there’s something lurking in the basement
July 24th, 2008 @ 10:47 pm | blonde moments | Post a CommentThere’s a danger out there on your lunch hour. And it’s not trans fatty acids. Or high fructose corn syrup. Or overpriced slimy turkey sandwiches.
It’s retail shopping.
Within just a few blocks of my office you can find: Macy’s, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Zara, West Elm, and H&M. And my newest predator, Filene’s Basement.
For those of you who didn’t grow up in the mid-Atlantic region and have never heard of Filene’s Basement, it’s like an urban TJMaxx or Nordstrom Rack or something like that. A big old hot mess of department store overruns and rejects. (Some of you may be familiar with their insane annual bridal gown event.) But oh, how Miss Filene sucks me in with her huge selection and low prices. She keeps it real with some dank ass dressing rooms, though. Check out this horrible lighting:
Oh yeah, I also have Leftover Hair™ and PMS-y skin. Why am I showing you these photos again?!
Because I got that black and white top on the left for $20. I never wear prints, but maybe I should try once or twice. That pink cardigan in the middle is wholly inappropriate for 95° and 95% humidity, but for $11 it can sit in my closet until November. The blue shirt on the left I’m still a bit undecided on. The spotlight on the chest in that photo is not helping.
The real reason I slipped out to Filene’s yesterday was to find a cute, cottony summer dress. I keep seeing everyone wearing them and was feeling left out. I bought a sassy black wrap one (wore it today with pink strappy heels) and a blue one. I’m somewhat undecided on the blue one. I really want to show you some of the detailing, but I don’t really want to post a close up of the Bo0b$ ya know?
But oh man I would love to wear the blue dress with my favorite red heels and red chunky necklace. (Turquoise + red. Canary + gray. Black + fuschia. I can’t pull mself away from these color combos.)
My occasional hour long escape from cubicle land always feels so good. The only problem I haven’t yet solved is how to make my my bulging shopping bag become invisible when I slink in the front door and back to my desk for an afternoon of work.
Wow, those dresses are TERRIFIC! I love them! If you decide you don’t want the blue one, you can feel free to send it to Texas. I’ll give it a good loving home.
written by Janssen
July 24th, 2008 @ 10:58 pm
Wait…what was the question? I was too busy drooling over your shoes. I love the pointy-pointyness.
But in all seriousness (wait, aren’t shoes serious?!), I really like both dresses and all three tops! I wish we had a Filene’s around here!!
written by barnmouse
July 24th, 2008 @ 11:35 pm
I was so glad to find out FB was here in DC. I lived at the one in Boston.
written by What Liz Said
July 24th, 2008 @ 11:52 pm
Well, if you DO decide to post a picture of the detailing, we’ll be sure to tolerate the presence of B00B$. It’ll be tough, but…for you, Janet, I’ll sacrifice.
For my money, the black dress is darned sexy and the red blouse is Power Woman all over. My two picks, but all pretty darn good selections.
written by Nathan Pralle
July 25th, 2008 @ 12:25 am
I love that blue top on you!
written by kirida
July 25th, 2008 @ 12:29 am
I bought a red v neck t shirt style dress with rouching (sp?) and I love(d) it. Until my sister pointed out the dize of the girls in it. She is such a hussy.
written by Stephanie
July 25th, 2008 @ 2:00 am
I bought a red v neck t shirt style dress with rouching (sp?) and I love(d) it. Until my sister pointed out the size of the girls in it. She is such a hussy.
written by Stephanie
July 25th, 2008 @ 2:00 am
Love your taste, Janet. And for what it’s worth, the blue top is fab. Colour looks great on you!
written by alyndabear
July 25th, 2008 @ 2:57 am
Yeah, huge Filene’s addict over here. I’m only allowed to go in there once per quarter per hubby’s request…
LOVE the dresses!
written by Jen
July 25th, 2008 @ 7:30 am
I’m glad you explained what Filene’s Basement is, because to the uninitiated, it sounds…well, like your title. Like it’s dark and dank and underground and kind of gross. Like a Bealls, or Mervyns, or Sears, but underground!
