X
X


    Our Top 10 Black Friday Shopping Picks

    Our turkey is almost ready for the oven, which means that the
    biggest shopping season of the year is about to begin. Before you start your post-Thanksgiving
    shopping, it’s important to have a plan because nobody wants to be trampled from
    a doorbuster that’s not a winning score. 
    So here are our top post-Thanksgiving shopping picks.
    If you have a thing for high-end shoes, then Barney’s is the
    destination for you. The store carries an extensive selection of high-end names
    and the most must-have styles. Most department stores usually start their shoe
    markdowns at 30% off but Barney’s usually cuts their prices by 40%.  
    In honor of cyber Monday, EVERYTHING on the site will be discounted an additional 10% to 20% off. This includes items that have already been marked down 75%. You do the math on this one! Hello Givenchy stingray bag!

    Yes, we all love luxury boutiques but a girl also needs her
    basics. We are longstanding fans of the Gap’s jeans and tees. If you haven’t
    checked out their winter warm leggings, then you really should. For their doorbuster,
    Gap is offering 50% off everything in the store until 10am Friday. Online
    shoppers can save 40% during the Thanksgiving weekend and through cyber Monday.
    If you have a taste for fine luxury Italian tailoring, this
    is the place to go. We suggest bypassing the handbag collection and going
    straight to the ready-to-wear department. Starting December 2, the markdown on
    clothing will go to 50% off. You can use our private sale link. 
    It would be impossible to talk about Madison Avenue stores and not include Milly. The uptown flagship will be offering customers 20% off everything in the store, including sale merchandise. That brings the total saving of some items up to 50% off. Online shoppers can rejoice from free shipping.

    Quick. Go to Facebook and “Like” Net-a-Porter. Afterwards you will be given a link to their secret sale. When you’re done selecting all your purchases, enter the word FACEBOOK and your items will be discounted 50%. Now that’s a hard secret to keep.

    If you are looking for some one-stop-shopping, you might
    consider tapping your fingers over to Piperlime. From Black Friday through
    Cyber Monday, the online retailer will be offering customers 20% off everything on the site. If you’re not sure where to look first, we suggest
    browsing the stylist’s picks. Rachel Zoe is always a good launching point.
    An extra 50% off all reduced items always draws a big crowed to Saks. Just be mindful that the extra 50% is only on items with a “hard markdown,” meaning the sticker price has been changed. Items that are currently 40% off, for example, will not be included in the promotion. This doorbuster is only available until noon on Friday but  shoppers can save up to 70% off at the swanky department store. I
    suggest sorting through the contemporary designers and waiting for further
    markdowns on the higher end brands, which will come later in the season.
    Who isn’t into a little Thanksgiving adventure after eating all that Turkey? The crowds could be a little maddening but Racked has a super survival guide to lead you through the experience. We love the note about getting there between the 3am and 5am lull. Now that’s what we call commitment to retail, or should we say commitment to discounts?
    Zara is always a great destination when you love the styling of top designers but don’t want to make the cash commitment. Starting Friday, the international fashion chain icon will be offering customers a 50% savings on select items. In addition, the West 34th Street location will be serving up coffee.  Well now, isn’t that nice?
    Leave a comment on Our Top 10 Black Friday Shopping Picks

    Gucci Presale Begins

    If you happen to walk into Gucci and ask about the sale it’s likely that a sales person will roll their eyes and deny that any sale exists. Who needs attitude when you have the link to Gucci’s online private presale?

    The sale officially starts December 2nd but you can start your clicking right here. The discounts on handbags are 30%, men’s and women’s clothing and shoes are 50% and the kids collection is 30%.

    We aren’t personally fond of Gucci’s handbag collection but we always love Gucci’s boots. These gray suede high heeled booties ($439 from $875) and these high boots are $899 from $1795. We are also fond of this belted dress with a ivory and black optical print ($845 from $1695) and a double breasted jacket is $979 from $1950.

    Happy clicking!!!

    Leave a comment on Gucci Presale Begins

    Brookstone Comes to 86th Street

    It looks as if 86th Street is getting a Brookstone. The boy-toy destination is taking over the old Petco on 86th and Lexington. The store opening is part of the 46-year-old gadget emporium’s new expansion and growth plan, which also includes several other new Manhattan locations.

    Customers can expect to be wooed by hot products such as the OSIM uAstro Zero-Gravity Massage Chair ($3,495), the Tranquil Moments Advanced white-noise maker ($169) and the Parrot AR.Drone Quadricopter ($299), according to the New York Post.

    Normally a Brooksone opening wouldn’t signify much but we are seeing the entry as another step towards the mallification of 86th Street. (Not that that’s a bad thing.) In the past two years, the popular east side cross street and surrounding areas have seen the opening of Sephora, H&M, L’Occitane, Lululemon, Athleta, Urban Oufitters and Brooks Brother’s. This in addition to Barnes and Noble’s, Victoria’s Secret, Children’s Place and Gap, which have been in the neighborhood for some time.

    Even the food seems a bit food court-esq with Shake Shake and the anticipated opening of Panera. Now, all we need to do is come up with a catchy name for the area. Any suggestions?

    2 Comments on Brookstone Comes to 86th Street

    More presales: YSL and Dolce & Gabbana

    As we’ve been making our way through boutiques we’ve noticed that they are very quite but that should all change come next week. This really is the best time to shop because there is no markdown chaos but still lots of savings. Here are two more presales to help you get a jump on your holiday shopping.

