployed and retired. Overall, it was a great experience & I felt like I learned quite a bit about the judicial system. I also learned quite a bit about jury duty attire. For your entertainment only, here is my personal top ten list of THINGS TO WEAR TO JURY DUTY:

anything netted. Yes, I know it was 30 degrees this week, in these cases of extreme temperature, try layering a body suit underneath. *please reference Paula Abdul in 1990 for a definition of a body suit.
your husband (or baby daddy's) T-shirt. No bra necessary.
what you slept in. If you put a pair of running shoes with it, no problem.
hoop earrings. The bigger, the better. In fact, if they are big enough, you can easily rest your head on your shoulder and nod off.
a pager. Hmmm, I'm pretty sure they told us to leave valuable things at home.
leggings. Sounds cute & somewhat fashionable... don't be deceived.
a grill. No, you can't cook lunch on it.
scrunchies. direct quote: "It's strange, no one sells these anymore, so I make them myself." That is strange...
no makeup.
2 piece velour jumpsuit. 2 sizes too small.

Congrats to me.

2008-02-04T20:24:00.001-08:00

I know, this will come as a shock to most readers (the few of you there are...), I recently purchased my first Complete Collector's DVD set of Sex and the City. This is me, standing in an old dance team pose, with my new toy:

(P.S. I totally forgot how hideous Miranda's hair was in Season 1... wow.)

Get a blush rush. ASAP!

2008-02-04T19:23:00.000-08:00

me: Oh, honey, that compliment made me blush!

honey: Well, I can't help myself. That pair of dashing Chip and Pepper jeans and chunky vintage ring that you are wearing overwhelms me.

me (thinking in head): "If only I had bought the Juicy Couture sunglasses too... I would have him hooked by Valentine's Day. Back to Blush ASAP."

Blush is one of Norman, OK's newest additions. Nestled in a campus corner shopping center off of Buchanan, they boast a big selection of tops, bottoms, accessories, and cute home things. Walk out with a pair of Lucky jeans or a Jessica Simpson bag... maybe even a quirky magnet or picture frame.

Once you have bought it all, they will even gift wrap it for you! What a deal!

Visit Blush at 566 Buchanan Ave, Norman, OK. 405.701.8600

The perfect pair - Shoetopia

2008-01-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

utopia, noun - a place of ideal perfection.

shoe, noun - an outer covering for the human foot.

Thus, we can only assume that Shoetopia is perfect place to find shoes! (Thanks Webster).

Take a quick drive down to Norman, OK to visit one of the best shoe stores in the OKC metro. They carry a wide variety of Kenneth Cole, BCBG, Seychelles, Franco Sarto, BC Shoes and many others - great for all walks (and budgets) in life. With constant new arrivals, there are great deals to be had by all... especially me.

Check out my new Kenzi kicks, size 6, purchased 1/27:

(available in patent black also)

Shoetopia is located in Norman's Campus Corner district: 307 W. Boyd (405)360.8747

the BEST Dr. Pepper in OKC

2008-01-22T20:18:00.000-08:00

As an avid Dr. Pepper drinker (seriously, my mother probably put it in my bottle), I continually search for the best fountain-style Dr. Pepper's in town. I have ranked my choices by the following variables:

syrup-y-ness (the more the merrier)
cup and lid quality (sorry Al Gore, styrofoam is the best)
additional flavoring (can I add cherry or vanilla or BOTH?)
atmosphere
carbonation (burps are bad)

I originally wanted to do a top 5 locations to find a delicious DP, however, I realized that I have, so far, only found four worthy.

And the winners are (drumroll) :

Tim's Drive-In (NW 50th & MacArthur)
Neptune's Submarine Sandwiches (NW 30th & Classen)
Coit's (2 locations: NW 39th & Penn and NW 50th and Portland)
Nichols Hills Drug Store (Avondale & N Western)

Thanks to all the restaurants that have unknowingly participated my survey.

Congrats, Lauri

2008-01-22T20:04:00.000-08:00

Well, after months of holding our breath... we can now breathe easily. Lauri Waring - Peterson of the Real Housewives of the Orange County is officially hitched. Congrats, kids.

Daily Candy

2008-01-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

After publishing my blog link on facebook and myspace, I received feedback from all of my wonderful internet-savvy friends:

"Great blog"

"Glad to see that you are doing something with your life... almost"

"I can't believe you have time to do this crap..."

Thanks guys.

