Peculiar Portland fashion | The Fashion Dungjen

One thing I've noticed about Portlanders is their unique sense of style. It's definitely not really what I anticipated. With my limited West Coast experience, I guess I was thinking it would something more in line with San Francisco. There are similarities, for sure. The general stereotypes that every city has are here, but I feel like most of the fashion statements I see are kind of questionable.

A lot of it, too, is completely based on functionality. That's one of the things I noticed right away. A lot of people here ride bikes everywhere or spend a lot of time walking wherever they need to go which doesn't always lend itself to the most fashionable attire. But, in circumstances like that, it makes sense to be more practical. (Who wants to wear pumps if you have to walk from SW Broadway and 6th to 2nd and Burnside? Not me.

Anyway, on my way to Chase bank today to exchange my big bills ($5 and $10) for singles (for the bus), I found myself walking behind a girl pulling a suitcase. Now, this is definitely one of those cases where you could make the lame joke "What's red, white and black all over?" and she would totally qualify as an answer.

Behold, my friends:


OK, so I guess she's not wearing any white. I wrote that before I posted the picture. BUT STILL, you get the point: red T-shirt, red and black plaid very mini skirt, red tights with destroyed black fishnets over top and big, clunky, heavy black shoes. Really not favorable.

AND THEN, yesterday, oh my gosh, I saw this girl in a tutu leaping, jumping, spinning, twirling, whatevering down the street.

I actually think she may be a legitimate ballerina and was promoting an upcoming show, but, based on some of the other things I've seen in Portland, I've come to realize anything is possible, AND, the stranger it is, the more likely it is to actually be happening.

Michael Jackson fashion tributes | The Fashion Dungjen

My parents introduced me to Michael Jackson a really, really long time ago. I've always been a fan. When I was little, maybe 5 years old, I used to push the furniture in our TV room out of the center of the room and dance. Mom would bring the neighbors in and I'd put on a show.

Thriller, though, always used to scare me. I remember one time hiding under a desk in my living room.

Since his death on Thursday, there's been a ton of media coverage. So much, in fact, that I had to turn off CNN because I couldn't stand to hear anyone tell me the same thing one more time: there are moving vans, his in-house doctor has lawyerd up, his family was going to pay for a second, independent autopsy.

But, that said, I still want to commemorate his life as the greatest musician of all time by wearing his name, silhouette or whatever on clothing.

Sydne Summer posted a link on Twitter to her Web site that linked to custom T-shirts that are commemorating the artists life.

I love the silhouette T-shirt, but I'm holding out on purchasing anything -- there will likely be better things in the near future.

Have you seen any other fashion dedications to Michael? What's your favorite? Are you going to/thinking about buy anything?

Portland | The Fashion Dungjen

Week one at The Oregonian was good. Week two looks like it will be better.

Portland: Day 3 | The Fashion Dungjen

I love Portland more and more every day. Yesterday I didn't go out much, just exploring the neighborhood around the house. Today, after one of my new roommates, Missy, told me about the Saturday Market, I knew I had to go back downtown for more exploring. So, that is exactly what I did. I planned to spend about six hours there, but my exploration was cut short because my shoes ripped my left heel to hell and gave me blisters on both feet. They're such cute shoes, and I will wear them again, but until I'm healed.

Yup. Pretty gross. Tomorrow, tomorrow I will wear tennis shoes.

To see the rest of my pictures from the last couple of exploration days, check out my Flickr site.

Portland: Day 1 | The Fashion Dungjen

I'm finally in Portland. I feel like I've been in countdown mode for the last six months (when it's really only been about two and a half months). I worked up the nerve to try and conquer the Portland public transportation system today and go downtown by myself. After one screw up (aka getting on the wrong bus and going the opposite direction) I managed to get downtown and back to the apartment without any problems. I'll basically be a pro by the end of the week. (Or at least will go the right direction.)

Instead of just day one stuff, I have en route photos to share, all taken with my phone. (I was kicking myself all day for not having my camera with me when I went downtown.)

Flight:

Mom took me shopping for grown up girl clothes. I managed to get a pair of fun tennis shoes out of her too. I think I should go away more often.

On my first flight, from Dayton to Houston, I was on a puddle jumper (or piddle jumper, if you're my mom and trying to make a joke) and sitting next to the bathroom. I was worried someone was going to take a massive dump and I'd have to breathe through a hand towel or something. Luckily, there were no stinky poops. Since I was in the last row, I was sitting right next to one of the engines - it was incredibly loud and I couldn't even listen to my iPod because I couldn't hear a single thing.

