I realized I often post when I have some free time at work and I just realized it's not really the best idea because I tend to write stuff mostly about work and it's getting pretty boring.
Anyhow, they recently opened Abercrombie and Fitch at the Eaton Centre and I was thinking of passing by later to grab something... harhar! I am a self-confessed shopaholic and it's come to a point where in every payday my sweet boyfriend would tease me about it. He tells me he can almost guarantee a trip to the mall every 15th and 30th of the month,.. I would disagree if it weren't true, but sadly it is. In my defense, I don't spend my entire pay cheque and I would normally only buy one or two things (to which he would had, "yeah, one or two things every few days or so...") and I do try to avoid spending too much (I do have bills to pay after all and I have my savings account too!). Still, I find it extremely difficult to walk in and out of the mall without buying something. No matter how hard I try to tell myself that no, I am not buying anything... I would somehow see something I really, really like and end up buying it. Trust me, there's always something! I should just avoid going to the mall altogether I think!
So here are a few shops I like checking out every now and then:
H&M - can be found in all major shopping centers in the GTA. I love their wide selection of clothes, cute and cheap accessories, bags and you can't beat their prices! Not to mention the wide array of sizes making it a lot easier and less frustrating for shoppers to fit well into their clothes (especially for petites like me =p). Prices can be anywhere from $6 - $200.
Garage Clothing - my denim store! I simply love their jeans! Ok, so I'm very partial to them because I find it so hard to find jeans that fit me perfectly but you have to admit, you find a pair of jeans you love and you can't help but keep coming back for more! They also have tons of cute tops especially during summertime. Prices can be anywhere from $12 - $100 (sweet huh?).
Nine West - shoes! I am not a shoe-aholic like other girls but I buy a pair every now and then and walking into this store is like walking into a shoe museum (fine, I'm exaggerating) but they do have a nice collection varying from casual to dress shoes. It's not uber-expensive but it's not dirt cheap either. I've heard you can get a pair at discounted prices in the states but here in Canada, the prices are somewhere between $100 - $250. Yeah, I do get second thoughts when it comes to purchasing a pair of shoes that cost over $100 when I know I can get something better and cheaper somewhere else. Although, splurging on an absolutely gorgeous pair of Nine West shoes once in a while isn't such a bad idea. =p
The Bay - ok, so The Bay is a department store but maannn! It's like walking inside Rustans and yes, everything's expensive but I love visiting their make up section. They've got MAC, Dior, Cargo, Benefit, Shiseido, Clinique, Napoleon Perdis, Lise Watier, Estee Lauder, Lancome, and so much more! What's good about them is that they let you try almost anything. If you don't want to over spend, let them know what your budget is and they can give you some pretty good alternatives.
Bitter Sweet - simply: my stop for cute accessories. You can't try them on for hygienic purposes but you can hold them up against your ears if you like. ^-^ Prices are between $8 - $100.
Aldo and Aldo Accessories - most of my shoes are from Aldo. They've got different styles and colors to choose from and the prices aren't bad either. Aldo Accessories has some pretty neat stuff too like bags that go with the pair of shoes you're buying, scarves, hats, sunglasses, jewelry and very stylish belts. I also like the shoes they have for guys which is why Jerry and I can't help but stop at Aldo every now and then. Prices are between $30 - $250 for Aldo and $8 - $ 150 for Aldo Accessories.
Bentley at Yorkdale - Bentley at Yorkdale is the only Bentley store that has the best selection when it comes to bags. I don't know why but the other Bentley stores don't carry such a wide selection as the one at Yorkdale. Bentley at Yorkdale will sell Nine West and Guess bags at discounted prices when they have a sale and you can't beat the prices.
Dynamite - this store has some pretty good dress clothes (semi-formal clothing). Although I can't fit well into their dress pants (they're too long for me), their tops fit me just fine. I also buy my capri pants from them. Surprisingly, their capri pants fit me perfectly and have just the right length! Prices are between $15 - $100.
Costa Blanca - as soon as they get new stuff, you better make sure you come rushing to their store! The store is almost always packed (just like H&M) and their stuff sell pretty fast. Their summer tops are very cute and one-of-a-kind and they've got cute dresses too! Prices are between $12 - $100.
Zara - I used to think this store had Banana Republic prices but to my surprise (and much to my delight) their prices don't really differ much from H&M or GAP. Aritzia's even more expensive. I like how they arrange their clothes by color (much like how Freeway does it). All the blue tops are in one section, all the red ones in another section and so on. I also like the wide variety of styles they offer and the range of sizes that they have. You can buy a nice shirt for only $12 or buy good quality bermuda shorts for less than $50 or buy a dressy top for only $30.
Abercrombie & Fitch - i love their polo shirts! Although the price of one is double the price of a polo shirt from another store, I would still shell out $ for one. They've got good colors, great quality and it shows. I wore a pink Abercrombie & Fitch polo shirt the other day and people at work kept complimenting it. The Abercrombie & Fitch stores here in the GTA (I know of only 2) just recently opened and I haven't really bought anything except for the shirts. Their clothes are a bit pricey, between $30 - $250.
Levis - I love wearing Levis jeans but the last pair of Levis that I bought was from the Phils w/c I bought right before I left. I have yet to buy a pair here in Canada but a pair of Levis is guaranteed to last you for well over a few years (guaranteed of course that you don't grow any bigger!).
Sephora - make up pit stop. Aside from The Bay, Sephora is also a good place to shop for make up. They have brands that you don't find anywhere else and you're free to try anything you see. They have Paul & Joe, Dior, Cargo, Shiseido, Guerlain, Benefit, Nars, and so many more.
There.
There are also plenty of little shops located along Queen St. that I would love to check out but unfortunately haven't had the time to. I also don't own a car so I am limited to the places easily accessible by transit. I also love the market located in downtown Ottawa. Simply put, I love shopping, I love being able to go around different stores and just checking them out. I don't always buy and even when I do, I don't buy more than 5 items at a time. First, because I watch my budget and second, if I can't convince myself it's practical I prolly won't get it (there are exceptions to this rule of course). Admittedly, I love to splurge once in awhile on an item I know I won't be able to find anywhere else or something I know I'll be using frequently (like say a pair of shoes).
I find that shopping is a good stress reliever. I often have the urge to go shopping when I'm awfully stressed at work. This may not be the best way to deal with stress but it helps. ^-^
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