My new favorite dress.

I love an easy, summer dress.  As soon as I spotted this one, I knew I needed it in my life.

As a dress girl, I'm always on the lookout for inexpensive, fun ones to add to my lineup. When SheIn offered me a garment of my choosing - I immediately started scrolled thru their dresses. What's so great about this company is that they have reviews for each garment - plus reviewers can upload a mod shot so buyers can see how it fits an actual woman, not just a size 2 model. Based on reviews I knew to order a size small because customers said it ran big. The quality is pretty good and it arrived a week later - I would definitely order from them again. Plus they always seem to offer coupon codes and free shipping :)

From head to toe:

• Lipstick: Miley Cyrus Viva Glam by MAC
• Earrings: A.V. Max, sample sale, $4
• Necklace: A.V. Max, gifted (RV $98, thanks again!)
• Necklace: Lionette, sample sale, $20 (I actually got it for a friend but I took a pic first)
• Dress: SheIn, Black V-neck Floral Print Dolphin Hem Dress, gifted (RV $36.98)
• Bracelet: House of Harlow 1960, Rent the Runway sample sale, $17 (RV $85)
• Ring: Alexis Bittar, $25 (website sale plus Gilt coupon)
• Bag: Chloe Drew, Nordstrom Rack
• Shoes: Jimmy Choo Peekabo sandals, sample sale, $90 (RV $595)

For this shoot, little miss Ava decided to join in on the fun. Her top was thrifted for a couple bucks and I scored those pants at a sample sale for $5. She calls them her dancing pants because she says it's hard not to dance in them LOL.

Photography by the amazing Kelly West - check out her Facebook and Instagram pages! Thanks Kelly!

Be sure to check out SheIn for some fun, inexpensive fashion. I suspect they're about to be my latest addiction! 

XO
Shoppinggal

Tassels & Choos.

Pretty sure I already warned you it was the summer of the kaftan. Scored this adorable tasseled number on sale at H&M for $20. Online it's still full price at $34.99 so I suggest you head to your local store to see what else got marked down. FYI I'm wearing the XS/S and the neckline on mine is a little crooked - I had to camouflage it with my layered necklaces. Always inspect your H&M goods closely!

Yesterday was my brother's engagement/parent's anniversary/mother's birthday/father's day party. We have a big family so we like to combine as much as we can to justify everyone getting together. All my siblings (except my sis who lives out of the country) came in to celebrate. The party had a casual vibe but I always like to have a little fun with my clothing. I was afraid the party would be held outdoors so I needed a wedge (you know I wasn't gonna wear a flat) because there is nothing worse than wearing stilettos in a garden. The party was indoors in the end so I could have worn anything but as the shortest of 7 kids, I was happy for the extra several inches.

From head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Moschino, Century 21, free (with $60 rewards)
• Earrings: Alexis Bittar, Nordstrom Rack, $11 (retail $95)
• Tassel necklace: H&M, $1 (super clearance!)
• Stacked necklace: A.V. Max, sample sale, $15
• Cuff: A.V. Max, sample sale, $5
• Bag: Jimmy Choo Charlize python studded clutch, sample sale, $100
• Dress: H&M kaftan, $20
• Sandals: Jimmy Choo Peekabo sandal, $90 (retail $595)
• Rings: all Lionette, sample sale, $25 each

Again, I'm wearing Toxic Tale by MAC. I just ordered another coral, Flocking Fabulous from Nordstrom because it was 30% off! Sadly it already sold out but they have a few other lipsticks left for 30% off here, here, here and here.

I still can't believe I forgot to remove my pony tail holder from my wrist. Ugh.

A huge thank you to my teenage nephew B who took my pictures yesterday!

You can shop my look here :)

My brother got special cakes for everyone but himself. I got a kick out of the Father's Day shirt and tie cake. The tie was plastic - I only know because my son tried to eat it LOL.

The great news for Ava is that "Mazel Tov" spells out her name too. It took almost 50 shots to get these pics because the wind did not want to cooperate.

