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    Hermès Pricing

    This week Hermès increased the prices on many of their most popular items while decreasing the prices of others. The prices of many popular bags and accessories were increased 5% to 8% depending on the item. A classic print silk woman’s scarf is now $375 when they were $355 August 10th. A 32cm croc Birkin was $35,000 and is now $37,000. Both prices seem insane even to this Madison Avenue gal but going back five years ago the same bag was under $8,000. Can you imagine?

    On the bright side, some items on Hermes.com have gone down in price. For instance, a hippo key ring was $350 and is now $320. The globetrotter agenda is now $590, from $640 and mugs (yes, the type you drink with) were $125 and are now $110. Sorry, that’s the end of the bright news because there are rumors of an additional 10% price increase sometime after the new year.

    Understanding Hermès pricing has never been easy. Back in March 2008, Business Week ran a great article, “The Mystery of the $234 Hermès Tie.”The magazine reported that in Moscow a silk tie costs 5,760 rubles, or around $241. That same tie will cost €125 ($192) at the company’s flagship store on Paris’s Faubourg Saint-Honoré but only $160 before tax ($173.40 after) at their shop on Manhattan’s Madison Avenue.

    Some would say that the price discrepancy has to do with the euro but given the weak dollar and the strong ruble, the price should be higher in the U.S. and lower in Russia than in Europe. Yet the reverse is true. Here is a great map of Hermès pricing.

    If economics and currency arbitrage aren’t your thing you might want to consider making your Hermès purchase before 2009.

    Barneys Warehouse Sale

    Somewhere between their moment-by-moment updates of the 3G iPhone, RackedNY posted breaking news about the upcoming  Barneys Warehouse Sale. Afterwards I received dozens of email wondering why I was ignoring such big news.

    To understand my reluctance to cover such an event we will have to go back about 25 years to when I was a wee SIT (spy in training). Barneys was just a men’s store and anyone who lived uptown at the time would love to go down to Barneys for one key attraction: Free Parking. 
    Back in the day, Yves Saint Laurent and  Pierre Cardin were the important men’s designers and Armani was still viewed as trendy. The average price for a very top of the line suit at Saks would be about about $900. Saks would seldom have a sale and when they did, the discount was only offered to their elite class customers. The sale included a mimosa breakfast and a 20% discount.  When Barneys would have their big warehouse sale they would discount the same suit to about $250 to $350. There was no other place you could find the same suit for anything near that price. It was a BIG deal. 
    Today most every department store discounts up to 75% off when the want to get some major cash flow. So weathering the Barneys warehouse sale– the crowds, the piles of ripped and damaged junk, the attitude, the bouncers– just doesn’t seem worth it. After all, there’s no free parking!

    The Stats:
    50% to 70% off designer clothing, shoes, and housewares
    Thursday, August 14, through Monday, September 1
    255 W. 17th St b/w 7th and 8th Avenues
    212-450-8400

    or 
    Their online sale is up to 75% off.

    True Love: Shawn

    Fancy cloths and expensive accessories mean nothing unless you know how to pull yourself together. The first step, of course, is a great cut and color. It’s easy to get an appointment Fekkai, which seems to have become an upperclass Super Cuts. Sally Hershberger is a bit, what’s a nice way to say this– masculine. Not to add a bit full of herself. John Barrett, a tad BLOND!

    What’s a girl to do? Find the next big thing! Shawn, who has no last name that I know of –he’s like the greats: Madonna and Cher– has been flying under the radar styling the tresses of super celebs and uptown gals from 30,000 feet in the air to his loft/salon down in Gramercy Park.

    Most celebs want a cut of the action if you mention their names so I promised not to call anyone out. However, Mischa Barton wasn’t born with hair looking that perfect.

    The deal with Shawn is that he was a high powered products developer for L’oreal. He would occasionally do a trim here or a color there for the friendly co-worker or passing fashion editor. Before he knew it his days were filled will gels and sprays and at night his living room was flooded with beauties looking for the best cut and color in town.