This plot of farm land in Houston reminded me of a dinosaur. Awesome!

PORTLAND

I've never actually seen the photo enforced traffic lights so I was pretty shocked to see they actually exist.


I was walking around and saw this cute little park so I sat down and did some people watching for a little while. It's kind of split by a road with the nice reindeer statue/fountain.

I'm going back downtown tomorrow for more public transportation/exploring and actually bringing my camera. Now, though, it's 10:36 p.m. in Portland, which means, to my body, it's 1:36 a.m. and way past my bedtime.

Packing for Portland | The Fashion Dungjen

I've been shopping with mom for the last two days buying "big girl clothes" that are work appropriate. My flight to Portland leaves Wednesday at 6 p.m. and, like the true procrastinator of unfun tasks that I am, I've decided to put everything off until the almost last minute (today).

I have to pack smart, something I'm not very good at. This might mean, although it pains me, that my cowboy boots might have to stay behind.

And, p.s., I'm pretty irritated that I have to pay $20 per suitcase.

To further procrastinate, I'm going to Target with my sister to look at a few more things and to pick up a laptop bag.

DAAP honors distinguished alumnus | The Fashion Dungjen

Fashion shows are very serious business with very serious (better, even, serious-looking) people. If you have ever seen one on TV, been in the last row or front row, on the stage or behind the stage, you can see everyone takes themselves very, very seriously.

From the crazed man behind the scenes frantically trying to dress and redress models to the most influential fashion spectator in the front row sitting calmly, waiting to be waited on, it’s a house of mayhem and chaos to showcase some of the most intricate, beautiful and calm garments created by top-notch designers.

Dressed in their best and most fashion-forward garb, students, faculty, staff and members of the general public waited in anticipation for one of the University of Cincinnati’s most glamorous events of the year.

The university’s 58th annual fashion show wowed audience members Friday, June 12 –which was also the final event of DAAP Works, a final culmination of capstone projects by graduating seniors from the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

This year, DAAP not only used the show to bid farewell to its parting seniors, but also to recognize one of the fashion design program’s renowned alumnus, David Meister.

“I think it is very cool and I am honored [to be recognized by DAAP],” Meister said. “I had great relationships with all of my professors. My class was only about 35 students; in many ways we became our own little family.”

Living in Cincinnati during his entire pre-college life, Meister, a 1985 DAAP graduate, knew of UC’s fashion program and its acclaim. The only other school Meister entertained was the Parsons The New School for Design in New York.

“It would have been very expensive and, truthfully, I don’t know that, at 18, I was ready to move to New York,” Meister said. “After graduation, I immediately packed my bags and moved there … New York is really the only city where you can start a career in fashion.”
Although his familial roots are in Cincinnati and New York is the home to the beginning of his career, Meister now lives in Beverly Hills, Calif., with his partner, Alan Siegel and their invisible dog, Petey.

“There are very few cities that I could actually live in – possibly only Los Angeles and New York,” he said. “Cincinnati is too slow for me.”

Cincinnati isn’t the fashion capital of the world – not even close. Looking anywhere for something cutting-edge is like looking for a pair of non-designer pumps in Carrie Bradshaw’s closet. The slower-paced city with its limited exposure to high-end or designer fashion didn’t stop Meister, who has had an interest in fashion since he was 3 or 4 years old.

“I was very opinionated about what I wore and also about what others wore. I had very specific outfits, even in kindergarten – my purple bell bottoms, white belt and red and white floral shirt – very groovy – or so I thought at the time,” Meister said. “Then I saw Cher on TV and I was sold.”

Once Meister moved to New York, things started to take off. Approximately 11 years ago, he launched his own company/clothing label, David Meister, which he also touts as the highlight of his career.

His line, which features women’s wear, is modern, sexy and timeless. His dresses and gowns are in bold hues and sassy prints with sophisticated shapes – indicative of a fun-loving, but serious personality.

“Women want ease and simplicity, but still want to look pretty and glamorous,” Meister said. “The first thing you should notice about a woman should not be her dress – it should be her.”

Meister also hopes to expand his line to include, well, any and everything. (This happens to include bridal, swimwear, furs, coats, jewelry, bags and shoes.)

Despite Cincinnati’s slower pace, Meister encourages students on a budget to let fashion into their lives.

