Weekend roundup: retail sales, Giambattista-Valli MAC collab fail & surprise find from Forever 21!

I've been actually checking out retail lately (gasp, it does happen...) but mostly to check out all the sales. I hit the City the other day to meet with friends and couldn't resist popping in to Barneys, Bergdrofs, Bloomies & Saks. Shoe sales are EVERYWHERE but I would recommend going to Barneys and Saks for deals up to 70% off. They also had better prices and selection than Bergdorf and Bloomies. Just note that sales are final at Saks but not Barneys - good to know if you have a habit of returning.

Here are a couple shoe shots from Barneys. Prices were good but not good enough for me. Those stupid hot pink Paul Andrew's in the last pic still taunt me. I missed the sample sale where my friend scored them for $50 - and now here they are in my size for hundreds of dollars. Ugh.

I also popped into the Zara flagship and didn't see a single thing I wanted. Maybe I'll reconsider when they slash prices. I did order a couple dresses from the online sale but already returned them. They looked so good on the models...just not so great on me. The black dress was nothing special IRL and the yellow caftan looked so chic on the model - but looked like a giant muumuu on me.

Yesterday I headed to the mall (more retail!) to pick up one of the new lipsticks from the Giambattista-Valli MAC collab at Nordstrom and was greeted by this...

Turns out they sold out within hours and I got there too late in the day :( I was really only interested in the Tats (pink) or Charlotte (red) so I tried them on to see if I needed to further obsess and track them down. Pardon my lack or makeup (didn't even have my BB cream on) and I didn't use a lip liner either. I found the Charlotte at the MAC store but I decided it was too orang-y for me. I do like the pink but it was sold out at the 4 locations I went to/called. No matter, it's just a hot pink. I'll find something else. Sigh.

L-R; Tats & Charlotte

I then headed over to Forever 21 after seeing Tracy's Notebook of Style's post on cute knockoff bags and sunglasses so I picked these tortoise shell sunnies up for just $5.90! Some pairs looked cheap but these totally impressed me. Honestly these are every bit as good as some of my $300-500 sunglasses. I read there is a coupon out today only (7/10) for 40% off one item if you are a VIP member so check your email :)

Went to Century 21 to check on the status of the sale. The Lanvin stuff that was 50% off last week is now 65% off! We are progressing people!

I've been looking for new bras (Century has a VERY impressive selection) and I found this Warner's bra that I've been meaning to try. It has a special feature that helps reduce the extra blob of skin that hangs out at the side of your bra. If you're smaller chested or under 30 you probably have no idea what I'm talking about. I'm not sure how much it really helps but it's insanely comfortable. Wacoal is my brand of choice but I am extremely impressed with Warner's as a inexpensive alternative. And it was only $15!

I actually signed on with Rocksbox for another 3 months to be an "it girl" so I now have more jewelry coming my way! They sent me this box chock-full of goodies...

The bracelet is House of Harlow 1960, the earrings are A.V. Max and the necklace is Gorjana. If you scroll up you'll see me wearing the necklace in the MAC picture :) Rocksbox is a jewelry subscription service - they send you 3 pieces of jewelry at a time after you complete a personalized survey and you create a wishlist with your favorite pieces. You can borrow the pieces for as long as you want or return them for a new set.  Rocksbox gives you $10 a month of shine spend to use towards any purchase you make, should you want to keep something from your box. It's normally $19 a month but you can get your first month free with code SHOPPINGGALXOXO so it's worth a try!

And it's my birthday tomorrow - don't forget to enter my birthday giveaway in the previous post!

Have a great weekend!
-Shoppinggal

Michelle and the amazing, wonderful, awesome, very good day.

Hello my name is Michelle and it's been almost two weeks since my last post. I've been taking some time off and thinking about the direction I want to take my blog. Sometimes I feel like all I do is show you my finds instead of showing you that I actually wear the stuff. And on that note I'll show you the goods LOL.

Last week I checked to see what H&M has and I have to say I love their new color story. The army green and pink combo is so pretty.

Can you believe this skirt is just $35??? I wish it was midi length - then it would be mine!

I picked up this wool coat for $24. It retails for $30 (which is a steal as it is) but at the Bergen Mall they have a coupon booklet at the office - which has a coupon for 20% off one item at H&M. My only note is to size down (I took a 2 and we all know I am NOT a size 2 right now) and be sure to pop the collar. It's exactly what I was looking for  - it's a boxy cocoon with a vintage flair. And I love the collar and unstructured shoulders...

