The Recessionista™ Blog, frugal fashion trends

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Great Kate: Kate Moss Holiday Collection for Topshop to Launch Nov 2nd

Topshop will launch a new Kate Moss collection on Nov. 2nd. The collection arrives just in time for the holidays. If you're in London, the collection will preview at Topshop tomorrow, Nov. 1st at the Oxford Circus store. Click here to get the details, and learn about Vogue's Shopping Event. I'll be interested to see what the new collection is all about. I expect to see evening wear and holiday sequins and bling. The Maxi dress in the picture above looks very Celia Birtwell inspired, don't you think? Stay tuned. In the US, look for the collection in New York City at the Soho store, and online. Three limited collection pieces are already posted on the Topshop website and selling briskly. I expect all the new Kate Moss to sell out online fairly quickly, as it always seems to do :) Eventually a few pieces will hit the sale racks in store.

Update: Just saw the entire collection on the UK site, and I love it. The new pieces are very vintage Vogue, with great looking maxi dresses, 1930s style tiered gowns, 1920's style beaded gowns and some amazing tops and capes. I'm waiting for everything to go live on the US site to purchase these tops. Also, the Poppy dresses from earlier Kate Moss collections are back, and I expect they will sell out once again.

Pictured: Channeling vintage styles with these picks from the Kate Moss collection.

Stella McCartney for Target Australia-- Sell-Out

As I reported a few weeks ago the Stella McCartney for Target range launched at select Targets in Australia on Friday, Oct. 29th. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, "More than 100,000 people visited the Stella McCartney collection on the Target website" prior to the Oct. 29th launch. The Recessionista's special Australian correspondent, Fiona Smith, was in line early Friday morning at Target in Melbourne for the launch of the collection. She was greeted by long lines, and Target personnel distributing champagne in celebration of the anticipated launch. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to get close enough to the goods to purchase. It sounds like the launch was the type of thing we've had here in the US for H&M where fashionistas wait in line for the designer goods and then swarm in at opening, to general mayhem. Apparently with prices under $300 Australian dollars, more than a US Target, but still much cheaper than Stella's high-end line, the launch was too much for Australian fashionistas to resist. Although she struggled mightily, our correspondent Fiona was unable to snatch even one piece of Stella for Target Oz. In her opinion, the products looked good, and of good quality, however, she thought they were cut a bit smaller than the usual Target clothing lines.

Right now, only a few pieces for Stella's Australia line for Target have surfaced on eBay. That tells me one thing. Customers are liking the clothes too much to part with them, even for profit from buyers in Canada, the US, Europe and the UK who are Stella lovers. That just makes me want to scream, "SteLLL-AHHH..." ala
Stanley Kowalski in the play "Street Car Named Desire." Here's hoping Target brings Stella to the US, as they did with Zac Posen.

Los Angeles Treat: Giveaway of Free Admission to the Sassy City Chicks Fashion Bash

This is a little Halloween treat for my Los Angeles/Southern California readers. I'm giving away up to 50 free tickets/ Free passes to a the Sassy City Chick shopping event in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Nov. 4th at the Petersen Auto Museum. Click here to see a list of some of the designers offered at past Sassy City Chick events, and I think you might want to check out the shopping. :) To get the free tickets, click on this link, then:

1) Go to the Ticket Info tab across the top of the invite picture on the website, and select a Sassy City Chicks Tote Ticket (the $25 ticket).
2) At checkout just enter the code CHEVROLET and type in the name THE RECESSIONISTA in the “How did you hear about us?” space and you'’ll receive the ticket for free.

If you like to shop, and want to see the Petersen Auto Museum (which is a very cool place) , plus get a little swag bag for free, this is a good deal! Thanks to Chevrolet for sponsoring this and offering the tickets. I'll be there on Thursday night and hope to see some of you there.

Halloween Goes to the Dogs with Pauley Perrette's Audrey Style

Pictured: Animal lover Pauley Perette and friends support pet adoptions through the Amanda Foundation. (picture: M. Hall)

This week animal lovers turned out to support pet adoptions at a Halloween styled party in Beverly Hills. Halloween literally went to the dogs, as the Amanda Foundation put on their Annual Halloween Fete to encourage pet adoptions. The Amanda Foundation rescues dogs who have been abandoned or abused and then places them in good homes. Following the event, dog adoptions went on in twenty-one of the most posh stores in Beverly Hills. Celebrities and fashionistas Pauley Perrette (from TV's NCIS) and actress Kristin Bauer (from HBO's True Blood) turned up at the event to help the Amanda Foundation raise funds and find the dogs some good homes. Pauly Perrette is a big supporter of the Amanda Foundation and adopted her two dogs from them. Pauly showed not only her love for her pet's at the event, but some great style. I asked her about her wonderful black vintage looking coat. She told me, " I wanted to show off a little Audrey style." Audrey style indeed! I fell in love with this swing style black coat, with rounded peter pan type collar topped with a tasteful little bumble bee pin/brooch at the collar.

