First Fashion Haul of 2020

Happy 2020! Decided to kick of the year with a new post with all my epic sale finds of late. Last week TJ Maxx and Marshalls kicked off their yellow sticker clearance sale and I killed it. I also grabbed a few goodies at the Altuzarra NYC sample sale, which I almost skipped. So glad I didn't listen to my friend who told me not to bother...

This is not a drill people. You need to RUN to your local TJ Maxx and Marshalls stores because it's yellow sticker clearance time! Check out my close-up video that I shared on Insta here. This only happens 2x year and now is the time to hunt for all your favorite designer duds on the cheap. If you've missed the first round, don't fret. They usually follow it up a couple weeks in with a second round of markdowns so it's still worth a peek.

I always get a ton of questions about the yellow sticker sale so let's break it down. It happens at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods but always go to your local TJ Maxx Runway locations first for the good stuff. You can search for Runway locations on their website on their store locator. Runway stores have mini designer sections (as opposed to a stray piece or two) so you have a better chance of scoring.

My Longchamp Le Pliage logo tote is currently full price for $245 at Bloomies but I scored mine for $49! Did I mention I also scored a 2k Chloe bag for under $200? I got lucky because I got there before these were yellow ticketed (it's all in the timing!) but the lady ahead of me walked away with 2 Gucci totes for about $200 each. They weren't my style so no FOMO here. And before you ask where this was, don't bother, another lady after me who was clearly a reseller cleared them out minutes later.

Note, this is from just one store:

- Chloe mini quilted Drew, RV $1,950, paid $199 (This went viral on Insta LOL)
- Chloe Anna bag, RV $1,850, paid $399
- Longchamp Le Pliage logo small tote, RV $249, paid $49
- Kendrascott Val hoops, RV $75, paid $12

You always have to check the retail value because it's usually lower on the tag. For example, the Kendra Scott hoops are marked value $36, but the original tag with the $75 price is still attached. And my Chloe Drew is marked $1,590 but if you Google it you'll see the RV was higher too.

At Altuzarra sample sale I scored:

Ghianda Pearly Suede Top-Handle bag $200
Runway boots from Fall '19 $50
Black & white booties $35

Most bags were from 2017/2018 but I saw some 2019 too. Meghan Markle has been seen with a similar bag to mine in blue. I wanted the black suede because all my other black bags are leather and the pearl detail is on trend at the moment. And the great thing about having giant feet is that I can buy the models' runway shoes on the cheap.

Feel free to share the retail values of these things if you can find them. So less than $300 for over 4k in merch. Not bad if I say so myself—even if I may have had a bit of a disagreement with the designer's mom. A few people have asked about that story so here goes...

I was between events so I ran to the sale and then texted my girl Greivy to join. As I waited I saw a woman trying things on for her husband and she seemed a little unsure of herself. She had some great pieces and she just couldn't decide. She was cute and tiny and looked great in pretty much everything. She had on this cropped bustier/one armed checked blazer that was amazing. She kept pulling at it and felt it was a little big. I chimed in that they were cut for 6-foot tall runway models and she was petite so it might need a quick adjustment. She tried it on with a skirt so I suggested a high waisted pant or a button down blouse under...or maybe layer it over a chunky sweater dress....and that's when an older women screamed out, "absolutely not. I'm the designer's mother and that's not how it was meant to be worn." So I just looked at her (probably with a FACE) and said "there's no singular vision for fashion. Can't it be open to interpretation?" Seriously, how many people wear things exactly how they see them on the runway? She kinda studdered something back (honestly I'm not even sure what she said) but looked at me like I was the idiot. As a stylist I'm always looking for a fresh perspective. Not to mention. isn't the customer always right? And I would have rocked that piece over a ribbed sweater dress if it was my size.

Truth be told they aren't the nicest in that showroom. But the prices make it worth the abuse. The zipper on my $50 runway boots is broken so I asked for a small discount and they looked at me like I had two heads. I get it, it's already super cheap but another worker had suggested it and told me to ask at the front. Guess not. They also told me they don't give dust bags for bag purchases, but they did have them with some of the $50 last season shoes. So bottom line, not the friendliest experience but tons of great deals to be had. And you also don't have to go first day because they do restock, but better stuff does go first.

