It’s the final weekend before Christmas and Neiman Marcus has been lagging behind the pack when it comes to designer discounts. The swanky store’s discounts are still not ahead of Barneys in some product areas but the selection is much better than anywhere else.
If you’re still waiting for a better deal Neiman Marcus will bring the additional promotion up to an extra 50% off starting 6am CST on December 26th. This after-Christmas promotion will only run for 3 hours, so set your alarm clock!
Most stores wait until after Christmas to take a third markdown but Barneys decided to give their customers’ an early holiday gift. Right now, Barneys shoppers can save up to 70% off most items.
This markdown is pretty awesome but we know that there are likely to be additional discount promotions. Just don’t expect the better merchandise to stick around for too much longer. We can always hope for the treasures found in returns.
Handbags: Jorge Jizurieta@barneys.com
Shoes: Joel 347-476-8700
New York private school girls are a most interesting specimen. They have more academic pressure than most first year law students but many are more entitled than a Goldman senior VP. To watch them in their natural habitat, one only needs to take a ride on the 79th Street crosstown bus.
Shopping for these girls is no easy task. The bar is high but taking a step off the deep end of restraint is easier than Serena van der Woodson. We feel lucky that Nordstrom has such an abundance of wonderful options. There is truly something for everyone. Below is a gift guide curated from Nordstrom that can satisfy the private school girl, from Brearley to Columbia Grammar & Prep.
Bergdorf Goodman started its second markdown just last week. Most designer clothing is 60% off and most shoes and bags are reduced 50%. With just a few days before Christmas, we couldn’t help but wonder what treasures we could find in the store.
Moving upstairs to shoes, there is still a great assortment of Chanel, Dior and Louboutin shoes but they are both discounted 30% off still. Most other shoes are now reduced 50%. (See pictures over here.) Red velvet Louboutin heels are $586 from $695 and Dior lace mesh heels are $609 from $870. We even found small sizes of nude Louboutins in patent and flat leather. Among the more discounted shoes are Saint Laurent slingback with a rose flower that are about $1000 from $2000, No.21 satin and jeweled mules are $420 from $820 and Manolo velvet BBs are $490 from nearly $700.
Take note, Bergdorf Goodman will offer an extra 25% off online sale items starting Christmas Day. Third markdown, which is up to 75% off will begin January 2. Stay Tuned.
Handbags: Noemi (text) 917-968-2747
Shoes: Paul (text)347-504-3269
You know it’s the holiday season when you need to walk in the street with taxis to avoid slow-walking tourists. There are few things less appealing than rushing from Saks to Bergdorfs while pedestrian traffic comes to a complete stop.
The hours to take advantage of free shipping is ticking away quickly. Lucky, most New York stores will offer a messenger service for free or a small fee. As a special note, UberRush is a blessing and usually runs between $6 and $12 to have packages picked up and hand delivered throughout much of the city. Store prices tend to range from $15 to $30. Many times, retailers will wave the fee for expensive purchases. It never hurts to ask.
Below is your guide to getting your gift there on time from our local department stores– along with how much it will cost.
Barneys
Same Day: $25
Get it there: Next business day $20
Deadline: 12/20 at 12pm EST
Gift Wrapping: Free black box and black & white ribbon
Discount: Up to 60%
Bergdorf Goodman
Messenger: $30
Get it there: Free two-day shipping BGGIFT
Deadline: 12/20 at 12:00PM CT
Gift Wrapping: Free silver box with lavender ribbon
Returns: Free
Discount: Up to 60%
Bloomingdales
Get it there free: Express shipping until 12/20 5pm set)
Shipping deadline: 12/22 12:00PM EST $10
Same day delivery: 12/24/16 10:00AM EST (California, Illinois, New Jersey & Washington D.C.)
In-Store pickup deadline: 12/24/16 2PM EST
Gift Wrapping: $5 white bottom and black top with elastic bow
Discount: Up to 60%
Nordstrom
Get it there: Free Rush
Deadline: 12/22 12:00PM EST Saturday deliver $10
Gift Wrapping: Not available on all items but the $2 gift set includes a gift box, tissue paper, a silver ribbon and a gift tag
Discount: Up to 60%
Saks Fifth Avenue
Messenger: $10 within NYC
Get it there: Free shipping with the code HOLIDAY
Deadline: 12/21 12:00PM EST
Gift Wrapping: Free black box with snowflakes, red bottom and red ribbon
Discount: Up to 60%
The holiday shopping season is quickly coming to a crescendo. Online shopping has changed the way we serve up holiday gift giving. Long gone are the days of rushing from store to store to chase the illusive size or color variation. The entire world of shopping is at our fingertips.
As a matter of fact, last week, we ordered an item from the Italian luxury site, Luisaviaroma. We couldn’t believe that the order shipped the same day made it from Florence Italy to our NYC apartment in just over 24-hours. In addition, the items we purchased came wrapped in delicate tissue paper and tied in a pretty bow. The presentation and experience made a small purchase feel like a luxury experience.