Pictured: Pauley Perrette's Audrey style black swing coat reminds me of a vintage Givenchy. (picture: M. Hall)

Of course, after the event I set off on a quest to find a replica of that amazing coat to share with my readers. After much searching, I found a good match at a great price. Check out MaxStudio's vintage inspired Swing Coat, on sale at Amazon.com. The coat retailed for $548.00 and is now on sale for $148.00 US. Top it off with a vintage inspired brooch from H&M, Forever21 or QVC's Jackie Kennedy collection for a little Audrey style of your own for a fabuless price.

Pictured: The MaxStudio Swing coat reminds me of Pauly's Audrey styled-black coat.

If you're favorite fashion accessory is man's best friend, check out the Amanda foundation for some loving pets in need of good homes this Halloween and beyond.

Pictured: Pauley Perette adopted her two dogs through the Amanda Foundation. (picture: M. Hall)

Friday, October 29, 2010

Halloween 2010: The Year of the Costume says the National Retail Foundation

Although most discretionary spending ( think vacations, dinning out, theater tickets) has been on the decline in the current economy, there is one surprising uptick in spending. People are spending on their Halloween costumes. The average consumer spends $65.00 on their Halloween costume. I just read in Forbes that the "NRF (National Retail Foundation) said more people plan to dress up for the holiday than ever before - 40.1 percent compared with 33.4 percent last year and the highest percentage since the group started tracking Halloween trends in 2003."

"We expect 2010 to be the year of the costume," said NRF spokeswoman Kathy Grannis, who cites the poor economy as a possible reason people are investing in some fun. "It's relatively affordable, purely discretionary spending and a great way to kick back and forget about what lies around the corner," she said. "We saw a rise like this in 2008 as well as in 2002 after 9-11."

What about you dear reader? Are you ready for some fun? If so, remember Halloween costumes can be purchased at relatively low cost at your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or even department stores like Kohl's, Sears, Kmart and others. Look for coupon codes for discounts at CouponMountain.com and Smarter.com. The Daily Beast reports that sexy Halloween costumes are more popular than ever, so remember to shop your own closet for a costume, and save yourself that average $65.00 most revelers will spend. Witches are still the number one costume pick, but Lady Gaga, Avatar and Jersey Shore are also popular choices.

If you plan to dine out with the kids for Halloween, here's a little deal from Chili's that turned up on my radar. On Halloween, Sunday, Oct.31, from 3 p.m. until close, participating Chili’s locations will offer a free Pepper Pal’s kid’s meal for children 12 years and under, with a purchase of an adult entrée. The best part about this offer is there’s no limit on the number of kids per table and kids aren’t required to dress in costumes. To take advantage of this ‘hauntingly’ good deal, simply click on this link to open and print the free kid’s meal coupon.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Give the People What They Want: Derek Lam to Produce First-Ever Crowdsourced Collection for eBay

Pictured: One of my favorites from Derek Lam's Spring 2011 collection at New York Fashion week. (photo: Getty Images)

This just in from The Recessionista's radar alert system. High-end designer Derek Lam has announced plans to design and produce the first-ever crowd sourced collection exclusively on eBay. Coach previously crowd sourced a handbag collection by letting customers vote online for their favorites. Lam will unveil a ready-to-wear collection of original designs at a presentation during New York Fashion Week in February 2011 and invite shoppers to vote for their favorites on eBay.com. The voting will allow consumers to raise their collective voice about which pieces are produced for the exclusive collection. This is quite a different approach than the usual fashion week routine of exhibiting for retailers, who choose which pieces from a designer's collection to stock in stores. I like this approach. Fashion Week should be for the end-user, the customer who wears the clothes, not the buyer for the department store. The final collection will be available for purchase in Spring/Summer 2011 at fixed price points (read that as "Buy It Now"). The goal is to deliver shoppers immediate, in season access to Lam’s signature designs at prices that will presumably be below his collections at Barney's, exclusively on eBay. Kudos to Derek Lam for taking an innovative approach to fashion week. I look forward to voting on the collection!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Halloween Costume Picks: Scary Savings

Pictured: Halloween costumes. decorations and even jewelry are available from Kohl's at sale prices

Are you ready for Halloween? Is your shopping done for a costume? Or maybe you're just looking around for some fun treats. There are always a number of ways to go for Halloween costumes. You can go straight over the top for horror or fun (think Lady Gaga or a Twilight Werewolf) or go in an elegant costume that you can wear later. If elegant is your pick, consider eDressme.com. They are offering sequined flapper type gowns with fringe for a 1920s flapper look and elegant evening dresses that you can use to play your favorite movie star or fashionista. eDressMe’s sale with a FREE mask and discounted second day air shipping using code: Spoke15 can make for a great Halloween costume that you can reuse for a holiday or a night out.

