If anyone of you know me, you’re aware of how much I loathe having my picture taken. I know, I know, I’m like a freak of nature when it comes to the wonderful world of fashion blogging. You’ll never catch me posing in front of a cool piece of architecture, or against a wall filled with abstract graffiti. It just isn’t who I am. But I WILL shower you will stock images of much more photogenicc people … so there.

But when Franklin Mills, now known as Philadelphia Mills after some wonderful re-branding, asked me to check out one of their stores and be followed around with a photographer as I shopped, I was clearly skeptical. Me? Model? Not up in here. But the more I pondered it, the more I talked myself into looking at is as supporting a local retail establishment in their new ventures instead of me striking a pose and being something that I am not … aaaaaaaaaand there may or may not been a gift card to Saks Off 5th involved. Maybe, just maybe. Hey, a girls gotta get her fall wardrobe on somehow some way, am I right?

Luckily shopping is something I do when I’m stressed out, and nothing stresses me out more than having my photo taken (something I should really talk to a professional about, right?). So the minute I walked into Saks Off 5th, I started to shop … hard. Which wasn’t difficult as they literally hit every fall trend point perfectly. Fur vests, designer jeans, monochrome everything, sky high stilettos … I was in heaven. It was like I was five years old again and pulling princess dresses out of my toy box … except replace cheap princess dresses with Marc Jacobs. I learned even as an adult, playing dress up is really good for the soul.

Since I was being asked to style fall looks, it was kind of like the sky was the limit. Normally I would just drool over a Marc by Marc sweater instead of picking it up to try it on, as it would only cause me torturous pain, but this time I added it to my collection. Those sky high stiletto boots that I lust over but never try on because I would become gigantor ended up in my dressing room, happily.

I feel like there is a stigma along with outlet malls that they are “shady,” “cheap,” “tacky.” But with every shopping experience you either score and find the diamonds in the rough or you walk away empty handed. Philadelphia Mills absolutely has something for everyone (which is so cliche and annoying to say, I know), but it’s true. I’m a very picky person when it comes to shopping … but nothing pleases me more or makes me want to post all over every social media channel when I score an amazing deal, and that is what you find here.

I would like to thank Philadelphia Mills for the invite and helping me step out of my anti-photo bubble. I’ll admit it, but the end of my shoot, I may or may not have been hamming it up in front of the camera, and channeling my inner Man Repeller (she’s my fashion blogger spirit animal). It’s kind of cool to work with a legit photographer, even if I will go to my grave claiming that I am the least photogenic person on the planet.

Get a little taste of some of my Off Saks adventure below and be sure to follow Philadelphia Mills for sales and style tips and such. Hell, you may even get served a sponsored ad on Facebook with my mean mug on it. What what!