April 2010 Archives

Dillard's may not have as an extensive of an inventory like Macy's or Sak's and Nordstrom's luxury designer offerings but you can still find stylish, affordable apparel, shoes and accessories. Just look at a few items I found. Now through May 1st, save an additional 30% off permanently reduced merchandised for the whole family. There are a lot of amazing deals during Dillard's Spring Clearance Event specially on apparel and footwear.

No discount code needed all merchandise during the sale reflects the additional extra 30% off. Offer good while supplies last. So, shop now and enjoy!

Fashion is one of those things that we don't really have to take so seriously... well, sometimes. When I came across this Adidas Mickey High-Top Sneakers, I thought they are really cool! I felt like the little kid in me was about to snag them and skip around while singing the Mickey Mouse Club song. On a serious note, us guys don't really have much in our fashion arsenal that are statement worthy. Unlike the ladies, they have a mother-load.

These sneakers are a great investment. They are stylish, trendy, fun and nothing like paying homage to an icon. "M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E". Who wants to go to Disneyland?

With Mother's Day only a few days away, here are 10 great gift ideas under $100 that surely mom would love. I had 3 'P's in mind when I did my shopping. Practical, Personalized and Pamper.

Practical. Moms appreciates anything and everything. From a simple phone call or a Mother's Day Card made with construction paper in art class. So, we don't have to spend a lot of money on her Mother's Day present. As cliche as it may sound, it is always the thought that counts.

Personalized gifts adds an extra touch of warmth to any present. You van virtually get anything personalized nowadays. Get everyone involved by having a DIY Mother's Day gift get-together, perfect for the young ones.

Who doesn't want to have a day of pampering? But instead of giving mom a day at the spa, give her something that can pamper her everyday. Like a HoMedics Shiatsu Foot Massager, tea set or a set of luxurious Jo Malone candles.

And on this Mother's Day whatever you give your mom, wife, sister and grandmother will be appreciated and will go a long way. Perhaps the best gift to give on their special day that money can't buy is love.

Following up Saks' Friends and Family Event is Macy's. From April 28th through May 3rd, save an extra 25% OFF apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family and 10% OFF everything else. To be honest, Macy's offer during the even is better than Saks had to offer. Sale and clearance items are included. There are a few brand exclusions which you can see on the website. This is a great event to take advantage of because you can combine it with other promotions Macy's is currently running.

Free shipping is extended to purchases of $99 or more excluding furniture. Use code: MACYSAFF to get the discounts if your order is under $99. For orders eligible for free shipping, use code: MACYSFF at checkout to get both the discounts and shipping promo. This event is also happening in-stores and you can print a savings pass on Macys.com. Happy Shopping!

'Ikat' is one pattern/print that I like. May it be on upholstery or clothing. But in this case, Dries Von Noten just murdered it. Can someone say busy? To busy to be exact. The contrasting print on the collar and placket is to much. And the embellishments? Over done. The silhouette is not that flattering if I may add. And girlfriend, the price of ugly went up on this shirt.

For this week only, save an additional 25% off Rachel Roy sale items. Save up to 70% on trendy apparel, shoes and accessories! The fabulous part about this sale is you can double dip on the savings. For example, sale and regular priced handbags are on sale at 20% off through April 30. On top of that, the extra 25% discount is also taken off granted the handbag you purchased is  on sale. The Quilted Tote shown above was originally priced at $89 with the additional and promotional discounts, the final price is only $39.59! Now that's a steal.

Free shipping is also offered to any orders of $75.00 or more. No code needed for the extra discount. Savings are deducted at checkout. Quantities are limited so shop now. Have fun!

Master cobbler Christian Louboutin, never ceases to amaze me with the chic shoes he creates. He has balance in his collections. From elegant and feminine to edgy and modern designs. On this 'Engin' Patent Court (pumps) Shoes with spikes, Louboutin gives us a fusion of his signature designs. As to any of his shoes, they can be paired virtually with anything, denim jeans to haute couture.

Saks is having one of their Friends&Family events this week both online and in stores. Save 20% OFF (10% OFF beauty and fragrance) on select merchandise.

