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.

Unserpisingly, there are many great final collaborations that we couldn’t resist shopping Colette one final time either. Some fashion highlights include this Baccarat x Saint Laurent x Colette heart that’s 205€, a Club 75 x Colette sweatshirt is 75€ and this KITH x Moncler jacket is 985€.

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

Sponsored Post

When you’re so busy shopping for other’s, it’s hard to indulge yourself. Look no further than French Connection if you’re interested in a little self-spoiling without compromising your gift list. Right now, you can save an extra 40% off already reduced merchandise. Just use the code FCE40S to engage the promotion.

Over this way, we found a  a full leather biker jacket that comes to just $250 from $598. We’ve seen synthetic leather jackets that cost twice as much as the original price. Over here is a long cardigan with luxe faux fur sleeves that comes to $84 from $188 and this checked coat is as stylish as can be and comes to $180 from $428.

Beyond stylish basics, French Connection is a great place to pick up something sparkly and festive for the holiday season. The extra 40% off gives you even more reason to celebrate. Check out this high-neck sequined dress that is $120 from $328, this LBD can be accessorized with almost anything and it’s $84 from almost $200 or you can go with a draped jumpsuit that is also $84 from $200.

This promotion only runs through Christmas. We suggest you browse through. Sizes will start to run out quickly.

When shopping for discounted designer merchandise, you’re almost always looking at items that are several seasons old. This is not the case at our favorite mid-town pop-up store. 375PopUp (rebranded from last year’s Luxury 9) has this season’s most coveted and rare fashion items at steeply reduced prices.

The store will only be open through Christmas and you’re not going to miss this opportunity. During our last visit, we found an assortment of Gucci slides. Leather styles are $550 and fur embellished versions are $650. The sale also has a selection of classic Chanel ballet flats for $550 and Dior J’Adior flats and kitten heels that are 20% off. There are also plenty of Louboutin and Fendi shoes and boots that are 60% off. (You can click here for pictures.)

The bag selection is as impressive as the shoes. Barney’s only got eight Balenciaga Graffiti City bags this season. We’ve been told that the waiting list accumulated to more than 250 people. 375Pop-up has several of these impossible-to-get bags and is discounting them 20% off retail. The store has current season Dior bags, including the Lady Dior, Dioramas, Diorever and J’Adior are all 20% off retail.  Ferragamo bags are 65% to 70% off and Louboutin bags are 70% off retail.

375PopUp also has an insane selection of luxury street wear from brands like Off-White, Palm Angles, Fear of God, Amiri, Marcelo Burlon and Unravel. There are some racks specifically for women but the best selection is unisex. To be honest, if you need a holiday gift for a teenage boy– this is the place to grab some swag that will send his brain spinning. (We have pictures over here.)

While shopping, we happened upon a small assortment of coats from Mr & Mrs. Italy that are reduced 50% off retail. There are also some specialty limited edition items like Moncler x Off-White. Straight Moncler down jackets and coats are at least 45% off retail.

We are told that 375Pop-up will be closing after Christmas.  Don’t hesitate too long.

After you’re done shopping, be sure to snag a Diptyque candle on the way out — they are 35% off. You’ll want to remember the sweet smell of a great discount.

375PopUp: Luxury Designer Boutique
Monday-Thursday: 11am-8pm
Friday: 11am-3pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday: 11am-8pm
150 East 42nd Street @ Lex