Area rug for Annie

My needy friend Annie has another request.
This time it is for an area rug, 4x6', under $150, and not ugly.
I don't know why she always feels the need to stipulate the not ugly part.

ANYWAY
the only answer to the question of what rug Annie should get is ZEBRA!!!!

Real cow that looks like zebra?

$120 Cow Hide rug (current auction price)
I recently stayed at a place that had a cow hide rug and it was surprisingly nice to walk on.
CRAFT IDEA- use white out pens and sharpies to add more stripes and make this a real zebra.

Fake but in the shape of a zebra?

$117 Alexa zebra rug
It's wool! that means no sad creepy eye holes.

Zebra stripes but rectangular?

$127.49 Alliyah zebra print rug
Love it!

THERE ARE SO MANY ZEBRA OPTIONS!
I won't even get into the non-black and white zebras that Annie could get, but that rectangular one also comes in a nice tan and white that is a little more subtle.

"Ok Rebecca, enough zebras. What if I like black and white and patterns, but I am sick of your zebra obsession"  WHAT? Fine.


$46.49 Alexa chevron rug
Whoaaa the way this looks on my monitor it is making me dizzy. Dizzy zig zags, what everyone should have in their house.
This is made from a synthetic and wool blend which means that it won't last as long as the pure wool more expensive ones, but hey, chevrons will be out in 5 years when you want to get rid of this one anyway.


$72.99 Hand Hooked Moroccan trellis rug
A coffee table in the middle of this would be nice.


$98.99 Moroccan Dhurrie rug
Similar to the one above but with a different lozenge shape pattern


$100.99 Moroccan Dhurrie rug
Another cool pattern, this time in chocolate and ivory.


$112.99 Metro Geometric rug
Bubbles! sort of. This asymmetrical pattern is driving my brain crazy looking at it.
Do you have that? I want the left and right to be mirror images!
You could get this rug and have me over and not be worried about making conversation since I would be figuring out how to fix the rug pattern the whole time.

OK lets move into some other colors... like GRAY and BEIGE! Don't let the party stop.

$40.99 Woven BB floor mat
This is waterproof and made from recycled plastic, so you can hose it off if you want, or put it outside


$93.99 Southhampton gray rug
This one is polyester, not sure how that does as a rug material


$153.09 Mirage wool rug
I like this pattern a lot and it looks fluffy to walk on


$94.99 Cream and beige shag rug
This design is a little less geometric than the others and more damask.
It's made of polypropylene. What is that?


$82.99 Cream brown and beige shag rug
This kind of looks like an Orla Kiely pattern. Also kind of like vaginas.


$100.99 Flame inspiration rug
The last time I had a "flame inspiration," I almost burned our coffee table down.
It's enough of a print to be interesting but it is not totally predictable or too out there.


$75.99 woven sisal rug
Just testing the waters here with a red pattern, I think it is nice.

Now let's pretend for a minute that Annie is the type of woman who could appreciate the delicate beauty of a well-crafted floral pattern or the fun of adding color to one's home (protip: she's not that kinda girl).
She might go for one of these:


$148.99 Handmade Luna rug
Wool from New Zealand! Still all gray for those who recoil from color. COUGH.


$143.99 Blue Cesky wool rug
Ok, just adding a little blueish gray and just a few more floral items, don't get scared.


$131.99 Josie floral rug
Watch yourself with those colors! I think this is pretty but Annie might hate it.
Depends on the color of your couch (please don't say it is floral) and the vibe of the room.


$94.99 Eastern colors wool rug
I also like this one, it is floral but graphic and simple.


$146.69 Desert land multicolor wool rug
This abstract swish one is kind of neat


$139.99 Handmade ikat rug
Ok this one is just for me, but I like the alternating bands of design and the colors.

Word to the Wise: THEORY at Housing Works for $25

Big tip here:

The Housing Works thrift store in Chelsea has gotten a bunch of Theory merch (with tags still on!) and you can get tops for $25, coats for $50, and skirts and pants for $20.

When I went, the sales lady rung up my blazer as a top, so that was CRAZY. The tag on the blazer said $415, and I got it for $25. Nuts, right?



You should all go right now and get your holiday shopping done.
Plus you can feel really good about it because all of the money goes to charity. DOUBLE PRESENT!

What's there?
-men's pants
-men's pea coats
-women's pea coats
-women's skirts mostly size 4
-women's tees and undershirts
-women's blazers mostly size 4, 2
-women's suit pants mostly size 2-8

Also there were some new Marc by Marc Jacobs pajama top style blouses for $40, and some new Black Halo dresses going for $125ish.
I saw some new DVF shoes, too, but I think they were over $200 still so I didn't look too closely.

Where exactly?

Chelsea Housing Works Thrift Shop
143 West 17th St., New York, NY 10011 (between 6 and 7th Aves)
Mon-Fri: 10 AM-7 PM, Sat: 10 AM-6 PM, Sun: 12 PM-5 PM
Phone: 718-838-5050

How to make a table into a 4 poster pet bed

Basically, just turn it over.

