Bloomingdale's
Cyber Monday Deals: Wet Seal, Bloomingdale’s, Swell
And yet more Cyber Monday deals—don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to shop:
Wet Seal: Today only, get 20% off the entire site Pick out whatever you want at Wet Seal, including something from Jordin Sparks new line for the retailer, and get 20% off. It’s like Christmas! Oh, wait . . .
Bloomingdale’s Cyber Monday Sale: Take 40% off select regular-priced Items, and an extra 50% off select Items at Bloomingdales.com The best way to shop Bloomies is a sale, and with lots of departments to peruse in one easy stop, you’ll check off a lot of your gift list here.
Swell: Free shipping on all orders Dec. 1 only Have a surfer on your list (or a surfer-wannabe?) Swell has cool beach-inspired fashion (think tees, hoodies, pants, swimwear, etc.) with free shipping just for Cyber Monday shoppers.
Fashion for a Cause: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
What: If you’re shopping anyway in October, pick products that support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What We Say: Most of us have been touched by breast cancer in one way or another, and since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re all about finding a way to support the cause—and so is the fashion/beauty world, it seems. Want to do your part? We’ve gone ahead and rounded up some Breast Cancer Awareness Month products that will contribute to the cause. Know of some other worthy products that donate to the cause? Comment below . . .
The List:
2008 Ford Warriors in Pink Scarf, $38, Susan G. Komen Foundation (on back order)
Estee Lauder Evelyn Lauder Lip Color Collection, $22, Bloomingdale’s
Hope Abloom Tee, $38, White House Black Market
Komen Bracelet Set, $10, Coldwater Creek
Quilted Tote Bag, $14.99, Susan G. Komen Foundation
Five Fashion Brands you Should NEVER EVER Pay Full Price For!
We prefer not to pay full price if at all possible, but there are some brands that you should never ever pay full price for—because you don’t have to. Here are five:
1. Jones New York. JNY tends to go on sale faster than other mid-range women’s career wear. I suspect, although it’s not confirmed, that it’s because they produce a lot of volume and the fact that stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, where the line tends to be sold, aren’t buying as much stock as before due to customers reducing their spending.
2. Nine West. DO NOT EVER, EVER pay full price or even sale price for this line without first checking out your local Filene’s Basement. You can often find the same styles that are currently full price in department stores for 40-50% less at your Filene’s basement.
3. Rock and Republic, Hudson, and Paige Premium Denim. All of these overpriced jeans lines can be found at your local Filene’s Basement, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls for more than 50% off, sometimes even less.
4. Calvin Klein (bridge line). For some reason Calvin’s bridge line, both plus and misses, is always on sale. In the case of department stores, wait 3 to 4 weeks and you can find the line on sale at your local Macy’s for 30 to 40% off retail. If you’re plus size, you’re in even more luck as the line struggles to be a success and you can find discounts of up to 60% off.
5. INC We like the INC line at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. We really like the line. But there’s no way we’re going to pay $99.00 for a pair of pants from the line, especially when we can find it for 50% off (plus a 20% off Macy’s coupon, holla!) if we just wait 2 to 3 weeks.
Pictured: Don’t pay full price for this Nine West Swirl Ribbon Dress ($134) until you’ve checked out Filene’s Basement . . .
Do you have other fashion brands you regularly find for well under full price? Tell us more on the TBF forum.
Five Fashion Brands You Should NEVER EVER Pay Full Price For!
We prefer not to pay full price if at all possible, but there are some brands that you should never ever pay full price for—because you don’t have to. Here are five:
1. Jones New York. JNY tends to go on sale faster than other mid-range women’s career wear. I suspect, although it’s not confirmed, that it’s because they produce a lot of volume and the fact that stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, where the line tends to be sold, aren’t buying as much stock as before due to customers reducing their spending.
2. Nine West. DO NOT EVER, EVER pay full price or even sale price for this line without first checking out your local Filene’s Basement. You can often find the same styles that are currently full price in department stores for 40-50% less at your Filene’s basement.
3. Rock and Republic, Hudson, and Paige Premium Denim. All of these overpriced jeans lines can be found at your local Filene’s Basement, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls for more than 50% off, sometimes even less.
4. Calvin Klein (bridge line). For some reason Calvin’s bridge line, both plus and misses, is always on sale. In the case of department stores, wait 3 to 4 weeks and you can find the line on sale at your local Macy’s for 30 to 40% off retail. If you’re plus size, you’re in even more luck as the line struggles to be a success and you can find discounts of up to 60% off.
