ShopEatSleep

I love the collar on this Gap sweater. On sale for $19.75.

I don’t do Black Friday. I can’t handle the crowds and the lines and getting close to engaging in fisticuffs (or actually getting into a fight) over a parking space or sweater or whatever. I prefer to wait, because there are always deals as it gets closer to Christmas, or to shop online during what is now called Cyber Monday, the Monday following Black Friday. And you can thank the recession for the sales that have already started!

Gap is having an in-store buy one, get one free deal on men’s and women’s sweaters, Gap Body pajama pants, and Gap Kids and Baby Gap fleece through Friday. Online, Gap is offering 50 percent off men’s and women’s sweaters and kids’ and baby fleece, as well as 30 percent off all outerwear, through Sunday. There’s also free shipping on orders more than $50 from all the Gap Inc. brands (Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime and Athleta).

MacMall is having a 72-hour sale that runs through Friday. Macbooks start at $884.98, Macbook Pros start at $1,068.99 (less than what I paid for my 13″ with my education discount), Macbook Airs start at $1,398.98, and iMacs start at $1,068.99. There’s much more, including iPod Shuffles starting at $54.99 and iPod Touches starting at $169.99.

And don’t forget the Rebecca Minkoff online sample sale that lasts through Monday.

For a comprehensive list of traditional Black Friday and online sales, check out Black Friday Ads to see the actual advertisements for Target, Amazon, NewEgg and others.

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You don't want to look like this guy. From I'm Going to Burning Man.

Has anyone else noticed how fanny packs are making a comeback? Of course, most labels aren’t calling them “fanny packs” anymore, which is probably a good marketing move. But don’t be fooled by the “belt bags” or “hipsters” or whatevers — they’re still fanny packs.

Now, I’ve seen high-end versions of these waist-wrapping bags at Fred Segal a few years ago, but at the time I thought it was just some aberration by a designer who thought he or she knew what the next big thing was but totally got it wrong. “I would never wear that!” I proclaimed to my shopping companion. Well, now I may be the one in the wrong.

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