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Published
by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. CLICK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
Sunday, September 2, 2001
Island fashion at cool prices
Costume jewelry is this bargain hunter’s prey
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Paul Iverson/Caller-Times
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Jan Schiller, 46, who describes her style as ‘island casual,’ sticks with breathable fabrics that require no dry cleaning. Even though her dress is easy and breezy, she says that her fashion icon is Cher.
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Closet snoop
Jan Schiller, 46, is a part-time travel agent with two daughters, ages 16 and 22. Schiller was born in St. Louis. Her favorite pastimes include boating and spending time at the beach. This bargain hunter hits resale shops first and will shop anywhere to find a great deal: "I'm not in the market for things that will last me the rest of my life," she says.
Q: Most treasured item?
A: My mother's peach-colored Felice silk lingerie with embroidery that she wore on her honeymoon in April of 1948. I slept in it when it used to fit.
Q: One item you wouldn't be caught dead wearing?
A: A thong! My style is comfortable. No perpetual wedgies.
Q: Describe your island casual style:
A: No pantyhose or socks. Mainly cottons and no ironing or dry-cleaning - a lot of sleeveless outfits and cool sundresses.
Q: What's your fashion excess?
A: Costume jewelry. I'm a cheap jewelry-holic and am ashamed to confess there are some items that I have never worn. Do not tell my husband! I won't spend more than $10 for an entire set - necklace and matching earrings. I'll find the ring and bracelet to match, too. I buy a lot of my jewelry in Progreso, Mexico. I paid $4.99 for silver-tone Givenchy earrings. They're kind of like Chanel, but they have a big G dangling from the ear. Right after I bought them, a lady at Ross offered to pay me $6 for them. I said, "No way."
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Paul Iverson/Caller-Times
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Schiller loves shopping for costume jewelry — but she hasn’t worn every piece she’s purchased. She usually buys earring and necklace sets for less than $10.
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Q: What's on your wish list?
A: Some cute little sexy red stiletto shoes. The kind they wear on "Sex and the City." I have short, very wide feet, and can never find anything that will support my feet without looking like elf-shoes.
Q: Who's your fashion icon?
A: It has to be Cher! That girlfriend can put on anything and make it look good. And she's been doing it consistently for several decades now. I really liked her sexy vamp outfits from the '70s. She had that long hair she could do anything with.
Q: What are your best bargains?
A: I paid $4 for a new Italian leather skirt that retailed for more than $100. I even paid 50 cents for a ring at a yard sale in San Francisco. I found out later it had real diamonds.
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Paul Iverson/Caller-Times
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Schiller stays cool in this black and white sleeveless Capri pant set.
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Q: What's your shopping motto?
A: "Frugality without creativity is depravation." You can be cheap as long as you're creative with it. The most I've ever spent on a pair of shoes is $24 for Anne Klein leather loafer slip ons. Even my wedding dress from 1975 was only $40, and my bridesmaids' dresses were $3.50 a piece. My dad always tells people about my bargains. When I'm around, he chirps "cheap, cheap."
Q: How far are you willing to bargain?
A: I was literally run out of a shop in Cancun because I was trying to get a man to sell me an $85 hammock for $12. He went ballistic and chased me out of the store yelling "cheap, blue-light lady." Other store employees gathered and tried to get me into their shops. I bought a hammock from another shop for $12 just like I wanted.
Staff writer Cassandra Hinojosa
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