Link Love: Chicago Fashion Focus, Shearlings, Giveaways and more

October 30, 2009 10:00 AM | Comments (1) | Posted in shopping, link love, giveaways

Second City Style has a coverage on Chicago’s first Fashion Focus evening.

Fabsugar is mad about Minkoff and is giving away a Rebecca Minkoff Stud Rocker Bag.

You Look Fab is a fan of hose and shows some casual twist on textured hose.

Shopalicious enlivens a simple outfit with Plaza Cardigan from Anthropologie.

A Few Goody Gum Drops is inviting everyone to get a chance to win a to-die-for Sydney Evan Pave Diamond Hamsa Conch Shell bracelet from YLANG 23

Shopping and Info loves shearling and shares her favoriteshearling boots, vests and coats.

Viva Fashion Blog found a coat that looks like from Marc Jacobs but for less.

Real Style Real People shares her love/hate relationship with reality show The Rachel Zoe Project.

The Capitol Fashionista is obsessed with flowers, ruffles and bows.

Fashionable Gals is hosting a Fashionable Gals For A Cure Fundraiser & GIVEAWAY! Help them raise money for breast cancer and get a chance to win tons of great prizes from companies like Gillette, Philosophy, Urban Decay, Ella Moss and more!

Real Luxe found a fun sparkly sequins dress just in time for party season.

Fashion Pulse Daily gives us a peek of the upcoming Carlos Falchi handbags for Target.

All You compiled a list of affordable high style winter jackets.

Sponsored Video: Kathryn Takes the Supreme Maxxinista Challenge

October 15, 2009 07:00 PM | Comments (1) | Posted in shopping, tj maxx, TJ Maxx, maxxinista, off pirced

I took sometime last week and went on a undercover mission to see how I could do, as the Supreme Maxxinista, at my local TJ Maxx. I found some awesome deals (hello a pair of size 11 purple suede Jimmy Choo booties for 50% off.. love it). I didn’t buy the boots (I REALLY WANTED TO), but even at 50% off they were a bit too rich for my blood, but I’m positive that the women clocking them over my shoulder went and bought them. I did buy like 4 dresses, 3tops, and a much needed cashmere scarf for like $160.

 

Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter

Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.

Give Us Your Two Cents… Take the TBF Survey

March 30, 2009 06:00 PM | Comments (1) | Posted in shopping, shopping survey

Five reason to take the TBF shopping survey:

5. It only takes 10 minutes (unless you decide to write the unabridged version of your life story)
4. It’s completely anonymous, no one will know that you once spent $500 on a pair of diamond encrusted Crocs
3. You can see how much your fellow shoppers spent on certain items (so you can see whether or not they spent $500 on a pair of diamond encrusted Crocs)
2. The results are shared with the complete fashion/shopping online community.

And the number one reason to take the TBF Shopping Survey….
The Cool Kids are doing it.

Take the Survey

The Budget Fashionista’s Weekly Retail Report for March 29

March 30, 2009 07:00 AM | Comments (1) | Posted in shopping, weekly retail report, ann taylor, new trend

It seems the news is getting worse by the minute for luxury retailers, but it’s starting to look up for the rest. Consumer spending has seen and upward trend in late February and March, and the shareholders of Saks, Ann Taylor, Liz Claiborne, Quicksilver, and Macy’s are feeling a little more optimistic about the future.

Goodwill and the Dollar General Store are both doing peachy, as you might expect, so much so that Goodwill’s expanding.

But the retailers that can’t stay relevant in this economy, in other words the retailers that don’t offer up lower cost products, are just digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole.

Here’s a wrap-up:
Beauty sales, in general, are plummeting.
Tiffany’s earnings have fallen 76% and the retailer’s still too stubborn to lower prices.
DSW had a rough quarter, but Sketchers plans to grow its business in South America.
Luxury menswear designer Thom Browne’s on the brink of bankruptcy.
As companies suffer, so do their charities.
Wet Seal’s not doing so hot.
H&M profits fell 12%.
Hugo Boss has had better days.
Jeweler Charles and Colvard report a 47% drop in sales.

What about jobs?
Barney’s is letting go 76 employees.
Wal-Mart (yes, Wal-Mart) is shutting down an optical lab and in the process, cutting 650 jobs.
Swarovski Crystal is laying off 650.
Active Ride (skateboarders and surfers know this one well) has filed for Chapter 11.

Maybe we should all start thinking outside the shoe box, like suit maker Canali, which has just purchased a software company called Datafashion.