The Madness of March

I mean... where have I been????? Well, it's March and that means... MADNESS! And if you do not know what that means... then ask the closest man in your life that is a sports fan. It's March Madness which means two things in my world: 1. a lot of face time with my TV and 2. a new handbag!!!!! Let me explain....

The #1 means that the National Collegiate Athletic Association hosts the ever exciting and tantalizing men's (and women's) Division 1 National Basketball Tournaments. The beginning of the month of March is full of the conference championships... setting the stage for what was is to be the 'road to the dance'... hence the 'madness'. Following the crescendo of championships, there is a special little Sunday evening where college basketball teams, coaches, trainers, cheerleaders, band leaders, mascots and fans alike gather around the TV with pen and paper in hand (are you with me?) to scribble out the set games to big the NCAA Tournament. Which brings me to the second part of my own personal madness this month...

I have taken it upon myself to rename the NCAA Selection Sunday to HANDBAG Selection Sunday! This is the 2nd part of why March has become so maddening... wink, wink! On that special Sunday evening when my husband and I sit down with pen and paper in hand, I have already done my own research on the teams that I think are going to dance there way through to the championship. Additionally, I have done my research on the latest and greatest of handbags that I would like to add to my collection. So, I pick 4! I assign them to each of the 4 division of the basketball bracket and... may the best designer win!!!!!!!

Last year I played the tournament a bit differently. There was a pool involved. I try and jump on the office betting pools whenever possible to help fund the handbag purchase. So last year... if my bracket paid out... new handbag for me! All I have to say is THANK YOU KANSAS JAYHAWKS!!!!

So for all my lady friends who are not getting enough face time with your man because its March Madness... print out a bracket and play along! It's spring time and you need a new accessory!

Is Love in the Air?

It's the Tuesday before Valentine's Day and maybe I missed something, but I am not feeling or seeing the love in the air. I have seen the poorest showing of greeting cards present in the few stores that I would expect to see the best. The retail store windows in and around Manhattan have barely shown a trace of red hearts, cupid and anything resembling the concept of LOVE. Come on people!!!!! In the absence of anything positive these days, let's fill our hearts, minds and lives for just one day I ask you! Make is look like you care like you did in years past! SHOW THE LOVE for Pete's sake! I beg you!

In an effort to SHOW THE LOVE this coming weekend... do this... hunt down a card, any card, for anyone... buy it and give it to someone, anyone. Cards are expensive. Go the distance. Support the economy. 

Ok, so if you are a dude and you read my blog and you are in search of a small token for lady in your life... let me introduce you to Elma Blint of Baubles & Thorn. I met her over the weekend at the local flea market. In a sea of jewelry vendors, Elma has a small ring that is the perfect gift for this upcoming holiday of affection. A silver band with your choice of stone (I would suggest the one of your lady's birth month) is only $60. I love it! It looks great with my wedding bands and it is so classic and clean. Note to self... if she likes it... and you have babies... you can stack up their birthstones in the years to come! Just a thought. She has other beautiful pieces that are a bit more pricey, but this is a true gem... wink wink!

Ladies... what to buy your man... well you are not going to like this one, but I bought my husband a toy this year, so I am not certain that I am in a position to give advice or suggestion. In any event, this should be holiday where you give a card and receive a gift maybe? You can never go wrong with a good book or a comfy t-shirt. I was in Brooklyn Industries over the weekend and they have great t-shirts... a bit pricey for a graphic tee, but clever designs. 

www.baublesandthorn.com

(incidentally the ring is not pictured on the website, but if you contact Elma directly, she will be happy to help you)

www.brooklynindustries.com

Happy Valentines Day and Show the Love for Someone OR Everyone!

Who Wins This One?

I think that my career and my personal infatuation for the fashion world may be getting the best of me during these tumultuous economic times. The question 'who wins this one?' has a struck a cord with me this week. For no other reason than I am the one who 'won' and the store and the designer have lost, and that has never been upsetting to me before this time.

The Story:

Last week on my way home from work I stopped at one of my favorite boutiques, Calypso, with the intention of purchasing a birthday gift for my sister-in-law... (she definitely did NOT win this one!). The sale sign in the window has been staring me in the face for weeks, maybe months now and I finally lost control and faced the racks of deals that were sure to not reflect well on my checking account. So the sales sign read... an extra 50% off would be taken on your purchase should two or more items from the sale rack be purchased. Depending on what the sale prices were... two items was sure not to be problem. Long story short, I left with 2 dresses, 2 pairs of leggings and one leather jacket totaling $227.50. I left Calypso feeling exuberant and well serviced. I had won again! Another triumphant fashion purchase! The two dresses were seasonally versatile, you can never have too many pairs of good leggings and a cute cropped leather jacket always a timeless basic... especially for this price. I had even said to the sales girl that I felt bad for the designer of the jacket. 

Here's the 'but'... had that designer ever known that the price of the jacket would ever be what it was, would she ever taken orders and produced as many as she had? Had she been paid for those orders on it yet? And how is that designers wholesale business? I ask these questions to myself because I know what it is like on the inside of that jacket's label and it's lining so to speak. I know what went into making that jacket hang from the hanger that I took off of and I had felt like I stole it. Not to mention Calypso's business plan. They took a bath on that jacket and these other items as well. Here is how the prices broke down:

This is what the original price was, the sale price and then the price after the 50% (which is the price that I paid). Note that there were several markdowns on some of these items before the sale price.

