Dollar Saving Diva

Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale!

2011-11-16T16:06:00.002-05:00

MAB Mini Satchel, $495 at Bloomie's

I haven't bought a new bag in quite some time and I'm starting to feel some withdrawal symptoms. Well lucky for me (and all of you) that the Rebecca Minkoff sample sale started yesterday (it ends on the 20th). Though the sale also has a smaller selection of shoes and clothes, it's RM's classic leather bags that draw me in. The sample sales have boasted a pretty large selection of them in the past. While the bags are by no means bargains, they're priced significantly lower than retail. It looks like prices range from low $100's for the smaller bags, to the $300's for the larger leather bags. Check out Racked's coverage for a better idea of prices, but to give you an idea of the discount, at the sample sale the "MAB Mini" bags are $300 while they normally retail for about $500+. Not a bad discount, right? Though like I said, definitely not a bargain.

The sale is located at 14 W. 14th Street, between 5th and 6th Ave. Hours are 10-7 today through Saturday, and Sunday from 11-5.

ANOTHER Bloomingdale's Friends & Family Sale

2011-11-07T10:42:00.000-05:00

Ah Bloomingdale's...why would anyone ever buy anything at full price from you when you're always having sales ? Not that I'm complaining...

As you can see, only a few weeks after their last friends and family sale, Bloomingdale's is hosting yet another one! It starts online today, and in stores on Wednesday (Nov. 9), and runs through the 13th. Normal exclusions apply. So you're in luck if you missed the other friends and family sale, if you want to get a head start on holiday gifts, or if you just still feel the need to stock up on clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. Enjoy!

And the exclusions:

Offer excludes Women's Apparel from: Agent Provocateur, Moncler, Chanel, Ralph Lauren Collection, Marc Jacobs Collection, and excluded online only: Nike. Offer excludes Handbags from: Chanel, Chloe, Dior, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs Collection, Miu Miu, Prada, and excluded online only: COACH. Offer excludes Women's Shoes from: Burberry, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Miu Miu, Prada, UGG® Australia, and excluded online only: UGG® Collection, COACH, and Nike. Offer excludes Women's Accessories from: Chanel, and excluded online only: COACH, UGG® Australia, and Balenciaga Sunglasses. Offer excludes Men's Apparel, Shoes, and Accessories from: All Saints, Bloomingdale's Shoe Care Kits, Burberry Prorsum, Canada Goose, Havianas, Hunter, Moncler Coats, Moncler Shoes, Polo Black Label, PS Paul Smith, Shoe Trees, Ted Baker, Turnbull & Asser, UGG® Australia, Vilebrequin, Z Zegna, Zegna Sport, Etro, Ovadia & Sons, and excluded online only: Nike. Offer excludes Fine Jewelry from: David Yurman, Tacori Bridal, Tacori Bridal Consignment, Ippolita, and TAG Heuer. Offer excludes Kids merchandise from: Moncler, MIKI HOUSE, Under Armour, UGG® Australia, and Bugaboo. Offer excludes Home merchandise from Rimowa, Tempur-Pedic Mattresses, and excluded online only: Le Creuset. Offer excludes Cosmetics, Fragrances, Gift Cards, Martine's Chocolates, Maximilian Fur Services, Shop at Home Services, Rug Cleaning Services and Interior Design Special Orders. Small Electrics and Men's Electronics receive 10% off. Only one Friends & Family promotional code may be used per order on Bloomingdales.com. Cannot be combined with any other certificate offer. No adjustments to prior purchases. Selection may differ in store, see a sales associate for details.

Ippolita on Rue La La!!!

2011-10-26T11:16:00.000-04:00

AHHHHHH! Only a few days after I finally decide to spring for some Ippolita bangles at Saks, and moments after I mention in my last post how I bought them, I receive an email from Rue La La informing me that there's an Ippolita sale today! So against my better judgment, I take a look, and the prices are fantastic. The selection is pretty great too. I had only bought 2 bracelets at Saks, with the intention of adding on later, but this is soooo tempting! On the other hand, I'm still faced with the same problem of alterations-- these are the standard Ippolita size, which means I'd have to go to a jeweler to get it fixed. And I have NO idea how much that would cost. As you can see below, this wouldn't be an easy adjustment. Ok, I'm going to stew a little and try to make a decision. Hopefully no one buys this bracelet while I'm wondering. And for those of you who don't have my problems but love Ippolita, go buy some jewelry at Rue La La NOW!

This bracelet is currently in my cart, selling for $219 (as opposed to $425). Would be a nice addition to my 2 silver bangles, right? But note the 5 distinct sections that would each have to be adjusted to keep the bracelet proportionate. Anyone know how involved/how expensive this may be?

15% Off at Alexis Bittar!

