Deal Alert: ShopBop’s Big Event Sale

31 Comments

1. I need a reality check – is this bag formal enough for business situations (as in, normal business workdays when I’m in a dress or pencil skirt + blouse, or formal days with a full suit)?

   I like that it fits my laptop (and also can use as a camera bag for travel/weekends) –

   http://www.jototes.com/products/missy-black

   But am concerned it might be too casual…

   1. Absolutely 1000%. Not sure how there is a question.

      1. I think the two buckled pockets on the front are throwing me off and making me think it appears too casual. Other than that, I don’t think there’d be a doubt in my mind.

         1. My policy is that handbags should be *perfect.* Unlike clothes, they always fit. Unlike shoes, they’re almost always comfortable. So I don’t compromise on handbags, and if I had any reservations I would skip it and hold out for a different bag. YMMV etc.

         2. So I would say that you could find a more formal bag if that really matters to you, but if you like this bag and it works for you, I don’t think anyone would ever think, “too casual!”

            1. Agreed.

2. Maybe I’m just sensitive, but I’ve noticed that many of the responses on this particular site end with “not sure how there is a question” or “how is this even a question.” I don’t understand how that is a response? And I’ve seen it used as a reply for all sorts of questions – fashion, personal, business and whatnot. I mean, the reason it’s a question is because someone asked, no? I suppose it comes across as snarky to me. Terribly dismissive. I understand that we’re all bad-a$$, cut-throat, overachieving chicks who’ll wipe the floor with anyone who doesn’t come correct, but to respond to a person’s question in this manner is just…. yuck! I certainly would never use that phrase. If I needed a bit more clarity or detail about the question, I would ask for specifics – not completely disregard the merits of the asker.

   Is this a common way to address a person’s question? Feel free to respond with “I don’t see how this is a question…” :)

   1. I think on some level these responses are trying to reassure the questioner that it is something that they don’t need to worry about, that they are overthinking, and that they should trust their own judgment. To me, in the context of how many things that commenters on this site seem to judge that I would never think to notice, it is a little reassuring that no, we don’t need to parse the number of buckles on a black bag to decide if it is professional or not.

      1. Aaahhh, I see! Well, that makes sense. Thank you for responding.

3. There is a KS bag that I have decided to buy. It is sold at KS, Amazon/Zappos and major department stores (but not Shopbop).

   I can get 15% off at the KS site by signing up with email.

   Is there any way to get closer to 25-30% off? I have plenty of time, so I don’t mind waiting if I know that KS regularly offers sales or that a bag sale always comes at Amazon in April or whatever.

   Thanks for any info.

   1. KS does have 20-25% sales from time to time. If the bag is not discounted, I’d wait. If the bag is on sale and you really want it, I’d buy it now because it may be out of stock by the time the sale comes around. (I just bought a KS bag on sale last week – the Parker Street Aisley – and it’s no longer available on their website).

   2. If it is one of their whimsier items, like it’s spaceship shaped, it will definitely go on sale. So if it’s uniquely awesome to you (like if you work at Amtrak and want the train clutch) you can probably get a good discount by waiting.

   3. I would check out Macys–I’ve seen them have random 25% off sales on Kate Spade bags.

   4. Hey, I just got a 20 percent off coupon in today’s mail. Don’t know if you can stack them (or if it will work for your name/address, but If you post an email, I would be happy to send it to you.

4. It’s my boyfriend’s 30th birthday this weekend and I need present ideas! We’ve been going out for 5-ish months but things are still fairly casual, due to us both having very busy schedules but we’ve met each other’s friends and are seeing where things go.
   He gave me very thoughtful, though relatively inexpensive, Christmas and Valentines’s presents so I’d like to get something in that range, with a budget of about $50.
   Ideas so far – a watch of reasonable quality (he doesn’t wear one currently but said he’d like to), whiskey glasses. He is into whiskey, tech stuff, some video games, has a fairly professional wardrobe.
   Any input appreciated!

