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    Fashion Week: Sally LaPointe

    What’s most interesting about Sally LaPointe is her ability to stay true to a monochromatic aesthetic but still turn out a collection every season that seems fresh, timely and interesting.

    This collection was comprised of bold color statement-making ensembles that were glamorous and urban. There was an electric chartreuse segment that was followed by sea green, royal purple and later unfolded into holographic sequins.

    Each individual look was assembled from various materials and fabrications. There was slinky double-faced satin, stiff patent leather, eye-catching latex, rich furs, chunky knits and supple leather combined together to form the perfect balance of layer and texture. You can click here to see more pictures.

    I’ve never seen LaPoite show an outfit that didn’t glow with glam. One attendee was wearing a full runway look from the prior collection, which was novel to see in the backdrop of a “in the wild” on Varik street. Even off the runway, the outfit looked opulent and tasteful and that’s even with the oversized hat.

    I just hope that as Lapointe becomes more of a household name that she stays true to the spirit of luxury and quality. While shopping this season, I noticed a pair of the designer’s track pants and was thoroughly disappointed that the fabrication was similar to those offered by Adidas.

    Lapointe’s individual items might draw inspiration from the current trends but the overall look is classic. Right now you can find a lot of pieces for up to 85% off. You might even be lucky and find a full ensemble in your size. Here is are soft yellow silk straight-leg pants for $258 from $1290 and the coordinating shearling and cashmere sweater is $260 from $1300. You can also opt for the same color suede skirt that’s $765 from $2550. Above are a few more outfit ideas comprised of Sally Lapointe items that are on sale now.

    Fashion Week Trends: The Amorphous Clutch

    Fashion week is heating up. We are serving up all smoking hot trends while we get through a marathon of shows. These top trends are what you can expect to see on the street and in the pages of your favorite fashion magazines, next fall.

    Left: The Row, Top: Area, Bottom: Ulla Johnson




    Bottega Veneta released the now-famous Pouch this past Summer and the minimalistic clutch skyrocketed to the top of the fashion ecosystem. The oversized amorphous accessory was offered in a variety of colors and found tucked under the armpit and on the ‘gram of every Insta-star. The bag was subsequently duped by contemporary brands and has made its way down the fashion ecosystem to Amazon copies.

    Amazon isn’t the only “fashion house” to try and capitalize on the iconic style. This season, we’ve already seen numerous designers offering their own interpretation of the oversized amorphous clutch. The Row’s 10th-anniversary collection was precise in cut, layering, and styling. By no coincidence, oversized supple leather bags were highlighted neatly tucked into the forearm. It’s unclear if there is a handle once the bag is unfolded.

    NYC homegrown, Ulla Johnson showed lots of leather on her runway and offered of contrasting pops of color via an oversized, you guessed it, clutch. Johnson’s iteration has a prominent frame top and a thick gold chain, which looks more like an accessory than it was added for practical uses.

    Area’s Beckett Fogg and Piotrek Panszczyk haven’t received the notoriety of some designers of their generation but it’s long overdue. The newest collection showcased their structural aptitude with lots of architectural looks that highlighted exaggerated looks. It was not surprising to see a duffle shaped styled as a clutch. The bag seems to have a strap but the size would normally be used as a weekend bag rather than an under the arm style.

    We have no doubt that this is only the start of this Bottega Pouch reinterpretation. You can accomplish a similar look right now by tucking away the strap of a supple bag. There are a few suggestions above. Feel free to call out more designers taking inspiration from the amorphous underarm silhouette.

    Neiman Marcus: Extra 30% Off Clearance

    Neiman Marcus just started an online promotion where you can save an extra 30% off sale items. This is a huge extra discount and comes on the tails of rock-bottom clearance pricing. The deal is even sweeter because there were some great items added.

    Most shoes and bags come to over 70% off their original price. Check out this Balenciaga logo allover bag that comes to just $511 from $1490 and this Loewe straw beach bag is $462 from $1350. Balenciaga buckle booties are nearly affordable at $460 from $1490 and most sizes are still available. Gianvitto Rossi ankle boots are $300 from $1000 and Givenchy slingbacks are $276 from $900.

    The discounts on clothing are even higher and top 80% off retail. Sally LaPoint sequined pants are $300 from $1450. Here is the coordinating matcha hue wool coat. Be sure to grab a pair of Saint Laurant skinny jeans for $144 from $700 and this Isabelle Marant dress for $224 from $1070. This Isabelle Marant cable knit sweater is now $216 from $790, just a little more than the Zara copy.

    The promotion started and only run for two days– through Tuesday. Neiman Marcus doesn’t do these types of extra 30% off sales too often. We suggest you take advantage of the situation while the opportunity presents itself. It’s quite the treat to shop for discounted merchandise that’s this good.

