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    Takashimaya: No Sale

    The Japanese department store, Takashimaya is closing their Fifth Avenue store at the end of June. The store opened in 1993 and has been a great destination to find unique gifts and fine home furnishings. With a dimming future, we thought we would check out the sale situation and hopefully snag some wonderful zen-like vases or small gifts.

    To our surprise, very few items were on sale. We found a small rack of bags and clothing marked 30% to 50% off. A large gray tote with gold pockets was $1175 marked down to $799 and a tee shirt was $360, reduced to $129. In the housewares department, the only sale items were Christmas ornaments.

    Unfortunately. we left empty handed but don’t think we won’t be back. The store is scheduled to close in 11 weeks and we know discounts are coming. We are guessing the sale will get aggressive around Memorial Day. Word is that the Tackashimaya owners are also looking to sell the real estate. We imagine that will be marked down too.

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    Platinum Jewels in Bloom

    A flower is nature’s finest accessory and there’s no better paring than with a girl’s best friend– diamonds. Jewelry boutiques along Madison Avenue have coordinated to display lavish floral designs along with their dazzling jewels as part of a 10-day flower show, Platinum Jewels in Bloom.

    The multi-tiered campaign includes a patron of the Central Park Conservancy’s Playground Partners hosting a private reception in each boutique. The money raised at each event, along with a portion of sales will go towards Playground Partners, which is charged with maintaining Central Park’s 21 playgrounds.

    On Sunday, April 10, representatives of Playground Partners will be sponsoring a bulb drive in each jewelry boutique. Shoppers will be encouraged to honor loved ones with the planting of tulips and daffodils in Central Park. Each bulb is $1 and there’s a $50 minimum contribution. Each donation will be recognized with a certificate indicating the number of bulbs planted, and the date of the gift. You can donate online here.

    Most stores chose to display native cherry blossoms, tulips and daffodils along with their spring jewelry collections. You can click here to see a list of participating jewelry stores. This is the perfect excuse to get out, enjoy the beautiful spring weather and shop the jewelry stores along Madison, (Yeah, we know, you didn’t really need an excuse.)

    Platinum Jewels in Bloom
    April 8 to April 17
    57th Street to 86th Street
    Tulip & Daffodil Drive: Sunday, April 10

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    Sferra Vs Frette

    In New York there is always a fight to be the best: Daniel vs Le Bernardin, Mets vs Yankees, Eli’s vs Fairway, The Post vs The News… you get the idea. When it comes to luxury bedding, the fight isn’t any less aggressive with Sferra vs Frette.

    Some experts say that sheets above a 350-thread-count removes the “breathaility” of the cotton, while others insist that sheets of 1000+ thread count are the only way to go. We are going to keep our opinions to ourselves for this arguement but the gloves come off when it comes to comparing sales.

    Sferra is hosting a sample sale at the Chelsea Market where prices are 50% to 80% off. We hear the inventory is great but the crowd is a killer–especially in this heat. Over at Frette.com you can find similar discounts (no crowds) but the selection on popular items like towels and blankets are very slim.

    Sferra fans head to Chelsea Market and Frette fans keep an eye on the website because there are some amazing deals and the inventory is always changing.

    Sferra Sample Sale
    Wed, April 7 to Sun., April 11
    10am to 7pm Wed. to Sat., 10am to 7pm Sunday
    Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Avenue (b/w 15th and 16th)

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    Divorce Your Jewels

    Everyone woman needs a “pink pages” girlfriend. You know, the friend who knows everything about town. Like the pink pages of the New York Observer, she can tell you where you can get a good deal on a used Birkin, she texts you Daniel Boulud’s cell phone number when you need to cater a small dinner party and helps sell unwanted pieces for the best price.

    We like to think of Melissa “Missy” Schorr as our pink pages. It’s no surprise that she has made a successful career of helping her friends rid themselves of unwanted valuables with her company, DivorceYourJewels.com.

    Sure, there’s a jewelry store on every corner willing to give you cash for gold but it’s in Missy’s best interest to get you the best price because she knows you depend on her.

    A woman wanted to rid herself of a Cartier Love bracelet with diamonds, which retails for $11,900. After scouring 47th Street, the best deal she could find was $2,000. Missy helped her client sell her unwanted Love for $5,900. A great deal for the buyer and seller.

    Missy is usually accessible within the holy trinity- New York, Palm Beach and the Hamptons. She can easily help you discreetly get rid of your unwanted jewels but Daniel Boulud’s cell phone number is reserved for her BFFs. Click here to see a catalogue of her current stock of jewels, which includes a Buccelati ring and Bulgari bangles.

    DivorceYourJewels.com
    Missy Schorr
    917-846-9999

    Sponsored Post
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    Retail Therapy: Jill Zarin

    Jill Zarin hardly needs an introduction. She is a star of Bravo’s Real Housewives of New York. As the other J.Z, she knows the ins and outs of New York and knows where to cop a great deal. Jill isn’t afraid to admit her affinity for sample sales but is never willing to spend above her means.

