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Dec
7
Local shopping, by mail.
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Nothing brightens a dreary day more than a package under the mat on the front porch*. Just last week, the Shop Tart juggled the child, coffee mug, oversize carry-on handbag, laptop bag and everything else she was carrying as she unlocked the door and kicked a package inside, holding the mail from the box next to the door in her mouth, because G-d forbid she should have to make more than one trip. The package was lovely, wrapped in brown paper and tied with what appeared to be re-purposed red and white twine, stamped with the word “Library” in old-fashioned script.
On Black Friday weekend, the Shop Tart had taken advantage of Library’s online sale. For those of you who aren’t familiar, Library: Archives of Fashion is a vintage showroom in Charleston, South Carolina. Owner Lauren Lail culls pieces from all over, just for you. Back in July, Lauren came to Columbia for a trunk show at VanJean. Her stuff is nothing short of awesome, exactly the sort of thing you wish you could find in a thrift store by chance. (Shop Tart Tip: It’s not that easy. Leave it to the pros like Lauren.) Until December 20th, Library goods can be seen at Novel, a temporary shop on King Street, along with merchandise from other local vendors, including Balboa and Jane Pope jewelry.
So, the Shop Tart had almost forgotten her late-night order from Library, placed while her husband snored like a truck. (Shop Tart Tip for Snoring Spouses: Watch the snoring. It can lead to a sense of entitlement for her pain and suffering and some serious midnight shopping by your weary partner.) She opened the package to find this chic little note, on Library’s own - specially created, obvi - stationary.
The Shop Tart was experiencing retro-chic ecstasy and she hadn’t even opened the package. She had chills. Her lame day was already transformed. She remembered she had ordered a skinny gray belt. She had seen the belt at Library’s VanJean trunk show and didn’t buy it. She already had two gray belts, one medium width purchased in Paris and a wide, vintage Donna Karan, found in New York City**. But, but…she recently realized skinny belts suit her more. (This does not mean she won’t wear the others. She does not believe in that “what not to wear” cr*p. She was not put on this earth to look pretty. Neither were you. You like it? Rock it.) Without further ado, the belt!
If she had her druthers - and a bigger bank account - she would so totally wear it with the Phillip Lim dress at the bottom of this post. Maybe one day, that dress will go on sale. The Shop Tart has been stalking it for a while. Anyhow…the belt will look great with plenty of things already in the Shop Tart’s closet. Hooray!
Even more important than what you wear is where you wear it, n’est-ce pas? Check the calendar, as there are plenty of in-store events and restaurant specials to enjoy with friends. Solstice wants you and they want you bad. If you purchase a gift certificate there, you’ll get a free bottle of wine for every $50 you spend. This is a good and sneaky way to get a discount on gift certificates for all your closest business associates. Remember that Solstice gift certificates are also good at chef/owner Ricky Mollohan’s other joints, Cellar on Greene and Mr. Friendly’s, which makes them the perfect gift for someone whose tastes you don’t know all that well. And…on Saturday, Ricky updated his Facebook page as follows.
Ricky Mollohan…in lieu of the holidays, i have decided that next week will be Tacky Christmas Sweater/Skip a Xmas Party Week at all three restaurants!! if you show up with an Xmas sweater on we will take 20% off your total bill! If you show up with an invitation from a Xmas party for that same evening, we’ll reward you with a Half-of…f your food! We cant beat Christmas without giving stuff away, so GAME ON Santa Claus!!
Underneath, he added:
Plus: no sweatervests allowed! has to have either snow, a snowman, a xmas tree, reindeer or some other kind of xmas item on it. or if it lights up and/or sings a song that’s ok too.
So, which will it be? Solstice, Cellar or Mr. Friendly’s? The Shop Tart is in. (She will need to borrow a Christmas sweater, though. And she wonders if she will be required to wear it for the entire meal? She has no shame for a discount.)
If you need shoes - and you probably do - head to Kicks this week with a donation for Christmas Kids. They are offering 20 percent off your purchase (even if the item is already on sale) if you bring toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, diapers, wipes, deodorant, tissue, childrens’ socks, childrens’ underwear, feminine products, children’s books, or unwrapped toys to donate. Christmas Kids provides much-needed items to children in emergency foster care in Richland and Lexington counties.
Need an outfit to go with the shoes? (Ever read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Happy Shopping and don’t forget to tell them you read it on the Shop Tart!
* Dear UPS Guy: Putting the package under the mat is not very sneaky. From the street, it looks like a package. Under a mat. It might be less noticeable if you just put the package beside the mat. Really. But nobody has ever taken anything off the porch, so it’s all good.
** Speaking of New York City, the Shop Tart was thrilled when she turned to page 154 of the December issue of Vogue, where a dress by Joanna Baum, designer of Sir, was featured. The Shop Tart met Joanna and fell in lurrrrrve with her stuff earlier this year.
P.S. So, the Shop Tart is keeping a pile of charity requests by the fruit bowl on her counter. She and Mr. Shop Tart will take them out one night over a bottle of bubbly while the children are nestled all snug in their beds. They will go through them, donating various amounts in various people’s names. This makes an excellent gift, especially for people who had a hand in your upbringing. They probably don’t need or want anything you can afford and it will make them feel like they raised you right. Besides - duh - it’s kind of a good thing to do. Soon, she would like to provide a list of local charities along with links to donate to them. If you have any suggestions for this list, please email the Shop Tart with the details. Merci!
P.P.S. It was brought to the Shop Tart’s attention that some people were unable to view the fab Kenneth Jay Lane necklace from VanJean in Friday’s post. The problem has been corrected and you can see it now.
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The Shop Tart Loves...
“She was not put on this earth to look pretty. Neither were you. You like it? Rock it.”
Somebody say, “Amen!”
BTW–we have a UPS woman. Is it weird to know your UPS deliveryperson by sight?