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    The IT-it: Turning Heads at Fashion Week

    Welcome to unofficial Fall. We kindly ask you to ignore the 90-degree temperatures and focus your attention on more important things like preparing for Fashion Week.

    When preparing for the perfect off-the-runway look, you’re going to need to get very creative if you’re going to attract any attention. The tents (et al.) are the big leagues. A Celine luggage tote is not going to turn heads. In order show off your fashion prowess we suggest channeling brands that haven’t been over exposed in magazines and on Instagram. Below are our favorite undiscovered brands. We promise that any of these items will cause an onlooker to gasp whether you’re are kissing a Haddad sister or grabbing a cappuccino at Sant Ambroeus.



    READYMADE
    @readymade_official: 2809
    Where to buy: Hirschliefers (Long Island) 516-627-3566

    Yuta Hosokawa’s Readymade is based out of Osaka, Japan and is destined to become some of the most coveted merchandise by hip-anista. Most of the merchandise is made from vintage US army duffle bags and everything is made in limited runs. We’ve been trying to contact the company to get a Birkin-like bag with graffiti but were told that they weren’t being produced. We suggest you contact Hirschleifers if you are trying to get anything from Readymade as they seem to have the most reliable communications with the brand.

    Dax Gabler
    @daxgabler_: 1892
    Were to buy: Barneys
    Devi Kroll was well known for her namesake label’s artisanal-crafted, exotic skin accessories and shoes. When the designer split from her label we were afraid that the CFDA award winning designer would call it quits. We are happy to share that Devi Kroll has just launched an amazing line of sunglasses under the brand of Dax Gabler. The shades are all handmade in Cortina D’Ampezzo and come in eye-popping hues and shapes. We couldn’t imagine a better way to enjoy the last official days of summer while celebrating Fall.



    Candamill
    Where to buy: candamill.com
    @candamill: 2501
    Can you remember the first time you saw the clean and minimalistic lines of a Celine Luggage Tote? The unique silhouette and understated gold embossed logo made our knees go weak. That doesn’t happen every day and you know you need an item badly when it causes such a physical response. That’s the way we felt when we saw the Candamill Russ Combo Tote. The bag comes in black matte or suede. Now that you’ve seen it, your heart will skip a beat any time you see one not on your own arm. This is sure to be the next IT bag and we suggest you get it now before the price goes up and there is a waiting list. The brand’s other bags are pretty show stopping too.

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    Pre-Labor Day Sales

    There are only a few more rays of sunshine left until the unofficial end of Summer uses her claw-like fingers to throw us back into reality. Lucky for us, there are still a few days to catch up on those things we’ve been meaning to do and buy all Summer.

    As a personal rule, I like to try and fill in the items that I’ll need for next summer (or vacation) right now, while the prices are low and the discounts are high. The best part is that I am really in touch with what’s missing from and needed for my wardrobe. By the time Summer ’16 rolls around I will be secure in knowing that I have everything I need and won’t feel guilty for indulging in a few new trends and impulse purchases.

    Below is a list of some of the most noteworthy pre-labor day sales. Keep checking back as more promotions are added to the list:

    Alice & Olivia
    Each season Stacey Bendet makes this collection stronger and more irresistible. Right now, there are some great items on the site that are reduced up to 70% off. This watercolor halter maxi dress is now $280 from $700 and this sunflower print shorts and blouse are sure to make your mood brighter even during winter.

    Banana Republic
    Save 40% off using the code BRFALL. Top hits this season include, lots of wine colored basics and fashion blogger styled parkas and distressed jeans. Sale ends 9/8.

    Gap
    Everything from Gap is 40% off. They mean EVERYTHING. There are no exclusions. This is a great opportunity to get your kids the uniform items you’ve been procrastinating about buying. You can also stock up on basics for yourself too. The store is also offering “Gap Cash”– when you spend $50 you earn a $25 gift card to be used later. (Personally, I always forget to use them.) Sale ends 9/7.

    J. Crew
    You can save 30% off most items when you spend $125 or more. Final sale merchandise is an extra 50% off and normal sale merchandise is 30% off. Use the code GETSHOPPING at checkout. Some top picks include these Illesteva mirrored sunglasses and lots of final sale collection cashmere sweaters that come to under $75.

    Milly
    You can now save an extra 25% on already reduced prices for a total savings of about 70% off. Use the code LABORDAY15 at checkout. A floral print dress is $170, after the additional discount, from just about $400 and this Milly Minis dress is $75 from almost $200. Sale ends 9/7.

    Shopbop
    There is no additional discounts on Shopbop but the site added a bunch of new merchandise to their sale section. The new sale items include lots of denim brands like J. Brand, 7s and Frame.

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    Williams Sonoma Closing Sale

    The Williams Sonoma store on 59th Street and Lexington is closing. We are told that everything in store is 40% off.

    The sale started yesterday and a tipster said that the store is still very well stocked. Williams Sonoma is best known for their upscale housewares with upscale brands such as All Clad, Kitchen Aid, Nespresso and Cuisinart.

    Many of the brands found in Williams Sonoma are difficult to find discounted, so saving 40% is a good deal. Discounts usually tend to get better as an actual closing date approaches. We just don’t think that there will be much desirable merchandise left as the sale continues– even at this discount level.