2011-10-26T11:02:00.000-04:00

For tomorrow only, Alexis Bittar is (a little prematurely) celebrating Halloween by offering at 15% discount on all items online and in store. As you can see from their flyer below, if you go one of to their stores (in the West Village, Soho, or UES) tomorrow evening, you'll also be treated to cocktails and candy! To use the discount online, just enter the promo code "HALLOWEEN" at checkout. If I hadn't just splurged on my long-desired Ippolita bangles (which I'll tell you about soon), I'd be very tempted to take advantage!

Denim Deals Day!

2011-10-25T10:44:00.000-04:00

I came across two great deals for jeans (and other clothing too, I guess) for your enjoyment today. You may have noticed that I tend to gravitate towards deals where you get a certificate or credit rather than an actual item. This is because you know exactly what you're getting, and don't need to worry about sizing, fit, etc.

So the first deal is not really a new one. I've seen it (and written about it) a few times before. It's a $165 credit to National Jean Company for just $75 on Rue La La. The credit is valid until January 26, 2012. This amounts to approximately a 55% discount. See my prior posts on details about National Jean Company if you're unfamiliar with the store. But in a nutshell, I'd definitely recommend purchasing this deal (or I wouldn't keep writing about it)!

J Brand on Pop Sugar

The second deal is courtesy of Pop Sugar and is a $250 credit at J Brand for $125. Unfortunately, the credit is only good at their online store, www.jbrandjeans.com, but it's still a great deal, especially if you're a fan of this premium denim line. The credit is only valid through December 24, 2011, but I'm sure you won't have a problem finding something great to purchase by then!

Discount at Bloomie's AND Support Breast Cancer Research!

2011-10-20T11:09:00.000-04:00

In case there aren't enough sales/discounts out there for you (and you want to support a good cause!)...

FYI, it's not clear exactly how/what Bloomingdale's plans to contribute to breast cancer research, but I have to assume it's something, right? And something is better than nothing! Also, they have another breast cancer promotion in which they're more transparent:

From September 28 - October 31, 2011, pay a $15 enrollment fee on your Bloomingdale's Insider Card. 100% goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Then shop to your heart's content on your Bloomingdale's card, even in cosmetics and fragrances. Not an Insider yet? Apply Now**

You'll be mailed a Give Pink, Get More Card worth up to $250 just in time for holiday shopping in December. Use at any Bloomingdale's store and at bloomingdales.com.

Shopbop Friends & Family Sale Today!

2011-10-19T12:02:00.000-04:00

So I know the Saks F&F sale is about to start (and already has started online), but if you don't want to wait to go in store, and don't want to pay for shipping from Saks, then the Shopbop friends and family sale is for you! Today is the last day of the sale (don't be too mad at me though, it's only a 2 day sale!). But how much time do you need to click a few times and have your purchases on your way? As you know, Shopbop has a very extensive inventory and there doesn't seem to be many restrictions from the sale. Plus Shopbop offers free return shipping, so if you're hesitant about buying clothing online, there's really no risk. Lastly, to sweeten the deal, Shopbop participates in Ebates (and you know how I love Ebates). So if you go through Ebates, you will get an additional 2.5% back (I know, I know, it's not a lot of money, but it's still more money in your pocket when all is said and done!).

You're welcome!

Shopbop

Saks Friends & Family Sale is Here!

2011-10-18T10:06:00.001-04:00

Yay! I think the title of this post is pretty self-explanatory (and if it's not, check out the flyer below). The sale starts today online, and on Thursday (Oct. 20) in stores. It runs through October 23. Of course you can go to the store now and buy things through its pre-sale. Twenty percent off most items, 15% off jewelry, but of course there are designer exclusions (and cosmetics are excluded as well). However, I have to give Saks extra points because unlike Bloomingdale's, Ippolita is NOT excluded. I think this means I'm finally going to get my bracelets (and stop boring you all with my little obsession)! Check the flyer below for details.

