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    December 2, 2020

    Gift Guide: Ideas for the Woman Who Shops (a Lot)

    The old adage is that it's better to give than to receive but who says you can't enjoy both? A gift is exponentially better when it is accompanied by thoughtfulness. A considerate gift gives the recipient permission to relax, feel joy and indulge in the experience of being doted upon.

    Before we jump right in, I hope you don't mind if I offer a little bit of relationship advice. Whatever he buys you-- don't return it! Once you return enough gifts he will feel defeated and stop buying them. Keep it-- even if it's too expensive, not the right color or completely not your taste. If it's actually that bad, secretly return it but never let him know.

    The same rule goes for your children. Give them the opportunity to enjoy the experience of giving even if it means wearing it just once and hiding it for the rest of your days.

    So, now, we present the definitive gift guide on getting it right so that she wears it often, loves it, and cherishes it forever. (As if that actually exists.) Just in case, always shop where purchases can be returned for a full refund and never throw out the receipt.











    Blaze Milano blazer ($780 from $1560)



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    December 1, 2020

    Biossance: Clean and Pure Winter Beauty

    Sponsored by Biossance and ShopStyle

    Beauty has taken an entirely new perspective now that I have teenage daughters. It's up to me to teach them that true beauty starts on the inside and needs to be preserved through self-care and kindness. Now, more than ever, it's important to choose beauty products that are deeply nourishing without any harmful chemicals.




    Biossance offers mega moisturizing products that eliminate dehydrated skin and enhance a healthy complexion. Biossance’s key ingredient of 100% plant-based squalane, which allows their products to work harder to deeply nourish and support skin’s moisture barrier while giving your complexation a healthy glow.

    Now is the perfect time to try out Biossance’s acclaimed products. For Black Friday through Cyber week, you can save 30% off site-wide. In addition, for Giving Tuesday 50% of all proceeds from products sold today (12/1) will be donated to Oceana. The discount offer ends December 4, so really don't procrastinate. 

    For the holidays Biossance is offering a fantastic assortment of beauty kits. Over the course of the past few weeks, I've used assorted items and have come to love each product individually and even more so when they are combined. The Squaline + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer  ($36 from $52) feels light and fluffy on the skin but has the strength to do the heavy lifting to keep my skin nourished and hydrated even as the days increasingly become cold and dry. 

    When paired with the Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil ($50 from $72) from the results are dynamite. Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil adds a glow and radiance that is superb. Just remember that oil is the last product applied to the face before cosmetics. They lock all the moisture into the skin and anything that's applied over it won't be absorbed. 

    The Squaline + Lactic Acid Reserfucaing Night Serum ($43 from $62) is a phenom of its own. The first night it was applied, I woke up feeling the difference in my skin. In the morning, my skin felt hydrated and alive as opposed to the usual stiffness and dryness. It's been a nightly ritual from day one.  

    Check out the Uplifted & Bright Kit Set ($50 from $127 value), which contains a full-size Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, a travel size version of the Squalane + Omega Repair Cream, and a travel-size Squalane + Phyto Retinol Serum. The Let it Go gift set ($18 from $63 value) contains the powerful combo of a travel size Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil and a travel-size Squaline + Lactic Acid Reserfucaing Night Serum. 

    Check out all the amazing gift sets here. Any option you choose will be sure to have a lasting effect and add a beautiful holiday glow. Remember, the Cyber deals end December 4.

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    November 30, 2020

    Gift Guide: Corporate Gifting

    It's time to get serious about holiday gifting. Thanking your business partners is one of the most complicated giftings of the season. Your presents need to represent the ethos of your company and appropriately show gratitude to those who support you throughout the year.

    It's also important not to go overboard, you don't want your gift to seem like a bribe. On the flip side, you don't want to send a gift a fruit basket to someone who entrusts you with a mega-size portfolio or trusted you to list their $30-million brownstone.

    Below are a few ideas to thank your customers and business partners. As for employees, everyone appreciates cash.


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    November 30, 2020

    The Best of Cyber Week

    Chances are that you've been shopping or browsing online all weekend. Nonetheless, marketers still insist that the shopping continues full force through Cyber Monday. This season, most shopping will be done online. 

    Many of the discounts pick up where we left on Thanksgiving. You can click over to our Thanksgiving week cheat sheet. Below are the retailers we plan to stalk for Cyber Monday. Just be careful, the impulse to buy anything can easily overcome Monday morning shoppers.



    If you need Gucci shoes fast you should be stalking DSW  The site continually adds new styles to the assortment. Prices run 30% to 50% off retail. Here are Gucci Zumi kitten heels for $500 from $980, Marmont sandals are $500 from $690, and Ace sneakers are $450 from $650.  Princetown velvet slides are $650 from $790 or a version with embroidered cats is $550 from $890. There are also some kid's Gucci shoes too. 

    Black Friday continues with a private Balenciaga sale where you can save 30% off with the code PS30. The women's selection is here and men can click here. This herringbone handbag is $840 from $1200, this quilted leather bag is $805 from $1150, and mirrored slides are $420 from $600.

