Ugly Shoes and an Open Mind

Do you have an open mind that is willing to explore, experiment, and shake things up a bit? Shopping without a practical purpose sets me up for that every time I go out. That's what is dangerous about shopping just to shop! Recently, I went out for an adventure seeking retail therapy and decided to have fun in the Discount Room at Schuler Shoes in Maple Grove, MN. The only thing I needed on this shopping trip was some fun. I did not need shoes! But you know how that goes, right?

Well, I stepped into Schuler Shoes and strolled past the new styles directly to the Discount Room where everything is marked down, and in some cases, marked waaaaay down. I like those kinds of shoes best, don't you? Have you ever been in Schuler's Discount Room? It's a special place that is separate from the main room where you can find the current styles at the current prices. The Discount Room is like the Island of Misfit Toys where last season's styles and those odd shoe rejects are discounted again and again until someone like me comes along to adopt them. The Discount Room's shelves were covered in shoes of all kinds from boots to flats and heels to slippers. Some were conservative and others - well - not quite what I would wear. I can't remember the last time I could wear a spiked heel, let alone one that exceeds 4 inches. What fun, though! I was in a candy store of footwear!

Since I didn't NEED shoes, I played with them - after taking a serious look first to see if there were any shoes that I discovered I had needed after all. Seeing none, my playtime began. I only played one game: Find the Ugliest Shoe in the Room. There was a spiked heel studded with sparkling gaudiness, but since the heel would put me in a precarious position where I could actually break my ankle, I left it on the shelf for an adventurous young woman to discover. The fringed flat sandals resembled an overly-frilly pair of moccasins, so I tried them on - funny! I felt the fringes tickling my feet as I strutted to the mirror for a closer look. No way. Again, appropriate for a much younger foot. Then the perforated, dusty-tomato-red flats caught my eye. They were seamed on the outside, so there was a ridge that followed the circumference of the shoe, and the perforations actually made an interesting folksy design that brought the ugly color to a level of interest that caught my fancy. I tried them on. The heel was a bit loose, but not too much so. I generally do not like flats because they square off my appearance more than my preferred one to two inch heels do.

I wore the tomato shoes to decide if I actually liked them, and then something that resembled my grandmother's orthopedic shoes jumped out at me. Oh boy, were they UGLY! And there were THREE pairs! The one that looked most like Grandma's shoes were beige, another pair was peacock blue and the third pair was mint green. They were a wedge sandal with leather supports that had pinhole perforations - just like Grandma's. They laced up the center with wide cotton laces - just like Grandma's. HIDEOUS! The mint green shoes had obviously been there the longest as they were marked down the most. The original price was $178.00. The beige and blue shoes were marked down to $89.00, but those poor mint green ones - the ones that had languished on the shelf the longest, were marked down to $44.50! I just HAD to try them on, poor things! Then magic happened. Much like Rudolph with his shining nose became a valued member of Santa's team of reindeer, those mint green orthopedic-like sandals became beautiful, foot-slimming, statement shoes! They embraced my feet like they were hugging their long-lost mother. I couldn't leave them in the Discount Room! Yes, they came home with me. And guess what! They go with a lot of things!

This season's cabi collection is all about showing the shoe. Cropped and ankle pants are the thing! These mint green sandals are a nice complement to the bright colors in the tops as well.

The green "olives" in the Martini Top pop as they catch the green color of the sandals below the white Destructed Slim Boyfriend jeans.

The Cliffside Jacket has hints of green and pink in its pattern and coordinates well with the green sandals. With the Go-To Trouser as another crop that really shows these shoes off,  the white Asymmetrical Tank plus the sandals give this otherwise conservative look a noticeable edge of style. Add some funky jewelry, and away you go!

