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    DSW’s Gucci Bags

    We all remember the hysteria of DSW’s Gucci Sale this Summer, right? Well, Gucci shoppers will be happy to know that the DSW relationship didn’t end there. Most recently select stores received a shipment of Gucci bags.

    What’s even better is the sale is online! Now you don’t even need to fight through the crowds of 14th street or even live near one of the select DSW locations. There are currently a variety of denim floral print totes, a black denim tote and signature leather embossed hobo. Prices range from $200 to $400.

    Interestingly enough the small, medium and large floral print totes are the same price ($199). Seems like a perfect summer beach bag to me!

    Neiman Marcus Last Call

    I found this little treasure in my inbox today:

    Hi Lila,

    I wanted to send you some scoop on our final sale of the season, Last Call.
    It begins tomorrow 1/21 and runs through 1/27. Savings are in all areas at 55% to 70% off. We have amazing assortments of Women’s contemporary, Men’s Sportswear and Ladies Shoes. Plenty of ‘treasures’ to find……

    Tell your bloggers to come to Paramus!
    Thanks Lila!

    Turnbull & Asser Winter Clearance

    There has been much talk about the details of a men’s shirt since the Wall Street Journal published an article, this week, highlighting the subtleties that constitute a quality men’s shirt. Men, and women, who appreciate bespoke tailoring may already be familiar with the intricacies ranging from cuff to collar and yoke to gusset. They are also familiar with the cost of such quality details.

    Turnbull & Asser is best known for classic English tailoring and has dressed the Prince of Wales and Winston Churchill. More contemporary clients include, Sean Connery and Christian Louboutin (do you think he lines his suits in red?). As one might expect even off the rack merchandise is pricey. Shirts can easily run above $350.

    Exceptionally good shoppers, however, know that the store has a great sale twice a year: January and July. Discounts on Winter merchandise is currently 50% off while some items are even reduced more. In the past we have seen $100 shirts and $50 ties.
    There is still an abundant amount of merchandise and the same runs until the end of the month.

    We are completely intrigued by this shirt making video on the T&A site. It’s footage of their shirt factory and although the video drones on it’s impossible to stop watching.

    Contact: Michael 212-752-5700

    Saks’ Orphans Ship Out

    At the very end of the season, Saks Fifth Avenue ships all their left-over sales merchandise to eight major Saks locations across the country. Starting Thurs. Jan. 21st, geographically blessed shoppers can sift through racks of the season’s orphans. The sale usually only lasts a few weeks and discounts typically range from 70% off to 90% off.

    Even though the sale isn’t slated to start for two days we are sure that the racks are out. Try to find a trust worthy sales person to presale or stash your consolidation babies.

    Participating stores include:
    • Manhattan, NYC
    • Atlanta
    • Beverly Hills
    • Boston
    • Chevy Chase, D.C.
    • Chicago
    • Houston’s Galleria
    • San Francisco

    H Williams and Krizia Sample Sale

    We’ve noticed that it’s increasingly more difficult to find an interesting pair of shoes. And when you’re going to plop down several hundred dollars or even a grand do you want to have the same shoe as every other fashion wannabe?

    All year we’ve been looking for something that’s not a red soled heel or a ballet flat with gems and we think we’ve found the perfect alternative. H Williams collection, designed by Heather Williams, retails for $350 to $995, includes a wide range of styles including zippered booties and gladiator heels. The line is made of exotic skins like python, suedes and Italian leathers. Since her debut in Fall ’09 Heather’s shoes have been showcased in Glamour, Italian Vogue and Gossip Girl.

    More than feeling lucky to have been alerted to H Williams, we are ecstatic that the introduction coincides with a sample sale. H Williams footwear has teamed up with Krizia womenswear for a sample sale where most items will be discounted 60% off. Flat riding boots, which retail for $895 will be $380, an eggplant metallic python bootie that retails for $1,200 will be $495 and a very high suede bootie with cut-outs will be $350 from $820.

    On the Krizia side most items are also 60% off, jackets will range from $278 to $572, dresses $62 to $442 and coats $324 to $854. We are a bit disappointment that the discount isn’t more. In prior seasons, we have seen Krizia merchandise reduced 70% to 80% off. In the past, we have walked away with $600 shoes for $50.

    The sale runs until January 24th but starts Wednesday evening with a Prosecco and VIP viewing. (Remember the days when VIPs got champagne?)

    H Williams and Krizia Sample Sale
    805 Madison Ave., @ 67th St
    Wed, Jan 20th to Sun., Jan. 24
    Wed. 5pm to 8pm, Thurs. to Sat. 10am to 6pm, Sun. 12pm to 5pm

    Victoria’s Secret: A Plastic Surgeon’s Nightmare

    Once in a rare while a very mainstream item becomes a cult sensation. In this instance, women who normally wear the finest undergarments– La Perla, Eres, Guia la Bruna and Marlies Dekkers– have been opting for Victoria Secret’s Miraculous Bra ($48 to $52).

    This bra doesn’t only promise a big rack but will enhance your female assets — the top, not the bottom– two full sizes and add maximum cleavage. That is a serious promise. Online, a 34A in every color and pattern is back ordered until April. There was no way we weren’t going to check out this thing.

    To better research this uplifting sensation, we took five ladies and hit Victoria’s Secret. Oh yeah, the Miraculous bra is a Miracle on steroids. At first glance the undergarment looks like any other seamless bra. It’s not until you pick it up for closer examination that you realize the cups are more padded than a private room at Bellevue.

