Deals for the Week of July 6, 2009

Kate Spade
July 6-July 14
Extra 25% off sale items online at www.katespade.com and in-store
No code or coupon neccessary

Kate Spade Outlets
July 6-July 7
Extra 50% off already reduced sale handbags
No coupon necessary

Hayden Harnett
July 6-July 12
Big bang sale online at http://haydenharnett.com/bigbangsale
Select items 28-75% off
No code necessary

Wink
July 6-July 7
20% off everything online (including sale) at www.winknyc.com
Use code "4JULY" at checkout

Tobi
July 6
30% off regular-priced items online at www.tobi.com
Use code "FIREWORKS30" at checkout
Excludes apc, anthony logistics for men, comme des garcons, hudson jeans, nixon, t by alexander wang, and robin's jeans

The Gap
July 6-July 9
20% off regular-priced items online at http://www.gap.com/
Enter code "FRIEND" at checkout

Old Navy
July 7-July 11
15% off purchases over $75 online at www.oldnavy.com
Enter code "SAVENOW" at checkout

J. Crew
July 7-July 10
Extra 20% off final sale items online at www.jcrew.com
Enter code "EXTRA20" at checkout
Discount also available in-store without a coupon

Victoria's Secret
July 7-July 8
Extra 30% off clearance shoes and clothing online at www.victoriassecret.com
Enter code "30CLR" at checkout

Wink
July 8-July 14
15% off all apparel online at www.winknyc.com
Enter code "APP59" at checkout

Urban Outfitters
July 8-July 14
Extra 25% off all sale items online at www.urbanoutfitters.com
Enter code "25OFFSALE" at checkout

Philosophy
July 8-July 10
25% off all products online at www.philosophy.com
Enter code "2cs62209" at checkout

Couture Candy
July 10-July 12
$50 off order over $150
Enter code "CELEBRATE" at checkout
Excludes Rock & Republic, Gold Hawk, Tag & James Jeans

Style Muse: Olivia Palermo

If you don't know who Olivia Palermo is, she is an NYC socialite turned reality TV villainess on the MTV television show "The City." For those who have seen the show, I'm sure you have cringed at some of the things that Olivia has said to poor Whitney on many an occassion, but you cannot deny that Olivia has impeccable taste. And how the heck does she get her hair to look so freaking perfect all the time?!?! I absolutely love that she wears a blazer with nearly everything and that she doesn't see a need to expose skin or shorten hemlines in order to create sex appeal. I also adore the fact that she frequently combines high end pieces with inexpensive pieces as well. While Olivia may not be a woman that I admire for her interpersonal skills and tact, I definitely give her kudos for her style.

TODAY ONLY: Extra 20% Off Sale Items at the Gap

Take an additional 20% off all sale items online at www.gap.com TODAY ONLY. Use code "SALE20" at checkout. Free shipping on orders over $100.

Great Deal: Lulu's Cheap Trendy Clothes and Accessories

Forever 21 has quickly become known as the easiest place to find an of-the-moment piece at a dead cheap price to update your wardrobe. It also doesn't hurt that they are headquarted in the C-bus, thus explaining the largest Forever 21 I've ever seen out at Easton mall. But Forever 21 is not the only place to snag a trendy and inexpensive item. I recently learned about Lulu's, a California based company located on the web at http://www.lulus.com/. They carry clothing and accessories very similar in style and pricerange to Forever 21. There is free shipping on all orders over $75. I rummaged through the site today and found these items, all of which are NOT on sale (these are their retail prices!).

Above: Agate pendant necklace for $18 (I've been looking for a necklace similar to this for a while now so I may have to pick this one up); High waisted skirt for $29; Rosette statement necklace for $29; Yellow box leather rhinestone gladiator sandals for $69 (my splurges tend to be on shoes and handbags so I don't typically purchase them from places like this, but Lulu's carries some decedent brands like Jeffrey Campbell, Steve Madden, etc. that use real leather)

Below: Studded belt for $13; One-shoulder yellow dress for $55; Studded shift dress for $30; Cut-out cuff bracelet for $13.

Extra 30% Off Clearance Items at DSW

From July 1st to July 9th take an extra 30% off all clearance items online at www.dsw.com. Use code "SUMMER7" at checkout. There is also free shipping on orders over $35 with code "SHIP623." Also, if you are a DSW rewards member, you get triple points online with code "JUL3XPT." You can also get triple points in-store using this coupon: http://f.e.dsw.com/i/33/2068559770/20090701_PDFCoupon.pdf. Check out these Charles by Charles David gladiator platforms for only $41.96 down from $145!

Extra 50% Off Sale Items at Kenneth Cole

From July 1st to July 7th take an extra 50% off sale items on http://www.kennethcole.com/ and in-store. The discount will be automatically applied online when you place the sale item in your cart. There is also free shipping on orders over $100. They have a lot of great deals and sizes are limited so act quickly. Check out the above cardigan for $29.99 down from $79, the croc-embossed leather satchel for $69.99 down from $258 (what a deal!), and the cropped jacket for $74.99 down from $198.