Pictured: Look for costumes that can be worn later at eDressme.com

If you're more into getting scary instead of than chic, then consider some of the most popular costumes according to website Extreme Halloween: Lady Gaga, Avatar, Betty White and the kids from Jersey Shore. The kids from Jersey Shore are pretty horrifying in my opinion, and it's definitely an easy look to recreate using everyday household items.:) If you want to buy one of these charming costumes (and I use that term loosely) as a pre-packaged set, then look for coupon codes for discounts at CouponMountain.com and Smarter.com. Top deals include savings at stores like Kmart and Sears. Kohl's also has some great Halloween costumes at great prices. Look for coupons on their website for savings. They even have cool candy corn bracelets and ghost earrings.

For more cool costumes, check your local Goodwill store. Many of the stores have costumes that were worn once, and then donated. Buying from Goodwill can bring you a great looking costume that benefits charities.

Pictured: A screen shot from Target's ad showing an "alleged" homemade costume.

Perhaps one of the scariest things I've seen this Halloween season in the Target ad showing an unhappy child wearing a home made "Iron Man" costume. Check out Target-Addict's post on the Target ad that unleashed the wrath of the Moms, Bloggers and the hybrid of the two, Mom Bloggers. Hell hath no fury like the angry Blogger. The ad was a bit of a PR faux pas to say the least. After all, there's nothing wrong with a cool home made costume that doesn't bear a tag marked flammable or may cause "choking." A home made costume is a great way to express your individuality, or showcase your Mom's sewing talents. Not to mention saving some dollars.

Monday, October 25, 2010

More Lanvin for H&M: Pink Leopard?

Pictured: A Glimpse of the New Lanvin for H&M collection from an H&M ad © David Sims

Vogue UK has published another image from H&M of their upcoming Lanvin collection. I see ruffles, floral and even leopard shoes. Are the shoes pink leopard? It's hard to tell. Please no more pink leopard after the dreadful Mulberry of Target spotted mess :) That aside, the picture looks intriguing. I'm looking forward to the Vegas preview to see everything. H&M has promised more images on Nov. 2nd of the full line including clothes, jewelry, hats, shades, shoes, and lipstick. When I have them, I will post along with the prices. Stay tuned! The full collection is due in stores November 23, pre-the annual Thanksgiving shopping holiday known as Black Friday.

Arcona Spa Products and Coach Bags Discounted at HauteLook

Pictured: ARCONA Spa Products on the HauteLook sale this week.

If you haven't checked out the HauteLook sales this week, you need to log in and take a look. They are having a sale on two quality products: Coach Bags and Arcona Spa Products. I've been using Arcona products for a well and recently reviewed the products here on the blog. I'm a fan, and I'm thrilled to see them discounted on online shopping club HauteLook this week. The products are made with natural vitamins and enzymes from plants, fruits and vegetables. In other words, these are organic skin care products. The products are cold-processed, which means they are not heated or cooked before they come to you. So the nutrients have not been cooked out. It's an interesting approach to say the least. Especially in an era when most of what we consume and use on our bodies is full of chemicals and preservatives. I highly recommend the Triad pads for taking off your makeup when you are too tired to wash your face and the exfoliating Cranberry Gommage and Toner. If you want to take good care of your skin, but not spend top dollar, do check out the HauteLook Arcona Spa sale.

Pictured: A Coach Monogrammed Logo Bag from the HauteLook sale.

But wait there is more. There is a selection of Coach handbags, wristlets and evening bags at discounted prices. There are even a few selection from Coach's Poppy line. If you love Coach, and there is no outlet store near you, you'll want to check this one out.

If you're not a a member, click here to use my invite to join. I earn a referral fee if you buy, and if your friends buy, you get the same benefit. The referrals help the clubs save on marketing dollars, so they can continue to offer the best deals.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Trick or Treat? LVMH Buys 14.2% Stake in Luxury Brand Hermes

I read with great interest in the San Francisco Chronicle today how LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA (aka Louis Vuitton) is buying an extra 14.2% stake in French luxury brand, Hermes. When one luxury brand wants to buy up more stock in a competitor brand during what some economists call the 'great recession' I find it fascinating. Will the Louis Vuitton Alma Bag take down the Hermes Birkin in some kind of crazy hostile takeover? LVMH sources say no. Still, when one company throws down approximately 2 billion USD to buy a stake in another, you have to wonder what it all means. It's no secret that some luxury brands are struggling in this tough economy. Many luxury brands will have to adjust their business models to survive. Lanvin is about to launch a fashion line with H&M. If such a route had been available to designer Vionnet , her luxury designs might have continued through the Depression and World War II. Instead, Vionnet went out of business.

Ironically, Hermes with products priced in the thousands for their Birkin and Kelly bags, shows no signs of fading ala the original Vionnet. In July they announced that 2010 has seen an increase in profits for Hermes. So it' s no surprise that LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA wants to get in on a good thing. Or is it? I had to ask Birkin expert, and book author (Bringing Home the Birkin) Michael Tonnello about the stock purchase. He had a few thoughts.

