X


    Intermix: Extra 50% Off Sale Items

    NOTE: Click on the first Intermix link to engage this VIP access and to see the extra 50% off. 

    It’s time to start sale-ing! Intermix just started an incredible promotion where sale merchandise is an additional 50% off. The discount on many items translates to a total discount of nearly 80%.

    Jumping right in, we suggest you quickly run through a Zimmerman edit because the good pieces tend to go very quickly. This white embroidered dress comes to $315 from $900 and this floral print halter dress comes to $230 from $650. Other highlights include this Ulla Johnson floral print dress that’s a steal at $175 from $445.

    Here is a tweed Veronica Beard blazer that’s $195 from $650, this pretty seafoam green dress from Sea is $90 from $300, and heart shape Saint Laurent sunglasses is $130 from $420.

    There is also a great assortment of denim. My personal favorite brand is GRLFRND and here is a pair of classic Karolina jeans in a light wash for just $40 from $250 and this denim skirt is just $30 from $188. Here are Rag & Bone boyfriend jeans that are $85 from $275 and Frame high flared jeans that are $60 from $230.

    This sale will last through May 1. These extreme sale-on-sale events usually don’t happen until the end of the season. We suggest you start scrolling fast because the best merchandise tends to go fast.

    Weekend Shopping: Impulses & Obsessions

    This is officially our seventh episode of quarantine weekend shopping. Mother’s Day is right around the corner. It’s May 10 to be exact. I can’t stress enough how important it is to make a plan. Shipping is taking a long longer than usual and those taking a more creative approach should use the extra time to plan a perfect execution.

    I updated our gift guide with a few more options. Including, quarantine friendly house slippers from Mini Rose. Anyone lucky enough to have shorted the market on February 20th can relish in an indulgence from Takat, which is cracking open the safe and offering great values on gems and jewels. Click here to see our full Mother’s Day gift guide.

    We are also extending our deep wealth of knowledge and connections to help track down hard-to-find items. We’ll consider the task a gift — mothers-helping-mothers. Email us here if there is something you need help sourcing.

    Some of the best sales of the week included Tessabit’s promotion for MadSpy friends. Use the code MADISONAVENUE40XT and receive 40% off any item within this link. I just found one more of these Saint Laurent totes that are discounted to $690 from $1150 and this Fendi logo bag is $774 from $1300.  Click here to see more of our best finds.

    This week, Bergdorf Goodman added an additional 30% off sale items.  The site continually adds more items to the sale selection. Usually, sizes are limited and quantities are scarce. You have to move quickly and you only have through Sunday to take advantage. Look out for the plentiful assortment of Veronica Beard blazers for under $200 from $700 and these Paris Texas boots are $170 from $610.

    Saks Fifth Avenue started it’s big Spring sale this week. There are lots of contemporary and designer deals at 40% off. In addition, there is a promotion where you can save $50 off every $200 you spend. The deal highlights are Manolo Blahnik shoes and Saint Laurent bags and shoes. Enter the code HAPPYSF to engage the savings. Check back to our earlier post to see other finds.

    Beauty addicts still have a few more days to take advantage of Sephora’s Spring Savings. You can save up to 20% off everything on the site. Dyson Hair products are a sure thing and are difficult to find on sale or go for a gift set and experience some new products. Click over to the original story for all the details.

    Coming up this week, Intermix will be having an explosive sale-on-sale promotion and Neiman Marcus will have an extra clearance discount promotion.

    Until next week… same time, same place? Cheers!

    Great Options for Mother’s Day Gifts

    I don’t recall there ever being a time when mothers were more deserving of heroic recognition. Days in quarantine, especially with young ones, bring the definition to a whole new level. We are teachers, chefs, housekeepers, mental health counselors, friends,  physical trainers, activity directors, and that doesn’t even include our professional obligations.

    I appreciate that times are hard but this is not the year to slight the woman who runs the roost. No matter your budget, it’s incumbent upon partners and children to make sure your madre feels appreciated.

    Make it big or don’t come home. Make a giant ode to mom in the form of a sidewalk chalk card or cook her favorite restaurant dinner and clean it up. Be sure to top it off with lots of hugs and kisses.  Even better, if you’re in the position to do so, buy her something she would love.

    Remember, deliveries are delayed at most stores. Don’t wait until the last minute.

