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    Beauty Therapy: Jenn Falik

    Jenn Falik usually has the first and last word when it comes to beauty products. She is a permanent fixture on The View, the Today Show, The Rachael Ray Show, E! News and Tyra Banks. She is warm and reassuring, just like a BFF.

    As a matter of fact, Jenn just started sharing her expertise on an MSN.com web series called “Beauty BFF,” which is as addictive as a new lip gloss. You can check out her in-depth beauty analysis here but we are preoccupied with the Saks, Bergdorf and Bendel’s beauty events and needed navigation assistance.

    Shopping for the beast deal is our job: At the beauty counter, Saks is offering 10% off, Bendel’s 20% and Bergdorf’s 25% off $100. The winner is obvious but what to buy is not. If only department stores offered a beauty concierge to assist customers across the brands!

    For our immediate needs we enlisted Jenn’s help. Below are a few of her pointers– what are yours?

    When did cosmetics start regularly going on sale?
    It used to be that beauty products never went on sale. Cosmetic companies used to offer special incentives like, a gift with purchase. People started to realize that they didn’t ever really use those value sets and it really wasn’t any value. It’s only been in the past 16-months that department stores and cosmetic stores like Sephora, started to offer big discounts to entice customers. Now everyone knows to wait for a discount.

    What are some good items to buy for Spring?
    First you want to make sure your moisturiser has an SPF. Next, I would suggest brightening your lips with a bright pink gloss. I am obsessed with NARS Easy Lover and Tarte’s bright pink lip stain with Muse lip liner.

    What are some of the new popular scents for Spring?
    Balenciaga’s Paris, Oriens from Van Cleef & Arpels, Dior’s Hypnotic Poison and Chloe by Chloe are very popular. I try to force myself into a signature scent each season to stop myself from buying everything. There are so many great scents out there that it’s sometimes hard to resist.

    What products do you splurge on and where do you cut corners?
    A lot of that depends on what you care about. Makeup remover and face wash from the drug store is very similar to what you find in the department stores. You can definitely find good lipstick in a drugstore but if you’re carrying a nice bag and nice wallet, why not also a nice lip gloss. It just makes you feel better.

    3 Comments on Beauty Therapy: Jenn Falik

    Henri Bendel’s Friends & Family

    Henri Bendel is hosting a friends and family sale until Sunday, May 25th. Customers can save 20% throughout the store and online by using the code Friends and Family.

    Skip the cosmetics department, the discount at Bergdorf Goodman is better, but do explore the treasure filled jewelry department and handbag section. There are always unique designs from imaginative and original designers.

    1 Comment on Henri Bendel’s Friends & Family

    Manolo’s Secret Sample Sale

    Put your foot on the gas and hold on to your pumps. The secret Manolo Blahnik Spring sale is back and ALT is the hosting. Usually reserved for editors and fashion insiders the Manolo sale is renowned as a full-on fashion event.

    We hear that this season’s sale will feature Vogue’s contributing editor and America’s Next Top Model judge, André Leon Talley. He will be playing the role of Prince Charming and help women slip into their perfect shoe on Thursday, April 29th. That may be reason alone to attend. Everything is more fun when ALT is present.

    At previous sample sales leather heels started at $100. Usually the morning of the sale is reserved for press and insiders and the afternoon is open to the public. We wouldn’t be surprised, however, if all the publicity of the sale changes the rules a bit. Don’t blame us, we’re just the messenger.

    For those of you who are unnerved by sample crowds — present company included– take a browse through your local Saks Off 5th outlet store. We recently found the shoe department to be very well stocked with Manolos– all priced in the $200 range. It’s not a $100 and there’s no ALT but we found patent lather, high heel, Marry Janes and they come with a return option.

    Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale
    Thursday, April 29, 2010
    The Warwick Hotel
    54th Street and 6th Avenue, 2nd Floor
    Press access: 9am to 11am
    Public shopping: 11am to 3pm

    9 Comments on Manolo’s Secret Sample Sale

    Louis Vuitton Customers Read Discount

    It’s well known that companies use subliminal messages to entice customers but a Louis Vuitton optical illusion is giving web surfers an Earth Day delight.

