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    Amex – NY Fashion Week

    Call me a purist. Call me a snob. I’ll plead guilty to both.

    American Express sent the below information to its Starwood card holders. It’s so sad to think of all the effort we went through trying to scam seats to shows while in college, design school or just playing poser. For just $250 you can now preview all the fashion week shows without even changing out of your Banana Republic chinos. The all the information you need is below. Just don’t be surprised if you hear chuckles as you turn your back.

    NY Fashion Week
    Your preview of the 2009 spring collections is the must-have invitation of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
    *This insider event includes a private skybox reserved exclusively for Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cardmembers:
    * Enjoy a unique view of the fashions coming down the catwalk
    * Talk one on one with an in-the-know, high profile fashion insider
    * See and be seen at a stylish cocktail reception
    * Take home a gift bag

    Price per ticket: $250.00, limit two tickets per Cardmember (proceeds go toward the Council of Fashion Designers of America)

    Only 24 packages available. Reserve your seats now: Call 1-800-445-7374

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    Mikimoto Private Sale

    Thursday, January 22 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
    Friday, January 23 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

    680 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor
    Between 53rd and 54th Streets

    · We accept credit cards only. No cash or checks please.
    · No exchanges or returns.
    · No holds.
    · No gift boxes or wrapping available. No shipping.
    · Admittance will be determined by capacity. There may be a wait.
    · All coats and large bags must be checked.

    Commentary: Expect lots of great inventory because this has not been a steller year for jewelry. The discount is usually about 50% off retail. In past seasons, shoppers were happily surprised by the price range, which includes pieces that can be afforeded even by mortals.

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    Spring ’09: Heels and Headbands

    Spring, more than any other season is a time that trends are defined. I think it has to do with the whole optimism having to do with the season. In Spring 2004, my personal celebrity soared when I declared “Capris and Cuffs” to be the flavor of the year. No need to rehash ancient history, we all know where that went.

    Today I feel confident enough to do it again. I declare– Spring 2009 –to be the season of “Heels and Headbands.” I know you love your Chanel ballet flats but they do absolutely nothing for your kankles and that ass of yours will not defy gravity forever. So pull out those heels and not just for evening. Wear heels to breakfast. Heels to lunch. Heels to walk the dog. Sneakers to the gym but heels afterwards. Lulu Lemon is not all-day wear.

    Next, headbands. Think less Hillary Clinton’s severe black velvet headband and more Gossip Girls’ Blair Waldorf with her headpieces gently placed in the middle of her head like a tiara. Our style guru, Shawn suggests staying away from a headband that is too wide, “You will look like a pom pom cheerleader in your old high school cheerleading squad.” (As if, we were ever cheerleaders.)

    “Hair with a slight wave looks great all tied back in a bun with one or if your daring two thin head bands.” according to Shawn. “A thin headband can even be such items as interesting textured yarn or fabric to colorful dramatic shoelaces.”

    As far as conventional headbands go, we go ga-ga for the Paige Gamble coral python gardenia headband (photo above, $450) or you can get the look for less with a flirty floral headband from Claire’s ($5.50)

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    Woodbury MLK Jr. Day

    It’s a holiday weekend, for some at least. And whenever there’s a day off Woodbury Commons stores run extra promotions to drive in customers. It might be cold outside but that means that the stores should not be too crowded. Here’s what to look forward to if you are brave enough to brave the cold.

    Space (845) 928-3706, the store that carries Prada and Miu Miu, has 30% off newer items (Spring ’08). Older item, from Spring/Summer ’07 are 75% off. Shoes and handbags are the same discount and are not being marked down any further.

    Chanel (845) 928-1550, has an ongoing sale where the markdown ranges from 25% to 60% off. The larger discount can be found on the ready-to-wear collection from Winter ’07. Many accessories from Fall/Winter ’07 are 60% off. Bags range from 25% to 40% off.

    Dior (845) 928-4602, is discounting their older merchandise up to 75% off. Shoes are mainly 50% off but there are a scattering of 75% off merchandise. Men’s ready-to-wear is 50% off and belts are 75% off.

    Bottega Veneta (845) 928-4563, ready-to-wear from Spring/Summer ’07 is 75% off. Bags are 60% off and include, canvas bags and leather bags from pink, yellow, white and brown families.

    Here is a list of all the outlet’s phone numbers. If you can’t make the drive there’s always Fed-ex…

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    Krizia 60% Off –But Going Down

    When all the sales are over, the weather is freezing and the stores are filled with nothing but Summer frocks, Krizia warms our hearts with their awesome winter sale. Most items are 70% to 80% off. Shoes that were $600 are priced at $50 and boots are something like $75. It’s a sale worth looking forward to.

    The current markdown is 60% off but Julius, our insider, let us know that the annual sale will be in a few weeks. As always, men’s ready-to-wear will be included in the sale. Remember, buying last season’s look for 70% off only makes you more stylish. How far off is the above from look from this yellow and red number that Christopher Kane sent down the runway for Spring 2009?

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    DVF 70% Off

    This 70% off sale is one of many reasons why I never go to Diane von Furstenberg sample sales. Some people, however, might find standing in line in the cold to be a fun afternoon. Personally, I’ll take my MacBook and a hot chocolate and let my fingers do the shopping.

    Take notice, all sales are final and the 70% off sale is online only. The Meatpacking store location has a current markdown of 60% off.

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    Petit Bateau Semi-Annual Sale

    All of us up here love Petit Bateau–it sure beats the hell out of that poly/cot Splendid crap. Historically, the problem has been the attitude of the store’s sales people. For instance, one would walk in and ask a question and it would not be out of the norm for a sales associate to pretend like she didn’t speak English. (I kid you not!)

    No matter how much of a Francophile one may be, it just wasn’t cool. Word on the Avenue is that enough irate customers sent letters to corporate to make a difference. While giving the store an overhaul this Summer, Petit Bateau anchored with a whole new attitude. Gone are the days of a sneer of indifference.

    What’s even better is that the store is hosting it’s twice yearly sale where most items are 20%, 30% and 40% off. The discount depends how seasonal the item may be. For example, a basic undershirt is likely to be just 20% off while a stars and bow print pajama is 40% off.

    The sale is also online but the selection is very small. So you might want to hit the store if you have a little baby, need to buy a gift for a baby, or need some lounge wear for yourself. Remember, the Woodbury Commons Petit Bateau store closed and finding these goods at a discount is not simple…

    … Except if you go to Century 21!

    Contact: 212-988-8885

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    Is Gucci Going?

    Recession and hard-economic-times have become an important part of our lexicon this season. And those possessing fractional jet ownership and Black Cards have been as hard hit as those living on First Avenue. This economic fallout has much more impact than clothing discounts.

    Unfortunately, the end is not as near as some would hope. We recently received a book of available or soon-to-be available Madison Avenue retail properties. The list is staggeringly long. Last year at this time there were hardly 25 available spaces along Madison. Now the list seems endless.

    We thought it might be interesting to publish excerpts of this confidential real estate log. After all, we are informants and we do specialize in Madison Avenue.

    Most interesting, to us at least, is the fact that Michael Kors is moving into Gucci’s space but nobody seems to have information about Gucci’s relocation. ‘Tis the season of cutting back. Maybe Fifth Avenue is proving to be all Manhattan needs of the double-Gs.

    Click on the image below to get a peak into the future of our local topography.

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