The Shop Tart!

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What to do next Monday night.

The thing about Monday is that it still feels like the weekend...but it isn't. Because you've been at work all day. Kind of like Friday, but without a day or two off to look forward to. So by Monday night, after a challenging day at work, you deserve a night out, right? Gervais and Vine knows it! On Monday evenings, they have a three course dinner special. You choose a first course, main course and dessert (or glass of dessert wine if you've had a very challenging day!) for only $19!

The Shop Tart and her friend Angela, newly arrived to Columbia from Beaufort, ended up at Gervais and Vine after the Shop Tart scored a surprise babysitter*.  Hooray! First things first. They ordered wine. The Shop Tart is fairly clueless about wine, but recently learned she prefers a "more minerally, less buttery wine." The waiter understood completely and brought her a yummy glass of...something she can't remember. But it was good enough to merit one (or two!) more glasses.

For her first course, she had the Chilled Lobster and Scallop Terrine. It should be renamed Ultimate Summer Meatloaf. It was the kind of dish you want to re-order immediately, so you can keep eating it. Angela ordered the Plum Gazpacho, sweet and refreshing!

Is this where the Shop Tart admits she was so eager to hoover up her terrine that she forgot to take a picture? And that she waited until the ladies at the next table got theirs and brazenly asked to take a picture? She has to admit it, to explain how she was also able to get a picture of their Salad Lyonnaise. She wasn't brazen enough to ask for a bite, but doesn't it look yummy?

For the main course, Angela ordered the enormous Steak Frites. She had enough to take home to her husband. The Shop Tart wouldn't have been so kind. She would have kept it for a sandwich for herself.

The Shop Tart ordered a dish she saw on her way in, on someone else's plate, the Alaskan Halibut en Papilotte. The only thing missing was a little piece of bread to soak up the remaining (deliciously buttery) sauce. She felt plate licking would be uncouth, but she was tempted.

There were several excellent choices for dessert, chocolate-y, citrus-y, very chocolate-y and, the Shop Tart and friend's choice, creamy. The Crème Brûlée Cheesecake was divine!

Speaking of divine, the Shop Tart couldn't help but notice Angela's fashion statement of the evening, a leather bracelet with a couple of thin gold bangles to soften the look. Stay tuned for a post later this week about where to find similar jewelry right here in Columbia!

Happy Shopping!

* Special Shop Tart Advice for Mommies: If you meet a new babysitter, have her come over as soon as possible. If you wait, she might forget who you are and it'll seem creepy when you call. Also, one of your friends might meet her in the interim and have her over so often you'll never get a chance. Good babysitters are invaluable to a fabulous lifestyle!

Follow the Shop Tart!

Are you a planner or a spur of the moment type of lady? You can have it both ways, for now. There are lots of new arrivals in town, as well as loads of things on sale. You can start building your wardrobe for fall or pick up a bargain to wear out this weekend...or both!

• Mary is offering 20% off everything until July 21st. And they have a well-stocked sale corner of things marked down even more.
• Most of the spring and summer shoes at Kicks are marked down at least 30%, if not more. The Shop Tart picked up one last pair of (very versatile and practical) silver studded black flip flops recently for just $30!
• All shoes at Sophie are 50%, with the exception of a couple of shelves of "One Size Left" shoes marked down to just $20 each!
• There's a feeding frenzy going on at Coplon's, but there are plenty of things left, marked down 70%. Not all of the tags have been marked, so make sure you do the math. The Shop Tart found a huge selection of glorious shoes there on Thursday. She couldn't resist a pair of red patent leather Louboutin sandals! She managed to walk away from the caramel colored patent leather Jimmy Choo's, though... If you're willing to work for a bargain, go in early when the sales people aren't as busy, in case you need to (very politely, of course!) ask them to call another store for your size.
• Granger Owings is either having a "2 for 1" or "3 for 1" sale. The website says one thing, the email newsletter says another. Either way, it's a great deal! Time for a few new suits, gentlemen...and shirts and ties to match!
• VanJean has more spring and summer things on sale every day, as much as 75% off!
• Pink Sorbet, Bohemian, Belladea, Fortay, M Boutique and Max and Prissy have well-stocked sale racks.
• Spa services will be arriving soon at Pout...stay tuned for more information!
• Mark your calenders: Tax Free Weekend is August 1-3 this year. The perfect time to buy a few big wardrobe items and save on tax!