    Net-A-Porter: 40% off All Prada & Miu Miu

    We were just slipped a note that Net-A-Porter is hosting a private sale where all  Prada merchandise (except eyewear) is 40% off. To engage the discount use the code TAKE40.

    Prada’s struggle among elite legacy brands is no secret. The company’s share price is down 35% over the last five years and rumors of a company sale have started swirling. Prada has blamed over-distribution as part of its difficulties. It doesn’t appear as Net-A-Porter took delivery on the Summer 2020 collection and we speculate that this sale marks the end of Prada on the site.

    Some sale standouts include classic knee-high boots that come to $580 from $950, a Pink satin authentic satin headband is $144 from $250, and a leather belt bag is $690 from $1150. Some of our favorite past season iconic fashion items include this dress with a rose print, a lightening bolt-rose sweater and we’ve always been a fan of the Spring ’18 illustrations.

    It appears as if this sale has been shopped already, probably by NAP VIPs. Some items are sold out or running low on sizes.

    Before you enter your credit card information, be sure to price check against MatchesFashion, which has even bigger Prada discounts  with markdowns running from 50% to 70% off. We are crazy for this lightening bolt skirt that’s $500 from $1000, this PVC tote that’s $630 from $1050 and this ruffled miniskirt that’s $465 from $930.

     MatchesFashion has Sumer 2020 merchandise posted, so it’s probably safe to assume that they won the online Prada war. Let’s hope that they can help turn Prada’s troubles around.

    Inside NordstromRack: Gucci, Valentino & Louboutin

    This week, I was in the Union Square area and decided to take a peek into Nordstrom Rack. I’m not always the biggest fan of off-price retailers because prices are often higher than end-of-season markdowns. The potential of finding a hidden gem is enough to keep me going back. And I’m glad I did.

    You’ll immediately notice a full rack of runway Gucci. Before you get too excited, most of the items look like they are from the Spring 2016 collection. That means, lots of rainbows and sequins, which are important Alessandro Michele fashion moments but seem a little dated not yet retro. A Gucci knit with a dog in a bow-tie is $900 from $2300 and a dress with a sequined collar and a striped pleated bottom is $2000 from $8585. You can click here to see pictures.

    Higher-end finds are harder to find online. There are Valentino Rockstud stock booties for $381 from $1145. A Catherine Malandrino cashmere sweater with fox fur sleeves is $165  and a Tom Ford Natalia bag is $862 from $1930.

    My next in-store observation was the wayward clothing hanging on a carousel marked “Revive”. It’s a collection of Rent The Runway castoffs. The selection is quite awful and is interchangeable with what you would expect to find in a Goodwill store but for a lot more money. A washed-out black hoodie from Goen J is $99 and an Apiece Apart knit is the same price from a “suggested retail” of $545. You can see the sorry items over here.

    If you sift among the standard clearance racks there are some decent finds. A Rocksanda dress with bell sleeves is $500 from $1440, but again, it looks dated. If you had it, you might wear it, but it an expensive investment for this moment. A Jason Wu herringbone blazer is $189 from $700 and a Frame leopard print blazer is $181 from $595. Click for pics.

    The shoe department might serve up the most luck. Gianvitto Rossi velvet booties are $116 from $875, Saint Laurent high heel sandals are $300 from $900 and one pair very ugly square toe Christian Louboutin shoes in a size 35 is $200 from $625.

    As expected, I left empty-handed. In my book, that’s a successful day.

    Gucci $900 from $2330

    Gucci $2000 from $8585

    Gucci $800 from $1980

    Gucci $1500 from $5175

    Gucci $900 from $2290

    Moncler on Sale NOW

    If I had a dollar for every time a salesperson told me that Moncler wasn’t going on sale this season…well, I wouldn’t be writing this post. (Okay. Yes, I would. It’s a labor of love.)

    As we always anticipated, Moncler will go on sale and it has. Today started a semi-coordinated markdown on Moncler outerwear. That means that local retailers throughout the city all put the French puffer jackets on sale today. Online shoppers should focus on Neiman Marcus.

    In the woman’s department, a houndstooth style is now $1990 from $2845, a pink plaid style is $1000 from $2000 and a classic black matte style is $1582 from $2260. The selection is just as good for men. We suggest you grab any of the styles offered by Neiman Marcus right now because a full range of sizes is still available. That won’t be the case for very long and the store is very good at marching prices or making adjustments if there is another markdown.

    Saks Fifth Avenue already took a double markdown on Moncler during the last week of January and reduced many other styles on Thursday. The initial sale items already hit 70% off and they blew out very fast.  For example, this reversible floral print jacket went down to about $600 at Saks.

    There are some discounted Moncler jackets on the Bergdorf Goodman but some styles are priced a little higher than at Neiman Marcus. This cropped style is a good price at $780 from $1115 and this powder blue style, which looks lighter weight, is $812 from $1160. It’s a good idea to cross-reference prices and sizes between the two sites.

