Twinning With Mini-Me, NYFW Edition

Fashion Weeks of the past have included a parade of shows, events and parties. This year there were exactly three in-person NYFW shows—and Ella and I were fortunate enough to be invited to the Rebecca Minkoff Spring/Summer 2021 Presentation. Months ago I spotted these Selkie rainbow puff dresses and I immediately envisioned a magical mother-daughter matchy-matchy fashion moment...and I have to say these dresses delivered. 

Now say that five times fast :)

I love that Selkie cuts their designs in a decently inclusive size range of XXS-5X, and I'm wearing the 1X and Ella the XS. Honestly I'm not sure who would fit the XXS as it was snug on the super tiny Ella, but then again Ella does have my broad shoulders. With the puff dresses you select your size based on your bust measurements—otherwise they have lots of room for all your curves. It might not be the most traditionally 'flattering' design as even Ella looked like she was several months along, but if you're looking for colorful and impactful as I do, these dresses are a dream. Selkie does have several dress silhouettes that give you a defined waistline and Ella already has her eyes on a few of those. Another note, even at 5'2" Ella's puff runs super short and biker shorts, leggings or tights are required unless you're comfortable sharing your nether regions with the world. For a little more coverage go with my midi length French Puff or their maxi styles. If you want to see our dresses move, check out our Tiktoks (here and here).

We've come a long way since Ella's first fashion week which you can check out here. Ella and I had multiple photos make it to Getty Images (see a few here, here and here), and made New York Fashion Week roundups in both InStyle and Huffpost. And while we've been photographed before, we've never had that that paparazzi experience where we were surrounded by flashing cameras and people asking us to look their way—and it was a little overwhelming. If I'm ever lucky enough to have that experience again I plan on living in the moment and having a little more fun with it. I may have frozen a little. Ella told me she felt famous. 

My formula for NYFW street style usually involves a whole lotta color and a focus on a statement coat or dress. We left our coats in the car because it turned out to be a beautiful day. And in NYC anything over 50 is pretty much summer. But we were prepared. Ella layered her Selkie Puff Dress with a turtleneck, plush nude fleece lined tights with both lace tights and lavender biker shorts for extra coverage. She also had on wool socks to keep her feet extra warm (one of my Fashion Week winter hacks). Just the day before was a good 20-30 degrees cooler and as a mom I make sure we are always prepared. I even gave her my furry knit fingerless gloves just in case. I kept it simple with my Selkie French Puff Dress, my white boots (that literally make an appearance every fashion week) and a mask that I DIY'd the night before because I couldn't find the perfect mask that I envisioned in my head. I love the fit and comfort of my Jill & Ally masks and I stocked up when I found them on clearance at TJ Maxx so I knew it would make the perfect base for my project. I wanted it to be a little bling-ier but I couldn't find my good glue (I needed E6000 for this project but my Target was sold out and my old one disappeared—thanks kids!) so I had to make do with dollar store glue which is basically garbage. Broke out a needle and thread and voilà!

Read about some of my past NYFW looks and experiences including my first NYFW as a blogger, one of my favorite OOTDs, and my controversial How to Sit Front Row at NYFW post that may have ruffled a few feathers.

Note some links are affiliate links and some are not. All it means it that I may make a few cents every time you click & purchase. Thank you for your support!

My look:

Dress: Selkie Rainbow French Puff, c/o

Choker: Shein, $1

Mask: Mask by Jill & Ally, with DIY Dollar Tree Flowers 

Gloves: Shein, $3

Bracelet: Stella & Ruby, c/o

Boots: Daniella Shevel c/o (seen here and here) *I did see a bunch available on The Real Real and they have a 20% off coupon right now too

Ella's look:

Dress: Selkie Puff Dress, c/o

Mask: Shein, $4

Gloves: Amato NY, older sample sale find (similar here and here)

Nails: Impress Manicure x OPI, c/o

Bag: Nina Hauzer c/o (seen before here)

Tights: Shein plush nude tights and lace tights, $5 & $3 

Biker Shorts: Charlotte Russe, $6 (these were next to impossible to find because kids cuts are too wide for her and adults are usually too big)

Boots: Daybreaks by Nina, c/o

Safety measures were in place at Spring Studio and even stricter than last round. You had to wear a mask, you were given a time slot to enter, and had to pre-register and complete with a health and safety survey—as well as wait on numerous lines inside. Social distancing was in place every step of the way. They did let Ella & I share a waiting spot together with my argument being that we were clearly together and basically the same person in the same dress. Even inside our dresses caused quite a stir with numerous compliments. One women correctly identified our dresses as Selkie and told us about her Selkie dresses. Several people asked to take pictures of us with their cellphones. I think I was most impressed with one street style photographer actually knew our dresses were Selkie and even included it in our Getty photo description. 

