Cleared the Rack, My Latest Freebies & Designer Scores

I've had a bit of a dry spell at Nordstrom Rack but I'm back, baby! A Chloe Drew has been on my wishlist for a while so when a medium turned up in black I snapped it up. I really wanted a small and in any color but black but you really can't be picky when it comes to the Rack. You take what you get and you say thank you. Thank you for sending a $2,050 bag my way for just $509.98.

This Clear the Rack, they also surprised us with the 50% off dress sale so I've been popping in daily to see if anything new shows up. Their trucks have been light and probably will continue to be until inventory, which is next month. But you never know - so it's always worth a peek.

My favorite dress so far is this $525 Halston Heritage two-tone sequin wrap dress for $90. It's a little too open for me in the front so I found an American Apparel dress for $7 today to wear under it. I still have to try them on together...

Other odds and ends that I got for 25% off include: Kendra Scott Danielle earrings for $11.25 each (retail $55-65)...

I thought this Lanvin Me perfume was a better deal until I saw it online for about the same - paid $26.77.

They finally got some kids transfer shoes in! They didn't have anything for my girls but my son scored $100 Nike sneakers for $11.25 and $60 K-Swiss for $5.62.

Last but not least, I found these Converse marked $20 (so they would have been $15 after PA) but I had a feeling...and I was right! Penny find!!! My niece was begging for a pair for a while but I couldn't find anything in her size for less than $40. Patience is a virtue :)

Century's sale has begun so I popped in to check it out. Despite signage of up to 75% off, most pieces were 33-50% off.

Lanvin dresses made it to 50% off...

And I spotted some Gucci blankets for $299.59 (retail $995).

I don't really take a closer look until things hit 70-90% off so I'll be sure to update when the prices drop. Make sure you're not missing my posts by subscribing to my blog via email (look to the right) and following me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

On the H&M front, the post-holiday sale has begun!

So far the prices aren't stupid cheap so I only took home this Chloe knock-off dress for $25 from $50. 

I haven't thrifted in a while so I checked out a few stores and all I found were these $995 Tabitha Simmons Fleur sandals for $20. Could be worse :)

I actually went back to IKEA today to plan my closet but it was a madhouse. I think I'll head back when people are back at work and I have the store to myself. Now thru January 26th they have the PAX closet system on sale.

If you sign up for IKEA Family they have monthly special offers and you always get a free cup of coffee at the restaurant.

 I'm waiting for the Billy to go on sale so I can build something like this for my shoes and bags :)

So I finally got a new phone (the Nexus 6 for $250) because it was time to give up my slider phone and I wasn't ready to pay $850 for the iPhone I "need." My Instagram husband decided to shoot with my new phone instead of my Canon and in hindsight I wish we used the DSLR. It's a huge improvement over my ancient phone but it's not as crisp as I'd like. Also, I gave my face the day off so this is what I look like without a stitch of makeup.

From head to toe:

• Hat: Eugenia by Eugenia Kim, sample sale, $30
• Dress: Ellie Tahari cashmere dress, thrift store, $13
• Coat: H&M, $24
• Gloves: Carolina Amato, sample sale, $15
• Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love backpack, sample sale, $50 (retail $355)
• Boots: Rebecca Minkoff Sari boots, sample sale, $25 (retail $495)

I actually won this personalized Coffee/Tea/Chanel cup on Instagram from Party Rock Co. - it took over a month to get it (and I don't drink coffee LOL) but you know I love free. Recognize my new Tory Burch cuff? 

Still waiting on two more prizes I won on Insta - I'll be sure to share when they finally come!

I'm linking up some of these pieces (and similar) for you to shop :)

I don't really have any exciting plans for New Years but I plan on dressing up anyway! After a whole snafu at Nordstrom in the makeup department (long story) the manager called me back and offered to do my makeup tomorrow. I want her to teach me some contouring tricks and a crazy eye. This year I plan on stepping up my makeup game, toning up, getting my house organized, and somehow making it back to NY Fashion Week.

What are your New Year's resolutions?

XOXO
Shoppinggal

A Very Accessory Day - Sample Sale Reports and More!

My primary target for today was the Eugenia Kim sample sale. I arrived early and patiently waited...only to walk away empty handed. In past sales they had $5-20 bins of smaller pieces and unfinished hats. This time the cheapest thing I could find was a $25 furry ponytail pom pom. I looked through beat up hats from older collections for $35-75 (too much!) and I was disappointed that there were none of their popular Instagrammable Do Not Disturb beach hats. Only one gray hat had kitty ears but it was a weird shape. All the pom pom hats were $95-150 and not worth the price tags IMO. They did have a shoe section with flats for around $95 and heels for $145 (boots were $295), but if you were a size 37 or 39 they had some press samples for $50 less. Sadly I'm a true 40 and nothing was amazing anyway.

