Giant Missoni Texting Chick on Mad Ave Last Night

A big huge giant lady, who wasn't even a model, was seen texting outside the Missoni store on Madison Avenue during last night's "Fashion's Night Out."

I ran into Andre Leon Talley, Valentino, and Dolce & Gabbana -- the people themselves -- as I walked back downtown along Madison.  I felt like I had crashed the set of the Devil Wears Prada 2.  Funny stuff.

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

Brooks Brothers: Shop, Save $, and Donate Simultaneously!

Brooks Brothers helping everyone this holiday season!

Calypso/ASHA Jewelry Launch - May 8-9, 15-16

LeSportcac Sale This Week (April 24)

I don't know if you were like me, but back in the early 80s LeSportsac was IT. For all of you who follow this blog, you know I have an adversarial relationship with the almighty PURSE, but there was nothing quite like the turquoise SportSac I had back in 6th/7th grade. So! This leads me to news about a sale going on now at LeSportsac(s). I may have to check it out, for nostalgia's sake, if nothing else...

One-week sale at all LeSportsac boutiques and lesportsac.com, starting Thursday April 24th, 2008: LeSportsac Madison Avenue, 1065 Madison Avenue; LeSportsac SoHo, 176 Spring Street ; LeSportsac Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Blvd., #750, Los Angeles

Spend $100 and receive 20% off your purchase
Spend $300 and receive 30% off your purchase

(Sale subject to product availability and applies to all merchandise. Promotion can not be combined with another promotion or discount. Maximum discount is 30%. )

June 1: Styling for The Soul – An Afternoon of Fashion

The G.S. really believes that wearing clothes that fit great and make you feel sassy can change the way you feel about yourself, which will in turn help you to live a more fun-filled fab life. Give it a shot and learn how on June 1:

Styling for The Soul – An Afternoon of Fashion
with Dame Lori, the Duchess of Finesse and Marianne Talbot, Directrix of Modern Venus Ltd.
Hosted at the Alicia Mugetti Design Salon
Sunday, June 1, 2008
12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Wouldn’t It Be Amazing . . . to own your styling vision, own your beauty, own your body and own your spending before you begin shopping?

The Dame and Marianne want to take each of you on your own personal style journey in one afternoon …. And as an added treat, there will be special Alicia Mugetti designs for you at special prices!

Come play with Dame Lori and she will:
* Become your personal stylist for your soul
* Help birth you into chic beauty as your Pleasure Doula
* Teach you to be your own Mistress of Metamorphosis

Learn how to:
Find out what turns you on! Who are your fashion icons and muses? Let’s create your Collective Soul Style today!
Get inspired about creating your Styling Spending Plan. Where to go? What are the best sources for you so that you can get instant gratification and get it for free or almost free? Or at full price!
Collect the 7 most important pieces that will bring you maximum wardrobe pleasure.
Conjure the most fabulous and perfect items effortlessly and with endless creative fun!

In addition, Marianne Merritt Talbot, the Directrix of Modern Venus Ltd., New York’s premiere lifestyle and career coaching company, will dance you through a “Top 10 List on the Art of Presentation”– which will add more substance, power and sparkle to your professional presentation style, particularly in the workplace.

Date: Sunday, June 1, 2008
Time: 12-6 p.m.
*Registration and special shopping opportunities: 12-1 p.m.
* Program: 1-5 p.m.
* Networking, wine and more shopping!: 5-6 p.m.

Location: The Alicia Mugetti Design Salon, 675 Madison Avenue (near 61st St.)
Price: $95.00, which includes a finessed fashion find!

To register or for any questions, email info@ModernVenus.net or call 212.929.9999

Daffy's: Baby Gift

OK, so I realized that I can't really talk about what Christmas presents I am buying or the places I am buying them in, or else those who I am buying for will know what they are getting (assuming that they read my blog on the regular)! But what I will talk about, because I'm pretty sure that they don't read this blog and their newborn baby certainly does not (yet), is the fantastically cute and well-priced gift I bought in anticipation of everyone's favorite party: THE BRISS...

I should probably buy the kid a plane ticket so that he can get out of Dodge, but instead I bought him a wee winter coat (that resembles the one pictured above) by miniman at Daffy's on Madison Ave. And I had a 10% off coupon! Rejoice!