LeHoarder: Bumble and Bumble

Rebecca Minkoff lovers rejoice - RM's NYC sample sale is back and does not disappoint! For some reason it always rains the first day (at least is wasn't a slushy freezing rain like last sale!) but that didn't stop me or all my fellow die-hard Minkettes :) This time I planned ahead. I packed a giant IKEA tote and several plastic garbags bags for my goods so I wouldn't have to walk around the City after the sale with broken, handle-less, soaking-wet, paper shopping bags clutched against my chest like last time.

Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail...

Got there bright and early and met up with fellow blogger Shira Rose of A Sequin Love Affair to celebrate our love (or obsession) of all things Minkoff. For months she's been sending pics of RM bags she wanted but I told her to wait for the sale...and we cleaned up :)

Samples were $50 this time - plus if you had the Gilt City voucher I shared on Facebook and Insta it would have been $25 :) Unfortunately they didn't have $20 clutches and wallets like last sale. We found these super-cute Zap and OMG clutches and I got really excited...until I found out they were priced $50 too so I passed on mine (she took hers anyway).

Here we are fighting over the Fiona tie dye bucket bag I found - it's actually my favorite piece from the sale or I probably would have let her have it. Sorry. From what I read it wasn't even put into production so you can't even buy one at retail. Lucky me!

So let me give you the rundown. Head in and go right for the sample table near the back right wall. They were replenishing all morning - but after 2 hours I finally had to leave for my haircut or I probably would have stayed all day LOL. If you haven't been yet it may be worth a trip first thing tomorrow morning.

Sample table - see we didn't take everything LOL

Cute sample I left behind...

After the samples, step back and check out the smaller leather goods all priced $25-125 (prices were based on the retail - see chart) before stopping at the shoes in the back.

Retail was $175 so this pouch was $75.

I spy more samples being brought out :)

All flats and sandals are just $50 (heels and boots are $100) - a significant decrease from past sales. They had a few pairs of shoes/boots on the sample table but they were all size 7 and also $50.

I scored these $50 fringed Faith flats that are currently retailing at Saks for $250 and Nordstrom for $150.75.

I really wanted these Santana sandals but they didn't have my size :(

For anything else I would wait for markdowns towards the end of the sale. As always the clothing was slightly overpriced (price-points were $25-200) and not very exciting. Leather for $200 was decent but I typically do better at the Rack.

They had a nice selection of bags but unless it's a sample you know I'm not really looking at it. Shira kept grabbing stock bags and I made her put them all back LOL. For the most part bags were $125-$405.

Larger bags

Sale is on now thru Saturday :) Fingers crossed for more samples and/or markdowns!

Monday, April 20th through Saturday, April 25th. Mon 11am-8pm, Tue-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm. 260 Sample Sale, 260 Fifth Ave between 28th and 29th streets (212-725-5400).

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I've been very frustrated with my hair of late. My long layered haircuts were working against my natural texture so I started researching what would enhance the hair I have left (most of it fell out post-pregnancies). Every 10 years or so I chop it all off so I figured it was about time. After seeing countless celebs with cute choppy hair I decided 'me too.'

When I entered Bumble & Bumble, post sample sale, I looked like a drowned rat lugging a giant Ikea bag and that was the last straw. My hair had to go.

Here's my before...

And after :)

I wanted it to be longer in the front than the back but I'm not sure it's as angled as I'd hoped but I love it. I'm so glad I chopped it off.

I've been a hair model all over NYC for years and with Bumble & Bumble for over 10 years. This is probably my favorite cut to date. To sign up to be a model go to their website - and please be sure to use my name as a referral (Michelle Blashka). What I love about this program is that it's completely free (and no tipping!) PLUS once you're in the system all you do is email for the next available cut. They do styling and color too, but they are my go-to for free haircuts.

Don't worry - I'll share my Rebecca Minkoff keepers (and extras) over the next couple weeks! As a hoarder I always have a hard time letting go...

XOXO
Shoppinggal

No crazy designer deals this week - it's been slow and slightly stressful. My husband just tried to kick me off the computer. I told him I needed to finish working. He corrected me and said "you mean hobbying? It's not working if you're not making money. Until you do you can't call it work." Sigh. It's just been one of those weeks. And thanks for the support B :)

On Monday I headed to the Rack bright and early because it was shoe markdown day! I'm sure you've seen my crazy photo on Instagram and Facebook. I spent over two hours turning over every single shoe in that store LOL. Paid off!

I also picked up this cute Laundry by Shelli Segal cutout faux leather peplum sheath dress. It looks a little plastic-y for my taste but it was $265 and marked down to $23.90. Do the math and figure out how many pairs of penny shoes I found :)


Not sure why tag reads $148 - it was on their website for $265.

These were my favorite penny find - my new Delman flats :)

The Rack used to have more $1, $5 and $10 items on clearance but they seem to have changed their markdown structure and I'm not to happy about it. Now they mark things down to a penny and pull them from the shelves to send them off to their clearance center. This is the most penny finds I've found in an outing. Last year in kids I think I got seven in a day.