In other very exciting news, the Shop Tart was a guest on local radio station WOIC on Friday, with Frank Knapp and Marti Bluestein, for a segment on Frank's show called "Chick Chat." It was loads of fun! Click here to hear a recording of the show.

Just to let you know...the Shop Tart's blog may be down for a brief period  some time this week, while it's being moved to WordPress. This is great news because, once the move happens, the store guide will be up and running. Hooray!

Happy Shopping!

Fashion Show at Lunch!

The Shop Tart tries to be a good sport. Every time she asks some lovely lady to be her "Look of the Week," they say yes. So how could she say no when Legare from Finleaf Gallery called and asked her to...gulp...model in a lunchtime fashion show at Dianne's? And the show was the next day, so there was no time for plastic surgery, a facial or even an extra workout (or six!) While she was a bit nervous about being on display, the Shop Tart is an old-fashioned girl who longs for the glamor of a few years ago, when lunchtime fashion shows were standard in department stores. Ladies who lunch are usually ladies who shop. Why not combine the two?

The Shop Tart arrived at the appointed hour and, along with Mary Kent Hearon of The Weekly Beet and Liz Cantey, was allowed to choose three outfits for the show. Choosing wasn't easy, either, with so many gorgeous options! The Shop Tart's absolute favorite piece was a silver mesh necklace, studded with seed pearls, made from all recycled materials. The ladies traipsed across the street with bags of clothes to Dianne's on Devine, along with Frenchie Bunch of Frenchie Skirts and her two models, Marti Bluestein and Allison Sullivan. To the Shop Tart's great relief, there was no catwalk. All she had to do was glide from table to table, stopping to chat and answer questions about her outfit. This is the sort of thing she does every day, so it was no big deal!

After the big show, Peg Averyt, lovely owner of Finleaf, invited her models to sit down for lunch. What a lucky day for the Shop Tart. The lunch (Caprese Salad) was delicious and the company divine! In fact, she liked her lunch so much, she returned yesterday with her friend and soon-to-be new mother, Jane Clarke (née Stirling). Jane was positively glowing and pregnancy hasn't dulled her sense of humor one little bit!

At the beginning of every lunch at Dianne's, the server brings a plate of snacks. The Shop Tart loves that sort of thing, because it keeps her from getting cranky while she waits for her meal. The Sharp Cheddar and Horseradish dip is a great start to a meal.

And she failed again in her ongoing battle to avoid carbs when the waitress brought Dianne's famous doughnuts yeast rolls. They are so good they almost don't need the butter that comes with them. Yesterday, they were serving a delicious Curried Cauliflower Soup. The regular menu also includes a tasty Tomato Bisque.

Although the Shop Tart was starting to feel full, she couldn't wait to try the special of the day: Salmon and Crab Meat Topped with  Lemon Beurre Blanc. Yum!

Jane had the Trout Almondine, also delicious! Although she didn't indulge, the wine list was tempting. The Shop Tart thinks it's high time to bring back wine for ladies who lunch. Don't you?

In other news...

• Coplon's sale has reached the 70% mark. Those Louboutins might just be a possibility now...
• Fortay has a brand new shipment of Fall transition clothes and jewelry.
• Wine fans can look forward to the weekend. Start at Simply Savory's free wine tasting at 4:30 pm. Then head to the Gourmet Shop for a 7 pm tasting with wine expert Jean Pierre Chambas. Reservations for the Gourmet Shop's tasting are recommended ($12.50 in advance, $15 at the door). This is your chance to stock your cellar with delicious deals!
• If you haven't been already, you really have to try the All-Local Farmers' Market, held tomorrow at Gervais and Vine from 8 am until noon. Be there early for the best breakfast in town, local eggs, local grits and local bacon or sausage accompanied by steaming hot coffee - all for the low, low price of $4! If that's not your thing, try the made to order crêpes! After you eat, stock up on produce, local meat and eggs, gorgeous flowers, fresh baked bread and even seafood!

Have a great weekend!

Your Fortune.

Imagine you have a fortune cookie. You break it open and it reads,

"Be polite and good things will come to you."

This is very good advice. You should take it. The Shop Tart has read many magazine articles claiming that one advantage of shopping individually owned businesses is the possibility of getting a bargain. This is true. However, they often fail to mention the importance of being polite and respectful. The Shop Tart shops a lot (Surprise!) In her experience, random discounts do happen, but not when the customer pitches a fit.