I typically don't share smaller coupon codes but if you're in the market, use code LEHOARDER for an extra 10% off your Selkie order. Selkie does have occasional sales and surprise bags that sell out in minutes, but if you have a specific piece on your wishlist, just go ahead and treat yourself. Puff dresses have a bit of a cult following and are at a premium even second-hand...when you can find them. Most dresses are available for pre-order on the Selkie site so you have to wait a few months for your dream dress to arrive. 

But back to the show, Rebecca Minkoff did not disappoint. Another East coat meets West Coast mix of bohemian rockstar glam. Once again lots of prints with matching face masks and a few new bag shapes that were most definitely drool-worthy. And the best part is that the collection is instantly shoppable and you can head to her site to start grabbing some of your favorites. Must haves for me include the Edie Fringe, Edie Maxi and Love Too Small crossbody. Check out my coverage of Rebecca's last NYFW September 2020 presentation here.

After the show I met up with my girls Greivy and Wendy who I had not seen in months. If felt good to feel normal-ish, even if just for an afternoon. I'm so thankful for all the brands that support me and for all of you for your love and support. A huge thank you to Greivy's husband for taking all my pics and Wendy for jumping out of the car with me and taking that shot by the water. It takes a village...

It's been just under a year since quarantine began and I've come close to losing my mind several times. I'm grateful for my family and our health and other than losing my Grandmother (not Covid but we couldn't be with her in the hospital for her last days due to Covid) we've been pretty fortunate. Ella's 14th birthday next week marks the last time we went out freely sans masks and before the world shut down. I'm looking forward to celebrating with mini-me and enjoying my last year with just two teenagers—which multiplies into three next year. 

It's crazy what a difference a year makes...

Stay safe everyone! 

XO

Life Is Short. Buy the Choos.

Sample sale land has been very good to me of late. Tis the season, I suppose. Typically the best NYC sample sales are around May/June and November/December. With discounts of 70-90% off it's pretty hard to resist all them designer deals. For a while I stopped sharing hauls and just shared bits and pieces as I wore them, but I kept getting haul requests. Here are all my Jimmy Choo, Charlotte Olympia, Rebecca Minkoff (part 2) and Modo Eyewear sale finds. You're welcome.

So let's start with the sample sale of all sample sales, Jimmy Choo. This was probably my worst haul to date because I was supposed to film a video for a collab that morning that ended up falling thru. So not only did I not get paid, I lost out on all the killer deals. By the time I got there (about 2pm) all the $50 men's shoes were cleared and bags were nothing special. Boo. They did have some boots marked $100 so I grabbed these two pairs and I plan to dye at least one black. See my $50 Jimmy Choo bag dyeing tutorial here. I actually already picked up the platform boots a while back in nude for $250 so it was a no-brainer. I love their wedges so I grabbed a basic pair which I'm kinda regretting. They are comfortable but a little too basic for my taste. We'll see. As an impulse buy I grabbed these shoe clips for $25 per pair. While most people would be happy with this haul, in comparison to previous hauls (here, here, here, and here ) it was pretty darn disappointing.

Rebecca Minkoff is hands down one of my all time faves. Her stuff is fun, colorful, and most importantly — super cheap! Everything pictured was $15-30 with the exception of the velvet Love crossbody bag. The only reason I "splurged" was because it was the bag I reeeeeealy wanted last sale and after seeing someone walk away from the sample table with it, I was slightly devastated. I probably didn't need it after finding the smaller pink satin one for only $15 but it's NWT so I can always flip it should I ever change my mind.

Note, this round was after some markdowns. Check out my round one here. From top center; guitar straps were $15 each, straw clutch was $30, pink satin Love was $15, glitter crossbody was $30, leather sample jacket was $30, white Jumbo Love was $30, black small Love was $30 and velvet Love was $50. I hit that sample table hard! Personally I love her mini bags because the chains are heavy so as they get larger, they get even heavier.

