My last “talking myself out of buying retail” post was so successful — seeing as how I didn’t buy any of the things featured in it — that I decided to make it a regular thing. Temptation has struck again, and here we are.

Club Monaco jumpsuit
Club Monaco jumpsuit

I know this doesn’t really look like much in the stock photo, but it looks so lovely in person. I really should never visit a Club Monaco store because nothing good ever comes of it, at least as far as my wallet is concerned. I really, really covet this jumpsuit, but it’s not very practical and it’s over $300 dollars. I will say this for Club Monaco: they really stick to their guns, pricing wise. Stuff takes ages to go on sale, there are rarely “extra % off” sales, and prices never seem to hit rock bottom. If I had to guess, this jumpsuit will probably not hit the $100 mark for at least 3 months, if ever. Which means that I shall covet in vain. Sigh.

Speaking of coveting in vain, there is also this:

Club Monaco dress
Club Monaco dress

Again, this is so much lovelier in person … and also highly impractical. And much, much too expensive. You’re killing me, Club Monaco.

Along the similar lines:

BCBG dress
BCBG dress

I made the mistake of trying this one on. I shouldn’t have. It’s completely impractical, but, boy oh boy, those tulle ruffles. This is a like a very naughty version of a 50s debutante dress. As someone on Instagram said, it would probably be perfect for a (21st century) prom. Sadly, I’m 20 years too late to that party. The dress is $200, down from $700, during the last stages of BCBG’s closeout sale, for anyone who would like to be enabled.

Left: BCBG; right: Celine
Left: BCBG; right: Celine

I have been lusting after this Celine bag ever since it came out, and I am as close now as I’ll ever be to owning it … which is to say that I’m staring at it on my computer screen wistfully. Anyway, I spotted what looked like a pretty good lookalike at BCBG, and very seriously considered buying it. On sale, it’s less than 10% of the price of the Celine, and it is real leather. I like the minimalist aesthetic a lot, but the more I looked at it side by side with the original, the more I liked … the original.

BCBG tote
BCBG tote

I was more tempted by the tote version in camel. It has a zipper, which is shockingly rare in totes for some reason. I was disappointed to realize that the front flap is actually purely decorative (there is no pocket underneath), but I might still have bought if not for two things: no long strap, and no outside pocket.

almost perfect
almost perfect

This, on the other hand, is absolutely flawless:

Alexis Bittar
Alexis Bittar

I think it’s safe to say that I am obsessed with Alexis Bittar jewelry, and this bracelet is haunting me. Last I checked, it was about $150CDN on Last Call. Now, on one hand, I don’t think that’s a bad price, for the quality you get from Bittar pieces. I have a couple, and they are fantastic — elegant with an edge, always the subject to compliments. On the other hand, it has been an expensive month for me on non-sartorial fronts, and this is an indulgence I simply cannot justify at this time. Ugh, being responsible really sucks sometimes.

12 Comments on Talking Myself Out of Buying Retail, Vol. 2

  1. Not to enable you, but if you know any students with a student ID card, Club Monoco offers them a 20% discount….

  2. More enabling, I was curious about the floral jumpsuit and I saw that it’s already on sale for $199!

  4. Dear Asian, I am just as covetous as the next person where clothing is concerned, but I just CAN’T, when jumpsuits are concerned. In my opinion, the cost of that beauty would be increased by the alteration cost of separating top from bottom (if that were even possible) in order to deal with the “bathroom access” issue! The last thing I want, when using facilities at work or elsewhere (cringe!) is to cause my cherished garments to swab the floor, when one needs to pee etc.! And that also brings up the necessity of being down to one’s skivvies–or less!–during said activity; much more than I prefer to entertain when answering Nature’s call!

    I feel your desire for this piece, it perhaps a more thorough consideration of this garment’s limitations will help diminish the disappointment!

    • Haha! No, you raise a fair point, and it’s why I have refrained from buying a jumpsuit in the past. I have a (thrifted) romper that I wore on my Mexican vacation, and dealing with the bathroom situation was a hassle. I can only imagine that the hassle is magnified when you’ve got a (full-length) jumpsuit. It’s too bad because I do like the look of them a lot (and some people make them look so chic — not that this guarantees that *I* would look chic in one, of course).

    • I love everything about it, and I thought the BCBG bag did a nice job of echoing that design element without copying it outright. However, I think the proportions of the original (thinner belt, in particular) are nicer. I’d be interested to see what you can DIY.

  6. That Celine bag just gets me. Likewise, I’m about as close to owning it as you are (that is, staring wistfully at the screen).

  7. Alexis Bittar jewelry is so cool. Quite a few of my friends enjoy their jewelry. Practically every time a piece of jewelry that one of them is wearing catches my eye and I give them a compliment, it’s Alexis Bittar. K bought me a bangle that I’d been eyeing for Xmas a few years ago and it’s just so pretty.

    Oh my, that BCBG dress is so novel. From pictures on Facebook and a few reality tv shows, it looks like prom dress design norms have really changed since my prom… I wore a very dated, very mid-2000s look to my own prom. The most popular brand at my school back then was Jessica McClintock, and I don’t think the brand is even around anymore!