Ok, WHO doesn’t love a good sample sale?! It’s time to indulge your inner shopaholic without the guilt! In fact, you’ll deserve a good pat on the back for spending money on clothes. Here’s the scoop on what’s happening THIS weekend guys and gals!

Starting tomorrow (Friday, June 15th), two fabulous local clothing lines will be featured in a sample sale: Twice Shy (ethical clothing for men and women) and Fig (ethical clothing for children), both of which carry clothing that is made from organic and sustainable fabric.

Here are the details:

When:
Friday June 15th: 4 PM – 9 PM
Saturday June 16th: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday June 17th: 12 PM – 4 PM

Where:
62 W. 4th Ave. (corner of 4th and Manitoba), Vancouver

As if this wasn’t enough, here are more brands at the sale:

Kairos, which offers gorgeous handmade bags
Soulflower, a line of sterling silver jewelry to complete that perfect look

This notice is courtesy of IloveSampleSales.com, a local company launched by Amy Lowry, who merged her love of fashion and finding a great deal into an innovative website (actually, it’s surprising no one has done this before!). Read the rest of this entry »

Appendix to the Article: “Look Great AND Help the Environment: A Sample Sale for the Whole Family!”

Here are some great tips for making the most out of sample sales, courtesy of Amy Lowry, Co-founder of ILoveSampleSales.com.

1. Go early if you can – but even when you can’t, you should still go because as with many sales, new stock is put out daily

2. Wear a long snug-fitting tank top as sometimes the change rooms are shared – you can wear this under clothes as you try them on

3. Sometimes there are a few sales on the same day so wear comfy shoes so you can visit them all Read the rest of this entry »

I love shopping for kids. It’s insane the kind of variety you can find when buying them anything, especially clothes. Put me in a kids’ clothing store with a credit card and you’ll regret it, especially if the credit card is yours!

I thought shoe shopping would be just as fun. My five- (six in June) year-old niece came over for a visit and we were just about to head for the Richmond Auto Mall to buy a Yaris when I noticed that she was walking funny. I asked her why she was shuffling so much and she lifted her foot to show me how the sole of her shoe had peeled away from its base and the whole thing looked like a hand puppet. We obviously couldn’t go out like that so we made a pit stop at Metrotown Mall. She’s not a fan of trying on shoes but she got a piggy-back ride out of it so she was all smiles. I needed a temporary solution and I thought it would be a piece of cake to find a sensible sandal at Payless. Maybe I could even save a couple of bucks too!…Nothing. Read the rest of this entry »

Appendix to the Article: “Shoe Shopping Hell“

Here are 10 lessons for buying kids’ shoes:

The B.C. Association of Podiatrists has these tips to help ensure that growing feet are getting the well-fitting and supportive shoes they need

1. Shop for shoes at the end of the day. Feet are five to eight per cent larger in the afternoon than in the morning

2. Examine the shoe first. A shoe should have a firm heel counter (stiff material on ether side of the heel), adequate cushioning of the insole, a tall and wide toe box, and, preferably, a built-in arch. It should be flexible enough to bend where the foot bends – at the ball of the foot, not the middle of the shoe. Feel the inside of the shoe for stitching, staples or irregularities in the glue that could cause irritation Read the rest of this entry »

One of the first things that you must acquire when you begin your life as a blogger is a proper office chair. You may want to save a couple of bucks by using just any ordinary dining chair or a $50 excuse for one that you saw on a flyer with a big ‘Sale’ header, but mark my words, you’ll soon be crying for something with more support. Read the rest of this entry »