Bergdorf Goodman - Something for ALMOST nothing

The Andy Open Back Dress by Oonagh for Nanette Lepore in size large (10-12) for $59. With the gift card, that will be $9 plus tax, originally $118.

~Nancy Brenner

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

TREND ALERT: Scarves by SYBIL

Whoa.  I was unexpectedly blown away this weekend.  A friend's friend took off for Sarasota a few months ago, had a creative epiphany, and the rest is soon to be history.

Wendy Hubbard had never sewn before in her life.  In a few short months she conceived, created and has just begun to outsource production of her "scarves with a twist": they have no ends and they marry materials that aren't supposed to go together.

The result? 360 degrees of scarf made from unexpected combinations of chiffon, leather, men's suiting, jersey...you name it.  The materials are varied and beautiful, the pairing of colors and patterns, breathtaking.  Put one on and you and your outfit get kicked up at least three levels of cool.

Apparently her first customer, a boutique in Florida, can't keep them in stock.  They have sold out six times in a row.  In Florida.  Where people don't oft wear scarves!  And apparently half of the buyers are MEN.  Very interesting...

Wendy is soon hightailing it out of Fla. and back to NYC where she hopes to sell her wares to the big boys (think: Bergdorf).  Can't wait to see what's next.

Editor's Note: Photos don't do justice!

Friends & Family Offers Flood Fifth Avenue

Lord & Taylor seems to have this best department store discounts at 25% off.
Believe it or not Bergorf has the best buy on cosmetics with a $25 Beauty Gift Card towards a purchase of $100 or more starting on Thursday.
Saks is 20% off, 10% on cosmetics online use coupon code FRIEND3.
Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor LOFT: Friends and Family! 30% off your entire purchase Tuesday, April 20 through Sunday, April 25.

~Nancy Brenner

Seven Sweeps to Spruce Up Spring

Mama need a brand new pair of Manolos? Try your luck at the Bergdorf Sweepstakes for $5,000 worth of Sex and the City footwear (get hoofed for the Sex and the City Movie 2, May 28th). Neiman Marcus has a
$5,000 sweeps for Valentino Shoes & Handbags. Men, we have not forsaken you - kudos to retailers por homme John Varvatos and women's workwear to wow wear designer Lafayette 148 for offering a new wardrobe worth $5,000. Bloomingdales offers a Hot Spring wardrobe for $2,000, Saks has a Spring Wardrobe one for $1,500, while Spiegel celebrates its 145th anniversary for a grand prize of $1,000.

Moi, I have never won anything bigger than a turtle, but I was the envy of my entire elementary school.

Readers, know of any more worthy sweeps this month? Tip us off. Links below:

Valentino Shoe & Handbag
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/user/registerforemail.jhtml?id=1200002&icid=home4

http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/user/registerforemail.jhtml?navid=emailFooterLinks-Blahnik

http://www.johnvarvatos.com/store/sweepstakes.aspx

http://www.lafayette148.com/sweepstakes.php

https://www.saksfifthavenue.com/html/email_popup/email_collect_popup_main.jsp?ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395222441&bmUID=1269747151766&sre=mhpb3$

Bloomingdales Hot Spring Wardrobe worth $2,000
http://www.bloomingdales.com/

Spiegel's 145th Anniversary Sweepstakes - Grand Prize $1,000
http://www.spiegel145th.com/pages/MatchGame.html#

~Nancy B.

Barneys & Bergdorf's: A Shoepacalypse

There was discussion among the downtown set at Anna the other day that the shoes at high-end department stores were crazy, ugly and/or unwearable. I thought that sounded plausible, but wanted to do some real investigation (while looking for some new boots) myself, so I headed to two meccas: Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman.

Um, yeah, holy tacky cheese fest. There were easily 8,000 pairs of shoes and boots between the two stores, and I liked about 4 of them. I'm not even going to get into the absurd cost factor, but it seems to me that these retail shrines have turned to pandering to the lowest common denominator of style. Think Sopranos. And beyond style, who can actually wear these 9" heels?

Speaking of which, as I walked in the door of Bergdorf's Furio from the Sopranos was walking out. And no I am not kidding.

My quest continues. It's possible that this year in shoes is a wash. Or it may be time to refurbish ye olde boots in the closet. Either way, I shall continue to seek on all of our behalves.

p.s. Just say NO to over-the-knee boots. Especially if you are not 5'8" or taller!

