I can’t believe it’s been almost a month since our last post. But I’m proud to report that although I dropped out of the blogsphere, I stuck with the no shopping mandate. Well– I did shop a little, but as promised, I only bought items that were second hand. I’ve been getting a lot of wear out of this vintage dress from Estella Vitae.

I also made good use of my public library card. Free music, DVDs and books? Yes, please.

I signed up for a knitting class at Knit on Wentworth Street and learned a few new tricks.

All in all, not shopping was a runaway success. It was 1,000 times easier than I expected, and I’m hesitant to throw myself back into the world of consumerism. Although the new anthropologie catalog is calling my name…

Kidding! Sort of. But from now on, I will be more cautious with what I’m buying. No more cheap, trendy stuff. If I buy something, I want to be using it for years to come. If it’s sustainable, that’s even better. In the face of mounting environmental and economical concerns, consuming carefully is trendy. Hopefully it will be a trend with staying power. Try it for yourself and see.

Xx,

Bridget

So I received my first — and as it turns out, last — pair of Frye shoes in the mail yesterday. *Tear.

I tromped around New York City last night like I a rock star, though. (Well, an unemployed rock star, like Britney circa 2006.) And who wouldn’t, with a pair of sexy platforms like these leading the way? -Abi

Here at girls about charlestowne, we’ve been trying our best to ignore the economic recession. Instead, we usually focus on more important topics, like fancy cocktails at Fish or the new spring apparel at Hampden Clothing.

Yet recent events have brought our irresponsible spending to a halt. (Read more at Abi’s personal blog.) During these tough times, snapping up shiny new handbags and home goods just feels wrong.

So starting today, February 12, we’re vowing not to buy any material goods— clothes, accessories, books, CDs— for an entire month, unless they’re second-hand. That’s (gulp) 30 days with no J.Crew, no new music from 52.5 and definitely no more footwear from The Frye Company. If we need something, we’ll be resourceful. Most everything we want can be found second-hand, on craigslist.com or eBay, or in local thrift shops like The Trunk Show, Estella Vitae, The Exchange Factor, or Linda Page’s Thieves Market.

As an added incentive, shopping second-hand is more socially responsible. We don’t need a brand-new blouse if there’s a perfectly good one in the window of a consignment shop. It’s recycling. It’s refreshing. And it will force us to think about what we’re consuming.

So wish us luck. We’ll keep you posted on our progress. And if you know of any great thrift shops or Web sites, let us know.

Xx,

gac

Being broke is definitely not hip. In other words, we’re about as hip right now as miniskirts with Uggs. (Perhaps one too many Special Crunch Rolls from Shiki has broken the bank?) But that’s why we’re making a note to register for the “Women in Investing” seminar so graciously offered — for FREE — by the South Carolina Federal Credit Union. (6:30-7:30 p.m., Feb. 10)

Expect to learn the basics of investing, and how women in particular can benefit from stashing some cash away — and we don’t mean under your mattress. (Notice the class is titled Women in Investing.)

And since being unemployed isn’t too high on the hip list either, there’s a bonus seminar offered at 6 p.m., right before the Investing class, aptly titled “How to Land a Great Job.”

Both seminars are at 6209 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. Click here for directions.

Happy investing!

II Brunettes, the super-chic Mount Pleasant boutique that boasts apparel from lines like Splendid and J Brand, is hosting an impressive end-of-winter sale. Discounts are HUGE. $200 jeans are marked down to $49.99. Sweaters that were $120 are now $29.99. In this economy, that’s nothing to sniff at, and we intend to cash in on the savings.

Half of us here at girls about charlestowne have strong Iron City roots, which is why we can hardly contain ourselves right now. In two days, our boys will take the field, and we expect, take no prisoners.

Of course, we’ve been preparing since the whistle blew after the AFC Championship. Terrible towels are washed and ready to go — there was a minor mishap with an IC Light last game — HD flatscreens have been purchased (no joke), the troops have been summoned and a very special menu has been set.

Typical Super Bowl grub will not do for this momentous occassion, nor for the group of die-hard Steeler fans we’ll be huddled with during the game. (We’re not kidding, one of the guys — Abi’s brother, in fact — has the Steelmark-inspired team logo with flames surrounding it emblazoned on his chest.)

