The Great American Apparel Diet

no buying for one year

Thank you to my fellow dieters who weighed in on my question about whether or not I should attend a CAbi clothing trunk show to which I was invited.  In my previous post, I vowed to RSVP based upon whatever the majority ruled and, much to my surprise, “Proceed with caution, but definitely go.” was the predominant message.  So proceed I did!

CAbi Spring 2010 "Opposites Attract" Collection

While I was a bit concerned about what this function would do to my dieting resolve, I am proud to announce that my willpower passed the test… I did not buy!  In fact, I found resistance a lot easier than I expected.   A lot of the items were super cute (see catalog page above), but my severely limited budget played a big part in keeping me on my “diet”.

While the clothes are billed as “affordable”, I think that term is relative.  If I wore designer duds and didn’t bat an eye at $200 for a pair of jeans, I’d consider CAbi very affordable.  However, with Marshalls and consignment stores being more my speed these days, $60 for a tee shirt is not my idea of affordable.

Here are a few takeaways regarding CAbi:

• The format of the show was similar to that of other product “parties” where you socialize with fellow guests for a while as you look over the merchandise.  Next you get to see & hear the consultant’s overview of the product line (with a catalog in hand on which to mark your favorites).  Thankfully, there was very little pressure to buy and our consultant was a pleasure.
• CAbi has 11 different collections of like-styled items (“Boho Beauty”, “Miami Spice”, “Prints Charming”, etc.).  During the overview of the collections, guests got to model a few of the pieces and our consultant displayed a host of different mix & match options.  Following the demonstration came the “rack attack” portion of the show where guests got to try on any pieces that tickled their fancy.
• Since CAbi is a “trunk show” format, not all sizes of all pieces are on hand.  With free shipping on returns and exchanges, however, you can always send items back for a different size at no extra cost.
• Our consultant billed CAbi as “Garanimals for grownups”, which, funny as it sounds, I think is a great feature.  Items within each collection mix and match very well in a variety of layered outfits and looks.  This offers a lot of versatility for creating different coordinated ensembles.

Synopsis: CAbi seems to offer decent quality casual-chic clothing at a price point that, while not at the highest end of the spectrum, may not fit some people’s budgets these days.  If you are not that budget-conscious, enjoy a social shopping experience, don’t mind undressing in front of others, and appreciate feedback from friends regarding how you look in various outfits, you’ll likely enjoy the CAbi experience and come away with a piece or two for your closet (after Sept. 1, of course!).  If, like me, you are an off-price retail gal for whom $89 is too much to spend on a pair of jeans (and for whom shopping is best enjoyed solo), CAbi may not be your cup of tea.

Thanks, fellow dieters, for your support and for encouraging me to attend!  While I didn’t buy anything, I did have a good time at the show and picked up a few new tips, tricks and techniques to tuck away in my fashion arsenal.

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