    After browsing, each woman took their respective bra back to the fitting room and within moments the ladies were squealing like school girls meeting the Jonas Brothers. “Oh. My. God,” “This is amazing,” and “I don’t know if I can go out looking like this,” were only some of the initial reactions.

    Here’s a closer look of what our bra testers had to say. Sorry, there’s no pictures.

    Wendy Whoppers: “This is how I looked when I first got married,” Wendy cooed after looking down at her reestablished cleavage. After four children, Wendy admits that she has considered seeking the assistance of a plastic surgeon and is very excited about the extra boost. Ultimately, our doubly blessed friend decided that her husband may not appreciate his wife sharing such similarities with Pamela Anderson.
    Verdict: She passed on the bra today but we have a feeling she will be back.

    Anita Blond: “I can’t believe I have something. I’ve never had anything. I even have cleavage,” said Anita, who has never required much support. Anita doesn’t think that the Miraculous is an every-day accessory but admits that some dresses look better when they are filled in the right places.
    Verdict: She didn’t buy the bra on the spot because she didn’t have her $10 off coupon. She will also be back!

    Boopsie Steel: “I’m getting this,” Boopsie declared without hesitation. I can wear this with tank tops, sequined blouses, dresses. “I don’t think I’m ever not wearing this,” she said.
    Verdict: Do you need to ask? We are surprised she didn’t buy more than one.

    Sandy Wilde: “Oh, my gosh. I look like a Barbie,” Sandy giggled. Afraid that her sweaters would stretch out, Sandy said she would stick to wearing her prosthetic chest on Saturday date nights.
    Verdict: There were only two bras left in her size so she decide to take it to “be on the safe side.”

    The conclusion of this little experiment is as plain as the mounds on these women’s chests. Dr. 90210 better be careful because this Miraculous bra adds a quite a bit of oomph to the bosom and without any recovery time.

    Manolo Sale: Take 2

    Last month, we reported about Manolo’s first markdown. We also warned that the early discount–1/3 off– was just the start. Well, Monday marks the first day of the “real” Manolo Blahnik sale.

    We are told that the savings will be 50% or better on the fall/winter collection and “some alligator designs.” Last year, the price point started at $185 and went up to $400. The alligator pumps were $1500 from $4100.

    We suggest attending the sale right away if you’re looking for shoes in the under-$200-category. Popular sizes go fast and the boutique shopping experience is much better than breaking a heal to get access to the secret sample sale. Try to avoid the store between the hours of 2pm and 3pm, that’s when they close to restock.

    Manolo Blahnik Sale
    Starts Monday, Jan. 18th
    31 West 54th Street
    Mon-Fri. 10:30am to 6:00pm, Sat 10:30am to 5:30pm, Sun. 12pm to 5pm
    The boutique will close from 2pm to 3pm to restock when necessary

    MLK Holiday at the Outlets

    The upcoming Martin Luther King holiday weekend has come to represent the end of the end. Most stores are taking their final markdowns so that sales people can concentrate on selling the high-margin current season merchandise. The same happens at outlets where the inexpensive becomes a bargain.

    On Monday, we will be heading out to Woodbury Common for our annual Martin Luther King holiday shopping spree. Yes, it’s been nine consecutive years that the Spy team has headed to Harriman, N.Y. for what we believe to be the best shopping week of the year. To prepare for our pilgrimage North, we called some of our favorite stores to get a preview of what’s in stock.

    Look for us on Twitter [LilaDelilah] on Monday. We’ll leave you a verbal trail of our shopping trappings.

    Bottega Veneta:
    There is no MLK discount but bags are an additional 30% or 60% off depending on the style and season. Ready-to-wear is an additional 75% off outlet prices but the sales person warned that the pickings are slim. In stock now: a shopper tote from winter ’08, in green red for $680, including all discounts. There are also some exotic bags like a python draw string tote for $2400ish or a Sloane bag in pink python, which is under $1300.
    845-928-4563

    Chloe
    Bags are currently 10% to 50% off outlet prices. Clothing is discounted an additional 50%. The ready-to-wear at Chloe can go down as far as 90% but most of the merchandise left by that time isn’t even worth that. The store currently has four “good” racks, according to a sales person, but we are still dubious.
    845-928-6260

    Dolce & Gabbana:
    Most of the inventory in the store is from Fall 2008 (is that considered vintage?) and is reduced an additional 60% off. “There’s a lot here,” says the shopgirl and we can’t wait to see.
    845-928-5221

    Giuseppe Zanotti:
    You always have to be careful when shopping at outlets because sometimes times the prices are more expensive than a normal boutique sale. Giuseppe is one of those boutiques. We are told the outlet has a $99 and $150 section of shoes. (Those are good prices.) Other shoes are 50% off retail. (Not a buy-worthy markdown.)
    845-928-4828

    Prada:
    The sales at the Prada outlet have been a bit sketchy these days. It almost seems as if the brand is having a bit of an identity crisis. We discount, we don’t discount. Who can figure it out? Well, the outlet is running a “promo” on ready-to-wear where dresses, skirts and pants are an additional 40% off and all other clothing is 20% off. Normal outlet prices are 40% off retail.We are anticipating prices to range from 50% to 65% retail. Not particularly newsworthy considering the last markdown in boutiques is usually 70% off.
    845-928-3706

    YSL:
    On Saturday, the YSL boutique will have a one day sale where all clothing will be an additional 50% off. Unfortunately, that won’t be much use to us on Monday. If there’s an item you have in mind, however, the YSL salesman told me they will presell it on Friday.
    845-928-2169