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    Look For Less: Jelly Flower Sandals

    We are starting to get an idea of what’s destine to become the “must have,” “I need,” and “I want” for summer 2009. Not far from the top of the list are the striking and playful jelly Chanel sandals.

    These colorful, flower adorned, plastic flip-flops retail for $295. Yes, they have a novel quality –reminiscent of a Jelly Kelly— but that’s a lot of lettuce for one season of jelly.

    Fear not, during our Third Avenue travels today, we jumped into Shoe Box for a quick once around. We didn’t find much but a jelly-something did catch our eye. See the resemblance? For just $35 how can you say no?

    Contact: Shoe Box 1349 3rd Ave (77th St.) 212-535-9615
    For the real thing: peter@loubies.com

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    Saks March EGC

    Saks is gearing up for their March electronic gift card promotion. The event is on March 12th, but pre-selling has already started. There are some brand restrictions. Our sales person told us Chanel, Prada, Gucci, and Jimmy Choo are excluded, but everything else is free game. (We think Christian Louboutin is also excluded.)

    Here’s the March breakdown:
    if you spend… you get a giftcard for…
    $250-$499 …$25
    $500-$999… $50
    $1000-$1999… $100
    $2000-$2999 …$300
    $3000 or more …$450

    Notice how Saks is getting increasingly stingy with the gift cards? During the January promotion there was a $1000 gift card when you spent $3000 and and $500 worth of spending would earn you a $75 gift card.

    Contact: 212-753-4000 ask for Eric in Alice and Olivia

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    Fortunoff Bankruptcy Non-Sale

    Last week, Fortunoff announced bankruptcy and was ordered by the courts to liquidate approximately $212 million in inventory. In a press release the company stated, ” Customers will find tremendous savings on everything in the store, including fine jewelry and watches, antique jewelry and silver, everything for the table, fine gifts, home furnishings including bedroom and bath, fireplace and outdoor furnishings.”

    Turns out the Fortunoff liquidation sale is turning out to be very similar to the much publicized Circuit City sale, or non-sale. Jewelry and china are discounted just 10% off. Diamond suds and solitaires are only 15% off.

    As a knowledgeable consumer you know that the price of gold is skyrocketing but you also know that the diamond industry is dead. The price of small stones are down about 20% and larger stones (2 carats to 7 carats) are down even more. So when shopping the Fortunoff bankruptcy sale or your local jewelry shop, just remember a sale has provide a consumer with some sort of value to really be considered a sale!

    Find out how to calculate the real value of gold on Wiki Answers. Oh, the company is only accepting credits and gift certificates until March 8th, so cash them in now. Maybe a bigger markdown will come soon there after.

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    Salvatore Ferragamo Sample Sale

    We are getting two thumbs up reviews from the Ferragamo sample sale. The lines have ranged from massive to short. One reader wrote that she waited in line on Sunday for two hours before she decided to bale.

    Another reader, who survived the line that stretched down the block, reported that womens’ shoes are $99 and boots are $129. Most handbags range from $99 to $499. plastic sunglasses are $25, fancier sunglasses are $59, scarves $69, wallets $129, clutches $99, key rings/ipod cases $19, jewelry $49, mens’ belts $99.

    Salvatore Ferragamo Sample Sale
    Women’s & Men’s shoes, leather goods, ready-to-wear & accessories all up to 80% off!
    Saturday, Feb. 28 to Wednesday, March 4
    Sun-Tues 9-6:30
    Wed 9-5
    317 West 33rd Street (west of 8th Ave)

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    True Love: Running In Heels

    Everyone knows that magazine circulation is dying. So magazines are trying to do everything they can to get attention, even if it means reality TV. Marie Claire, for example, launched a reality show on the Style network called, “Running in Heels.” This docu-drama gives viewers an inside look into the personal and professional lives of its editors, interns and senior staffers.

    We think an episode with an inside view of the snatching Nina Garcia from Elle would have been riveting enough but the content they put together is a lot more entertaining than you would imagine.

    Yes, there are a lot of interns crying– been there done that– lots of snide and demanding senior staffers– been there too– and yes, the editors are attempting to set the tone. The combination is very entertaining.

    Running in Heels is no Gossip Girl but it’s much better than MTV’s The City. Here’s a link to the premier episode, which can be viewed in its entirety here.

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    Banana Republic 30% Off

    Our friend, Absent, is still off in Tokyo hanging out in members only clubs that requires a retina eye scanner for entry. With that type of access we’re not surprised that he has the scoop on Banana Republic even from the other side of the globe.

    This may not seem major news but Banana Republic just hired Simon Kneen as their new creative director. Simon previously led the creative vision for Brooks Brothers and Adrienne Vittadini. We hear that he has his sights on expanding the Banana Republic Monogram Collection and is even nudging to open stand alone stores for higher end line. Sounds a bit risky in economy but doing something is always better than doing nothing. Well, at least most of the time.

    To celebrate the change in power, Banana Republic is offering 30% off all full priced merchandise. This includes the Monogram Collection, which doesn’t ever seem to get discounted. There is also a little fête going on at the Rock Center and Broadway and 67th Street locations. So enjoy the goodie bag, the drinks, the music and the discount. Just don’t jump into the stock.

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    Gracious Home White Sale

    At dinner, a friend mentioned that Gracious Home is having an incredible sale. Turns out that bed and table linens and towels are all 50% off. 

    Gracious Home carries the gold standard of housewares brands like Yves Delorme, Sferra and Matouk. We are told that there’s still a large selection. So now would be a great time to do over your bedroom, bath AND table linens.

    Contact:
    1992 Broadway @ 67th St. 212-231-7800
    1217 3rd Ave. @ 70th St. 212-517-6300

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    A Sample Sale Come-On

    Our friends were all buzzing about this super-duper-designer sample sale. When asked us about it we said that we were suspicious.

    What made us suspicious? The sale description reads a lot like a too-good-to-be-true apartment listing on Craigs List:

    Sample & stock sale. Sample Sale Productions has the largest selection of Chanel assembled outside of Chanel. Find hundreds of new and mint vintage designer handbags up to 70% off as well as designer sunglasses, jewelry, coats and furs. For three days only, shop Chanel and other favorite designers including Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Prada, Dior and more at up to 70% off. Also ready-to-wear from high end designers at up to 80% off: Chanel, Escada, John Galliano, D & G, Fendi and more.

    It was the “new and mint vintage” line that set us off. We had a vague hunch it was a collaboration of resale vendors but without the facts we couldn’t announce our doubt. That’s why we were so glad when Racked posted a buyer beware item. Basically our instincts were right:

    “I just wanted to let you know that the designer handbag sale is actually a group sale of re-sellers who will be selling bags for their clients and then getting a commission off the sales…A buyer will not be able to guarantee that they will be purchasing an authentic bag unless they know what to look for in terms of authenticity…My inside tipster told me that no Gucci group brands are going to be sold because at one point a fake Gucci bag was sold at this event and the organizers got into legal trouble and are not allowed to sell any more Gucci brands.”

    We have nothing against a Chinatown Special, if that’s what you want. Duping shoppers, however, is not cool. So remember, if the sale listing sounds too good to be true chances are that it’s not much better than a crack den with rear facing view.

    Photo Credit: Tendance High-Tech

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