X
X


    Moda Operandi Friends & Family 50% Off

    If you haven’t noticed, Madison Avenue seems to have more vacant storefronts then it’s had since the Great Recession of ’09. Luxury retail is clearly struggling and if a brand isn’t white-hot, it’s likely struggling.

    Several retailers have told us that sale season will have the deepest and most expansive discounts shoppers have seen in almost a decade. Don’t expect stores to hold fire sales, but you can surly count on deliberate and aggressive markdowns.

    The first big designer sale of the season is coming by way of Moda Operandi. Right now, the site is offering customers a discount of 50% off on a wide assortment of merchandise. Use the code MOMAY50 to engage the discount.

    Among the bags in the sale, we found a Elena Ghisellini Felina that now comes to $1185 and an Eddie Borgo satchel is $1600. Not too much. The shoe selection has a lot more options but sizing is sketchy. These playful Aquazarra heels with pom-poms are now $410, Mira Mikati sneakers are $330 and there are also lots of Del Toro and Stubbs & Wootton smoking slippers.

    As is often the case, the clothing selection in the sale is more extensive. Check out this Tome ruffled skirt that comes to $385, a Vika Gazinskaya skirt with embroidered flowers is about $1000, and a Preen white dress is $780. Among the more moditerly priced items are Frame Denim bellbottoms that come to $120, an ALC midi-skirt that’s now $200 and and Isolda one-piece swimsuit is $120.

    The sale runs through May 16, but we are sure there won’t be much merchandise left by then. By the end of June you can expect Moda to offer discounts that hit 75% off.

    Leave a comment on Moda Operandi Friends & Family 50% Off

    Kidpik: Wins Extra Mom Points

    As Mother’s Day comes to a close, it’s nice to take a look back and appreciate all the sweet notes, kisses and love that goes into making an ordinary Sunday so special. In many ways, Mother’s Day is as much about making the kids happy as it is celebrating motherhood.

    If you’re looking to really knock the socks off your kids, as we always are, we strongly suggest you consider the newest fashion subscription gift box that’s focused entirely on girls from size 4 to 24. Kidpik, which launched earlier this year, combines the luxury of personal styling with the convenience of home shopping. The best part is that the quality is top notch and the pries are incredibly affordable.

    After filling out the online style questionnaire, Kidpik will deliver a curated, fashionable collection for girls each season. The personalized box contains at least six coordinating items that are wrapped and packaged in a way that would make any girl squeal from happiness.

    Upon hearing about the new concept we ordered two subscriptions. [For the record, we paid for both boxes. This isn’t an advertisement.] The first box was for an 11-year-old girl and came with a lace dress, a white denim jacket, white jeans, a pink sleeveless gingham blouse, gladiator sandals, a blue tie-dye tee, adorable iron-on patches, sunglasses and leather bracelets. The second box was for a 9-year old girl and was packed with a maxi-sun dress, a coordinating dazzled tee and skirt, a light knit sweater, jean shorts, a tank top, sandals (not shown because they didn’t fit) bracelets and playful iron-on patches. (You can see pictures of the merchandise and more of our in-house models right here.)

    Kidpik doesn’t charge any subscription or styling fees and if you keep all the contents of each box you get a 30% discount. That brings the total price of a custom wardrobe to $75 to $100, which is an amazing value. Obliviously, the discount incentivizes customers to keep the entire shipment. If you don’t like an item it doesn’t even make economic sense to remove it from the package. In those instances, you can send the unwanted item back to Kidpik and the merchandise be donated to children in need. (Nice twist, huh?)

    Normally, we wouldn’t gush over a box of children’s clothing but the value and quality offered by Kidpik is none like we have ever seen before. We just wish they would offer a pack-the-camp-trunk service. Now, that would be a dream for us moms and the kids too!

    2 Comments on Kidpik: Wins Extra Mom Points

    Frieze New York Spills on to Madison Aveue

    We started the week off celebrating the fashion as an art from with the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s newest Costume Institute exhibit. We are closing out the week with more art appreciation as Frieze New York begins, on Friday.

    Pazooki Leila, Feel Your Feelings

    Frieze (pronounced Freeze) New York started in London more than 25 years ago and has become one of the art industry’s largest trade show. Housed under big tents on Randalls Island, the fair runs through Sunday and showcases some of the biggest and brightest in the art world. That means you can expect to see your social media platform of choice streaming with ‘interesting’ images all weekend long.