For more details though and some pictures, check out this article

It would be cute painted to match an adult 4 poster bed, in the same room.
As if your pet would rather be on its own bed than yours.

Gifts from Land's End

I was looking around the Land's End website and came across a few items that are pretty cheap and would make great gifts:

For your stylish sister/cousin:

$69.99 Remy high heel Gillie lace-up shoes (was $99)

These shoes look fun and comfortable, with the support across the front of the foot and the non-stiletto heel. These could be great work or going out shoes.

For your brother/cousin/boyfriend:

$32 Houndstooth cardigan (was $70)

The contrast piping on the collar and pockets makes this fun and not too grandpa-ish. Though grandpa might enjoy it too.

For the over 21:

$34.99 Needlepoint flask

Leather and cotton surround the stainless steel on the outside, and maybe you could add a bottle of something to go on the inside as well, to complete the gift.

For your aunts and uncles:

$39.99 Striped Tablecloth, runner, and placemat set

These would also be good for recent grads or people trying to set up a home. Simple and clean and easy to blend with any decor. You can add monogrammed initials for $6.

For Mom or Dad:

$49.99 Stripe chenille throw

Everyone loves a cozy blanket, and these neutral colors go with any couch.

For the pet owner:

$64.99 Canvas pet duffel carrier

You should definitely add the $6 embroidery monogramming on this one. So cute!

Word to the Wise: Steven Alan sample sale now

Steven Alan sample sale
Discounts on men’s and women’s apparel from Steven Alan and other indie brands.  Expect to find markdowns at up to 75% off retail.  Credit Card Only, No Cash. 
 Where/When:  87 Franklin St (b/w Church St and Franklin Pl); Nov 14-17, Wed-Fri (9am-8pm), Sat (10am-7pm).

The sale is happening online and in person at the 87 Franklin street store.

The prices are the same at both (unfortunately for me because I thought the in-person one would be cheaper), so if you don't live in NY but want some good deals, head on over to the website.

In person, there is more selection and more things, so it might be worth going if you want to brave the hordes.

E and I went and he got some great pants for $80 and shirts for $68.
Women's shirts are $58 for cotton and $68 for silk.

There were dresses for $125 and skirts for $45, but they didn't really appeal to me.

I think the best deals were actually the non- Steven Alan shoes.
E got a pair of sandals (great off-season price of $35 instead of $128) and a pair of boots.

I got a pair of Marais white kitten heel sandals for $25 (down from $110).
I also got a blue cashmere henley shirt for $129 (down from $328) which was a real indulgence and I am feeling a little guilty about it. But it is so soft!

My picks (good deals that I didn't get because I am trying to restrain myself a little):

WOMENS:


$199 Dieppa restrepo booties (was $328)
These are classy and sleek and would go well with dresses or pants.
The heel is sturdy and not too high, but gives you a good lift.

$99 Steven Alan loafers (was $238)
These come in gray or orangey-red and are cute in person.


$149 Joli tote bag (was $238)
Roomy bucket bag, but still kind of too much money for a tote bag


$58 Women's reverse seam shirt (was $168)
Easy to wear with a fun collar detail


MENS


$68 Men's single needle shirt (was $198)
Classic and well made


$85 Saratoga pants (was $285)
A slight plaid in a large size that kind of disappears into an outfit but looks neat and a little textural


$155 Relwen sweater (was $258)
This is a non-embarrassing version of the classic man holiday sweater


$48 Seavees canvas chukkas (was $108)
These go with pretty much any pants. Jeans, cords, casual trousers...

Get some presents for people!

How to make your own pet bowl stand

This project looks fun and not too hard.
If you have the right tools I guess.
I would try this if I had a saw.

Don't you hate it when there are little pieces of food everywhere and your vacuum just bumps into them?

3 Cute accent tables from Urban Outfitters

Looking around the UO furniture section (I love their velvet couches but they are so impractical for pets), I found a bunch of cute side and accent tables:

$49 Flourish storage side table
You can put magazines in the bottom
It comes in this green color, a light blue turquoise, and black. The customer ratings are high, except that one person's came folded and bent.

$149 Market Basket table

I really like the industrial and rustic look of this one.
The wheels make me think of an old fashioned pram.
some people say the paint chips a little. I think this is a shabby chic piece anyway so that wouldn't detract from the look.

$299 USA coffee table

The mix of the greenish blue color and the wood legs looks nice and clean.

The legs are removable so you can hang the America part on the wall if you'd rather, but I think that is boring.

Men: How to choose a hat based on your face

This article does a great job breaking down what kind of hat you should get for your face shape.

Make sure the hat you choose doesn't overwhelm your features and highlights the better ones.
You also don't want your hat to elongate the wrong part of your face or make your head look weirdly shaped.
So follow the advice in that articles.

