Uniqlo's Pocketable UV Protective Parka

In 2010 I devoted posts to (1) What Every Woman Should Have in Her Wardrobe and (2) What Every Man Should Have in His Wardrobe. If I did a good job, my recommendations are still relevant. Today I'll add another essential article of clothing you could call an investment piece as it's so versatile. Once you have it, you can't go without it!

You'll wear it all autumn and spring. You'll also carry it if you need a light layer of protection against windy evenings on the beach; rainy days or nights out on the town; or indoor events with air conditioning. And best of all, you'll have it for many years to come since it's well-made.

What is this awesome, indisposable item that should be in every human's wardrobe? 🥁🥁🥁 Uniqlo's Pocketable UV Protective Parka.

I bought myself one 6 years ago for $29 and my senior mother one last week for $49.90. Alas, post-pandemic inflation, yet still worth the higher price. I've gotten six years and counting of wear out of mine.

The parka is boxy yet not sloppy. It complements pants, leggings, skirts, and dresses. The look is sleek and whatever you need it to be ... sporty, casual smart, or dressier than a sweater, which btw, you can wear underneath it to keep warm in late fall, or early spring. It has a hood, zipper closure, 2 generous pockets with zippers, and an inside mesh lining where I put supermarket flyers or newspapers I don't wish to carry by hand. The fabric is 100% polyester and it's machine washable. I have never had to wash my parka as it's never gotten dirty. Every year Uniqlo slightly re-designs its pocketable parkas, and this year's interpretation has a coating of sun UV 50 protection. Often the sizes aren't consistent from year to year so one year's x-large parka (or coat or sweater or bratop) may be the next year's medium. You must try it on to know. Consistent sizing from year to year is the one feature I think Uniqlo could improve upon in its Lifewear Collection of basics to make ordering online a surer thing.

The packable parka is so lightweight you can take it anywhere tied around your waist, on your arm, or rolled up in its very own little included pouch. I have never used my pouch either! Although of sturdy construction, the parka takes up zero space and adds zero extra weight lying on top of clothes inside a suitcase. The best $50 you'll ever spend!

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Lands' End For Blazers And Tunics

Sales On Blazer's At Lands' End

A blazer is one of those no-brainer traditional pieces that should be in every woman's (and man's) wardrobe. It elevates an outfit and acts as a light layering piece to take you from the late summer into the fall. Depending on the style, you could also wear it in winter under your coat to complete an outfit, as well as, for warmth once you get to the office.

You can't beat the classic style and quality for the price at Lands's End. The retailer offers so many choices, structured or not structured. Fabrics include 100% linen, 100% cotton, cotton-with-a-touch-of spandex, smooth, velveteen, or knit; and the devil that is always in the details such as pockets with or without flaps, one button, 2 buttons, or 4 buttons that are shiny to stand out or not shiny to blend in. Of course, the blazers also come in timeless patterns and an assortment of mostly neutral colors.

Now might be a great time to browse. When LE runs sales, they're very good and if missed, they'll roll around again. The white 100% linen jacket (above right👆) is on sale at 70% off for $40! My gosh, what a steal!  It's a smart and comfortable wardrobe piece you'll wear forever.

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Lands' End For Blazers And Tunics

Forget fast fashion, turn to Lands' End for classic pieces you'll keep for years. I have LE wool blazers and cashmere sweaters that will never wear out, as well as, cotton tunics that need to be replaced after about a decade of frequent wear. I also favor LE cotton and linen summer dresses and its spandex swimsuits. LE's price points are higher than Old Navy and Uniqlo, but the promotions are fabulous to lower the costs.

The merchant's blazers and tunics are cut for a woman's body. Oversized if you prefer it, yet fitted to avoid a boxy droop. I also like the practical details of the flattering collar, front buttons, and pockets. 

The fabric is 60% cotton and 40% model.

As it turns out, my mother and I share this👆tunic. It comes in black, navy blue, grey, purple, and white. Of course, we selected black to go with everything. The super soft tunic is perfect as a layering piece in winter, and to pair with leggings and skinny jeans (me) or slightly flared athletic pants (her) in the fall and spring. When we received the order and discovered an ultra-flattering tunic, I started borrowing it.😁 It is cut long to cover the derriere, which makes it versatile and extends the look of your legs. Overall the tunic is roomy yet drapes your hips nicely to avoid swallowing you up. 

