Luxury Travel: Do it Sample Sale Style

It's finally Friday and wanna get away? You no longer have to rely on Southwest Airlines to get you there. The Gilt Groupe (of famed online designer sample sales) has unleashed it's newest venture, Jetsetter. Just launched Wednesday, Jetsetter is a new online site offering luxury travel packages at sample sale prices. I can't believe someone actually combined two (or actually three) things close to my own heart: travel (luxury at that), sample sales, and saving money. If you're already a member of the Gilt Groupe you're set to start jetsetting. If you're new to the site (I'll let that slide although to told you to get signed up like last year-see) the sales are just like the Gilt online sample sales, for a limited time only (usually 2 days). So what are you just sitting around and reading this for? Hurry and get signed up , there's a luxury trip waiting for you!

Friday Flashback/Friendly Shopping Reminder

Hey Ladies, once again it's Friday! Hope you're gearing up for a fabulous and fun weekend. LA girls it's that time again, the last Friday of the month. Time for the the Los Angeles Fashion District's monthly sample sale. Head over to the California Market Center, New Mart and The Cooper Building (my new personal favorite) for all the finest fashion at a deep discount (check out the info here). The stores have already bought for Fall '09 so the sale is sure to have new Fall fashion to be pushed out of the showrooms to make room for new merchandise. I love Fridays and I'm ready to do my thing (if heading home for an appointment with my couch is considered a thing). This song is a old favorite that always gets me in a smoothed out mood.

Tribe Called Quest -Bonita Applebaum


BONUS "Between the Sheets" Remix
Remember this one? (Cha-Cha anyone?)

Lucky Seven: Sample Sale Alert

Lucky for you if you're in Los Angeles this week. Make sure to stop by Showroom Seven's sample sale (I bought the cutest dress and leather purse for a steal at a sample sale here in December). Located in the Cooper Design building in L.A.'s famed Fashion District (my absolute favorite place to be on the last Friday of every month for various sample sales at the California Mart, New Mart and Cooper Design Building), Showroom Seven is one the district's most exclusive showrooms. Find anything from Charlotte Ronson to Issa London for up to 90% off. Grab great clothing and accessories (that are still full price at Barney's and Bloomingdale's) on the cheap so Showroom Seven can make room for the upcoming season's finest. Ahh, life is sweet!

right photo: Issa Fall '09 RTW


Sale from this Wednesday through Friday, July 24.

Showroom Seven
860 S. Los Angeles St.
(213) 316-1002
10AM-6PM


http://www.showroomseven.com/

Weekend Update: Uniquely LA

I stumbled upon the greatest event at the last minute this weekend in LA and had to share. Unique Los Angeles is a two day shopping event that showcases over 275 local independent designers all under the same roof at the famed California Market Center (as in my beloved spot for monthly sample sales). There will be more events to come and I promise to keep you posted. I barely squeezed in on the last day with only an hour to spare. But mama works quick, so I made my rounds in a flash. There were a lot of cool items to be had but my favorite spot overall would have to have to go to Nicacelly. Each one of a kind piece from Nicacelly was eclectic, comfortable and sexy (just hot!). How else could one describe a low cut, fitted dress with an old school image of Big Daddy Kane getting a fade?









Love it!
























Nicacelly's designer, Nicole Markoff, holding one of her designs (which was the cutest jumpsuit ever that I refused to let myself buy due to the fact that I now own FIVE jumpsuits).



SUPPORT INDEPENDENT DESIGNERS!

Ladies Start Your Engines: LA Special

I love to shop, and I love to save money. If you're anything like me, when I shop and save money (like way below retail) it's pure bliss (bring on the warm and fuzzies). I smell a sample sale! LA girls rev up for the Sassy City Chicks designer sample sale. If you're interested in saving up to 80% on designers like Marc Jacobs, Black Halo, and J Brand log on , buy a $3 ticket and be at the Marina del Rey Marriott on Sunday, March 29 from 10-3pm.

http://www.sassycitychicks.com/

Everything Must Go: RevolveClothing.com has a serious sample sale!