There are some ladies out there (you, darling, are not one of them, of course!) who believe that boutique owners are ripping people off, making a killing by buying things dirt cheap and reselling them at a much higher price. In the Shop Tart's experience, business owners who try that don't last long. Thanks to the internet and fashion magazines, most ladies know how to find a good price on something without being shrewish about it. A successful boutique owner knows when to mark things down and by how much. It's to their benefit to keep you happy, so you'll come back (and bring your friends!) The sale of one dress doesn't pay the rent. The sale of ten dresses, four skirts and five pairs of earrings at least makes a dent. A boutique is not a charity. It's perfectly acceptable for a business owner to earn money for her work. Would you like to do your job for free?

So, here's the Shop Tart's advice on how to score an occasional discount. First of all, if you really, truly want to spend pennies, try Goodwill. There are bargains to be found. The Garner's Ferry Goodwill in Columbia is a great place to search for designer finds, probably due to its proximity to upscale neighborhoods. A great option for vintage fashion is Hipwazee in Five Points. The Shop Tart once found a pristine 1960's silk floral cocktail dress there with a Neiman Marcus tag for $10. It was thirty years old, but looked remarkably similar to current Gucci. If you have a little more cash, try Revente, a consignment store. The Shop Tart saw an absolutely to die for Prada bag there. A few days later, she saw the same gorgeous bag on the arm of the very stylish wife of a very prominent doctor. You can save even more by consigning things you don't wear. Check Revente regularly, as they get things in every week. There's a lovely white cotton Marc Jacobs dress there right now (size 8) for under one hundred dollars.

Have your heart set on something in another boutique? Stalk it. This takes effort. You can check back every so often to see if it's gone on sale. You can read this blog to see if the store has new markdowns. You can, ever so nicely, say something to a sympathetic sales person like,

"I love this dress. It's so beautiful, but I just can't spend this much right now."

If you're known in the store as a nice person, she may offer to call you when it goes on sale. Or maybe not. If you've seen the dress elsewhere on sale, you can mention that, but not in a demanding way. Guess which one is best:

"Ha! I saw this at BigHugeDepartmentStoreOnline for a hundred dollars less! Do you really expect me to pay this price? Come on!"

"Oh, I just love this blouse! I think I saw it at BigHugeDepartmentStoreOnline for a little less. I'd rather buy it here, though. I'll check back for a sale. Have a great day!"

And also? Use your brain. Don't mention it in front of other customers. The store owners and employees are doing their best to be competitive and earn a living. It's very, very hard to compete with large chain stores. Larger chains often get better prices on merchandise because of the large quantities they're able to order. In the Shop Tart's experience, small boutiques often offer things at a slightly lower full price than department stores, but they might not discount them quite as much later. While they might be happy to quietly offer you a small discount, they would go out of business if they did it for everyone. If you're hoping for a deal, be discrete and undemanding. Think of any extra discount as a thank you note for your business or referrals. Would you expect a thank you note for a gift you didn't give?

You should always be appreciative of any sale or special offer at a boutique. It's just plain unladylike to quibble about the details. Is the store offering 50% off all barrettes? Don't argue that a headband is the same as a barrette, just to save four dollars. If you aren't in the market for a barrette, you don't have to buy one. Did you forget your coupon? Politely mention it to a sales person and ask, do not demand, if you could possibly get the discount anyway. Don't be a pill if they say no. Go home and get your coupon...or not. Did you buy something yesterday that went on sale today? Chalk it up to bad luck and resolve to be less impulsive next time.

The Shop Tart is a thrifty girl* who loves beautiful things. She started this blog when she realized she was the one who knew about sales before they happened and stores before they opened. She was the one friends would call when they needed to know where to buy whatever it was they wanted. And she is the one who waits for a sale and knows her stomping grounds. If you want to know about sales in advance, most stores have email lists to inform their customers about upcoming sales and events. You can sign up for your favorite boutique's email or mailing list or you can read the Shop Tart's blog, because she is on all of those lists.