A blazer and tunic are a must-have in every woman's wardrobe for a winning casual smart appearance. Both layering pieces are a tad more festive and chic than a sweater to dress up leggings or jeans.

LE brought out its tunic for spring in 100% cotton.

We are very lucky to live in an era that accepts a casual smart look, letting us show up to a great many events both polished and comfortable! We don't have to sacrifice either style or freedom from pain or constraint to look like we care enough and have made the effort to spruce ourselves up to attend a dinner, performance, or work function.

Lands' End is the ideal place to go for classic layering pieces, you'll wear for decades. They're stylish and excellent investments!

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Macy's Black Friday Specials To Beat the Cold

Style Republic

I'm biased: Macy's is my favorite department store in New York City. It's where I go first and where I score the best bargains for designer and quality goods. I'm in heaven when browsing inside Macy's. There's always a wide selection of whatever merchandise I need. Apparel, shoes, home goods, jewelry, you name it, nobody offers better sales than Macy's. To boot, there are Last Act racks on many floors where among other articles, I got fully lined cashmere blazers for only $14!

Macy's Black Friday Specials are on. If you want to buy exceptional holiday gifts for family and friends at a fraction of the usual cost, be sure to start your shopping for big savings now. The following are 8 Black Friday Specials to Beat the Cold for under $50: (available in several colors)

1) Style Republic - 100% Pure Cashmere Women's Ribbed Cuff Beanie - Why settle for acrylic, nylon, or rayon when for the same moola you can get super soft and warm cashmere hats and scarfs? Cashmere feels so fine against the skin, it's the warmest fabric, and it lasts years longer than manmade materials.

2) Club Room Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater, Created for Macy's - Classic and practical menswear. They'll last for decades.

3) On 34th Women's Sweater Blazer, Created for Macy's - It's polyester so you can mindlessly machine wash and cool dry it. As an alternative to a sweater, a blazer is a versatile piece that can be casual or dressy while keeping you warm. At times I like to wear a blazer for its pockets especially if not wearing a jacket. 

4) Charter Club Women's Packable Hooded Puffer Coat, Created for Macy's - Puffer coats are very popular nowadays. Lightweight and machine washable, I own a jacket-length puffer coat for fall and early winter before it gets super cold, and a goose-down long puffer coat for January and February. Last year I bought a long puffer coat for my mother too. Although puffer coats weigh next to nothing, they are as toasty warm as animal furs and by far more budget-friendly. A jacket-length puffer coat is perfect to keep the chill at bay without layers before the temperatures drop to freezing. 

5) Hawke & Co. Men's Quilted Fleece-Lined Hooded Puffer Jacket - Wow a puffer jacket for men for under $40 … cheaper than the women's and boys! Once you get to Macy's you'll have choices galore to get the right price, fillings, and style for you!

6) Karen Scott Women's Zip-Up Zeroproof Fleece Jacket, Created for Macy's, 7) Karen Scott Petite Princess Seam Zeroproof Zip Front Jacket, Created for Macy's 8) Tommy Hilfiger Women's Faux Sherpa Full-Zip Hoodie - To be honest, I don't have fleece in my wardrobe, but fleece hoodies and jackets are in vogue right now. Fleece is soft, cozy, inexpensive, and easy to machine wash and dry which might explain its frenzy. Suitable for kids to wear in school or keep in a locker, or adults to take to a gym without worrying about babying it. At $15 - $18 you couldn't buy the fabric and zippers to make it yourself any cheaper!

As long as Macy's is running these amazing sales, I might do a few more of these holiday gift guide blogs! Macy's could be your one-stop retailer as it often is mine!

This blog is not sponsored. How could a Savvy Shopper, not adore Macy's! It's good I don't live next door or I might float in too often for retail therapy. When you actually need something, the telephone associates give you great advice too.♥♥♥

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Stylish Sporty Fall Finds

No doubt about it, fall has arrived in the Western Hemisphere. With a change of seasons, perhaps you need to add a few new casual pieces to your fall wardrobe? Old Navy is located a couple of blocks from where I live, so it's impossible not to float into the store often when passing. I continue to be amazed by the quality of the retailer's leggings at ultra-affordable price points making them a steal! 