Even though their sale posting stated no photography, Racked managed to get lots of pics on the inside. I seriously have to stop being a goody two shoes LOL. Unless you are a die hard fan and typically pay full price for her hats, I'd sit this one out. Overall it was really only around 50% off retail. Typically later in the week they reduce some prices so if you really want to go, wait.

I'm linking a few pieces (and similar) I saw below :)

Eugenia Kim 
347 W 36th Street, Suite 501
Dec. 16-18, 10 am - 7 pm

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My next stop was around the corner. I'm a huge Haute Hippe fan but unfortunately sometimes when sample sales get outsourced pricing is ridiculous. For $100-300 I can do better at the Rack. In the space they also had Adrienne Landau and Carlos Falchi - also not cheap. I walked out in 5 minutes. It wasn't like Eugenia Kim where I spent an hour trying to love something. Tomorrow is the last day if you want to check for discounts.

Haute Hippie, Adrienne Landau and Carlos Falchi
519 Eighth Ave (between 35/36th), 21st Floor
Dec. 17, 10 am - 6 pm

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I had never heard of Grinnell designs but I'm a sucker for a jewelry sale. I went in and it was creepy. It seems they manufacture pieces for designers like Escada, Dannijo, Tory Burch...or I should say they used to. Everything was super old. I did buy a $30 Kara Ross for Tory Burch Evil Eye cuff just because it was cute - even if it was at least 5 years old. Kicking myself for not negotiating down the price because I probably could have. It did retail for $350ish once upon a time but still. I got the last white one but they had a couple more in brown. Don't worry, I'll take pics soon. It really is something.

Grinnell Designs
580 Eighth Ave (38/39th), 4th Floor
Dec. 17-18, 10 am - 4 pm

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And then there was the sale that turned my whole day around. It was at the Grinnell sale that I spotted a sign for Carolina Amato in the hallway. I had never heard of her but the sign said her hats, gloves, scarves are sold at Intermix and Shopbop so I figured it couldn't hurt. Bottom line, next sale I'll be there first day.

I've been obsessing over fingerless gloves and there were plenty in leather, wool, cashmere and fur starting at just $15.

I also got my pom pom hat fix - these cute wool ones were just $9 - or free with a cash purchase over $100! So glad I walked away at Eugenia Kim! I also took a pair of matching gloves for $9. Can you guess which color I took?

They had tons of gorgeous gloves, hats and scarves too. They had some mittens for just 3 for $10!

It was mostly for women but they had a few kids and men's pieces mixed in. They even had a doggie sweater for $19.

And now for what you really want to see....the sample table! Lots of hidden gems for $10-40!

Lucky for all of us the sale was extended thru Friday! If you still need holiday gifts she had plenty for under $20!

Linking her pieces online so you can see just how amazing this sale is!

Carolina Amato
270 W 38th St. (by 8th), 9th Floor
Dec. 17-18, 9 am - 5 pm

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After I walked over to Charlotte Olympia to get my free holiday gift. On her website there is a game - A Cracking Christmas Surprise. If you click on the image that looks like my picture below you will get a code for a free gift. Promotion runs thru Christmas so hurry over! If you live near one of her stores it's totally worth the trip :)

Charlotte Olympia
22 E 65th St. (Madison/5th)
10 am- 6 pm daily, closed Sunday

And that's all folks! Stay tuned for my next weekly roundup so you can see all my latest scores - and what's inside my Charlotte Olympia package...

XOXO
Shoppinggal

Holiday looks (and deals!) part 2

This time of year is shopping insanity. There are crazy sales left and right. I've been running into the City several times a week for sample sales and I have a few more coming on the horizon.

On Sunday I ran in for day two of the Sophia Webster sample sale, which broke my cardinal rule of always get to a sale on the first day and be first in line. She's a quirky UK designer with colorful, unusual designs and she did all the shoes for the Victoria's Secret runway show this year. Sophia has exploded recently and all I was hoping for was one special pair. When I got there an hour early I was second in line (in the freezing cold). The first person in line flew in from Texas just for the sale...and she was dressed for Texas, sans coat and winter clothing. The organizers were kind enough to let her wait inside for the last 20 minutes while the rest of us froze outside. Somehow she managed to find three pairs yet I walked away empty handed. I even negotiated prices down for some of my fellow shoppers (slim pickings, mostly damages) but I couldn't bring myself to buy something that didn't fit right or meet my expectations. I wanted something just under 4 inches and really interesting - like one of her butterfly pumps or a strappy, colorful cage heel. I really didn't think I would walk away empty handed because it's not like I wanted anything basic or neutral - I wanted crazy!

