The Recessionista™ Blog, frugal fashion trends

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

NYFW: Designer Tracy Reese's Spring 2012 Inspiration

Pictured: Sketch from Tracy Reese's upcoming Spring 2012 collection.

Doesn't this outfit and hat look positively vintage? Tracy Reese's office sent this over as a preview to her upcoming runway show at New York Fashion Week. My spies tell me that Tracy's collection will consist of softly voluminous styles paired with lean, refined silhouettes, evolving proportions with a focus on modern fluidity. Sounds interesting, and possibly casually chic. When asked about her Spring 2012 inspiration, here is what Tracy had to say.

“A feminine yet relaxed mood is achieved through the juxtaposition of romance and sport, comfort and flattery. Subtle hues of khaki and blush mixed with pastel shades of waterfall, misty blue and aqua tears gradually intensify to deep saturated tones and neon brights, making a bold splash for the transition into summer. A drapey culotte jumpsuit in waterfall, complimented with drawstring waist and seductive neckline details, pairs with a lemon zest hat and printed platform sandals to embody the relaxed mood of the season,” says Reese.

I like the mix of romance and sport, but I have to be honest, I'm not wild about a culotte jumpsuit. Never the less, I look forward to seeing the rest of the collection and getting the full picture. I love every single dress that Mrs. Obama has worn from Tracy Reese this year. Most Tracy Reese dresses are under $300.00 and sometime much less when you can catch them on sale at Anthropology and other upscale retailers.

NYFW Preview: Rebecca Taylor Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

Pictured: Rebecca Taylor sketch from her Spring 2012 collection

One of the collections I always enjoy seeing at New York Fashion Week is New Zealand designer Rebecca Taylor. I am looking forward to her runway show. The colors and flow of the fabrics on the models as they glide down the runways is always exquisite. This morning the designer's office sent over a preview sketch from the collection. Here's what you can expect to see at her show on Sept 9th, either in person or via the live stream.

The Spring 2012 muse is contemporary, fresh, and ethereal. The collection emphasizes cut and color with unexpected cut-outs in silhouettes. Shades of oyster are highlighted by bold citrus colors of lemon, lime and tangerine. Cropped slouchy embellished sweaters, long skirts and voluminous outerwear in technical fabrics add edge while apron back dresses mixed with bone colored snake leather bibs inject a paired down cool attitude which sets the tone for the Spring 2012 collection.

Sounds heavenly doesn't it? I can't wait to see more.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Beauty Deal: Coupon to Save on Oil of Olay

One of the things that I like to make sure I am investing is is good skin care for my face. I try a lot of different products every year, and one that I try to always use in the evening before bed is Oil of Olay. It's sold at drugstores, is affordable and has been rated higher than many more expensive beauty products by Consumer Reports. So here is a deal to pass along to you. Oil of Olay is offering a coupon to save $5.00 off of the professional products. I already signed up and thought you might want to too!

TJ Maxx Adventures: A Plethora of Fall Fashion for NYFW and Beyond

Pictured: My fabuless Elizabeth Arden Anniversary Creams from TJ Maxx.

Before the BlogHer11 conference, TJ Maxx called and asked if I would come in and do a little fall shopping with them. Mm.. tough one right? Had to think about it, to shop or not to shop, that is the question? In The Recessionista Regime, the staff will always choose shopping, provided it's savvy. And of course being a Maxxinista shows considerable sales savvy. And with Fashion Week coming up, a trip to TJ Maxx seems a complete necessity, to stock up not just on fashion, but also techie stuff (yes, they have it) and travel size cosmetics (like my Arden creams pictured above.)

I believe that social media and blogs are especially important to stores like TJ Maxx and their sister store, Marshalls. That's because they don't do glossy print ads in fashion magazines to tell you what's new in store. That is how they keep costs low and run the stores with a lower marketing budget than most retailers. Also, there are no fixed quantities of designer lines coming in all the time. With TJ Maxx and Marshalls, new stuff trickles in weekly, but it's not predictable what the stores with receive. You really do have to go to the store and dig through the goods to find the deals. The best way to find out when things are coming in, and what they might be, is to ask the store manager, or check social networking sites like yours truly or Maxx finds to get the 411. So here's what I found at TJ Maxx on my recent excursion; Tory Burch handbags, Juicy Couture jewelry, clothing from Max Studio, Cynthia Rowley, Evan Piccone, Free People, DKNY, Chinese Laundry, Stuart Weitzman, and Adrienne Vittadini. They also have plenty of Willi Smith, which is now regularly sold at all TJ Maxx stores.

Pictured: Coveted Tory Burch handbags at reduced prices (photo: M. Hall)

To me the key thing about TJ Maxx is quality. There are many goods from luxury retailers and top of the line cosmetic firms. Spending $30.00 at TJ Maxx is very different than say, spending $30.00 at a discounter like Forever21 or Target. With TJ Maxx, your $30.00 will deliver a garment of higher quality, better fabric and a better overall fit. Value for price is the what the stores deliver, the trade off is that you have to be willing to go on the hunt, and spend time in the stores carefully going through all the racks. But for those of us who delight in finding a bargain, the chase or hunt is part of the shopping experience. Here's what my hunt yielded a long sleeved black maxi dress (price $29.99), perfect for fall events, or event New York Fashion Week, a Targus laptop cooling chill mat for $19.99 (every blogger needs one), Elizabeth Arden cosmetics, a Danksin "core ball" for $12.99, JET Foot Treatment Socks for $ 6.99 (every blogger also needs these for New York Fashion Week/NYFW and FNO), assorted Tzao teas for travel, Starbucks Coffee (huge bag for $16.99 also needed for NYFW) and finally shoe organizers for under my bed for $7.99. Overall a very good collection of fashionable supplies.

