...from a losing streak to a look for less...

Oh my goodness readers...how can it be that it's Thursday already.  The holiday weekend, though quite lovely in so many ways and of course so necessary, has seemingly made mincemeat of my usual weekly schedule.  I feel as though I'm rushing to get twice as many things done in half the time!

Yesterday afternoon, early on, I received a phone call letting me know that Mister Man's social skills therapy group for the evening would be canceled.  Now usually this would have it's own mixed bag of reactions from me : delight in some extra found time and not having to hustle after school, a bit of disappointment for Mister Man as he so enjoys it, and a heaping of frustration as he (and therefore I) is so dependent on the structure of a rigid schedule.  This time round though was the exception as I was downright disappointed...not for Mister Man, but (shamefully) solely for myself.  You see, that hour and a half of time in which he is in group I am free to get things done.  Free to run errands or read a book, find a park to walk in, or browse at the very nearby to therapy mall. 

And that was just what I had in mind.  With my birthday quickly approaching I had earmarked a few items from various online sites that I wanted the chance to see and try on in person...as I search for a gift to buy for myself.  Long story short we decided to go to the mall anyway.  A few stops early on and my Mami-guilt was easily sated as Mister Man pored over choices in both the Lego store and Build-a-Bear Workshop before ultimately choosing to spend his carefully saved money and gift cards on one item from each.  He's now the proud new papa of Joe Who (an owl) and a mini-lego set!  With bear box and bag in hand...and Henry of course...we headed off to let Mami get her shop on! 

I stopped off in Sephora to look at Fresh's new products...but none of them were available.  Then off to F21 for a blouse and maxi dress...with no luck there either.  BCBG yielded no stock of the tunic I had my online eye on.  Finally a bit weary of my 8 year old's in-store antics and my losing streak I popped into NY&Co to look for one last dress...

...and found it...

...and hated it on site!  Ugh!

Now, with all that before me you can imagine just how surprised I was to find on the racks the most amazing look for less!

Now it's no secret that I have a deep and abiding love for Anthropologie...even if it doesn't love me back in quite the bargain-priced way I wish it would!  Last summer I fell in love with many, many pieces and you can bet I snatched them up once they went on sale.  But my favourite purchase (and most frequently worn) had to be the Chantico Tank by Bailey 44.  It came in various colours and I lucked out and found both the black and grey come sale time in my size.  Suffice it to say I wore the heck out of both of them through the remaining summer and early fall...though thanks to gently care they are still in good shape.

Absolute astonishment then, as I stood between rack with Mister Man tugging on one hand while with the other I held up a spot-on duplicate of my beloved top.  NY&Co shopping therapy to the rescue...it cured my losing streak just like that! 

Goddess Tank from NY&Co

Chantico Tank from Anthropologie

Now if the remarkable copycat isn't quite enough to convince you, try this on for size (or rather, price).  Anthro's version retailed for around $88.  The NY&Co version will run you $26.95.  But wait, the fun doesn't stop there.  The store is currently running a sale...BOGO for 75% off.  So do the calculations readers...that's one for $26.95 plus one for a mere $6.74 for a total of $33.69...that's less than half the price of just one of the Anthro tops!  Love!

You just know those numbers had me hooked, right?  The top currently is available in white and black, and yes, I bought both.  Upon arriving home I dug out my Anthro version for a hanger-by-hanger comparison in black and it was incredible how alike they were. 

Just a note: the white one is just the littlest bit sheer, so I definitely recommend a nude bra underneath.  I've a birthmark just left of center on my abdomen even when I moved the extra swathe of fabric aside to check it wasn't in any way visible.  So I'm fairly certain you wouldn't need another layer underneath the white one. 

Happy shopping to those of you who find this Look for Less to fabulous to resist!  And wish me luck as I continue my search for my birthday gift! :)