    If you’re not interested in trekking to Randall’s Island we suggest you explore modern art right here in our neighborhood. The Surrey Hotel, which is on Madison Avenue at 76th Street, recently added a gallery component called, “ArtSpeak.” A lineup of eight artists showcases contemporary veterans like Ryan McGinness, known for fusing high and low culture through veneers of spray paint and silk- screening, to newly introduced electroluminescent works by Jonny Detiger. You can check out more about the participating artists and their work, right here.

    The exhibits can be found throughout the hotel, including the rooftop garden. The hotel commissioned artist Peter Gerakaris, where he has executed a floating garden in the middle of the rooftop. The instillations incorporates colorful, saturated organic images of plants and flowers that nonetheless serve as his own symbols of communication.

    The Surrey has always been known for it’s fine art, including the signature six-foot tapestry of model Kate Moss, “Kate” by Chuck Close. This is the first-ever multiple-artist exhibition at the hotel. It’s clear that it’s making an effort to position itself as the neighborhood’s definitive destination for chic art and hospitality. The strategy couldn’t be better, considering The Met Breuer opened just blocks away.

    The exhibit will run through August 31. We couldn’t imagine a more fitting place to spend time and appreciate art– regardless of if you are visiting or staying at the hotel. It’s always been our favorite near-home retreat and now there is even more to appreciate.

    Leave a comment on Frieze New York Spills on to Madison Aveue

    Luxury 9 Is Designer Discount Heaven

    When you’re shopping for discounted designer merchandise you’re almost always looking at items that are several seasons old. This is not the case at our favorite new mid-town discount store. Luxury 9 has this season’s most coveted and rare fashion items steeply reduced prices.

    During a stop yesterday, we found a python green Phantom Celine bag that’s $3800 from $5950, an orange Micro Celine Luggage Tote is $2200 from $2700 and a gorgeous tri-color Celine Trapeze is $2300 from $2950. The craziest thing is that they are all this season’s bags. (You can see pictures of the bags right here.)

    We also spotted this season’s Gucci Boston bag with the bird print for $1300 and a cherry blossom painted wallet for $499. A white Prada Saffiano Cuir Convertible Tote is $1807 from $2780 and a one-of-a-kind crocodile Rockstud Double Handle Shopper is $7000. (One can only imagine this bag’s retail price but we bet it’s more than some cars.)

    If you can get past the bags you might not be able to pull yourself away from the Manolo Blahnik Hangisi shoes with gemstones or pearls. All are this season’s colors and are in perfect condition with the box and dust bag. Hangisi heels are $870 from $965 and the flats are $750 from $935. (There are pictures right this way.)

    Luxury 9 is also packed with clothing that is priced up to 90% off retail. Most items are sticker coded and range from $25 to $150. Some standouts are a red Roland Mouret top, a McQueen skirt and a Chloe blouse that are all just $150.

    Tucked away in the corner, we spotted Saint Laurent items like a leather skirt with heavy zippers for just $500 and an exquisite dress for just $300. You might want to grab these, as they might become collectables as Hedi Slimane gets comfortable designing for Chanel.

    This store has so much merchandise that you might want block out a full hour so that you can fully appreciate the breadth of fashion that’s available. Also, don’t be shy to ask for a better price. You might get lucky on some items.

    Luxury 9 accepts phone orders and will ship purchases. They will even schedule personal shopping services if you need help finding your way through the designer emporium. All we can say is– good luck!

    Luxury 9
    375 Lexington Avenue @ 41st Street
    Sunday to Thursday 11am to 8pm
    Friday 11am to 6pm
    Closed Saturday
    luxury9popup@gmail.com





    4 Comments on Luxury 9 Is Designer Discount Heaven

    Giambattista Valli One-Day Sample Sale

    Giambattista Valli is hosting a one-day sample sale and we just got word that the discounts will be as dramatic as Beyonce’s entrance to the MetBall. The event, which will take place on Thursday, will feature dresses and other fashions with prices slashed up to 80% off retail.

    Our informants weren’t able to provide too many examples, but we got pictures of a stunning summer dress with flower appliqué that will be $400 from $2700 and a more basic shift dress that will also be $400 from $2700. The sale will include open stock from this season, looks from off the runway and real samples– pay attention size 2s and 4s.

    We have a good feeling this sale will be talked about for some time. It’s just too bad that it wasn’t scheduled  before the MetBall.