Yoox, on the other hand, was a shipping disaster. We placed an order on Black Friday and it took over two weeks to arrive from Secaucus, NJ. During the extended shipping time, prices were reduced and the retailer refused to extend a price adjustment. Furthermore, the expensive items arrived crushed into a nondescript brown box.
Farfetch is another site that executes the online luxury shopping experience beautifully. Our orders came promptly and were presented with care. We were even more delighted with the 30€ gift card that accompanied our purchase.
You can always count on Net-A-Porter to offer solid customer service. The site is a dependable destination for the season’s hottest items. We also love that they carry enough inventory that the site doesn’t sell out too quickly.
For the kids, we placed lots of orders with AlexaandAlex. Shipping took longer than we expected but their customer service was wonderful. Unfortunately, our gifts were packed in a sealed bag instead of a box. That means you will need to transfer your purchases, organize and execute boxing and wrapping yourself.
Meljoe is another wonderful online destination for kid’s gifts. Like, Luisaviaroma we received our items incredibly fast and our gifts came wrapped beautifully. The down side is that shipping was $12 and there aren’t free returns. That means that exchanging a wrong size could mean almost $30 in shipping, which often isn’t worth while.
We would love to hear about your online shopping experiences. Feel free to share stories about retailers doing it right those who are stumbling. Speaking of online shipping and shipping, below is your guide to getting your gift there on time and costs from various online retailers:
Net-A-Porter
Shipping: Free three day shipping
Returns: Free
Rush: Next day shipping $20
Super Rush: Same day delivery (New York) $25
Gift Wrap: Free, sale items come wrapped in tissue paper but full priced merchandise is eligible for their iconic matte black boxes
Discount: Up to 70%
Yoox
Christmas deadline: Dec 18 with Express shipping $20
Returns: Free
Gift wrap: $4
Discounts: Extra 30% to 35% off select sale items
AlexaandAlex
Christmas deadline: December 19
Cost: Free standard and express deliver with orders over $99
Returns: Free
Gift wrap: Option not available
Discount: 50% off, Extra 10% with the code WINTER10
MeliJoe
Shipping: 24-hour shipping $12
Return fees: $10
Gift wrap: Items delivered wrapped in tissue paper
Discount: Up to 60% off
Luisaviaroma
Shipping: Free express shipping
Returns: Free
Gift wrap: Items delivered wrapped in tissue paper and ribbon
Discount: 30% off on most items
It pains me greatly to be writing this post. I remember one of my first trips to Colette while I was in high school. Everything was so ‘trés chic’ or ‘bien cool’– as the cool kids would say in Paris.
My first purchase was a pair of Karl Lagerfeld platform shoes. Like many of the items at Colette, there was nothing remotely like them in New York. Those shoes were the begging of a long love affair with Karl, Paris and shopping. Up until last year, every trip to Paris required a stop at Colette.
Things have changed. Fashion has become global. The world of shopping is now at your fingertips. Hence, Colette is closing. The famous Parisan store will close it’s doors on Wednesday. Throngs of fans waited outside 213 rue Saint-Honoré to experience the last days of shopping.
Unfortunately, all the sale items are already sold out. We suggest you snag a piece of history now. After all: Toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin. (All good things must come to an end.) Au Revior Colette…Merci.
It’s holiday party season and dressing in another mass retail’s designer imposter just isn’t the way to kick off the new year. It’s time to celebrate and let the real you shine through. Nothing can substitute for being genuine inside and out.
When we are looking for iconic designer pieces without spending all of our future 2018 earnings, we head to Wearhouse, in Great Neck, LI. Wearhouse is a massive retail space that is essentially an designer outlet with all the furnishings of a high-end boutique. There are helpful sales people and even a tailor on premises. This is the place you go to find real couture pieces for elaborate events, a demure cocktail dresses, polished work attire and even some elevated casual wear. (Click for pics.)
What better? Starting Sunday, Wearhouse will be hosting a massive clearance sale where designer clothing and gowns from Valentino, Naeem Khan and Piazza Sempione will all be reduced to 70% off. There will also be assorted shoes, bags and accessories from the same designers, discounted 70% off too. (You can see pictures over here.)
We suggest you take inventory of your 2018 social and travel calendar, and plan accordingly. Who wouldn’t rather spend $300 on real Naeem Khan than something Chloe-ish? Keep an eye out for a great selection of coats, which we find nearly irresistible. After all, you can wear anything under a coat and still look New York amazing.
Wearhouse Clearance Sale
Sunday, December 17 through Tuesday, December 19
Sunday 10am-5pm & Monday to Thurs 9:30am-6pm
8 Hicks Lane
Great Neck, NY
Now accepting phone orders: 516-466-5959