And (the loooong list of) exclusions:
**Designer exclusions: 3.1 Phillip Lim Initials, 3.1 Phillip Lim shoes and handbags, 51Fifteen Restaurant and Lounge, Akris apparel and handbags, A.L.C., Alexander McQueen, Alexandra Neel, Alexander Wang, Alexandre Birman, Altuzarra, Ann Demeulemeester, Anya Hindmarch, Araks apparel, Azzedine Alaïa, Balenciaga, Be & D, Beatrix Ong shoes, BeeQueen, Behnaz Sarafpour, Belstaff, Bottega Veneta, Boy by Band of Outsiders, B Brian Atwood, Brian Atwood, Bridal Salon, Bridal Sample Sale, Brioni, Brunello Cucinelli, Buccellati, Bugaboo, Burberry Prorsum apparel, Bulgari, Cacharel, Camilla Skovgaard, Canada Goose, Cartier, Cartier Vintage, Celine, Chado Ralph Rucci, CHANEL, Charbonnel et Walker, Charvet, Chloé shoes and handbags, Chopard, Christian Louboutin, Christian Siriano, Christopher Kane, Comme des Garcons Play, Comme des Garçons, Consignment Jewelry Collections, Corum watches, Costume National apparel and shoes, David Yurman, De La Cour watches, Deos watches, Derek Lam apparel, shoes and handbags, Dior, Dior Homme, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan shoes, Doo.Ri apparel, Dries Van Noten, Drome, DSquared, Dylan's Candy Bar, Edmundo Castillo, Elie Saab, Elisanero, Emilio Pucci, Emporio Armani, Erdem apparel, Etro, Fendi, Gareth Pugh, Garrard, Giambattista Valli, Georgina Goodman, girl. by Band of Outsiders, Giuseppe Zanotti, Givenchy shoes, Gryson, Gucci, H. Stern, Haider Ackermann, Halston, Haversack, Hermès, men's Hunter, Isaia, Isaac Mizrahi apparel, Issey Miyake apparel, J. Mendel, Jason Wu, Jay Strongwater furniture, Jean Colonna, Jerome C. Rousseau, Jerome Dreyfuss handbags, Jil Sander, Jil Sander Navy, Jimmy Choo, John Allan Men's Grooming Salon, Jonathan Kelsey, Junya Watanabe, Katherine Kwei, Kaufman Franco, Kenzo, Kiton, Lanvin, Lila Castellaneta, Little Marc Jacobs, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, Lux Collections, MCM, men's Mackage, MacKenzie-Childs, Maison Martin Margiela men's and women's apparel, women's shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Marchesa Couture, Mario Schwab, Marni, Martin Grant apparel, Marsell shoes, Martin Lawrence Art Gallery, Max Kibardin shoes, Max Mara, Miu Miu, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela shoes and handbags, Moncler, Moschino shoes and handbags, Neil Barrett, Nicholas Kirkwood, Nina Ricci, Ohne Titel, Opening Ceremony, Oscar de la Renta apparel, shoes and special orders, Paul Smith, Penfield, Peter Pilotto, Peter Shoiket, Peter Som, Pollini Shoes, Pomelatto, Prada, Prada Sport, Prabal Gurung, Premier Salons gift cards and products, Pringle, Proenza Schouler apparel and shoes, Rachel Roy apparel, Ralph Lauren Collection and jewelry, men's Ralph Lauren Black Label and Purple Label, Reed Krakoff, Rene Caovilla, Rick Owens, Rick Owens Dark Shadow, Rick Owens Lilies, Ritmo Mvndo watches, Robert Clergerie shoes, Roberto Cavalli apparel, Rochas, Roger Dubuis watches, Roger Vivier, Rupert Sanderson shoes, Sacai, Sacai Luck, Salvatore Ferragamo shoes, Sergio Rossi, Simon Spurr, Sophie Theallet apparel, Special Delivery to 10022-SHOE, Special Orders, St. John, Stella McCartney, Stephane Verdino, Suno, The Fur Salon Store and Alterations, Thakoon, Tivoli, Tod's, Toy Watch, UGG Australia, Valentino, Versace handbags, men's Viktor & Rolf, Vionnet, Watch and Jewelry Repair, Yohji Yamamoto, Yves Saint Laurent shoes and handbags, Zac Posen handbags, Zegna, Zenith watches, Zenobia and Zuhair Murad. Designer exclusions may differ in stores and online.

Exclusions apply for Saks.com only: Acne, Donna Karan apparel, Ippolita, L'Agence, men's Maison Martin Margiela shoes, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela apparel, Mikimoto and T by Alexander Wang.

The Better Deal-Club A Steakhouse

2011-10-13T14:12:00.000-04:00

Yummm (photo from BBE)

Today's Better Deal is for Club A Steakhouse in Midtown East. This morning I received an email from Blackboard Eats with a deal for a three course prix fixe meal plus sides and a glass of wine for $45. The best part? As you know, with Blackboard Eats, you don't have to pay for the deal, so there's no obligation to use it. The deal included an app, entree, side, dessert, and glass of wine. And it's not a dinky prix fixe menu either-- there are 7 possible entree selections, including a 10 oz. filet, plus 6 app choices, 4 sides, and 2 desserts. So I grabbed this deal. I think I'll try to take advantage of it before it expires in November, but if not, no loss. And I don't have to stress about trying to find a time to go and losing my money if I can't.

