| Solange Knowles-Smith knows how to seek out bargain buys |
| Thursday, September 28, 2006 |
 EVEN the rich and famous like a shopping bargain. Just ask Solange Knowles-Smith.
The 20-year-old singer-dancer-songwriter -- who's also the sister of superstar diva Beyonce, daughter of Tina and Mathew Knowles, wife of Carolina Panthers wide receiver Daniel Smith and mother of toddler Daniel Julez J. Smith --- could shop anywhere she wants. She even has the connections to get free clothes.
But one day last week, as her fellow shoppers did double-takes, she happily scoured the racks at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx on West Gray. She wanted clothes for Julez -- but other goods inevitably called, too.
"My mom told me she was going to send me to Shoppers Anonymous because I get such a high from shopping," Knowles-Smith said, joking. "I do like to shop smart, though."
"No bears or ducks or tools," she said. "I have always wanted Julez to look like a little man."
She resembles her sister and mother; and in her denim miniskirt, white button-front shirt and ankle-strap heels, she cut a glamorous swath through the store.
She quickly scored a Rocawear track suit for her son.
"This is a shout-out to our buddy Jay," she said, eyeing the red-and-blue outfit. "I know we could get these for free, but at $20 for a three-piece outfit, I have to get it." ("Jay" is Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, her sister's paramour and owner of the urban clothing line Rocawear.)
Calvin Klein camouflage pants went into her basket next, but she passed on a pair of jeans with an iron-on patch of Tupac Shakur's face on the leg: "Too ghetto," she said. She also chose a couple of Polos --- which she says she buys only at Marshalls, where they're $12.99.
She checked out with five shirts, two pairs of pants and a complete outfit for her son. The total: $123.33.
Knowles-Smith shrugged off the notion that she could shop at high-end stores.
"We grew up with my mother taking us here. We have always looked for good deals. I'm not comfortable spending lots of money on clothes when trends come and go so quickly," she said. "I would rather spend money on a great pair of shoes or a handbag. Plus, I like going through racks. You never know what you will find."
Down the sidewalk at T.J. Maxx, she stopped first at the luggage department. Some chocolate-brown suitcases by Diane von Furstenberg got her attention --- until she saw a more classic Liz Claiborne luggage set.
"I turn down a lot of (appearances) to be home with my son; he comes first. But when I do travel, I need room for his stuff and mine," she explained. She put two rolling bags and a rolling duffel on hold at the customer-service booth.
She wanted to check out T.J. Maxx's new boutique for high-end designer clothing. Prada, Michael Kors, Miu Miu and Dolce & Gabbana are among the labels offered. Instant love: Knowles-Smith quickly grabbed a cream-colored cashmere sweater with rhinestones and crystals. Jeans by 7 for All Mankind and Citizens of Humanity went into her basket, followed by a vest and short suit, a long white top and a chocolate-brown wrap.
She was in the dressing room and out in a few minutes. The jeans, she decided, didn't do enough for her backside. Besides, she said, "I have a lifetime supply of House of Deréon jeans that give me the lift I need. I don't have a lot of junk in my trunk."
House of Deréon is the label founded by her sister and mother. Knowles-Smith is joining that act, too; she's launching a juniors line for the holidays; it will be available at Macy's at the end of October.
"The line is really nice and affordable. A lot of junior lines are not very well made, but this is. The jeans are incredible," said Knowles-Smith, who says she's actively involved with the design. "It is really important to me to wear the clothes. If you have pride in something, you should have no problem wearing it."
She surveyed the dress department. Nothing there. Heading for checkout, she made one more stop: The purses were too hard to resist --- although she showed a little restraint.
She lugged three oversize purses to the checkout counter and asked the shoppers behind her for their opinions. She decided on a blue bag that didn't try too hard to look like a knockoff but was just right as "a cool mom bag."
She left T.J. Maxx with three pieces of luggage, a white cotton top, a purple and black dressy top, a two-piece tweed suit, the blue purse and the long brown wrap --- which, at just $30, was her favorite purchase of the day. This receipt was $646.16, and Knowles-Smith was happy.
She drove her Mercedes-Benz SUV a few blocks down the street to the supercool Chase's Closet, the children's clothing boutique owned by singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and stylist Tara Brivic-Rowntree.
For a split second, Knowles-Smith was drawn to a white Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt for Julez. But the $53 price tag changed her mind. She loaded up an armful of vintage-looking T-shirts for her son that read, "My Grandma Is Hot." A Small Paul Frank shirt also made the cut, and she cashed out at $99.59.
Then it was time to pick up Julez from school and get ready for work. She was due later at Music World/Sanctuary's studios to work on a song for Jennifer Lopez.Source
[Thank you Jennifer] |
posted by Juicy @ 8:29 AM   |
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