This has been the weirdest fall ever. The weather is so strange, it’s enough to give me the chills. Except, it’s not really cold. I mean, I still have peppers in my garden. Not that I’m complaining. I hate freezing weather. And yet, I find… Read More
Thank you. From the top of my recently highlighted head to the tip of my woefully un-pedicured toes, I am filled with gratitude for you, my dear readers. Your enthusiasm for the first-ever ShopGirl Beauty Poll was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Good… Read More
All sorts of freaks come out at Halloween. Like me. And my sister. And my mom – I mean, my mummy. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i… Read More
As soon as I saw Chanel’s Black Satin nail polish this summer, I knew things were looking up. You see, I’m not one of those gals who limits her manicure options to tasteful shades of ballerina pink or subdued nude.I have crooked fingers and short… Read More
Remember that song, “The Things We Do for Love”? – “Walking in the rain and the snow, when there’s nowhere to go, and you’re feeling like a part of you is dying.” Rain? Snow? Nowhere to go? Who cares? I say, if you really want… Read More
A few months ago, I bought a lovely lampworked bead made by a pair of local glass artisans. Feeling inspired, I went to A.C. Moore, where I picked up a roll of plastic-coated steel wire and a few jewelry findings. I went home, set up… Read More
This fall, I sense a warming trend – warm colors, warm sweaters, warm jewelry. Warm jewelry? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if… Read More
The kids are off to school. And while they’re laboring over “The Grapes of Wrath,” you’re kicking back in a bubble bath, relishing the grapes of Pinot Noir. Yeah, right. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
Sometimes, ShopGirl’s just a girl who shops. Usually, I’m trolling the aisles with a theme in mind. During the holidays, there are stocking stuffers and must-have gifts. For back-to-school, the obvious topic is school clothes. But this week, I decided to write about what I… Read More
The American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront is all about tradition. And while I’m not sure anyone would call me folksy, I’ve started a few traditions of my own at the festival. Not surprisingly, many of them revolve around shopping. No visit to the… Read More
For anyone over the age of 20, the distance between what you think is cool and what high school kids think is cool is canyonesque. I mean, I write about fashion and I never would’ve seen the whole Crocs thing coming. With that in mind,… Read More
Back when I was a young lass, I covered my books with inside-out Shaw’s bags and stored my files in a Trapper Keeper. And though I didn’t have to walk 10 miles through a blizzard to get to school, I didn’t have the luxury of an iPod, cell… Read More
What do you do when you get to the edge of the earth? Shop. What’d you think I was going to say, jump? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i =… Read More
I am sooooo lucky. At the beginning of July, my best friend got married. I was the matron of honor. There were four other bridesmaids. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var… Read More
I heart my iPod. There, I’ve said it. It’s love. And it’s real. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if… Read More
What do a hula hoop, midseason clearance sales and a pair of Nine West pumps have in common? My stupid back. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i… Read More
Now that the rain has stopped for five minutes, it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors. And by great, I don’t mean buggy or muggy. The arrival of the sun happens to coincide with the arrival of massive clearance sales on all sorts of outdoor… Read More
Whoever said diamonds are a girl’s best friend never owned a motorcycle. Just ask Tammy Mills. Last Christmas, a long, slender package beckoned her from under the tree. It was just the right size for the new chrome pipes for her Harley she’d been hinting… Read More
An open-air market with local crafters, mouth-watering food and live music? In Bangor? How bazaar! googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More
As women, we’re used to skirt hemlines going up and down like yo-yos from season to season. But pants? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length;… Read More
Moms have all the luck. On Mother’s Day, they’re showered with jewelry and chocolate, and the celebration usually includes some sort of champagne brunch. What do dads get? Ties. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