Extra 25% Off Sale Items at Shopbop

On July 1st and July 2nd only take an extra 25% off all sale items on http://www.shopbop.com/. Enter code "EXTRA25" at checkout. I quickly perused the selection of sale items and noted a few items of interest. However, the majority of sale items are their high-end designers so even with the discount the items can still be expensive. That being said, check out the above pair of gladiator sandals by Kate Spade for $118.13 down from $225, the cover-up by Milly also for $118.13 down from $315, and the vest by Marc by Marc Jacobs (my favorite) for $141.75 down from $378.

Raid My Closet: Vacation Style

Because I live in the midwest, when I go on vacation it is almost always someplace warm and it typically involves a beach and palm trees. As a result, when I pack for a vacation I typically err on the side of the brighter the better. On my last vacation (to Hawaii) I packed these items.

Embellished Dress: Karta, purchased on www.shopbop.com last summer

Pink tunic: Banana Republic, purchased last summer

Fuchsia handbag: Rebecca Minkoff morning after bag in Fuchsia/gold crackle, purchased last summer from Bloomingdales online

Sandals: Tribeca, purchased a few months ago online at www.endless.com

Blue beaded tunic: INC, purchased at Macy's last summer

Woven clutch: Cole Haan, purchased at Filene's Basement a few years ago

Flower hair clip: Purchased in Hawaii last summer

Sun necklace: Puchased in boutique in Mexico many years ago

Great Deal: Hayden Harnett Sonia Tote

Hayden Harnett's annual big bang sale started online today at http://haydenharnett.com/bigbangsale/. Select items are discounted anywhere from 28-75% off. One of the best deals I saw is this leather Sonia tote in black for only $175 down from $548. While I do not own this particular tote, I do own a big mimi satchel from HH that I absolutely love. If I wasn't on a purse ban right now I would definitely pick this tote up!

In Style Memoriam: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson will be remembered for many things some more controversial than others. No one can dispute, however, the overwhelming impact that he had on music, dance, and of course fashion. As a child of the 80s, I will always remember seeing the "Thriller" video for the first time and it scaring the living daylights out of me. But my all time favorite video and song will always be "Smooth Criminal." Apart from the fond memories I have of his music and videos, I will also undoubtedly always remember his style. No one ever made a fedora look as cool as Michael Jackson. And, to this day, his style continues to influence designers.

In his memory, I have gathered a few MJ inspired pieces that are still just as wearable and relevant today as they were back in the 80s. Check out the $35 white v-neck t-shirt above by Bop Basics available at http://www.shopbop.com/, the black Coach loafers above for $158, and the Ray Ban aviators above on sale for $84.99 on www.amazon.com. Below is a black straw Forever 21 fedora for $17.90 and a Hale Bob black sequined cardigan on sale for $173 at http://www.urbanmix.com/. Finally, pictured below and retailing at a whopping $11,410 (no joke), the marching band jacket popularized by Michael Jackson recently reemerged in Balmain's Spring 2009 collection and has subsequently spawned a series of replicas.

R.I.P. Michael.

TODAY ONLY: 40% off everything on www.tobi.com

TODAY ONLY get 40% off everything on http://www.tobi.com/

Use code "GETOUT40" at checkout.

Excludes all merchandise from A.P.C., Anthony Logistics for Men, Comme des Garcons, Hudson Jeans, Nixon, T By Alexander Wang, and Robin's Jeans.

If the discount totals more than 50% off, the item is FINAL SALE.

Check out the above clutch by Botkier for $118.20 down from $395, the above dress by Velvet for $31.20 down from $130, and the above gladiator heels by Sam Edelman for $38.40 down from $129. Tobi also has a great selection of denim by J brand, 7 for all mankind, rock and republic, citizens of humanity, paige premium, true religion, and many more.

Deals for the Week of June 29, 2009

Tory Burch
June 26-July 1
Extra 25% off sale items
Use code "SALE25" at checkout online at http://www.toryburch.com/
Free shipping on orders over $150
Offer also valid in-store

Kate Spade
July 1-July 7
Extra 25% off sale items online at www.katespade.com and in-store
No code or coupon neccessary

Kate Spade Outlets
July 1-July 7
Extra 50% off already reduced sale handbags
No coupon necessary

Cole Haan
Extra 20% off sale items online at www.colehaan.com
Use code "EXTRA20" at checkout

Cole Haan Outlets
July 2-July 5
50% off all items in-store
No coupon necessary

Belen Echandia
June 30-July 3
30% off everything at www.belenechandia.com
No code necessary

Karmaloop
Extra 10% off sale items already reduced 50-85% off at www.karmaloop.com
Use code "GIODEN" at checkout

