J. Crew sale

I feel silly posting this after my posts from yesterday but J. Crew has 40% off sale items if you spend over $100 plus free shipping. So I've been shopping this morning and spent quite a bit. Before I go further, I admit that three items are Christmas gifts for next year so it isn't all bad. I was demurring then remembered rushing around Manhattan on a tight deadline last month, not finding things I liked, spending more than I wanted and piling on the stress. So, I got gifts for two close family members in January and saved a lot in the process. It's not even 9 am in the second week in January and my Christmas shopping is part done. I think that's an improvement in time management.

As for myself, I got three cardigans and a leather bag. With the three gifts and taxes it all came to about $350 which seems a lot but I now have an everyday bag that isn't Mayle and won't be ruined in the rain. And much as it amuses Evan, I do wear my cardigans a lot. Here, then, are my finds (the Christmas presents aren't shown, for obvious reasons). There was a lot of stock and many things I could have bought but I edited my baskets to make sure I didn't overspend on items I'd never end up wearing.

 I have a thing for dark and olive green sweaters and liked this when it first came out. It has that vintage knit quality I like (in this instance, a bit of thrift store thrown in). It was down from $118 to about $50 with the discount. I hope it is soft.

Cardigan #2. I wanted a cable cardigan this year and hope this one fits. I'd usually get a L in this style as it looks like it may be thick and run a little smaller (and because I have got too fat) but the M was the only one left. That said, I am an M in J. Crew sweaters unless they have a ridiculously shrunken cut. Around $55 after the markdowns, this looks like something useful for our current weather.

Cashmere and subtle sparkles for $60. Really, what's not to like? I got this in a L. No Ms left when I ordered and I think this one may run small. It's also J. Crew Collection so I'm hoping it will not pill. Plus it looks like it could work until early summer.

I resisted many other lovely sweaters. I may go back for this one--or look for it in store--as I completely missed it in my first quick shop (when you have a bag in your basket you really have to act fast as they do sell out--they were gone from the site almost as soon as I checked out).

As for the bag, here it is. (it was $101 before taxes). I don't have anything like it and while I know it wasn't a necessary splurge, it is something I will use. Although here I know that I've been bad. So much for resisting the sales this year.

This is not the economical start to the year I promised myself but I promise to be frugal from now on. Of course I failed to mention my Club Monaco purchases from yesterday which I'll post about later (a dress and cashmere tunic). But given that this is sale time, I have resisted far more than I have spent. And I intend to carry on resisting more, spending less and saving. After all discipline builds character.