Our interview with local bargain babes, Seven Dollar Pants!

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

When it comes to Toronto fashion blogs, there are many who show us what’s haute and what’s not. But for those of us who can’t afford McQueen just yet, Seven Dollar Pants is here to save you from bargain-hunting your booties off. Founders Julie and Christine scour the city for the best vintage, boutique, and chain-store deals – pairing them together in unique ensembles on their blog. Here’s what the Cowgirls learned today from these savvy-saving sweethearts.

Pony: What are the key components you look out for when determining what’s a good deal?

Julie: Mainly if I can foresee getting a lot of wear out of it. I don’t focus on brand names – never have and probably never will.

Christine: The price! So many pieces will catch my eye regardless, but the deciding factor will be the price tag as to whether or not I will take the next step to the fitting room – be it in Value Village or Holt Renfrew.

Pony: How do you find the deals in Toronto compare to other cities? Are they better here?

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

Julie: I’m used to shopping in Toronto and have figured out where to hit and when. But I must say, small towns have great deals! Every time I go home to Niagara I find the best little gems. I think small towns are good for vintage finds especially because the thrift shops aren’t made to be trendy or cool – they’re simply thrift shops, and therefore don’t mark up their prices as much.

Pony: You say it’s important to know when to shop – buying items early before the season starts. Does this mean you oppose the sales at the end of each season?

Christine: There are key pieces that I will have on my list that I will purchase at the beginning simply because I cannot wait.  I also won’t wait to purchase good basics as they never seem to stay on the racks long enough. But the trendy items I leave towards the end; simply because I don’t mind being a couple of months behind everybody else.

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

Pony: Do you ever disagree with each other on what looks good? How has your style evolved since working together?

Julie: Sometimes we disagree, but it’s rare. We genuinely appreciate each others style. I don’t think mine’s changed that much since we started working together, but we do tend to influence each other here and there when it comes to seasonal trends.

Christine: If anything, I believe we have positively influenced each other. I definitely think that I have been more conscious of what I wear every day since starting the blog. Julie is more of an accessories girl so I’ve learned from her.

Pony: And how would you describe your sense of style?

Julie: My style is a comfortable, unique-chic. I tend to wear stand out pieces; I always accessorize, and I like to look and feel comfortable in all my outfits whether it’s at a party, going to work, traveling, or walking around on the weekends.

Christine: My style changes everyday – I really can’t describe it.  I remember reading in Harper’s Bazaar that your twenties are the time to experiment with personal style and I guess I really took that to heart.

For daily updated tips on deals, Toronto hot-spots, bargain purchases, and living a fabulous life on a budget – head over to Seven Dollar Pants to see what Julie and Christine are wearing today!

Courtesy of Seven Dollar Pants

– Emma Farquharson

The first step is to admit we have a problem. So here it goes:

Courtesy of Google Images

The Cowgirls love the finer things in life – that much is true. Foley & Corinna, Fendi, Ferragamo… fabulous. But there’s always a breaking point: when you’re showing the saleswomen at Holts photos from your sister’s wedding, you realize it’s time to detox. Our addictive personalities can only handle so much, and yet, there’s always been one substance that we’ve been content in abusing on a daily basis: Halls.

We’ve had this problem for about ten years now. Here’s why:

The Shape: That little dent in the cough drop makes for a perfect resting spot against a molar. It’s not too small that it breaks down and gets eaten within seconds (like a Lifesaver) but not too big that you could choke on it (Werther’s Original).

The Taste: Chewing gum freshens your breath. Halls freshens your brain. The mentho-lyptus clears your sinus even when it’s not congested. It’s a fabulous feeling, one of which we’ve graduated to the Extra Strength variety.

The Packaging: The large bags of Halls save us on both time and money. It’s like a 24-case of beer sitting conveniently in your purse – except the intoxication is disguisable.

It’s turned into more of a lifestyle choice if anything. Becoming a Hall-coholic is not something that happens overnight. When a drug like this is legal and purchasable over the cashier counter like candy, it makes it fairly easy to become an addict. It’s not even clear as to what the long-term effects of daily Halls intake is.

We’re not telling you this so you embrace addiction or anything, we’re just trying to come clean. We’ve heard horror stories about other ponies addicted to Diet Coke, coffee, Tic-Tacs, etc. and they have no intention of seeking help. Got a problem? Need somebody to confide in or cry on? Fill us in @MushyPony :)

– The Cowgirls.

What we learned after a full day of following in designer footsteps.

Courtesy of Mushy Pony.

Everyone has their indulgences. For some it’s handbags, others it’s sunglasses, but the one indulgence we’ve never understood is shoes. We walk in them, scuff them, hurt them – and those with puppies know the agony of watching a pair of Ferragamos get eaten for brunch. So why waste the cash? After trotting along Bloor St. today, we found a few comparisons we’d like you to take note of before you go purring up to a Prada.

Above: At David’s, you’ll find Mr. Giuseppe Zanotti’s masterful creations going for over $1,000 each. But next door at Capezio, the lovely Miss Jessica Simpson is selling an exact copy at only $115. If your man can seriously tell the difference between them – he’s gay. Moving on.

Below: In Brownes, we’ve been eyeing this pair of Manolo’s for over 3 years. These diamond stilettos, for whatever reason, keep coming back every year and tempting the magpie in us (we even intend on wearing them to our wedding). But although it’s true love, there’s a lot of true logic to be observed in Steve Madden’s replica perched in most Aldos and Capezios. Voila:

Courtesy of Mushy Pony

Courtesy of Mushy Pony

Above: Another big trend right now are clear sandals. Prada makes a stunning pair as you can see in Holt Renfrew, but these can easily be found in any cheap shoe store (or sex store) for a tenth of the price.

Below: Even the classics that never go out of style – Chanel’s ballet flat – are copyable. And the longer they stay in style, the better and better those copies will get. A friend bought the real deal a few years back, but like all her shoes, they’re now misshapen and worn in. They have no resale value whatsoever.

Courtesy of Mushy Pony

Courtesy of Mushy Pony

Above: Finally, a pair of silk formal shoes. This is where it gets a little more quality-focused; because the cheaper they get, the stiffer and more uncomfortable they feel. But you know what they say – if the shoe fits, wear it!

XoXo
The Cowgirls.

Yey or Neigh. Is Boxing Day just a greedy excuse to buy more presents for ourselves?

Yes we get it. The sales at Holt Renfrew on Boxing Day are obscene and anybody would be mental not to go there and splurge. But something seems a little offside with this holiday. Especially considering its history about giving “boxed” gifts to those in need the day after Christmas. Somehow through advertising, greed, and manipulation we’ve turned this holiday into a second Christmas – where instead of buying gifts for our loved ones, we now buy them for ourselves.

In recent years, retailers have even expanded their sales into a Boxing Week sale (as if one day wasn’t enough for us). This bank holiday has now turned into the biggest bank breaker of the year. So what say you? Will you be shopping merrily on December 26th?

XoXo
– The Cowgirls