You can get a head start online today by simply using code FRIEND3. If you prefer to shop in a Saks Fifth Avenue store, print out this invitation and present it an associate. Couple of reminders, the event doesn't start until Thursday, April 22 in stores and make sure to check the disclaimer on Saks' website.There are quite a bit of brand exclusions for the event.

On the plus side, you are allowed 5 promo codes per order. So, you can get the discount and free shipping on purchases $200 or more with code: SFASHIP. I believe sale items are eligible for the event as long as they are not on the list of brand exclusions. Free shipping offer ends April 26. Happy Shopping!

Put your creativity to the test by designing the newest, eco-fabulous reusable tote. The winning design will be produced by famed handbag designer Rebecca Minkoff and sold exclusively at Bloomingdales.

Aside from the fame Tote-ally Green design contest has to offer, the winning design to be chosen by Rebecca Minkoff and a panel of fashion experts will receive a $2000 blomingdale's gift card.

The tote with the most votes, the runner-up receives a $1000 Bloomingdale's gift card. And a $100 Bloomingdale's gift card for daily submission favorites.

Tools are provided on the site for you to use to digitally design your own tote easily. You can also personalize your design by uploading your own images.

I designed a tote and named it 'Easy to be GREEN' (shown left). And would love to get your votes!


So, my dear readers and friends what are you waiting for? Contest runs from April 7- April 25, 2010. Head to bloomingdales.com to get started.

A chic reusable tote is the perfect accessory for any activity! Grocery shopping, picnic, day of errands, the beach, etc. Every little bit can help us conserve and look chic doing it!

MATT & NAT is one of the first eco-friendly line of accessories that became The Smart Stylist's must-haves. They offer modern, eco-stylish handbags that would fit in every eco-fashionista's wardrobe. This 'Hendrix' handbag is edgy yet chic. Made with glazed, pebbled PVC and features zipper details and antiqued brass hardware. Available in 4 colors and priced reasonably.

One of my favorite online stores, YOOX is having their Semi-Annual Sample Sale. Save up to 90% OFF on men's and women's apparel, shoes and accessories from top designers and brands. YOOX carries an extensive inventory of chic and stylish pieces. You can easily find a head-to-toe look under $400! Sale ends April 20th. And as to any sample sales, all sales are final. So, shop smart and have fun while your at it!

Add some umph to your spring ensemble with bright colored accessories. Accessories are the exclamation point of every look. And there's a lot of accessories to go around, in various price points, for day and evening looks . For example, Nine West has a handbag collection called 'Neves' (clutch shown above)  that reminds me of the collection Valentino has. No need to spend hundreds of dollars to get that same effect. But if you have the Benjamins to spare, I say splurge. May I suggest Kate Spade 'Tarrytown' Tote (shown above). it's like carrying a sunshine with you everywhere you go.

As always moderation is key, don't mash up to much trends in every look. Specially with accessories. Ideally one bright colored accessory will do. No need to look like a color wheel. To busy ain't pretty.

ESPRIT is having their online only Spring Sale from April 14 and ends on the 28th. Save 35% OFF regular priced merchandise and an additional 35% OFF sale merchandise as well! A lot of amazing deals on stylish casualwear for women. For us guys, not so much since ESPRIT launched their men's line online just a little over a month ago. As always, free shipping and returns for orders in the US with any $30 or more purchase. Make sure to use discount code: MN7BFE6Q on checkout to get the additional savings. Happy Shopping!

I'm loving this 'Whitney' Sunglasses by Tom Ford. The oversized frame and gradient colors are stylish and chic. And fits most face shapes. A pair is a great investment that you can wear year round. Don't be surprise if compliments starts pouring at when you were them... guaranteed!

There are a lot of places where you can buy pre-owned luxury designer items out there. But not as luxurious as Portero.com. Where else can you find Hermes Birkin handbags, Cartier earrings and other fabulous accessories. One of my favorite feature of Portero.com is they have ratings on the condition of items they have for sale. From pristine to fair. Just look at some of the items I found. Fabulousity for a fraction of the original costs.

I also like the fact they offer mostly accessories. I don't know about you but pre-owned apparel is something I don't get really into much. So, check them out.