    Below is a list of a few of my favorite things:

    Bottega Veneta mini Jodi bag ($1720)

    Minnie Rose house slippers ($154)


    Bea Bongiasca Baby Vine Tendril Ring 
     ($675)

    Chanel sunglasses with a chain ($525 from $700)

    Solange Hotlips ring ($230)

    Bottega Veneta padded Cassette bag ($2800)

    Manolo Hangisi heels ($750 from $1025)

    Gucci hair clip ($400)

    Hermes Lipstick ($67 to $72)

    Sea lace blouse ($157 from $225)

    111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Lifting Mask – Face, neck & décolletage  ($180 from $230)

    Tessabit: 40% Off Designer Merchandise

    We’ve been waiting for some heated sales and this one will definitely set off some sparks. The Italian boutique, Tessabit is hosting a 40% off sale that is only open to Mad-Spy readers can access the sale early through this link with the code: MADISONAVENUE40XT.

    Some of the sale highlights include this new style Valentino bag that’s $867 from $1445, a Balmain sweatshirt is $370 from $525, Saint Laurent tote is $690 from $1150 and a new style Balenciaga tee is $300 from $500. The sale even includes some very good Gucci items.  Here is a Gucci belt-bag that’s just $690 from $1150 and a Marmont belt bag is $1190 from $1980.

    The selection for men is as good, if not, better than the options for women. So don’t be shy forwarding the code to your male counterparts.

    The best part of the Tessabit promotion is that the merchandise is coming from Italy and many of the items retail for less money when compared to our retail prices. All duties are covered and even returns are free. You really can’t do any better than this right now. The code is valid until May 14.

    Saks Spring Sale: 40% Off

    Online bargain shoppers are anticipating explosive sales but we will probably have to wait until stores open before seeing the full impact of Covid-19 on the retail market. For now, there isn’t much restocking on websites. Until stores open and new merchandise is received and uploaded, the sales will probably remain pretty tame.

    This week is normally time for sales on Spring merchandise. Right now at Saks Fifth Avenue, you can save 40% off Spring merchandise. The big differentiator from prior seasons is that a few luxury designers are included in this markdown. Usually, this type of early Spring sale doesn’t include designers like Chloe and Khaite.

    Some of the standout items we spotted include a LoveShackFancy skirt for $180 from $260, Chloe wedge sandals for $390 from $650, and a Khaite puff sleeve blouse for $528 from $880.  If you can bear to look at Winter merchandise there are several nice items from Moncler. There are even doggie winter jackets and a raincoat for dogs. Someone in the family should look good on walks!

    The sale just started today and we wouldn’t be surprised if additional designer merchandise is added. We suggest you continue to check back.

    Neiman Marcus Bankruptcy and Extra Savings Now

    The luxury fashion retail sector is getting hit with another big blow. The Dallas-based retailer, Neiman Marcus is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection later this week. The iconic store missed a $5.7 million interest payment, which is triggering an immediate need for a lifeline.

    Neiman Marcus is said to be holding $4.3 million in debt and operates 43 retail stores, along with Last Call and two Bergdorf Goodman locations in Manhattan. All stores have been temporarily closed since March because of COVID-19 but the retailer’s problems started well before the worldwide pandemic. Store closings only hastened bankruptcy, which was rumored for about a year.

    Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection allows Neiman Marcus to default on some debt, remain open, close underperforming stores, restructure its operation, and secure additional capital that’s structured in a way that’s less challenging to pay back.

    Gary Wassner, CEO of Hilldun Corp, a financial services company specializing in fashion and retail said that the Neiman Marcus bankruptcy should not be compared to Barneys as it’s unlikely that Neiman Marcus will close its doors for good.

    “Barneys was worth less than $1 billion and Neiman Marcus is a $5 billion company that has real value. It is a very valuable asset. They own a lot of their real estate and have a very strong CEO,” Wassner said.

    Wassner believes that part of retail’s struggles has to do with the current promotional mindset. He believes deliveries come in too early and by the time customers are interested in shopping the merchandise is already on sale. “We are a buy now, wear now country. It’s how people think,” Wassner says.

    Shoppers can expect a windfall of sales once stores open.”Shoppers haven’t even seen the Spring and Summer merchandise and it’s going to have to get moving fast,” Wassner says. “Nobody wants to ship into a discounted market.” Retailers will have to speed up the Summer season and push Fall back.