The merchant tends to tweak their offerings from year to year so when you find a style you like and they go on sale, it's a good idea to buy a few pairs. You may prefer mostly cotton fabric but next year find mostly polyester or modal as choices. The waistband may change or the flare could be discontinued.

To the left are all the selections of leggings this fall, which consist of different styles, textures (meaning weaves and fabrics), and lengths. 

Although 8 offerings require studying each one, a good selection is great for different body types or activities. Two Old Navy leggings I love right now include:

1) High-Waisted Ankle Leggings For Women - Although I prefer jet black, there are other colors too. They sit just below the belly button and are 96% cotton and 4% spandex. Super soft and smooth for comfort, and opaque. Lightweight yet not see-through, I highly recommend them for fall and early winter. They are warm, but not too warm for the sometimes 75-degree F days of autumn. They are fitted through the hips and waist and narrow at the ankles. At times I wear these smooth and lightweight leggings with black ankle socks under a dress in winter instead of tights for warmth with comfort, and nobody is the wiser!

2) Extra High-Waisted PowerChill Leggings For Women - They sit slightly above the belly button and contain 53% cotton, 22% polyester, 13% modal, and 12% spandex. These are light and airy, but also a tad heavier than my 1st recommendation above. Great for Pilates, yoga, or a workout. They are fitted at the hips and thighs and narrow at the ankles. The fabric offers 4-way strength with stay-dry, sweat-wicking technology. They also have an elastic waist that has an inside pocket. Unlike pair #1, they'll be warm enough to take you through the winter months and in the jet-black hue can be dressed up with ballet flats and a blazer. They also come in shorter 7/8 lengths.

3) Dr. Scholl's Women's Time Off Platform Sneakers - I'm recommending these with caveats. Not only are they cute and feminine with leggings, jeans, and dresses, but the platforms provide a measure of arch support and stable heels. Customers love how comfortable they are for walking. For sneakers they are also well priced, but here's the rub ... customers report if you wear them a lot for walking, they won't last longer than 6 months to a year. The shoes' material tends to separate from the rubber, so don't pay the full retail price but wait for a generous sale. I'd buy the Time Off Platforms on sale for $40, but not at $69 or $100. Even at the lower price, I'd be disappointed if they didn't last. To be competitive, Dr. Scholl needs to resolve this manufacturing weakness to make these stylish and supportive sneakers as durable as Nikes and Converse! Sneakers are made for walking … but sometimes a cute style we know to baby is tempting, no?

So there you are, 3 sporty styles to take you through the fall while leaving you with a few dollars to put in your leggings' hidden pocket.

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Retailers Are Selling Fleece Jackets

Uniqlo specializes in innovative outerwear.

All of us have a personal everyday style of how we see ourselves and sometimes what makes us feel like a million bucks wearing it. I'll tell you mine, and you can tell me yours. One day as I exited my Manhattan apartment building, a kind neighbor in his 70s said, "You're always dressed up and look so nice!" I was surprised and flattered by his compliment. The truth is I wear a t-shirt in some form; slacks or leggings; and a cardigan nearly every day from the fall to the early spring. In the summer I wear lots of casual dresses (some a fit and flare t-shirt style) that can be machine washed and dried, paired with flats or nice sneakers. Nothing fancy, yet coordinated basics.

Photos: Uniqlo, one of my favorite retailers for quality basics

So now we're entering the fall and winter seasons and what I see retailers (such as Macy's, Kohl's, Uniqlo, and Old Navy) selling are warm fleece jackets. Uniqlo designs them to be windproof and toasty warm. I'd never judge another person who favors fleece outerwear -- different strokes for different folks -- but you'll never see me wearing it. Fleece looks too casual for my liking. My personal style tends to be what gets called casual smart. Whatever I put on in the morning, I like for it to carry me through the entire day to avoid the hassle of changing attire (other than for a gala event), so I buy clothing like slacks, dresses, and jackets that can be dressed up or down with a simple change of shoes and/or perhaps by adding a scarf or piece of jewelry. 

The end photos are from Unqlo and the middle photo is from Kohls.