Then on to Charlotte Olympia. For some reason I just couldn't find any cute shoes in size 40. From Charlotte I look for crazy statement heels and for some reason that sale was lacking in that department — at least in my size. At the sale all shoes were around $150 which is pretty darn good for the higher end shoes. But when CO ran their own sales they always had some flats for $100 which was more palatable because at least you didn't have to pay tax (in NYC you have to pay tax on clothing and shoes over $110). They did mark down to $120 at the end but not much was left and it still wasn't cheap enough IMO.

Bags on the other hand were a really good deal — and much cheaper than when CO ran the sale. (This year's sale was run by 260 Sample Sale). Wallets were just $60 — and that red lips one retails for over $1,000! And I just couldn't resist her signature kitty wallet. Not to mention I love the internal organization - it's the best wallet I've purchased in years!! I'll be sure to share an Insta story soon so you can take a peek inside :) My rainbow clutch was just $175 from about $1,500 and my piece de resistance was my Lauren Atkinson patent leather crossbody bag (yes it has a strap too!) that retailed for $2,785 — and I scored it for $250. They had matching boots but of course they were not my size. And sadly they didn't have the matching rainbow shoes at the sale at all — they are currently on her website for 50% off (30% at most other places) but you know that's not good enough for me LOL.

Finally are my Modo scores — these Derek Lam sunnies were priced $30 each, and they retail for over $300. I got there on the last day so there wasn't much left.

You can shop some of my finds online (for more, sorry) below:

So that's my latest roundup! The good news is that even if you missed those sales, there are a few good ones coming up! Here are my picks for the next few weeks:

My favorite jewelry sale is back! Be sure to tell Amy (the designer) I sent you! With everything under $20 it's a great place to stock up on gifts! You can read a past sale report here. 

A.V. Max
June 4-8
M 10-4, T 10-8, W & Th 10-4, F 10-2
39 West 38th St., 10th Fl

I always find the cutest dresses for my girls at this sale! Last sale I scored the navy butterfly dresses my girls wore to my son's Bar Mitzvah at the kotel —  seen here. 

Halabaloo
June 6-8, 9:30-6:30
423 West 43rd Street, Ground Floor

If you have a black tie event and you're sample size you can find some killer deals here. They do have stock sizing (and all her other styles) for waaaay less then you'd find at Neiman Marcus :) If you go, get there early because lines are insane. Check out a past sale report here. 

Teri Jon
June 10-11, 9:30-5
241 West 37th Street, 2nd Fl

I have a love/hate relationship with the Alice and Olivia sales. Those resellers are out for blood at this one. But I've scored $99 leathers and my favorite lace dress for not much more. Get there early and come often for replens. Read a past sale report here. 

Alice and Olivia
June 11-16
M 12-8, T 9-8, W-Sat 10-8
260 5th Ave

I've only ever once gone to this one but I got there late and missed everything. Go early. 

Sachin & Babi 
June 11-14, 11-8
140 West 42 St, 2nd Fl

Happy shopping! If you hit those sales, I'd love to hear about your favorite scores!

XO
Michelle

My $15-30 Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale Scores!

The Rebecca Minkoff New York City sample sale is back and it's no joke. I attended the sale at the VIP opening and it was the best it's been in years. $15-30 samples made a comeback and there are killer deals to be found. Sale is on thru Sunday so I suggest to take a trip and see what you can find!

Everything above was $15 other than the sample boots (this year they had size 6 thru 10!) and the pink mini Love and the satin embroidered Love - which were all $30. Not bad considering the satin Love retailed for $345!!! Love me some 90% off Loves!

Don't worry, I clearly didn't take everything. I tried to edit down and I'm thinking maybe I over edited. I thought I would return but this week has been cray and I'm not sure I'll have the chance. Sample bags have been $50-75 at opening for a while (with discounts on beat up leftovers at the end) so I was thrilled to spot tons of cute cheap bags as well as $30 leather pieces on the clothing sample rack. For samples, green tags are $15, yellow is $30. They had a round of markdowns today (no more $50-75 for samples!) and I'm sure at least one more round will happen before it's over. Right now everything at the sale is $175 or less with exceptions of the furs for $425.

