Experienced shoppers sidled up to the $50 sample sale racks faster than Lady Gaga flipped off photogs at the Mets game. Finds include the one shoulder frock in cobalt or cherry red retailing at Bloomingdales for $305 selling for $50; the rainforest floral sheath retailing at $360 and already sold out at the Neiman Marcus site except for a size 8, here for $150. Cover ups could do double duty as dresses on a sun-drenched city afternoon - a deep V-neck cover-up retailing for $220, a cutwork lace cover up for $255 and a floral one for $240, selling for $75 each. Real finds if you want your assets to look as fabulous on the beach as they do everywhere else.
241 West 39th Street
4th floor
~nancy brenner
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Lulu Guiness Handbag Sale
...is starting tomorrow (June 16). SS10 and HR09 handbag collections will be 30% off online (luluguinness.com) and in-store (394 Bleecker St, NYC, phone 212-367-2120).
Monday, June 14, 2010
Loreley Williamsburg: Good World Cup Watching
It is rare that I am one of the first people to try a new and extremely hyped restaurant, but seeing how it is the World Cup and my friend is a real live German, I agreed to go to the new Loreley in Williamsburg on Sunday. We were on a quest to get a seat for the Germany/Australia game, and indeed we did. We were the first people there at 11:50 a.m. and got the best table in the haus. Unfortunately, our friends were not so prompt, and we were forced to give up our empty chairs to others before they arrived. But it was a great time nevertheless. The food was just as good as the Manhattan location as was the service (I don't envy the waitstaff at all). And while it's not a huge place, the layout is more open than the Manhattan location. There's also a great outdoor patio with tables and umbrellas, and the bar opens up right onto it.
So if you are going during the next few weeks to watch the World Cup, here are some tips:
1. Show up 2-2.5 hours before the game starts if you want a seat. Bring your whole crew or else they probably will be ass-out (literally).
2. Get ready for someone in your party to hand over a credit card, so that you can't dine-and-ditch. Apparently after the US/England game they got majorly stiffed, and so now this is a requirement.
3. Get your haircut like the guy in the picture.
So if you are going during the next few weeks to watch the World Cup, here are some tips:
1. Show up 2-2.5 hours before the game starts if you want a seat. Bring your whole crew or else they probably will be ass-out (literally).
2. Get ready for someone in your party to hand over a credit card, so that you can't dine-and-ditch. Apparently after the US/England game they got majorly stiffed, and so now this is a requirement.
3. Get your haircut like the guy in the picture.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Bigger Sizes in at Change of Season, Boutique Outlet
New items from: VIVIENNE WESTWOOD RED LABEL, MARGIELA, GALLIANO...are in - and some of them in sizes 10-12. Glory glory!
Change of Season, a boutique outlet
341 East 9th St. NYC
www.changeofseasonnyc.com
Change of Season, a boutique outlet
341 East 9th St. NYC
www.changeofseasonnyc.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Girly Girls with Great Gams Go to Tracy Reese: Report From The Front Preview
Today's To Do: DvF or Tracy Reese? Samples are $50 at Tracy Reese including current line pieces. Best buys are simply WOW dresses that retail for over $300, and some sparkly ones for over $400. Do your homework as one shopper eyed a leopard print dress online and was able to zone in on it faster than a New York minute on the sample sale racks (those tied with a bow). Sample sizes seemed smaller and shorter than usual and many shoppers tugged at zippers to try to make them fit. Recession weight gain or smaller sample size models? Note that Dillard's is having a fab sale on the lower priced, but equally original line, Plenty by Tracy Reese Carmen style priced at $52.50. Scope out dillards.com before you go and glimpse.com. Patient helpful staff and kudos to fellow shoppers who readily swapped dresses and offered picks that didn't suit their coloring or size.
~Nancy Brenner
~Nancy Brenner
Friday, June 04, 2010
Consignment Shop Virgin: Report From the Front - Michael's Consignment Shop
Don't be intimidated by the steps leading to this high-end consignment shop nestled along the ladies-who-lunch brand flagship stores on Madison Avenue. With labels like Hermes and Chanel, I expected to see a few older women hauling heavy purses, with brand names so expensive, that I had only admired them at Bergdorf as if visiting an exhibit at the Met.