Pardon my language... WTF (What the Fashion)! I'm sorry but this Mark Fast creation is not even half a dress. I think it's tacky and just looks like whoever wears it is trying a bit to hard. Yeah, I'll give the dress some points for the intricate detailing but come one now. Bottom line, it's fugly and very, very over-priced for what it is. Quite frankly, this dress makes me a tad irritated.

Macy's is running 'The Great Shoe Sale', it's a buy more, save more promotion. Save 30% off 3 pairs of shoes, 20% on 2 and 15% on a pair. A great sale to take advantage to add more fabulous and stylish footwear to your shoe closet. This sale also applies to clearance shoes! Free shipping is offered to any shoe purchases of $75 or more. Shipping promo ends April 17. Simply use code: FIRSTSTEP at checkout. Remember to protect your shoes with a pair of Idealheel (shown left). Available in 6 colors and priced so affordable at $12.99 a pair. And for a limited time save 20% when you buy 2 pairs! To learn more and purchase these fabulous shoe accessory go to idealheel.com.

Look eco-sexy and eco-chic with this Edun Eliza Top. Made with 100% Organic Cotton, the cowl front detail gives this tank some edge. The back is fabulous. Pair it with denim jeans, shorts or even skirts. The price is not that bad considering it helps mother earth.

I've read a few weeks back on WWD that Martin+Osa is going to be dropped, discontinued by it's parent company American Eagle Outfitters. I know it's kinda sad but look at the bright side we get great sales from them during the process. Like their latest offering of extra 20% off sale items!

I shopped the sale and there is a pretty good inventory of sale items for both men and women. You also don't need a discount code for the sale. Discounts are automatically taken at checkout. Not sure when this sale ends it didn't state anywhere on the site of any date. At any rate, Happy Shopping!

Growing up my mom always told me that I'm like a dainty flower. Delicate, colorful and can brighten up a room. Perhaps, that explains my affinity to floral prints. Ironically enough, I don't own any clothing that has floral patterns on it. But I do like the prints on others.

This season, of course flowers are blooming everywhere and in fashion it's no exception specially on dresses. Colorful floral prints on day dresses are quite fashionable for spring. And there's a dress for every occasion, body type and budget. Of course as always the key to making these fab bouquets is your fashion sense. Opt for tasteful, chic designs and appropriate silhouettes. Happy blooming!

With all the fabulous sales going on for Spring, instead of spring cleaning our closets we might end up filling them. One of my must-shop online boutiques, Shopbop is having their First Sale of Spring. Save on shoes, apparel and accessories from top fashion designers and brands. Discounts of up to 70% off! I was actually surprised to see that there are a lot of items offered with deep discounts specially apparel. So, let's refresh our wardrobe! While supplies last. Happy Shopping!

Starting today and through the end of the month, EXPRESS is having it's biggest sale for Q1. With savings up to 50% off ! Amazing deals for both men and women. No code needed to get the discounts. Keep in mind, new items are added to clearance daily. So, the 'smart' way to shop this sale is to put items that interests you in a wishlist and check them out daily if they go on clearance or further reductions happens. Happy Shopping!

Saks Fifth Avenue and Jimmy Choo invites you to play fashion stylist and have the chance to win three pairs of Jimmy Choos! Isn't that fab? To enter the contest simply go to closetcouture.com and create an outfit/look using the Jimmy Choo 24:7 Shoe Collection. The top 3 winning creations will receive 3 pairs of Jimmy Choos each! No purchase necessary to enter the contest. But it ends this Saturday, April 10th. So, hurry and join. Good luck!

Did everyone have a good holiday? I did. Ten pounds later, I gained from eating peeps. Now that's behind us, let me start your fabulous week with this uber chic, sexy colorblock dress by one of the top American designers today, Zac Posen. This anatomically-outlined garment is from Zac Posen's Spring 2010 Collection. The design is genius and the colors are prefect for spring. It does cost quite a bit. Most wearable art do.

You can see more pieces from Zac Posen Spring 2010 Collection and an exclusive video showcasing the designer and his fabulousity at saks.com.

New York&Company is just giving us fabulous sales and promotions week after week. This time around, take 50% OFF everything. This sale is good until Easter. But don't get to excited, when I checked the site, sale items are not an extra 50% off. They are at 50% off though. This sale is going on both online and in-stores. No coupon or discount codes needed. Happy Shopping!