Being Cyber Monday Eve, it’s only fitting we talk about the best deals from Black Friday and heading into Cyber Monday. Of course, both of these are similar to what most holidays have become – commercial exploits to get consumers to spend more money. But that’s a whole other topic and really for a separate blog. With the state of our economy, I’m ok with a little frivolous extra spending!

I actually didn’t do much shopping over the weekend, but I did find a fabulous winter coat at Old Navy. Despite their not promoting these much in their circular (thinking I’m not their key target audience not being a mom), Old Navy regularly puts out a nice selection of fashionable, fair quality and reasonable winter coats.

AnnaLynne McCord and Kristen Cavallari were recently spotted in the same red ruffled coat (didn’t their stylists warn them?!).

//www.shefinds.com/tag/annalynne-mccord/

Old Navy winter white wool-blend coat

I snagged one on Wednesday afternoon at the North Charleston Tanger Outlets (which must be sold out online) – and was promptly, very helpfully, informed by the clerk that the coats would be going on sale even more the next day.

So I dragged my mother-in-law (ok, she went very willingly) to one in Columbia on Thursday morning to get my deal. Meanwhile, she found a different awesome coat (pictured) that wasn’t even at the other store.

Now here’s the interactive part – what’s the best deal you snagged this weekend?

Banana Republic Heritage for Women top: 52% Silk, 48% Soy silk

They shared a good eight pages of products and fashion that is getting more and more reasonable (for the most part).  The feature shared how many retail outlets (Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and more) now carry major lines including Yes to Carrots, Burt’s Bees, Aveda and others.

And Banana Republic – one of my go-to stores since it’s right below my office – has launched a line called Heritage for Women, with 90 percent environmentally sustainable fabrics, using bamboo, recycled packaging, and a clean-water denim finishing approach. Not 100 percent but it’s a solid offering.

But that’s not to say you don’t have to wear your green on March 17 – unless you want to get pinched.

Classic grey dress - not the exact one but close enough

Doesn’t hurt that there is a discount shopping mecca up there that is completely untapped by the locals.

Exhibit A: Calvin Klein knee-length, v-neck, grey sheath dress, with capped sleaves, double layer edges on the neck and pockets (dresses have to have pockets!), matching grey belt that can easily be replaced by color or more flash for fancier occasions. Regardless, it’s a classic that I couldn’t turn down – and feel certain I’ll be wearing for years to come (as long as I don’t grow out of it).

My point being: don’t forget to check out TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall’s, etc. Sometimes they are a bust, but others a gold rush.

Oh, did I mention the 600 thread count sheets I also picked up, forx less than the price of 300-count at Target?!

Old Navy purple cotton ruffled top - perfect for a day in the park!

If you aren’t blessed by an Old Navy in your town (and I imagine most are any more), go online and check out their new spring line.  It’s worth a gander.

And I’d like to take this post to thank Old Navy for continually bringing inexpensive, yet cute, sometimes fashion forward(ish) clothing. And even if it isn’t fashion forward, they are staples that you can add accessories to jazz it up.

However, I am still looking for an awesome red-flowered maxi dress from there, featured in March’s Glamour – but it’s not online yet!  And an email to customer service directed me to a pink-flowered maxi dress (not red).  I guess I’ll just stay on the lookout.

Oh, did I mention they have a tall line too? Huge for gals with taller stature like myself.

Thanks to you, Glamour, InStyle and Lucky!

Now let’s hope that the fashion magazine industry doesn’t see the same demise of so many shelter magazines recently…keep buying, people!

Here’s a tip too – if you have any unused U.S. Air or other airline miles, see if you can redeem them for magazines. That’s how we have all of the above, plus Fast Company and BusinessWeek - can’t beat “free” magazines.

Multi-colored statement necklace

I can be pretty good and digging up what specific pieces have caught my eye, and finding a reasonable version. But this one has alluded me.

So I’m putting this out in the universe of stylish bargain-hunters…where can I find a great, possibly multi-colored or just one bold color, chunky MAJOR statement necklace for a reasonable price?

I love this one – it’s a great example of what I’m looking for. But maybe it just doesn’t exist…help!

Here’s the big question - do I have to be in a bigger city or even more fashion forward country to identify the best fashion, as long as it can be gotten at deal?

Not sure, but what I do know is that I need to challenge myself to look at more fashion and shopping sites – that is, WITHOUT buying something, or tagging something to buy later.  I have to be able to talk about fashion without having to buy.  It’s going to be tough.

It set me on my quest to find my own, something I had been thinking for some time, even searched for a little, unsuccessfully, but this time was different. I first visited Forever21.com, a great source of all things trendy yet inexpensive.  Found a brown one for just $32 which I promptly ordered. It’s on it’s way now.

But then I conned my shopping-adverse husband to let me run into the Kohl’s in upper Mount Pleasant on the way back from Pawley’s…and there I found a ruffled collar, angled front zipper black faux leather bomber. It was a must have at just $20 – or so I thought.  My day was made when I got to the register and the checkout girl first asked how the heck I found it, because she thought they were out, and then proceeded to tell me that is was $7!

Unfortunately for those of you who want to grab one of these, I probably got the last one.  But don’t despair, there are plenty of leather(ish) bombers out there to be had.

So cute for winter or summer, for just $30

I have shared this information with very few, and typically only if they already know the secret by showing up in an awesome pair of shoes from there.  It’s a hidden gem…sure, some of the options are still quite out of fashion and just too “mom,” but all in all, this company has done an amazing job of kicking it up a notch in the past few years.

And who exactly am I referring to? Payless!

Exhibit A: Payless has taken a page from Target and pulls in MAJOR designers for temporary collections (Lela Rose, plus Abaete and Patricia Field are current contributors). The latest from the Lela Rose for Payless collection caught my eye immediately – and they are wearable for winter with black tights and the (hopefully) sooner-rather-than-later spring and summer dresses and skirts.

Next time you have an itch for shoes and don’t want to pay a ton, check out Payless first.  More often than not, you’ll find something that is worth the (very low) cost.

One last tip…unless you absolutely must have the shoes ASAP, wait a week or so. Payless is constantly doing BOGO sales, so don’t worry, they will go on sale – and soon.

Basically the one thing that I have splurged on in the past is jeans – not purses, not shoes, not jewelry.  In years past, I’ve said almost any price for a good pair of jeans is worth it.  And I meant it. This year, not so much…but there’s still hope! 

If you have invested in some in the past, they should still be looking good – I am wearing my 2-year-old Rock & Republic jeans and they look brand new (a coworker even told me so today).  So wear those previously bought investment jeans with pride.

If you need jeans, I’m willing to bet you can find better-than-ever deals right now…check out ebay for sure, but even Nordstrom, Neiman’s and Saks are probably trying to get rid of them – heck they are trying to get rid of everything.

As of Friday, Jan. 9 these terribly work-appropriate trouser jeans ere $235.00 and now are 45 percent off – just $119.90! With 52 weeks a year, if you wear them at least once a week, that’s just $2.30 a wear. Worth it, I say!

Rock & Republic ‘Scorpion’ Stretch Jeans (Nordstrom.com)