Although there's nothing wrong with fleece, per se ... it's too casual and too limited for my personal style. I don't feel dressed up enough (or casual smart) in fleece, and I'd also have to buy another jacket for a night out on the town. I'd rather invest in a multi-purpose wardrobe including outerwear. It means one jacket I never get tired of wearing that makes me feel like a million bucks every time I put it on, plus it carries me through an entire day into the evening.

Uniqlo and Pendelton at Macy's

But I'm just one person, one opinion. Fashion is a matter of taste. Fleece is in vogue! Would you buy a fleece jacket or coat?

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Launer Is A Handbag Fit For A Queen

The public rarely saw Queen Elizabeth II without her Launer handbag. According to Gerald Bodmer, Launer's CEO, Her Majesty bought 10 - 11 of them during her lifetime in the Traviata style from Sully & Sully. The purse's manufacturer was founded by Sam Launer in 1940 and received its royal warrant in 1968.

Each bag is handmade and takes about eight hours to finish. The structured bag of fine-grain calf leather with superb craftsmanship and a signature gold-plated twisted rope emblem lock sells for $2,700. 

The purse is pricey, and yet it's 1/3 cheaper than an Hermès Kelly, and without the nonsense and games its French competitor puts its customers through to buy a bag. Also, a Traviata is much easier to reach into than either a Birkin or Kelly is and just as secure!

The Launer's other winning features include a back pocket, center division, interior pocket, inner zip, swede lining, leather-covered mirror, matching gold-plated handle hardware, and a long shoulder strap ... extras customers love!

Launer luxury bags are available in a range of colors and finishes with Queen Elizabeth favoring the black patent style. According to Vogue magazine, "To make the bags truly her own, she would modify them with additional pockets, a built-in coin purse, and longer handles to allow for easy handshaking." In the image above (courtesy of Getty), we can see how her top handle is longer than the standard Launer purse. In fact, each bag is made to order. The company offers all customers the chance to customize their bags without the additional costs of a customized handbag.

Queen Elizabeth II was a born Savvy Shopper with impeccable taste and class. She had no need for overpriced status handbags despite having the money to buy whatever she desired. One never saw her wearing a Cartier love bracelet or carrying a purse with a blown-up brand name across it like a YouTube influencer. What she bought was quality, durability, expertise... handbags that she kept for over 70 years, never tossing them out according to Launer's Mr. Bodner. She had no need to buy ever-changing, status merchandise, nor to show off because she was the Queen. Let it be a lesson for us all: When you've got it, there's no need to flaunt it as the fact is so self-evident everybody knows it.

With the Queen's recent passing, there's such a demand for Launer handbags, they are on backorder until January 2023. If I were to ever spend such a tidy sum on a bag, this could well be it ... in black! [Another contender is here.]

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Fall And Winter Defense Against Dry Body Parts

At the end of summer, I notice the season is already changing resulting in dryer skin, not the cuticles just yet. But! Dry nail cuticles are sure to follow soon enough. Therefore it's not too early to stock up on moisturizers and treatments to fight our soon-to-be dry seasons. I'm also committed to downsizing the number of skincare products it takes to do the job. Curating products that really work plus acting as multi-taskers whenever possible, is THE SAVVY SHOPPER way! 

So the following are some products to fight Old Man Winter who is leaving the Southern Hemisphere and is on his way here. 

1) Cuccico Cuticle Oil (above top👆) - The cuticle oil repairs dry cracked nails and damaged skin. There are zero artificial ingredients in this healing vitamin E infused treatment oil. It's 100% paraben-free and animal cruelty-free and contains 100% plant and natural ingredients including safflower, sunflower, and sweet almond oils.

2) O'Keeffe's Working Hands Cream - It's serious relief for extremely dry and cracked hands. Glycerin and allantoin are key ingredients. This stuff begins by boosting moisture to dry hands and then creates a protective layer on the skin's surface to lock in the moisture.

3) Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream - I compared many of the top drugstore skin moisturizing creams and hands down selected Cetaphil above all others. It's rich, moisturizing, greaseless, unscented, thick, and creamy, and yet absorbs easily into the skin without leaving a residue. Now with hydrating glycerin and skin essential vitamins B5 (panthenol) and B3 (niacinamide), your skin feels soft and smooth after an application with no trace of stickiness. There are zero irritants in this gentle formula so I use it as a universal skin cream from face to toe, which is why I highly recommend it over all its competitors. The big value size is a bonus, and the advertised dermatologist recommended on its jar is true (heard it with my own ears). Because Cetaphil has no fragrance, it will never dry out your skin, including your face, body, or cuticles. Bar none, you cannot get a better smoothing, moisturizing skin cream at any price!