5. INC We like the INC line at Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s. We really like the line. But there’s no way we’re going to pay $99.00 for a pair of pants from the line, especially when we can find it for 50% off (plus a 20% off Macy’s coupon, holla!) if we just wait 2 to 3 weeks.
Pictured: Don’t pay full price for this Nine West Swirl Ribbon Dress ($134) until you’ve checked out Filene’s Basement . . .
Labor Day Sale: 40% off Bloomingdale’s Coupon—In Store and Online!
THIS COUPON IS EXPIRED. FOR CURRENT DEALS, PLEASE VISIT TBF’S ONLINE SALE PAGE.
Take An Extra 40% Off* Already Reduced Items
August 31st - September 4th
Shop Fashion, Shoes & Accessories For Her. Enter Code 40SALE At Checkout. Online & In Stores.
Thanks Megan for the tip!
Fashion Advice: Tips for Dressing for a High School Reunion
Dear Budget Fashionista,
My 10-year high school reunion is coming up and I need help dressing for two events—a happy hour and an evening event.
Help!
Ready for Reunion
Dearest Ready for Reunion,
For your ten-year reunion you want to make a statement that says: yes, high school was fun, but my life is now even better.
So this is what you do: For the Happy Hour, you want to be casual, but stylish. Wear a nice pair of fitted jeans with a slight boot-cut if your bigger on the bottom or straight legged if you’ve got a slim bottom. Head to Filene’s Basement and score a pair of designer jeans from Seven, James or Citizens for Humanity at a heavy discount (usually between $29.99-$59.99). On the less expensive side try Express, Z. Cavarruchi or Levis. If you can, and only if you can, wear a pair of the new skinny jeans. Buy a nicely fitted blazer that hits you right at the smallest part of your torso (for most women that’s slightly above the waist or right below your butt). Some places to look for great jackets: H&M, Ann Taylor, Bloomingdale’s, and Nordstrom. Accessorize your outfit with high quality fake diamond earrings that look at least one carat in size. All night long, constantly place your hair behind your ears so everyone can get a good look at the earrings. Wear a pair of sexy black pumps and bring a nice little black clutch. Trust me, you will be the most fashionable person at the reunion.
Reunion Evening Event: For evening events, you want to look dressy—but not too dressy. Look for an empire waist, halter or strapless dress if you feel confident in your arms in any color but black—forest green, violet, and rose are all great colors for an evening event. However, if you feel uncomfortable with your arms or wish you could have lose a few more pounds before the party, wear the classic little black dress from a store like Macy’s, or Bluefly.com. The dress needs to fit perfectly to carry off this look, so head to your nearest tailor, if necessary. Accessories: wear your diamonds (again,1-carat fakes from Sears and New York and Co. look as good as the real thing). For shoes wear pumps, because pumps elongate your body making you thinner and more statue-esque. Zappos.com and Steve Madden both have a great selection of sexy pumps.
Now the most important thing to wear is a smile. At least you do not have to take gym class again.
Happy Shopping,
The Budget Fashionista
Contest Alert: Win A $500 Shopping Spree to King of Prussia Mall
Take this short survey and be entered to win a $500 giftcard to the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, PA (outside Philly). I don’t live near Philly anymore, but I might have to enter this contest because KOP is a EXCELLENT mall with a billion stores, including Bloomingdales, L&T, Neiman’s, and a Cheesecake Factory. Contest ends June 30, 2006.
Bloomingdale’s Coupon: 20% Off
THIS COUPON IS EXPIRED. FOR CURRENT COUPONS AND DEALS, PLEASE VISIT TBF’S ONLINE COUPON PAGE.
Save 20% off your online purchases at Bloomingdales.com. Use coupon code: SPRING at checkout.
Online Coupons: Just in Time for Mother’s Day
THIS COUPON IS EXPIRED. FOR CURRENT COUPONS AND DEALS, PLEASE VISIT TBF’S ONLINE COUPON PAGE.
Target.com Coupon- Save 10% off purchase at Target.com. Use code TCJFFURN at checkout
Bloomingdales.com Coupon- Save an extra 30% off apparel, shoes and accessories. Use code SAVE30 at checkout.
figleaves.com Coupon- Budget Fashionista readers Save an extra 10% off all purchases
Fashion Advice: Cheap Custom Made Suits For Men
Q:How can I buy custom made men’s suits for off the rack prices?