Everything in the picture below was just $15. Insanity!

The leather jacket is tiny so Ella stole it - she actually stole the vest as well and decided to wear it inside out. I swear my daughter is a fashion prodigy. Both of these yellow tags were just $30 :)

I'm linking up some of my finds that I found online too (not as cheap, sorry!) should you need them too!

And now on to sample sale land. Tis the season, baby! There are tons but these are my favorite picks...


Last day of Choo is tomorrow! You know the drill! (For more tips see my previous post.)

Jimmy Choo
May 11, 8-8
Metropolitan Pavilion 
123 W 18TH ST, 2nd Fl


Minkoff is on thru Sunday - plenty of time to pick up lots of cheap gifts!

Rebecca Minkoff
May 11-13
F 10-8, Sat 10-7, Sun 10-4
260 5th Ave


If you watched my Insta stories this week you saw that they had cheap samples! Not sure of they are restocking any more but if you're in the hood it's worth a pop in. 

Elizabeth and James 
May 11-13
F-Sat 10:30-7, Sun 10:30-5
Chelsea Market, 75 9th Ave (Prive Sales)


This is the first time 260 is getting CO so it's hard to say what the prices will be like. When the brand ran the sale it wasn't all that cheap so I'm worried it's gonna be even more now. That said, I plan on checking out the preview so stay tuned...

Charlotte Olympia
May 22-27
T 9-8,W-Th 10-7, F-Sat 10-8, Sun 10-5
150 Greene Street


Always worth checking out the Modo sale for designer sunnies on the cheap :)

Modo Eyewear 
May 22-24, 11-7
594 Broadway, Suite 801

Not sure what pricing will be like on this one but I saw a pair of their sandals at Bloomies that I have my eye on so finger crossed! 


Sensi Studio x Avec Modération 
May 15-17, 10-5:30
611 Broadway, Suite 321

Any other sales on your radar? Please do share! 

Happy Shopping and Happy Mother's Day to all! I just did a Mother's Day Collab with the beauty brand Amaranthum - you can see the short version here. I'll link up the whole video soon. 

XO
Michelle

Making Lemonade.

Like most people, I get a little introspective pre-New Years Eve and I thought I should take a moment to focus on all the good in my life and share just how grateful I am. 2017 was full of so many firsts and I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone and tell you all how appreciative I am. This year I had my first legit front row at New York Fashion Week, got several amazing collaboration opportunities, connected with a bunch of PR agencies who hooked me up with endless boxes of swag, had my first BFA photo taken, and broke 100k on Instagram. For all my successes, I'm just a regular gal who loves designer clothing and shoes - and has a knack for finding them on the cheap. I can't even tell you how much I'm looking forward to all 2018 will bring.

Overall, I'd consider myself a pretty positive person but there are some definite points of regret that have held me back. Over the years many dreams have come and gone and I've learned to adapt. I've had a whole lifetime before I started blogging 4 years ago that so many of you don't know about. Growing up, pouring over my Vogues, I dreamed of being a fashion designer. All my notebooks were filled with more sketches than math equations or essays. I went on to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology but I studied buying and marketing because I was afraid to put together a portfolio and apply for design. It was in college that I first discovered my voice and started to write little newsletters to my friends full of real and fictional stories. It was my way of dealing with growing up and leaving of the sheltered bubble of my youth. I lived at home in NJ during college but often escaped to my friends apartments in NYC or to their out-of-state college campuses.

During those summers I worked as an art teacher, bridal consultant and even stepped in as an assistant piece goods buyer at a fashion house during someone's maternity leave. Then the summer of senior year I sublet an apartment in the City with a friend who had a connection at a temp agency. We got jobs all over NYC at music and publishing companies for $18-25 an hour and were living the dream. This was back in the 90's so it was a lot of money for a college student. It was about then I decided I belonged in publishing and wanted to be a fashion editor. I was young, thin, pretty, energetic and had a killer wardrobe all scored for next to nothing. People would look for me at events just to see what I was wearing. Though I was fearless with my fashion, I was not as fearless with my personal and professional life.