However, shortly after signing up for the Blackboard deal, I received an email from Living Social offering a similar deal at Club A Steakhouse, except it cost $69 for two people, and you have to pay up front. And it doesn't include a glass of wine. So for a party of 2, there's a $21 price differential, but you could argue that the 2 glasses of wine would easily cost $21. But what if you don't want wine? Well if you do, it's an easy decision. Blackboard! If you don't, then you need to decide if you care enough about going to this restaurant to commit your money. The other thing to take into consideration is that the Living Social deal doesn't expire until May 2012, which I guess is a pretty big advantage if you can't make it before November 13 (when the BBE deal expires).

I'm a bit of a commitment-phobe when it comes to buying deals for restaurants, unless it's somewhere I've been dying to go. So I think I'll stick with BBE for this one. But if you know for sure that you're going to be hitting Club A, I'd totally recommend the Living Social deal!

DVF Friends & Family Sale!

2011-10-06T10:54:00.000-04:00

So the Bloomie's F&F sale is over, and the Saks sale doesn't start until Monday (more details on that to come). What are you supposed to do in the interim? Shop the Diane von Furstenberg Friends and Family Sale, of course! The sale is good for all merchandise online at dvf.com, with the code "FALL20" used at checkout. The flyer states that the discount is also good in stores. There's no end date, which is kind of sketchy-- it says that this "offer [is] valid while supplies last." I don't really get that--since supposedly everything is included, does that mean that the sale is only over when the entire stock has been depleted? I doubt that. If anyone can shed some light on this mystery, it would be much appreciated. However, my advice would be to buy sooner rather than later to ensure you'll get the discount. Happy friends and family season!

*Offer valid while supplies last. Offer is valid at US full price DVF Retail stores and on DVF.com US site only. Price adjustments will not be granted for previous purchases. Offer must be presented at the time of purchase for redemption.*

Deep Discounts at the Bloomie's F&F Sale!

2011-10-03T13:17:00.000-04:00

I know that over a month ago I promised you that I was back and that I'd be writing regularly, and then you didn't hear from me again until now. For that I apologize- I have no excuse. But I will try harder to keep my promises from here on out. And in case you were worrying, just because I haven't been writing about deals doesn't mean I haven't out scouting and utilizing new deals! In fact, since we last spoke I have been busy scoring discounts on clothing, dining, and even hotels! I'll tell you about all if that, but today I wanted to brag about my mini-success at the Bloomingdale's friends and family sale, which ends today (so if you haven't gone yet, today is your last chance!).

Nanette Lepore dress on sale for $147 at Revolve Clothing

Overall, sometimes I think the F&F sale isn't worth the hassle- Bloomie's gets insanely crowded and there are a lot of designer exclusions. However, who am I to turn my nose up at 20 percent? The real deals are found when you score something that's already been reduced. Since I only went yesterday, the penultimate day of the sale, the sale selection was pretty meager (I assume there was much more at the beginning, but I could be wrong). I did spot that Rebecca Taylor dress I had been lusting after, discounted to $241 (less 30 percent and less the F&F discount). I was pretty peeved that they didn't have my size and spent 15 minutes unsuccessfully trying to convince myself that the next size up looked good on me (it didn't). However, I did spot a cute Nanette Lepore dress, which was originally $298. After discounts, I figured the dress would come out to about $100, which I was pretty stoked about. When it rang up at $53, I was thrilled. Now, discounts this steep don't come with current fall merchandise; this dress is unmistakably a summer dress (unlike the Rebecca Taylor, which I think can be camouflaged for fall). But at $53, it's definitely worth it, and now I have a new dress to bring on my trip to Costa Rica in December, so thank you Bloomingdales!*

*NB-- I had especially been looking forward to this sale because I had planned on finally purchasing the Ippolita bracelets I had ~~obsessed over~~ mentioned this summer. Unfortunately, Ippolita was excluded from this sale, but I'm still hopeful that the Saks sale will include it, as it did last year.

DSD is Back, with a Great Deal for Milly!

2011-08-31T13:31:00.000-04:00

Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted since August 9! I do have a few excuses--I was extremely busy and then I went on vacation (if you were wondering, I went to Kennebunkport, Maine. I unfortunately did not score many great deals, so I'm not sure if I will post about it--Maine is expensive!--but we'll see).

Love the sophisticated contrast on this dress
($360 at Millyny.com)

But enough with the excuses-- I'm back and that's all that matters now, right? So what better way to kick off my return than with this great Milly deal from Gilt City? For just $100, you get a $200 credit to use at Milly's new flagship boutique on the Upper East Side. You have to use the credit between September 8-11, but with the new fall collection out, I'm sure you won't have a problem finding some great items to spend it on! You have until Monday morning, September 5 to buy this deal, so take advantage while you can. As a bonus, Fashion's Night Out is September 8, so if you shop that night, the store will be hosting a "shopping party" with free champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

And want to know how to make a great deal even better? If you've never purchased anything off of Gilt City before, and you use the links in this post to purchase the deal (or any deal on Gilt City), you will receive 20% off your first purchase. So that amazing $100 for a $200 credit at Milly will become $80 for a $200 credit. I challenge you to find me a better deal on new fall Milly merchandise!

