Shopping Addict, Part One: Recession Tips

The thing about sitting on your butt in front of a computer all day is that you are invariably drawn to alternative methods of shopping. The boy likes to say that my shopping disease is borne of being a woman, but I'm pretty sure there are a ton of metrosexual guys out there who spend just as much time on E-bay, Multiply, and the multitude of other online stores.

Indeed, one of my favorite past times is cyber window shopping. Granted, 50% of the time "looking" turns into "buying", but given that I like to look at sites like Juicy Couture and Tiffany-- well. Let's just say that most of the time, buying isn't really an option. Lol.

Still, I've recently discovered that buying Plus Size Dresses and/or Maxi styles on sale and then rouching the heck out of the waistband (either via the classic method or just with a belt), makes me look:

1) Lost in a sea of Boho fabric and
2) Really skinny.

Since the entire fashion world has tightened their collective sequin-studded Dolce belts, people have been scrabbling around to update old looks with cheap new accessories or affordable alterations. My method of choice has been, of course, to shop during sales more often. :P

Still, this recession tip doesn't really help my shoe fetish, and when I see gorgeous little numbers like Simply Be's T-Bar, my mouth waters just a little bit. :|There's just something about red shoes that gets to me. I'm not sure if it's the sexy gloss of patent leather or the fact that the heels guarantee that I won't be able to walk in that pair. Either way, when you've got size 10 feet in the Philippines, you're (mostly) doomed to online shopping for shoes that fit.

And really, summer is practically over! I should stop looking at all those floral summer dresses. You know what I'm talking about-- the sleeveless, sexy little bits of cloth that hug your body in all the right places and billow around your legs. Dresses like this:

Why, oh why do I torture myself like this?

I've promised myself to stick to my monthly clothing and shoe budget, and last month I went just a tiny bit over. This month is going to be another trial, since the start of the rainy season pretty much equals a veritable slew of new fashion!

I guess I'll just have to keep telling myself that fashion favors the creative recession shopper!