Hayden Harnett
June 30-July 8
Big bang sale online at http://haydenharnett.com/bigbangsale
Select items 28-75% off
No code necessary

Shop Intuition
June 30-July 5
20% off all regular-priced items
Use code "STARSTYLE" at checkout

Rarechic
June 30-July 1
35% off everything online at www.rarechic.com
Use code "SUMMER" at checkout
Excludes Flavor Paper

Bath & Body Works
July 1-July 5
20% off all purchases over $25 online at www.bathandbodyworks.com
Use code "9809" at checkout
Click here for coupon for use in-store: http://f.chtah.com/i/34/528207786/20090701_9809_coupon.html

Wink
July 1-July 7
20% off everything online (including sale) at www.winknyc.com
Use code "4JULY" at checkout

Banana Republic
July 2-July 5
Extra 15% off all sale items online at www.bananarepublic.com
Use code "SAVE15" at checkout
Free shipping on orders over $100

Tobi
July 2-July 6
30% off regular-priced items online at www.tobi.com
Use code "FIREWORKS30" at checkout
Excludes apc, anthony logistics for men, comme des garcons, hudson jeans, nixon, t by alexander wang, and robin's jeans

Couture Candy
July 3-July 5
$50 off orders over $150 online at www.couturecandy.com
Use code "JULY4" at checkout
Excludes sale items, james jeans, gold hawk, TAG, signorelli

Bergdorf Goodman: Extra 50% off select sale items

Bergdorf Goodman is now offering up to an extra 50% off select sale items. The majority of sale items are still marked at an extra 25%, but there are a few that are now an extra 50% off online at http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/. Check out the above Alice + Olivia ruched denim jacket for $99 down from $398 and the above tuxedo inspired dress by Catherine Malandrino for $106.50 down from $425. Also the Marc by Marc Jacobs cardigan below for $59.50 down from $198 and (my personal favorite) the floral coat by Nanette Lepore below for $178 down from $595. Act quickly before they sell out!

Current Fashion Do's: Maxi Dresses and One Shoulder Dresses and Blouses

DO: Maxi Dresses

I was admittedly skeptical about this trend at first due the fact that I am somewhat vertically challenged. It was not only difficult for me to find a maxi dress that didn't need to be hemmed since I am only 5'2'', but they just didn't seem to look quite right on me because of my larger hips. For awhile, I just wrote this trend off entirely until I ran across the above-pictured dress on sale at Macy's. While it is admittedly too long for me to wear with flat sandals, it looks great with wedges and it is definitely one of the most comfortable dresses that I own. The material of the dress is also quite forgiving as it is not very clingy and I just love the ikat print. The great thing about maxi dresses is that they can be dressed up or down and worn with flat sandals (as pictured above on Lauren Conrad wearing Gypsy05) or with wedges. If you too are skeptical about this trend don't give up because I am sure that the right maxi dress is out there for you! Arden B appears to have a nice selection of maxi dresses on sale right now including the one pictured above for $68, and many of them are on sale!

DO: One shoulder dresses and blouses

I am just thrilled that one-shouldered dresses and blouses have come back into style (as pictured above on Camilla Belle in Max Azria) for this summer as there is something undeniably sexy about baring a little shoulder skin. I purchased the above Nine West dress in yellow a couple of months ago at Macy's. Another beautiful option that I ran across is the floral one-shoulder blouse above by Bellatrix that is currently available at http://www.nordstrom.com/ for $78.

Raid My Closet: Feminine

My wardrobe consists of pieces from a variety of designers, at a variety of pricepoints, and in a variety of styles. Each week I will provide a sneak peek at the pieces that I am currently wearing and loving in a wide range of styles. This week features a selection of feminine pieces.
Knit Dress: Banana Republic, Spring 2009

Jacket: Beaubois, purchased at Filene's Basement last year

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction, purchased at DSW a few years ago

Puff-sleeve sweater: The Original Inc., purchased at a boutique in Chicago a few years ago

Handbag: Gucci medium boston bag with lilac trim, Spring 2009

Faux pearl bracelet: Monet, purchased at Macy's last year

Style Muse: Charlotte Charles

For those who have not yet seen the (now cancelled) television show Pushing Daisies, it is a must see. Similar to the movie Amelie (which is also a must see), the dialogue is witty, the actors are great, and the costume and set design are amazing. I am entirely enamoured of the wardrobe of Charlotte "Chuck" Charles, with her never ending supply of full skirts, hair scarves, oversized sunglasses, and ladylike dresses. Unfortunately, the last few episodes of Pushing Daisies aired earlier this month and there are no more to come, although the first season of the show is now available on DVD. The costume design on Pushing Daisies was headed by costume designers Mary E. Vogt and Robert Blackman (who also headed costume design on the CW television show Privileged -now also cancelled). While it appears that I will no longer be able to envy Chuck's feminine ensembles, I can at least say thanks to Mary and Robert for giving us such a lovely and impeccably dressed character in Charlotte Charles!