Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Cole Haan, 20% off online
COLE HAAN
http://links.colehaan.com/ajtk/servlet/JJ?T=2f51xs&R=1475038542
20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE THROUGH MONDAY*
To receive the 20% discount, enter code SPRING during checkout. No minimum purchase required. Cannot be applied to previous purchases or combined with other offers. Not valid at Retail or Factory Stores or on employee purchases.
This offer expires Monday, May 19 at midnight PST (that means 3 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20 for us New Yorkers!)
http://links.colehaan.com/ajtk/servlet/JJ?T=2f51xs&R=1475038542
20% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE THROUGH MONDAY*
To receive the 20% discount, enter code SPRING during checkout. No minimum purchase required. Cannot be applied to previous purchases or combined with other offers. Not valid at Retail or Factory Stores or on employee purchases.
This offer expires Monday, May 19 at midnight PST (that means 3 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20 for us New Yorkers!)
Thursday, May 15, 2008
WSJ: On Style: Early Markdowns Mean Springtime for Shoppers
See I said it was so, and now so has Ms. Binkley. So it's the truth. Go get 'em tigers!
...........
On Style: Early Markdowns Mean Springtime for Shoppers
By Christina Binkley
15 May 2008
The Wall Street Journal
As fashion retailers vie for scarce business this spring, one clear winner is emerging: you, the consumer.
Markdowns of spring and summer clothes that would normally begin in June started in March this year -- an early thawing of prices brought on as luxury department stores tried to warm up the chilly response to fashion this season. High-end boutiques have felt compelled to follow suit, and discounters have been able to nab luxury goods months earlier than usual.
In many places, spring styles have been marked down before it's even warm enough to wear them. Finally, fashion's seasons -- which always feel somewhat premature -- have gotten so out of whack that they actually work in shoppers' favor!
The wave of discounting could ripple through seasons to come. Stores are likely to cut back on the trend-setting looks shown on runways in Milan, Paris and New York and instead focus on tamer clothes that are easier to sell. Indeed, Kelly Golden, co-owner of Neapolitan, a high-end boutique in Winnetka, Ill., near Chicago, says she plans to cut her purchases of runway looks to as little as 10% of her inventory, from around 20%, when she places orders this fall.
Right now, bargains abound on runway styles. If you had your eye on Prada's iconic wave-striped handbags as their wearers minced down Milan's runways last October, you can now pick one up for 20% off at Bluefly.com. Or how about one of those Cynthia Steffe georgette tunics from the designer's spring runways -- at 40% off?
Barneys New York notified customers of a one-week sale of up to 40% off starting May 20. Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's have had their own sales of warm-weather styles.
The early markdowns are largely a result of flagging consumer confidence. With home foreclosures, sky-high gas prices and financial-industry layoffs making headlines, many middle-class consumers sharply cut back their spending, particularly avoiding splurges on high-priced shoes, handbags and designer fashions. Stores, though, made their purchases of spring goods early last fall, when the luxury industry was still enjoying double-digit sales amid an orgy of interest in such frivolities as ostrich handbags and Louboutin platform sandals.
When racks of $750 sandals are marked down to $400 this fast, even the keenest shoppers learn patience. Consumers "are not going to want to pay full price for anything," predicts Ms. Golden of Neapolitan. Though she didn't have a spring sale last year until mid-June, she launched a 40%-off sale this week. Many of the clothes, from Tory Burch, Michael Kors and other designers, arrived in her store less than two weeks ago. Ms. Golden says her revenues are actually up 20% from a year ago. But when major department stores are discounting, she says, she has to match them or risk selling at even deeper markdowns in June.
If stores like hers cut back on the most dramatic fashions, as seems likely, it will further enlarge the disconnect between the runway looks the public sees -- styles that set the tone in fashion magazines -- and the plainer (but often excellent) "pre-collection" designs that consumers see more frequently in stores. Less dramatic pieces are less risky, and in a slow season, their very lack of distinctiveness means they can hang around longer on store racks without looking stale. The runways' relevance has been falling for years. Now, "resort," "pre-spring" and "pre-fall" collections account for 70% to 80% of the clothes and accessories in stores.