The dresses are AWESOME. And the tops are super cute as well - my favorite, DEFINITELY, is the pink cardigan. Hell yeah put it in the closet for a few months! Nice think-ahead buy!
written by elise
July 25th, 2008 @ 8:29 am
that’s it. i’m going to HAVE TO take a trip a few hours north. i have a serious shopping problem but oh how i miss FB. tj maxx has been able to hold me over for now but i really want to go! if only my lotto tickets were more useful
written by notsojenny
July 25th, 2008 @ 8:38 am
cute! i love the blue dress. i think you should get it.
i’ve never been to filene’s, but i think we’ll have to stop by the atlanta store on our way back from the airport.
written by cady
July 25th, 2008 @ 8:58 am
Love the blue dress.
written by D'Rae
July 25th, 2008 @ 9:20 am
I discovered Filene’s a few years ago, and I am in love with it. They put one in the harbor, Joel’s work garage is across the street, and my bank account has suffered from this deadly combo. But I got my Seven jeans there, so it is totally worth it. And also about every pair of shoes I own.
written by Operation Pink Herring
July 25th, 2008 @ 9:23 am
Both dresses are fantastic. Go directly to that store, now, and get them both.
They look fantastic!
written by Maria
July 25th, 2008 @ 9:49 am
I love both of those dresses! I’ve been looking for some, too, but haven’t quite found what I’m looking for yet. I did, however, manage to drop $130 at TJ Maxx last weekend. I got 5 tops, 1 jacket and a (dressy) dress! We have Filene’s in MN, too, but not in my town…
written by Aleta
July 25th, 2008 @ 10:22 am
I have the same relationship with prints. I’ve recently gotten into madras print and today i’m wearing a cute pair of floraly print summery pants from jcrew…pants that to most people are “ugly” (i was a bit turned off at first but i kept going back to them. now i <3 them)
but everything you found is cute! Especially the pink cardigan
written by Heidi
July 25th, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Am jealous of Filene’s Basement.
I have a Macy’s across the street from my office. There is a sale now. I am going on vacation in a week. Guess what I’m doing for lunch.
And if you spend all lunch shopping, it’s exercise and if you don’t eat, you lose weight and you have to buy new clothes. Win win!
written by Kim
July 25th, 2008 @ 11:18 am
oh what cute finds! i seriously haven’t been shopping in forever and i really need to go. love the blue dress too
written by katelin
July 25th, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
I have no idea why you aren’t sold on either of the blue pieces - I think those two are the best looking ones on you!!! All the pieces are great though - you’re lucky to have Filene’s where you are!!
written by Cindy
July 25th, 2008 @ 3:57 pm
Not only do I love the left-over hair, but I also DOUBLE LOVE the jacket. And at $11, it was worth every penny.
(Did you hear that H&M opened a new store in Seattle TODAY? Yeah, they did.)
written by Isabel
July 25th, 2008 @ 5:22 pm
I like the jacket and both dresses! Can we wear dresses when I come? I have summery dresses- not much else in the ways of going out gear… I miss Filene’s- kind of like thrifting?
written by alexa
July 25th, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
I love how you rock the fashion show in the dressing room pics
Good finds!
written by Lele
July 26th, 2008 @ 4:46 am
I’ve been on a dress kick this summer too. So many cute ones out there for pretty cheap. I really like the blue one. I’ve got a black one that is similiar (I’m assuming since we didn’t get a close up) and love it! Filene’s really is dangerous. As is H&M, Ann Taylor Loft, and so many other stores right now.
written by Britni
July 26th, 2008 @ 11:28 am
I immediately looked at the blue top and dress and loved them both. They totally work on you!
As for bags at work. I’m on mat leave at the moment, but when I’m at work I just drag my colleagues with me. I’ve been known to bring my manager shopping - and then you don’t get in trouble when you’re late coming back.
written by Laural
July 26th, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
Cute cute! Fitting room light is so awful, which makes no sense to me. Wouldn’t they put more effort into making people think they look better than they do?
A knit dress is on my list of things to look for during the sisterly shopping extravaganza this weekend. Woo!
written by RA
July 27th, 2008 @ 7:36 pm
I love those dresses! Sexy!
I, too, have a hard time fighting the lure of lunchtime shopping. It’s so hard!
written by Laurel
July 28th, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
You’re always finding such awesome clothes there, and I’ve STILL never been! I totally need to check it out…
written by Zandria
July 29th, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Love all your finds! You’ve reminded me I need to go in search of a cute little summery thang or two for the upcoming showers being held on my behalf. Yikes!
written by Nilsa
July 30th, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
Those are all really cute! I like the two blue pieces.
I work right next door to a very nice mall that contains TONS of shops such as Ann Taylor, Macys, Gap, H&M, etc. It can be a lot of fun to take a break at lunch to go shopping, but it can also be dangerous if there’s lots of good finds!
written by Kara
August 4th, 2008 @ 9:10 am
Retail shopping is sooo dangerous during lunch breaks. My job is very close to the mall…very dangerous! Why doesn’t Richmond have a Filene’s? Am jealous. Love all of those outfits!
written by Lindsey
August 5th, 2008 @ 8:31 pm