Fall Preview Sale on Piperlime!

2011-08-09T09:37:00.000-04:00

Through this Thursday, you can get 20% off new fall clothing styles on Piperlime. Considering these are brand new styles, this deal is pretty unbeatable. Included in the sale are designers like Rebecca Taylor, Tibi, Spendid, Tucker, Elizabeth & James, and many more. Just enter the promo code "Fall" at checkout. Why pay full price or wait for the friends & family sales in the fall, when you can get the same discount now? Plus, as always, if you use Ebates or Mr. Rebates, you will get cash back on your purchase (2% and 3% respectively). You have nothing to lose-- after all, Piperlime offers free shipping and free returns!

Ippolita Look For Less Quest Update

2011-08-03T14:10:00.001-04:00

So last week I told you about my hankering for some sterling silver Ippolita bracelets and my accompanying concern that they were so expensive. I chronicled my quest to find a cheaper version of the same bracelets, and found these.

However, I had some reservations about these bracelets--mainly that they're still expensive, and I also didn't love the multi-colored stones. Well, I didn't give up in my quest. I actually found 2 much cheaper alternatives: a set of 3 bangles for $140 on Eve's Addiction, and a set of three on Etsy for $178. Don't love the Eve's Addiction one, but the Etsy option isn't bad. Unfortunately, she doesn't custom-size the bracelets. There are also a few other minor issues I have with it.

BUT, I was perusing Endless.com today (oh how I love that site), and I saw that they sell jewelry by Robindira Unsworth, the designer that I had decided came the closest to the Ippolita look. If you recall, I had found these bracelets on her site-- a set of three for $525. Well, Endless sells them too! For $475. That's $50 off. PLUS, you can use MrRebates.com and get 10% cash back. Ahh I love Endless.com! And to make matters even better, Endless actually has some Robindira bracelets that the Robindira site doesn't have, including a sterling silver version with clear quartz stones (see right), very similar to the Ippolita bracelet! Strangely enough, the individual bracelets are $138 each, so the total for three would only be $414 (so there's no reason to buy the set of three). So for those of you with normal sized hands, you should totally get the Robindira bracelets from Endless. They have other metal/stone options too (see right), so you're not stuck with the monochromatic look that I've been going on about.

So problem solved, right? Wrong. You may have noticed I advised my "normal-handed" readers to buy the Endless bracelets. But what about us small-handed folk? Well, we're SOL. I finally called up Robindira's customer service, and they do not do custom sizing/special ordering. I suppose I could price out how much it would cost to alter the Robindira bracelets, but I'm feeling lazy, and I think it would be pretty tricky, because the jeweler would have to take a little bit out of each segment to make sure the stones are equidistant. That can't be cheap. Especially for three bracelets. And I don't know how it would come out. So that's that. Ippolita it is!

P.S. Sorry for the two excessively long posts on this topic which I doubt anyone even cares about except me.

Important Fashion Lessons and My Quest for Rebecca Taylor on Sale

2011-07-29T12:07:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I told you all about a Rebecca Taylor dress that I wanted, which was exclusive to Bloomingdale's. I still haven't purchased it, but I wanted to let you know that Bloomingdale's is spewing lies! I found the same exact dress on Shopbop and on Zappos, and I'm sure I'd find it in plenty of other places if I continued looking. Unfortunately, the dress still isn't on sale. However, since it's not sold exclusively at Bloomingdale's, it's more likely to go on sale, and I'm more likely to find my size when it does!

Besides that, I found pretty almost the same dress (only a different print) on sale at Bergdorf Goodman and at Neiman Marcus for $131 (free shipping at NM!). Pretty significant discount, right? And I actually like the print on this dress, and would definitely buy it. Unfortunately, both stores don't have my size (they only have 2's and 10's left, so if you're one of those sizes, you should definitely take advantage!). Anyway, these two developments have left me optimistic. I will find the dress in my size (always an issue), and it will be on sale. I also learned a very important lesson--if a store claims a style is exclusive to their own store, don't believe it!

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$16 Mani-Pedi on Groupon

2011-07-27T13:16:00.000-04:00

Photo courtesy of Groupon

It's no secret that I'm a fan of cheapie mani-pedis. I will usually slum it in nail salons near my office in Jamaica, Queens, but when I come across the opportunity to upgrade to nice, clean Manhattan salons for a similar price, I jump on it! So that's why when I saw today's offer from Groupon in my inbox for a $16 mani-pedi, I knew I'd be taking advantage. The deal is for QQ Nails and Spa, which has 4 locations--1 in the West Village, 1 in Chelsea, and 2 in Flatiron. While this is not a luxury spa, it's certainly a step up from where I usually go, and luxury or not, $16 is a great deal (I believe it's normally $32 at the salon). And in the summer, when my toes are always on display, and I abuse my feet with all my flip-flop and sandal wearing, I can never get enough pedicures! So get your Groupon now--I am!