Dress #1: $275.00 Sale: $99.00 Discount: $49.50

Dress #2: $325.00 Sale: $199.00 Discount: $99.50

Legging #1: $65.00 Sale: $29.00 Discount: $14.50

Legging #2: $65.00 Sale: $29.00 Discount: $14.50

Leather jacket: $1200.00 Sale: $99.00 Discount: $49.50

TOTAL: $1930.00 Sale: $455.00 Discount: $227.50

So after I got home and explained the purchase to my husband and really looked at the receipt and did the above breakdown, I had a truer vision of just how tough our economic environment is. I spend a good portion of my work days trying to manage the wholesale business of the current designer that I work for so I am seeing these fashion troubles first hand. For some reason being on the consumer side was really more astonishing. 

With the above experience being said... I still encourage the shopping to continue! I encourage the deals to be sought out and I encourage those who need a 'pick me up' to support the economy wherever possible. There are great boutiques all over the great United States of America that need our support now more than ever and they are having sales! 

Keep shopping and deal hunting! I will too!

Sometime You Can't Always Get What You Want

But if YOU 'buy' sometimes, you get what your need. Or at least that is how I would like to think that it can work. With the holiday season behind us... (pause for a sigh and some reflection...) and I can't believe that I was only able to blog twice during the season... that is disappointing! So if you did not get everything, or anything, that you wanted for the holidays...  For the first time in years the deals were just as good, if not better, before December 25th as they where after. In any event the deals keep coming! With that being said there are a few noteworthy websites that people should keep in their 'shopping favorites' list (make one if you don't have one and keep adding as I suggest... good idea right?) and be sure to reference when attempting any online or in-person mall type purchases.

Take note on 

couponcabin.com

retailmeknot.com

Here is the short on how it works: log on to your ISH and navigate your way to either of these two sites. You can either type in/click the category or the name of the store/website that you are looking to do your shopping for or at and see what kind of discount codes or printable coupons you can collect before you begin your shopping. Easy! SIDE NOTE: Be sure to check for free shipping on all websites. It seems that everyone is offering this even after the holidays just to keep the customers coming back. There maybe promotional codes on the two websites that I listed above for the free shipping as well.

So if you have the post holiday blues... do what I do and partake in a little retail therapy!!!! 

Muffle Man FOLLOW UP- I WIN!

Today I shopped victoriously! REALLY victoriously! Sometimes... good things do come to those who wait. 

As I had mentioned in the earlier weeks, it is sample sale season here in I Heart NY. As I have also mentioned in earlier entries, the Metropolitan Pavilion plays host to many of the best sample sales in the city. In the past 3 weeks have been to 3 sales... that will remain nameless at this time. Today, I attended the LeSportSac Sample Sale. A sale that I missed the first time it came through the pavilion over the summer and that I was determined to attend this holiday season. Today was day 2 of the sale. 

One of my first blog entries was about the LeSportSac Guys and Mens (they are two separate lines at two separate price points) assortment of products that are now available in stores. I was pretty hyped up on the Muffle, as coined by me... the 'Man Duffle' for those of you who are just joining me now. The retail price for the Guy version was $108... sample sale price $23.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WIN! I WIN! I WIN! Perfect holiday gift for my sister-in-laws new boyfriend! I WIN! I WIN! I WIN! Incidently, the Men's version was also at the sale with a retail price of $198 and the sample sale price was $58.00. 

As I am sure you could imagine, I was not only there for the Muffle. LeSportSac also puts out a collaborative collection with Stella McCartney. Enough said on that. Merry Chanukkah to me!!! This is a designer that I admire and brand with an amazing heritage. 

I am sorry for anyone who is not able to attend this sale, but I will be happy to take phone orders on Wednesday when the sale will extend the discount to 90% off should you need anything... desparetley.

If you will it... it will go on sale! I win!

www.lesportsac.com

One Gram of Tradition

The age old tradition of monograms always brings a smile to my face. I have an appreciation for the classic fonts and fixation for the modern interpretations. When someone can combine these two... holy euphoria!

Iomoi.com makes it happen for me. This website is a monogram enthusiasts comfort zone. Stationary, paperweights, home accessories and other related categories. I have ordered many things from this company and have never been disappointed. I have also received gifts from Iomoi and highly recommend their products. Their pricing is a bit off in some of their categories, but it is all relative to how much I guess you are looking to spend and if you have a similar comparison in that category. 

A side note... don't brush off the idea of a paperweight just yet. I know this may seem like a passe item to purchase. I suggest taking a look at the assortment of designs the Iomoi has to offer and reconsider this is a gift option for you and yours. Even though everyone might be 'going paperless'... these pretty little items still make a nice gift and make a great desk accessory for those who may need a little pick me up when they get to work or are about to pay their bills! Just take a look and 'way' the options!

www.iomoi.com

Containing Your Inner (or Outer) OCD

For those of you whom are clinically and/or self diagnosed, this is the store for you. The Container Store is a 'can't live without', 'how did I manage before this existed?' store. Aside from the fact that it is always a pleasant shopping experience and I rarely leave the store without something I don't need. This store is there to make my home and my life stay organized. 

Every room, every closet, drawer, shelf, cabinet and... piece of luggage is covered at this store. With the holiday season in full swing the Container Store has a wide range of stocking stuffers and small gifts for all of your family and friends needs. The luggage ID handle tags are pretty ingenious. The most popular luggage color is black and there is always the 'is that one mine?' question at baggage claim... let's just hope everyone does not get the same ID handle tag for the holidays! There is the gift wrap section that puts Hallmark to shame and a shipping supplies area that will help you get what you need to prepare the gift for mailing... (they should consider a post office kiosk!)

All of your travel needs are covered, your office, your kitchen, the laundry room, the dorm room... have you not been to this store? There is a website, so if this store has not yet reached your hometown... consider the ISH.

Get organized! 

www.containerstore.com