Pictured: Look for these Spa at Home or for Travel foot treatment socks. (photo: M.Hall)

Pictured: Cynthia Rowley Silk Top in popular purple for Fall. (photo: M. Hall)

Other finds that I uncovered at TJ Maxx, iPad cases, cell phone sanitizers (a pure impluse buy item), many iPhone/iPod accessories from cases to clock radios. Here's a look at one of the gorgeous iPad cases. This is another perfect NYFW or work accessory for carrying your iPad.

Pictured: A brilliant iPad case in Hermes Orange, prices at $30.00 (photo: M.Hall)

As you can see, there are plenty of terrific items at TJ Maxx. There's something for everyone, whether it's your kids, your husband or yourself. If fashion is what you quest for, look for the purple tags. Purple tags denote an elite designer item, and you'll see a lot of these tags at stores that have the new runway section. If you're looking for gadgets and techie stuff, scan the items at the front of the store, and near the cash register. And don't forget the gourmet food aisles, they have terrific sauces from Smith & Wollensky and jams from Sarabeth. There's so much that I'll have to write another post on the Fall Fashion trends at TJ Maxx.

Monday, August 29, 2011

H&M to go on sale online at ELLE.com!

This is big! We've all longed to be able to get some H & M chic n' cheap fashions simply by pointing and clicking, and now we'll be able to via ELLE.com. Check the ELLE.com site on August 30th for a selection of H&M clothing on sale online. I can't wait to see the assortment. I have done so many epic quests looking for H&M pieces at brick and mortar stores in the Los Angeles at the Beverly Center and most recently on Sunset Blvd, only to discover the store hours on their website were wrong and the store was actually closed! It will be so much easier to check things on the on web before heading off in Los Angeles traffic, or assorted other natural disasters.

Katy Perry's Flaming Pink Look at the VMAs was a Homage to 1940s Glamour

Pictured: Katy Perry at the VMAs looking very Dorothy Lamour/Veronica Lake. (photo: Getty Images.)

Those who had power took a complete fashion fantasy escape last night from the nasty Hurricane weather to check out the Video Music Awards. Styles ran the gamut as Beyonce looked like she walked off the cover of Vogue in her Lanvin one shoulder dress. And then there was Katy Perry. I still think her best fashion accessory was her wickedly funny husband, Russell Brand. Katy rocked the awards with flaming pink wavy hair, complimented by a mini dress from Atelier Versace with embroidery, sequins and cherry blossom shaped crystals. The pink in the cherry blossom crystals almost matched her pink hair. Is this a teenage dream look? :)

While I don't recommend the pink hair look at home, I do like the simple look of falling waves that Katy achieved. You don't need the cotton candy pink hair look unless you are competing with hundreds of other stars on the red carpet, and must ensure that attention is paid to you by photographers, right? Katy's wavy tresses reminded me of many a 1940s screen actress, for example, Veronica Lake. Dorothy Lamour also rocked wavy tresses in the 1940s, complimented with a flower behind her ear as Katy did last night.

Pictured: The original 1940s wavy look, actress Veronica Lake. (image courtesy of FilmReference.com)

To channel Katy's look at home, here are a few tips. A Katy Perry style chinois inspired mini dress is easily found at the online Chinese Clothing store for about $50.00. If you live in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or London, you can find a dress like this even cheaper in your local China town.

For her 1940s hair, follow this simple recipe supplied by stylist Renato Campora at Federic Fekkai.
1) Begin by creating a side part to the wet hair.
2) Then apply Fekkai Full Blown Mousse throughout the hair to build a strong and reliable base.
3) Blow-dry the hair using a round brush.
4) Once the hair is completely dry, use a ½ inch curling iron to add shape. Let the curls cool then allow the curls to set for 15 minutes.
5) Then brush! Voila. 1940s waves should appear.
6) Finally, spray it all in place with some hairspray. Renato used Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairpsrayto secure the look, adding a lasting finish and shine. To create the final touch, Renato took a one-inch strand of the hair and pinned it back with a vintage hairpiece, securing it with a bobby pin.

The recommended products in this recipe, are all products by Fekkai: Fekkai Full Volume Mousse ($21), and Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray ($24). You can find the products at Fekkai.com and Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. To get the products for less, shop for them at Target. And, if you want to save a little more, order them online from Target.com using a ShopAtHome coupon.

Women Thrive Teams Up w/ Eileen Fisher & Bloomingdale's to Help Women Feed the World

Fashion Week and Fashion's Night Out (FNONY) are just around the corner. As part of FNONY on September 8th, Women Thrive will join the Eileen Fisher clothing company and Bloomingdale’s (32 stores) for an unprecedented in-store and online partnership to help women around the world lift themselves out of poverty. Whether you are in New York or not, you'll be able to shop this event via the magic of the Internet.

