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Man Shops Globe: Where those pricey Anthropologie goods come from
Until the trip I just made around the World Wide Web, I had no idea there were so many Anthropologie haters.
I get their perspective. There is something a bit disingenuous about the whole we-are-so-worldly-and-authentic vibe, given the crazy marked up prices and the fact that the products are mass produced for the chain's 120 stores.
But I can't help it. Though I infrequently buy anything there (and shop mostly on the sale rack), Anthropologie is one of those stores that just makes me happy. Take a stroll around, and breathe in the stylish jeans, the cute sweaters, the classy accessories, the feminine dresses and all those lovely home goods and tchotchkes. Nevermind the wave of envy that sweeps over when you realize you can't afford much in this perfect little world. When you are there, it's heaven.
So I might check out Man Shops Globe, a new eight-week series on the Sundance Channel that follows Anthropologie's buyer-at-large across the globe as he hunts for treasures. I missed the series premier this week, but buyer Keith Johnson's trip to France re-airs at 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Subsequent episodes take viewers to remote villages in India, art studios in Turkey and, I'm sure, flea markets galore.
Lots of writers bashed the first episode. For their thoughts, click here and here and, ouch, here. But hey, if your tight travel budget is competing with a yearning to spend days rummaging through antiques and crafts, this show might be a worthwhile pit stop.
Deal Diva Colleen
(Photo: Keith Johnson shopping in Argentina. Lucky, lucky man. By Sundance Channel)
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THE AUTHORS
Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@tampabay.com.
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Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her
mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost,
but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan,
she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never
needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her
closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can
be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.
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A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@tampabay.com.
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Coming from a long line of fashionable women, Kim Wilmath considers herself lucky to fit into their hand-me-downs. Her wardrobe staples include her grandma's vintage blouses and her mom's funky jewelry. When she's in the market for "new" items, Kim hits her favorite thrift stores -- a habit she also picked up from mom. But when circumstances require a visit to the shiny stores in the mall, you'll find Kim at the sale rack like a good little diva. She can be reached at (813) 661-2442 or kwilmath@tampabay.com.
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