    The New York Post reported in June that the national chain would not be renewing its lease. Prior to Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma the space was occupied by the famed Fiorucci. It’s reported that the asking rent is now $400 per foot for the ground floor, which is about half of what rents are on Lexington.

    One could only hope that the Fiorucci brand could be resurrected. Hipsters could get schooled in the world language of parachute pants and goomie bracelets. More likely the space will be taken over by an international fashion chain. Is there a Topshop in the neighborhood?

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    Saks Fifth Avenue: Spend & Save Now

    We have become all too familiar with department stores’ gift card shopping incentives. You spend as much as you can for the opportunity to receive a gift card for a later purchase. More often than not, you get your gift card and think that you’re going to save it to buy something special. By the time you commit to the purchase, the gift card is expired. It’s all very disappointing.

    Good thing, Saks Fifth Avenue is offering a promotion that doesn’t require to use a gift card at a future date. Depending on how much money you spend, you can save money off your purchase right now. For instance, if you spend $250 you can save $50, spend $400 and save $100 or an expenditure of $700 will earn you a savings of $175. The promotion is only online use the code SAKS74 at checkout.

    There are designer promotions but the list is very short. The discount can’t be used on Chanel, Louboutin or Valentino but there are lots of great top designers to which you can apply the code. We were able to use the discount on these Aquazzura shoes we’ve been eyeing, Chloe handbags– including the popular Drew bag — along with Dee Ocleppo, Dolce & Gabbana and Alexander McQueen. As a matter of fact, the savings can even be applied to sale merchandise.

    Don’t hesitate, the discount only runs through Thursday. Next time Saks is offering a promotion it could be one of those tricky gift cards.

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    The It-It: Lace-Up Flats

    The change of season is always exciting but there are only a few trends that are really getting us excited for Fall. One item we will not be able to live without is the lace-up flat. This shoe style has been around the block for a few seasons but this is the first time we are seeing it as a flat.

    Think of the lace-up flat as an alternitive to the basic ballet flat, smoking slipper or loafer. The best part is that you can find them in a wide variety of price points. The Aquazarra Christy Lace-Up flat ($675 and sold out in many sizes) is the gold standard when it comes to conquering this style. Isabel Marant ($650) offers a similar style with studs, which means you can hit two big trends with one shoe. Tom Ford ($950) even has a version with his signature lock.

    Going down market, Zara –of course– has a version that are just $70. Looking to spend even less money to try out this fancy lace-up footwork? Consider this version from Asos has versions that are priced starting at just $50. See below for our favorite lace-up flats for every budget.

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    Saks Hosts Secret Sale 75% Off

    It seems as if Saks Fifth Avenue‘s philosophy of buy and hold isn’t working out so well. The retailer seems to be holding a hefty amount of inventory from Summer 2015 and is now in a big rush to sell it out. This is the perfect opportunity to grab that item you thought got away.

    The discount is 75% off most items and runs through Friday at midnight. It seems if you can only access the sale using this link. This Aquilano Rimondi shirt dress is reduced to $485 from almost $2000, a Vix bikini is $46 from $119 and Marco de Vincenzo skorts are $285 from $1150. Sale shoes are still just 60% off and the selection isn’t wonderful. You can check what’s left here.

    What’s most interesting is that the small print in the email promotion says, “Returns on sale merchandise must be made within 30 days of purchase.” We would presume that would mean that the merchandise is not final sale. We like that idea.

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    The Outnet’s End of Season Sale

    The Outnet is by far our favorite online discount sale and when it’s time for their bi-annual sale you have two choices: Hide the credit card or give in and max it out. Choosing for the max-out option, in this instance, is the right move. We’ll show you why.

    Starting at 9:30am on Wednesday, The Outnet will begin a two day sale where customers will get an extra 40% off their already insanely reduced merchandise. The sale will consist of over 2000 items from 200 designers.

    We were sent a bit of a preview and this Alexander Wang two-tone dress caught our eye. The very on-trend black-and-white item will come to just $260 from almost $900. Here’s an Oscar de la Renta dress that’s now $400 from $1400 and this Pierre Balmain pleated top/dress is about $200 from $1275. Don’t miss these Alaia sandal booties that come to about $420 from over $2500.

    Remember, this sale is only two days. The extra discount officially ends at 10am on Friday. We suggest you don’t wait until last minute because all the good stuff will be taken by you-know-who.

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    Barneys Warehouse Sale Summer ’15 Arrivals

    It seems as if Summer ’15 collections were just in stores. Wait, as a matter of fact — they were. Now those last season outcasts are hitting discount stores and Barneys hardly missed a beat.

    The online Barneys Warehouse sale has some of the top fashions from last seasons’ collections. The discounts rage from 55% to 75% off but sizes and quantities are very limited. Here’s the rainbow 1973 silk Valentino shirtdress reduced 75% off ($1570 from $6300). A Timo Weildand print dress is $88 from almost $400. A Proenza Schouler open argyle sweater is $339 from $1340.

    The Warehouse site has an assortment of older stuff along with the newer merchandise. That means there is plenty of items that can be used to get you ready for Fall. Keep your eyes open during holiday weekends or popular sale times. The site often offers extra discounts, which happily leads to an endless Summer.

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