You can shop my look and my finds (not as cheap, sorry) here:

Other sales of note on my radar include:

The Zara sale is seriously heating up. Now is when I start grabbing cute pieces for NYFW.

I've been finding some fun pieces for 80% off Moda Operandi and they keep adding and slashing prices so you might want to check that sale out too.

And I did find a couple pieces at the ASOS sale too. Love that they have sizes small to plus!

Century 21 has 85% off but don't get me started on how good it used to be LOL. They did have an extra 20% off red tickets this past weekend and I suspect that may come back. I almost went to the downtown store on Friday but I got on the train uptown by mistake and it was getting late so I skipped. Eh, there's always another sale or another deal...

Now tell me your best shopping deal from last week! And feel free to ask all your sale questions below!

Happy shopping!

XO
Michelle

Urban Camouflage

I had randomly dropped into H&M the day before these pictures were taken and found this super cute oversized camouflage parka on sale for $30 from $69.99. It's actually still full price on-line. And better yet my tank dress was marked down to just $3! Score! I decided to pair it up with my 85% off Altuzarra bag that I picked up at their NYC sample sale and my new $30 Rebecca Minkoff sample boots. I can't find them online anywhere so it's possible they were never produced. If you don't already live the sample sale life, you don't know what you're missing. I'm totally spoiled by one of a kind designer pieces that I pick up for next to nothing.

I've actually wanted a pair of white booties for a while - they just freshen everything up. Plus they are so unexpected for fall. These are crazy comfortable and I figure if they ever get really dirty I can easily dye them black - just like my $50 Jimmy Choo sample sale bag.

What you don't know about these pictures is that I was probably running a fever and breaking out in sweats - but I didn't want to miss the Glow Recipe preview at Henri Bendel that morning and I was going stir crazy in my house after being under the weather for days. But the swag was so good - I shared on my stories a little while back and some of it appeared in this Insta post as well. I just couldn't say no to amazing K-Beauty products and a personalized makeup case. #yesplease

My look from head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana, Nordstrom Rack, $0.01
• Coat: H&M, $30
• Dress: H&M, $3
• Bag: Altuzarra, sample sale, 85% off (Retailed for $3,000+)
• Boots: Rebecca Minkoff, sample sale, $30

You can shop my style here:

Thank you to Esther Santer for these photos. I ran into her at the event that day and we used her camera to shoot these. I did have my camera (we just popped in my SD card) but I wanted to experiment with using different cameras and lenses. I'm due for an upgrade so I'm doing my research. I'm torn between a new lens or a whole new camera altogether. I typically use my Canon T5 with a 40mm lens and it's super lightweight and takes decent pics - even on auto LOL. If anyone has a setup that they love please do share!

And now to my NYC sample sale picks! Lots going on - but you really don't need to hit them all!

I was going to preview this sale the day I took my girls to check out the new American Girl Doll store in Rock Center but never had the chance. I usually grab some cute hair accessories and boutique-y pieces on the cheap.

The Best Kids Sample Sale
November 13-17, 10-5
34 West 33rd Street, Floors 3, 9 & 12

This stylists showroom sale has had some gems in the past. If you go PLMK what you find!

Mahna Mahna Showroom

November 15-17 & 20-21, 11-6
134 Spring St, #304

I heard that the preview wasn't all that impressive. No shoes and bags were eh. 

Marc Jacobs
November 15-19
W-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-5
150 Greene Street

I'm a HUGE Teri Jon fan and their dresses are my go-to when I need to be fancy. Sample dresses usually start at $75 which is a great deal considering they retail for $500-1,000 easy. You can read a past sale report here.

Teri Jon
November 19-20, 9:30-5
241 West 37th St, 2nd Fl

Happy shopping!