I recently gave two talks – one in Bangor, the other in Caribou – each dealing with the topic of service. As in, customer service. You may have heard of the concept. Or not. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
Root canals. Reeds under fingernails. Disturbing a hornets’ nest. Few things are more painful than trying on a swimsuit, unless you’re actress Eva Longoria. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
I’m a glassy lass. It all started with a necklace. ShopGuy returned from London a few years back bearing the most striking piece of jewelry I’d ever seen: a clear rectangle of glass, fused together with tiny filaments of metal embedded between the layers, suspended… Read More
It seems every time I turn around, someone tells me she’s having a baby. Even my TV heroes – Sydney Bristow of “Alias” and Dr. Bailey of “Grey’s Anatomy” – just had babies. I’m completely in awe of these women. I can barely cook dinner when I get… Read More
Sure signs of spring: Crocuses. Croci. Whatever the plural of crocus is. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0]… Read More
I have a confession to make: I’m a closet conservative. As in, my closet is conservative. More so than one would expect from a woman who shops for a living. It has taken me a very, very long time to break out of my usual… Read More
When I go on a shopping trip, it’s more like a voyage. Last year, I hit Fredericton. Last month, it was Connecticut. This month, Caribou. My poor car needs a rest. And so does my trunk. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
I’m a garden show fanatic. There’s something about the smell of mulch, the sound of falling water, and the sight of greenery and flowers all around that really inspire me. But I have a confession to make: I spend as much time shopping at the… Read More
Other people’s thoughts may turn to love in springtime, but mine turn immediately to love handles. Usually, I’m not one of those people who obsesses over her weight. But when I tried on a few bathing suits last month, I noticed that a winter’s worth… Read More
If my wardrobe were a country, T-shirts would be president. They flat-out rule – to heck with checks and balances. My outfits, especially in the swing states (OK, swing seasons) couldn’t function properly without them. Sometimes, they’re conservative. Other times, they’re a little liberal. But… Read More
This time of year, I have a split shopping personality. On the one hand, I’m ready for spring, and all the joy it brings. What’s not to love about flip-flops, floaty tops and Bermuda shorts? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
I had a religious experience last week. I wasn’t at church. I didn’t get saved – although I did save. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i… Read More
Winter gloom? Get a bloom. Flowers and houseplants are the perfect antidote to the waiting-for-spring blues. It may be cold, windy and gray outdoors, but indoors, your home can become a lush, fragrant, tropical oasis. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
My life looks good on paper. All those committees, all that volunteer work, all those big words. If you read my resume, you’d think I had it together. Then there’s the newspaper. See that headshot? Notice the clear skin, the bright eyes, the nonexistent roots. Read More
It was a Sunday morning. While ShopGuy worked upstairs, I surreptitiously connected to the Internet. After what seemed like a lifetime, I logged on to Netflix, but I didn’t really care what was in my queue. It was a ruse, much like you call up… Read More
I’ve never been one to buy off the mannequin. “Coordinates” and “separates” aren’t my style. And from a shopping perspective, they’re just no fun. Call me fickle, but part of the thrill has always been the chase – scanning the racks, digging through clearance piles and discovering that… Read More
Roses are fine, violets are boring. So why buy a gift that leaves your Valentine snoring? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if… Read More
I’ve been a bargain shopper since I was a teenager. Sure, I was in tune with the fashions of the day – if you could call them that. I had the flip-top jeans from Express, the latest tennis sweater from the Gap, and those snap-ankle Forenza pants from… Read More
For the longest time, whenever I passed by a display of “natural beauty products,” visions of trustafarians – dreadlocked, patchouli-scented trust-funders who spurn consumerism yet have no qualms driving around in Mom and Dad’s Lexus SUV – danced in my head. The closest I ever… Read More
Remember that David Lee Roth song “Sensible Shoes”? Yeah, me too. I always hated it. Maybe I was jealous that his hair looked way better feathered than mine did. But I think it had more to do with the concept. I mean, of all the… Read More