Ippolita Bangles--the Look for Less!

2011-07-25T15:09:00.000-04:00

Ippolita "Rock Candy" 5-Stone Sterling Silver Bracelet
each $295 at Nordstrom

I've mentioned before how I've been looking for a cool silver (or white gold) bangle for my wrist, but have a lot of difficulty because I have really small hands, so bangles usually slide right off me. I think I've also mentioned how I really like Ippolita jewelry. I especially LOVE their bangles. After doing some research, I read that Ippolita bangles run small. You have no idea how much this excited me. So the other day, I went to Bloomingdale's to try one of them on, hopeful that this wonderful bangle would fit. But, you guessed it, it slid right off my hand. However, the salesperson informed me that at no charge, I could special order different sizes in the Ippolita bangles. He brought out a special Ippolita bangle sizer (which was like a giant ring sizer), and for the first time in my life, I tried on a bangle that actually fit me. It was pretty weird--I've never felt a bangle have friction over my hand when putting it on. In case you were wondering, standard Ippolita bangles are a size "2." I need a size "0" (and if you need a larger size, you can special order that too!). Unfortunately, you have to allow up to three months to receive the bracelet.

While I'm pretty excited at the prospect of finally ending my search for a silver bracelet, I have to note that these bracelets are pretty expensive. I know that there is a mark-up for the designer itself, and I know the price of gold and silver have gone up dramatically recently, but I can't seem to wrap my head around that. I remember when I was in middle school, my friends and I would walk to the local Marshall's (it was pretty much the only store within walking distance from where we lived), and we'd buy sterling silver earrings for under $10. Or my dad would pick up a sterling silver bracelet from Macy's for around $25. What happened to those days? The Ippolita bangle that I want is $295. For one thin silver band? Really? And the problem is, that I want two or three of them to wear together! That adds up. Years ago, I wouldn't even consider getting silver, and would have insisted on white gold. Now, you can't even find white gold anymore!

So what's a girl to do? Well, I can suck it up and just buy the Ippolita bracelets. Or I can look for more reasonable options. I was actually surprised how difficult it was to find worthy substitutes, but I did find a few:

1. Kendra Scott Leanne Bracelet--$106 at Layla Grace. Pros: great price, comes with multiple bracelets. Cons: while it has a similar look to the Ippolita bracelets, it's still pretty distinct. Also, I want silver bracelets, and these are gold-plated. But I still really like these! Lastly, I'm not sure you can adjust the size.

2. No. 7 Multistone Bangle--$98 at Henri Bendel. Pros: like the Kendra Scott bracelet, it's a great price and comes with multiple bracelets. It also has a pretty unique look. Cons: Same as the KS bracelet re size and metal. While I love rose gold, I'm looking for a silver bracelet.

3. Bangle from Etsy seller BrooklynArts--$48 for one. Pros: for those unfamiliar with Etsy, it's a great forum where independent artists and designers sell their wares--so if you buy something, you're supporting one of those artisans. Also, prices tend to be a little lower. This particular bracelet resembles the Ippolita one the most. Cons: Gold (18K gold plate), don't think I can change the size. But we're getting closer!

4. Bangle from Etsy seller Delezhan--$48 for one, or $125 for three. Same pros and cons as #3.

5. Robindira Unsworth Juicy Bangles--$450 for a set of three. After much searching, I finally came across these bracelets. Pros: This is an established jewelry line, more high-end than Kendra Scott, but still cheaper than Ippolita. Also, according to their site, all jewelry is handmade upon order and that they can assist you with special orders. This leads me to believe that you could get a custom-sized bracelet. Cons: More expensive than the Etsy options.

6.Robindira Unsworth Juicy Bangles--$525 for a set of three. Pros: Looks like this may be the look for less winner! This was the only sterling silver option I could find. It's definitely a nice alternative to the Ippolita bangles, and while the price is still pretty steep, it's still significantly less than Ippolita. Also, as mentioned in #5, I think I could special order this in my size. Cons: Still expensive. And while I like the multi-colored stones, I can't decide is if I like them as much as the clear quartz in the Ippolita version. Also, I kind of prefer how the Ippolita stones are more of an oval shape. I wonder if these kinks could be worked out in a custom order?