XO
Michelle

My 85% off Altuzarra Birthday Bag

It's been a while since I've really treated myself, so for my 43rd birthday, I decided to take home something special from the Altuzarra sample sale. Most of you know how thrifty I am so it's rare I splurge on a single purchase. I walked into the Altuzarra sale a couple weeks ago and I made a beeline for this bag. I was hoping for something similar in brown but alas my search is still on for the perfect brown bag. It feels pretty similar to the Chloe I was lusting after but I'm happy to share that this bag is actually MUCH lighter - and it was cheaper than any similar designer bag I coveted. The funny thing is that I have a few inexpensive Rebecca Minkoff knockoffs that I didn't even realize were inspired by my Ghianda bullrope saddle bag. That said, I like this one waaaay more than any of those.

When deciding at the showroom I tried googling the bag but only ever found the studded version on the runway. I asked the employees and they told me the plain version was almost $3,000 - this one retailed for much more. And then I felt much better about taking it home with me.

It's a hard bag to style for summer but I needed to take it for a spin. I packed it up for the last day of the Bottega Veneta sample sale (they promised huge markdowns but failed to deliver) - and paired it with my white embroidered midi dress from last year and a pair of my $20 L.K. Bennett sample sale steals (you can read more about that epic sale here). Ideally I'd like a pair of black espadrilles to wear with it. I found a pair at the Zara sale but the sizes were mismatched. Ugh.

Head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Posey bifocal sun reader, Readers.com, C/O (RV $17.95)
• Dress: Zaful, c/o (previously seen here)
• Bag: Altuzarra, sample sale, $500 (RV $3,000+)
• Shoes: L.K. Bennett Summer Sandals, sample sale, $20 (RV $545!)

You can shop my style here:

Thank you Belle, @LittleFashionStylist for this round of pictures. I was so cranky from the heat and the disappointment at Bottega that I almost didn't shoot - but then I saw this little spot by the Union Square Café and needed to stop.

In addition to the Fivestory sale I mentioned in my previous post (don't miss it!) a couple other sales popped up on my radar. The Mahna Mahna showroom sale is back (lots of second-hand treasures) as well as Sachin & Babi - promising prices ranging between $40 to $75! On the Zara front, they had another markdown and now everything on sale is $29.99 or less. Keep checking for returns but I'm really waiting for the next markdown where everything is $19.99 or less!!

Sachin & Babi
August 14-16, 9-6
132 West 36th Street, 9th Fl

Mahna Mahna Showroom
August 22-25, 11-6
134 Spring St, #304

Lastly, anyone else watching A Handmaid's Tale? How did I never read the book? OMG I'm dying to binge it on Hulu but I'm trying to get other stuff done LOL. Is there anything on Amazon or Netflix that I need to watch right now? I feel like I've watched everything - which is why I was excited to discover A Handmaid's Tale.

Happy shopping (and binge watching)!

XO
Michelle

Sample Sale-ing 101 and Elizabeth and James & H&M Hauls :)

When I hit a sale, I come prepared. Getting ready for a sample sale is like preparing for battle. Earlier this week I attended back to back previews for Elizabeth & James and Oscar de la Renta. I love dressing up but I always keep things simple for NYC sample sales. I'm gonna break down my rules for you for sample sale success.

1. Always be first in line. I can't stress the importance of this rule enough. Waking up an hour earlier can make all the difference at some of these sales. For less popular sales getting there a half hour early is usually enough but when it's a big name you want to be there 1-2 hours early. The first hour of the sale is when all the best/cheap stuff gets snapped up.

2. Be prepared. I always have a giant tote bag stuffed in my purse to lug home my spoils of war. If it's going to rain I have a tiny umbrella and a couple plastic garbage bags to protect the goods. I also do my due diligence. When a sale is announced I immediately google past sale reports so get an idea of pricing and selection. Then I look online at lookbooks for current and past season collections to create a wishlist. I also check to see if they've had markdowns historically and show up for those days too. It also can't hurt to ask if they'll be replenishing.

