Winter, Snow and Ice

It's getting chilly out there, and the gift giving (and receiving!) time is fast approaching, so why not get some ice of your own?

If you are looking to purchase something special, or drop a hint to your potential present purchasers look no further than Ice.com. This site really has it all, and the shop by price tool really makes gift giving easy for any budget range.

It's not just diamonds that are a girl's best friend, let's not forget gold, silver and gemstones too. So visit ICE.com Holiday Jewelry Sale - SAVE 15% + FREE SHIPPING!

Trade You!

Every so often, someone comes up with an amazing idea, and Bag, Borrow or Steal has definitely come up with an earth-shattering concept! Every one knows that fads come and go, as encapsulated by that unnerving phrase "The IT bag of the season", but now you can be on top of the trend without being enslaved to it - or indebted to it - is more like it!

Love that Louis or crave that Chloe? Now you can have them both, when you want and not have them when you don't. It's a small price to pay to satisfy a fickle fashion fiend!

Use the code "Gerard" for one month of free membership and a credit towards your first rental, either you can rent a trendsetter bag (worth about $100-300) for two weeks free, or get credit towards one of the higher end bags.

Browse the Bag Borrow or Stealcloset and sign up to be pampered!

Panties and Purses

Just in time for the festivities why not dress up both over and under with a new clutch and some hanky panky. Girls lucky enough to live in the NYC area can take advantage of two amazing sample sales going on this week!

The first is the Lauren Merkin sample sale with must-have clutches, totes, and bags going for 40-70 percent off! Begins tomorrow and runs through Thursday from 11AM-7 PM! Join in the fun at 231 W. 29th St., between 7th and 8th avenues, suite 201.

Get the ultimate in undergarments at the Hanky Panky sample sale, where everything is $10-$30!! Choose from a selection of amazingly comfortable undergarmets and robes. Runs December 4th-6th, from 9AM-6PM. at 381 Park Avenue South between 26th & 27th Streets, suite 920.

If you can't get to the sample sale, you can still find Hanky Panky at Bare Necessities!

(and don't forget to entre BARESAVE10 at checkout for an additional 10% off!)

Happy Shopping!

Hand Me That Bag!

Continuing the holiday dress up theme from yesterday, we've compeletly overlooked accessorizing. Your outfit is not complete without that perfect embellishment, and today's trend is to get those touches from decades past. What better way to shop cheaply and smartly than with ebay for gently loved items?

Vintage clutches are the perfect way to add that finishing touch, and can be had for less than your manicure. In fact why not go for that fire engine red to spice up your holiday look? The color is not only trendy, it will also endure for many holidays to come.

Find it now on eBay!

Holiday Glamour without the Clamor

Without a whisper of snow or that telling chill in the air you may not have thought about holiday preparation yet, it’s almost 70 degrees in New York City for god’s sake! But never fear, you can whip up that stylish festive ensemble, everything you need is right at your fingertips.

Dress it up!
This is the essential, the imperative the make it or break it for that holiday cocktail party. Dresses tend to be on the pricier side, but thanks to this season’s fashion trends, you can invest less in a long top and voilà! Your dress for less.

Choose something with a little sparkle, sequin or beading, and don’t worry about it being form fitting either. You’re probably going to show enough leg to make Santa hot under the collar.

This sexy dress is a great deal, and would go great paired with dark hose and black heels.


Top it off with a beautiful black velvet bolero and you’re on your way!

More to come on bags and feet tomorrow...

Sample Sale Seduction

Are you a lucky lady that lives on a coast, particularly in NYC or LA? Know anyone you love and trust there? Well, if you do, you can snag yourself a bundle in bargains. The brands you know and love (and hate to spend half your paycheck on!) regularly conduct "Sample Sales" to sell off excess stock at ridiculously reduced prices. How can you take advantage of these great opportunties? It involves being in the know, and this is how...

1. Sign yourself up for sample sale e-mails. There area growing number of websites that focus only on sample sales and getting you to those bargains! Some great sites are www.dailycandy.com and www.topbutton.com, so sign up and plan your lunchbreaks in advance!

2. Visit Sample Sale sites. There are locations that regularly host sample sales, such as clothingline in NYC (www.clothingline.com). This location has had amazing offers for Kooba handbags and True Religion jeans ($60 anyone!?).

There are, however, a few drawbacks. Be prepared for long lines at popular sales. If you don't get there early you might miss out on the best selections. Most sample sales accept credit cards, but bring some cash on you just in case if you can't verify that you can pay by credit card first.

The biggest sample sale seasons are around November and June - when companies want to move the last season's stock to make room for new products, so keep your eyes open ladies and happy shopping!!

The best buys for the holiday season are online

The holiday shopping season is enough to drive anyone a little crazy, but with a little forethought and a small investment in time, you can save big! Here are a few essential tips for the shop til you drop season that will allow you to buy what you want for less. In this series you'll receive valuable advice on how you can benefit from shopping online intelligently!

Shopping Online
You may love to browse with your senses, but if you're into saving green, shopping online is where it's at. Online stores offer a pelthora of discounts and offers that can save you a lot of money, and using my step by step method, you can buy almost anything for less than you would at a retail location:

1. Go to the store - in order to avoid disappointment, bad fits, or just plain ordering something you don't want, it's best to go to the actual store and try it out before venturing into the world of e-commerce. Having viewed the item that you will actually get will save you a lot of trouble in returns.

2. Conduct an online search - see what is out there and compare. Google provides an excellent opportunity to see where the item is being sold. You can also use spiders that crawl various online stores and return a range of prices, such as Froogle, but be careful because not all prices are acurate and not all stores are searched.

3. Once you find the best price take a look at whether or not you will be charged tax and shipping fees. Sometimes the lowest price is not always the best because these additional costs will hike up your final cost.

4. Search for coupon codes - Type the store name and "coupon code" in the Google search field and see if there are any additional discounts available. Even free shipping codes can save you a bundle!

5. Sign up for a site that will give you rewards or cash back for shopping online. Upromise or ebates are good sites that have a variety of online retail partners. Make sure you then shop through the link on their site so that you can claim the reward, usually in the form of a % back on your purchase.

6. This is a general piece of advice - if you have a favorite store or you are casually shopping for something in particular, it pays to sign up for a site's newsletter - you can receive valuable discount and coupon codes in the e-mail newsletters they send out, especially during the holiday season!

7. Don't forget to visit deal websites that compile sales and coupon code information for you. www.Slickdeals.net is a great site that has amazing bargains - I have it as my homepage!!

Happy holidays and happy shopping!