"In recent years Hermes has been moving away from its roots of hand-stitched and unique items, heading in the direction of more mass-production. This is evident in the fact that a Birkin is no longer entirely hand-stitched and is now readily available to anyone who walks through the door into an Hermes boutique. I think this appeals to LVMH since there is more margin in mass-production than hand craftsmanship. Hermes has gone from around 200 stores (back in 1999, when I started selling Hermes scarves on eBay) to well over 300 today, and counting., " notes Michael Tonello. " It's impossible to supply all of those stores with unique, one of a kind, hand-stitched pieces. LVMH also knows that Hermes is the aspirational brand for their LV, Celine, and Fendi customers. With the increase in global wealth many of those LV clients are now trading up, and LVMH will profit from this, rather than lose the client. Pretty clever."

The thinking for luxury brands used to be that they would sell a top-quality, best of breed product that customers would save for, and purchase to last a lifetime. Perhaps we are moving further, and further away from that model as mass market production, by necessity, takes away some of the quality and hand work of these items. Now, if only the prices would adjust to the mass-market demand, then all shoppers might have a chance at owning a Hermes or LV bag. What would it be like if LV invested their 2 billion in creating a lower-priced Louis Vuitton line that would sell well, rather than investing in a competitor? Just a thought.

To read more about how LV bought up the shares of Hermes, check out the analysis from blogger 00o00
about how LVMH went about executing the stock buy on the QT. He gives a great financial analysis that is easy to understand.

Sunday Savvy: Sign-up for Norma Kamali's Special One Day Sale

Pictured: Sales Alert at Norma Kamali! Sign-up to get the fashion savings.

Psst...here's a good deal that The Recessionista wants to pass on to all good shoppers. Fashion Superstar Designer Normal Kamali is having an exclusive one day sale on her high-end collection (not her Walmart line) via the Internet or her store in New York. Here's what you need to do to shop the sale and get the deals, click here and sign-up to be notified when the sale begins. My spies tell me there will be some great items on the sale. One thing about the fabulous Ms. Kamali, is her designs are timeless. If you look at eBay listings, her designs from the past 20 years, including her "vintage" pieces are still selling like hotcakes. The reason is simple. Norma is on trendy, but not trendy. You can expect to own and wear one of her pieces for years. I'll be shopping this sale and have already signed-up. Don't try to out shop me readers ! :)

Remember, to save on Norma Kamali any day of the week, check out her Walmart collection. This great looking Pea Coat was just added for Fall, and is only $20.00.

Pictured: The Norma Kamali Pea Coat from her Walmart collection is only $20.00.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Tucker for Target Hits the Clearance Rack

If you liked the Tucker for Target collection, then good news, it is all on sale now in-store and on Target.com. Above is one of the pieces I liked, the Herringbone Jacket. Check the reviews on Target.com, it's a winner.

Unfortunately, Temple St. Clair is not yet on sale, and most of it is gone, but a few Targets still have some, so watch for a sale on it. I stopped in a Target in North Carolina today, and there was plenty of the Temple St. Clair jewelry still on the racks. I finally got my Target Electronic Trade-In card to work, so I splurged on a piece of Temple St. Clair.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Lanvin for H&M News! NY Runway show coming Nov. 18, Vegas Sneak Peak to Follow

Pictured: From an H&M advertisement, the new Lanvin collection. (photo H&M)

The bible of Women's fashion, Women's Wear Daily has the scoop on the upcoming Lanvin for H&M Collection. According to WWD, " Lanvin will stage a fashion show in New York on Nov. 18 showcasing designer Alber Elbaz’s creations for Swedish fast-fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz, including some one-off customized outfits that will be sold for charity afterward. " The New York show will be held at The Plaza Hotel. The next day, H&M will host an exclusive preview at their store in Las Vegas. I will be attending the Las Vegas event along with my two friends, my two Olympus cameras, including the new Pen. My spies tell me that the new H&M Las Vegas store is the largest H&M on the planet. Naturally, I'll be shopping and snapping away to give you all exclusive views of the collection along with my reviews of the pieces vis`-a-vis´ quality for price. Stay tuned! Lanvin for all!

The Show Must Go On: Los Angeles Bloggers Step Up to Support Local Designers

Pictured: L'une by by Anh Volcek is one of the Los Angeles Designers that will show in LA tomorrow.

It's sad when up and coming designers invest to show their designs to the public, and their exhibit is canceled via no fault of their own. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Designers, publicists and fashion fans are baffled by the sudden cancellation of World Coast Management's L.A Fashion Week, which had been slated to take place Oct. 20-25 at L.A. Production Studios. Fourteen designers were listed on the roster of WCM's website to show their collections for spring/summer 2011 during three nights of runway shows which were to be bookended by a party and a trade show. But many of them found out only on Wednesday night that the events had been canceled."