3. Don't overdress. I have a uniform. I like slip dresses because I can pop a dress on top of it or try on pants or skirts under it. I'm just not one of those girls who strips down to her panties publicly. Some gals wear the leggings and tank top ensemble but I'm more of a dress girl. In the winter I'll wear Spanx tights under my dress which I'll remove if needed - or it will help suck me in as needed LOL. This also means no makeup - it's just gonna shmear all over the clothing when you're trying it on in a hurry. If I'm wearing lipstick I wipe it off before I go in. No jewelry either - it can get caught and snag the clothing you're trying on - or fall off and get lost. Shoes should slide off easily as well.

4. Check and double check!  Sample sales are final sale so look everything over carefully. Sometimes a small damage or unfinished product isn't isn't a big deal if it's an easy fix or insanely cheap. It's also easy to get caught up in the moment and come home with something stupid. Made many a mistake back in the day. Now I'm a master editor and only buy what I love or can be passed along if I change my mind. I lie - I still make mistakes from time to time.

5. Bring a buddy. Some sales don't have mirrors or dressing rooms. You're gonna need someone whose opinion you trust to be your eyes. Plus a buddy can help you snap up all the cheap samples and then you can edit together. I have a sample sale team at this point - we pass along the pieces that don't work for us and make sure nobody makes any huge fashion mistakes. If I'm solo at a sale I usually make friends in line or the dressing room. Shopping is always better with friends.

From head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Moschino, Century 21, $60 (free with rewards!)
• Lipstick: Uslu Airlines Lipstick in BIR, Net a Porter sale, $1 (retail $25)
• Coat: Altuzarra for Target trenchcoat, Target, $45 (50% off - some things can't wait for 70%)
• Dress: American Apparel, $7.50, Nordstrom Rack
• Bag: Balenciaga Velo, Nordstrom Rack
• Pom Pom: Adrienne Landau, free from her fashion week presentation (retail $45)
• Sneakers: Converse, Nordstrom Rack, $7.50

You can shop my look here. My trench has long been sold out (special collab with Target) but you can probably still find one on eBay. I can't tell you how many men (not even women LOL) have stopped me to ask where I got it.

After the sale my brother took me and his GF out for dinner uptown. Thought I'd share a little Kosher foodporn. To me there's nothing better than a burger done right. And everything is better with guac.

And now for what you've really been waiting for. My recent E&J and H&M scores! Let's start with my Brixton dress that retailed for $695 and I got the sample for $50. It's currently on sale in size 0 & 2 for $347 at Neiman Marcus. Should be fun for a party with a killer pair of heels and a sparkly clutch. I can also wear it as a blazer.

For some reason I was on the fence about $495 zip cardigan for some reason. I LOVE the colors but the fit isn't the best plus it has a tiny hole. But there was something about it and for $30 it was worth a try.

Last but not least is this fur trimmed sweater jacket. I can't seem to find it online so it's possible it was never produced. I really wanted more furs but they didn't have any good samples and I didn't want to shell out $300 for a non-sample fur. It's a little crazy but it could be crazy good or crazy awful. I have a few months to think about it before fur season. And yes, I think one sleeve may be longer than the other. This is what I mean about checking and double checking. When it's on you don't see that issue thou.

As a bonus, they gave out these totes to take home your finds with purchases over $200. I spent less but still came home with two. The price sheet had them listed as $10 each. Lucky me.

I've also been stalking the H&M sale racks. Scored this $70 caftan for $15. Could be a fun summer dress.

I also scored this olive green dress for $15 from $60. Just looked like an interesting piece. It's funny that I have so much designer clothing but I keep wearing my cheap H&M stuff.

BTW today is the Edie Parker sample sale! If you're in the City be sure to pop by for a $300-500 (retail $1,000-1,700) discounted clutch :)

Edie Parker
4/15-16, Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm.
The Arthur Loomis Room at Marriott East Side Hotel, 525 Lexington Ave btwn 48th & 49th sts

This week on Instagram for #freebiefriday I'm giving away these Jessica Simpson size 10 sandals that retailed for $89. Head to Insta to enter and see if you won last week's giveaway :)

On a final note I wanted to congratulate my friend Shira, of A Sequin Love Affair who was nominated by Redbook as one of their Real Women Style Awards finalists. She was actually my photographer this week - thanks, Shira! Please take a moment to vote for here here. You can vote for her every hour - just sayin...