    Her book, Secrets of a Jewish Mother was co-wrotten with her sister and mother and goes on sale April 15th. The book is filled with bits of feel-good wisdom like, “Always bring a sweater,” “If you don’t feel good in your clothing, you will radiate insecurity and others will notice” and our favorite, “Make sure that you love something before you buy it.”

    We are just hoping the sequel will be Secrets of an Upper East Side Shopper. For now, you can read on for Jill Zarin’s unpublished shopping wisdom:

    What’s your most prized “deal?”
    Wow…I am the queen of a good “deal.” I love my sample sales just like the next girl. I can’t pick just one though. My most recent was a fabulous Dolce dress that retailed for $3,600. I bought for 70% off.

    Biggest regret that you didn’t purchase?
    I am the queen of shoulda, coulda, woulda. A chanel bag in Las Vegas. I loved it, went back the next day and it was sold.

    This season you are looking for…
    Anything that makes me look skinny.

    What’s your number one shopping tip?
    Don’t buy on credit. If you can’t afford it, you don’t need it. It will probably go on sale. 70% of goods sold are sold on sale.

    What’s your biggest weakness?
    Bags and shoes. I am hunting for a white patent leather BIG Chanel bag. I saw one in Vegas and can’t find it. (Someone was walking around with it). If you find one…I want it!

    Is there an item for which a shopper should never mind paying full price?
    Louis Vuitton luggage and bags never go on sale. If you want it… be ready to pay full price.

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    On Sale: Michelle Obama’s Election Night Dress

    We happened to be trolling around the Bergdorf Goodman website and happened upon the sale section. Imagine that?!

    We couldn’t believe what we found: Michelle Obama’s election night Narcisco Rodriguez dress for 65% off. The now famous red and black ombre dress was $4,400 but is now $1,540. Talk about owning a piece of fashion history and it’s even more beautiful in person.

    In addition to the iconic Rodriquez, we also found a few great Alexander McQueen pieces for 65% off. This stretch poplin dress, which is perfect for Spring in the city, was $995 but is now $348. A citron draped dress was $1,495 but is reduced to $523. Over at Neiman Marcus– which owns Bergdof Goodman– there is a black trench coat was $3,275 but is now $1146,

    As of now, all these items are in stock. If you’re seriously considering one of these sale pieces we suggest that you buy now and decide later. Politics aside, they are all an amazing deal.

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    Ralph Lauren Discount

    Ralph Lauren usually throws a friends and family sale right about now but the company is hosting a cause related marketing promotion instead. From Tuesday, April 6th to Monday, April 12th you can get 25% off your Ralph Lauren purchase and the company will donate 10% of your bill to the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund.

    We don’t know if this incentive is taking the place of friend’s and family, which is usually a 30% discount. Unless you’re buying a croc Ricky bag the price difference is negligible.

    Unfortunately, there isn’t much left from the Olympic collection but you can customize this USA track jacket with your own name. We also love the men’s big pony polos for Spring/Summer. It’s a Hampton necessity.

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    Rachel Roy x Macy’s

    Collaborations are becoming a bit of a snooze these days. Madness ensues and then you take home your haul to realize it’s just like a Monet. (“It’s like a painting, see? From far away, it’s OK, but up close, it’s a big old mess.” Name that quote!)

    Check out this video from the H&M launch of Sonia Rykiel. Grown women reduced to a combination of swine and locusts. For the Liberty of London pop-up collaboration with Target, shoppers waited for hours to get floral print umbrellas, bikes and dresses. (FYI Target is completely restocked with Liberty and it doesn’t seem to be moving. We bet it goes down to 70% off. Keep your receipts!) Charlotte Ronson and Urban Outfitters?! Ugh.

    We are pretty close to shutting out any label that includes an “x” separating a designer and retailer. Before we completely close the book, we thought it might be fun to shop at a distant, far off and exotic store for economic designer interpretations. Road trip: Macy’s!

    Yes, we went to Herald Square in search of Rachel Roy’s collection for Macy’s. Finding the collection was not easy. The store is huge and we aren’t even sure if the sales people there are familiar with their surrounding 10-square-feet, never mind other sections of the store. Four sales associates swore that they never heard of Rachel Roy and that the collection didn’t exist. Finally we ran into a personal shopper who knew her way around the modern granary. (The collection is on 2.)

    Rachel Roy’s line for Macy’s is a bit trendy but falls right in line with her trademark uptown chic /downtown cool aesthetic. We found a great (real) leather jacket with peaked shoulders that looks a bit Rick Owens rocker with a splash of Rachel Roy polish ($249.) A (real) silk, water color, sun dress is $119, a tweed jacket with the sophistication of Chanel but shoulder emulets that make us think Balmain is $149, a hot pink trench with a cool print lining is $139and hot pink cocktail dress with a lace back is $119.

    Although the collection is more of a diffusion line than a collaboration, the collection is just proof that a high end designer can create a line of clothing that is afforadable but better constructed than a GM car.

    What’s even better, is that Macy’s is always throwing one day sales and sending out coupons. An Easter sale is running from April 1 to April 4th and the entire Rachel Roy collection is 15% off. Wait a bit longer and the disounts will even get better. But we must say, that biker jacket alone is worth the trip discount or not.
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