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    Gap Family Give Get

    For four days you can use the below coupon to save 30% at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy and their corresponding outlet stores. The promotion can be used in stores from March 17 to March 20. What’s even nicer? 5% of what you spend will be donated to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

    We’ve been a long time fan of Gap’s 1969 jeans but feel the company may be confusing customers with their marketing of the boyfriend jean and then the skinny cropped jean. Maybe shoppers are looking for more choices. Over at Banana Republic, we wish the brand would beef up the jewelry selection and start to follow the stylish example of J. Crew. It can’t be that hard, or can it?

    Lauren Merkin Sample Sale

    Not every occasion calls for a super expensive, over-the-top, statement accessory. From time to time it’s nice to make a purchase that makes you feel good, look good and doesn’t empty your wallet. The Lauren Merkin sample sale is a perfect example of a feel-good low-key purchase.

    Lauren Merkin handbags, clutches and accessories will all be priced up to 70% off. A very pretty snake textured peach shoulder bag will be $150 from $325, a rainbow colored hobo will be $150 from $425 and small leather goods will start at just $15. How can you turn up your nose at that?

    Lauren Merkin Sample Sale
    Tuesday, March 15 to Saturday, March 20
    Tues to Friday 11am to 7pm, Sat 11am to 4pm
    231 West 29th Street (Btwn 7th & 8th Avenues)
    212-239-2459
    Cash and Credit Cards Only

    TJ Maxx Runway Collection

    For the longest time we thought of TJ Maxx as a resource for discount Apple accessories and children’s story books. It wasn’t until a recent trip to Miami that we fell upon a treasure trove of designer discount merchandise. We found Fendi and Valentino bags, Prada shoes and Missoni knit sweaters.

    We knew we needed to the bottom of the mysterious uber-designer TJ Maxx finds. After a few phone calls we were connected with Sonya Cosentini, a style expert for the discount chain. Turns out the story is much like stores’ commercials: There’s a designer with overstock merchandise or returns and TJ Maxx is there to snatch up the off-the-runway looks at a fraction of their retail price.

    What we witnessed in Miami, however, was different than the Juicy Couture and Eli Tahari we find at most of TJ Maxx stores. There was an entire luxury department delineated by purple and black signage within a department called Runway. According to Sonya, there are only 50 TJ Maxx stores with Runway departments in the country.

    With in Manhattan, the Columbus Village TJ Maxx (at Columbus and 101st Street) is the only location that has a specific designer Runway department. Sonya adds that all TJ Maxx stores do have an assortment of designer labels and don’t have the department broken out because of space constraints. “You have to be on the lookout for merchandise with black and purple tags that are dispersed throughout the entire store,” she says.

    In the name of “research” we made a few calls to TJ Maxx stores with runway collections. We couldn’t believe what we were able to find: a Bottega Veneta overnight bag for $1200, a Helmut Lange tank for $40, Prada and Manolo shoes for $200, Fendi totes for $800 and a Valentino bag for $700.

    Going forward, we are going to spend a lot less time playing with the Apple accessories at TJ Maxx and a lot more time searching out purple tags. Have you found any interesting merchandise while shopping at TJ Maxx. Tell everyone about your finds in the comment section below. We can’t wait to drool!

    Retail Therapy: Shoshanna Gruss

    Shoshanna Gruss is as native to Madison Avenue as spring tulips are to Park Avenue. Her uptown taste, urban savvy and local sensibility have all contributed to the designer’s successful clothing, swim and jewelry lines.

    As a lover of fashion, Shoshanna is always on the lookout for a great deal but always stays true to her core belief that fit comes first. When she started her namesake clothing line she recalls, “I found that there were not any wearable, beautiful clothes out there for someone with my body type. I could never find a halter dress or strapless top that offered support for women who usually need to wear a bra. That experience inspired me to create the pieces that make up the core of my collection.”

    In her most recent venture, Shoshanna is bringing her East Side look to QVC in the form of a jewelry line. The collection is versatile yet bold and is all very reasonably priced. Check out this aqua cabochon and crystal necklace for $99. Can you think of a better way to accessorize a plain white tee?

