This project does not imply that NAACP_LDF endorses the Strategist or eBay.
This month, eBay, in partnership with the Strategist, went back to some of our favorite celebrity shoppers — including financial guru Suze Orman — to ask them about things that they can live without and would be willing to sell at auction for charity. All proceeds will go to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (eBay is receiving and donating all proceeds and matching every dollar the auction earns). Click here to see all the stuff you can bid on.
When I launched my show on CNBC in 2011, the traditional TV garb of a Financial Person was business attire. Women wore suits or dresses, but I never felt comfortable in those garments, so I started wearing leather jackets. I was not going to conform: How could I tell people to stand in their truth if I wasn’t standing in my own? The jackets took off. I soon noticed that other women on financial shows and news networks like CNN and cable programs all started to wear leather jackets like mine. They became my signature look and got so much attention that Kristin Wiig impersonated me on Saturday Night Live. She did a bit about where I got my jackets and made up a shop in Arizona that people actually tried to call.
While I’ve worn both the black jacket, from Theory, and the orange jacket, from Escada Sport, I definitely wore the orange one the most out of any in my collection of more than 60. It was my favorite for years — I can’t tell you how many times I wore it on QVC or other shows. I remember wearing it to a book signing once, and it somehow got a little pen mark on it. I was upset, but it taught me a lesson on how not to get so attached to things. My motto is “People first, then money, then things.” To me, the jackets represent freedom, individuality, and the empowerment to wear something that makes you feel good. I put special surprises inside the pockets of each jacket and included a signed photo and copy of my book, The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+, for the winning bidder, too. I hope the winner will be reminded to be who they want to be whenever they put one of the jackets on.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