“Have a look of your own,” he said. “Buy simple, basic pieces that can’t be identified as inexpensive or designer – black or white T-shirts, simple black pants or pencil skirt. Always spend on shoes and bags – your accessories will always be noticed. Even as a student out of school I had a pair or two of designer shoes … That’s what credit cards are for. This is the fashion business and you need to look together, polished and current.”

Meister has dressed some of Hollywood’s most fabulous women – Diane Lane, Jennifer Hudson, Sharon Stone, Felicity Huffman (who wore a fuchsia, draped jersey gown – Meister’s favorite dress to date) and Tina Fey. His clothes are also sold at high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Help me find: laptop bag | The Fashion Dungjen

My laptop bag has seen better days. My mom bought it for me when I got my new laptop - it's a vinyl Betsey Johnson bag. The straps are ripping and the lining has gone to hell. I need a new bag before I go to Portland - which, by the way, is in eight days. I need big. Really, really big.



Any suggestions on where I can get something that's big, classic-looking and not ridiculously expensive?

Birthday, boyfriend, messes and dogs | The Fashion Dungjen

Wow. Have I been slacking or what?

Let me bring you up to speed. I am now 21 years old. HURRAH. My birthday was this last Tuesday, June 2.

I spent the day at work and then went to Mac's, a Cincinnati bar, for my first "real" bar scene experience. I put "real" in quotations because I don't drink. Never have, don't have any desire to start. My lovely friend, Ali bought me a Shirley Temple and another good friend of mine, Amanda bought me a slice of pizza. It was great. You can read all about it in this weeks column.

That's the cookie cake Len, the director of student media/News Record adviser bought for me. The stud holding the cake? That's Ali, the one who bought me my Shirley Temple. (In the background is Garrett, sports editor and Crocs wearer. Gross.)

Last weekend I went home to visit Richie, the boyfriend.

We went to the Indians game. Boy bought some good tickets - too bad there was an hour and a half rain delay and we were attacked by bugs. Isn't that how the plague started..?

We didn't do a lot else the entire weekend, which was so good. So, so good. We played with Layla, his dad's new puppy. Layla is the cutest thing you've ever seen. (Although it was kind of sad since my parents just put Oreo, my dog since fifth grade, to sleep.)


My room is currently a huge mess. Obviously. Maybe I'll clean it before Richie shows up on Saturday afternoon. Maybe.

I've been working a lot. Being the boss lady is great, just lots of stuff to do all the time. But, that's OK. Bring it on.

PHOTO BY COULTER LOEB

Here I am with Kareem, TNR managing editor, and that's Len, the birthday-cake buying media adviser, in the background. This is from a recent photo session I was in. Coool!

Trends that should: die, die, die | The Fashion Dungjen

A very scientific study (a Facebook status update and a question to an open Internet forum) solicited replies from any and everyone on what trends should die, which need to make a comeback and what will be the next big thing in fashion.

Because I was bombarded with responses, I'm turning this into a four-part blog series. The first one is all about what trends should die, according to Internet responses. (Actually, part two is also what trends should die. I had way more responses on hopeful trend goodbyes that it's a little overwhelming.)

Some of these things I expected. Some I didn't.

Here's what others had to say and what I say to them.

Til' death do we part (and we hope you die soon) PT. 1
The trends people are ready to kill off

Leggings as pants: Six respondent said they're ready to see leggings as pants die.

"i am sick & tired of seeing girls with SHEER "leggings" who think they can wear them as pants with medium length tops barely covering their baby makers. i don't care how skinny you are, LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE SHEER. STOP IT."
-Lauren Smallwood, a second-year University of Cincinnati art history student, via Facebook

I say: Amen, brothers and sisters. It's probably the number one most echoed sentiment on this blog. I don't really know when this took off - again - it was probably when I was a senior in high school, maybe during my first year at the University of Cincinnati. Either way, that was several years ago (2005-06 ish). Since then the head of leggings as pants has disgusted many, many people. It's been written about, Facebook hate clans have formed. it's time to call it quits, people. It's done. Over. Please.

Wet leggings: One respondent said wet leggings are done.

I say: This isn't too terribly different from the entire idea of leggings as pants. The wet legging look is done. Over. Not cool. I think Rhianna tried to rock this for awhile, which is probably part of the unfortunate reason it took off. I saw it for a while, probably last spring-ish, but I don't know that it's something I think is still a 'trend.' I think there are probably a few stragglers still trying to make it work, but, as a whole, I'm pretty sure it's over.

Coach: Three respondents said Coach anything - shoes, purses, wristlets - need to be on the way out.