    Those looking for Neiman Marcus savings now can hit the sale section where reduced merchandise is an additional 25% off, which brings the total saving to 70% to 80% off on many items. There is also a beauty promotion where you can save 25% off most cosmetics and fragrances.  Bergdorf Goodman will begin offering an extra 30% off sale merchandise on Tuesday.

    Be mindful of how you shop now. If our expectations are correct, you might want to save your cash for when stores open again.

    LuisaViaRoma 30% Off

    Tonight I made homemade gnocchi, sipped Tuscan wine and ending the evening with a scroll through the Florence-based LuisaViaRoma. Right now, you can save 30% off the new collection with the temporary code L30 or 25% off with the standing code OFF25.

    There are lots of exclusions but we found a few key items that are worthwhile using this discount. Start with Balenciaga, which includes almost all merchandise.  This new style Balenciaga quilted bag $1183 from nearly $1700 and BB leather slides are $416 from $600.  You can also apply the savings to Manolo Blahnik styles, including Hangisi and Lurums. These Lurums are $900 from $1300 and they come in lots of colors. Hangisi heels are $700 from $1000 and are also available in a full spectrum.

    Most Loewe merchandise can be used with the codes. Sandals are $455 from $650 and a Gate bag is $1540 from $2200.  Some other finds include Saint Barth canvas tote is $84 from $120, a Versace poof skirt is $472 from $675,  and the little Coperni Baguette is $466 from $670.

    These Proenza x Birkenstocks are a nice designer twist on the classic and come to  $294 from $420 and standard Birkenstock Arazonas are just $64. (I actually just ordered all my kid’s Birkenstocks for the Summer because these prices are so good.)

    There is a time tracker for the 30% off code but it doesn’t seem to expire too quickly if you apply it to your cart and continue to shop. If all else fails, you always can save 25% off with the alternative code above.

    Weekend Shopping: Impulses & Obsessions

    This is the time of year that the sample sale season usually begins to heat up. This coming week 260 Sample Sale will attempt their first online sample sale with Oscar de la Renta.

    Usually, the sale attracts enough shoppers to accumulate lines that span up to an hour to get in. This sale is prized for having ornate gowns priced between $600 and $1000 from retail prices that extend upward of $3000.

    I’m wondering if an online sale can offer the same savings when there is the added expense of photographing, measuring and describing each item. I also question if shoppers will be willing to purchase items that aren’t returnable. Fit can quality defects can widely range when it comes to samples.

    I’m looking forward to seeing how this sale will unfold. In the meantime, there are more than enough sales happening at established retail stores. The LVMH-owned site, 24S, is running a promotion where you can save 20% off full-price items with the code SPRING20. The big designer names like Dior, Celine, Gucci, and YSL are excluded but there are still lots of great finds.

    This Bottega Veneta small pouch is $1080 from $1350, a Givenchy mini tote bag is $880 from $1100,  and Valentino sneakers are $556 from $700. The 20% off code can also be applied for beauty and fragrance brands like Diptyque and Byredo.

    Italist is where we look for designer items that are usually excluded from sale promotions. Discounts on the site are hitting what would normally found at a second markdown. This Fendi tote is $1871 from $2800, Saint Laurent Tribute slides are $400 from about $600. You can click here to read the full story.

    Beauty addicts can rejoice with discounts up to 20% off during Sephora’s Spring Savings Event. The savings can be significant when applied to more expensive and hard-to-find-on-sale items like a Dyson hair straightener that comes to $400 from $500 or the Airwrap curler. You can click over to the full blog post to see my favorite beauty items, the different discount levels, and phase-in dates.

    If you’re looking to expand your stay-at-home wardrobe, you should check out the markdowns on Shopbop. Post-COVID shoppers can browse Ssense for savings on more designer items.

    Last but certainly not least, this week, we saw some great sale offerings from Nordstrom. The site is offering discounts of 60% off. As an added bonus, the store periodically adds a few designers to the sale assortment. You have to be fast to catch them but isn’t that always the case with a good sale. Details can be found here.

    This coming week we can look forward to Saks and Neiman Marcus starting spring sales for contemporary brands. Until next week… same time, same place? Cheers!