You know it’s the holiday season when you need to walk in the street with taxis to avoid slow-walking tourists. There are few things less appealing than rushing from Saks to Bergdorfs while pedestrian traffic comes to a complete stop.
The hours to take advantage of free shipping is ticking away quickly. Lucky, most New York stores will offer a messenger service for free or a small fee. Store prices tend to range from $15 to $30. Many times, retailers will wave the fee for expensive purchases. It never hurts to ask.
Below is your guide to getting your gift there on time from our local department stores– along with how much it will cost.
Barneys Same Day: $25 Get it there: Next business day $20 Deadline: 12/21 at 12pm EST Gift Wrapping: Free black box and black & white ribbon Discount: Up to 75%
Bergdorf Goodman Messenger: $30 Get it there: Free two-day shipping BGRUSH Deadline: 12/22 at 12:00PM CT Gift Wrapping: Free silver box with lavender ribbon Returns: Free Discount: Up to 60%
Bloomingdales Get it there free: Express shipping until 12/23 5pm EST Same day delivery: 12/24/16 10:00AM EST (California, Illinois, New Jersey & Washington D.C.) In-Store pickup deadline: 12/24/16 2PM EST Gift Wrapping: $5 white bottom and black top with elastic bow Discount: Up to 60%
Nordstrom Get it there: Free Rush Deadline: 12/22 12:00PM EST Saturday deliver $10 Gift Wrapping: Not available on all items but the $2 gift set include, a gift box, tissue paper, a silver ribbon and a gift tag Discount: Up to 60%
Saks Fifth Avenue Messenger: $10 within NYC Get it there: Free shipping with the code HOLRUSH Deadline: 12/20 12:00PM EST Gift Wrapping: Free black box with snowflakes, red bottom, and red ribbon Discount: Up to 60%
We are still a week away from Christmas but Barneys had jumped ahead of the pack again and started the third round of markdowns. As of this morning, Barneys discounts hit 75% off.
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When we heard of the big markdown news, we promptly ordered an Uber and headed down to check it out. The big 75% off price cut is almost entirely clothing. Shoes and bags are still holding steady at mostly 60% off. Among the clothing discounts, we found lots of great Prada, Proenza, and Margiela. We couldn’t resist a solitary Prada lipstick skirt that was reduced to $250 from about $1000. You can see pictures of our finds over this way.
Even though the biggest discounts are mostly on clothing, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to check out to see what was on the shoe floor. There are still plenty of Chanel options, which just went on sale this past Friday. We have pictures of them too. The discount on Chanel is 40% off. On the “racks” most shoes are reduced by 60%. Tweed Manolo Hangisi heels are about $400 from $1025 and Prada Cloud sneakers are $369 from $690. There are also several pairs of Louboutin flats on the 60% off racks. Click for pics.
The clothing racks were buzzing mostly with personal shoppers and salespeople pulling for customers. We suggest you do a quick search online if you had your eye on any specific items or take a cruise through the store.
The holiday shopping season is quickly coming to a crescendo. Online shopping has changed the way we serve up holiday gift giving. Long gone are the days of rushing from store to store to chase the elusive size or color variation. The entire world of shopping is at our fingertips.
As a matter of fact, over the past year, we’ve ordered items from a series of European sites and have been astonished by how quickly shipments arrive. Luisaviaroma, MatchesFashion, and Farfetch have delivered purchases in just more than a day and that’s without paying for additional expedited shipping. We also love receiving a purchase that arrives wrapped in delicate tissue paper and tied in a pretty bow. The presentation and experience make a small purchase feel like a luxury experience.
J. Crew, on the other hand, has been a disaster. We placed an order for kids’ leggings on Black Friday and only received it on December 16. That’s 21-days to receive a domestically shipped item. Needless to say, that was completely unacceptable.
You can always count on Net-A-Porter to offer solid customer service. The site is a dependable destination for the season’s hottest items. We also love that they carry enough inventory that the site doesn’t sell out too quickly. Check Ssense if you’re looking for small discounts on items not usually found on sale.
Melijoe is another wonderful online destination for kid’s gifts. Like, Luisaviaroma we received our items incredibly fast and our gifts came wrapped beautifully. The downside is that shipping is $19 and there aren’t free returns. That means that exchanging a wrong size could mean almost $40 in shipping, which often isn’t worthwhile.