No, we won’t be eating nacho cheese dip or burgers and hot dogs. We’ll be feeding on Primanti Bros., Pittsburgh’s most famous sandwiches (see pic above).

We don’t expect many of you to know what these are, so here’s a recipe for the most delicious stack of meat and bread you’ll ever consume.

If staying home for the Super Bowl isn’t your thing, we have one suggestion and one suggestion only: Blue’s House of Wings. There are two locations in Mount Pleasant: one at 1905 Hwy. 41 and one at 1039 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, across the road from Chick-fil-A. With two huge flatscreens and a tight-knit clan of fans who aren’t afraid to scream, holler and throw things, we prefer the latter location.

Sorry Cardinals fans, but we have no idea where you might feel comfortable viewing your team’s painful demise. Perhaps at home? So no one sees you cry like a baby at the end of the game? (What would the Super Bowl be without a little smack-talk, huh?)

GO STEELERS!

Tonight is “Scorch the Porch” night at The Mill at Park Circle.

What is this you ask?

Well…it’s only the most amazing Wednesday night lineup that a girl about charlestowne could ask for: Oysters and Cary Ann Hearst.

We know, it’s a bit overwhelming. Take a seat, if you must. And breathe…

After our hip-hop class at Eco Fitness in Mount Pleasant, girls about charlestowne will be heading to North Charleston to partake in the festivities. And you should, too.

The fun starts at 7 p.m. All-you-can-eat oysters are only $10. And Cary Ann Hearst, our favorite local songstress and arguably the most hip girl we don’t know but wish we did, will light up the stage.
See you there!

We couldn’t be more excited about Estella Vitae, the new boutique at 90 Society St. Boasting a well-edited selection of Jonathan Adler candles, hand sewn leather clutches, and vintage evening dresses, the shop seems tailor-made to suit our taste. And the owner, Ginger (pictured above)? We’re totally smitten with her effortless, hippie-glam style. We’re betting that she likes us too, as we’ll be draining our life savings to shop in her store. Seriously. Houston, we have a problem.

Putting our personal finances aside, let the raving begin! Nowhere else in the Holy City will you find a more carefully edited clothing selection. Here, vintage frocks keep company with brand-new pieces. Notable finds include a secondhand pink sweater dress from Saks Fifth Avenue, a silk tunic from Twelve Layers ($30) and a vintage winter coat made from green satin ($200). We’ll take all three.

The shoe collection is also impressive. Knee-high boots from John Fluevog caught our eye. Uh oh… here at girls about charlestowne, we cannot resist a well-made pair of shoes.

That’s not all. We also really dig the home goods. Gorgeous charcoal nudes, matted and framed and less than $100? Check. Vintage glass wear? Check. Funky lamps, retro furniture, eclectic birdcages? Check, check, check.

The verdict? We need a second job. Who’s hiring?

We can’t believe it! One of our favorite little earthy boutiques, Worthwhile (268 King St.), is having its end-of-winter sale. And it doesn’t disappoint.

Selected merchandise is 75 percent off. Uh huh, you heard us correctly: Clothing, home wares, beauty products, notebooks and trinkets…75 percent off!

We each got a fabulous jar of Tokyo Milk lip balm in Iced Green Tea No. 037. It’s light, sweet and infused with a yummy green-tea/citrus-y scent. The 1-ounce jars are usually $14, but right now they’re marked at just 3 bucks. Talk about saving some green, something girls about charlestowne can’t resist.

To sum it up: Chic wares + thrifty prices = totally hip. And if we were bettin’ gals, we’d say the shelves will be bare by the end of the month.

So lace up your boots, hop on your bike or jump in your car. We don’t care how you get there, just get there…fast!

Whether you voted for Obama or not, there’s no denying that today is an important day in American history. In our opinion, it must be commemorated. Preferably with a strong gin martini.

Our favorite dive, the Upper Deck Tavern (353 King St.), will host an inauguration party tonight at 8 p.m. Food will be served and the menu — Chicago-style hot dogs and Hawaiian pizza — is a playful nod to Obama’s heritage.You’ll also find drink specials, like the Blue Hawaiian, for just $4 a pop.

We’ll be there to join the merrymaking, and we plan to raise a toast (or two, or three) to our brand-new president.