Carnivale of the Couture
This week the Bargain Queen is hosting. Her question is as follows:
This is not only an excellent question, but a challenging one. In the last few years I have only shopped for sales and bargains. I can't remember the last time I bought anything at full price. I also shop at vintage stores. So I have many examples to choose from. But I think for me, the best-ever bargain was a couple of years ago, when my mother and I picked up some unbelievably cheap (by the standards of the item), Dale of Norway sweaters. Regular readers of this blog know that my mother is Norwegian. I have many Norwegian sweaters, all beautiful. When my grandfather was alive, and when my mum's best friend (also Norwegian) used to travel to Norway more often, we could get them brought back for us. Even in Norway, they are expensive, but in Canada, you're looking at $400 (or more), a sweater. Dale is the most famous brand, but other good names are Nordstrikk, Vrikke and Skjaeveland. Mind you, the quality is extraordinary. My mother has one that belonged to my grandfather which must be over 60 years old. You would never know that from looking at it. I have two from when I was in high school, still in perfect quality, and I wear them all the time.
Anyway, a couple of years ago, mum and I were at a ski shop in Ottawa. It was shutting down and everything had to go. We found a rack of Norwegian sweaters. I found a gorgeous pink and brown Dale cardigan, with the traditional pewter buttons and embroidery, and a reindeer motif. The original price was $400. The mark down tag said that it was now $200. A salesclerk told us, though, that it was actually $100, as they were trying to sell everything quickly. So, we grabbed it, and two others, priced the same. One for mum, one for my sister. At the cash, we were informed the $100 sweaters were actually $50 -- a markdown made that morning. Yowza. We went back to mum's condo, triumphantly. A few days later, my mother couldn't resist. She went back to the store and bought two more (including one for my brother). When would we find a bargain like that again, on something that not only would we all wear, but we would all wear for decades.
What is your best-ever bargain? Where did you find it, how much was it and why is it your favourite?
This is not only an excellent question, but a challenging one. In the last few years I have only shopped for sales and bargains. I can't remember the last time I bought anything at full price. I also shop at vintage stores. So I have many examples to choose from. But I think for me, the best-ever bargain was a couple of years ago, when my mother and I picked up some unbelievably cheap (by the standards of the item), Dale of Norway sweaters. Regular readers of this blog know that my mother is Norwegian. I have many Norwegian sweaters, all beautiful. When my grandfather was alive, and when my mum's best friend (also Norwegian) used to travel to Norway more often, we could get them brought back for us. Even in Norway, they are expensive, but in Canada, you're looking at $400 (or more), a sweater. Dale is the most famous brand, but other good names are Nordstrikk, Vrikke and Skjaeveland. Mind you, the quality is extraordinary. My mother has one that belonged to my grandfather which must be over 60 years old. You would never know that from looking at it. I have two from when I was in high school, still in perfect quality, and I wear them all the time.
Anyway, a couple of years ago, mum and I were at a ski shop in Ottawa. It was shutting down and everything had to go. We found a rack of Norwegian sweaters. I found a gorgeous pink and brown Dale cardigan, with the traditional pewter buttons and embroidery, and a reindeer motif. The original price was $400. The mark down tag said that it was now $200. A salesclerk told us, though, that it was actually $100, as they were trying to sell everything quickly. So, we grabbed it, and two others, priced the same. One for mum, one for my sister. At the cash, we were informed the $100 sweaters were actually $50 -- a markdown made that morning. Yowza. We went back to mum's condo, triumphantly. A few days later, my mother couldn't resist. She went back to the store and bought two more (including one for my brother). When would we find a bargain like that again, on something that not only would we all wear, but we would all wear for decades.
posted by rondi adamson @ 3:05 PM
1 Comments:
At 15/5/06 8:53 AM,
La Rêveuse said…
Try the Oslo Sweater shop (oslosweatershop.com) and Norway Sweater Shop (norwaysweatershop.com) for great bargains. I've ordered many times from them and gotten very similar deals (35$ US for one!) They also have shipping deals, so it really is peanuts. Check the sales.
I love them, too, and am "d'origine norvégienne". Dale and Devold are my favorites. I'd rather collect those than something I have to dust. :)
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