I’ve been having a hard time lately—as anyone who’s seen me around town in the same outfit again and again can attest to—and, as a result, have lost quite a bit of weight. Now, avid readers of Bostonista know we’re typically open to healthy diets, but there’s nothing flattering about baggy jeans and sagging dresses. Fortunately, my fellow editors always look out for me (and my occasional fashion hiccup) and quickly came to the rescue with the newest way to add a little junk back into your trunk.

The brainchild of Newton-based entrepreneur Susan Bloomstone, it’s called the Booty Pop (yes, really) and consists of underwear reinforced with two 1-inch-thick malleable posterior pads. Basically, a padded bra for your butt. (more…)

Talk of possible recession has left some of us over here at Bostonista quivering in our Prada flats. Blowing your rent money on a dress — no matter how special and eminently wearable you convince yourself it is — just isn’t as much fun when you’re too broke to wear it out of the house. Which is why we’re especially excited for Target’s next round of high-end partnerships. (more…)

Designer sample sales may be a rarity in the Hub, but thanks to the web, we can get the goods without ever stepping foot in a femme fashion frenzy.

The website HauteLook.com hosts one day discount events on designer digs. Today, the site’s featuring Katy Rodriguez’s Fall 2007 collection for up to 75 percent off until 11 p.m. Sarah Jessica Parker, Chloe Sevigny, Zooey Deschanel, and Liv Tyler have all become loyal clients, and now you can own one of her fun party dresses for far less than retail. The one pictured is selling for $212.50, but previously it sold for $850. (more…)

I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a sucker for designer threads at cut-rate prices. So when my editor asked me to scope out the goods available at online consignment shop My Girlfriend’s Closet last month (created by Revere native Nichole Addario Di Modica), I was psyched. The concept is, in theory, a solid idea: For a small fee, you can upload overpriced but underloved pieces taking up prime real estate in the walk-in–and, in turn, open the door to thousands of new possibilities.

Paying homage to the mantra “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure,” registered users post their seasonal leftovers with a photo, price, and description, then wait for a taker to pounce. Major clotheshounds with even more to unload can open up a “boutique.” And best of all–they can also peruse other’s rejects to restock and revamp. (more…)

I tend to buy new sneakers once a year, and, to my wife’s eternal amusement, tend to spend several months searching for the right pair. On several occasions I’ve waited so long that by the time I pulled the trigger, the shoe I wanted was out of production.

My most recent purchase, a pair of blue and white Asics fencing shoes, was a bust from the get-go. They’re a little heavy and spacy-looking, and didn’t quite work. And my standby PF Flyers were coming apart after two solid years of service. For replacements, I wanted two things: 1. Light running shoes with thin-soles. 2. Canvas shoes for the spring, but not Chucks because the soles suck, and they’re generally kind of dull. (more…)

Recently, I ran into a friend who was carrying one of those fabric grocery bags. This is a guy who regularly sneaks aluminum cans into the garbage, so his eco-shopping sack roused my suspicion. He explained that Whole Foods had decided to stop offering disposable plastic bags, and to herald the event, the store was offering free corporate-logo bags to the first 100 shoppers. Was this a noble Whole Foods effort to modify our environmentally unfriendly habits? Or was it part of a vast Whole Foods plot to shame us into purchasing our redemption?

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The guys over at Alpha Omega are really considerate. They  go out of business just in time for Valentine’s Day, proving liquidation sales really are the sweetest form of schadenfreude. All that means is we can get some amazing deals on jewelry, watches, and other normally out-of-reach gifts.

The lovely Priscilla at the Prudential store was gracious enough to show us some of the hottest deals. You can finally get that special someone that Chanel watch she’s been coveting without resorting to hunting it down on eBay—the pink J12 automatic with matching pink leather strap is $8,550, originally $9,500. There’s also a ladies Bedat in stainless steel with diamonds for $4,720 after a 20 percent discount.

But wait. There’s more. (more…)

Late last month, Boston Daily spoke to Michael O’Hara, the chief restructuring officer for Alpha Omega. He told us that the troubled jeweler’s liquidation sale would begin on January 26. You can imagine our surprise when we got a press release saying the sale will begin tomorrow.

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There was a time when I could spend hours, days, even entire vacations, shopping for myself. I could make lists and lists of things without which my life would be incomplete: sweaters, boots, scarves, sunglasses, CDs, coasters, cheese trays, duvet covers, coffee-table books, earrings, scented candles. And each of these items had to be exactly right: the skirt that hit the spot on my thigh to the most flattering effect, the jeans that flared to just the right proportion so I could wear them with either boots or flats.

In other words, I was self-involved and materialistic. I was single without a child.

I was reminded of those glorious days last night when I spent several hours of my post-work evening shopping online for warm-weather clothing for my two-year-old daughter for a beach vacation we’ll be taking at the end of the month. (more…)

We here at Bostonista have grown to love Victoria Beckham. While we once scoffed at her comically-large breasts and dour expression, somewhere along the way we grew to accept them. When we saw the low-rated but spectacular Victoria Beckham: Coming to America this summer, our affection turned to love.

Open up your Outlook Calendars. Posh Spice is coming to Boston.

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