One is easier than three.

My little cheeseballs wore vintage Gymboree that they pulled out of my stockpile. I used to buy cheap Gymbo at their Red Balloon Sale where everything was $5 or less. I finally got sick of seeing them in the same matching outfits so we took a break. Ella started digging around in the basement and we've been revisiting some of their favorite collections. Pardon all the chocolate shmeared all over them. There was a whole lotta cake at that party. 

And the highlight of my day was when my very generous brother and his fiance surprised me a new $850 Prada Saffiano wristlet. Then he gave all his nieces and nephews crisp $100 bills. Thanks Shlo!

Hope you had a great weekend too! My kids are now off from school and we don't have any concrete summer plans. At the party I "adopted" my niece for the week so now I have 4 kids to myself. I hope to squeeze in a little shopping this week but we shall see...

XO
Shoppinggal

Nordstrom Rack, Elizabeth and James & Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale Hauls...and More!

I've been so overwhelmed by my spectacular deals of late that this one has been a long time coming. There probably is more but these finds are the best of the best that I needed to share with you already.

Let's start with the Rack:

I teased my $2,890 Pucci dress that I picked up for $139.90 so now for the big reveal...

I actually did a search and send for 2 more of these dresses (I took all of them in the company LOL) so now I own the 4, 6 and 8. As soon as I figure out which one fits me best I'll be selling the other two to my personal shopping clients.

This past round of markdowns, Alexis Bittar went to 85% off retail - plus an extra 25% off for Clear the Racks! I had to leave a bunch of bracelets because the clasps were weak but I still managed to find a few. The rose gold one actually pops open but it's so pretty I don't know if I can let it go. These were all $18-22 after discounts. 

I was actually eyeing these pave earrings for a while. They started at $42.95 (retail $95) so I was excited when they got slashed to $14.25. Add the CTR discount and they came home with me for $10.69 :)

I was happy when I found these Kendra Scott Danielle earrings for $25 but when I brought them in for CTR to get them price adjusted (they adjust all purchases made within 7 days) low a behold they had another markdown. So now they were $18 less 25% - making these $60 earrings just $13.50. Insane.

$7.50 Michael Kors and $15 Valentino sunnies (after CTR).

And now a couple shoe penny finds - these $995 Bally boots and $1,175 Derek Lam sandals are hands down my favorites.

But lets not forget all my penny Pradas. After a friend mentioned she found a pair of Baroques for a penny I went and hunted down a bunch of other Pradas LOL. Guess what everyone is getting for Chanukah?

Sam Edelman $149 burnout velvet fringe Kimono for just $19.98! I figure I can throw it over a LBD and presto - I have a modest look my mom would approve of.

I get the best plus size fashion at the Rack. Takes some digging (like all Rack finds) but you can find some fun, young pieces for great prices. This $158 Tahari colorblocked sheath was just five bucks.  Now if only I could find her designer shoes for her giant 12 wide feet.

My $1,095 Marc Jacobs small Antonia (just $25 after CTR discount and my Nordstrom Notes!!!) is the prettiest shade of peacock green. 

And you've seen my $220 (scored for $19.98) Chip Foster jeans (twice!) and $895 Phillip Lim Pashli (scored for $160 after using some Notes) but they were both so good I had to mention them again.

Whew. Now let's move on to my to Elizabeth and James sample sale gems. I went in to that sale looking for furs and leather and boy did I score. With all the sample furs and leathers priced at $100 I took everything that would work for me.

I wanted a longer fur and the other Kimono style they had looked like a bathrobe on me. This was a little more tailored and I love the crazy stripes. I don't think this $1,495 Holland in stripes was ever produced (only in solid). That's another thing I love about sample sales - I now own so many one of a kind designer pieces.

My favorite from the batch was this $1,195 Garcia fur jacket. What's so special about my sample is that when it was produced they didn't do the knit sleeve that turns into fingerless gloves -  which is my favorite detail. You can see what I mean from my Couture for a Cause pics.

