I don't know how it happened, but somehow over the last couple of years I have become a serious runner. I know how it started - a friend challenged me to run in the Walt Disney World Half-Marathon in 2009. Yes me, a girl who at 14 could barely run a mile in gym class, finished a half-marathon in 2 hours 34 minutes. And I somehow became addicted. 
This is in no way shape or form related to fashion, but it is exciting and I need to share! A friend of mine's significant other is part of a band called Help Line. They are pretty hilarious and great guys and they need your help. Aflac (yup, the duck) is having an online video contest. The video with the most votes wins $25, 000! The guys have put together an awesome video and they would love your vote! (And frankly I would love Chris to win so he can buy something nice and sparkly for my friend...)
Lovely Spring weather blanketed the Pacific Northwest this past weekend. For some reason beautiful weather inspires me to get out and shop! So I convinced hubby to head out and do some vintage wandering with me (okay, I technically lured him with promises of pancakes and coffee). We headed to SE Hawthorne, a neighborhood known for its quirky shops and excellent vintage selection. After a sweet breakfast at Bread and Ink Café we stumbled next door to the newest edition to the neighborhood, Crossroads Trading Co.
I had never heard of the store, but I was immediately pleased with what I found. A rack of designer pieces ranging from Diane Von Furstenberg to Marc Jacobs to Le Rok greeted me by the entrance (who knew designer pieces existed in Portland?). The store was laid out nicely, each section labeled so it was easy to find what you needed. I wandered the dress racks finding a mix of pieces from Banana Republic, Target, Ann Taylor and more. The store felt like a less crowded version of Buffalo Exchange with a better eye for what is appropriate to buy.
My husband – who by the way hates shopping for clothing of any kind – found a nice khaki jacket $8. I didn’t find anything to purchase, but I will be back!
Crossroads Trading has 24 stores across the country from Cali to Chicago. They will buy your quality used clothing for a nice percentage of what they will sell it for. Check out the Item of the Week section of their website for a taste of what you can find. From Theory to Givenchy to Steve Madden to Betsey Johnson they have something for everyone.
I have never been a big fan of outlet shopping. For me, part of the shopping experience is atmosphere and service – 2 things I don’t associate with outlet malls. But after last weekend’s trip to the Woodburn Company Stores (about 25 miles south of Portland); I realize perhaps I have been a little too harsh. Outlets have a lot to offer if you know where and how to shop.
Sunday morning I packed up two friends, picked up some coffee and hit the road.
Our first stop: Coach. I must tell you – I am not a fan of Coach Handbags. I don’t own one now, and I probably never will. (I do own these Coach boots and LOVE THEM). But a friend who came with is a huge fan so she couldn’t pass up the store. I watched her eyes grow wide as she walked in (and was promptly handed a 20% off coupon). My eyes narrowed and turned to this poor guy, who I had to take a photo of. His wife kept piling bags on him like he was some sort of coat rack.
After my friend dropped some money at Coach (and scored some excellent deals!), we stopped next door at DKNY. The store just opened last week so I was looking forward to seeing a bright new store with a ton of great merchandise. I was disappointed. The store had a sterile feel to it and resembled a bland New York & Company. Though the selection itself was disappointing, I was surprised to see spring styles! For some reason I had it in my head that the outlets would be trying to unload Fall/Winter styles, so the spring colors were a welcome surprise.
My day picked up a little at BCBG Maxazria. I found a short sleeved cashmere knit dress that was originally $275 for just $50! I hadn’t known that the Max Azria umbrella (26 sub companies!) included Herve Leger. I found these adorable little cases for just $30 (sadly, no dresses – I might have screamed ‘I DIE!’).
While there are deals to be had, it is important to keep in mind that outlets may not have the BEST deals. For example, my friend bought a jersey cover up dress from the J Crew outlet for $60. I have a similar dress from Target that I bought for just $15 last summer. Because she was purchasing her dress from an outlet, she assumed she was getting a good deal. Though, the dress might have retailed for $90 at the J Crew store at the mall, she probably wouldn’t have bought it. See my point?
Though the experience started out a bit rough, I DID have a great afternoon with my friends. I was surprised that the outlets had season-appropriate merchandise. I learned that if you go outlet shopping with an open mind and reasonable idea good pricing, you should be able to score some great deals!