On Tuesday when I went in for men's shoe markdowns I didn't find a single penny item. I think they were more careful as they were a little upset that so many were not pulled the day before LOL. I did find a $5 Ralph Lauren denim moto jacket for my SIL or sister - whoever fits it.

97% off!

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Wednesday, I headed into the City to Bumble and Bumble to model for their ponytail class. For some reason every time I go into the City it rains. I got up early, grabbed my umbrella and headed in. When I was on the subway by 14th street I got a ping (love WiFi on the subways!) Bumble emailed me an hour before my class to cancel because some stylists from Chicago got stuck in their airport. They graciously apologized and offered me a $10 product credit if I would rebook. I SAW RED. OK, I actually I just got a really bad migraine. I quickly wrote back asking if they could accommodate me as I just came in from NJ just for this class and I've been a model for Bumble for over 10 years. I was pissed to say the least. My commuting costs alone were more than $10. I quickly walked around Nordstrom Rack in Union Square (I was too stressed to shop or take pictures) then I headed west to BbU. If they were going to cancel on me they were going to have to do it to my face - or just give me more free product than a lousy $10 worth. When I showed up they were so nice and made me an alternate, and luckily I was seated. I think they were a little afraid of how I would react if they didn't seat me - I probably would have lost it LOL. I do have to say that nobody else who got canceled had the balls to show up despite their emails and phone calls :) I probably should go back to Nordstrom Rack and pick up that bracelet I tried on...

My friend D said she didn't get it - it's just a ponytail. Clearly you can't tell from just looking at it but this ponytail took over three hours. Each hair is meticulously put in place. I asked my stylist (I think her name was Luz - she's from Atlanta) and she explained that they have to take this class in order to qualify for an exam given by Bumble and Bumble, and if they pass they can work Fashion Week. I was hoping to run back to Sephora to meet up with Cliff again and play with makeup and take more pics but the class ran so late I barely made it back home in time to pick up the kids from school. Instead I took a few selfies with my phone and my camera in the unisex restroom at Bumble and Bumble.

I like this one because my younger sister told me it made me look half my age LOL. Lately I've been getting a lot of complements on my skin. I do take pretty good care of my skin but it's really my Dr. Jart+ Black Label BB cream. If you haven't tried BB or CC creams yet, march to Sephora and sample as many as you can in your skintone until you find the perfect one. This morning at Nordstrom Rack, one of the empolyees actually asked me if I was expecting (I'm not!) because my skin was glowing. I think it was just the humidity that gave me a dewy look. Either that or she was calling me fat and came up with a really good recovery.

From Instagram - just wearing BB cream and my new Laura Mercier Wildflower lipgloss

And this is why I cropped the other one in so close. A- I have creepy man hands and B- the front is super slicked back which is not so flattering on me. Later I took it down and brushed it out and it looks much better today IMO.

I used to just get free hair cuts at Bb.U but I started signing up for styling to get me out of the house, and to earn free 'hairmiles' which you can trade in for free products. With this visit I had $50 coming to me so I cashed in my credits and hairmiles for a $30 shampoo and a $26 hair primer from their new Hairdresser's line. I'm not exactly sure what a hair primer is but I like that it's heat and UV protective which is perfect for summer. Plus it makes your hair less frizzy and super smooth. These two cost me just $6 and change out of pocket. I used to use drugstore shampoo that I got for free from my couponing days but once you start using salon products it's really hard to go back.

If you're interested in signing up for Bumble and bumble. University Model Project you can sign up here. Please use my name as a reference (Michelle Blashka) so we can both get a product credit :) Did I mention all services are free and they tell you not to tip - so it's really free! They do have occasional classes outside of NY so like their Facebook page to see the latest openings all over the country.

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I decided to check out my favorite thrift store this week and I'm sad to report I'm still on a slump. I probably didn't need this embroidered linen Tracy Reese matching 3/4 sleeve jacket and strapless dress but I love Tracy - and it was $15 for the set.

May be a bit 'much' to wear together. We'll see...

I also found this fun sequin midi skirt on the clearance rack at Target this week for $8.98

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Locally there are a lot of consignment stores and every time I think about going, I look online to check their pricing and I'm usually disappointed. I typically find better deals at thrift, outlets or the department stores end of season sales. I got an email yesterday that one local store would be participating in their town's sidewalk sale today, and they were going to have racks for $5, $10 and $20. I figured it was time to visit all the consignment stores in that area :)

Sorry so small - they created this document in word so I copied it into Paint and the jpg came out tiny.

I made the mistake of stopping at the Rack first so by the time I got there they didn't have too much left. I sifted thru their $10 shoes and found these almost-new Repetto ballet flats that retail for just under $300.

I also found these gorgeous Bruno Magli black velvet pumps with the most beautiful golden enameled heel. They are a smidge tight but so pretty (and also $10!) so I'm going to see if I can stretch them a little.