    You can save 20% off sitewide with most purchases over $250 with the code BLACKFRIDAY20 or 25% off when you spend over $500 with the code BLACKFRIDAY25. The big designers are excluded but there is still a lot from which to choose. Alexander McQueen sneakers are $400 from $540, Chloe boots are $427 from $570 and this Valentino Rockstud micro bag is $1100 from $1476. 

    For Cyber Monday, Mr. Porter is offering up to 50% off. An Off-White hoodie is $225 from $550, a cashmere sweater from The Row is $1000 from $1500 and Nike Airforce 1 sneakers are $84 from $120. This Cyber Monday sale seems like an early first markdown. We would suggest taking a scroll and getting a jump on men's sales. 

    It takes a real insider to understand all of the promotions that are available for Cyber Monday at Saks. For starters, you can receive $50 off every $200 you spend on qualifying purchases with the code CYBER20SF and clearance items are an additional 20% off.  There is also 15% off beauty with the code CBTY20SF. Last, but not least, you can save 20% off Canada Goose with the code CG20OFF. 

    Tap over to Nordstrom to save an additional 25% off clearance items. This Isabel Marant sweater $100 from $400, RtA leather leggings are $500 from $1100 and this Victoria Beckham coat is $1500 from $2500. There are also plenty of beauty deals. This La Mer set is $255 from $500, this T3 curling iron is $130 from $160 and Tom Ford Illuminator is $35 from $70. 


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    November 28, 2020

    Holiday Edition: Obsessions & Impulses

    When I first started MadSpy the idea was to direct shoppers to find the best deals. It was assumed that fashion girls already had a great sense of what they wanted and sometimes just needed to be pointed in the right direction. 




    As online shopping has exploded it seems that even the most accomplished shoppers are confused by the volume of options. Years ago, the bulk of my time would be spent toiling over the right words. These days, it can take hours sorting and filtering the best sale items to compile a post. I can't imagine how it feels to be a novice shopper.

    This week, I'm lending a helping hand. Head to Instagram stories and tell me what you need to buy and I'll do my best to point you to the right item or at least the right direction. The more details you include the more accurate I can be. 

    There are a lot of sites to browse for those diving into holiday sales. We hashed out the best Black Friday sales over in this previous post. An honorable mention should be made to the sale sections at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. Enter at your own risk, it might cost you a few Benjamins before clicking away from either. 

    If you're still not satisfied, we have a pretty complete list of all the best promotions this way. Special attention should be paid to MyTheresa and Ssense. Both are offering great discounts on current season designer merchandise. 

    Speaking of current season markdowns, we are still waiting for local department stores to take a good markdown. Thursday will be a big day for designer shoppers. Keep your eyes on Neiman Marcus. We have our bets on Saks for the best deals on Cyber Monday. 

    Taking a downshift from super-expensive designer merchandise,  Shopbop is offering 20% off purchases of $200 or more with the code SHOP20. This Jacquemous bag is $400 from $500, this JW Anderson chain bag is $425 from $895, and a Saks Potts puffer is $700 from $880.

    You might also want to consider digging into the Yoox Black Friday sale where discounts top at 90% off. Here is a Prada skirt for $382 from $850 and Prada slides are $228 from $570.  There is so much merchandise that I suggest you just do searches based on your favorite designer and cross filter by size. 

    That's it for me today. Remember to head to  Instagram stories for some Saturday night fun. 

    Stay tuned. Until next time... same time, same place?


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    November 26, 2020

    Where to Shop on Black Friday (Now)

    Waking up on Thanksgiving Day, it's hard to choose between cooking, eating, and shopping. You can guess where we started. This holiday season is like none prior. There will be fewer people crowding stores and lots more shoppers logging online. Take note, the increased online shopping will mean a bottleneck in shipping. This season we suggest ordering earlier than you even anticipate to be necessary. 

    Lucky for you,  we have all the inside scoop and can lend you a little preview of the markdowns to come. European online luxury retailers seem to take Black Friday even more seriously than American retailers. Head to our post from earlier this week to see the best deals from Italy. We must admit, we are getting very well acquainted with DHL. Marketplaces like Farfetch and Italist are offering extending markdowns and extra savings. Ssense is also in it to win it--the customer, of course.  

    Below are our top picks for Black Friday and a sneak peek into Cyber Monday. Remember, to add all your purchase considerations into your cart and edit out the items that you don't need now or that you don't anticipate selling out. There are lots of markdowns to come and one of the miracles of fashion is that there is always something new to buy.
    Happy Thanksgiving!!


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    You might need to dig for a bit but your efforts will be rewarded when you find the right gem. Right now, you can save up to an additional 30% off already reduced merchandise. The savings is near 80% off on some items. There are dozens of styles of Manolo Blahnik shoes reduced to about $200 but there aren't many size options available. You can easily find something from Stuart Weitzman for even half of that. While everyone is waiting for a sample sale from The Row we can assure you that the prices here are even better. The additional discounts will be available through Dec.1. The real designer sale will hit on Dec. 3.