Report from the Front: Fashion Night Out

Thanks to Nancy Brenner for reporting on the new national holiday (while I was home sick last night!):

Major missed opportunity for men - bevy of fashion forward women who dressed like they were going to sashay down the red carpet at the Emmy's next week. Platform heels, ankle booties, mini dresses and toned thighs abounded - and that wasn't even the celebs. Started at Saks expecting scores of major makeup freebies as widely promoted. Not so much. I went to numerous counters and I'm too much of a lady to name names, but the consensus was sample only with purchase. Estee Lauder did it right - offered nice samples of Private Collection Jasmine White Moss - and you didn't have to go to the counter to beg for it. Blowout from Frederic Fekkai - only one person doing blowouts - until 7 - for thousands of women on the main floor. On the plus side, I got to meet Teri Jon designer Rickie Freeman who was very gracious and thanked me for coming over. I was two steps away from Elie Tahari who was posing for pics with customers. Spotted David Yurman. And met new to Saks, designer Yoana Baraschi who assured me that her stunning black and red knit color block number featured in the catalogue would fit me - and she was right. She even told me the secret to her rockin legs - Pilates. Wish there was a Nielsen's overnight ratings for sales - just curious how many credit card swipes aside from the makeup counters which were jam packed when I left.

Next stop Prada. Grace Coddington striking flaming red hair and all signing stacks of Vogue - standing with September little red riding hood model Sasha - looking teensy, but gorgeous next to her. I asked about the free t-shirts for Fashion Night Out they were supposedly giving out - but again, this was a gift with purchase.

The big B - Bergdorf's was bustling. Headed straight up the escalator determined to meet the Olsen twins at 7 p.m. Escalators were packed and they stopped letting people on to the 7th floor where the Olsens were supposed to be tending bar. Lots of smells mixed in - free chocolate and nut bits, flowing wine and strangely sausages. Seventh floor was packed worse than the A train at rush hour, but Olsens were nowhere in sight at the appointed hour and many of the hoards simply left in search of water. Ground floor packed with paparazzi snapping pics of celebs. Lots of people buying "Fashion's Night Out" tees. Disappointed hot Olsen fans just left. Major line of fashionistas waiting to get into the store. BG - A+ for coolest crowd, food and liquor freebies, empty makeup counters - if you really wanted a makeup makeover, this was your opportunity.

Final stop - Stacy London of "What Not to Wear" fame - pumped up arms, black peep toe ankle boots. Was standing right next to her at Ann Taylor when she picked out a soul in the crowd who needed a little bit of London tough love. Have to admit, it's one thing when you're fashion quarterbacking from your couch, and another when you are just an eyeball away from her as she's deciding who needs a new bra. London's dad was there - I asked him when she started her shopping sprees - he said she as always a big shopper. London offered to help everyone in the dressing room - the ultimate personal shopper.

Fashion Night Out - Where else can you mix with designers, celebs, models and real people? "What's Not to Like" Just paying retail...

A report from the front (To sample sale online or brick and mortar?)

Another re"tale" provided by the prolific Nancy Brenner:

I feel like I won the sample sale lottery last night. I must report that I snagged the Michelle O cover of People Tracy Reese pink eyelet kimono for a mere $50 at a garmento sample sale . It retailed for $395. A true sample sale price. Only the week before, Gilt, where I have a credit following an errant purchase, had an online sale and I compared the wares. Many of the items I saw at the sample sale were also online, but at substantially higher prices. Why shop online? If you're not a sample sale size, you may be better off buying online where you know you can get your size in 30 secs without the hassle and hustle of getting there in person. And even though sample sales are starting earlier (a good number now at 8 am and some open until 9 pm - formerly unheard of), it may still be hard to get to given your work schedule, parenting or social commitments since it's almost summer (even though it feels like a London fog one at that). If you're an out-of-towner, online still works unless you want to use your vacations for mini-shopping trysts to New York for sample-sale packed weeks like this one where you can catch Shoshanna, D&G, Catherine Malandrino, etc..... The deals online are still good compared to full-on retail and hand to hand combat at Berdgdorf's, but they are not steals compared with brick and mortar. And the shoes were a mere $45 - why don't they start the line with a size 5? Petite feet need to be shod too! Even men were snapping them up, presumably as gifts. I've noticed way more many men at women's sales - without any women in tow - are they shopping for themselves, a girlfriend, or to flip it on eBay? And please stay away from the dressing rooms! Readers, what say you on online versus in-person?

Gil Carvalho shoes

I really don't know what else to say, except that somebody needs to buy me a few pairs of these bad boys...Gil Carvalho. He hails from London and I have heard his shoes are sold in New York at Bergdorf's...although I cannot confirm or deny that rumor. Regardless, I don't really care where they are sold because I want somebody to hook a sister up! Neither affordable nor practical, these things are something to be seen.