However, one of the best tidbits I received was from Bridgette Workman, my politically-active, fellow OCU-er in DC. She reminded me of a daily email that I, and Bridgette as well, subscribe to. Daily Candy. Daily Candy sends an email with fashionista-worthy product recommendations, local weekend guides, websites, beauty & designer reviews, etc... (depending on what daily candy edition that you subscribe to). I am a member of the Everywhere and Dallas editions. With 20+ different editions, they have something to cater to your individual taste. The Daily Candy website also offers discounts on many of the products that they feature.

Check out the site & sign up: www.dailycandy.com. It's a sweet deal.

Thanks!

2008-01-20T11:19:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone that has visited the site!

The French Cowgirl - Parlez vous Giddy-up?”

2008-01-19T18:27:00.000-08:00

After a recent Western Avenue crawl, I feel inspired to write about one of my favorite shops in OKC, The French Cowgirl. The name pretty much speaks for itself: they have the French and the cowgirl, and somewhere in between, there is something for everyone. Home accessories are the main dish at the FC, but the appetizers and desserts are what make it a hit. By serving up soothing candles scents, refinished furniture, and a smorgasboard of handmade jewelry, the French Cowgirl is a treat for the senses.

They kick it up a notch (BAM!) with an ever-expanding wardrobe section including designer jeans (from the likes of Big Star, Seven for all Mankind, True Religion, and my super-fav, Japanese designer, David Kahn) and clothing inspirations (from Kenzi, Free People, and some fab vintage finds). Create an outfit that pairs delightfully with vintage cowboy boots or an eclectic charm necklace (or both!).

The French Cowgirl is located at 4514 N Western Ave, OKC, OK. When you stop in, tell 'em Allison sent ya.

the purpose

2008-01-19T15:10:00.000-08:00

After officially declaring myself a "city shopper," I feel as though I must prove my worthiness as a clothing and home-ware consumer. But first, a little background on myself: 23, 5'2", a born-and-raised Oklahoman, currently living in a historic neighborhood in the heart of Oklahoma City. Favorite color: turquoise, all-time favorite store (it's a hard decision): Mockingbird Manor (stay tuned for reviews on this one), fav food: a sliced gala apple or a sandwich, fav article of clothing, at the moment: my yellow-green puffed-sleeved sweater.

I have a unique love of color and design and the boutique industry. Don't expect to see me at the mall for anything other than black pants or a white tee shirt (and sometimes not even then). I will pay the premium to shop at a delightful boutique because I thrive on individuality and believe in supporting local industry.

That being said, please stay updated on my blog in the coming weeks. I am going to review my favorite shoppes in the OKC area. And, since I can barely keep my opinion to myself, I may even review a few of OKC's best eating establishments while I'm at it.

I'm a big girl now

2008-01-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

Well, the time has come for me to grow up. I recently stepped up and bought a TV for my bedroom. This is a first. I have never had a TV in my bedroom, ever. I know, hard to believe. My decision has been long and hard and I finally gave in. Hey, who knows, maybe I will want to spend enough time in my room now that I will actually hang some of my clothes up in my closet instead of throwing them in a mountainous pile on my floor.

2008-01-07T11:09:00.000-08:00

My first day in the biz

2008-01-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Although this is my first day in the biz, and I know not a thing about it, I am sure I will be a raging success...insert sarcasm followed by fake audience laughter... Similar to the first day of kindergarten, when I sported the pink plaid jumper and side-ponytail, I am making an fashion statement today also.

Since fashion, etc (big emphasis on "etc...") is what I plan on discussing during the existence of this blog, here goes... I painted my fingernails dark pewter. (For those of you who aren't into color verbiage as much as I am, that is dark grey with a touch of metallic) Also, I'm absolutely positive what motivated me to do it - the typical "I saw someone cooler than me do it" thing. That "cooler" person was Caitlin Dowd, the blonde, I might be a lesbian, Samantha-type (the first of many Sex and the City references) on the Cashmere Mafia. I swear, I even saw two scene-intros from S&tC repeated. It's actually a great show, not a surprise since it's from the producer of S&tC, Darren Star. I appreciate how the characters are portrayed as fashionistas without being over-tanned, boobs-out, bimbos. Actually, I think that Caitlin's nails were actually a very dark red... oh well.

Although, I'm not sure how long the nails will stay painted pewter, this little rebelliousness has motivated me to start this page for all of you to enjoy. Also, please utilize my freely-given opinion below:

Beauty trend of the day: dark-painted fingernails. (only fingernails... Don't go painting your toenails dark... people never know what kind of nasty toenails you could be trying to cover up.)

Fashion Statement of the Day: the sweater-vest. This timeless piece is a need in any wardrobe... Go argyle or go home.

Things to watch: The Cashmere Mafia, Wednesdays, 9/C, ABC : Because you've already watched all of the S&tC reruns on TBS.