    Below Shoshanna shares her prized wardrobe items along with a few heart breakers. Read below to find the full scoop and let us know what you think.

    What’s your most prized deal?
    I’m not sure if it was really a deal so to say, but my best purchase was a pair of black patent leather platform Christian Louboutins. At the time I didn’t really think that I needed them and almost didn’t buy them, but ended up getting them and they instantly became my go to pair of shoes and I continue to wear them all the time!

    Biggest regret that you didn’t purchase?
    I once saw the most beautiful Oscar De La Renta dress. It was 70% off and my exact size. I saw it on the runway, and LOVED it. I almost bought it, but then thought, when will I wear this gorgeous, huge, and still very expensive dress? The answer came a few weeks later when I got the invitation to a VERY black tie wedding. Alas, the dress was sold. I think about it all the time.

    This season you are looking for…
    A great new fun and colorful bag for the summer! For a while I think that some of the bags being shown on the runway were either too big or too small, and recently I have noticed they have went back to a very manageable size. Something that I can throw more than just a lipstick and my phone in, but something that isn’t a suitcase.

    What’s your number one shopping tip?
    Know your own body, what looks good on your best friend, may not always work for you. Once you find a flattering silhouette that you like, stick to it and continue to personalize your look with accessories!

    What’s your biggest weakness?
    Shoes! I think that the right pair of shoes can change your outfit completely. I am also rather petite, and shoes over the past few years have reached a whole new level in terms of height, so for me the higher the better!!

    Is there an item for which a shopper should never mind paying full price?
    A great coat! When it comes to quality in outwear, you should never skimp. I think it is important to do your research and find something truly amazing that you can keep forever and pull out years from now. They are like a good watch, timeless and something you will always need.

    Coco Chanel by Man Ray

    Sometimes buying a Chanel bag, shoes, coat or sunglasses just isn’t enough. Why not have a legitimate piece of the “real” Chanel?

    Well, now you can be inspired by the woman behind the fashion. Christies is auctioning the most exquisite photograph of Coco Chanel by Man Ray. This piece is quite dramatic and trumps almost any piece of fashion.

    Man Ray, is considered a modern master. He is credited for bringing some of the most avant-garde art movements to the US. In addition, Man Ray was a famed fashion photographer and shot for Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Vanity Fair.

    Lot 311 goes live in Paris from March 29 to March 31. Bids are accepted on the Christies website, here. The estimated price for Coco is between $559 to $977. Don’t you think a bit of Coco art is worth more than ballet flats or a faux strand of pearls? Well, we do too!

    Freelance Spies Wanted: Mad-Spy’s Shopping Squad

    Are you the type of shopper who instinctively knows to head to the back of the store, down the stairs or into the side room for the best deals? Do you feel as home in Hermes as you do in H&M? Are you ready to share your shopping secrets with the rest of the world?

    If the answers are yes to all these questions, and you have a knack for writing, then Madison Avenue Spy needs you to join our growing bureau of roaming spies. Please send us an email with your resume, writing samples and your best shopping secret.

    The hardest part is picking your personal spy name, of course!

    Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Spring Sale

    Memorial Sloan-Kettering is kicking off the season with their annual “Celebrate Spring” sale. The Third Avenue thrift shop is a local destination for luxury treasures and the spring sale is usually the cream of the crop.

    Starting Wednesday, shoppers will be greeted with a full stock of designer castoffs including, bags and shoes from Manolo Blanik, Jimmy Choo, Prada and Gucci. All will range in price from $100 to $175. Hermes shirts and sweaters will be priced from $120 to $175 and scarves will be just $185. Now those are prices that can’t be found on eBay or at sample sales.

    There’s one hitch, of course. This sale isn’t such a deep rooted secret. The great prices and wide variety of luxury products attracts dealers and hoarders who line up at the crack of dawn. We suggest skipping the initial long lines and popping in towards the end of the sale. After all, one woman’s junk is another’s treasure.

    Memorial Sloan-Kettering Thrift Shop
    Wednesday, March 9 to Saturday, March 12
    Wed 10am to 7pm, Thurs & Fri 10am to 5:30pm, Sat 11am to 5pm
    1440 Third Avenue (btw 81st & 82nd streets)
    212-535-1250