    Yves Saint Laurent
    The YSL presale begin just yesterday and there are some very interesting items included in the markdown. The discount is 40% off across the board. There are several pair of Tribute sandals that are included in the markdown. We were also shown a few Muse bags in purple, tan and dark brown that are part of the presale. Roady bags  in gray, brown and tan are on sale too. Upstairs there is a wide collection of ready-to-wear that’s ripe for the picking. If you’re on the fence about an item, you can wait until after Christmas. second markdown is usually 50%.
    Danielle 212-980-2970

    Dolce & Gabbana
    Presale officially begins on Saturday but find a helpful sales person we are quite confident that your requests will be granted. The markdown is 40% and that includes select bags, shoes and clothing from the fall and winter collections. The D&G sale also starts this weekend with the same discount.
    Rodney 212-249-4100

    4 Comments on More presales: YSL and Dolce & Gabbana

    Missoni + Target Leftovers

    Just when you thought that the end of Missoni had come at Target, a markdown occurs. Yes, there were lots of returns and they items are quietly being resotcked online and some have even been discounted.

    During our last Target shopping trip we found a throw, kid’s shoes, rain boots, lots of bedding, throw pillows and decore boxes. If you check online now, you will also find some interesting items including the hard to get Missoni Bicycle (still $400), poufs (now $59 from $99), bed sets 30% off, kid’s rain boots, iPad case (still $60) and newborn sweater suit ($25).

    Prices vary between the stores themselves and online. We even heard about one store manager telling a customer, “I hate this stuff. I can’t stand to even look at it any more. Will you take it if i mark it down to clearance price?.” The answer as obviously a difinitive, YES!

    1 Comment on Missoni + Target Leftovers

    Presales Begin: Lanvin and Chloe

    Thanksgiving is already next week and that means presale season is about to begin. For the uninitiated, presale is the period right before a store’s markdown. Usually, the boutique’s best customers get called and invited to shop from the discounted merchandise before the general public is alerted to the markdown.

    Don’t worry if you’re not on a first name basis with Betsy, Everest and Stephanie. We’ve got you covered. The first presales to hit Madison Ave are Lanvin and Chloe. Here’s the information you’ll need to know.

    Chloe
    Presale started this week and the sale officially begins on Monday. Clothing, shoes and some handbags are now 40% off. Most of the handbags shown on the runway are on sale but the classics are not. We are told that presale shopping is mostly by appointment but we are quite confident that all customers will be given equal discount treatment.
    Incus 212-717-8220

    Lanvin
    Presale started today and the official sale kicks off in about two weeks. The markdown is 30% off everything, or so we were told. No appointment is necessary. You can count on another discount before the season is over but the temptation might prove too much.
    Anna 646-439-0380

    1 Comment on Presales Begin: Lanvin and Chloe

    Email My Receipt Please

    One of the first lessons of shopping is to always keep your receipt. Even in the instances where you know the items fits, it’s a good idea to keep a recorded of your purchase. You never know, the seams can gunravel or the store can markdown the item a day later.

    Our problem has always been keeping our receipts in order. Stuffing wads of paper into your bag or delicate wallet is not a great system but one that we continue to partake. You can imagine our enthusiasm when Apple started emailing receipts several years ago. More recently, however, department stores and retail outlets have been implementing similar technology.

    A few weeks ago, a Gap associate declared, “We are trying to go paperless. Can we email you the receipt?” Needless to say, we were thrilled to participate. More recently, Barney’s implemented quick checkout technology, which allows sales associates to swipe your card on the sales floor in a similar manner as Apple. Give your sales person your email address and voila, your sale transaction is complete and your receipt is neatly folded into your email inbox.

    Just this week Saks Fifth Avenue implemented a system that has the ability to email your receipt. (No more stuffing your receipt in your shoe box!) We are also told that Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Nordstrom have paperless receipt options.

    As a matter of fact, the New York Times reported that Nordstrom is looking into ways to to make its e-receipts more appealing, perhaps by adding a picture of the item to the receipt so a shopper could post it to a Facebook wall. That’s what we call social shopping.

    By next holiday season, wouldn’t be surprised if e-receipts are the norm rather than the exception. So next time you’re shopping, ask to have your receipt emailed. Your wallet will thank you!

    4 Comments on Email My Receipt Please

    Christian Louboutin Sale in Full Swing

    By ManhattanMataHari
    This weekend, a sign outside the Christian Louboutin showroom stated, “Dear Customers, there is no Christian Louboutin sale happening at this time.” But we knew better!

    An informant tells us that throughout Monday and over the weekend, A-list celebrities and VIPs have been scooping up discount Louboutins. We are told that some of the bold name shoppers included cast members of Glee and Blake Lively, who again grabbed dozens of pairs for herself and friends. Our source did say there are still plenty of shoes left for the rest of you lucky enough to get an invite. (We were dropped from the invite list several seasons ago for our sale coverage.)

    There are some basics you should know if you have an invite or are thinking of joining an invitee as a plus one. The biggest selections of shoes are tiny, size 35s and 36s. By the time mortals get into the –and that includes the editors of glossies– most of the 37s to 38.5s are sold out.

    You also should be warned that the shoes are discounted but still not free. Don’t expect to pick up any great heels for under $200 as some sites are reporting. They do have some sandals and espadrille wedges for $150 but they aren’t usually very desirable. Lower heels in exotic colors are priced at least $225 and many of the sky-high modern platform pumps and slingbacks are $325 and up. Last spring there was a limited selection of boots around $550, and we did spot a fair amount of bridal shoes.

    We expect the lines to be several hours long tomorrow. We suggest heading over in the afternoon if you do have an invite and want to avoid a several hour wait. Good luck ladies and don’t forget to share your Christian Louboutin sample sale stores with us.

    Christian Louboutin Sample Sale
    Friday, November 11 through Friday, November 18
    Daily 9am to 5pm, Fri. 9am to 3pm
    306 W. 38th St. (bet. 8th & 9th Ave.)

    3 Comments on Christian Louboutin Sale in Full Swing