    Now is where we get to the good part. Shawn believes long hair is sexy. So you don’t have to worry about him wanting to chop away those long locks. In addition, his color is as natural as it gets. What’s even better is that the cost is much less than a day’s salary. That even goes for a new college graduate. Without quoting numbers you can trust me when I say it’s a great deal. Not to be found elsewhere.

    Shawn: 212-920-7075

    Don’t forget to say Lila sent you.

    xoxo

    eLuxury Private Sale


    The premier Louis Vuitton etailer, eLuxury, is hosting an insider sale. As always LV isn’t included but a host of great brands like Giuseppe Zanttti, Dolce & Gabanna, Zac Posen and Fendi are up to 40% off. I can’t figure out from what season the merchandise is from (please help me out if you know). Much if it seems Summery but some items are posted as pre-order, which usually refers to the upcoming season.

    Click here to hit the private sale.

    Starbucks: Morning and Afternoon Delight

    My legendary nutritionist told me that coffee is as bad as crack and will prematurely bring monthly botox visits into my life. So out went the coffee. However, some days putting one foot in front of the other is too much.  On these occasions I crawl to a local Starbucks. 

    This Summer, Starbucks is hosting a promotion that will make coffee lovers happy. Just visit your local Starbucks after 2pm with your am receipt and get a Grande (16 Oz/ medium) cold drink for just $2. 

    This afternoon delight runs until the beginning of school (September 8th). Just don’t blame me when you top the scales this fall. A Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream is 380 calories and it takes 45 minutes of running to burn that off.

    Exclusive Hawaiian Gucci Collection

    Today I was sent the following information from Gucci:

    Gucci is please to introduce a limited edition collection, created exclusively for our Hawaii stores. These four unique handbags and single sandal feature iconic styles and fabrics distinctive to this collection. They will be available only at the below Hawaii locations and will not be available on the gucci.com boutique.

    Click here to see store information and images of the collection.

    This Hawaii thing has me thinking. It’s been more than once that I’ve been able to pick up one of these Hawaiian YSL or Gucci “limited edition” pieces at a small fraction of the retail price. Why would it pay for a company to do a small and limited run for just one geographic location? Why Hawaii? So the journalist in me started itching and I pulled up Factiva for a quick scan.

    What I found was interesting. The Seattle Times reports that Hawaii appears to be one of the only states holding up under this economic uncertainty.The Bank of Hawaii “asserts that Hawaii’s mortgage-delinquency and loan- default rates are the lowest in the U.S.”

    Roughly one in four visitors to Hawaii comes from outside the U.S. During the third quarter, international arrivals rose 3% from a year ago, the Seattle Times reports. The U.S. dollar’s decline against the euro and other foreign currencies has given international visitors more buying power — and additional motivation to spend while on vacation in Hawaii.

    Ah-Ha! I guess that’s why Gucci creates special Hawaii collections. If the bag doesn’t sell I’ll be more than glad to pick it up at Woodbury Common for $30- or so.

    Saks Additional 25% off 8/7

    The long awaited consolidation sale is here. My postcard says:
    Take an additional 25% off for a total of up to 70% off Women’s & Men’s ready-to-wear.

    Sale begins August 7th.

    I don’t think there is much left but it never hurts to swing through. I for one returned a Miu Miu something that I failed to wear and out of love I fell. My lost love may be waiting for you.

    For presale contact: Marie Jose 212-940-2536 (3rd Floor Premier Designers)

    Bloomies Gift Card Event 8/6

    Just when you think sale season is coming to an end another round of shopping incentives begin. On Wednesday, Bloomingdales is offering its version of spend-some-get-some. The price levels are high but so are the prices of luxury goods these days. Here’s how it goes down on 59th Street:

    Spend $1000 to $1999 and receive a $200 gift card

    Spend $2000 ore more and receive a $500 gift card

    In addition, Bloomies Premier Plus Visa and Ultimate Premier insiders earn triple rewards. More details can be found here.