One of my favorite fashion brands, Eileen Fisher, will donate 3% of the day's in-store and online national sales and Bloomingdale's will contribute an additional $5,000 to Women Thrive, the leading DC-based organization advocating for U.S. international assistance and trade programs for the poorest women in the world.

Did you know that the global population will reach 7 billion in the next two years? The enormous challenge of feeding the world falls upon small-scale, subsistence farmers — the majority of whom are women. Yet women farmers often lack the rights and resources they need to be productive. Women Thrive is calling on Congress to protect critical programs supporting the world's poorest citizens. This special shopping event is designed to bring you some good deals and raise money for this worthy cause. So save the date of Sept. 8th for the Women Thrive/ Eileen Fisher and Bloomingdale’s in-store and online shopping event. To see all 32 participating stores, go to www.womenthrive.org/EF

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Deal Alert: Savings at White House Black Market this weekend via eBates

I just heard about this deal and thought I would pass it along. White House Black Market (WHBM) is offering $25.00 off jackets & coats this weekend. I like their casual flare and basic colors. It's one of my favorites for work and then going out after work. Plus, here's a little tip, if you purchase your WHBM via the eBates portal site, you will get cash back (hence the term eBate on your purchase.) Check out the deal at eBates.com (my invite link), by joining the site, then search WHBM to go to the deal to get 2% cash back on your purchase, plus the $25.00 off. On this particular sale, I like the ruffled lapel jacket, pictured below.

Pictured: WHBM's ruffled lapel jacket is on the sale rack this weekend.

Readers, do any of you use shopping rebates services when you shop? Are these sites of interest to you? You do have to join and share your email address and information, but in return you get the "rebates."

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Macy's Shop for a Cause Saturday, Aug 27th

There is nothing perhaps quite as fashionable as the spirit of giving. But when it's possible to combine fashion and a good cause, well, this is beyond chic. That's why I want to let you know that this Saturday is Macy's annual Shop for a Cause event. On Saturday, August 27, 2011, Macy’s will host its 6th annual Shop For A Cause benefiting charities across the country. This one day event is a fun and effective way for non-profits, school booster groups and other charitable organizations to raise funds and awareness for their causes.

Here is how it works. By purchasing a $5 shopping pass from any participating organization (my nephew's school for children with Autism has sold these in the past to help the kids), customers support their favorite causes and receive 25% off most regular, sale and clearance purchases in the store or online all day Saturday, August 27. Note, if you are looking for a deal, the shopping pass offer is also valid on most brands that are usually excluded (such as Coach, INC, designer handbags & sportswear, Ralph Lauren, etc.) Plus, customers have the chance to win a $500 shopping spree.

In addition, Shop For A Cause passes are being sold at all Macy's stores through Aug. 27, and at Macy's.com on Aug. 27. All of the passes sold in store and online will benefit the March of Dimes, a leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. Check out the list of charities that benefit, on Macys.com. It's very impressive. I wish the Karl Lagerfeld collection was at Macy's on the 27th to use my shopping pass on!

TGIF Tip: Home Grown Cocktails from the Omni Hotels to Kick-off the Weekend!

Pictured: Mi Amour the Rosemary Pear Buck cocktail at the Omni in NY

Readers, has this been a tough week, or what? I mean who actually thought that an Earthquake would hit the East Coast with an 5.9 bang? Or that it would be followed by Hurricane Irene due to hit this Saturday. This is the time of year we all want to be getting ready for New York Fashion Week, or Fashion's Night Out or some other kind of wicked fun, not hunkering down for natural disasters!! Everyone knows that in your quest for disaster preparedness you need to stock up on water, some extra batteries and candles, and in my humble opinion some home grown cocktails. Is this bad to say? My great aunts would never face a winter in New England with our their highballs and vodka tonics. That's why The Recessionista's emergency preparedness kit includes some traditional rescue remedies in the form of delicious cocktails supplied by our friends at the Omni Hotel. For readers on the West Coast, and around the world, you might want to try these for a great girlfriends TGIF party, BBQ or other home entertainment.

Pictured above is my current refreshing favorite, the Pear & Rosemary Buck invented by master bartender Christy Pope. I love Rosemary in the summer, it's easy to bake with, cook with and now, we know that it also makes a great cocktail! I saw Christy make this at the Omni Bar in New York last week, and I have to say, it was hard to pull myself away! Here's the recipe.

Ingredients for the Pear and Rosemary Buck Cocktail:

1 each Bar spoon of Rosemary Leaves
1.5 oz Patron Silver
0.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1.0 oz Perfectly Puree of Napa Valley Pear Ginger Beer

Method:
Muddle rosemary leaves. Shake Patron Silver, Lime Juice and Puree with ice. Top with ginger beer and serve in a Highball glass and garnish with a rosemary sprig. To see an expert Omni Hotel mixologist mix up this baby, watch the video. I had one question about this cocktail for the inventor, Christy Pope. I wanted to know if it could be made with Vodka, but Christy advised using the Patron Tequila for the best blend of ingredients and flavors.