"i also never want to see another coach purse/shoe in my entire life. coach products are like the middle class's way of saying 'see? i can afford expensive labels.' seriously, big price tags don't mean you have style."
-Lauren Smallwood, via Facebook

I say: See ya, Coach. Never been a fan. Never will be a fan. Actually, that might be too extreme. I saw one coach bag that I liked in San Francisco last summer. Of course it was in a window across the street, but it was a large eggplant hobo bag with no apparent trace of a logo.



Leg warmers: One respondent mentioned leg warmers.

I say: I've seen a lot of leg warmers this year. Most frighteningly, I've seen them when the weather has been kind of warm and with mini skirts. They're awful. Awful, awful, awful. They should have gone out with Jane Fonda. I used to own a couple pairs of leg warmers, actually. One pair, I believe, was from a Halloween costume I recycled from 80s day in high school and the other pair I wore under my jeans in the winter my first year at school. Walking across campus, which is essentially a very large wind tunnel, can be quite trying when it's cold. I need all the heat-generating motivation to keep me going to class. Leg warmers, when they're not visible, or worn with a mini skirt, can be totally practical and warranted.

Big earrings: This was argued on my Facebook status. What's too big? What shape is OK? What style is acceptable. It was quite a lot of back-and-forth, but, here's what we (they) established:

"Big ass earrings will always be fabulous. They're a vintage trend and vintage will always be fabulous. 60s style icon edie sedgwick's look was HUGE earrings, and she is timeless in my mind."
-Kelsey Wing, second-year University of Cincinnati journalism student

"OK, yes, some big earrings are good but I'm talking about the big round-the-way-girl hoop earrings, the kind you could put your freakin' head through. Sheesh. What's the point of those? They're an accident waiting to happen."
-Aiesha Little, associate editor of Cincinnati Magazine

I say: I agree with Kelsey and Aiesha. I love Edie Sedgwick. Her style - big earrings and all - were fantastic. They worked for her. If I had earrings that looked like hers, I'd wear them and love them too. However, it does matter what kind of big earrings you might be talking about to make the argument that large earrings are OK to wears.

The large hoop earrings -as pictured above -are too much. One wrong turn and that bad boy is hooked on something and ripped right out of your ear lobe. Not a pretty sight, I'm sure.


Crocs: Four respondents said Crocs need to die.

I say: Crocs are quite heinous. I would love for their time to finally come to an end instead of watching the company come out with a new style every so often to supplement sliding sales. Everything - the original design, the mary janes, the flats, the boots, the heels, the what-the-heck-is-on-your feet style - they all have to go. Every single pair, every single style, every single color.

Vera Bradley: Three respondents said they'd like to see Vera Bradley go by the wayside.

I say: I've never really understood the idea behind the Very Bradley craze. I've known women in entire families where they actually collect the ugly patchwork bags. No one in my family would be caught dead with one. Maybe bad/good taste is hereditary.


UGGs: Five respondents said UGGs have to go.

I say: The day UGGs go out of business or are officially declared out, unconstitutional, whatever, anything that prohibits their wear, will be the day I rejoice to the fullest. I don't understand their appeal. People say they're comfortable. OK, well, so are my leather boots and they're not ugly. People say they're warm. OK, yeah, well, so are my leather boots and, again, my boots aren't ugly. UGGs were made for one type of person and one type of person only: Appalachian sheep herders. Period. End of story. For the galavanters in urban jungles, your feet have no place inside the sausage casing-like boots. They make your legs look stumpy cat scratching posts. Oh my gosh, and please, just continue to wear them all summer. What a great idea. The dichotomy of wearing boots with a mini skirt is really brilliant, you little scholar, you.

Skinny jeans: Two respondents said skinny jeans need to fall out.

I say: OK, I'm not sure I really understand. At this point, I don't even consider skinny jeans a trend; they're a different cut of denim. I guess the same can be said for any of the aforementioned trends- UGGs are a type of boot, Crocs are a type of shoe, whatever - but skinny jeans are here to stay and I'm OK with that. I like them. I wear them. I think they look good on a fairly sizable portion of the population and they're complimentary to a large portion of the population. I disagree with the idea that skinny jeans need to be on the way out. I think they're here to stay. (The only problem - and this can be said for any kind of jean - is you want to avoide what the model on the right has in the picture of the jeans. Some extra fabric fold/bulge thing. Not cute.



Converse: Two respondents said Converse need to die.