Have a great weekend!

XO
Shoppinggal

Day 7 NYFW; Backstage at Dennis Basso

I had a backstage lined up with Aveda so you can imagine my disappointment when I got an email saying they would no longer be doing that show - and all their other backstages were on Saturday when I couldn't participate. Luckily Kim from Fashionably Petite passed along an invite to backstage with Dennis Basso. As my first backstage ever I was very excited and I had no idea what to expect.

I arrived to check in and of course my name wasn't on the list despite emailing the PR firm to confirm the day before. I quickly emailed my contact and fortunately they quickly came to the desk to collect me.

I arrived backstage to a flurry of excitement. I entered into the beauty area where they were primping dozens of models.

I was first introduced to Buffy Hernandez, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa Creative Lead for Makeup. She showed me some of the new products and explained that it was a clean, natural look. They finished by powering the model's lips (no color).

I watched her makeup a 13 year old who was excited for her first show. When I was 13 I was under 5 feet tall with braces and head gear.

She also gave a quick touch up to Lena McIlwain who actually ended up interviewing me about beauty trends for QVC, where Dennis has a line.

As for nails they simply buffed the model's fingernails with this Amazing Shine buffer and then polished their toes with Essie's Chocolate Cake or Lady Godiva. These rich tones beautifully complemented Basso's Fall looks.

As for hair the look was clean and simple as well. Models had their hair straightened and pulled back into a pony.

I peeked across the way and there was the collection in another tented area. I wasn't sure if my press pass would allow me to enter but I decided to go for it.

Inside was hoards of press photographing the collection and interviewing Mr. Basso. As a fashion lover I can't express the euphoria of being able to get up close and touch each beautifully handcrafted piece. Each look was neatly hung with each coordinating accessory.

When the models started lining up I thought it was funny that almost every girl was playing with her phone.

I love watching the models to see what they wear. Several girls were sporting bomber jackets - how cool are these two?

A lot of the shoes were simple Stuart Weitzmans. Note that this girl was actually reading a book.

The press interviewed some of the models as well. I overheard this girl (wearing an alligator coat) saying she doesn't eat meat LOL.

There were several celebs backstage. I recognized Carol Alt right off the bat but honestly I hadn't a clue who this girl was. I googled her and I still don't know who Ana Vilafane is LOL. I love the dress but I think the coat is a little old for her.

I caught this clip of Dennis being interviewed and sharing how much he loves fur. I'm sure the activists must love him LOL.

Right before the show they asked the press to clear the area so I left. I realized I probably could have stayed if I wasn't such a goody-goody. The rain was intense so I stepped across the street to the hotel lobby and watched as the show-goers exited.

I realized in my excitement I didn't have anyone take my pic. So I snapped a picture of my new Dannijo bracelet with my phone.

I actually had tickets to two shows that night but my husband got called into a meeting on his day off and lucky me couldn't get coverage so I had to head home for the kids. Ugh.

As I was walking to Penn Station to jump on the Subway I realized I needed to at least take a mirror selfie so I stepped inside Kmart and took this video. Note my very wet and flat hair. I gave my feet the day off from heels and wore my trench because it was over 50 degrees. Crazy that it had snowed the day before.

My look from head to toe:

• Coat: Altuzarra for Target, $45 (50% off)
• Dress: American Apparel, $7.50, Nordstrom Rack
• Bag: Balenciaga Velo, Nordstrom Rack
• Jeans: Chip Foster, Nordstrom Rack $19.98 (retail $220)
• Bracelet: Dannijo Lacey cuff, sample sale, $25 (retail $495!)
• Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff, sample sale, $25

I'm almost done with my Fashion Week Coverage. Stay tuned for my last day :)

XO
Shoppinggal