If Rosemary and Pear is not to your liking, check out some of the other Omni Cocktails by going to their website. There are different drink selections offered for each area of the United States.The Southern Berry Basil Smash sounds amazing! I could also be easily persuaded to sample the Au Currant Smash (so very NYFW) or the Mojito Martini. After all, woman can not live by fashion alone!

During New York Fashion Week, I'll be parked over at the Omni Berkshire between shows sipping on my Rosemary Pear cocktails. If you wish to meet with me, this will be my official NYFW HQ. :) Seriously, the Omini Hotels are fabu and they offer a customer loyalty great rewards program called Select Guest which helps you defray the cost of travel. You earn rewards for future trips, on each stay. The Omni San Diego did a great job hosting bloggers at the recent BlogHer 11 conference.

Note: In exchange for sampling their cocktails, which is back breaking work, the Omni is graciously hosting me for a 2 day stay at their New York Hotel. In the interests of full disclosure, I want my readers to know this.

Friday Lunch Suggestion: Starbucks Bistro Box Savings

It's coming up on the end of the week! Hooray. I'm ready for some TGIF action. That's why I am passing along a coupon$1.00 off of a lunch via the new Starbuck's Bistro Boxes. Most of the boxes are under 500 calories, and I think they are pretty tasty. Especially the Chipolte Chicken Wrap. I don't care what Alec Baldwin says in his Huff Post blog about Starbucks "Prison Cake" ! :) I don't agree Alec. Get your Bistro Box coupon here.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Buyer Beware: Spiegel and Newport News, no customer returns or credits


Pictured: Siriano's modern two-piece black suit for Spiegel.

Back in early March, I blogged that Christian Siriano was launching a limited edition collection with Spiegel.
I was truly excited to have the opportunity to buy lower priced Christian Siriano garments similar to some of his Oscar fashions and New York Fashion Week runway collections via Spiegel. Unfortunately, I was not as excited about the suit once it arrived and I tried it on. The suit was not for me. So I returned it.

But the plot thickens, you see, Spiegel has declared bankruptcy, rather their parent company, Signature Styles, which also owns Newport News, has declared bankruptcy. Although their websites are still open for business and selling (all of the Christian Siriano collection is now on sale by the way), they are not currently honoring gift cards or providing returns to their customers. My whole order with them has been a debacle. It took months, then it finally arrived, and when I returned it no mas, zip! Zero refund. sadly, I need to get in line with the other creditors. Creditors like Google who are seeking $850,792 in payment from Signature Styles. This is the second bankruptcy filing for Signature Styles in 8 years. Why not just go out of business? Why keep selling?

Here's the note I got from Spiegel, after 60 days, about my return. Currently, they do not answer the phone.
__________________________________________
Note from Spiegel
We apologize for having to make you aware of this situation. Signature Styles has filed for Bankruptcy protection and will not be able to honor existing gift cards or process customer credits for returns on orders shipped prior to June 7, 2011 at this time. We are working on a plan to move forward with a replacement for return credits. The plan will need to be approved by the court and may take a few months to be resolved. Customers affected by the Bankruptcy would have received notice in the mail by the end of July as to what to do and how to file a claim, etc. We assure you the notice will explain what procedure to follow in regards to filing a claim. We deeply regret this situation and are working diligently to work out a process to satisfy our customers to the best of our ability.

________________________________________________________________

Bottom line: Buyer beware! Yes, Newport News and Spiegel are having big sales right now, but you have no assurance that the items will work for you, or that you will be able to get your money back if they don't. So if you see Christian Siriano and other great looking pieces on sale at Spiegel make an informed decision before you press the buy bottom. I'm hoping American Express' buyer protection program will come through for me here and help me get my $171.00 back from Spiegel.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Monday, August 22, 2011

Giveaway: Enter to Win Tibi's Facebook contest to go to NYFW

Fashion Alert: Fashion Show Giveway | Tibi: The Tibi Runway Show is on September 13th at 7pm Lincoln Center, NYC. And, you can now enter for the chance to win seats to the show and travel via the Tibi Facebook page. Please note, you must enter the contest via the Tibi Facebook page. Do not enter the contest here on The Recessionista.

I know many of my readers adore Tibi, so I wanted to let you know about this one. Tibi is one of the hottest brands in fashion today, and it is perfect summer wear. The brand is the brainchild of designer Amy Smilovic and is known for its laid back chic style. If you want to go to fashion week in style and score some fabby outfits from Tibi, then you might want to enter to win! I already did. I'd love to sit front row, or anywhere else for that matter at Tibi.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Middleton Style Watch: Aug 22 French Connection in the eBay Fashion Vault

Pictured: The eBay Fashion Vault will offer discount on the French Connection brand on Aug. 22nd.

Heads-up readers, UK chic n' cheap (sometimes at least) brand French Connection is coming to the eBay Fashion Vault tomorrow, August 22nd, for a special of 65% off of retail price for select styles. French Connection, aka FCUK, has been enjoying a huge uptick in sales thanks to the Middleton sisters, Kate and Pippa. Pippa has been sighted wearing the French Connection Talias Tale dress around London.