We would love to hear about your online shopping experiences. Feel free to share stories about retailers doing it right those who are stumbling. Speaking of online shipping and shipping, below is your guide to getting your gift there on time. You can use the product scroll above to see the great stuff we found on sale while assembling information for this post.
Net-A-Porter Shipping: Free three-day shipping Returns: Free Rush: Next day shipping $20 Super Rush: Same day delivery (New York) $25 Gift Wrap: Free, sale items come wrapped in tissue paper but full-priced merchandise is eligible for their iconic matte black boxes Discount: Up to 70% Obsessing over: Palm Angles pool slides $52 from $130
AlexaandAlex Christmas deadline: December 19 Cost: Free standard and express delivery with orders over $99 Returns: Free Gift wrap: Option not available Discount:50% off Obsessing over:Girl’s Moschino bear dress $155 from $222
Melijoe Shipping: 24-hour shipping $12 Return fees: $10 Gift wrap: Items delivered wrapped in tissue paper Discount: Up to 70% off Obsessing over: Gucci girl’s dress in candy pink $315 from $1047
Luisaviaroma Shipping: Free express shipping Returns: Free Gift wrap: Items delivered wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon Discount: 30% to 50% off on most items Obsessing over:Fendi cashmere sweater $1183 from $1690
Farfetch Shipping: Free Express Rush: Same day and 90-minute delivery available in many cities Returns: Varies Discount: Up to 60% off Obsessing over:Valentino glass and velvet heels $358 from $995
Ssense: Shipping: Free over $200 purchases or $12 Rush: Not available Retruns: Customer pay for returns Discount: Up to 60% off Obsessing over:Fendi- Fila sweatshirt $737 from $1100
We only have a few days of shopping before Christmas. Monday is actually the last day of ground shipping for many retailers. Almost all of our favorite stores have taken a second markdown but discounts vary.
One would expect to universally save 60% off women’s clothing but Saks Fifth Avenue is a little tricky. Their designer clothing is reduced by 30% to 60% off. The more popular the brand, the lower the Saks discount. Shoes are also reduced by just 30%, which isn’t very competitive. On the bright side, the racks are still overflowing with options. (You can click here to see pictures inside the store.)
Barneys just added another price cut to its Louboutin selection, which is now reduced by 60%. You can click to see what we found. The sale selection is getting pretty thin over on Madison. We did find a few standouts including silver Paul Andrew pumps that are $379 from $745 and Manolo Hangisi pumps like these are about $400 from $1025.
Keep in mind, lots of online retails are running great promotions too. On Farfetch, you can save an additional 20% off sale items with the code F20D. Net-A-Porter just started a second markdown where discounts have hit 70% on some items. Shopbop is offering an extra 30% off reduced merchandise through Thursday only and don’t forget to check Ssense before purchasing anything that isn’t on sale. They seem to have at least a little discount on almost everything,
Below is a comparison chart of Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. As usual, Barneys is the clear winner across the board. The next and final markdown usually happens after Christmas.
Everyone loves a good mystery and Chanel has done an excellent job keeping customers waiting in suspense for its first markdown. Sales associates all over the city earnestly had no information about an impending sale. Many salespeople repeated the rumor that there would be absolutely no sale, anywhere, this season.
Technically speaking, Chanel boutiques will not host a markdown this season. Shoppers with experience know that a Chanel markdown would occur at some point, and we have officially reached that point.
Madison Avenue Spy has received early information that Bergdorf Goodman will quietly host a private presale on Chanel shoes starting this FRIDAY morning. This presale is invitation only and will begin before the store opens to the general public. The discount will be 30% off retail.
The official list of what’s included in the markdown will not be available until Monday morning. Obviously, we wouldn’t allow Bergdorfs to withhold such valuable information. We enlisted the expertise of the most experienced Chanel sale associates and put together a picture library of what we expect to be included in the markdown. You can click here to see pictures of what we anticipate to be on sale based on inventory levels, customer feedback, and seasonality. We also expect that Bergdorfs will pull past season merchandise onto the sales floor too.