    Sometimes you have to go straight to the mother ship to find the best selection and price. In the Private Sale section found in this link, you can save between 30% and 50% off past season Balenciaga merchandise. Triple S sneakers are available in a full-size range and are $680 from $975 and Speed Trainers are $549 from $800. A logo all over sweater is $830 from $1190, a backpack is $729 from $1050, and a graffiti City Bag is $1250 from $2100. 

    There is A LOT going on at Saks. So much so that it's starting to feel like JC Penny. You can save 15% off lots of beauty brands including Diptyque, La Mer, Armani Beauty, and Jo Malone. Next, head over to the big deep discounts on past season merchandise. Reductions peek at 75% off. There are great finds like this Saint Laurent blazer that's $861 from $3500 plus a $75 gift card with the code BCGC20SF. It would already be mine but it's a size too big. This Off-White canvas tote is $200 from $330 and this Jitney bag is $850 from $1450. This Balmain jacket dress is $1377 from $2300 and this Mark Cross box bag is $1500 from $2300. 

    In a normal year, Lululemon wouldn't chart on our must-shop list but the combination of covid curves and staying home more makes athleisure a must-have. Black Friday prices are about 30% to 40% off of retail, which isn't earth-shattering but it's a welcome saving. A pullover is $59 from $88 and cropped leggings are $59 from $88. Just a little word of warning, we would rather forsake a discount than purchase a color a style that's not flattering. 

    Just when you think it's all over, DSW adds more styles to its Gucci sale. The prices are pretty good. You'll find Sylvie loafers are $500 from $890 and Sylvie pumps are $500 from $700. Kids Gucci slides make a great gift for just $150. Remember, keep checking back. 





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    November 23, 2020

    Black Friday: Unpublished Links & Insider Information

    As Thanksgiving Day approaches it's hard to choose between cooking, eating, and shopping. You can guess our prediction. This holiday season is turning out to be much different than in past years. Black Friday is already upon us, sort of. Good thing that we have all the inside scoop and details to help inform you where to shop and when.



     
    MyTheresa
    The deal: PRIVATE Extra 30% off 
    Expires: November 30
    What we are eyeing:
    Loewe straw bag $903 from $2150

    Savannah's
    The deal: Up to 50% off
    What we are eyeing:
    Manolo Skysan heels $478 from $1200
    Alexander McQueen heels $445 from $890
    Givenchy boots $1080 from $1350
    The deal: Discounted Gucci shoes extra 20% off. Add to cart to see the final price. 
    Expires: New styles continually added
    What we are eyeing: 
    Jordaan loafers $399 from $730
    Ace sneakers $399 from $790
    Strawberry sneakers $359 from $650

    Deal: Extra 30% off sale
    Expires: November 29
    What we are eyeing: 
    ALC Navy blazer $321 from $650
    AGoldie sweater $117 from $168 
    Alexander Vauthier dress $715 from $1740 

    Deal: Up to 50% off. Check out the deals for teens. (Many work for adults too. Golden goose goes up to a size 39)
    What we are eyeing: 

    Golden Goose Superstars $335 from $530 
    Moncler hat $114 from $190
    Balmain blazer $1300 from $2300

    Deal: Discounts up to 50% off
    Expires: Ongoing
    What we are eyeing: 
    Saint Laurent Kate bag $1500 from $1990
    Moncler puffer $835 from $1160

    Deal: $50 off $200 full price items including beauty 
    Code: THANKFUL
    What we are eyeing: 
    Manolo Hangisi $750 from $995
    Barbour coat: $500 from $650

    The Deal: 30% to 40% off lots of items 
    What we are eyeing: 
    Highrise tights $70 from $100
    Crop top tee $29 from $54
    Long sleeve tee $60 from $88

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    November 22, 2020

    Italian Boutiques: Venerdì Nero (Black Friday)

    If Black Friday existed in Italy, it would be right now. We could call it Venerdi Nero and shop our credit cards to a deficit. A number of Italian boutiques started amazing discounts. The best part is that the sale assortment is comprised of premium merchandise. See details below:




    Deal: Take 30% off sitewide
    Exclusive code: MADISON30
    Exclusions: Gucci, Prada bags, YSL Bags, Moncler
    Sale highlight: Fendi coat with fur pockets $3190 from $4160

    Deal: Take 30% off sitewide
    Code: BF30
    Sale highlight: CDG Play cardigan $236 from $412 US

    Deal: 25% off sitewide
    Code: MOON25
    Exclusions: Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Golden Goose 
    Sale highlight: Amina Muaddi heels $660 from $985 US

    Deal: 20% off sitewide
    Code: BFX20
    Sale highlights:
    Maison Michel hat $360 from $570
    Balmain tweed blazer $1505 from $3200 US
    Off White bag $670 from $1260 US



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