At that point it was too late to get an internship at a fashion magazine and I was in such a rush to graduate and make money that I took a job as a production coordinator at a small garment trade magazine. That was when I got my first and only NYC studio apartment where I ended up living for 15 years. When I first signed my lease it was just $350 a month. Mind you it was literally 20 years ago but when I gave it up a few years back it was just over $1,100. I've always been the queen of the deal. Back then nobody lived above 96th street so it was a gamble to move uptown. But it was on Central Park West and I had the world's biggest front yard and a subway at the foot of the building. Life was good. I stayed on at my first job for a couple years and worked my way up to managing editor. It was an undeserved job title with a good paycheck for someone in their mid 20's. I was a naive young kid from a sheltered home and had a hard time dealing with some of the craziness of the Garmentos, the male owners and employees of the garment district. Many of them had a backwards way of thinking and treated women as objects. In hindsight I probably should have sucked it up for a little longer because the money was good, and most people are mistreated on their first few jobs (especially back then when sexual harassment was not such a buzzword). So I went back to my temp agency and the job center at FIT and hustled for several years. I could probably write of a book about some of those insane jobs and interviews back in the day. I had so many 'almosts' before finally settling at a marketing job at a major publishing house - not fashion related.

It was when I hit 30 when I realized I was not doing what I was supposed to do. I had just gotten married so I "retired" to have kids and be a stay at home mom. Don't get me wrong, those first few years of spending day in and out with my littles was fulfilling. It was about creating and molding these small children into people. I got a kick out of talking to them like adults, dressing them to the nines, and endless days of wandering the City with them in their tandem double stroller. But then I woke up. I woke up mid-thirties and looked at myself for the first time in years. I totally lost myself in my children and didn't recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror. So I started to work out, stopped wearing shapeless mommy clothing, joined Facebook and online message forums to connect with people again...until starting LeHoarder.com at 38. I'd been using the nickname and handle Shoppinggal for years but decided I needed something to take me to the next level. And so LeHoarder was born. Le means the in French - and Michelle is a French name. You can tell I don't speak French because I should have used La (female) instead of Le (male). And if you've seen my closet, the Hoarder part is pretty obvious.  I started with couponing deals and glitches and shared endless Target 90% off hauls and penny finds at Nordstrom Rack. And then one day I decided to be brave a put myself in front of the camera - wearing all my killer finds. And that's when everything started to really take off.

The theme that has been on repeat for most of my life is fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of success, but at this point in my life my only real fear is not trying. The way I see it, your twenties are full of self-discovery and angst, your thirties are more peaceful and about self-realization, and by the time you hit your forties, you stop giving a F what people think of you.

Your takeaway from this post should be a few things:

1. Internship, internship, internship! 

Do as many college internships as you can - even if they don't pay. Because if you don't have connections it's the best way to make them in your field of interest. And there is no need to rush "real life." It's gonna happen weather you like it or not.

2. Be fearless. 

There's never gonna be a right time. Just do it already. Seriously, what have you got to lose? I wish I wasn't such a chicken back in the day. More often than not you regret what you didn't do, not what you did. Just say yes to EVERY opportunity because you never know where it will take you.

3. It's never too late. 

At 43 I'm finally getting paid to do what I love with this job that I created for myself. When life gives you lemons...you make lemonade. Make your own opportunities! When I got started I hadn't a clue what I was doing. On so many levels I still don't. I didn't grow up texting or with social media so it's all something I had to figure out as an adult. I combined my love of fashion, shopping and writing with the HTML I learned from when I was working in web production for an online publication, the photo editing I learned when I worked in a art department, etc... And now I Google what I don't know, joined a bunch of Facebook groups for online creators, and ask a lot of questions. A lot of bloggers will ignore you or even lie to you when your numbers are small, but eventually you'll find your crew and your niche and that's when the magic happens. And I still stumble and struggle all the time. But I choose to get back up and keep pushing.

4. Forgive yourself. 

In truth, I've put back the weight I lost since I started my journey. I'm the heaviest I've ever weighed in my life. I've weighed less 9 months pregnant. Yet I refuse to make another weight loss resolution like I've made in years past and set myself up to fail. I'm also not gonna point my fingers at others and be accountable for my choices. In 2018 I'm hoping to reclaim my bravado with my fashion regardless of my weight or size. While I'd really like to fit my clothing again, I'm going to resolve to wear what I love regardless if I'm a size 2 or 12. And most importantly, I'm going to resolve to make better choices. Instead of beating myself up, I'm going to try to forgive myself and move forward.