Naturally, our investigation didn’t end at Bergdorfs. Our spies at Bloomingdale’s say that they haven’t received any directives from Chanel but they do have a closet of past season’s shoes that will be included when their markdown happen. You can click here to see. The discounts on these shoes are 60%.
Our senior manager contact Barneys says she is baffled over the Chanel mystery. She even questioned if there would be a sale at all. (We know the answer.) The story was very similar at Saks. Salespeople insisted that all markdowns will be coordinated across all retail outlets. (Apparently not.)
For now, we look forward to FRIDAY morning at Bergdorf Goodman. Feel free to email our sales contact for an invitation. We apologize in advance, but we can’t promise that he will be able to accommodate everyone. This sale preview is for “serious shoppers only.”
‘Tis the season of markdowns and shopping. Net-A-Porter will start its second markdown Thursday morning. Prices will be reduced up to 70% off and many popular style bags and fashion are still in stock.
Among the bag selection, you can expect to find most styles discounted 40% to 50% off. Some items we’ve been watching include this Prada crossbody that is sure to be at least 50% off once the additional markdown hits. It’s perfect to keep all the essentials– wallet, phone, lipstick– and still be small and light. We also like this woven Fendi Kan I that seems festive enough for the holiday season but the colors will also work great for Summer. This Wandler bag in gray and white is a great inexpensive bag and it might even hit 60% off and we also spotted this Balenciaga quilted XS market bag.
The discounts on shoes will range from 40% to 70% off, with most styles getting the 60% markdown treatment. Among the most heavily reduced shoes are these Saint Laurent Niki ankle boots that are poised to go to 60% off and these Stuart Weitzman ankle boots are just as good but one-third of the price. You really can’t go wrong grabbing these Balenciaga pool slides for Amanera or just save them for next Summer. There are also a lot of Golden Goose sneaker options if you’ve been eyeing a pair for yourself or as a gift.
Expect to find an infinite array of clothing discounted 70% off. Have you felt the luscious cashmere in an Alanui cardigan? It’s like delicious hot chocolate draped over the body. After another markdown, it’s a serious consideration. This Monse stripped sweater sold out immediately after we linked to it on Shopbop, it’s still here on NAP. Here is a Miu Miu puffer that is an excellent buy even now. How can you resist joining the Balmain army by means of sweatshirt? Or how about a simply pretty dress from Ellery?
The new markdown won’t go live until Thursday morning but the best merchandise will go sell out fast. We suggest you pile up that cart and edit before dawn.
We’ve done a lot of gift guides this season. We’ve covered what to buy your corporate clients, your over-indulged teenager and the men in your life. We’ve left the hardest for last because she is nearly impossible to satisfy. She is an oxymoron, a contradiction, an enigma but that’s what keeps her interesting. Simply put, she is the type of girl that likes to drive fast but prefers to be driven.
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.
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.
Usually, you have to wait until after Christmas to take advantage of a great Shopbop discount but you can start saving big right now. This sale is earlier and bigger than ever. For three days only you can save an extra 30% off sale merchandise. Use the code JOY18 when checking out to engage the additional discount.
The sale officially begins Tuesday but we suggest you use this early news to begin browsing and organizing your shopping cart for speedy checkout.
We love stocking up on workout wear at this time of year. As the weather shifts to cold, our older gym options start feeling dull. You can grab these Ultracore leggings with pineapples for just $96 from $185 and the bra top is about $75 from $130. Here are APL sneakers that come to about $65 from $165. Here is a Korel pullover to keep you from freezing while getting to the gym that will come to $44 from $128 and Korel sweatpants to wear over your leggings are $92 from $185.
Moving quickly on to our other winter obsession: Jeans and sweaters. R13 jeans are way too expensive to buy at full price but these MILF jeans are definitely a consideration at about $170 from $385. We also love the oversized cuff on these James Jeans, which will be about $70 from $180. We found this Monse wool sweater and it looks incredibly chic either dressed up or down . It comes to about $670 from nearly $1900. Here is a Markus Lupfer sweater that will only be just $140 from @400.
The promotion runs through Thursday. It’s all over at the strike of midnight. That’s midnight Pacific Time, which gives us East Coasters a few extra hours to shop for the perfect holiday gift or New Years ensemble.