   1. I don’t think you’re going to get what you want with a $50 watch budget. Nice whiskey and whiskey rocks?

   2. I think it’s hard to find a good watch for $50 so I probably wouldn’t do a watch but if you do want to, I’d opt for either a classic Timex with a leather strap or a Skagen on sale if you want something a bit more interesting (you can get a black stainless steel for around $86 on amazon, and probably closer to $60 if you do some looking). Keep in mind that some people believe in a superstition that it’s bad luck to give a watch because you’ll break up or your time is limited or something like that. Obviously, I think that’s hooey, but I do think a watch is a more serious gift than one you’d give when you’re still fairly casual and only dating for 5 mos.

      I would opt for something like a nice bottle of whiskey (Balvenie, Bruichladdich 10 year old, or maybe a nice Japanese whiskey for something really different) and some nice rocks glasses/fancy ice cube trays (I don’t know why but I know so many guys who loves them). Or maybe go on a whiskey tasting together, that could be a fun experience and festive but still casual enough for where you are in the relationship.

      1. +1

         A whiskey tasting is a great idea! As is fancy ice cube trays – a guy once spent 15 minutes on a date explaining why fancy ice is necessary. I still don’t really get it but guys are big fans

      2. I am wondering if the idea that a watch is a “serious” gift is outdated now that most people don’t wear them. It used to be everyone had one or two inexpensive, everyday watches, and a Rolex or Movado (different price points but both luxurious) was a jewelry-type gift that showed major commitment. But if someone doesn’t even own a watch, would a Swatch or equivalent for <=$100 be out of place as a more casual gift?

         1. I can see that, but I think watches are also so specific to the person that you can easily go wrong when you don’t know a person well enough. It’s harder than jewelry to me. But maybe if the person doesn’t wear a watch at all and just wants one, it’s less loaded?

      3. I’ve never heard of that superstition about watches – just knives.

         I think I’m on some sort of whiskey related product hunt then…

   3. Thinkgeek has some fairly unique drinking accessories that might be appealing to pair with a whiskey. They have Star Trek and 20-sided die whiskey rocks, a Nintendo Gameboy flask, and the like.

5. I posted last week about looking for my unicorn black leather bag with a cross-body and shoulder strap option. I think I found it: http://www.shopbop.com/too-hot-handle-bentley-marc/vp/v=1/1529747286.htm?folderID=2534374302024667&fm=other-viewall&colorId=12867 AND thanks to the sale in the post I can get it for around $400, if I buy a $5 pack of note cards to bump the order up over $500. I haven’t been price-stalking Marc by Marc Jacobs bags, though–does anyone know if it would be likely to go on deeper discount? Or have any cautionary tales of poor quality?

   1. The red is down to $299 on 6pm dot com, so it’s certainly possible, especially during the spring/summer months, but if this is your unicorn and you are committed to the black color, I’d take it for $400.

      1. Cool, thanks. I’m going to sleep on it but will probably order tomorrow. I adhere to the handbags should be perfect philosophy mentioned above, and this is the one that hits all my (extremely detailed and specific) check boxes whose look I like the best. The shoulder strap could be a little longer, but if it’s too short when I get it ShopBop does free returns.

   2. My only problem with their bags is that I’ve found them to be very heavy in the past, but that will vary depending on the leather and the style. That was with a pebbled leather bag.

   3. I have this bag in “Teal Goblet” (dark green). It is definitely pretty weighty even when empty. Keep in mind there is no structure to it, like most MBMJ bags. I bought a “bag shaper” / organizer for it (chameleon inserts dot com), but it is still very floppy/slouchy, even when I’m wearing it. Lastly, there is no way to keep anything organized in there – everything always ends up piled on top of each other. Unfortunately, I’ve only used it about 5x since I purchased it in 2013 for these reasons.

6. White Birkenstocks, and white boyfriend jeans! Old Hippie Meets Miami Moderne!

7. I am thinking to buy a bag from there, thanks for the coupon!! A 15-20% off is a nice sweet spot to make me take action and buy it.

Comments are closed.