Does all this mean I've given hope of ever being a fashion designer or magazine editor? Yes and no. Like I said, dreams change. I'd still love to have a collection one day, and if I had the opportunity to be a guest editor at any fashion publication I'd jump at the chance. And I want to be on TV. I'm just gonna put it out there in the universe and see what happens. Do I wish I had these opportunities 20 years ago? Sure. But for now I'm gonna try to stop stressing over what hasn't happened yet and focus on all I have right in front of me - and enjoy the ride.

Head to toe:

• Hat: H&M, $3
• Sunglasses: Fendi, Nordstrom Rack, $13
• Coat: H&M, $30 (still full price online - gotta love that sale rack!)
• Gloves: Amato New York, sample sale, $29
• Dress: H&M, $24.99
• Leggings: Spanx, Kohls (c/o)
• Bag: Rebecca Minkoff, sample sale, $75
• Boots: Zadig & Voltare, sample sale, $75 (RV $498)

Photos are by my friend Andrew who took me on a post-Christmas shopping spree. We totally failed at Woodbury Common but I should have realized that outlets are not your best bet post holiday. (Go hit retail sales ASAP!!! Just scored this H&M coat on the cheap on their stellar sale racks.) Plus it was freezing AF and I totally regretted not wearing wool socks - so I actually linked a few pairs of my faves (as well as the rest of my look) below for you to shop. Although we did score at Nordstrom Rack that day -  he and his brother found me these $600+ Fendis for just $15 less 25% Clear the Rack discount. Almost as good as all my penny Pradas from a couple years ago. Plus we even saw them at the Fendi outlet for over $300 LOL. 

Andrew now lives out of town for grad school but we always try to meet up when he comes home. We met through my blog a few years back and he was the one who saved me all the $25 Sergio Rossi shoes at the sample sale a few years back. Sadly there hasn't been a sale like it since. 

So peace out 2017! Wishing us all a year filled with joy and success! What are your goals for 2018?

XO
Michelle

The Hierarchy of Sample Sales and Black Friday 101

Not all sales are created equal. People always ask me how do I know which ones are the "good" ones but you have to understand - I've been sample sale-ing for over 20 years now. I probably hit my first NYC sample sale back when I was studying at F.I.T. After a while you develop an instinct for where to shop and when the deals are gonna be epic.

When you first discover sample sales, it can be overwhelming. You have to fight the urge to shop every sale and you can get yourself into real financial trouble. Luckily over the years I've honed my editing skills and while I still make a mistake or two, these days I tend to under-buy and error in the side of caution. I'm still kicking myself for not buying more $50 Tamara Mellon heels or clothing at her first couple NYC sales (read about them here and here) or more $99 furs from Elizabeth and James - they haven't had another sale like that one since.

These days the term sample sale is often misused. A true sample sale is when a brand or manufacturer sells off their previous season's samples. Real samples (often one of a kind pieces made for the runway or garments made to show to buyers) are often the best deals at any sample sale. It drives me nuts when a sale consists of stock merchandise for moderate discounts - and you can often find better deals at end of season department store sales. I always look for pieces that nobody else has (as they were never produced - like these white Rebecca Minkoff booties) for killer prices.

My favorite sales are almost always always run by the brand themselves in their showroom or a rented space. When you cut out the middle man you often get the best deals. One of my all time favorites is Jimmy Choo. The brand runs their own sale in Metropolitan Pavilion 1-2x a year and on the last day they slash prices and you can walk away with $2,000 heels for $100, $50 men's shoes, and bags and wallets for as little as $30. When discounts hit 90% or better, you're speaking my language. I know I picked up a Lockett bag at the last sale but when I saw this lil white stunner for $150 I couldn't resist.

From head to toe:

• Sunglasses: Wildfox, gifted in Fashion Week swag bag
• Dress: H&M, $29.99 - get it now for 20% off and free shipping with code 1662 - click here
• Bag: Jimmy Choo, sample sale, $150 (over 90% off!)
• Socks: Forever 21, $2.90
• Boots: Rebecca Minkoff, sample sale $30 (not sure if these were ever produced) 

This round of pics is by my amazing 12 year old son, Akiva. He's getting pretty good, right?