There's nothing like the smell of sale in the air. The tired feet, the communal dressing rooms, and the cold feeling of knowing the lady following behind you is just waiting for you to lay down the sweater she's been eyeing. It's the thrill of the chase and ultimately the satisfaction of leaving with something beautiful you got practically free. Keeping in the spirit of sales, the very hot website turned hotter Los Angeles pop up store, revolveclothing.com is having a sample sale. And believe me, when they say up to 90% off, they mean it. LA girls listen up, I picked up this very retro pinstriped Black Halo dress at the sale last week for $30 (just add pumps and red lipstick and I'm "pin up" girl ready). This dress currently retails for $327, so technically it was more than 90% off (like I said, practically free). Find clothing and accessories from a variety of designers like Ella Moss, Diesel, Geren Ford, Kooba and Giuseppe Zanotti. Don't miss the vast collection of denim (buy one get one 50% off). But, if you're not in Los Angeles you're still in luck. While you may not pick up any $30 dresses, you'll be happy to know revolveclothing.com is also currently having a great online sale (get 30-80% off). So, if you are in LA this Friday, December 12th or next Friday, December 19th stop by the sample sale. Just make sure you have the time to search the racks and don't forget to wear good underwear.

REVOLVEclothing.com Sample Sale

December 12 & 19

9AM-4PM

860 S. Los Angeles Street (The Cooper Building)
Mezzanine Suite 4
Los Angeles, CA 90014

The Year of The Gentleman: Good online sample sales for men

The only thing better than having a well dressed closet is having a well dressed man. We know behind every good man is a good woman, but wouldn't that woman be even more fabulous if she knew where to to send her man to find the latest designer fashions for less? Popular online sample sites have finally caught on and are beginning to sell men's clothing at sample sale prices. The Gilt Groupe and Hautelook (just started in mid October) have both added men's designers (like Ralph Lauren, True Religion, Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana and many more) to their weekly offerings. If you haven't already signed up for these sites for yourself, sign up your man. Clothes don't make the man, but they certainly make him look better (and every woman deserves a little eye candy).

TGIF or TGITLFOTM (Thank God It's The Last Friday Of The Month): Sample Sales

I know it's Wednesday, but I wanted to give you advance notice so there won't be any hard feelings. *LA girls take note: The last Friday of each month = major sample sale!* (Ladies not in Los Angeles hold on a sec, I have something for you too). Every last Friday of the month, the California Market Center (California Mart) and the New Mart have a sample sale event (except in December when every Friday is sample sale day). These two large buildings located in LA's Fashion District house the showrooms (which have everything from adult and kids clothing to accessories) where all the buyers select the hottest trends for boutiques and department stores. After they take their orders for the season many of the showrooms sell off the samples to the public at deep discounts (like an extremely fashionable garage sale-everything must go!) Some of my previous finds (way too many to name) include a evening coat from the BCBG showroom for $50 and a beautiful Francesco Biasia overnight bag (worth at least $500) for $200. No need to worry if you're not in LA you can shop the sample sales at home with cool online sites like http://www.hautelook.com/, http://www.gilt.com/, and http://www.ideeli.com/. Save without having to find a parking spot by signing up for free membership and get invitations to shop designer's sample sales at up to 70% off for limited time periods (usually 12-36 hours per sale).

*Tips for LA sample sale shoppers - The sales vary by showroom and last from 9AM-3PM(ish). Bring cash, your own shopping tote (or rollaway suitcase-I'm not kidding) and set a budget. I like to get there for the last two hours (with a set amount of cash). There are so many things to buy I don't want to go broke (then I'd really have something to be stressed out about). So do whatever you need to do to free your schedule Friday and scour those samples (did I hear a sniffle?).