    Giambattista Valli Sample Sale
    Thursday, May 5
    10am-6pm
    605 West 25th Street, 8th Fl

    5 Comments on Giambattista Valli One-Day Sample Sale

    Shopbop Surprise Sale: 40% Off

    The weather may not be very warm right now but that isn’t stopping Shopbop from starting an early Summer sale. Right now, you can head this way to browse a large assortment of merchandise that’s reduced 40% off.

    First markdowns usually don’t start until right before Memorial Day but from what we hear the retail environment is not doing very well. We have heard that sales this year will be earlier than they have been for some time and that discounts will be much higher. We expect this ‘Surprise Sale’ to be the first of many.

    Inside the Shopbop site, we found classic Ferragamo Varina (bow flats) for $367 from $525, Prada sunglasses are $227 from $335 and a Mara Hoffman bikini is $78 from $112. We even spotted an inflatable pool swan that’s reduced to $50 from $70 and a gigantic beach ball ($138 from $200). You can earn the price of both those pool toys back with Instagram likes in no time.

    This sale is only for three days and runs through Thursday. Some popular items are running low but you can expect to see lots of this merchandise continue to make it’s way up the discount ranks.

    Leave a comment on Shopbop Surprise Sale: 40% Off

    Wardrobe Update: Vince Camuto at Nordstrom

    Vince Camuto has maintained it’s standing as a winning brand at department stores. Part of the band’s success is that the clothing, shoes and accessories are consistently on trend and come in a variety shapes, sizes and styles.

    Although the Vince Camuto passed away not too long ago, his legacy lives on and his design team continues to produce the fashionable items that shoppers crave. This season, Nordstrom has a great assortment of Vince Camuto options. This faux wrap jersey jumpsuit is universally flattering, as is this powder blue belted shift dress.

    The shoes this season are particularly on trend. Check out these suede peep-toe lace-up sandal pumps, cut-out loafers and this espadrille sneaker. Scroll below to see more of our favorites from Vince Camuto.

    Online shoppers should take advantage of Nordstrom’s free shipping and free returns. If only all stores were as easy to shop as Nordstrom.

    Sponsored Post
    Leave a comment on Wardrobe Update: Vince Camuto at Nordstrom

    Manus x Machina: Redefining Haute Couture

    In our neck of the woods, the first Monday in May is much of a holiday as, say, the first Monday in September or the fourth Thursday in November. It’s Met Day! It’s the time of year, when the entire fashion and art world direct their attention towards the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

    Beyond the parties and celebrities, the Met attempts to further establish fashion as an art form in its own right. This year’s theme is Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology. The exhibit explores the dichotomy between handmade and the machine-made in the creation of haute couture and avant-garde prêt-à-porter.

    Inside, museum goers will be astounded by the cathedral structure that was erected to house the exhibit. The two floor layout, which was designed by architectural firm OMA, is essentially a building-within-a-building. Soft sculpture encapsulates the fashion vignettes, which are all accompanied by detailed explanations of process and materials used to fabricate each design. This was perhaps the most enriching part of the exhibit. (You can click here to see lots of pictures from inside the exhibit or our Instagram feed to see our favorites along with commentary.)

    The exhibit’s main showcase is a Karl Lagerfeld-designed, Chanel haute couture wedding ensemble that features a 20-foot train. The dress is made of scuba knit– that’s a similar material Kohl’s uses for 75% of their designer collaborations. The difference is that this gown was hand molded and hand finished. The gown’s spectacular details include gold, glass, crystals, palettes and gold leather leaf.

    Throughout the rest of the first floor exhibit, you will find other wonderful examples of how machines have elevated the technical mastery of our most celebrated tailors. An elaborate dress from Dior’s Summer 2014 collection was sewn by machine but then finished by two brodeurs, embroiderers. The underdress of the gown is embellished with clear plastic crystals, red glass sea beads and white plastic flower shaped paillettes. The finished product speaks to the proficiencies of an artist who has mastered more than just one method.

    Other highlighted designers include Miuccia Prada, Pierpaolo Piccioli (Valentino), Alber Elbaz (Lanvin), Marc Jacobs (Louis Vuitton), Riccardo Tisci (Givenchy), Mary Katrantzou,Hussein Chalayan and so many more.

    Downstairs, the exhibit is broken up into three significant pillars of fashion métiers, or jobs: pleating, lace, leather. Visitors are given detailed explanations about methods and fabrications.

    This exhibit is less of a history lesson than any past Costume Institute instillation. There is so much information waiting to be revealed. It may take several visits to digest all the knowledge. We are just so happy that it’s so conveniently located in our neighborhood.

    Leave a comment on Manus x Machina: Redefining Haute Couture