I say: What? Seriously? Converse have been around since, what, 1918? I'm also pretty sure I've seen numbers that indicate more than 60 percent of Americans own, or at one point owned, a pair of the shoes. These are not going anywhere. Converse is not a trend, they're a staple. True, they were a lot cooler before Nike bought the brand in 2003. Even since then I haven't noticed less of them, I've seen more. I would even go so far to say that Converse are probably the most Americana iconic shoes that exist as a part of American popular culture. I wish I could even count the number of pairs I own - lets see, there were the navy low tops, the black high tops, green high tops, comic book high tops, white low tops. (OK, that might be it, actually.) Still, to have more than one person suggest that converse is a fashion trend that needs to die is a little shocking. How can you dislike Converse? Can someone explain this?

Brand name clothing: I grouped this because I had one respondent say American Eagle and Abercrombie and Fitch and another say brand names.

I say: Again, brand name clothing: not a trend, a fact of life. I agree, however, that stores - like the aforementioned, should play less of a role as you graduate from middle school to high school and high school to college. I'm a little biased toward American Eagle - I worked there through my first and second year of school, but I understand the frustaration with people who are clad from head to toe in anything that has an eagle, seagull or moose applique. But, that said, brand name clothing isn't going to go anywhere. Ever. Unless you're making all of your clothes yourself, everything is part of a brand, no matter how big or how small the company. You can shop at a thrift store all you want, but those clothes you just paid a dollar for were, at one point, part of a larger line (if the company no longer exists). Sorry, but the indie elitisim doesn't work here.

The 80s: One respondent said what happened in the 80s should stay in the 80s.

I say: So long shoulder pads and glam-rock hair. I bid thee aidu, suit jackets with sequin and bed appliques. Farewell, goodbye, see ya, toodles, don't let the door hit you on the way out. I'm exaggerating a little bit. Not all of the 80s was a bad thing. If you take bits and pieces of the extravagance - the big jewelry, hot pink lipstick, electric blue eyeshadow, Madonna-inspired lace gloves - and work it into something more modern the 80s isn't quite so aesthtically harmful. But, really, the legwarmers, the shoulder pads..? Leave those where you found them.

Nothing to do with fashion | The Fashion Dungjen

Today I went gypsy hunting.

Prompted by Twitter updates from one of our professors my good friend Ryan and I knew we had to go back. (We tried to find the gypsies last year too.)

He called, said, "We're going back to find gypsies. I'll be there in five minutes."

I grabbed my camera, my wallet and was out the door.

This doesn't really have anything to do with fashion, but you have to understand, these gypsies, people, whatever, have to be spending thousands of dollars on these floral arrangements that they leave at Spring Grove Cemetery. And, seriously, gypsies are all over this pop culture stuff (They had arrangements in the shapes of Dora the Explorer, Spongebob Squarepants, Nemo.).

So, for some back story..

My understanding is, that, back in the '40s the gypsies were traveling through Cincinnati when one of the gypsy kings died. The owner of Spring Grove cemetery allowed him to be buried for free so, now, every year the gypsies make the trek back to Cincinnati - mostly from New Jersey (although we did spot a few Georgia and Florida plates) to pay homage to their dead.

Last year, when Ryan, his boyfriend John and I went on the prowl we did a little investigating, stopping some of the cemetery grounds employees where to find the burial sites and such. The furthest back death date was around 1946, I think. Thought it was pretty interesting.

Today we spoke to one woman who was there - part of the gypsy clan - paying homage to the dead. She said she was originally from the Cincinnati area but had since moved to New Jersey. She used to come to Spring Grove all the time, but this year was the first time she'd been back in the last four years. She also said that all the flowers came from Swan Florist in Kentucky.

This is the stone that was near all the pop culture Disney-related arrangements.
I'm guessing it was because the boy was so young when he died..?
(Although I'm not sure when 'Grandson' is...?)

These flowers were all for the same family.

Most sites had dozens of individual arrangements.

One thing about all the arrangements: They all had beautiful, bright colors.

Here are some of those pop culture references. I think these are baby Shreks?

This arrangement says "See you all in paradise."

This is a ballerina. (Obv. ) I'm wondering if this one was another
pop culture reference. The ribbon on this one said "with Jesus."
Maybe, "Dances with Jesus" instead of "Dances with Wolves?" :]

Dora the Explorer. Seriously. Crazy awesome. This ribbon said 'BFF.' I took a picture of the monkey Deago, or whatever its name is.

Here's the fashion. A floral arrangement of pink lipstick.
She must have been my kind of lady.

Nemo and I'm guessing one of the cars from the Disney movie "Cars."