Weirdly -- considering that we haven't yet celebrated Memorial Day and schools won't let out for a good month -- new fall designs are hurrying spring and summer styles out the door. As designers race to be first into stores for the next season, tweed and dark wool looks from the likes of Carolina Herrera, Tuleh, Zac Posen, Pucci and Michael Kors are already on store floors -- suggesting that nothing about the timing of fashion is likely to get saner soon.
Some specialty manufacturers and retailers that stayed focused on the truly wealthy say they haven't felt the same bite as the mass purveyors. Pier Guerci, president and chief executive of Loro Piana U.S.A., says his cashmere company's sales so far this year are up by double-digit percentages over last year. He has been struggling, to little avail, to keep his company's cashmere and other luxury lifestyle wear from being swept up into department stores' sales. "We try to talk them into the fact that our customers are more than willing to pay full price," he says.
All the off-kilter fashion timing plays into the hands of Internet discount sites, which are already busy selling designers' current spring and summer collections. Melissa Payner, chief executive of Bluefly.com, says this spring's retail slump has enabled Bluefly to sell current-season designer fashions at 40% or more off. Ms. Payner notes that Bluefly is seeing more inventory than usual this season.
While department stores launched spring and summer collections in January, Bluefly waited until March to buy and took the luxury of reading trends when they were already happening. That enabled the site, among other things, to order more blue than yellow after early predictions that yellow would be big failed to come true. And thank goodness, because yellow is a hard color to wear, no matter what the price.
---
Email Christina.Binkley@wsj.com
...........
On Style: Early Markdowns Mean Springtime for Shoppers
By Christina Binkley
15 May 2008
The Wall Street Journal
As fashion retailers vie for scarce business this spring, one clear winner is emerging: you, the consumer.
Markdowns of spring and summer clothes that would normally begin in June started in March this year -- an early thawing of prices brought on as luxury department stores tried to warm up the chilly response to fashion this season. High-end boutiques have felt compelled to follow suit, and discounters have been able to nab luxury goods months earlier than usual.
In many places, spring styles have been marked down before it's even warm enough to wear them. Finally, fashion's seasons -- which always feel somewhat premature -- have gotten so out of whack that they actually work in shoppers' favor!
The wave of discounting could ripple through seasons to come. Stores are likely to cut back on the trend-setting looks shown on runways in Milan, Paris and New York and instead focus on tamer clothes that are easier to sell. Indeed, Kelly Golden, co-owner of Neapolitan, a high-end boutique in Winnetka, Ill., near Chicago, says she plans to cut her purchases of runway looks to as little as 10% of her inventory, from around 20%, when she places orders this fall.
Right now, bargains abound on runway styles. If you had your eye on Prada's iconic wave-striped handbags as their wearers minced down Milan's runways last October, you can now pick one up for 20% off at Bluefly.com. Or how about one of those Cynthia Steffe georgette tunics from the designer's spring runways -- at 40% off?
Barneys New York notified customers of a one-week sale of up to 40% off starting May 20. Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale's have had their own sales of warm-weather styles.
The early markdowns are largely a result of flagging consumer confidence. With home foreclosures, sky-high gas prices and financial-industry layoffs making headlines, many middle-class consumers sharply cut back their spending, particularly avoiding splurges on high-priced shoes, handbags and designer fashions. Stores, though, made their purchases of spring goods early last fall, when the luxury industry was still enjoying double-digit sales amid an orgy of interest in such frivolities as ostrich handbags and Louboutin platform sandals.
When racks of $750 sandals are marked down to $400 this fast, even the keenest shoppers learn patience. Consumers "are not going to want to pay full price for anything," predicts Ms. Golden of Neapolitan. Though she didn't have a spring sale last year until mid-June, she launched a 40%-off sale this week. Many of the clothes, from Tory Burch, Michael Kors and other designers, arrived in her store less than two weeks ago. Ms. Golden says her revenues are actually up 20% from a year ago. But when major department stores are discounting, she says, she has to match them or risk selling at even deeper markdowns in June.
