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    TJ Maxx Spring Bling

    By ManhattanMataHari

    It’s the start of the retail spring season, which means off-price retails have a fresh shipment of discounted designer loot. The timing couldn’t be better for those wanting to look great during fashion week without spending even a waif’s weight in gold.

    TJ Maxx stores have received a new shipment of designer goodies that are sure to hit the mark. While some items may be past season, there are lots of great basics from which to choose. We found a couple of Givenchy leather handbags priced between $700 to $1000, a Celine slouchy leather tote was $800, a classic black leather  Prada hobo was $1200 and a brown leather Dolce & Gabbana tote is $600. Jimmy Choo fans won’t want to miss the leather bags priced at $800.

    The Runway, TJ Maxx’s designer ready-to-wear section, is largely hit or miss. We spotted a great Versace white linen bustier dress for $500 and a back-plunging M Missoni number for $250. There are a variety of drapey Helmut Lang dresses now $79 to $150, as well as a cute embroidered Marc by Marc Jacobs strapless dress for $300.

    For a more polished look, pair the $80 bright pink Kate Spade shell under the $200 Valentino pinstripe blazer. Pull on a pair of skinny jeans and you’re set for a day of back-to-back shows.

    While it may be tempting to only shop the more organized Runway department, be sure to check out the separate clearance racks. TJ Maxx has taken their final markdown on lots of designer merchandise, which you can recognize by the lavender tags with yellow sale stickers. With a bit of determination you can find M Missoni and Versace pants for $44, Ralph Lauren Black Label separates for under $50, Opening Ceremony pants and blazers under $34, Armani Collezioni velvet jackets for $299 and Marc Jacobs jackets priced between $119 and $149.

    While it may take a bit of effort, even an intern can afford to look great during fashion week with these prices. If you’re shopping strategically, we suggest making starting at the TJ Maxx on West 57th Street, which stocks the store with the Hearst magazine editors in mind. Then check the TJ Maxx on Columbus and 99th Street, which is large enough to contain a separated Runway section.

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    D. Porthault Semi-Annual Sale

    D. Porthault sells some of the most beautiful embellished linens and home furnishings. We especially love the hand hand-embroidered motifs but the prices are another story.

    Perhaps the D. Porthault semi-annual sale is enough of a discount to get you to update your whites. Through February 4th the store is discounting selected printed and embroidered bed linens, terry towels, table linens, and assorted other products 40% to 80% off. For example, a tiger print queen bedroom set with four pieces is $660 from $1100 and a hand painted floral bath sheets are $186 from $310.

    You can click here to get an idea of what items are included in the markdown. Unfortunately, the site doesn’t allow for online shopping but we are sure that a well qualified sales associate can assist you with your purchase.

    D. Porthault Semi-Annual Sale
    Through February 4th
    Monday through Saturday 10am to 6pm
    470 Park Avenue at 58th Street
    212-688-1660
    Cash, check, Visa, MC, Amex

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    Fashion Dream Sale

    There is a place. Hidden in a nondescript building in the East Village. This place, contains a closet. Not just any closet, but a closet that your designer, name-dropping brain can’t even begin to comprehend. It’s a closet that appears to contain every Manolo-Louboutin-Chanel-Balmain-Lanvin item that’s ever been created. Ever!

    The Alrbight Fashion Library is a 2,600-sq-ft loft space that is home to more than 25,000 couture dresses and 8,000 pairs of shoes. It’s all there, in this closet. Normally, this fashion fantasy is utilized by movie makers and reality star stylists but right now you can shop the Albright Fashion Library during their sample sale.

    Women’s clothing, outerwear and shoes are all reduced to 90% off. Dresses that retail from $900 to $2900 are $290. Gowns that retail starting at $5600 from Pamela Dennis, Robert Danes, and Moschino now $560 to $790. Suits that are normally $2600 are just $260. Shoes. Shoes. Shoes from Blahnik, Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo now $60 are just $100.

    The sale runs through the end of the month but you wouldn’t want to miss any remaining Balenciaga, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana, Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors or Marchesa, would you?

    Albright Fashion Library
    Through Tuesday, January 31st
    11am to 8pm
    32A Cooper Sq. (off Bowery between 5th & 6th Streets)
    For more information call 212-253-5894

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    The IT-It: Drybar

    I remember hearing the term wet bar as a child and imagining a bartender spraying customers with a soft drink hose. When I recently heard about Drybar my imagination was almost as naive: A bar with no alcohol? Yikes!