I would have LOVED to get anything similar to any of these:

Lacey Strappy High-Heel Sandal, $695 at Neiman Marcus

Electra sandals, now $509.37 Farfetch

Sophia Webster Riko High Heel Mule Sandal, $675 Intermix

Evangeline Angel Wing Sandal, $560 Neiman Marcus

We had to check all of our stuff and I left my camera and phone in my bag so I don't have any pics for you but there really was nothing left to photograph.

They had several pairs of the Aldora for $100 in the yellow that were all damaged (black marks) but they didn't have my size anyway.

Love anything of hers with a butterfly!

They also had a bunch of the espadrilles for $100 and I ALMOST got a pair but they didn't have them in my size in the colorway that I wanted so I passed because they weren't special enough anyway and you all know what I can buy for $100 LOL.

The most interesting pair of shoes that had left were these Carries for $240 (which I bet I could have negotiated down to $155) - but they only had them in 38 and 38.5 :(

The only good thing about my sale experience was that I learned her shoes are actually (mostly) pretty comfortable and that I take a 40 in her closed heels and 39.5 in anything open. And then I went to the Rack afterwards and scored 11 pairs of penny shoes LOL.

The night I had my friend's daughter's Bat Mitzvah party - I've known this girl since 6th grade. Her parties are always a blast because they play tons of Persian music which is so much fun to dance to. In college she used to drag me to Persian parties and I always stood out. I was always the only (real) blonde in the room LOL. Plus we'd dance all night and I LOVE to dance.

Instead of going for the obvious choice of my Tom & Linda Platt fringe dress I went for my newly thrifted Talbot Runhof "Voltaire" dress that I picked up last week. It still had the tag on and it retailed for $1400...and I got it for $13!

Personally, I think I fill it out way better than the model :)

I'm also wearing my hammered gold plated silver Argento Vivo drop earrings ($25, Nordstrom Rack) and my House of Harlow bracelet ($17, Rent the Runway sample sale) - not pictured are my Rent the Runway sample sale $41.50 DVF clutch and my $80 (retail $745) Fendi Fendista black pumps that I scored at the Rack before the prices of refurbs went up. I pulled out a couple pairs of my Louboutins but I decided to go for comfort so I put them right back in my closet LOL.

Fendi Fendista Platform Pumps, $745

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I still have a couple more looks from my Thanksgiving shoot to share. Thanks again to my photographer Meira, my super talented niece :)

By now, I'm sure you noticed that I have a thing for animal prints. How cute is this BCBG leather and faux-fur jacket? It was just $39.97 (retail $598!) at the Rack. I'm wearing it over my $20 thrifted Ava & Aiden black dress, my Rebecca Minkoff Love bag (sample sale score, $50) and I pulled out my favorite Chanel cuff and bangle (both 75% off, Neiman Marcus). The camellia cuff was recently repaired after splitting open the first time I wore it - and now it's crooked. I refuse to return it because I'm not sure I'll be able to find another cuff for 75% off! I also stacked my spiked penny (as in $0.01) bangle from the Rack and a silver bracelet that somehow broke that day :( Me thinks one the kids found it and cracked it in half...

Yeah, I know my eyes are closed...

Check out my Mellons! Scored these aptly named Trouble Makers in gray leopard for just $55 (retail $995) at the Tamara Mellon sample sale. I love the ponyhair leopard and the contrast snakeskin heel - the mix of materials makes them look so luxe.

It was getting dark so everything started to get blurry.

I actually wore two different earrings - one was this leaf drop (Nordstrom Rack, under $20) and the other was one of my Dannijo studs from Rent the Runway - you can see it in the full body shot :) Lipstick is Pheromonal (sheer magenta) from MAC. It was given to me for my birthday by one of my friends who is a makeup artist and gets a MAC discount. Thanks Cynthia!

The day I found my amazing orange thrifted coat I also found this wool cape for $20. It's a vintage Gloverall (an English brand) and it has a fun plaid lining. Current similar Gloverall styles go for $300-500. I got this hat a year or two ago at the Eugenia Kim sample sale - before pom pom hats were all the rage. That year was buy 3 get 1 free so I'm not even sure how much it cost LOL. She has another sale this Friday if you're interested :)

Closeup of my vintage leather and fur trimmed Halston thrifted gloves - pretty sure they were around $10. They really don't make things like they used to. The sweater peeking thru is my $15 Rag and Bone refurb from the Rack. Yes, they sell refurbished clothing too.






I love the drama of this cape - plus it's pretty warm. Wearing my favorite Sergio Rossi boots again...they really are the most perfect black boot.






I think next time I need someone to do my hair and makeup (any takers?)...or I have to start watching YouTube video tutorials to step up my game LOL. Stay tuned for details on my next giveaway! I'm probably due for a blog sale as well :)

As always, happy shopping!

XOXO
Shoppinggal