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    Now Open: Perez Sanz

    You can find the most wonderful treasures if you take a moment to peak along some of the side streets along Madison. As a matter of fact, just this week we stumbled upon Perez Sanz in the the space that was formerly occupied by Debauve & Gallais, on 69th Street, just west of Madison.

    Perez Sanz carries an array of artisan accessories, including bags, belts, brooches, jewelry and household objects. The boutique’s Argentine owner, Julio Perez Sanz is part designer and part artisan. Most of the items are handmade and adorned with a combination of silver, mother-of-pearl and semi-precious stones.

    Sounds expensive, huh? We thought so too until we took a closer look at the price tags. Bags start at $350 for a leather and silver evening bag to $3,300 for a full-on silver and coral minaudière. An exquisite alligator bag with silver hardware is moderately priced at $1,850.

    We especially like the Perez Sanz belt buckles, which could easily spice up a LBD or your normal winter wardrobe of jeans and a sweater. Buckles range in price from $100 for a small silver buckle to about $500 for one that is large and ornate. Some of the larger pieces also double as a large broach.

    The boutique also carries lots of small and unique pieces of jewelry and household items like a silver candle snuffer, a large opal cuff and big cocktail rings. So if you’re shopping along the Avenue and feeling uninspired, don’t forget to look around the corner. There you may find something truly unique and luxurious.

    Perez Sanz
    20 East 69th Street
    212- 249-5151

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    Conran Un-Sale

    Last month we reported that Conran was closing it’s First Avenue location and moving to the ABC Carpet building, on Broadway. In preparation for the big move, merchandise was supposedly being marked down 75% or more.

    With the March 31st closing date quickly approaching we figured we would check-up on the markdowns and hopefully take home a few great pieces of decor. Pink signs in the window loudly yell, “Moving sale, up to 75% off.” Smaller black signs discretely add, “Take an additional 15% off already reduced sale merchandise.” We couldn’t wait to get our hands on affordable modern treasures.

    After a quick look around it became very clear that very few items were actually on sale and those marked 75% off were horribly damaged. Patio furniture, not on sale. Most lighting, not on sale. Children’s accessories, not on sale. So what was discounted? In a clearance department we found old display accessories reduced, but still not cheap. For example, a small bags of rocks were $5 each, a side table with a top that “would not screw on” was $40, bent and distorted silver wall decals were $2 and lamps that may not even work were $40.

    Maybe some people consider this type of markdown to be a good sale but you know better, right? After all, you read Madison Avenue Spy!

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    Rene Caovilla Sale

    We tend to think of Rene Caovilla as the Cartier of shoes. Maybe it’s the royal red boxes, the spectacular gems or it could be the lofty prices. The association is probably a combination of the three but the expensive issue can temporarily be circumvented.

    Several sandals from the summer ’08 collection have been dramatically reduced. A quick browse through the online sale section reveals discounts of up to 75% off. A rather ornate Bulgary-looking shoe was $1295 but is now $453, a gemed flat was $1055 and is now $255 and an evening heel was $1275 but reduced to $446. There are a few bags also reduced but your money is probably better spent on shoes– those are the real jewels here.

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    Retail Therapy: Lauren Ezersky

    There are so many reasons to love fashion- the beautiful colors, the sensual fabrics, the creative designs and, of course, the electrifying personalities. Lauren Ezersky one of those notorious fashion characters. Her strong Yonkers accent, white streaked hair and black uniform are just an accessory to her ability to personify a pain pair of black leggings into a high art form.

    Lauren has been a front row fixture at fashion shows for as long as we can remember.
    She hosted the show, “Behind the Velvet Ropes,” which ran on the Style Channel for eight years and wrote a column for Paper magazine for a decade. Lauren is currently a fashion expert for BetterTV.com, works for the fashion site Vevant and is a strong supporter of the North Shore Animal League.

    Here’s a little insight as to the things that drive Lauren Ezersky when she’s not interrogating fashion designers and models, and is in fact, indulging herself.

    What’s your most prized “deal?”

    An Azzedine Alaia coat I found at Barneys. It started off at $7000 and I think I paid $2500. It wasn’t cheap but it was a great deal. When I found it and I know I had to get it. It was a big deal. I wear it a lot. In fact, I almost sleep in it.

    Biggest regret that you didn’t purchase?

    I can’t remember the specifics but I remember there was something on sale and I didn’t get it. When I went back it was gone. It must have been a black dress. Everything is always black.

    This season you are looking for…
    Something really different. Something that I don’t already have. I am into jewelry right now. You can wear the same dress and just change the jewelry to make it look different. Then if you get desperate you can always sell it.

    What’s your number one shopping tip?

    My number one tip is to make friends with a sales person. That’s the best thing. When you don’t want to play full price a good sales person will snatch an item for you and put it in the back until it gets marked down. If they can’t do that they will keep an eye on the item and give you a call when it goes on sale.

    Oh, don’t shop with a friend they are distracting.

    What’s your biggest weakness?

    When I see something I love, I have to have it. I end up spending money when I shouldn’t and can’t afford it. Buy now, pay later. It’s a disaster.

    Is there an item for which a shopper should never mind paying full price?
    Something that you have to have. When there’s only one in your size, it’s going to be gone by the time it goes on sale. Buy it and think about it.

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    Dueling Beauty Promotions

    Saks and Neiman Marcus are running beauty promotions at almost exactly the same time. The Saks event runs from Feb. 25 to March 6th and shoppers who spend more than $75 receive a tote bag with several samples.

