March 18, 2012

Pittsburgh Saks Closing Haul

It's officially over. Unless you're planning to stock up on fur coats, Saks Fifth Avenue in Pittsburgh no longer exists as an option for eager consumers. The loss of this store is a brutal blow to the retail landscape of Downtown, removing yet another destination from the neighborhood. I worry about how this will effect the downtown Larrimor's outpost. And Brooks Brothers or even Macys, for example. When there is one less destination available within a cluster of proximate stores, the suburban malls with their free parking and climate control increase their appeal. Of course plenty of downtown workers provide a customer base for what remains.

The silver lining of all of this was the consolidation sale which saw Saks stocked with brands never previously carried and prices difficult to beat in their final days. Even outlet discounts like those found at the nearby Off Fifth were stingy in comparison to the additional 70-90% off.

Since my last update, a few people have emailed and commented asking what I bought. So I figured I would share my closing haul as a part of this epilogue. A proper eulogy would likely include a retrospective of my buys over the years of visits. And while that would fit neatly with the initial intention of this blog (to archive, unpack, and think through my consumer habits), I will spare you. Instead here are my most recent finds.


Three silk blouses from Parker, Nanette Lepore, and Akris. A few T by Alexander Wang shirts from the men's section that were $9 marked down from $74. Also in men's a Rag and Bone pullover for Chris that was $17 marked down from $250. Two holiday ornaments marked $2.50, down from $75/each (who would spend the full retail amount on a single bulb, I do not know). Three Wacoal brassieres that were 70% off plus an additional 10% for buying multiples.


And these two dresses by M Missoni and DKNY, respectively. It seems like a lot of stuff when I put it all together but Chris paid for his own things as well as the above M Missoni wave sweater dress which will be a birthday gift to me (at Missoni for Target prices, no less!). I bought far less than I would have if I was still in the same (admittedly ridiculous) consumer pattern exhibited during the recession clearances of 2008 and 2009.

But I still feel indulgent and even a little gluttonous. I have long needed to beef up my sleeved blouse arsenal for both casual and professional ensembles. Although the DKNY dress is not necessarily my usual style, it was such a soft wool, it looks quite flattering on, it was marked down to $24, and seems perfect for more conservative professional occasions. I think its career functionality will prove itself swiftly as I will treat it as a suit alternative. My shopping in the coming months will slow as I tend to buy less from spring and summer collections. And thanks to Anthropologie's new directions, none of my pennies have gone there in 2012. All of this is to say that I am certain my shopping habits will recalibrate accordingly after the above (albeit discount) splurges. Thanks for reading! If you are local, I'd love to head about your purchases!

15 comments:

Terri said...

The DKNY dress is absolutely lovely. I'll look forward to seeing you wear it. Also, want to thank you for the twitter link to the PBS thing on knowing about your "bubble." I took the quiz and scored a 57. My partner scored a 77!

dajana, all kinds of lovely said...

I like the polka-dotted number. Please wear it soon. (:

thatdamngreendress said...

Hey, these look really pretty, great patterns, and seem to be pretty awesome prices too, so it sounds like good reasoning all around. I love that polka dot top and the Missoni dress- such fun prints- and the DKNY looks beautiful and classic!

Stacey said...

I read Terri's comment and so I was curious about the "bubble quiz". I took the quiz and ended up getting a score of "6". Yikes!!

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

Thank you! I am also glad to hear you liked the PBS quiz. As much as I despise much of Murray's politics and writings, I thought the quiz had merit. I am fairly bubbled with a score of 34 and Chris (my partner) got 46 or 47, if I remember correctly. I do think the quiz is presumptive in its bias against educational attainment (which I acknowledge is privileged but not necessarily as automatically sheltering a force as he asserts). A friend remarked that bubbles likely exist on either pole of the 1-100 scale. I also dislike the notion that good cannot be done by thoughtful, empathetic-but-bubbled individuals.

I guess I am feeling hostile toward Murray for his absurd piece in Saturday's WSJ which lacks historicity in terms of both policy mechanisms and industry conditions for working class folks in the two periods he compares. (I imagine this rant evidences my political biases as much as it does my own bubble, huh?).

The piece is here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304692804577281582403394206.html

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

The bubble quiz is really interesting because of how it leads people to consider mechanisms of privilege with regard to upbringing. But I do think the quiz is very imperfect and seems to be biased against educational attainment and it presupposes that the "bubbled" cannot also be empathetic do gooders. As a very wise pal of mine (film blogger, the Self Styled Siren) remarked about this quiz that Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Jack Kennedy, and Jane Addams are great exemplars to the contrary. And I'm sure we could come up with loads more examples. Anyway, I do think that being aware of privilege keeps us honest and it is a value I try to incorporate into my teaching and my thinking.

I'm glad you decided to look it up!

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

If anyone is curious about the quiz to which Terri refers, you can find it here:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/03/white-educated-and-wealthy-congratulations-you-live-in-a-bubble.html

thatdamngreendress said...

Thanks Jess! So the funny thing is that most of the credit I got for being more worldly, due to living in a lower income neighbourhood for several years, is because I was going to art school, which is pretty darn bourgeois! I scored a 33.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

Hey we are nearly score twins! I grew up in a blue collar area that has become increasingly economically depressed over the years (particularly because of deindustrialization). Though I was fortunate that my parents had stable jobs with good wages, many of my peers struggled. The drop out rate was somewhat high. So I definitely feel fortunate and increasingly bourgeois when I compare it with many aspects of my roots.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

Thank you so much! I was pleased with the buys but I also realize that sale goggles were a factor.

Stacey said...

The quiz had me pegged as upper-middle class and privileged. Ok, that part is true. And I know I'm incredibly fortunate. However, I have spent many many hours over many years volunteering my time by tutoring underprivileged kids and being a mentor to them. I used to live right near the projects in NYC, although according to the quiz, that didn't count as I was living in a neighborhood that was being gentrified. I have traveled all over America and the world. And when I travel, I don't travel first class. I travel with the locals once I'm in those countries, even in Third World countries (ie. on the overcrowded buses/trains) because I prefer to get a better insight into these countries and cultures. So I'd like to think that I'm not completely clueless to what's going on in the rest of America or the world but this quiz sure made it look like I was.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

Yeah there are definitely many things that are infuriating about the quiz's treatment of those who have traveled and have sought education and other things he terms "elite." It is interesting that a person with two ivy league degrees and a cushy think tank position is pointing fingers about "elites."

I should also say that when I tried to convince Chris to take it, he stopped at the grad student wages don't count question because,... well he despises Murray. I actually do too especially after his tonedeaf, ahistorical piece in the WSJ from Saturday. But the quiz has generated good discussions in real life and on messageboards I frequent.

Laur said...

I read your blog often but have never commented. I took this quiz out of interest and ended up being frustrated by the questions. Sorry, but I don't see at all how this has merit beyond that it's stirring debate. Among other things, it's blatantly flawed in that he admittedly frames the "American mainstream" as white.

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

No need to apologize to me! I didn't create the quiz and I absolutely agree with you that it has many flaws.

But the conversations it has generated in my circle about class status, privileges, and upbringing have been interesting and fruitful so for that reason I found it to merit a tweet. I didn't post it on my blog until it was brought here from a twitter follower. Although I didn't tweet it to stir debate so much as generate discussion, I also believe that debate is an integral component of a healthy democracy. Thank you for your comment!

Jesspgh of Consume or Consumed said...

Thank you, Dajana! I will.

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