I just noticed that H&M has 30% off selected fall jackets online - of course not this one.

Stock pic

I had also noticed these dresses online that I'm thinking about...

Shirt dress, $29.95 - I think I need to try this one on in green. 

Ruffled dress, $19.95 - I actually already have this dress in a size 4 (it was all they had left when I got it) but it's really short so I'm thinking about buying a 6 or 8 for the length. The sleeves are amazing and the price is too. Last time they offered this dress is was priced higher and I waited to buy it on sale for $15. For $20, don't wait LOL.

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Last night I took a pair of my new Tamara Mellons out for a spin to a party at Dylan's Candy Bar. I did a mini photo shoot there so I'll be sure to share more pics as soon as I get my hands on the rest of them :)

Tuesdays are my hardest days with the kids (this semester) because my husband is out of the house from 7 am thru 11 pm.  I have to wake, dress, feed, do last minute homework, make lunches and get all three of them to the bus - all by myself. This morning I just wrote my son's teachers a note that he was too busy partying to do his homework LOL. We made it to the bus-stop with moments to spare. Once I'm free (until 4pm) I workout, get dressed and usually head to the Rack. I got a little spiffier than usual today because I had plans to meet a friend. And that's how this amazing, wonderful, awesome, very good day began :)

My OOTD included my never worn 70% off Peter Pilotto for Target top (obsessed with that print!) with a $2.50 H&M necklace that I found on the clearance rack - which my friend Bunny gifted me for taking her shopping.

Love you Bun!

I popped into the Rack a few minutes after they opened and guess what they got today??? Refurbs! As always I didn't just shop for myself :) Message me here or on Facebook if anything catches your eye.

These $795 Lang size 40 Jimmy Choo's were exactly what I was looking for...until I hit the Tamara Mellon sample sale. Not sure I still need these but I'm such a sucker for cheap Choos...

And y'all know I can't leave a pair of Christian Louboutins behind. These $795 size 38 (US 7 or 7.5) Very Noeud satin slingbacks are up for grabs :)

SOLD I'm holding these 90% off $2450 Taliah strassed Jimmy Choos for my nieces for now - perfect wedding shoes, hint hint...

SOLD

SOLD Back off - these $745 Couture Bow d'Orsay Valentinos are for my lovely friend Daphne who's been in a funk. Hope these babies cheer you up :)

SOLD

A little less sexy than the others, I grabbed these Nike sneakers for $27. Since I hurt my foot a few weeks back I've been thinking it's time to get comfortable shoes (ugh). I can finally put weight on my foot but maybe I should just go to an orthopedist already.

And before I forget, I also got these Louboutins for $150 yesterday. They were marked $200 but rang up less. And yes, they fit me and I'm wearing them right now as I click clack away on my computer.  I love Nordstrom Rack.

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I was on a roll...then I decided to go for broke and do some thrifting too. Some might think me greedy. I like to think of it as ambitious :)

Scored these Barney's NY black oiled leather moto boots for $15! I've been coveting the Jimmy Choo moto boots for a while so these will do :) The chunky soles aren't that heavy and the heel is the perfect height.

I noticed a woman with a beautiful cream vintage straw hat with a navy grosgrain ribbon in her cart and thought I missed out. I ran to check the hats and I found this purple vintage beret/hat for just $4! I'll have to take more pics on me (instead of my mini-me) so you can see all the detail and shape in the front. I googled the designer, Don Anderson, and his vintage hats are all over Etsy.

This is probably my favorite find of the day. I love when they don't know a designer LOL. This $2650 Giambattista Valli dress was just....$12.95! I'm going to take it to a tailor to see if they can take it in a bit - it's too boxy for me as it is.

I wish I had the necklace too!

Shoulder detail

I also found this beautiful Byron Lars Beauty Mark silk dress for $9.95 - his dresses go for around $500. It's completely sheer and I forgot to check the lingerie area to see if they were selling the slip separately. The rosette detail on the sleeves is what had me.

Hello, lover!

Other than my friend standing me up and just missing out on a Phillip Lim Pashli (ugh, don't ask) it's been a great day! With Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year) starting tomorrow night I just wanted to take a moment to wish my Jewish friends (and everybody for that matter) a Ketivah v’chatima tovah (loosely translates to a good inscription and sealing - in the Book of Life). Happy new year and may each step you take be sweet!

-Shoppinggal