So there you have it--if you're like me and love the Ippolita bangles but not their price, I hope this helped you a bit! And if anyone knows where I can find more reasonable sterling silver options, please share. I suppose one option I have is to wait for a friends and family sale at one of the big department stores (Bloomie's, Saks, and Bergdorf all carry Ippolita), or open up a credit card to get a discount. Such decisions . . . what do you think I should do--spring for the Ippolita, or give the Robindira Unsworth a try?

Alexis Bittar Sale!

2011-07-22T09:25:00.000-04:00

There's a big sale going on at Alexis Bittar...so go now to stock up on his awesome jewelry!!

Olive & Bette's Sale Report

2011-07-14T14:57:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to check in quickly to let you know how disappointed I was with the Olive & Bette's summer sale yesterday. The selection was extremely limited-- there was a random mix of Splendid, Susana Monaco, Plenty by Tracy Reese, a few Rebecca Taylor dresses, and pieces from various other labels mixed in. Prices were 75% off the original retail price, which is pretty good, but not amazing, considering most of these were from past seasons and can be found on sale elsewhere. There was a heap (yes, I mean heap-- just a giant pile of jeans on a table) of jeans also-- from Citizens of Humanity, Paige, AG, etc. Everything was pretty disorganized, and while I was happy to see it wasn't too crowded (for a reason!), I can say that I do not plan on attending future sales like this at Olive & Bette's. However, some people seemed to find stuff they liked, so maybe I'm just especially hard to please. But I don't think so. Take that for what you will. That's it.

Olive & Bette's Summer Sale Today!

2011-07-13T11:01:00.000-04:00

Olive & Bette's is hosting a one day summer sale today in its Upper East Side location (Third Ave at 72nd), with items discounted up to 75% off. The sale runs until 7pm tonight. Designers include Rebecca Taylor, Splendid, Nanette Lepore, Joie, and much more. I missed their basement sale in April, so I will definitely be making an appearance there tonight after work (and probably have to battle the throngs of ladies bee-lining it there after work themselves). But if I can walk out of there with a shopping bag in my hand, I'll be happy!

Get a $125 Credit to National Jean Company for $50!!

2011-07-11T10:39:00.000-04:00

William Rast jeans available at
National Jean Company for $165

Thanks to Rue La La, today you can get a $125 credit to National Jean Company for just $50! This isn't the first time Rue La La has offered a promotion at National, and hopefully it won't be the last. For those not in the know, National Jean Company has great selection of designer jeans as well as clothing and accessories. They have 6 locations in the NYC area, including one on the Upper East Side, and one in Murray Hill (the others are in Long Island--check here for locations).

The credit is only valid through August 31, 2011, though I'm sure you'd have no trouble finding plenty to use the credit on before then. So, if you're in need of a new pair of jeans (or cute top, dress, necklace, etc), I'd definitely recommend getting this credit on Rue La La (and hurry, because the credit is only available today)!

Tara's List: Rebecca Taylor Button Front Dress

2011-07-07T13:37:00.002-04:00

This morning I found a whole slew of Rebecca Taylor dressed in my inbox, thanks to Bloomingdale's. But the dress on the left stood out to me. I love the simple, yet elegant cut. I love the flowiness of the silk fabric. The color is fun and can transition from spring to summer to fall. And I love the buttons, which add a touch of whimsy and keep the dress current and on trend (I'm really into the whole button-down skirt/dress look this season). I don't love its price of $345. While the dress is pretty versatile and classic, I just don't think it's worth that. Plus, it's pretty much against my nature to buy things at full price.

Rebecca Taylor Strapless Button Front Dress,
exclusive to Bloomie's

My first thought was to search for this dress to see if it was on sale anywhere else. Unfortunately, the dress is exclusive to Bloomingdale's. And it's a new style. Not going on sale anytime soon. However, it's a safe bet that the moment it does, yours truly is buying it! That may be awhile though, so what to do in the meantime? Easy...find a cheaper version!

Cheaper button-front dress from Forever 21

I'll be honest with you, I didn't find anything I like quite as much, but I did find a great alternative to hold me over for a bit. Where did I find it, you ask? Well, at my trusty, go-to place for cheap and trendy--Forever 21. I know it's not a secret, but that store is wonderful when you're looking to latch on to a trend, but don't want to commit too much money. And I have to say, while it's no match for the RT dress, I actually really do like the F21 version. It's a "silk-blend," and like the RT dress, has buttons down the front. The cut and color are different, but that just means when I do get the RT dress, I can still wear the F21! The other major difference between the two dresses are their prices. The Forever 21 dress is $29.80. So basically, I could buy 11 of the Forever 21 dresses for the price of the Rebecca Taylor dress, and still have change left over. But, that's just the beauty of Forever 21 I guess.

Anyway, Rebecca Taylor dress-- get ready, because you'll be mine soon enough!

Amazing Amazon--Not Just for Books!