In the end, please remember how important it is to just be nice. It's unbecoming to ruin someone else's day over a few dollars. And if you've ever worked in the service industry, you know that one customer's meanness can really hurt. And if you've ever been mean, you know it didn't make you feel better. It's about pretty clothes, funky shoes and fabulous accessories, right? It's supposed to be fun! And that is the Shop Tart's Happy Feel-Good Message of the Day!

In other news...

• Sophie Shoes has several shelves of "Last Pair Left" shoes for $20. There was an adorable pair of Naughty Monkey heels with bright yellow accents in a size 7.5!
• Kicks has loads of shoes on sale. If the Shop Tart's feet weren't so darn wide, she'd snap up these punk rock, yet still ladylike, silver studded Loeffler Randalls!


Or these gorgeous Cynthia Vincents...


• Simply Savory's wine tasting is tomorrow from 4:40 to 6:30 pm. They're pouring a Chardonnay, a Rose and two reds. Yum!

Happy Shopping!

* According to her. Her husband might not agree, but what does he know?

Look of the Week!

The Shop Tart has a thing for Phillip Lim. Why? Because Phillip Lim is awesome, that's why. She nearly fainted from excitement when she walked into VanJean yesterday to find that the ladies had unveiled the latest collection. She recovered just enough to beg Christina to model her favorite, this Prussian blue cotton dress with gold cords around the neckline and picot trim on the sleeves and hemline. And hidden pockets! The Shop Tart adores pockets in a full skirt, just enough room for lipstick and emergency cash.

The pink silk Tibi dress on the left is fabulous, too, n'est-ce pas? Those circles on the front flip up when you're dancing the night away and the fabric on the back of them is black. Fun! The shoes are Christina's own, gold embellished white sandals. She was also wearing stacked gold bangles that didn't make it into the picture*. Stacked gold bangles are the perfect complement to just about anything. Right across the alley from VanJean, Just the Thing has plenty right now, in different sizes and very reasonably priced.

Stop by VanJean soon to ogle the new stuff and score some great deals on summer things you can wear right this second. The Shop Tart resisted the new Phillip Lim (for now...), but she did snap up a cute Vince shift on sale! Hooray!

In other news...

• M Boutique's sale is going strong. Summer things are 30% off and new things are arriving daily, including some things by Shop Tart favorite BCBGeneration.
• Simply Savory's wine tasting is on Friday, from 4:30 until 6:30 pm. Great way to start the weekend!

Happy Shopping!

* The Shop Tart is not the best photographer in the world in town on the block. She's working on it!

 

Pre-Fall!

Fall is tough in South Carolina, from a fashion standpoint that is. Everything else about it is fabulous: warm weather, football and parties, parties, parties! In September, the temperature is often well over 80°. What's a girl to wear? Her Summer sun dresses won't do, nor will those adorable white shorts with nautical accents. Sweater weather? Not until October or November. Nope. What we lucky ladies need are warm weather clothes in new colors. And they're available in stores, starting right about now. If you're like the Shop Tart, you won't be able to wait to wear your new stuff. Never fear! You can wear them with sandals now, boots in a couple of months.

M Boutique just got in plenty of Pre-Fall things, like the gorgeous dress shown below.

And don't miss the cute outfit behind it. The empire-waist camisole would be fabulous right now. Add the lightweight yellow jacket in a month or two. The jeans pictured aren't on sale, but M has a rack of jeans that are on sale for just...drum roll, please...here it comes...$60! You can always use a new pair of jeans, no matter what the season.

And what to wear with those jeans? How about this great Pre-Fall top? Wear it with white jeans now, dark wash jeans later.

This dress, new at M and another Shop Tart favorite, was in the window. So cute!

If you're just not ready for Fall, take a look at the wall of Summer things on sale at M. Everything on one side of the store is 30% off, including this adorable dress (only one left, size 4).

As always, M's prices are nice and reasonable. Don't miss the huge table of earrings, each pair only $24!

In other news...

• Huge sale at Pink Sorbet, nearly everything in the store!
• Need a little Pre-Fall lingerie? Check out the adorable new shipment at Tullulah!





• The Shop Tart was in VanJean yesterday and the ladies were unpacking tons of new Phillip Lim. To die for! Especially the bright yellow blouse with a tie at the neck...and the gray dress with the super interesting neckline...and the Prussian blue dress with gold...and the gray cocktail dress...and a gorgeous leather motorcyle jacket...

Happy Shopping!

Follow the Shop Tart!