Following the cancellation of Official World Coast Management's ( "WCM") LA Fashion Week, due to permitting issues, Fashion Los Angeles has organized a community movement through its Bloggers’ Café program, to ensure that the designers are given an opportunity to exhibit the fashions they have worked so hard to produce.

Pictured: The invite from designer Daisy Gonzalez's canceled LA Fashion Week show (from DaisyGonzalez.Blogspot.com)

Designers who are confirmed to present their works from the canceled shows are Daisy Gonzalez, L’une, and Paulina Lopez from Mexico City. Since this is a community service event, individuals and groups able to donate time and products (models, hair, makeup, mannequins, etc.) should contact Fashion Los Angeles via email immediately at bloggerscafe [at] fashionlosangeles [dot] org.

Apparently, the Los Angeles Fire Department called off the WCM event due to several outstanding citations on the venue dating back to March 2010. This unfortunate situation left 18 local and international designers without a venue to present their SS2011 collections. It's very sad that something as routine as a permit was not secured far in advance of the show, so that the show could proceed as planned.

The only bright spot in this sad story is that local organizations and bloggers are stepping up to help the stranded designers. Fashion Los Angeles, the group behind the new Los Angeles fashion presentations set to debut February 2011, has joined forces with Two Point Oh LA, an organization that unites 80 Los Angeles’ fashion and beauty bloggers, to offer the displaced designers an opportunity to meet with local media. The Bloggers’ Café event, known by the Twitter hashtag “#bc911,” will take place at Fashion Los Angeles headquarters [600 S. Spring St., Suite 1708 Downtown Los Angeles] from 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2010.

If you live in Los Angeles, consider checking out the shows or helping to spread the word about the events, or RSVP to attend to help these designers show their designs as planned! The power of Social Media can only help these designers overcome the cancellation of their shows. As they say in Hollywood, the show must go on!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Gilt Groupe Offers a Special Wedding Shop Sale

Online shopping club The Gilt Groupe has a special sale this week on all kinds of items that you can use whether you are attending a wedding as a guest, or the bride. There is also a fabuless selection of wedding gifts at nicely discounted priced to check out. If you visit the sale you'll find:

Reem Acra Bridalwear
Bridesmaid dresses
Attire for the Groom and Groomsmen
Jewelry
Handbags
Shoes
Flower Girl dresses

We all know how expensive weddings can be, whatever your role in that wedding is. To check out the Gilt Groupe. If you're not already a member of Gilt Groupe, click here and sign-up. I earn a referral fee if you buy, and if your friends buy, you get the same benefit. The power of aggregate buying brings the costs down for all! :)

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Petite Bateau Expands US Presence with a Los Angeles Store Opening

Pictured: Petite Bateau's new ad campaign features actual customers (photo : M.Hall)

French Children's Clothier Petite Bateau (Little Boats) is expanding their US presence with a new store in Los Angeles, off upscale shopping mecca Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Although this over 100 year old brand is extremely popular in Europe, it's been hard to find their stores in the states. To date the only store has been on the east coast in New York City. So it's great to see this great children's brand opening up in Los Angeles. The move to open a store in Beverly Hills is a deliberate one on the part of the brand. Lennox Thomas, the Director of Petit Bateau for the US, indicated to me that the brand was more comfortable with a store in a traditional shopping district catering to niche markets rather than a mall. It's true that Beverly Hill customers will be more likely to know the brand than perhaps the average US mall shopper. In Europe, Petite Bateau is a brand well known for their charming children's clothes and their organic fabrics, including cotton and linen, rather than slick mall advertising or coupons. Personally, I like the Petite Bateau line because the clothes will look good on my little niece and nephew, without making them look like they are approaching the age of 40, long before they actually reach adolescence. The clothing captures the innocence of child hood. There are french marine stripe shirts ( the essential organic cotton Petit Bateau marinière) and dresses, traditional yellow slickers Paddington the Bear would be proud to wear and plenty of charming girly dresses. There are also organic cotton shirts for adults that can be layered to achieve a variety of looks. Petite Bateau's new ad campaign (pictured above) shows how real customers have been wearing their styles, and layering their cotton shirts. I like that the campaign shows actual customers, not paid models. I also like that the clothes don't seem to have any warnings about choking hazards or flammability. Safety is important in childrenswear.