    The instore selection at Bergdorf Goodman is a leased space. That means that it’s run and managed by Moncler as if it’s a private boutique. The same goes for the Moncler assortment at the Bloomingdales flagship. You’ll notice that there a lot of the same styles on the Bloomingdales site but there are no discounts. We expect that they will come later in the week.

    Don’t feel overwhelmed. A big markdown like this can be a lot to digest. Just remember, that Moncler does go on sale and if you don’t catch it at this moment there will be opportunities in the future.

    Give Love & Self Love For Valentines Day

    Popular culture has decided that Valentine’s Day bashing is more fun than celebrating. We couldn’t agree less. Who cares if it’s an imagined holiday to promote retail and antiquated relationship philosophies? Shopping and love really can’t be an enemy.

    Valentine’s Day doesn’t require a huge grand gesture but rather something sweet and thoughtful. On the flip side, we don’t know any girl who would turn down a 20-carat diamond necklace from Lorraine Schwartz. Below are some “thoughtful and sweet” gift ideas we love and we think she too:

    Gucci logo knee-high socks $100: Chances are she already has the Gucci tights. We bet the stocks are next on her list for Spring. 

    Fleur du Mal lingerie $85 from $170: What’s Valentine’s Day without something a little sexy? For some playful pregame, send him the link and tell him to choose what he likes. That’s the type of credit card charge that can make a man happy.

    Riki Skinny Mirror $205: I have one and I love it. It’s even better if you’re someone who likes to record makeup tutorials or take beauty selfies. (Obviously, that’s not me.)

    Commes des Garcon Play hearts tee $100: Show a little CDG love with hearts. It’s classic, wearable and always in fas-hun. 

    Baccarat red vase $540: I stayed at the Penninsula, in Paris, one Fall and they upgraded me to the most tremendous suite. I loved everything about the hotel but what’s most memorable is the multiple bowls of white roses they delivered to my room daily. White roses now always remind me of Paris at the Penninsula and a little red vase is the perfect bedside luxury. 

    Dr. Vranjes defuser $345: White roses remind me of the Penninsula and Dr. Vranjes takes me back to JK Place, in Rome. The assorted fragrances deliver a rich aroma that can only be found with the very best quality of oils. I especially love this decanter as it’s a nice living room visual accessory. The exact fragrance from JK Place is Menograno Mento ($125). The top fragrance notes are black grape and watermelon with a tone of pomegranate-mint.

    Staub 1.75qt heart-shaped pot $215 from $350: The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, or so they say. Tell her how much you love her cooking from the bottom of your heart with a pot that says it all.

    Kid’s Kartell Ghost Chair with heart $195: The scribble heart on this classic chair design sparks much joy even if it’s a mini size. 

    Jacquemus Le Chiquito bag $495: This semi-mini bag is difficult to find in stock. (Would you believe there is even a smaller size?) They are fun and playful and don’t require a serious financial investment as would a Chanel or Hermes bag.

    Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady $265 (no sales tax): This has been my go-to fragrance all winter. It’s light rose with black current and raspberry. It has similar tones to that of Diptyque’s L’Ombre but is much lighter and refreshing. This scent seems to sell out frequently and can be difficult to locate. If this is on your list you might want to grab it now before they are all gone.

    Coltorti: Big Savings on New Season

    As prior season sale merchandise fizzles to discounters, we are excited to turn our attention to newly-arrived fashion. Once upon a time, it would be months of watching and shopping before you could expect any savings. Today, if you know where to shop, you can save big even at the start of the season.

    Coltorti is a multi-brand store with several boutiques along the Eastern coast of Italy. They have an amazing selection of designer brands ranging from Saint Laurent to Bottega Veneta. To kick off the season with a bang, they are offering 25% off regular priced items with the code DEALMOON25.

    There are designer exclusions like Fendi, Moncler, and Golden Goose*. Even with the exclusions, you’ll find that prices are a lot more attractive than they are in the US. For instance, a Bottega Veneta pouch is $1900 from $2700 US retail. Even the newly issued shoulder pouch is $2000 from a US retail of $2800. A Fendi Kan U bag is $1800 from US retail of $2600.

    Even better savings are available on items included in the 25% off promotion.  A Balmain blazer in classic black comes to $1219 from US Retail of $2300. A Dolce & Gabbana track jacket is $473 from  US retail of $975. Paris Texas slingbacks are $210 from $445 here in the US.

    The site also has a lot of options for men. Some Off-White options are nearly half the price before the discount. Thom Brown retails for about the same as here but a 25% discount can be a big money saver.

    Those who are still willing to scroll through sale merchandise can get lucky too. It’s just hard not to be jaded as we’ve experienced final markdowns. Take note, the most reduced items are several years old. For the price differential, the new season savings seems like a much better value.

    *Code brand exclusions: Fendi, McQueen, YSL, Stone Island, Bottega Veneta, Moncler, Max Mara, Golden Goose, and Chloe.