Okay. Now is the time to get serious. That dress you've been stalking since you first saw it in May? If it's still there, it's probably going on sale soon, if it hasn't already. Those metallic sandals with the four inch heels that just weren't quite practical enough to justify at full price? If your size is still available, now's your chance! For the next month or so, your wildest dreams could come true. Everything you ever wanted (well, for the last few months) will be on sale! Remember to take the Shop Tart's quiz if you aren't sure about something. Ready...set...go!

• Pink Sorbet's Summer Clearance Sale is in full swing! Look for bargains from 20 to 75% off.
• Everything at Mary is 20% off. And one of the back corners is filled with stuff marked down even more!
• Revente has more designer jeans than ever. They also just got items by Milly, Nanette Lepore, Tina Turk, Lacoste, Gucci, Tibi and more. And, they sent a 20% off coupon through email. If you aren't signed up for their list, email the Shop Tart and she'll forward the coupon, which is good until the end of the month.
• Kicks shoes are 20% off.
• Sophie Shoes are 50% off.
• Gourmet Shop still has Vietri on sale, but they also have new things. And if you're a foodie and you really want a discount, why not apply for a job there? They're hiring!



• 2008-2009 MomAgendas have arrived at Burlap Fine Papers and Gifts. They come in great colors (even animal prints!) and can help the most frazzled mom organize her life with style!
• VanJean re-opens today. Wonder if they've marked anything else down...
• Fortay's Summer Sale is still going strong. Take a look and see what's left!
• Finleaf Gallery has some Summer things on sale, including gorgeous, lightweight cotton tunics from India - perfect for the pool or with white jeans and sandals for a night out on the town...

That should be enough to get you started, but if your favorite store isn't listed, stop by anyway. There's a 91.3% chance* you'll find a bargain! Happy Shopping!

* Not an actual, scientific fact, but you knew that!

Holiday!

Happy Fourth of July!

Have fun and be safe!

(Don't forget sunscreen and a big hat! And make sure you choose a designated boat, car or bicycle driver. Mwah!)

Why not take deviled eggs to whatever party you're attending today? Easy to make and always a hit!

                                                                                   Love,
                                                                                   Mom

Exciting news about Devine Street's Sidewalk Sale!

The Semi-Annual sidewalk sale on Devine Street always draws a crowd, rain or shine. It's like going to a flea market, but with really good stuff, not just used Ginsu II knives peddled by a guy with not enough teeth and a pet ferret up his sleeve. The Shop Tart has found some incredible bargains, including a Mayle blouse (reduced from fairly high three figures to just $20), several high end maternity bathing suits (reduced from$150 or so to just $10!) and every maternity cocktail dress she ever owned ($200-300, reduced to $20!)*

This season's Sidewalk Sale is approaching and you won't want to miss it. Britton's will be co-hosting the sale of (Columbia's own!) Hootie and the Blowfish's retired t-shirts from the last 14 years. This is your chance to snag a piece of Columbia's history (a really cool piece!) And no one has to know you just bought the shirt. You can claim to "have been into Hootie way before they were cool," kind of like the girl I overheard at a recent Radiohead show.

"Yeah...I wasn't even that into Kid A...yeah..."

The Shop Tart doesn't recommend trying to claim you "weren't that into Cracked Rear View...yeah..." because you'll sound like an idiot. Because it was awesome. On the first warm Spring day, the Shop Tart can't help but roll down all the windows in her car, blast Cracked Rear View and enjoy the weather and music that prove all is right in the world, at least for the moment.

The Sale is happening on August 9th, from 9 am until 6 pm. Why not make a day of it? Grab a coffee at Simply Savory, shop the sale, have lunch at Devine Foods, shop the sale and have dinner at Dianne's on the patio. After July 15th, you can go here to see a list of participating stores.

See you there!

* Speaking of fancy maternity clothes, yes, they do fit and feel better. And the nice thing is that they're perfect for lending, because no matter how well a maternity thing fits or how good you think you look in it at the time, once the baby is born, you will never want to see those clothes again. You will not, as promised to yourself, wear that expensive maternity dress again, with a belt, when you're not pregnant. There's not a woman in the world who wants to be reminded of the time when she weighed 25 to 80 pounds more than her normal weight and couldn't drink. But it's really fun to hand out expensive maternity clothes to pregnant friends, so if you see them priced with a big discount, buy them!