This $1,365 distressed one of a kind (I've only seen it in black leather) Renley leather moto jacket is gonna be a project. It was unfinished (missing some of the buckles and has slight damage from tape) so I'm going to customize it. I also love the oversized design because most of my leathers are so fitted. Stay tuned for my next DIY :)

Back.

 And you know me and fringe. Couldn't resist this $995 leather hooded fringed jacket.

You've seen my $30 Poncho before (retail $425) but I figured one more time couldn't hurt.

For $20 I took this $275 Tulsi top home.

I popped into the Anna Sui sample sale this week after picking up one of her cute dresses at the Rent the Runway sale last week. I came out with these super comfortable $585 butterfly wedges from her Spring 2014 collection. I couldn't decide which color I liked better so I took them both LOL. Good news is that instead of $30 each (on the first day they were $50 each), they gave me a discount for multiples so I took home $1,170 worth of shoes for $50. Score!

I also recently won this adorable Leslie Francesca ring on Instagram.  Free is always good :)

If you thought my Rack and Elizabeth and James scores were good, be prepared to drool over my Rebecca Minkoff haul. It took me three trips to the sale and several hours but it's my best one yet. I am pleased to share that I am totally prepared for Fall (accessory-wise). All the shoes and boots were $25, bags were $20-50, jewelry was $10 and belts were just $1. My splurge was the $798 studded leather jacket for $150. Don't worry, you'll see closeups as I wear them.

For what I didn't end of keeping you're gonna have to wait for my blog sale. Hopefully I'll have it up next weekend. It's gonna be epic - my biggest one yet!

I'm linking some of these pieces and simlar, mostly so you can see I'm not kidding about the retail prices on these things.

I'm very excited because there are some great sales coming up this week. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for live updates. This week I met a bunch of you at Rebecca Minkoff and I loved meeting you and seeing what you found. Please come say hello if you ever see me :)

XOXO
Shoppinggal

Best T.J. Maxx deal EVER!

I may have sworn off Alexis Bittar (or at least buying from their website) after the Gilt City voucher fiasco a little while back but sometimes you gotta just suck it up. Especially when the bargain gods smile in your favor :)

After the wedding on Sunday, Ella and I took a wrong turn and ended up near a TJ Maxx. I figured it was fate and decided to check out the jewelry as I've been looking for a replacement anniversary band after I lost mine on the beach in Miami. Yet again, nothing in my size, so for now I will remain ringless. However you can imagine my shock when I spied these $7 earrings outside the jewelry case in a display box of marked down jewelry.

At first glance I was like, NO WAY. Then I flipped them over and saw the Alexis Bittar stamp on the back. The first price sticker (under the pile of marked down stickers LOL) reads $149.99. I tried googling them and I couldn't find the original retail but I'm guessing they easily sold for at least $250.

TJ Maxx actually has a decent selection of Alexis Bittar online right now - all for 40-60% off retail. Unfortunately you can't search by designer on their website but it's worth scrolling thru their jewelry section.

I had Ella take a quick pic in the bathroom before we left because I was so excited.

I'm not exactly sure what type of stone it is - from my google search I'm guessing it's pyrite. I've been searching 'gunmetal pyrite pave drop stud' to no avail. At first I thought maybe it was a hematite but this stone is more green/gold like a pyrite. If anyone has these - or has seen them PLMK! I always like to know just how good of a deal I got.

 These are hematite:

 These are pyrite - I think mine look like these, right?

The sales girl was in shock when she rung me up. I still can't believe these pretties made it thru so many markdowns!

My husband isn't so good about buying me jewelry (or gifts in general LOL). Luckily, for these prices I can buy my own :)

-Shoppinggal

And BTW - if you haven't already paid for your blog sale purchase by tonight, I'll be cancelling your invoice and letting your stuff go to the next in line. And depending on my mood I may block you from future sales. So please pay!