If stores like hers cut back on the most dramatic fashions, as seems likely, it will further enlarge the disconnect between the runway looks the public sees -- styles that set the tone in fashion magazines -- and the plainer (but often excellent) "pre-collection" designs that consumers see more frequently in stores. Less dramatic pieces are less risky, and in a slow season, their very lack of distinctiveness means they can hang around longer on store racks without looking stale. The runways' relevance has been falling for years. Now, "resort," "pre-spring" and "pre-fall" collections account for 70% to 80% of the clothes and accessories in stores.
Weirdly -- considering that we haven't yet celebrated Memorial Day and schools won't let out for a good month -- new fall designs are hurrying spring and summer styles out the door. As designers race to be first into stores for the next season, tweed and dark wool looks from the likes of Carolina Herrera, Tuleh, Zac Posen, Pucci and Michael Kors are already on store floors -- suggesting that nothing about the timing of fashion is likely to get saner soon.
Some specialty manufacturers and retailers that stayed focused on the truly wealthy say they haven't felt the same bite as the mass purveyors. Pier Guerci, president and chief executive of Loro Piana U.S.A., says his cashmere company's sales so far this year are up by double-digit percentages over last year. He has been struggling, to little avail, to keep his company's cashmere and other luxury lifestyle wear from being swept up into department stores' sales. "We try to talk them into the fact that our customers are more than willing to pay full price," he says.
All the off-kilter fashion timing plays into the hands of Internet discount sites, which are already busy selling designers' current spring and summer collections. Melissa Payner, chief executive of Bluefly.com, says this spring's retail slump has enabled Bluefly to sell current-season designer fashions at 40% or more off. Ms. Payner notes that Bluefly is seeing more inventory than usual this season.
While department stores launched spring and summer collections in January, Bluefly waited until March to buy and took the luxury of reading trends when they were already happening. That enabled the site, among other things, to order more blue than yellow after early predictions that yellow would be big failed to come true. And thank goodness, because yellow is a hard color to wear, no matter what the price.
---
Email Christina.Binkley@wsj.com
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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...
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...
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Zip This
OK so I'm a Zipcar member and am a fan of the shared car idea - especially now, what with the environment and gas prices and all that jazz. Except, I'm not so sure it works so well in good ol' NYC. Why? Well let me tell you a little ditty.I had reserved a Mazda so that I could zip home to visit the Mother Guerilla on mother's day. Per direction from the confirmation email I received, I called the garage on W. 21st Street an hour ahead of time to ensure that the car would be waiting for me. I called five times and the number was not in service. This should have been my first clue that things were not going to go well.
But I soldiered on and made my way over to the GMC Garage at 10 W. 21st St. When I got there the attendant told me I had the wrong garage, and that I should go across the street to the parking lot, which I did. When I got there I talked to the lot attendant and showed him my confirmation print-out. Even though the car on my confirmation was silver, he told me that the red Mazda in the middle of the lot was mine. But I didn't think that it was, so I went back over to the garage and called out for the attendant. When he didn't arrive I started back up the driveway and ran into him and explained that my car had to be in his garage. Again, he told me there were no Zipcars in his garage but that he'd personally take me back to the lot across the way. And there it sat, alone...the red Mazda. Insisting that it was my car, he suggested that I flash the my Zipcard over over the thingy in the windshield, and if the doors opened, it would certainly prove that it was indeed my car.
Click-click. Voila! The doors opened, proving that indeed this was my Zipcar.
So I got inside and motored my way towards the West Side Highway. En route I called Zipcar to tell them about the weird garage/lot address debacle and the ditzy but nice lass on the other end assured me she'd alert the proper people of the mistake.
About an hour later, after I had arrived at Chez Guerilla I received a long message from some guy at Zipcar HQ berating me for taking someone else's Zipcar and how I can't just up and take another's car because mine isn't there and that they had to go through some huge ordeal to rearrange car reservations and that they were trying to ensure that I could keep the car until 5 p.m. the next day like I had planned, but that it was possible I'd have to get it back by 10 a.m. because the car I had was already taken.
Um WHAT?!
So I called Zipcar back and told my zany story, to which a witch on the other end responded, "it is the member's responsibility to ensure that they have the correct car, just because yours was late coming back doesn't mean you can take any car. You took the Mazda Mio but were supposed to get the Mazda Milo..."
