Call to Michelle Obama: Recessionista!

Bargain shopper and writer extraordinaire, Nancy Brenner, pens another important piece for GSNYC:

According to Barron's new cover story on the new consumer and the Michelle Index, Michelle O. wields weighty influence over brands like J. Crew whose fortunes rise as a result. Michelle Obama tried to lead the nation as a frugalista by gracing J. Crew even wearing a timeless twin to Jay Leno, but Crew is still an aspirational brand for most Americans. And at the TIME 100 dinner, she showed up in a pricey Michael Kors number. Michelle - try shopping like most American grappling with job losses, furloughs, and two-household paychecks slimmed down to one or none- by being a recessionista. As a veteran of more sample sales then I'll ever admit to, I offer my tips to savings wannabe Obama and real recessionistas on how to earn their sample sale blackbelts. Tips for the frugalista: Ever had someone snatch your very own clothes at a sample sale? It's not just an urban myth - bring a bag with you that's big enough to stuff in your "street clothes" so you don't have to guard them in the makeshift dressing room. Don't want to show up to work or an appointment with your hair in disarray? One savvy shopper clipped her hair close to her head in a signore Chanel scarf so she could keep her coif perfect. Set a stopwatch - establish a time limit from the start - and allow for checkout lines. Be strategic - go for the most limited item first - if a sale is stocked with skirts, but few blouses, get there faster than KFC coupon holders. If you can wing it to NY for a Broadway show, surely it's worth the savings to head to the sales. Amortize extra costs such as parking near the building - consider it part of the expenditure. One woman takes the red eye to hit up her favorite sale, stocks up with racks of clothes and heads home with her booty. At reductions for a Lafayette 148 leather jacket from $895 to $75, it was worth the airfare. Buddy up - go with someone who's judgment you trust and can be an extra "mirror" - and can assess when something is not the perfect fit - maybe Sarah Palin has some free time. Michelle - show us you got game and on your next trip to New York, roll up your sleeves (if you're wearing any) and go where real fashionistas hunt for fabu finds - on long lines to gain entry into dimly lit spaces, with teensy try-on rooms and dresses that even Jackie-O would have worn with grace. Bring the Secret Service with you and find out where the real housewives of New York and their single counterparts hang out and economize.

XOXO, Sample Sale Girl

Lord & Taylor "Private" Sale

Lord & Taylor's Private Sale is going on now. And now it's not so private. Click here to review the savings!

Speaking of which, they really are having some major ass sales over there - I scored a Michael Kors top for Mother Guerilla for $42 (regularly $98) and was ready to start shopping for myself, but ran out of time...

Good Sales: Woodbury Commons & Betsey Johnson

From today's New York magazine's Best Bets Daily:

NEW TODAY
Hit upstate over the long weekend and save an additional 10 to 50 percent on already reduced Escada, MaxMara, and Michael Kors at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.
When: 10/5–10/8; call for hours.
Where: 498 Red Apple Valley Ct., Central Valley, N.Y. (845-928-4000).

STARTING TOMORROW
Fun party frocks are up to 80 percent off at the Betsey Johnson warehouse; sequined strapless dresses were $375 but are now $95.
When: 10/4 and 10/5 (10–8).
Where: 263 W. 38th St., nr. Seventh Ave. (212-391-6495).

I call B.S. on some Discount Stores

I recently read an article about how some discount stores that claim to have top designers at low, low prices are in fact selling sub-par apparel to the masses. "Hmmmmmmmm...." I thought to myself. Could this be true? So I did a little investigation at a Filene's Basement and Marshalls and have come to the conclusion that it is true. I tried on Kors by Michael Kors at one, and looked at Tahari suits at the other. The clothes were crap.

The same article mentioned that the only places that you can be sure to find the real deal for less are sample sales or Century 21. Shoot. I guess I believe it, but shopping those is a real nightmare pain in the ass.

I guess the lesson is to be very discerning when considering purchasing "designer" clothing for less - if you think about it, how could all of these discount chain stores that continue to pop up all over the country carry top-of-the-line apparel? It's just not rational. I'm not necessarily saying that these stores are selling false or counterfeit goods, it could be that the designers are licensing out their names to mass manufacturers who are creating select items using less expensive materials and designs.

Since so many of these labels are owned by publicly traded companies, they have to continue to figure out new ways to make more money year after year. So be a smart consumer and don't be "had!"

DSW: March of the Shoes

Yes, yes I know - another store that I write about all of the time: DSW Shoes. But I am so excited to finally be able to share with you the glorious gift of shoe that I bestowed upon Mother Guerilla this fine holiday season.

Mother G. was in desperate need of shoes...so desperate was her situation that I don't believe she realized how critical it actually was. So I took her foot matters into my own hands and did what I do best.

The pictured shoes - Michael Kors, Circa by Joan and David, Nicole Miller, and corso como cost me a sum total of about $260, which was a savings of about $230. The best deal were the Michael Kors (the first pair on the left) which cost a mere $32!

Choose your Shoes: DSW

I have ever so much to say on the subject of shoes. Today's insight is: cheap shoes are a waste of your time and money. Cheap shoes will make any outfit look dowdy, wear out quickly, and are more likely to fit improperly. Just ask my friend Ms. Meghan (the shoe guru).

When I say cheap, I don't necessarily mean "inexpensive," but I have found that it is not as easy to find great cheap shoes as it is to find great cheap clothing. However, there are a few beacons of light...one is DSW in Union Square.

I've been to a few DSWs in Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey, but we're in the Big City, kids, and DSW is smart enough to know that scores of Carrie Bradshaw wannabes need their Marc Jacobs, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan and so on...merely offering 16 varieties of Timberlands ain't gonna cut it in Money Makin'.

Get ready to spend a lot of time here - it is an enormous store with tons of merchandise that they say is refreshed on a daily basis. I almost believe them too because when I went 6 weeks ago, I left with only one pair of Cole Haan black suede & leather mary janes [see photo]. Two weeks later? For $404 I walked out of there with three pairs of boots (Tommy Hilfiger brown suede, Kenzi short black leather with crazy heel, and crazy hot Michael Kors black leather lace-ups [see photo]) and a pair of men's (yes men's too) Mizuno running shoes for my y-boyfriend a.k.a. "my very special friend" that he can wear to his new hospital gig in the woods...(oooh, scary...)

So while this might seem to pale in comparison to my earlier story of scoring 3 pairs of Kenneth Coles for $90 in Seacaucus, we're talking LEATHER BOOTS - and I don't know if you noticed recently, but walk into any department store or high-end shoe boutique worth their salt and a pair of boots cost a minimum of $700 and more (meanwhile, I missed the memo on this one - when did that happen?!)

Also, DSW has scores of sales racks full of shoes for an additional 20-80% off. I bought a pair of strappy black Charles David sandals this way last winter and if I could figure out how to post more than one photo at a time on this thing I'd show you.

And if all of this weren't enough, they also have a rewards program where you get gift certificates depending on how much money you have spent. I used one for $30 during the "big boot score" a few weeks ago, and am expecting another one in the mail any day now. I am gunning for the DSW Premier Rewards program whereby I will be treated like a shoe goddess.

Oh, they also have purses. Ew...I really hate that word.