    Shoppers of the luxury house’s website are mistakenly reading that Louis Vuitton is discounting all web sales 10% for Earth Day. After further inspection the text clearly states that a portion of sales will be donated to Global Green USA.

    Believing our own eyes might be going senior we enlisted the peepers of several volunteers and asked them to read the top line of image out loud. Every participant digested the text as saying, Louis Vuitton is offering an Earth Day discount. Most readers needed to read the full text at least three times until they understood the meaning correctly.

    Do you think this Earth Day illusion is intentional or unintentional?

    Oh, and for the record, Louis Vuitton hosted a similar promotion last year but 15% of sales were donated to The Climate Project.
    10 Comments on Louis Vuitton Customers Read Discount

    Target’s Liberty of London, Part Duex?

    Target is still in full bloom with Liberty of London’s bright floral patterns and we are anxiously awaiting a markdown. (Could you believe all of floral printed note cards have been used already?)

    In the meantime, we were pursuing the Target website and came across a Liberty tote bag to be released September 5, 2010. Could a autumnal collaboration be in the works?

    The Target PR team promptly responded, “The Liberty of London collection is a short-term partnership that is for the spring season only.” Hmmmmm. What do you think?

    Follow up:
    In the comment section, Deme points out:

    Those tote bags are being created from Liberty signage (billboard) that was outside of the pop-up shop. It is part of Target’s “going green” effort by reusing the sign. Target spoke of this when the store was open.

    If that’s the case, im preording mine now.

    3 Comments on Target’s Liberty of London, Part Duex?

    Beauty Sales: Bergdorf Trumps Saks

    Retailing is a competitive business. Even the biggest department stores need to make sure they remain competitive. To offset Saks friends and family, Bergdorf Goodman will be luring customers with instant and future gift cards.

    From Thursday, April 22nd to Sunday, April 25th Bergdorf will be rewarding beauty customers with an immediate $25 off $100 or more. Additional gift cards will be given to those spending above $500. The gift card breakdown is below.

    Spend $500 and get a $50 gift card
    Spend $750 and get a $75 gift card
    Spend $1000 and get a $100 gift card

    Bergdorf’s instant $25 off $100 spent, obviously trumps the 10% savings from Saks’ friends & family. And everyone knows the walk from 50th to 57th will enhance your beauty more than any cosmetic product.

    10 Comments on Beauty Sales: Bergdorf Trumps Saks

    Bloomingdale’s Private Sale

    Just when you were all set to head to Saks for their friends and family sale, Bloomingdale’s begins a “private sale.” For three days– from Tuesday, April 20th to Thursday, April 22nd– shoppers can use a $25 off coupon for every $100 they spend.

    Coupons were sent to Bloomingdale’s card holders but they can also be picked the at the information desk. The promotion is equivalent to 25% off but there is more… many departments are already discounted 15% to 40% off. Markdowns vary according to department and are confusing. You can click on the image from sale manual below, which outlines the discounts in some key departments.

    Bloomingdale’s, here’s some food for thought: should sales really require a manual?

    2 Comments on Bloomingdale’s Private Sale

    Saks Friends & Family

    The economy must be in full recovery because the Saks friends and family sale is not as generous as usual. This week, Saks is offering all shoppers 20% off clothing and accessories and 10% off beauty products and fragrance.

    The markdown during past friends and family promotions were 25% off for apparal and accessories, 20% off jewelry and 10% off cosmetics. At least your La Mar won’t cost you any more.

    The sale officially starts on Thursday, April 22 and runs until Sunday, April 25th. Presale is already underway but remember that many designer items are excluded. Be sure to speak to your sales associate to find out exactly which brands are included. You can start shopping the sale online Tuesday and use the checkout code FRIEND4.

    Contact: Marie Jose 212-940-2536 (3rd Floor Premier Designers)

    5 Comments on Saks Friends & Family