Pictured: Pippa Middleton rocks a French Connection dress.

Pictured: Kate Middleton in the now sold out "Sunrise Tellin" French Connection dress.

The eBay Fashion Vault sale will offer both garments from the women's and men's FCUK lines. The sale opens Monday 8/22, 8am PT and will close on Friday 8/26, 9pm PT (5 days). Highlights of the sale will include fall clothing, jackets and coats. Click here to get in first, and get the best before it's gone :)

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Old Navy's Fit Denim Clinic: Savings on Jeans

Despite the world's economic woes, jeans and denim continue to be at the top of all shoppers lists for fashionable spending. Remember earlier this year when some women said in a survey, that they like a good sale on jeans better than sex? Well, that's taking things a little too far. But if you do like a good sale on jeans, especially for "back to school", then check out Old Navy.

Old Navy will also offer denim sales during this time including:

· Kids denim starting at $15 (from 8/19-8/25)

· Adult denim starting at $17 (8/11-(8/25)

If you're too tired to make it in to your local Old Navy store today to shop and get fitted, then check out Shop at Home.com for online shopping. Click here for Old Navy Coupons.

DKNY Partners with American Express for a Cardmember Only NYFW Fashion Show

Pictured: Donna Karan takes the stage after her Spring 2011 show today in New York.

The DKNY show is always one of the highlights of my New York Fashion Week experience. I've been lucky enough to watch the DKNY runway shows in person. The designs are amazing, and it's always a tribute to New York City. Although Fashion Week is more open now, thanks to the Internet and live stream shows, most people don't have the opportunity to attend a live fashion week show unless they are part of the fashion industry or a member of the press. Now, American Express and DKNY are changing that by offering a show that will be open to American Express cardmembers via ticket purchase.

Donna Karan will be debuting the DKNY 2012 Resort Collection exclusively for American Express Cardmembers. Before the models hit the runway, Ms. Karan will offer the audience further insight into her inspiration and design approach for the collection. The event will take place Thursday, September 15 at Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, kicking off with pre-show cocktails at 7:30 p.m. and the show beginning promptly at 8:30 p.m. Additionally, American Express will contribute a portion of the proceeds to the Urban Zen Foundation, which was founded by Ms. Karan and is committed to raising awareness and inspiring change in the areas of well-being, preserving cultures and empowering children. This is the type of thing I love, great fashions combined with a great cause.

“I am so pleased to partner with American Express this season to create a special runway event for Cardmembers showcasing the DKNY 2012 Resort Collection,” said Donna Karan. “It’s very rewarding to share my vision and designs directly with the customers through such a one-of-a-kind evening during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.”

For details, visit americanexpress.com/entertainment for more information and to purchase limited packages. I have to check to see if I can use some of my Amex Membership Reward points for a ticket. Even though I typically attend the DKNY runway shows, I'd still like to see this special event!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The High Cost of Cheap: Forever 21 Faces Copyright Infringement Claim from Designer

Every Picture Tells a Story, Feral Childe's print above and Forever 21's on the bottom.

Can you tell the difference between these two prints? That's because they are almost identical. Low cost fashion trend retailer Forever 21 is under scrutiny for allegedly coping the print (the one in pink) from designer Feral Childe, an small Eco-label that is 100% made in the USA. In the eyes of many, the Feral Childe brand stands for doing things right in fashion and changing the way consumers think about their own social responsibility. Not to mention it is actually made in America--a vanishing breed. The print on the bottom in black and white (see photo above) looks substantially similar to Feral Childe's original design. Personally, I'm sad to see this. Sure we all like the look for less, but is it necessary to make such an exact replica and sell if for cheap? And how is it made so cheaply? Well of course, by outsourcing to countries outside the US with cheap labor.

Forever 21 says it trusts their suppliers to come to them with clean hands and original designs. But clearly, that may not be the case here. Social activist group Change.org is raising a petition to demand that Forever 21 take responsibility and compensate Childe. According to their website, " We demand that Forever21 cooperate with the Feral Childe designers to determine fair compensation for their work, the future of the "Teepees" print, and how to distribute the profit has already made from copying the "Teepees" print." To join the outcry, sign the Change.org petition by signing here.

We all want to look great and not pay high-end prices, but there's a fine line between imitation and a replica. What do you think readers? Do you think Forever 21 will be held accountable? The bigger issue is, does the trade of manufacturing cheap goods justify knocking off someone else's good work, made at a higher cost in an American factory?

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

British Brand Reiss About to Open Store in Bloomingdales NYC

Bloomingdales is getting the word out via Twitter that British Brand Reiss will be sold at Bloomingdales NYC's 59th St. store. I think this is a major marketing coup for the NYC Store to bring one of Kate Middleton's favorite clothiers to Americans via the mass market platform of Bloomingdales.com. Reiss is leasing the space, as it would a private boutique, from Bloomies. Look for Reiss fashions this weekend on Bloomingdales.com. I wonder if they will bring back Kate Middleton's Nanette dress (her engagement portrait dress) or the Shola dress she wore? Now that would be a way to kick off this whole partnership, wouldn't it? I'll be interested to see the pricing on Reiss via Bloomies. Will it be subject to the same sales and coupons? Stay tuned.