A:People (including myself) used to believe having a suit custom made meant spending a great deal of cash. However with many rack suits approaching $1000 buck or more, it may be actually cheaper to get your suits custom made. Several high end stores—Nordstroms, Saks, Marshall Fields, Kuhlmans and Bloomingdales—offer reasonably priced custom tailoring services starting around $400 per suit (cost depends on the fabric). If that is still a little too steep for your pockets, head out to your nearest outlet—and visit these stores:
Nordstrom’s Rack—Has an vast selection of men’s suits from designers such as Calvin Klein, Zegna, and Hugo Boss at 40-60% off retail prices.
Off Fifth Ave—Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet—If you like the main store, you will love their outlet. Great prices on men’s suits from Ralph Lauren (not the cheaper Chaps line) to Helmut Lang. It is also a wonderful place to buy male accessories, especially murses (male purses). Bought a beautiful coach Murse there earlier this year for 99 bucks.
The stores above have tailoring departments. It may not be custom made, but getting an $1200 Boss suit tailored to fit you for $325 buck ain’t too shabby.
Last Call Neiman Marcus. Find big savings on suits from Zegna, Hugo Boss, Prada, and more. No on site tailoring, but who cares when you just scored a Hickey Freeman suit for $400.
Fashion Advice: Budget Shopping Tips for Busy People
Q: I’m a girl who has a love of fashion, but not a lot of time to go scouring through the racks looking for the real steals. I know this must be possible, so my question to you is what are some tips for people who want a bargain, but have little time?
A: You do not have to spends hours shopping each week to find great deals on designer fashion.
General budget shopping tips for busy people.
The first rule of budget shopping is to go on the weekdays. Besides missing the long weekend lines, most stores put out new merchandise and markdown existing items on Tuesday-Thursdays. Another tip is when entering a store, head straight for the back or side racks. Most retail stores place their new, more costly items along the aisles and in the front of the store. Another way to save time is to sign up for email alerts to your favorite department stores. Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Macys, all have email alerts that notify you of a sale days before it happens allowing you to plan accordingly.
Shopping online is great option for bargain shoppers who have a limited amount of time. Online discount stores like Bluefly.com, SmartBargains.com, Overstock, and YOOX .com have some great designer fashions at low prices and allow you to shop without leaving your computer.
Happy Shopping
The Budget Fashionista
Fashion Advice: Finding a Professional Bra Fitter
Dear Budget Fashionista,
I’m in desperate need of new bras. Do you have any tips on finding a professional bra fitter in my city?
Help!
Spill Out
Dearest Spill Out,
Most major department stores have professional fitters on staff (Saks, Bloomingdales
, JC Penney’s, Sears, etc). Some stores like Victoria’s Secret also have fitters, but in my experience, these fitters tend to try and sell you bras—regardless of the fit. You can also go to local boutique shops that specialize in bras and undergarments.
When you get to the store seek out the most experienced bra fitter there and have them measure you. If they tell you that you are a “definite” size, run like the wind. You will never be one size in every brand of bra and if a fitter tells you this then this is a sign of an inexperienced fitter. You will need to try on several bras, in many different sizes, until you find the right one that gives you support AND is comfortable. Your breast should fit completely into the cup, no spillage, no wire digging into your sides, and the band should fit snug, but not too tight on the first set of hooks. You should be able to sweep your hands from you collar bone across the bra without feeling any flesh bumps. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and walk out if they aren’t knowledgeable enough to give you answers or blame you (it happens) for their own inability to find you a proper fitting bra.
Bloomingdales Jean Event: Buy 2 Pairs and Save on the 3rd
Buy two pair of jeans in the YES department at Bloomingdales and receive 20% off the third pair.
Dates: March 17th-March 19th in the Manhattan stores, March 18th nationwide.
TBF Exclusive: Bloomingdales Coupon—Save an Extra 15% in Store Feb. 23rd and Feb 24th
Shop Bloomingdales this Thursday, Feb 23rd and Friday Feb 24th, and SAVE AN EXTRA 15% off most items in the store, while giving back to charity. Just click on the coupon on the left, print it out, and bring it in to your local Bloomies for additional savings (the coupon works on select clearance items as well).
Bloomingdale’s Coupon: Extra 20% Off
THIS COUPON IS EXPIRED. FOR CURRENT COUPONS AND DEALS, PLEASE VISIT TBF’S ONLINE COUPON PAGE.
Save an extra 20% off fashion, shoes, and accessories for her online at Bloomingdales.com. Enter the code “TREAT” at the checkout to save.
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