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Affordable Retail Therapy in the Hamptons

Feeling much better after a little retail therapy!

The summer is almost here and for me, that can only mean one thing – it’s time to hit the Hamptons! Now truth be told, I do not have millions of dollars.  Luckily, my amazing parents, who were super smart back in the day, purchased a home in Southampton a few years before I got married and never left. That means that my husband and I have had a summer home away from home where we were able to bring our kids and our dog practically every weekend.  I’ve loved getting the chance to visit my parents and one of my favorite things to do is to shop!

Now for those of you who have never been to the Hamptons, the sticker shock at some of those boutiques can be daunting, but if you are a savvy shopper like me, you can track down some amazing finds in between all those ridiculous prices and come back with clothes and accessories that will have your friends constantly asking you, “Where did you get that?” So today, when one of my favorite stores was closed (I’m crossing my fingers she’s not out of business), I found another great store that just moved from Jobs Lane to Main Street that is definitely going to be my new personal fave…Therapy Life & Style.

Day 1 – Therapy Life & Style

This boutique moved to a new location in Southampton. They are now at 38 Main Street and they have the trendiest tops, dresses, coverups, jeans and more and the prices are fantastic!!!!!

 

The minute I walked into this boutique, I fell in love with all their cute tops, dresses, jeans, sweaters, beach cover ups, pretty much everything.  But the best part about the store are the prices!!!!  I was totally expecting to see price tags that were out of my range and thankfully, everything in the store is affordable!  Take a look at my fabulous finds..

Love these two tops from Therapy Life & Style in Southampton – totally could have bought out the entire store!

 

Day 2 – Piccolo Bella, 49 Main Street, Southampton

The secret is out – every summer, without fail, I find the cutest tops, skirts, dresses and summer sweaters at Piccolo Bella, a fabulous boutique located right next to my favorite furniture store, Hildreth’s. This year, we stopped by the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend and the store was closed and I was afraid they may have gone out business, but luckily, they were just getting ready for summer season and when they removed the paper in front of the windows, the results were amazing. I picked up a beautiful white silk top that will be perfect for our upcoming trip to Paris to celebrate my daughter’s graduation.

Day 3 – Southampton Farmer’s Market

One of my favorite things I love to do in the summer is visit the Southampton Farmer’s Market which takes place every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Farmer’s market is a foodie lover’s heaven featuring local cheeses, wines, baked goods, honey, gluten free items, flowers, pickles, chicken burgers and more.  But there’s more than just food – there’s also jewelry and today, I even found an awesome hat vendor. Take a look…

Check out this amazing new hat – super stylish in time for Paris trip!

Day 3 – Westhampton, Chic Boutique

While it’s easy to spend the entire weekend strolling the streets of Southampton, there are a ton of towns to explore and one of my personal faves is Westhampton. There are even more amazing boutiques to visit and today, I discovered Chic Boutique and it was love at first sight.  I picked up three gorgeous tops that are perfect for work, vacation and weekends too.  And best of all, the prices are totally affordable.

My new favorite shopping addiction in Westhampton…Chic Boutique

While my shopping adventure might be complete this weekend, there’s much more to come when it comes to the Hamptons.  Next up…my favorite restaurants. For now, I’m going to try on my latest fashion finds!

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Retail Therapy: Caved in on Coach Boots

q1222_blk_a0.jpegThe holiday season is here and that can only mean one thing. IT’S TIME TO GO SHOPPING! I don’t know about you, but I happen to go shopping every weekend. Some would say that it’s an addiction, but I look at it as a way to blow off steam from an incredibly stressful workweek. And let’s just say, this week was an absolute doozy. But let’s get right to the point.
The Coach boots.
Back in the day, I used to be a big fan of coach bags – I had black handbags, chocolate backpacks, wallets, you name it, I was a Coach girl. My Coach addiction has now traveled down to my tootsies. If you’ve never bought a pair of Coach shoes or boots, then Role Mommies, you don’t know what you’re missing. Last year, I purchased a gorgeous pair of black suede boots that stretch – I have very big legs and have a very hard time every season trying to find a pair that fit over my colossal calves. But thankfully, Coach always makes boots that fit and this year did not disappoint.
I have had my eye on these boots for at least three months. They are black suede with a skinny heel and a little belt around the bottom of the boot. And when you put them on, let me just say, they look like a million bucks. I have to admit, they are pricey and I was hoping that when I wandered into Lord & Taylor yesterday that they would be on sale but alas, stores never seem to mark down items that they know people like me, who pine for them are willing to pay top dollar.
When I raced to the Coach display and didn’t see my boots, I was a bit concerned. Could I have waited too long? What was I thinking – I should have bitten the bullet months ago. I selected something in its place and then found another boot that was on sale and hoped for the best. The shoe clerk disappeared for about 10 minutes and when she returned, she had a surprise for me. She had found my boots! I was excited but a little nervous since I knew they weren’t on sale and usually don’t splurge that high on footwear. But you know what? I’ve been working like a dog, and dammit, I deserve it.
And so, I slipped on the boots and like Cinderella at the ball, I knew I had met my perfect match. After trying on the other pairs, nothing quite compared to that luxurious suede with a sexy heel. Within minutes, I made my decision. I bought my Coach boots and never looked back. The only thing I do vow this year is to bring them to work and put them on in the office. I am a serial shoe killer – I wear them all over Manhattan and on the weekends and by the end of the season, my shoes need rehabilitative services. But not this time. I will treat my beautiful boots with expert care and hopefully, if I wear them practically every day or at least for the next two years, I will truly get my money’s worth. Then again, you can’t put a price on a great pair of boots.