Banana Republic Mad Men Collection: Twitter Q&A and Casting Call Contest

Pictured: Simon Kneen and Janie Bryant, the creative forces behind the Mad Men collection.

If you're a fan of the AMC show Mad Men and you're loving the vintage styles of the new Banana Republic Mad Men Collection, then you might want to join a live QA today with the designers of the collection via the magic of Social Media and Twitter. You can join a live Twitter Q&A today (August 17) from 1:00 - 1:30PM (EST)/ 10:00 am to 10:30 am PST with the designers themselves - Banana Republic Creative Director Simon Kneen and Mad Men Costume Designer Janie Bryant. If you have questions about the collection, you can ask the designers themselves via a Tweet. Be sure to include the hashtag #BRMadMen. You may wish to follow BananaRepubic on Twitter for additional details.

Also, for all those fans of Mad Men, there is contest for you to try to win a walk-on role on the show itself. Banana Republic and AMC are once again co-sponsoring their popular “Mad Men” Casting Call contest where fans can submit photo entries at www.madmencastingcall.com for the chance to win a walk-on role on the award-winning program and a $1,000 Banana Republic shopping spree. Are you mad enough for Mad Men readers to try to win a guest appearance? :)

If you haven't seen the Mad Men collection yet, click here to read my review and learn about in-store savings.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Recessionista Round-up: BlogHer 11 Designer and Savings News

Pictured: Judith Ripka for Sam's Club

Last week I attended the BlogHer show in San Diego, CA. Typically, I learn more about technology and blog tools than I do about fashion, but this year's conference was little bit different. This year's show was laced with fashion, beauty products and new shopping tools for savings. Very savvy of the vendors to target all 3,500 women bloggers all in one venue. So following is a little update for you on new developments and savings tips. Let's start with the designer jewelry and the diamonds. :)

Judith Ripka is now selling a discounted line of her jewelry at ...wait for it Sam's Club! Yes, high-end designer Judith Ripka now has a line of jewelry priced from $51.00 (for a bracelet) to $5,000 for some jewelry with diamonds or other precious stones. WOW. I was shocked to see the Warehouse cousin of Walmart, Sam's Club, carrying Judith. Products like the cushion cut earrings look glamorous and so far have good reviews from Sam's Club members.

Gordon Ramsey for KMart. Luxury restaurateur, Gordon Ramsey, aka screaming hellion of Hell's Kitchen and potty mouth extraordinaire is launching a budget line of cookware at Kmart. Hey, Williams Sonoma it ain't, but neither is the price point. The lure here is that you can enjoy delicious food at home using Gordon's delicious recipes and cookware without paying for an expensive dinner at the London, or one of his other restaurants. The line is due at KMart stores in Sept. As Gordon himself might say, that's f'in brilliant. Why should Paula Dean at Walmart and Gia at Target corner the budget cookware market?

Healthy Shoes. There were some great looking shoes (see the pink pair above) at BlogHer courtesy of website Oh! Shoes, a company whose mission is to save women’s feet from pain without sacrificing fashion. Oh! has designed technically engineered high heels, boots, sandals and flats that look good and feel good. What a great concept. Why should good looking shoes hurt your feet and cause you pain. Even more impressive than Oh! Shoes comfortable styles is their partnership with a charity that give shoes to people in need. Oh! Shoes has partnered with Soles 4 Souls, one of the fastest growing charities in the U.S. Soles 4 Souls has given away over 15 million pairs of shoes. So before you buy new shoes at some place like Oh! Shoes think about donating the ones you no longer wear to people who need new shoes. Check the Soles 4 Soul site to find out where to donate.

Dr Scholl's. Speaking of shoes, Dr. Scholl's was at BlogHer giving out fabulous protection for your feet. Pictured above are the comfy "Ball of Foot" Cushions getting friendly with some Badgley Mischka heels. Who knew that help was available to cushion your feet in such style? Look for these little treats at your local drugstore.
Finally, some savings sites were at BlogHer that are very worth checking out.

Itemize.com: This new site is an aggregator of deals on various items from all over the web for just about any item. You create your shopping profile and preferences by answering a few questions, and joining the site. Then Itemize will bring you the online deals via some search & retrieval technology.

Cheap Sally. This new site features online deals and coupons. This site has a little of everything, deals at big box retailers, cell phone providers, travel sites and entertainment venues. You can even look for local deals there.

RetailMeNot.com Coupon Codes: Look for thousands of coupon codes from this site, cheekily called RetailMeNot. The point here to look for a coupon code before you buy, so that you will never have to pay reail again. The codes come from site members and the RetailMeNot team, they do the work to bring you all the deals.

RedPlum.com: The provider of the coupons from your Sunday paper, aka RedPlum, also has a website full of coupons for groceries, household items and beauty products.

Savings and Rebates: Two sites that offer deals and rebates were at the conference. Both sites are worth checking out if you like to shop online more than you like to visit the store. eBates has some fantastic savings on "Back to School" items at the moment, offering cash back when you shop with them. Shop at Home has an amazing array of discounts on fashion, big box stores and high-end beauty products. It's quite addictive!

Sneak Peak: Look Book for Missoni for Target Collection

Pictured: One of the more subdued styles from the Missoni for Target collection.

