Poll: How often do you shop offline?

In spite of the fact that I prefer to shop online (better deals, easier experience), I do like to roam around my two local malls (Lenox & Phipps in Atlanta) every once in a while, first to people watch, and second, to see what I’m missing online. I also like to try things I wouldn’t normally try, or buy online, and shopping B&M is the only way to do that. (last time I tried something “new” I ended up with my Joe’s Jeans Ex-Lovers. which I love.)

Anyway, yesterday I ventured out with my Bloomie’s Friends & Family 20% off coupon to see if I could find anything worth buying = nothing. I also wanted to check in at Barney’s Co-Op, somewhere I haven’t been in ages, to see my favorite SA’s and peek at their exclusive pink Alexander Wang Donna hobo bag (which is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). I really loved all the Loomstate for Barney’s Green pieces; the colors are gorgeous, and the styles fabulous – WAY better than the Loomstate for Target line, of course. This tank was my favorite.

Then, I got lost in James Perse HEAVEN at Saks. Seriously, they have the biggest selection I’ve ever seen in an offline store – it’s way bigger than it used to be. I did end up leaving with a tank that was on sale for $26, but I tried on a couple of dresses that were tempting, but didn’t buy (this dress was awesome, just a little short for me – and it’s on sale at Shopbop). Then I came home and ordered three more tanks – I already had one I bought on sale at Nordstrom in January, and stalked sales, etc., to try and find more – this is the most fabulous tank ever. This is the color I got at Saks for $26:

I wandered around Anthropologie for a bit, didn’t find anything I desperately needed, or even wanted, except some pink moleskine notebooks. But I didn’t buy them…like I need more moleskines. Then again, can you ever have enough? and these were PINK!

Finally, I ended up in J Crew – don’t ask me how – trying a few things on that caught my eye. MISTAKE! Every single time I go to J Crew I swear it will be my last, but I just don’t listen…the new t-shirts are way cute, but they fit me horribly – they’re always a tad snug around my upper arms, and HUGE around the middle. Really terrible. And don’t even get me started on their pants – definitely not good for hips, or a butt, or thighs for that matter. Anyway, I’m really and truly finished with J Crew now. For good.

So, that gets me to my question: how often do you shop offline? Do you only go out shopping if you’re not looking for anything particular? or the opposite – do you prefer to shop offline for specific things?

I find that everytime I go shopping offline, I want to scream at the top of my lungs to people that they should be shopping online 🙂 Sometimes you get lucky and find something offline on sale for a great price, but most of the time, I see things at Saks, or Nordstrom, or wherever that are cheaper, or at least available with a coupon code online, and CANNOT bring myself to buy it at a store.

What about you?

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