Pictured: Marie Saeki, Director of Petite Bateau's US Public Relations shows off the charming line of girls clothes at the Beverly Hills store. (photo: M. Hall)

Pictured: Petite Bateau clothes at the new Los Angeles stores, including a long sleeved, French Marine Tee with buttons at the shoulders. (photo: M. Hall)

I'm glad to see Petite Bateau expanding their US presence. My 10 year old niece always wants to look fashionably different from the other kids in school. It's always a negotiation process to find her something fashionable for school, that I feel is age appropriate. I don't want her dressing like Brittany Spears for school (sorry Brittany, your look is fine for a young adult, but not great for children.) Petite Bateau is a quality brand, with age appropriate wear that both adults and kids can adore. If you don't live in New York, LA, or Europe check out Petite Bateau's online store to see their clothing and access it for yourself. Most pieces are well under $100.00, with many dress and tops under $50.00. The store also has an active Facebook following, which you might want to check for deals. And here's a little savings tip: register with Petite Bateau online and receive 20% off your next purchase. Those discount codes come in handy as the holidays approach!

Monday, October 18, 2010

Lanvin for H&M : Let the Teasing Begin

I haven't seen any leaked preview pictures yet for the Lanvin collection for H&M, but believe me I am looking! Me and probably a million other frugal fashionistas who would love to get some affordable fashions from the French design house. What has surfaced in lieu of pictures, is a teasing trailer that H&M is previewing exclusively on the ZET Fashion blog. Props to Zet Fashion for entering the H&M Facebook contest and receiving exclusive rights to show this video. The video is rather Shakespearean...full of sound and fury, yet signifying nothing. Nothing, because there are no pictures of the sought after Lanvin for H&M items. The video only shows the designer furiously sketching and drinking extra strength coffee in an effort to stay up all night to finish the collection. The full preview will be available on HM.com on Nov. 2nd. Stay tuned.

This just in, The Cut Blog has the H&M Lanvin Ad posted! Here's the picture of four outfits from the collection:

Photo: H&M

Special Gilt Sale: Harper Collins' Fashion Books

Gilt Groupe is having a special sale today on books about fashion from Harper Collins. I not only love beautiful clothes, I am also intrigued by the story of the designers who conceptualize the garments, and those that wear them and add their own personal touch. That's why I like the Gilt selection of fashion books. I've already bought the biography of Coco Chanel by Justine Picardie. Coco was an amazing force not only as an innovator in design , but as a business woman. She was running a successful business long before women even had the right to vote. The book comes with a carry bag designed by her successor at the House of Chanel Karl Lagerfeld. Check out the illustration on the tote bag by depicting a black and white sketch of Mademoiselle.

Pictured: The Tote bag that comes with the purchase of the Coco Chanel Biography by Justine Picardie on Gilt's sale . C'est adorable!

Other great fashion books include Michelle Obama's Style and Vintage Fashion, If you love a fun read, check out Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello. I interviewed Michael Tonello on the blog last year and enjoyed his story of traveling around Europe questing for the elusive Birkins for celebrities or to sell on eBay. The Gilt sale is a great way to pick up his story for the discounted price of only $8.00. Another fascinating book on the sale is Hollywood designer Edith Head's The Dress Doctor. I just saw the play, "Conversations with Edith Head" so I'm very interested in reading Edith's salty advice on dressing stylishly, in her own witty voice. The books features illustrations of Head's sketches from her films as well as her advice on how to dress for any activity from archery to house cleaning. How good is that? :) Is there really a good way to dress to clean house? I have to read this book to find out. I'd be surprised if later in life Edith Head ever cleaned her own house.

Pictured: The original Hollywood Stylist, Edith Head's book, "The Dress Doctor" is on the Gilt sale.

If you love a good book, and you have a love for fashion, be sure and check out Gilt's Harper Collins sale. If you're not a Gilt member, click here to use my invite to use to join and check out the packages. In the interest of full disclosure, I do earn a referral fee on Gilt Groupe if you buy. You also earn a referral if you invite friends, and they buy. As always, with Gilt, the price is right!

Sale Alert: Loft Extra 40% Off Sale Styles

Heads-up my bargain shoppers. Loft has just taken extra mark downs on their sale items including tops, cardigans and pants. The basic fall staples are now further discounted, so you might want to check it all out at Loft.com. I'm eyeing this Military style cardigan, which is also part of Lofts 2 for 1 sweater sale.

Pictured: Part of Loft's sale: this Military Sweater Coat for $128. USD.

Yesterday's New York Times Sunday Style had an interesting article on Fox News Commentator Jeanine Pirro hitting the discount racks at Filene's basement. The New York Times reporter asked Ms. Pirro why she has a passion for discount shopping, when she can obviously afford to shop at retail prices. I thought she gave an excellent answer. "Think about tomorrow," Ms. Pirro told The New York Times. "Life may be good today, but you don't know what tomorrow brings." That is the basic premise of frugal living in this era. Why spend more when the savings are out there?

