Sale Survival

With Sale season coming to an end it's safe to say I had my fair share of sale craziness (thank you for that Forever21!). So, I've put together a small list of tips to keep in mind before embarking on a shopping spree especially during Sale time. Of course, these are general bits and bobs so it would help you all the year round as well. 

Time it Right - If you're going to a mall that is far away from where you live, try and leave an hour before the mall opens. This way you not only beat the traffic but you arrive as soon as the stores open their shutters and you get the best picks and empty trial rooms. On the flip side, there might be some saleswoman that are 'grumpy morning people'. 

Practical Outfit of the Day - Do you really want to spend endless minutes unbuttoning a shirt or untying your laces every time you want to try on a pair of heels? Think smart. An ideal outfit is one that you are comfortable in. I would suggest a base layer consisting of black leggings and a black spaghetti top. This way when you try out sheer tops you already have that inner layer and you don't have to imagine it. However, if you're specifically going to buy only dresses then it would be ideal to wear one rather than pants! A compact cross body bag is the safest bet - that way it is always on you and it doesn't strain your shoulder or get in the way of holding hangers or shopping baskets. Footwear is the most important - a comfortable pair that you can walk in and easily knock off when you need to try on shoes. 

Read that Tag- Sometimes the fresh stock gets mixed up with discounted items and there is no worse feeling than being excited that you've found something so good for a steal when it actually is not on discount at all !!! If you're unsure about whether the price on the tag is Before or After discount don't be afraid to ask. 

Inspect the Garment-  There's a reason that some of the tops, skirts or bags make it into Sale racks and shelves. It's our job to thoroughly scan the item to check if there are any rips, stains, missing buttons or broken zippers. 

Worth the Wait? Sometimes after you've happily filled your bag with ten items you glance up only to find that the waiting room queues might as well be ticket counters at Bandra station. That's when you must ask yourself a very simple question. Are these items worth the wait? If yes, go then and wait in line without grumbling. If no, then say goodbye to all those things you spent probably a long time finding and move on to another shop without a second thought. 

In Two minds? We've all been in that scenario where half our brain convinces us we need that item and half our brain firmly says we don't. We keep holding on to that particular pair of pants or shoes while we walk around the store with the dilemma playing on our mind. Is it really worth it? Will I be able to pull them off? Am I just being impulsive? I don't really need this! If you're in this situation I highly recommend a tactic that I've been using for years. Basically, you take the garment or item and hide it somewhere in a special place which only you will be able to find later. Then, leave the store and continue your day. If after a good couple of hours (this applies if you're at a mall) or a day or two (if it is a singular shop) you're still thinking about it then go back, locate the item and buy it !!!! Hopefully, you will be lucky and the item will be right where you left it.

Less is More - Don't miss out checking out the fresh items or new collections just because they aren't on Sale. We all have the tendency to put on blinders to the rest of the store and make a beeline for the 70% or 50% off signs. If you think about it, you might land up buying 5 tops which were on Sale that you really didn't want , when you could have spent the exact same money and bought that blazer from the fresh stock that first caught your eye when you entered the store. 

Hidden Gems - Sometimes you will come across a lucky find, a last-piece-one-size only which fits you like a glove. If it is a bargain that is too good to be true (after you have inspected it obviously) then don't over think it and just buy it already !

I hope these little tips help you on your next shopping trip! 

Collective Jewellery Haul

Here's a look at the jewellery (ranging from Rs.50 to Rs.800) that I have accumulated over the past few months on multiple shopping trips in three cities. 

Sana Collection is a small jewellery stall just opposite Ruff kids on Hill Road, Bandra. He has dupes of designer jewellery as well as tons of junk jewellery. They get their stock from Bangkok (whole sale) so don't be afraid to bargain away! I payed Rs. 700 for two bracelets and one statement necklace. (see below) 

I found this rose gold cuff in the basket of a vendor squatting outside Reliance Trends, Hill Road, Bandra. He eventually gave it to me for Rs.100. It's really shiny and can totally transform an otherwise drab outfit.

These bangles were purchased in Hyderabad and were collectively around Rs.500

I found these super adorable Kundan inspired bangles at a shop on Hill Road. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name, but they were Rs. 100. I can't wait to wear them with my Indian wear. 

Hyderabad - the city of Pearls. Absolutely adore my pearl necklace - it is truly a classic timeless piece to own.

I found this chunky statement necklace in Malaysia (Berjaya Times Square mall) for 10 ringit which is equivalent to Rs.180 - that's a steal !! 

These aren't the typical pair of earrings I gravitate toward but there was something so unique about them. Found these at a jewellery stall in front of the entrance to Elco Market, Bandra. 

Tiny Typo Haul

What better way to start my first post of 2015 than by sharing some cute stationery items I recently got from 'Typo'.

Typo in a nutshell is a stationery fanatic's heaven !! The store itself felt like I had walked right into Pinterest ! Every shelf had cute diaries, notebooks, calendars, fairy lights, gift tags, pouches, travel pillows, home decor and so much more! 

It is one of the many sub-brands under the Cotton On Group which is an Australian retail chain with famous brands like Cotton On and Rubi Shoes. They have their outlets in quite a few countries (not yet India) and I was extremely lucky to get to visit a Typo store while holidaying in Kuala Lumpur. 

These were the items I picked up from Typo. 

That's all for this tiny Typo haul !