    The Neiman Marcus promotion also starts Feb. 25th and continues until Mar 7th. Shoppers who purchase $100 worth of cosmetics or fragrance products will get a Neiman Marcus tote filled with, you guess it, several samples.

    So how does a shopper determine the best value? Don’t worry we’ve done the hard work. Here’s a tête à tête comparison of Saks -vs -Neiman Marcus. Who do you think is offering the better deal?

               
            
           Neiman Marcus   Saks Fifth Avenue        
      
       Main Gift   Choose from two tote bag designs   Choose from three tote bag colors        
      
       Delux Samples    Cleau de Peau's cotton pads, Dior foundation, Le   Metier tinted moisturizer, Chantecaille eye cream, La Mer serum, Sisley face   cream packette, Atelier fragrance , Van Cleef's Oriens, Glowelle drink mix   and Balanciaga fragrance   Fekkai shampoo, conditioner and serum packets,   Lancome full-sized lipstick and Narciso Rodriguez fragrance.         
      
       Dior   Spend $125 and you get: a white pouch with L'Or De   Vie deluxe, deluxe bronzer, jadore deluxe and dior show mascara deluxe   Spend $125 and receive a travel size mascara, travel   size eye shadow and samples of cream         
      
       Nars   Spend $100 and get a full sized nail polish and a   multiple    Receive a mini-lipgloss trio with $75 purchase        
      
       La Mar   Spend $300  and get deluxe cream, eye concentrate,   body cream and cleansing foam   With any La Mar purchase you get travel size eye   concentrate        
      
       Jo Malone   Spend $150 and get a travel case and a colonge spray   N/A        
      
       Chanel   Spend $200 and get a shopping bag with lip color   Face cream and body lotion.   Receive a mini-shipping bag, samples of Allure and   Chance, lip color and eye cream with a $150 prucahse        
      
       Additional Stuff   N/A   The tote bag comes with additional incentives   including, a certificate for $50 off any sunglasses ($250, or more), a   certificate for $20 off any Spanx ($100, or more) and a 
       certificate for 6-week supply of Neulash with $150 Neulash purchase

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    Sonia Rykiel Pour H&M

    The Sonia Rykiel line for H&M only hit racks on Saturday but most New York stores are almost sold out. Today we stopped by H&M’s 86th Street location to see what knits were left in the wake of this weekend’s madness.

    We were surprised to find that there was very little inventory considering how long the Sonia Rykiel lingerie line hung around. A man dismantling one of the Sonia Rykiel displays told us that all the children’s clothing was sold out within hours and he thinks this may be the best selling collaboration H&M has ever done. (Yes, that would make it better than Jimmy Choo.)

    So what can you still buy from the Queen of Knits? We found three horizontal striped dresses, two pink rhinestone sweaters, about a dozen jumpsuits, several black asymmetrical knit dresses and a couple hot pink knit dresses. In the accessories department there are still lots of bangles, belts, scarves, barrets and shoes. We were even able to find a few Sonia Rykiel dolls behind the counter. Click here to go through a full set of pictures.

    Stake out the cashier if you have a hankering to get your hands on Coco Rykiel’s designs. Those who overbought over the weekend are coming back in full force to get their money back. Also, the second inside display (shown above) is coming down at 2:15pm today and the window’s merchandise is being swapped out at 10:00am tomorrow. The display sizes are small and extra small and the kid’s are wearing two to four-year sizes.

    You know what you have to do!

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    Robert Marc Eyewear Sale

    The Robert Marc eyewear boutique is hosting a winter sale where select optical and sunglasses will be half-off. The biggest discount is on the house brand of the same name but Lunor, Blinde and Oakley glasses will also be included in the sale.

    The above glasses were designed by Robert Marc and worn by Calista Flockhart’s character, in Brother’s & Sisters. The frame usually retails for $445 but is now half off.

    The sale runs from Monday, Feb. 22nd until Sunday, March 14th. Robert Marc has five stores along Madison between 48th Street and 92nd Street, in addition to a boutique on the West Side and two downtown locations. Click here to find the store closest to you.

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    Where’s Aldo?

    Fashion week is over and we undoubtedly had a blast. Above all, the Tents were a wonderful place to get inspired but not everything comes with a mortgage-worthy price tag.

    As unbelievable as it sounds, fashion designers are always a fantastic source for budget-friendly fashion ideas. After all, much of their money goes into manufacturing their designs. For many designers, buying shoes is a necessary nuisance. (Remember season one of Project Runway.)

    After hanging back stage at numerous fashion shows, we couldn’t help but notice how many designers filled in their standard Manolo, Choo, Louboutin, Prada and YSL shoes with Aldo. Yes, Aldo shoes were as easy to find as a 6-foot toothpick.

    .

    Where did we find Aldo? Christian Cota, Gar-de, Mandy Coon, Pamella Roland and threeASFOUR.

    Following our Fashion Week inspiration, we stopped by our local Aldo. (The winter collection is up to 70% off.) Unsurprisingly, shoes made of faux-leather were as fine as a non-flamable nightgown, but we found lots of spring/summer styles made of genuine leather uppers.

    We especially loved the Louboutin-looking patent leather sandle booties ($80), McQueen-like high collered ankle boots ($100), Chanel-ish wedge-heeled clogs ($90) and Gusseppi-style jeweled flats ($45). Go ahead, take a browse for yourself. You can even wait it out for a sale because we all love a cheap thrill.

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