Tampabay.com

JANUARY 17, 2012

Birchbox: One of the best inventions you may never get to enjoy

My co-worker Emily R. recently turned me on to one of the most enticing online offerings a product junkie could ever want: Birchbox, a little box birchbox.jpgof four to five deluxe samples from companies like Kiehl's, Smashbox, Nars and Philosophy, sent to your doorstep for $10 a month. You can give them as gift subscriptions and collect points toward buying full-size products. It's been written up by every health and fashion magazine out there and hailed as one of the best new business models in the beauty industry (true story: it was started by two Harvard girls).

Unfortunately, business may be a little TOO good. When I went to the Birchbox site and tried to sign up, it said all of the Birchboxes were sold out and they weren't taking new orders until they got their act together. I did have the option of entering my e-mail to join the waiting list, but there was no indication of how long that may be, no confirmation that they received my e-mail and would be in touch, no promises of delicate little boxes of skin creams and lip glosses arriving at my door anytime soon. Sad.

Oh, well. I guess I'll just sit here and wait. In the meantime, I can admire Emily R.'s Birchboxes, the latest of which you can see below. Sigh.

emireiman.jpg

Deal Diva Emily

Photos: Birchbox.com, Emily R.'s cell phone.

 

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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.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at 850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

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.

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.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.

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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