Spongebob Squarepants.

Two of the visiting women looking at the arrangements.

I think Ry was taking a picture of something..?

Regular fashion-related posts to resume in the next day or so.

Cocktail party outfit search update | The Fashion Dungjen

OK, so, you know how in that last post I said I went looking for the perfect cocktail party outfit? Well, that's true. And it's also true that I didn't find anything ... At the mall.

After the stressful power laps around both floors of the mall and wanting to punch myself every time I turned over a price tag, Aldawna and I got the heck out of dodge and went to DSW in search of studded ankle boots.

After no help from you weasels, I had to fend for myself. Thanks a lot. Jerks. (Just kidding. Sort of.)

I found a pair I really love at Steve Madden, but the $130 price tag was too much. Way, way too much. Sigh.

I didn't find the boots - or any studded boots for that matter - at DSW, but I did find a pair of studded gladiator-like heels. I think they're pretty good.

At this point, my feet will be the only thing that's not naked. If I could only find a dress...

Mall rats | The Fashion Dungjen

Aldawna and I went to the mall today in search of the perfect cocktail party outfit. My party - or the one I'm attending, anyway - is May 30, which just happens to be several days before my 21st birthday. I'm lacking an outfit and had some unoccupied time this afternoon so I recruited my dear and honest friend to go shopping with me.

Countless circles through Kenwood Towne Centre didn't get us anywhere. In fact, this was my second trip to the mall to try to find somethin to wear. Each time a huge disappointment.

This time, at least, I found some really great looking merchandise and a really flattering display. I'd love to share what I found..

I guess the designer of this shoe really took to heart Michael Jackson's "Black or White." If you're trying to match it don't matter if you're black or white.

After seeing this display - which demonstrates how these pants can shape your butt - I realized I need to buy a pair in every color.

Several ways to describe what is happening here:
1) My rear end looks like my butt crack skipped dinner and it's eating my pants.
2) Camel toe from behind.
3) Chronic elongated butt wedgie.

Any other butt jokes to add to the list?

Questionable campus fashion | The Fashion Dungjen

Did someone spill bleach in her laundry? Maybe she was dunked in a tank. I don't know, but either way ... Terrifying.

I understand the look for spring is light denim, but I don't think this is quite what they were suggesting.

As always, keep your eyes peeled and your camera phones ready. Send all questionable campus fashion to thefashiondungjen@gmail.com.

Can money buy happiness? | The Fashion Dungjen

Photo from http://www.leeharbour.com.au/retail.html

Retail therapy is a dirty, dirty thing. Been there, done that. Not feelin' it. It's expensive, impulsive.

My last encounter with retail therapy cost me, oh, you know, approximately $400. Lucky for most people it seems I'm one of the most ridiculous college spenders, or at least according to a few friends.

"I usually don't spend a lot ... 50 bucks maybe," said Raven Nelson via Facebook.

"[I] usually [spend] under $10," said Alyssa Ryan via Facebook.

OK, awesome. So apparently I'm the only one - of those who fessed up - who completely overdoes it. The closest I came to finding anyone who is as extravagant (i.e. unreasonable) as I have been in my spending was Amanda Mecozzi spending $75.

So, what merits retail therapy?

"Retail therapy is merited at any time," said JschoolJunkette via Twitter. "This includes when your retail therapy makes you feel like a shopping addict."

Shopping addict. OK, I'll subscribe to that. but I'm not sure if it takes retail therapy to make me feel like a shopping addict.

When I walked away from my spending spree, I surveyed what I purchased. (My binge was in, like, February, so I don't really remember what I bought, but one thing was a $150 Marc Jacobs purse that I never use.) Nothing of much use, nothing I couldn't have lived without.

What do you buy when using retail therapy to cope?

"Depending on how stressed/sad I am, I will potentially buy waaay more stuff than I can us within 6 months. I've spent over $75 dollars at a time and walked out of Target with crap loads of lip gloss, cleansers, lotion...the list goes on. But it genuinely makes me happy so, whatever. Better than drinking myself into liver disease!!"

-Amanda Mecozzi

"Retail therapy is great, but if I don't feel like going out and I still want to shop, I hit up eBay - which can be dangerous, as I am addicted to expensive camera stuff."

-Alyssa Ryan

"I buy clothes that make me look good and that makes me feel better."

- Raven Nelson

"[Retail therapy] usually consists of $100 budget at some cheap stores ( like XXI ) and a martini afterwards...yup. that does the trick."

-Tifanei Moyer via Twitter