Target sent over the complete look book for the upcoming launch of their Missoni for Target collection, and honestly, it's a bit overwhelming. I'm literally zig-zagging through all 400 plus looks and checking it out. There are fashions for men, women, kids, even babies!! Do you want your baby to wear a Missoni onesie? If so, your prayers have been answered by the Target marketing department. There is even a piece of sectional furniture with the trademark stripes on it for detail.

Pictured: The Missoni Patio Sectional Furniture is a mere $599.00 US.

If you love luxury brand Missoni and you love big splashes of color, you'll go for the clothing and accessories. Providing of course the quality is there. That's something that no look book can really tell us.

Pictured: Missoni for Target Boho Chic Look. (courtesy of Target)

One of my favorite pieces from the collection is this shawl collar knit cardigan for men priced at $49.99. The pictures are really inviting. Check this out, I could see this as a great early Xmas gift.

Pictured: This men's sweater is a great look for 49.99 (courtesy of Target)

Click here to see the entire Look Book and browse the collection . Let me know what you think. Here's a little collage of the looks for women. There is a swimsuit, lots of colorful cardigans and jumpers, plus some great looking shoes (flats, heels and rain boots/wellies.) The patterns maybe a bit too loud for the average Target shopper who buys Merona or Mossimo, but the accessories may appeal to those buyers. And honestly, bright horizontal stripes are not going to look good on every figure type. So, I'm anxious to see how consumers respond to this collection.


Pictured: An array of Missoni striped pieces from Tar-jay for Women.

Ranging in price from $2.99 to $599.99, with the added lure that most items will be less than $40 USD, Missoni for Target will be available Sept. 13 through Oct. 22, 2011 at all Target stores and Target.com. Pending availability, select pieces from the collection, including a variety of online-only items, will be available for an extended run through early December at Target.com.

Note: Racked NY reports that the collection will be available at a special for Fashion's Night Out (Sept. 8th) in NYC. Target plans to host another pop-up shop at 1095 Sixth Avenue, the Bryant Park location.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Recesssionista Reviews the Mad Men Collection at Banana Republic

Pictured:The Leopard Trench, the Betty dress and spotted cardigan.

OK, I tripped, stumbled and fell for the Mad Men collection today when I stepped into the Beverly Center Mall. I was going to try to resist the siren's call until it went on sale, but when I checked the in-store racks and the online store today, I realized that some of the collection is already selling out. Plus, Banana is really hustling for the business here offering 25% off incentives in store, coupons Mad Men savings weekly in Sept, and online 25% off savings too using code BRSUMMER25 until Aug.16th. So although many pieces in the collection are priced at $130.00 to $150.00 there are many ways to not pay the retail price. The collection itself is impressive, and the designs are really well done. This is not just a licensing/branding scheme for the TV show, these are viable fashions. The difference is the involvement of Janie Bryant, the TV show's costume designer. The dresses are particularly well cut with fantastic details that make them figure flattering. They cinch at the waist, and flare at the hips for an elegant look that is pure vintage vogue. Only the Betty dress with the knot at the waist has a fuller skirt. It's a bit more demure, just like the Betty character. The back of this dress is as gorgeous as the front with little tucks around the zippers. No surprise, some of my favorites from the collection are already selling briskly. I got one of the last lace dresses in black at my store. I also loved the grey lace tipped dress.

Pictured: The lace tipped dress has trim at the shoulders and the hem.

Other highlights of the collection are of course the tweed suit, with its beautiful jacket with the rounded collar. Many of us no longer wear suits at the office anymore, so I predict that this piece won't sell as briskly as the dresses. It's a really a beautifully tailored jacket for the price. I think this one will make it to the sales racks, because suits aren't as common place any longer. Some of us just don't have the need for a good suit any longer.

Pictured: The jacket from the Mad Men suit.

I wasn't as impressed with the begonia print dresses or the houndstooth dress, but they are nicely done. The cardigans are cute, but not as special or unique as the other pieces. Likewise, the lace sleeveless tops are also lovely, but there are many stores selling these for less this season (including H&M), so those may not be the best use of your style dollars. But if you like the series and the 1960s vintage look, definitely go check out the collection. If you go in-store to shop, you'll receive coupons for additional savings. Starting Aug. 31st through Sept. 21st Banana will be offering savings every Wednesday on pieces from the collection. If you buy one item from the collection on one of those dated Wednesdays, you'll save 30%. If you buy two items, you'll save 40% of the retail prices. This marketing promotion is called "Mad for Wednesdays." Despite the lure of future discounts, I went ahead and bought the lace dress from the collection, since it fit like a dream and it's selling out in many sizes. I got 25% off the retail price by reactivating my BR charge card, which I hadn't used in quite a while.

Pictured: The many coupons I received when I bought the BR Mad Men lace dress in black.

I also got two $25.00 style notes from Banana to come back and shop during the last week in August during designated days. Bottom line, Banana Republic has a good product here, and they are pushing hard for the business with a variety of offers. If you like Mad Men and Vintage style, you'll definitely want to check out your local store.

Sunday Special: Giveaway of Clarins Skin Care Feed Project Cosmetic Bag

Pictured: The elegant Clarins Feedbag giveaway.