Sunday, October 17, 2010

London Calling: Forever21 Heads Across the Pond to the UK

One of my favorite reads, The Guardian UK reports that Los Angeles purveyor of cheap and trendy fashion, Forever 21 is expanding to the UK. The recession seems to be bringing Forever21 to the mass market. First it was announced that Forever21 was moving into Sears. Now, they are taking on the "high street" of European discount fashion , ie: H&M, Zara, Mango, New Look, TopShop and even some things that are similar at Miss Selfridge. I am really shocked to be honest. In my opinion, Forever21 can't hold a candle to the above mentioned UK shops in style. However, when it come to price point they can, and have, under sold all comers. The quality may not be terrific, but most fashionistas I know, don't plan to own Forever21 pieces for very long. Forever21 is great for trendy chic pieces, that you only plan to wear a short time, because more than likely, they won't last a long time :) I'll be interested to see how UK shoppers react to Forever21. My favorite items at Forever21 stores has always been the accessories. They are a great way to update your wardrobe. You can find necklaces and earring for under $5.00 US. That will be hard for UK shops to compete with.

What do you think readers? Do you shop at Forever21? What would you tell our UK sis-tah shoppers to be on the lookout for?

Sue Wong Puts the Sparkle in LA Fashion Week

Pictured: The designer, Sue Wong at her Los Angeles Spring 2011 show. (Photo: M. Hall)

You really can't say that LA Fashion Week is LA Fashion Weak with designer Sue Wong on the scene. Friday night she bought the sparkle, and the missing glamour, to LA Fashion Week with a curated show at her design rooms. The show was entitled, " Glamour Goddesses: A Tribute to the Goddesses of the Pre-Code Silverscreen." Fittingly, Sue Wong's corporate office, the old Bullock's Wilshire advertising department, is just a few steps away from the old Bullock's Wishire store off Westmoreland Ave, where Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Marion Davies and others all shopped. I had the privilege of speaking with Sue Wong at her opening about the collection and her inspiration. When asked why she wanted to pay homage to the old Hollywood styles, she tells me , "I loved the period. The women in films then were so strong." "Think of Mae West, and all her great sayings," Sue continues. She said, “A hard man is good to find." This is the kind of originality and sexuality coupled with glamour and strength that Sue Wong wanted to convey into Spring 2011 collection. The collection looks like it could walk right out of the Bullock's Wilshire fashion show of days gone by. There are sequined gowns with panels, 1920s short flapper gowns, short silk jackets embroidered with lovely beaded designs that look like Jean Harlow wants them back in her closet, and finally, above the knee cocktail dresses with plenty of beading. There are gowns and styles inspired by Jean Harlow, Tallulah Bankhead, Joan Crawford, Mae West, Barbara Stanwyck and Marlene Dietrich.

The whole effect is stunning, and whether you wear a Sue Wong on the red carpet or just for a special evening out or party, the effect is sure to be transformational. Sue says, "These Glamour styles spread the elegance and magic of the Hollywood era. And I think we need that right now." It's true. Viewers flocked to the movies during the depression for escape via Hollywood fantasy. In the current economy, a little Hollywood escapism is well placed. Here are some of the highlight's of Sue Wong's Spring 2011 collection.

Pictured: Stylist Sheen Mi Lee, in a beautiful spaghetti strap Sue Wong cocktail dress. The sequins and beading highlight the wearer's, face, shoulders and neck to great effect. Behind Sheen is a gorgeous beaded flapper dress hanging on the rack. (Photo: M. Hall)

Pictured: This short silk pink jackets has beautiful beaded designs on the back, and looks like something Jean Harlow or Carole Lombard would covet to wear over a silk bias gown. (Photo: M. Hall)

Pictured: Two of my favorites: A strapless white sheath dress and gorgeous long beaded gown with lace godets. The embroidered beaded bodices on these gowns is incredible. (Photo: M. Hall)

Pictured: Sue Wong Spring 2011 dresses for cocktail wear. There are one shoulder dresses as well as strapless gowns. (Photo: M. Hall)

With all the hand work, and intricate beading on these gowns, I asked Sue Wong how long it takes to make one of these amazing dresses. " Each gown takes 45 days to make, " says the designer. Clearly, there are no modern short cuts to old time Hollywood Glamour. The effect is pure magic. Look for the Sue Wong Spring 2011 collection at retailers like Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue. And remember, all these stores have sales and offer their customers coupon savings. Just watch for the savings on Sue Wong and set up some Google alerts to catch the sales. These Sue Wong pieces are investment pieces. They may be pricier than say something from a discounter or Big Box store, but these dresses are classic will be wearable for years. As Mae West said , " You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." Sue Wong definitely does it right with this collection.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Reminder: QVC presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale" Oct. 15th

Pictured: Fergie in her Pink Hope shoes.

On Friday, Oct. 15th, QVC present will “FFANY Shoes on Sale" via QVC TV and their website. The sale will include the newly launched Fergie Footwear brand. The purpose of the QVC sale is to raise funds in the the fight against breast cancer. The Pink "Hop"e shoe, from Fergie’s Fall 2010 collection, will be available during the QVC presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale” event benefiting breast cancer research on October 15th.