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My 5 Key Organizing Tips

Photo courtesy of Walmart.

Since moving to Manhattan where space is at a premium, I've become super organized. Life is simpler when all your things have a home and you can easily fetch them. You spend less time searching for possessions and don't re-buy something you already own. I like to say I'm too lazy and cheap to be unorganized. Once a friend, Dru, on a visit to my apartment with her husband, A.J., asked if she could show him my closets. I was so flattered she had noticed my tidiness on her previous visits. She made my day!

While I'm always open to perfecting my system, here are 5 Organizing Tips I can share:

1) In my clothes closets - I group alike-garments together: First by seasons -- warm weather versus cold weather -- then within the seasons, coats; sweaters; vests; blouses and tops; trousers; and dresses, etc. 

Although for Manhattan I have 2 good-sized wardrobe closets I still must shift my spring/summer and winter/fall clothes to the front or back of the closets as the seasons change. I don't have the luxury of a 3rd wardrobe closet to avoid moving my clothes each season. Rats!!! I envy people with more than 2 closets. From time to time I also purge my clothes of what I no longer wear so I can always fit everything I own in my 2 closets, never overflowing them. In New York City, our lack of spacious apartments is just too unforgiving to keep things we never grab. I donate my still in good condition clothes to Housing Works or Goodwill. 

2) Outside my bathroom I have a personal care shelf - Here again I like to group similar items together - I gather the skincare products together; the shampoos and hair conditioners together; the toothpaste and mouthwash together, the pain relievers - aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen together; wound treatments together and hair tools, etc. Since these items are stationary on a shelf, I simply stack them up so I can easily grab them. At times baskets and such help organize, at other times they just hog more space so you can't stack items. When bars of soap or boxes of toothpaste stay put, you don't need containers that become just another takedown before you can reach your articles. What I do find helpful in organizing small personal care stuff like extra dental floss, hairpins, or cotton balls is storing them inside a repurposed plastic sheet set protector. It has structure, transparency, a zipper, and a slim body that sides in against the wall -- perfect for the job! And, you already own it. In fact, save a couple of sheet protectors to protect other goods too. Great for separating, or keeping categories of things together!

3) Shoes and odds and ends - The shoes I slip into most often are on the floor of my wardrobe closet. The shoes I wear occasionally, I stack up in clear plastic shoebox-shaped containers. 

Additionally, I use one of the plastic shoeboxes to keep receipts ... a 2nd to store extra makeup I have for when I run out of what I'm presently using ... and a 3rd plastic shoebox for extra lightbulbs along with extra vacuum cleaner bags. These clear plastic shoeboxes are terrific for organizing all kinds of things. I even have a collection of photos in a 4th plastic shoebox. They only cost $1 - $2 apiece (depending on the retailer), are compact, strong, see-through, and hold lots of stuff. You can't go wrong buying them for storage. (The above image shows belts inside one box, but I think belts are best grouped hanging on a clothes hanger.)

4) Other odds and ends only needed at certain times (for example wool clothing, or a pump for an air mattress) get kept inside clear plastic 13-gallon trash bags before going on a shelf. The 13-gallon size is ideal, not too big or small a size to keep similar things together, as well as, dust-free, and since you can see through the bags, you don't waste time labeling or opening them to remember what's inside.

5) Ziploc bags of various sizes fit the smaller items you need to keep together, Q-tips, nails, whatever. Easy to see what's inside and open.

Believe it or not, you don't want to spend hours of time organizing. Aim to reduce your steps to keep organizing simple and efficient. Moreover, try not to spend too much money on the supplies you use to keep your things together and in good condition ... just a few bucks for the containers you need. The right organizing system should save you time, money, and work. Starting with these 5 tips, join me in being too lazy and cheap to be unorganized!

Happy upcoming Earth Day on April 22nd! A perfect time to get organized.🌍🌎🌏

Do you have brilliant organizing tips of your own to share?

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