eye4style: Theory

Showing posts with label Theory. Show all posts

It's SCIENCE: Here's How to Shrink Leather Pants

Simon, above, silently questions my judgement.

I'm pretty much a leather pants girl, I have four pairs in my closet and could honestly have more, if that didn't feel completely and utterly frivolous. My first foray was a versatile pair of Theory's Belisa leggings, which are today on final sale for a hair under $400. I paid $995, neat. Anyway, they're super soft and luscious, but as is often the case with super soft leather, they bagged out substantially over the past year or so.
I was left with a few options -

1. Wear them anyway (No thanks, unflattering much?)
2. Consign (given the market, even for leather, this felt like low ROI)
3. Shrink (High risk, but high reward)
4: Alter (Relatively expensive)

Given the rationale in parentheses above, I led with Option 3. Now, to shrink leather, there are a couple of options - notably, hot water or a dryer. Keep in mind that you should NOT try to shrink lined leather as that will complicate seriously important things like fit.

I went with the lower risk option of the two first. As seen above, I submerged my leather leggings in hot water for about 20 minutes (I recommend wearing gloves, as you can see - leather bleeds), then hung in my shower for about a day and half to dry.

When I put them on this morning, they had shrunk essentially back to the size originally purchased, and the odd bagging around prone-to-stretching areas like my knees was blessedly gone. The hand of the leather - read: how it feels - was impacted slighly, there was a negligible loss of softness.

All in all, an experiment gone well. If you have any tips to add on how to shrink leather effectively, leave 'em in the comments below.

Shop This: Theory, Theyskens' Theory & Helmut Lang Sample Sale

[#GIVEAWAY!] I Came, I Saw, I Conquered: Tanger Outlets

Truth be told, I'm not much of an outlet shopper, friends. I'm actually one of those rare, STUPID women who's willing to pay full price for things she loves. What can I say? I'm all about convenience. BUT when the peeps over at Tanger Outlets came a knockin' with a shopping CHALLENGE - oh, and a $500 gift card - I simply couldn't say no. I'm a Leo, you know, which means I live for a challenge. SO, off Sarah and I went, whisked away by car and driver to Riverhead, Long Island last Sunday and shop, we did - at Tanger Outlet stores like Converse, Lane Bryant, UGG, Barney's New York, Saks Off Fifth, Banana Republic, J. Crew and so many more...We also ate Auntie Anne's pretzels, but I digress.

Along the way, we learned a few lessons on outlet shopping:

Come with your curiosity, not a shopping list. It's impossible to predict what you'll find at an outlet center like Tanger, so keep your eyes open and enjoy the discovery process.
Pay careful attention to quality. Most mass retailers - i.e. J. Crew, Gap, Coach, Banana Republic and many others - produce dedicated factory merchandise, and in some cases, the quality is nothing short of tragic. Don't be seduced by a brand name you trust - make sure that the merchandise they've put their label on is what you've come to expect.
Wear sensible shoes. I'm not kidding. Of course, MY idea of "sensible" is likely far, far away (see above) from the AVERAGE woman's idea of "sensible", but either way, shopping the outlets can be EXHAUSTING, so wear something comfy and warm - layers are a must in cold weather as most outlet centers are outdoors.
Last but not least, if you see something you love, snag it - you'll probably be too tired to swing back around for it at the end of the day!

So, what did I buy with my $500 gift card? (all prices with tax):

Kate Spade Blackberry Pouch: $13.04 (I know it's EMBARRASSING. But yes, I have a Blackberry. It's for work. My J-O-B. No judgement allowed.)
Theory Jufina Turtleneck Sweater: $230.83 (Half price!)
J. Crew W-Pieced Buckle Belt, Stripe Painter Scoopneck Tee, Couplet Dress: $94.46 (total; all Factory-specific product)
Saks Off Fifth: Two large NEST Candles, Green Saks Fifth Avenue Cashmere Ombre Scarf: $116.81 (total)

Remaining Gift Card Balance? $44.86!

I'm curious! What would YOU snag with a $150 gift card to Tanger Outlets? This isn't just speculation, peeps - leave a comment here and Like the Tanger Outlets Facebook Page for a chance to win just that! I'll choose three comments at random next Friday, December 16 at Noon!

Disclosure: Tanger Outlets sponsored my shopping trip last week, and graciously provided gift cards for this giveaway.

Shop This: Theory Sample Sale

LuckyShops 2008 - The Full Report

Tonight, I hit the VIP shopping night for the fifth annual LuckyShops event, where the pages of Lucky come to life as their favorite designers discount their wares by 30-50%. On hand were brands including Rebecca Minkoff (Rebecca herself was manning the booth), Botkier, Theory, Lauren Wolf Jewelry (another designer who was on hand), Rafe, Plaza Too, Rebecca Taylor, Bluefly, Tracy Reese and countless others.

Tonight boasted fabulous catered nibbles (think mini burgers, mac & cheese bites, vodka shots with caviar and more) and an open bar, along with non-alcoholic beverages by SmartWater, Coke and Pom. There was also a killer gift bag with goodies from brands including Nine West, LORAC, Jane Iredale, Yes to Carrots, aerie by American Eagle and others. Most products were full size and apparently, the value is about $500. Certainly not a reason to purchase the $250 ticket, but a great bonus none the less. Tickets for the remaining days don't seem to come with a gift bag included, but they're also much less expensive - $35 for Friday and $20 for Saturday.

LuckyShops 2008 runs through Saturday at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street. Tickets are available on site, or you can visit www.luckyshops.com to purchase.

Don't forget to click through the gallery for an extensive look at LuckyShops- including specific goods on sale from brands and prices!