OK, first of all, and this sounds totally girly, but I have no idea what the difference between a Mio and a Milo is. Do you? Anyway, I pointed out that I had no idea that MY car was late and that I didn't just take any car, I took the car that two attendants insisted was mine - and then when my card opened the door, it seemed they were correct.
She angrily ignored my tale of angst and woe and instead told me I should have...wait for it...CHECKED THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS.
Um...Wha?! Come on now, really. I'm not really sure what other lengths I could have gone to in an effort to get MY car, but at the point at which my Zipcard opened the door of the red Mazda Mio, I was convinced I did the right thing.
Then when I told her that I needed the car until 5 p.m. because I was visiting my mother on Mother's Day, she told me that it would cost me an extra $50 PER HOUR in late fees, or another $350 (on top of the $120 I was already spending). $470 to rent a car for one day? WHAT A BARGAIN!
Of course had Zipcar alerted me to the fact that the car I had reserved was late coming back, I would have waited until it showed up. That's pretty much all it would have taken to avoid this keystone cop episode.
Anyway upon urging from Mother G., I called back and talked to a much more reasonable Canadian fellow who apologized for my hassle and assured me that I could keep my car until 5 p.m. like I planned. Things seem to have worked out...but the bill remains to be seen..
So I'm wondering if NYC is cut out for this kind of "sharing." Perhaps we should just stick to sharing...sharing...um...do we 'share' anything around here (besides germs)?
te casan: summer styles
Now, I'm not a usual fan of the summertime apparel, but these te casan shoes may make me a believer...Sunday, May 11, 2008
Rag Nation Spring Clearance This Week (5/13-5/18)
Rag Nation / Transfer International is having a Spring clearance sale this week. Rag Nation is a resale & discount designer clothing showroom located on Park Ave S. @ 17th St. Their business is primarily online (http://www.rag-nation.com/ and http://www.transferny.com/), but this sale is for walk-in customers only. They carry new and used men's and women's clothing, shoes, bags and accessories from designers like Prada, Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Paul Smith, Etro, Comme des Garcons, Dries Van Noten...All items will be marked down an additional 20% - 60%. Examples: Dolce & Gabbana studded leopard pumps, new (orig $975) were $490. Now $225. Prada cut velvet slip dress, new with tag, (Orig $3370.) was $1000. Now $500. Tuleh pink & black silk lace dress, new w/tag (Orig. $2950) was $300. Now $200. Miu Miu black suede pumps, new w/box (Orig. $430) were $200. Now $100. Manolo Blahnik paillette pumps, new w/box (Orig $575.) were $250. Now $150.
200 Park Ave S.
#1608
New York, NY 10003
(212) 941-5472
ragnation@earthlink.net
Shop It To Me: Free Online Personal Sale Shopper
Hey have you heard about "Shop It To Me?" I just signed up and it seems pretty cool. They may make an online shopper of me yet.So what is it? It's this online shopping service you sign up for that proactively sends you clothing that matches your size and brand preferences as soon as it goes on sale. Sort of a free personal online shopper featuring brands such as Theory, Prada, Armani, Ella Moss, Juicy Couture, Seven Jeans, DKNY, or BCBG. It scours websites of leading retailers like Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Banana Republic, Gap, Zappos and Bluefly and email a daily or weekly summary of on sale items in your size.
They also have a blog that provide insights on fashion tips and tricks that seem helpful, if not competitive (to ME!). http://blog.shopittome.com/
ONE DOLLA: Nordstrom's e.l.f. Makeup sale
Nordstrom is changing the logo on their makeup, so they're selling everything that says 'e.l.f.' for $1!I got this message from a stringer today, and could hardly believe it myself. So I visited the enclosed URL: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/shop.asp and clicked on a couple of items, and it's true. ONE DOLLAR. Although hurry up, it looks like things are flying off the e-shelves.
Apparently, The make-up line e.l.f. ( eyes, lips, and face) has been bought out by Nordstrom and will be re-packaged with the Nordstrom name on it, so they are getting rid of all the make-up in e.l.f. packaging. You do have to pay shipping, however, even with that charge it's cheaper. They have powder, mascara, brushes, nail polish, you name it. Also, if you use the coupon code: CAROLINA you will get $7.50 off the first $15 of your purchase.
Who said a recession isn't good?
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