The other day, as I was rummaging through my closet trying to get ready for work, I came to a startling conclusion: Almost all of my winter clothes are black, gray, brown or tan. Oh, and I have an off-white coat, too. Woo hoo! I do own a… Read More
Ah, 2005, we hardly knew ye. And yet, you left a few indelible fashion impressions. There were highs (heels included), and lows (low-rises, that is). Glitter and fur and fabulousness ruled, while Willy Wonka glasses and the universally unflattering gauchos turned heads. Not in a… Read More
People always tell me I have the perfect job. They’re right, of course. Getting paid to shop is, as most would imagine, a pretty fabulous way to make a living. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
If only all guys were like ShopCat at the holidays. Give him some Whisker Lickins and a bag of catnip, and he’s good to go. Thing is, when it comes to gifts, guys of the nonfeline variety are a bit particular. They don’t just want,… Read More
Victoria’s Secret is on to something with that “Give me everything I want and nothing I need” holiday ad campaign. I like the way those girls think. This year, take a tip from ShopGirl (or, if you’d prefer, from Tyra Banks and Gisele Bundchen) and… Read More
I’m a freak about the holidays. There. I said it. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function ()… Read More
You’d better not shove, you’d better not cut. You’d better not swear – I’m telling you what: ShopGirl is coming to town. She knows when you have cart rage. She knows when you’ve been rude. She knows when you give poor store clerks a heap… Read More
Last week, I had the pleasure of watching “Shopgirl” the movie. The resemblance between Mirabelle – the shopgirl of the title, played by Claire Danes – and ShopGirl the columnist, played by me, lies in name only. She has a much better stylist – nobody… Read More
Ah, Thanksgiving. A time to gather, to share, to, well, give thanks. However, “thanks” isn’t the first word you’ll hear the hostess mutter when she’s elbow-deep in a giant turkey, trying to extract the giblets at 4 a.m. And that’s hours before the ingrate cousins… Read More
Sock it to me, baby! Fall’s cooler weather prompts sole-searching for the perfect pair of warm socks
Let’s talk about socks. I know, I know, it’s a little personal, and frankly, what you do in the privacy of your own shoes is none of my business. But what I’ve seen in the stores is enough to make me want to play footsie. Read More
Among my friends, I’m infamous for the backstory. I can’t launch into a tale without laying a foundation – Why did I end up at the hardware store in the first place? What color rainjacket was I wearing? Did I scream when my Corona erupted,… Read More
I’m leaving on a jet plane – do know when I’ll be back again. Unfortunately, I’m only going to Florida for a week, but that’s no excuse not to shop – and there are plenty of travel goodies out there. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
The whole domesticity gene missed me. Until recently, I’ve been of the school that thinks, “Why clean it if it’s going to get dirty again anyway?” Hence, my house is a disaster. The fact that we’re renovating has something to do with it, but that… Read More
Rita and Katrina. They’re no Dolce and Gabbana, yet everyone is talking about them and the (disturbing) trends they’ve left in their wake. To heck with a logo bag. At these prices, it seems gas and heating oil are the status items of the season. Read More
Remember that dork in your sixth-grade class? The one with the all-wrong hair. The one who wore plaid slacks while everyone else wore acid-washed jeans? The one who came to school dressed in a white blouse while all the other kids sported Bon Jovi T-shirts?… Read More
Love, exciting and new. Step inside, we’re expecting you… If clothing could sing, that’s what the pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans I found at T.J.’s last week would’ve crooned. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = [];… Read More
My friends who aren’t journalists are a little hesitant to get in the car with me – surprisingly, it has nothing to do with my driving. They’re turned off by the mountain of discarded coffee cups, the bottles and cans rolling around on the floor, the coffee stains… Read More
Forget folk art. This weekend, I’m interested in folk mart. It’s time once again for thousands of folk festival fans to descend on the Bangor waterfront for a weekend full of great music, belt-busting food and unique, Maine-made handcrafts. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
When I was in college, I had to trudge miles through the snow to get to class – with bare feet. Yeah, right. To me, good footwear is like an American Express card. I never leave home without it. I may not have gotten frostbite… Read More