There are many more outfits these shoes coordinate with. Who would have thought green could be neutral? Granted, they don't go with EVERYTHING, but they go with more than I expected - and they are FUN! I cannot imagine why these shoes lingered in Schuler's Discount Room long enough to be marked down by 75%, but I'm glad they waited for ME! It pays to play - even if I adopt shoes I didn't need before I went out to shop. I need them now, and I'm so happy to have them. I bet my grandmother would like them, too!

Need an excuse to go shopping? Then clean your closet!

Have you audited your closet lately? If you're anything like me, you probably look at your closet and think auditing it is something to do another day. It is a big job, but one that is worthwhile because you will cull out the chaff that prevents you from seeing the fantastic outfits you already have, and it prevents you from seeing the gaps in your collection that scream, "YOU GET TO GO SHOPPING!" Plus, the castoffs that still have some life in them get to go to either a consignment shop that will give you a percentage of the sale of your items, or they can be donated to a shelter or other charity organization that will make sure another woman will enjoy the pieces you no longer need. Are you ready to make sense out of your closet? Let's get started.

First, set aside an afternoon when you can work uninterrupted as this project could take a few hours. You'll need:

1. a supply of thin, felt-covered hangers that take up less space than those heavy plastic ones (Costco has nice hangers for a very low price - something like $15 for 35 hangers)

2. a space to place items that will go to a consignment shop (another room - out of sight, out of mind)

3. a large bag for items going to charity

4. a bag for items going to the trash

5. optional but very helpful for sorting: a rolling rack to hang items you will keep

6. a determined mindset that is willing to make firm and final decisions

Step 1:

Empty your closet! Put everything on your bed. Now you are obligated to finishing this project because you won't be able to sleep until your bed is uncovered! Plus, you'll discover some hidden treasures you probably forgot were pushed way in the back behind that chaff you need to get rid of. Don't be afraid. Do it!

Step 2:

The sorting process begins! How do you decide what is chaff and what is gold? After all, that chaff was once gold, right? Plus, sometimes chaff is just tarnished gold...should it stay or should it go? Well, here are the steps to follow to make those decisions. Just make sure that your decisions are firm. Don't waffle! There are many more pieces of gold you can shop for after all, right?

1. Is the item worn out, misshapen, faded or pilled? If yes, then OUT IT GOES! Put it firmly into the TRASH bag....NOW!

2. Does the item fit? If not, place it in either the consignment area or charity bag keeping in mind that consignment shops generally only take items that are on hangers and are current in fashion and still in good, wearable condition. Charities aren't as picky, but don't give them stuff that should be tossed - please.

3. If the item fits, is it still in fashion? If no, send it to charity or toss it in the trash.

4. If the item fits and it is still in fashion, do you LOVE it? Have you worn it within the past year, or has it only been closet decoration? I have this one white tank that has a cute silver doodad that gathers the fabric in just the right place. I LOVE that shirt, and it fits! When have I last worn it? Ummmm....I do not remember. I haven't parted with it because I want to wear it! Thing is, it's time to part with that piece of closet decoration because I'm not giving it the love it deserves. Sad. I know. :'( But decisions need to be firm and final.

5. Does the item flatter your figure? Do you look GREAT in it? If yes, then KEEP!

Step 3:

Organize your closet! Everyone has their own idea of how to best organize their closet according to how they "shop" for their daily outfits.

I'll share how I've organized mine. Due to how my closet is configured, I have it divided in two with subdivisions within each. The left half of my closet is for warm weather items such as tanks, tee shirts and light or short-sleeved blouses. Within this division, everything is sorted by occasion (my house cleaning tee shirts don't get to mingle with my dressy blouses) and then by style. Some people go so far as to sort by color too, but when it comes time to doing laundry, I take a short-cut and just hang like items with like items. I can see what color they are! From left to right, I hang my camis, then tanks, sleeveless dressy tops, short-sleeved blouses, dressy tees and then waaaay over to the right, I hang those worn out tee shirts that are only good enough to bathe my dogs in. My cold weather items are hung on the right side of the closet (oh, did I mention my husband has to use a closet in another bedroom?? ;) ) On that side, I sort from left to right in this order: jackets, sweaters (it's better to fold sweaters, but I don't have shelf space!), turtle/cowl necks, long sleeved shirts, dress blouses, skirts, pants, and then dresses.