You can shop my style here:

Other sales are run by companies that buy end of season goods and samples and sell them at discounted prices. Some of these companies work directly with the brands to sell - so they don't have to do it themselves. These are the middle men. They can often be hit or miss. Companies like Clothingline (look for their blowout sales!), 260 Sample Sale (not as good as they used to be), Jen X (on the expensive side but their Balenciaga sale makes it all worth it!), Shelly and Renee (I always skip because they aren't cheap enough for me) and Global Fashions (mostly slightly damaged and not well priced) all fall into this category.

And then there are the sample sale sites. Always check to see if a listing is sponsored because if they were paid to list it. you don't know how authentic their review is. At this point I'm lucky enough to  have a crew of bloggers and readers who share when something amazing happens. IMHO the site Chicmi has the most comprehensive listings right now - and they don't just cover NYC sales. Before I hit the City I'll check in there - plus I check a few of my fellow bargainistas' Instagram feeds (and stories) for updates and a peek inside the sales. Shout out to my girls Lakeisha, Dinara and Mushkie!

And now on to Black Friday/Cyber Monday!

I have to confess that I don't really do too much for Black Friday anymore. Back in the day I used to wait for hours in the middle of the night (in the freezing cold!) to get the best deals. These days thank goodness so much of it is online! Typically when I shop I'm not much of an online girl (better deals are almost always in-store unless we are talking about a rare online glitch) but for the next few days I'm happy to shop in my PJs.

Nordstrom Rack is the on only sale that will get me out of bed in the morning. Take 30% off all red tag clearance and in past years they have had 50% off clearance dresses. Fingers crossed for some refurbished Louboutins!*

*ETA no extra discounts on dresses this year and not a single Loub in sight. Booo.

Kohls always offers extra Kohls cash this weekend ($15 for every $50 you spend) so stacked with deals and rebates it's always a win. For this and the rest of my picks you can just shop online and skip the in-store madness.

I'm always on the hunt for cheap Crocs Sexi Flips. Crocs.com is offering 40% off sitewide (plus some doorbusters with additional discounts) and free shipping on orders over $24.99.

Amazon will be chock full of deals this weekend! I spotted some cute Aldo bags on sale for around $50 or less that are very Gucci inspired. Click here, here and here. I also love this little glittery cutie. When buying inexpensive bags the trick is to look for texture and embroidery to make it look luxe. For example the velvet or fabric bags will always look more expensive than the pleather verisons.

More Amazon finds from this year include my air fryer and Firestick. My husband got one for me and I've been using it nonstop. I saw several on sale for under $100 and I would highly recommend grabbing one. Even my kids throw in fresh cut potatoes and make their own healthy fries. And thanks to my Firestick I don't really watch cable anymore.

I always check Canon.com for refurbished deals for this sale. My T5 camera is currently on sale (but out of stock) but you can still snag a T6 for a little over $200! And I have my eye on a 24mm lens. I have the 40mm (you get crisper images with a prime lens) and I love it but I hate stepping so far back to take a shot.

You've all heard me rave about Kidpik basics before - now take 50% off sitewide plus free shipping on orders over $50. Time to stock up on inexpensive basics for your girls!

My list could go on and on but basically anywhere you want to shop - pretty much has a deal right now. Needless to say, I'll be checking slickdeals.net all week! This is definitely the best time to shop electronics. Clothing sales are always better at the end of December/early January.

As for sample sale picks for the week, there are a few new ones that have popped up! Golden Goose will be having a one day sale with discounts up to 75%. I know it's not as inexpensive as I'd like but I really want a pair of their sneakers. They have limited quantities so get there early. A.V. Max also announced their holiday sale which is where I always stock up on jewelry gifts for $5-25! Alice and Olivia usually has great samples if you can fit a 0-6, but for stock wait for the end for discounts.

Golden Goose
November 28, 12-5
ESP Showroom, 231 W 39th St, #715*

*ETA I was informed that they are limiting purchases to 1 per customer until 4pm.

A.V. Max
December 4-8, 10-4 (open till 7 on the 5th)
39 W 38th St, 10th Fl

Alice and Olivia
December 5-10
Tues 8-8, Wed 9-8, Th 10-8, Fri 9-8, Sat 10-7, Sun 10-4
260 5th Ave

Happy shopping! Hope you had a great Turkey Day!

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