At the recent cosmetics trends show at Filene’s, I learned a few things. Who knew polypeptides were Clinique’s answer to plastic surgery? Not me, and I’m a Clinique girl. I may have been living under a rock for the last month or so because I had NO idea… Read More
Some women can never have enough shoes. Others are wild about status bags or expensive denim. It’s not that I don’t care about these things (hence my current craving for a pair of $290 Seven boy-cut jeans). But ever since ShopGuy and I bought a… Read More
You’d never tell I’m a New Englander by birth. Perhaps I was a Floridian in another life – I have an unnatural obsession with all things Lilly Pulitzer, giant sunglasses, the combination of pink and green and most frozen cocktails. And I drive like an old lady on… Read More
Do you hear what I hear? I hope not, because I can’t hear a thing. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More
Word to the wise: Don’t try to shop in Blue Hill on a Monday in March. Unless you need flaxseed oil at the co-op, you’ll be out of luck. Not one to let one failed pre-summer attempt deter me, I returned last Friday to find a completely different… Read More
You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high-flying flag. But I don’t want you flying – or lying – on my table. Sorry. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i =… Read More
To market, to market to buy a great bag. Home again, home again, jiggety jag. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More
I’m the world’s biggest klutz. Just this morning I rammed into a trashcan on the way out of the ladies’ room at work. An hour later, I went flying when I tripped over my daily planner, which happened to be on the floor next to my desk. My… Read More
Go ahead, make Dad’s day. This Father’s Day, try something fun, something unique, something he wouldn’t buy for himself. And by that, I don’t mean another tie, a picture frame or boxed handkerchiefs. What’s novel about blowing your nose? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
What’s the buzz in eastern Maine this spring? Is it tunics? Metallic ballet slippers? The Louis Vuitton cherry bag? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length;… Read More
You’d think the pomp and circumstance, the caps and gowns, the diplomas and hourlong speeches would be enough. But no. Grads want gifts, too. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for… Read More
My life has gone to the dogs. Where once I wore black fearlessly, I now carry a lint brush wherever I go. Snoutprints cloud the windows of my car. At night, I trip over paws on my way to the bathroom. And you wouldn’t believe… Read More
April showers brought May flowers. Now what? Again, my friends, it’s time to shop. If you’re a green thumb, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of goodies for gardeners out there. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
We’re like Thelma and Louise, my sister and I. Except it’s Jessica and Kristen. And we hit the road a few weeks ago in search of bargains, not because either of us is on the lam. Oh, and for some strange reason, we didn’t meet up with Brad… Read More
Is there anyone cooler than mom? I mean, really. Who taught you how to find bargains? Who showed you how to coordinate? Who told you not to wear white before Memorial Day? Who introduced you to T.J. Maxx and Renys? Now, as Mother’s Day looms,… Read More
It seems every time I turn around, someone I know is pregnant. This is great news, but then my friends ask the inevitable: Where do I find cute maternity clothes? What should I buy? When should I buy it? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Ready for a spring fling? I am. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
April showers bring … a great opportunity to shop. What’d you think I was going to say? May flowers? You’ll have to wait a month to read about that. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner… Read More
Ah, to be young – and modest – again. Last week, I had the pleasure of taking my husband’s cousin Michelle shopping. She’s 12. She’s a sweetie. She’s visiting from Germany. And she wanted American jeans (isn’t that always the case?). googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
This time of year, I’m like the Easter bunny. Minus the cotton-ball tail and floppy ears. And instead of hopping along, I go shopping along. OK, I’m really not like the Easter bunny at all. I just like to fill baskets, which is easy to… Read More
Let me be frank. I think Old Navy is the bee’s knees. You all know of my love for Target. And don’t get me started about T.J.s. But there’s something special about shopping someplace other than the mall and its environs. Unique shops – the… Read More