2011-07-06T12:23:00.001-04:00

In the last year or so, I've developed a pretty big crush on Endless.com. I prefer it immensely over Zappos for a number of reasons. My first three issues have to do with price: shoes on Zappos are slower to go on sale than anywhere else, Zappos rarely has any promotions, and Zappos doesn't participate in any rebate programs such as Ebates or Mr. Rebates (which is just like Ebates), while all the other big online shoe retailers do. In addition, they are often out of my size--also pretty important.

Courtesy of Endless

In my opinion, Endless has the best deals out of these sites, at least when taking into account the selection. For instance, Shoebuy.com or Shoes.com both offer frequent discounts and lower prices, but the styles aren't as current, and the brand selection tends to be more low end. I've also come to find that Endless has a very good bag selection, and they often are significantly discounted. You may recall that I purchased a Lauren Merkin "Allie" clutch through Endless that was about $50 less than the sample sale price. You have to admit, that's pretty good. So, when I was in the market for yet another LM clutch--the Tatum Raffia clutch (I know, I have a problem), I turned to Endless first. And I found that again, the bag was on sale. Instead of the retail price of $275, the bag was on sale for $235. Combined with a 10% rebate from Mr. Rebates, that's a pretty good deal.

But of course, I always make sure to do my due diligence--I am a lawyer after all. And what did I find? The same bag on Amazon.com for $207! Sorry Endless, not going to be making a purchase from you today, but I will be back! To sweeten the deal, upon checking out I learned that there was a promotion on Amazon for 20% off purchases over $75 which I somehow missed when I found the bag there. So the total? About $180 after tax. I'm patting myself on my back right now, if you couldn't tell.

Sorry to make a short story long, but the lesson here is don't be lazy and do your research! A 5 minute search on Google saved me over $100. Yes, my time is valuable, but not that valuable, and my guess is yours isn't either! The other lesson is, Amazon isn't just for books. I'm going to be keeping my eye open there for that Tory Burch bag I'm considering!

Cute Summer Bags Under $150!

2011-06-30T12:56:00.001-04:00

I have to admit, I love a nice leather bag. Pretty much all of the purses I wear/own are leather. But sometimes in the summer, leather bags just feel so heavy and hot! The solution? Fabric or straw bags! Here's my issue though--I have this complex against spending a lot of money on non-leather bags--for whatever reason when I buy something that's made from good leather, I feel like I'm buying something of value. That's not the case when I buy a fabric bag (not to say that I'm right--it's just how I feel). The other issue I encounter is that a lot of fabric/straw bags feel like beach bags. I've found it's pretty hard to find a good, everyday bag that is reasonable but not too beachy. But, they do exist! So on the off chance you're experiencing the same dilemma that I am, I've compiled a little list of some great summery, non-leather, non-beach bags. The best part? They're all under $150!

1. Juicy Couture Peaches Canvas Small Gingham Tote- on sale for $103.60 at Bloomingdales.com. As an added discount, today through Monday, sale items are 15% off with the promo code "SUNNY15," bringing the total to $88.06! I have to say, I'm not normally a fan of Juicy bags, but I think this one is so fun! And definitely summery! Juicy actually has a number of bags that technically fit my criteria, but this is the only one that I really like, so it's the only one you're seeing! If you're interested in seeing other Juicy options, you should check out Bloomie's or any of the other department stores for a pretty big selection of sale items.

2. Splendid Solid Canvas Tote (available in Navy and in "Military"-- an olivey green)-- on sale for $89.60 at Shopbop.com. Such an easy and fun tote. You can't go wrong!

3. Anthropologie Nomad Scarf Bag--$88 at Anthropologie (also available in a Coral fabric)
4. Anthropologie Roped-In Tote-- $68 at Anthropologie.
I never really thought of Anthropologie as a low-priced handbag destination, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the selection online. There are even a few more on the site falling under the $150 mark (and they aren't even sale prices!). I love both of these bags!

5. Tory Burch Mini Dipped Canvas Tote--on sale for $149.50 at Nordstrom.com (also available in Red and Navy "dips")
.

6. Tory Burch Jaden Small Tote-- on sale for $149.50 at Nordstrom.com (also available in Navy). Both of these Tory Burch bags are significantly discounted, but are still pretty current, and perfect for the summer!

This list is by no means exhaustive, and is pretty much limited to bags that I like, but it should give you a good starting point, and hope that reasonable, non-leather bags really do exist!

Splendid/Ella Moss Unhappy Update

2011-06-29T15:33:00.000-04:00

Ugh, I just realized that the sale ends at 5pm today. I don't finish work til 5pm. I don't know how I missed that, but really? 5 o'clock? So early! Oh well, I guess this means no new clothes for Tara :(

But if you aren't working or otherwise engaged, go and snatch up those deals so I can live vicariously (and jealously)!