You get the idea. Think of how clothes are displayed in a boutique! Who says you can't have your own boutique in your own closet to shop from each day? Make your closet attractive, so you can have FUN making outfits for yourself!

Step 4:

Shop from your own closet! Your closet is like a painter's pallet. Be creative! Be daring! Put together the wildest combinations to dare yourself and stretch your imagination! You'll be surprised by what is already there. Really, we are limited more by our mindset than by what is in our closets. Timing is important with this exercise. It can't be done when you are in a rush to get out the door for work. Who has time to be creative when you are running late? If you play in your closet the night before, I can assure that you will have a fun outfit the next day if you lay it out the night before. Playing with your pallet of clothes is not only fun, but necessary. How else are you going to discover the gaps in your collection? If you shop like most of us, you pick up a piece or two here and there and hang it in the closet. Soon, you have a collection that quite likely is overlooking SOMETHING. Perhaps you gravitate toward one color and never consider pieces of another color. Perhaps that brightly colored floral scarf you ignored at the store would really enhance that light blue sweater you never wear because it just looks "blah". Play. Discover. Find an excuse to go SHOPPING!

Signs of early spring?

The weather forecast predicts temperatures to reach a high of 42 degrees on Thursday reaching up to 48 degrees by Saturday! Considering we just survived -7 degrees a few days ago, it seems miraculous that we will enjoy a 55 degree warm-up that will surely melt all the snow that was dumped on us only two weeks ago. Can spring be on its way so soon?

Our shoe choice will lean toward galoshes and rain boots as the weather changes from frozen to sloppy to finally - SANDAL SEASON! We are dreaming of this spring's must-haves even in the weeks that drag before spring is officially here. In Minnesota, spring may remain winter until summer finally arrives, but that won't slow down a Minnesotan woman, especially when she wants to wear her new cabi Traveler Pant, Go-To Trousers or Mesh M'Leggings!

Those espadrilles and strappy sandals? Yeah. They are ready and waiting next to the ankle booties that will transition them from the dark depths of winter to the bright breaks of hopeful sunshine - whenever spring decides to show itself - even if for only one weekend before winter swallows us again.

If your closet isn't ready yet, here are some ideas to tend to ASAP:  https://tamimerry.cabionline.com/must-have-women-clothes/

Need those galoshes or rain boots? Get some with STYLE!  http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr/galoshes

Villa Necklace - cabi Spring 2016 Collection

This season's most versatile jewelry piece is cabi's Villa Necklace. This dramatic accessory can be worn in three lengths: a classic 10" length that encircles the neck in glittering strands of silver; a graceful 13" length that drapes the strands to a flattering rest at the breastbone, and the dramatic 20" length that drapes the multi-patterned chain to the top of the mid-section.

When taken apart, the Villa Necklace becomes five separate pieces that can be mixed and matched to become various necklaces that can be paired with sections that become two bracelets that glitter like diamond faceted chains. This one piece that is so adaptable to any outfit will add solid class to your wardrobe. It is one to fall in love with!

Let's fashion this blog together!

Welcome to Garbs and Gabs! This blog is in its infancy and though it is expected to serve as a place to connect with others in a fun way to share fashion trends and styling ideas, certainly, it will grow in unexpected directions. You are invited to participate in its growth by sharing your inspirations and styling creations especially featuring pieces you own from cabi.

If you are already familiar with cabi, then you understand the addiction to the boutique-quality clothes that beautifully range from casual to business attire; intermixing easily from one season to the next. With just a few pieces, your wardrobe is full of endless possibilities! For those new to this brand, you will understand as soon as you own your first cabi outfit. But it never ends with one cabi outfit. Once hooked, your collection will grow as your addiction grows!