More than 100,000 pairs of shoes, donated by footwear companies, will be sold on QVC at half the retail price, with 100% of the net proceeds going to leading hospitals and research organizations nationwide that are performing cutting edge research and education to find a cure for breast cancer. To date, “Shoes on Sale” has sold more than one million pairs of shoes and donated more than $32.5 million in net proceeds to breast cancer research. So if you need some new shoes, QVC is the place to be on Oct. 15th. QVC sells to many countries worldwide, so check their website for details. My readers in the US, Canada, and the UK sold be able to enjoy this one!

Fendi Fabuless? Shoe Fortunes and Some Discounts

Pictured: psychic Stacey Wolf with Fendi customer Janet telling a shoe fortune. (photo: M. Hall)

Do you see shoes in your future? Heels of flats? PVC or real leather? It might be time for a Fendi shoe fortune telling. What is Fendi Fortune Telling? Well, it's a bit of free fun you can enjoy with your shopping buddies at select Fendi Boutiques. Fendi has hired Cosmopolitan magazine astrologer and celebrated psychic Stacey Wolf to do “shoe and style readings” at private events for Fendi customers at the boutiques in the Houston Galleria, South Coast Plaza in Orange County and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The event is at the Beverly Hill store on Thursday, Oct. 14. If you're interested, call the Fendi Boutique and see if you can get on the list. I'm having a foreshadowing...a moment of seeing into the future, yes, I think if you call, you just might get it. So what is a shoe reading? Well I had the reading last night at South Coast Plaza. Psychic and fashionista, Stacey looks deep into your eyes and tells you a bit about your personal style. For me, her reading was dead on. She knew I can't sacrifice by fashion soles for my fashion soul. As she told me, "You're not one to be tottering on high heels for the sake of fashion." So true. My Fendi fortune looks like stylish flats or boot, with some extra glam touches like buckles, hardware or bows. Here's a little preview:

Pictured: My Fendi future. stylish flats (photo: M. Hall)

Pictured: Other Fendi shoe fortunes for the more er, adventurous my include this beautiful, high heels with fashionable ankle straps. (photo: M. Hall)

After viewing all the beautiful items at the Fendi boutique, I could see some Fendi in my future, but only allowing for some sales or discounts of course. Being The Recessionista, I did find some immediate savings for Fendi. If you buy an Angelitos card at South Coast Plaza, you can save 20% on Fendi items. I'm eyeing these handbags. And this is my own picture, not a professional photographers, the bags are just stunning!

Pictured: My aspirational Fendi bag. (photo: M. Hall)

If you're a Fendi fan living outside of Lost Angeles, check out the Fendi sunglasses on sale today at Beyond the Rack. They are beautiful and under $100.00 US. Click here to join using my invite. And look for Fendi Apparel and Accessories for discounts today at online shopping club Editor's Closet. Editor's Closet has some great Fendi items for 85% off of retail. I'm lusting for the Coral Fendi Jacket! Click here to check out the sale at Editor's Closet. And yes, I do earn a referral fee of at Beyond the Rack and Editor's Closet if you join and shop, and you get luxury goods at a discount. It's a win for everyone!

Pictured: Fendi Apparel and Shoes are discounted online today at Editor's Closet.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Shopping at South Coast Plaza: Get the Angelitos Card and Save 20% until Oct. 20th

Pictured: Look for this sign at shops in South Coast Plaza to get an Angelitos Card and save. This sign is in the window of Anne Fontaine.

Tonight I discovered a new way to save when shopping at fashion mecca South Coast Plaza. It's called the Angelitos card. These cards offer the bearer a 20% discount at over 115 stores and restaurants at South Coast Plaza until Oct. 20th. The cards were launched tonight at a private party in the mall. They will go on sale tomorrow (10/14) to the general public via kiosks throughout the mall, at the mall concierge desk and online via the Angelitos website. So why should you purchase this savings card for the prices of $60.00 US? Well, the first reason is it benefits Big Brothers and Sisters of Orange County. And you know I love me some good shopping for a good cause :) Other reasons to purchase are the cost of the card is tax deductible, and it brings you savings on fashion plus great dining at restaurants like AnQi and more.

I had the opportunity to chat with Angelitos organizer Pamela Schmider. Pamela told me that the card is good at retailers like Bendels, Anne Fontaine, Coach, DKNY, Eileen Fischer, Jo Malone, Donna Karan, Fendi and Bendels just to name a few.

Pictured: The very fashionable Angelitos Chair, Pamela Schmider getting ready to shop with her Angelitos card at South Coast Plaza. (photo: M. Hall)

Of course, I had to ask her where she was going to use her card first. "I'm going to Henri Bendel to shop for accessories," said Pamela. "It's a great way to update my wardrobe." Now doesn't that sound like a good idea whether you go to Bendels or one of the other stores that accepts the Angelitos card?

If you purchase a card, it's good at participating merchants until Oct. 20. That gives Southern California fashionistas a week to shop, save and give to the Big Brothers and Sisters of Orange County.