One problem with the article is that basically every type of face they recommend a fedora, and sadly fedoras are totally douchey right now thanks to some pickup artist types who started to wear them.
So avoid fedoras.
And really obviously "statement" hats.
But hats are cute and can make you look different, and also keep your head warm in the winter, so get one but make it the right one.

Update- United Nude sale rescheduled for next week!

Same deals and place, new dates.

Thursday, November 15 through Saturday, November 17. Daily 9am—7pm.
United Nude Showroom, 146 West 29 St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, #9W


Previous post here

Word to the Wise: NYC sample sales this week

If you are back at work and everything is ok with your house and all that, might as well do a little shopping.

Now is the perfect time to hit sample sales with holiday gifts in mind. You can spend less for good brands and get presents for your family and friends (and yourself) that you couldn't find elsewhere.

Here are some sales I would hit, if I were home this week (I'm away for work)

Sferra
Up to 75% bed linens, sheet sets, blankets, throws, towels, table linens, and decorative accessories.
When/Where: Tuesday, November 6 through Sunday, November 11. Tues 10am—8pm, Wed 10am—7pm, Thurs 9am—7pm, Fri—Sat 10am—6pm, Sun 10am—3pm. 260 Fifth Ave between 28th and 29th Sts (no phone)

Pamella Roland
Deal: Up to 90% off womenswear
When/Where: Tuesday, November 6 through Thursday, November 8. Daily 10am—6pm. 501 Seventh Ave between 37th and 38th Sts, suite 300 (212-920-1211)

Pixie Market
 Clothing, shoes, and accessories will be priced at $20, $30, and $40. Brands include Cheap Monday, Mink Pink, Jeffrey Campbell, Funktional, Carin Wester, and more.

When/Where: Friday, November 9 through Sunday, November 11. Daily 12pm—8pm. 100 Stanton St between Ludlow and Orchard Sts (212-253-0953)

DwellStudio

60% to 90% off the original prices of over 250 pieces of home decor, including one-of-a-kind items from the personal collections of design and style experts. The sale will include furniture, artwork, fabric, designer clothing, and more. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Baby Buggy, a charity that helps mothers and families in need.

When/Where: Wednesday, November 7 through Sunday November 11. Daily 10am—7pm. 72 Wooster St between Spring and Broome Sts (no phone)

Shopping for Sandy

Hope everyone is ok after the hurricane.
My part of Brooklyn is just fine.

Most supermarkets in NYC are having drives to donate food and other goods to the Rockaways or other areas that were hit really hard, and I encourage you to buy a few extra things and give them to the drive.

I went to the Park Slope Food Coop the other day and they were reading lists of what people needed over the intercom and had boxes at the front of the store so you could buy supplies and drop them as you left, which I thought was a really good system.



The Brooklyn Kitchen is another shop taking donations for Sandy victims.

Gilt is donating 30% of NYC sales to the Red Cross, so that would be a good place to shop too.

Other places to shop that are doing Sandy relief are:
Penfield 
Reformation
Bauble Bar
Dannijo
Coveteur
ebay

Or register with igive which donates through a bunch of online shopping brands

Also, don't forget to vote tomorrow!

online shopping for Sandy - Directly

We talked a little about where to shop that indirectly benefits Sandy relief efforts, but now there is an Amazon registry that you can buy things from that go straight to people who need them.

Things they need include $7 blankets, $10 socks, flashlights, $5 garbage bags, and some more expensive items like this water pump:

If you are feeling helpful but lazy, go online and buy something for someone who needs it from the comfort of your couch.

Looking for a cashmere crewneck sweater?

Check out this racked article about Everlane's new one and other comparable sweaters.
I think I like the shape of the J Crew or the Barney's sweater the best, but the Everlane and Uniqlo prices are much better.

Everlane sweater

I think you really have to feel the sweater though and see it in person before buying, so it would be hard to sell me on the internet-only Everlane one.

Sometimes a sweater seems great until you hold it up to the light and the weave is too loose and you can see through it.

Or you think it's cute folded up on the table in the store but then you try it on and it's totally boxy and blah.

Or the neck is cut to high or the sleeves are too long. Or the ribbing at the hems is too narrow or too wide.

Or the material isn't as soft as you wanted it to be.

Buying a t shirt or bag sight-unseen is a little easier, but for sweaters, I really want to feel them.

Would you buy a cashmere sweater without trying it?

Word to the Wise: United Nude showroom sale

UPDATE: rescheduled until later (someday??) since the UN showroom lost power with hurricane

United Nude is having a showroom sale that looks really awesome.

Markdowns on all sizes of shoes from past seasons, including fall/winter 2011 and spring/summer 2012. Pricing from $25 to $100.

When/Where: Thursday, November 1st through Saturday, November 3rd. Daily 9am—7pm. United Nude Showroom, 146 West 29 St between Sixth and Seventh Aves (no phone) 

Some examples:

Usually $355 

Usually $150

Usually $455

Usually $250

Usually 450

Usually $280

Usually $260

Usually $300