There’s a reason why they say hope springs eternal. When it comes to “springs,” or should I say, “spring,” hope is all we’ve got in northern Maine. And we’ll be hoping against hope for eternity. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
Lately, I’ve been seeing signs. No, I don’t mean crop circles or the Virgin Mary on a piece of stale toast – it’s much better than all that, unless, of course, blessed anadama is your idea of a good time. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
Louis, Louis. Oh, no, we got to go now. Yeah, Mr. Faux-tton, I’m talking to you. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if… Read More
To all of you stylish gals who are heading to hot climates during February vacation or spring break, I have one thing to say: I’m soooooo jealous. But rather than let the green-eyed monster rear its ugly head, I decided to do something about it. Read More
Editor’s note: For this week’s column, ShopGirl has teamed up with ShopCrone, a k a NEWS assignment editor Jeanne Curran, who has a passion for fashion, shopping channels, and all things Parisian. ShopCrone: Ah, midwinter and the thoughts of virgins and faux virgins turn to… Read More
It’s been awhile since I’ve packed up the shopping wagon and hit the road for a real excursion. Last week, I decided it was time for a little northern exposure, so I threw on the North Face, dug out my hat and mittens and took I-95 as far… Read More
Let me spin you a yarn. Once upon a time, a fair-haired maiden showed up at her magical place of employment to find a cheerfully wrapped package on her cluttered desk. “Open me,” it said. So she did. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var… Read More
You can blame it on my childish ignorance, but in the town where I grew up it seemed that every woman who turned 50 marked the occasion by cutting off her hair, perming it and dying it a shoe-polish shade of red that can best be described as… Read More
Some girls have all the luck. Kayla Noddin of Milford is one of them. For her Sweet 16, her mother, Jennifer Rossignol, threw her a luau party AND gave her a giant shopping spree. Since her birthday falls right after Christmas, it was a joint gift,… Read More
Happy New Year! Bonne Annee! Feliz Navidad! Oh, wait, wrong holiday. Anyway, I’m sure you’re all finished your post-holiday shopping. It’s been nearly a week since the big night of partying, so you should’ve recovered by now. Most of you probably already have written your… Read More
My sister, ShopGirl Jr., swears that if she sees another pair of Isotoner gloves under the Christmas tree, she’s going to flip. She has at least five pairs of perfectly good mittens already, and besides, the whole idea of taupe or mauve driving gloves makes… Read More
If my life were a comic strip, it would be a cross between “Blondie” and “Brenda Starr: Reporter” with a little of the drama of “For Better or Worse” thrown into the mix. Notice I didn’t mention “Mark Trail.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
To heck with home. From this shopper’s perspective, there’s no place like Camden for the holidays. This time of year, the pretty little town dresses up in its Christmas finery, rolls out the red carpet, and offers cold, hungry consumers hot spiced cider and gingerbread… Read More
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – especially if you like to dress up and chat with people you don’t know over merlot and Chex mix. And really, who doesn’t? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
Gift-giving is a tricky thing. Especially when you’re trying to pick out the perfect present for your wife, mom, sister, grandmother or best friend. Sure, the thought counts, but it doesn’t hurt if that thought is well-executed. Does she really need another pair of taupe… Read More
I don’t care what the Beatles say. All I need is gloves. And a hat. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice())… Read More
If you saw my car, you’d be appalled. It’s not pink or anything, it’s just a mess. See, my job is the best of both worlds – I’m always interviewing interesting people, and I get to shop for a living. But this does not bode well for my… Read More
Feeling crafty? This is your weekend. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) { if (isMobileDevice()) { if (slot_sizes[i][0] googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
I’d like to say the thought of dollar stores once repulsed me, but I’d be lying. The first time I went to one, I couldn’t believe my good fortune, and promptly filled my shopping basket with all sorts of stuff I didn’t need – trinkets,… Read More