It's Sunday night, and the last glimpses of weekend freedom are fading fast. Sunday always goes way too fast for me, how about you? To celebrate the last embers of the summer light, I'm doing a blog giveaway of some great skin care products. I've used and loved Clarins skincare products before, so it's time to spread the skin love around to my readers. ELLE Magazine gave me this amazing goodie bag, and now one lucky reader of The Recessionista will win it. This giveaway is for a set of three amazing Clarins products, in a beautiful pouch with the number 15 on it. The 15 is for the number of meals buying the pouch can provide for needy kids in poor countries. The value of these cosmetics is $48.00 US.

This set contains:
- Hand and Nail Treatment Cream (1.7 oz.).
- Moisture-Rich Body Lotion (3.5 oz.).
- Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Shade 01 Rose Shimmer (0.15 oz.).
- FEED bag. Yes, you read that right, these elegant products come in a FEED bag.

So why the FEED bag for the cosmetics you may ask? Clarins is working with the FEED project to help fight hunger worldwide. Founded in 2007 by Lauren Bush, this nonprofit organization has raised over $6 million and distributed over 60 million meals to hungry children across the globe. How wonderful is that? With the purchase of a Clarins FEED 15 bag, 15 meals will be provided through the World Food Programme (WFP). The signature stenciled number indicates the nutritious meals provided. If you love Clarins and want to help FEED some worthy kids who need your help, look for these sets on sale at Nordstrom's now for $30.00. In the meantime, of course, you can try to win one right here on the blog.

Here's what you need to do to win this great set of beauty products. You know I love social media, so I'm asking all of you to get social, and get in it to win it! :) Simply leave me a comment telling me what the FEED project is all about. Tell me in your comment how you entered. Leave a comment for each entry, or detail your entries in a comment, so I can give you credit. This contest will end at midnight PST on August 31st. Leave your email address in the comment like this: Jane at yahoo dot com. (this will protect you from spam robots picking up your email and adding you to their Spam bots!

In addition to telling me about the FEED project, you can earn additional entries like so:

•Follow The Recessionista on Twitter, @Recessionista– 1 Entry (leave a comment to tell me you are a follower.)

•Tweet the Giveaway (Use your own 140 characters or use this here's little sample tweet: #Win a Clarins Cosmetic Gift Bag from @Recessionista , learn how at http://bit.ly/pDWxC9 pls RT) – 1 Entry per Tweet, Unlimited Tweets (please space them by 2 at least hours though!) (leave a comment to tell me you are got Twitterific.)

•Blog this Giveaway (leave a direct link via the comments) – 5 Entries

•Fan The Recessionista on Facebook – 1 Entry (leave a comment to tell me you joined.)

•Get a friend to fan The Recessionista on Facebook (they must leave a comment on my Facebook wall saying “_____ sent me!” – filling in your name, obv.). – 1 Entry per Friend

• Finally, however you enter, please leave an email address in your comment so I can find you.

•Enter by August 31th at midnight PST.

Friday, August 12, 2011

The Sears Friends and Family sale: Back to School, Clothes, Electronics, Everything

Hear ye, Hear ye! American shopping tradition, Sears, is having a Friends and Family sale. They are getting shoppers ready for back to school and the end of summer with special savings both in-store and online. Click here for the free coupons to shop. The online sale is all this weekend, from Sat, Aug 13, 8 PM CT to Mon, Aug 15, 4 AM CT, while the in-store sale is on Sun, Aug 14, 6-9 PM. As official sale town crier, here's the scoop, look for deals on FCUK (French Connection), Denim, Housewares (think dorm room), Electronics, Lands' End and if you must go there, the Krazy Kardashian Kollection. Here's the best part of the sale, beyond the savings, 5% of your purchase will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, so you'll be supporting a very worthy cause.

Pictured: One of the highlights of the sale, all the great books, including the NYT bestsellers.

There are a couple of other things I like at the Sear's sale that go beyond fashion. Books! Yes, as an avid reader, I love that Sears sells book, including all the current New York Times bestsellers and the books are part of the sale. Look for my new favorite, The Help on sale at Sears.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Mad Men Dress Sighting: Actress Jame King in the Lace Dress

Actress Jamie King in a Mad Men collection from Banana Republic Dress. (photo courtesy of Getty images)

Actress Jamie King was spotted over at the Chateau Marmont (LA's top cool spot, and beautiful people hangout) wearing a cream lace dress from the Banana Republic Mad Men collection. The is the Mad Men collection lace dress and it retails for $130.00 US. The dress is also available in basic black, and it's truly the new/old Little Black Dress (LBD).

Pictured: The Mad Men Collection lace dress in black.

This dress is definitely my favorite in the collection and Banana is selling it in Petite sizes as well as regular. What do you think readers? I'm hearing from some of you via Twitter, that you love the collection. Will you wait for it to go on sale, or splurge now? That is the Shakespearean (to buy or not to buy) like quandary. If you splurge now, remember to get your Banana Republic charge card rewards points working for you. Also, have a look at the Banana Republic Coupons from Shop at Home to save. (note: sponsored link here readers, but the savings are real.)