Michael's is a bustling interactive high-end, cool-girl exhibit with sparkly St. John, Milly, and Balenciaga in the mix. All ages and social strata have discovered the joys of cash for clothes that were using up valuable NYC closet space - the solution to an instant Gilt-gone-wrong finale sale purchase, or sample sale finds that seemed too cheap to pass on. There are many regulars here who are both buying and selling. One lamented the Prada coat that was there only a few days before - and "walked away." Her tip: if it's a beauty, buy it - it's unlikely you'll spot it twice. Fingering a Missoni, she said, "what's there to think about? A Missoni speaks for itself." Another regular suggests googling consignment shops in upper-crust neighborhoods for best selections and noted there were several nearby.
If you own any designer names - from the big leagues like Chanel to Louboutin, or the the Bergdorf 5F ones like Milly, Diane von Furstenberg, Shoshanna or Nanette, this may be your sample sale salvation. Tips for consignment shop virgins: Call in advance to determine which brands they accept. Bring in current season only. Make sure to mothball or store your winter goods and bring them back in the Fall. Prepare yourself for rejection. Cute or crazy? The ladies at the shop will decide. That oh so hot Louboutin color that you waited five hours to buy at the sample sale, but can't stand in for more than a nanosecond may not make their carefully curated cut. Merchandise is typically priced at 1/3 of retail, and then you can expect half of the profits - although prices are marked down if they do not sell. One source so far has discovered $300 this season from a recent closet cleaning.
If you're in buying mode, check out their eveningwear upstairs- for this category of merchandise it's unlikely you'll find better prices, unless you're married to a Saks sales associate. Pause before blowing multiple c-notes for Blahniks as some seem more shop-worn than gently. Happy Hunting!
michaelsconsignment.com
1041 Madison Avenue @ 79th Street
~nancy brenner
Michael's is a bustling interactive high-end, cool-girl exhibit with sparkly St. John, Milly, and Balenciaga in the mix. All ages and social strata have discovered the joys of cash for clothes that were using up valuable NYC closet space - the solution to an instant Gilt-gone-wrong finale sale purchase, or sample sale finds that seemed too cheap to pass on. There are many regulars here who are both buying and selling. One lamented the Prada coat that was there only a few days before - and "walked away." Her tip: if it's a beauty, buy it - it's unlikely you'll spot it twice. Fingering a Missoni, she said, "what's there to think about? A Missoni speaks for itself." Another regular suggests googling consignment shops in upper-crust neighborhoods for best selections and noted there were several nearby.
If you own any designer names - from the big leagues like Chanel to Louboutin, or the the Bergdorf 5F ones like Milly, Diane von Furstenberg, Shoshanna or Nanette, this may be your sample sale salvation. Tips for consignment shop virgins: Call in advance to determine which brands they accept. Bring in current season only. Make sure to mothball or store your winter goods and bring them back in the Fall. Prepare yourself for rejection. Cute or crazy? The ladies at the shop will decide. That oh so hot Louboutin color that you waited five hours to buy at the sample sale, but can't stand in for more than a nanosecond may not make their carefully curated cut. Merchandise is typically priced at 1/3 of retail, and then you can expect half of the profits - although prices are marked down if they do not sell. One source so far has discovered $300 this season from a recent closet cleaning.
If you're in buying mode, check out their eveningwear upstairs- for this category of merchandise it's unlikely you'll find better prices, unless you're married to a Saks sales associate. Pause before blowing multiple c-notes for Blahniks as some seem more shop-worn than gently. Happy Hunting!
michaelsconsignment.com
1041 Madison Avenue @ 79th Street
~nancy brenner
Thursday, June 03, 2010
June 16 -- Second Chances: Shoshanna Sample Sale
If you missed the first Spring/Summer sale, bolt to this one for prices better than the Bergdorf's 40% off sale. Not for novices. This is for serious shoppers who can navigate a showroom sale with only their credit card, cell and the ability to hold their own at the mirror with fellow Shoshanna addicts in various stages of undress. June 16, 10am
231 West 39th
~nancy brenner
231 West 39th
~nancy brenner
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Autumn Cashmere: Ward Off Office Chill with Cashmere
Novelties for $75 or cotton pullovers for $35, hoodies for $45. Nothing higher than $105 for men. No competition, no excuses. Women one-of-a-kind knit dresses for $105. Cotton samples for $45 or cashmere for $75, with stock going for $95 - the cashmere sequin leopard sweater pictured retails for over $300. Look for orange tickets for best prices. Manageable crowd. Check out whowhatwear to see which favorite celeb is wearing the popular brand. 231 West 39th Street. ~Nancy Brenner
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