    Thank goodness my conjecture was wrong on both accounts. Drybar may be the coolest beauty concept ever. The beauty chain offers flat rate $40 hair blowouts. There’s no, extra $10 for long hair or unexpected fees for extra curly or thick hair. Yup, it’s just $40! Oh, oh, did we mention the Shirley Temple service? It’s for kids 10 and under and costs just $24. (Blowouts and lunch with Eloise anyone?)

    So as curly haired girls have been rejoicing on the west coast and in the Village, uptown gals can start taking advantage of the Drybar treatment too. Today Drybar opened in the Le Parker Meridien, on West 59th Street. The space is almost as hot as a Twin Turbo 2800.

    Scheduling an appointment is as easy as the price. Just go to the company’s online scheduler and select the Le Parker Meridien location from the drop down menu and pick a time that’s convenient to you. Even better, walk-ins are welcome too.

    Drybar
    119 West 56th Street btw 6th and 7th Avenues
    212-557-5392

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    The Most Expensive Stores in the US

    Unsurprisingly Madison Avenue is home to many of the country’s most expensive retail stores, according to analysis company Bundle. Ten of the 25 stores, listed in the report are located on Madison Avenue and 13 are located in NYC.

    Oscar de la Renta takes home top prize for the boutique with the highest average receipt of $3,217.  Georgio Armani, which has several locations throughout Manhattan, including Madison Avenue, is second with average receipts of $2,881. At the bottom of the list is Prada, where customers tend to spend about $1,430. Wedding emporiums Vera Wang and Kleinfeld Bridal both made it to the impressive list, which is just goes to show the buying power of the blushing bride.

    Bundle compiled their list of the most expensive shops in America by looking at the average receipt amounts based on millions of transactions done in clothing stores across the U.S from April 2010 to May 2011. Wholesalers, manufacturers and big department stores were filtered out of the list. We imagine that’s why high priced stores like Hermes and Louis Vuitton are not included in the top 25 list.

    Although Madison Avenue is an expensive place to shop, it’s just as easy to save a bundle. As we know, just about all these stores reduce merchandise to about half-off but that may mean you end up buying twice as much!

    1. Oscar de la Renta, NYC
    2. Georgio Armani, NYC
    3. Loro Piana, Boston
    4. Akris, NYC
    5. Maxfield, LA
    6. Chanel, NYC
    7. Bruno Cucinelli, NYC
    8. Blake, Chicago
    9. Savannah, Santa Monica
    10. Alexander McQueen, NYC
    11. Tom Ford, NYC
    12. Lanvin, NYC
    13. Ascot Chang, NYC
    14. Chloe, NYC
    15. Marissa Collections, Naples
    16. Dolce & Gabbana, Beverly Hills
    17. Wilkes Bashord, SF
    18. Bottega Veneta, Manhasset
    19. Kleinfeld Bridal, NYC
    20. Morris & Sons, Chicago
    21. A’Marees, Newport Beach
    22. Vera Wang, NYC
    23. Escada, Beverly Hills
    24. Saks Jandel, MD
    25. Prada, NYC
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    Alexis Bittar 60% Off

    Alexis Bittar has taken a second markdown on the winter jewelry collection. The discount is up to 60% off. In addition to the Madison boutique, shoppers can browse the deals at the online store.

    Right now you you can find a gunmetal chain necklace for $298 from about $700, signature large hinge bracelet for $242 from $495 and pearl drop earrings are $162 from $395.

    Even if you live close to a boutique, we suggest familiarizing yourself with the collection online. The store’s sales associates are better at the register than they are at the showcase.

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    Intermix 80% off

    If you thought the department stores were getting heavy handed with the discounts you should take a look at the price cuts at Intermix. The urban boutique is offering an extra 50% off already reduced merchandise for a total savings of up to 80% off.

    We found $225 Rag & Bone jeans for $35! (Makes you question the price of denim.) A $1350 Herve Leger dress is $400 and a $1300 Zac Posen dress is $390.

    While you’re sifting through sale racks don’t overlook the jewelry. While sorting through random bits and pieces we found $350 Dannijo earrings for just a $100. We’ll call it a happy Valentines Day gift to me!

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    Join Us at Fashion Week

    Fashion week is right around the corner and everyone knows that nothing compares to being there on the ground floor or even back row. That’s why we are inviting our readers to join us as Spies at Lincoln Center, during Fashion Week.

    All you need to do is follow us on Twitter and send the following:

    By reading @MadisonAveSpy daily I found a great deal on [blank]. Follow and RT to win a chance to go to fashion week

    When you send us your favorite Mad-Spy deal you will become eligible to attend a fashion show and write a post for the site. Good luck and may the best deals win!

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