It’s that magical time of year…no, not the Holidays….Sample Sale Season!

Two times a year–a few months after the Fashion Weeks have wrapped, our favorite fashion companies purge their warehouses of samples and overstock for fabulous prices. This time of year is especially exciting because Christmas is right around the corner, and who doesn’t love a killer sale when gift shopping!

Without further ado….Here’s the Scoop:

Who: The Garment Room

What: Unique vintage clothing and accessories for men and women at warehouse sale prices (50-75% off). Party while you shop: music will be playing and cocktails will be served! A portion of the sale proceeds will be donated to Union Docs (uniondocs.org).

When: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15th-16th– 12pm to 8pm

Where: 322 Union Ave @ the Union Docs Loft/ btw Maujer and Ten Eyck/Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Who: R.J. Graziano

What: Luxurious costume jewelry on sale at wholesale prices or below! Graziano designs are all over the top fashion magazines and you too after you visit the sale. Cash or Credit Cards.

When: Monday thru Wednesday, Nov. 17th-19th– 11am to 5:30pm

Where: 389 5th Ave/3rd floor/btw 36th and 37th St/ 212-685-3737

Who: Anya Hindmarch

What: Discounts from 60% off amazing suede and leather bags–shoes–and luggage, along with Anya’s new apparel line (tunics, jackets, etc). Credit Card and Cash only!

When: Wednesday, Nov. 19th– 9am to 5:30pm

Where: Anya Hindmarch Showroom/ 416 West 13th Street/Suite 317

Who: Delman

What: Some of the best footwear around for less then half the price! Leather boots, snakeskin flats and stand-out heels make this sale a must. I scored a pair of red flats last year for $50 (originally $300)!

When: Wednesday thru Friday, Nov. 19th-21st– 10am to 7pm

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion/123 West 18th Street/ 4th Floor/ 212-399-2323

Who: Tocca

What: Gorgeous dresses, coats and separates for up to 80% off retail. Cocktail dress ($330, NOW $85), Silk blouse ($250, NOW $50). Plus, home and body products! Large candle ($36, NOW $20), Bath&Body gift sets ($48, NOW $20). Cash and Credit Cards accepted.

When: Wednesday thru Friday, Nov. 19th-21st–11am to 7pm

Where: 542 West 22nd Street/ btw 10th and 11th aves

Who: Theory

What: Perfectly tailored suits, sublime blouses, cozy sweaters and fantastic dresses for 60% off and up!

When: Thursday, Nov 20th (10am-7pm), Friday, Nov. 21st (10am-6pm), Sat & Sun, Nov. 22nd-23rd (10am-5pm), Monday, Nov.24th (10am-6pm), Tuesday, Nov. 25th (10am-7pm).

Where: 261 west 36th Street/ 2nd floor/btw 7th and 8th aves

Happy Shopping!

As I mentioned in one of my last post:I live and die for accessories! A super high and strappy sandal causes my heart to skip several beats…a delicate charm necklace makes me swoon…and the perfect bag is enough for me to contemplate blowing my rent money and moving back in with my parents. Believe me, I’ve thought about it. Sad, I know.

With all that said, each week I’ll share with you one of my favorite accessory lines…some of which you have probably never heard of. Being a fashion editor has it’s perks and one of them is being introduced to up-and-coming designers and getting the scoop before the masses. Gotta love….and so will you!

To start, I’d like to introduce you to……. Ginette NY!

I first fell in love with the delicate gold necklaces from this line designed by Frederique Dessemond (originally from France, but now lives in Brooklyn NYC). These days I find myself piling on thin gold strands to make a cascading effect around my neck and the pieces from Ginette are the perfect addition. Frederique doesn’t stop at necklaces, her line extends to earrings, rings and bracelets. She is most renowned for her Victorian inspired monogrammed plate designs. They give an old-world feel with enough glitz to make you fresh and current! Many of the Ginette pieces can easily become items you pass down through the generations.

THE LOWDOWN

Price Range: $100-$600 (yellow, black or rose gold)—Pricey. But, the pieces are well made and beautiful

Where to Buy: Ginette NYC Boutique/172 West 4th Street/212-627-3763, Shopbop.com, and Piximarket.com

You should know…: that Shopbop.com always has great sales on Ginette! And, they just started carrying Ginette Etc, a line of bags from the company. Check here to see!

Tuesday’s historic election of Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th President has been eclipsed, in many circles, by the growing discussion about Michelle Obama’s dress. Really. The dissection of her decision to don the red and black Narciso Rodriguez number started on fashion blogs like style.com and then to newspapers like USA Today. Now the talk has gone international. The UK’s Telegraph has picked up the story today. Overall, the reviews were not good.

And so we have it, Michelle Obama’s first little brouhaha as the soon to be First Lady. To date, many fashionistas have lauded most of her style choices. From the White House Black Market dress she donned for “The View” to the Maria Pinto frocks she wore for the Democratic National Convention and the J Crew ensemble she wore for her appearance on Jay Leno her style report card overall has been almost all As. But now that the stakes are higher, she is going to be The First Lady Of The United States after all, the scrutiny has followed suit. And the results are somewhat comical. The funniest line in The Telegraph article pointed out that Michelle Obama doesn’t employ a personal stylist. Should she? I don’t think so. A personal shopper, perhaps but a personal stylist, no.

I am actually amazed that there has been more press about this dress than there has been about the look she wore to vote—no makeup and a ponytail. I raised one eyebrow at that until I realized that the sister had been working non-stop (and she was probably up all night). Plus, her choice gave us a peek at her humanity and solidifyed that she was the sister next store (at least in our minds).

Personally, I noticed the dress but I wasn’t fixated on it. I was more aware that her accessories were less classic and more funky (and also that the family was tastefully color coordinated without looking to matchy-matchy). And seriously, I was just elated at the historic moment for both this country and our people in particular. But spending most of my career around fashion folks has taught me that the write their version of history based upon what someone wore.

I suspect that since Michelle has made it through this campaign in one piece, she probably has pretty thick skin. I doubt seriously that after all this talk about her dress that she will revert to only safe choices (or call Andre Leon Talley in a panic—which may be risky too). Instead, she will continue to carve out her own style niche. But as she is finding her rhythm there may be some misses in the midsts of all those hits. So what.

Folks can talk about the return of Camelot all they want, but I am sure our future First Lady knows that substance is even more important than style. She’s striving  to be more than just a beautiful sister in a designer dress. Here’s what she told Newsweek about raising her children in The White House and addressing the issues that are important to her. This interview was done before they had a lock on the Presidency, now I am sure we’ll find out even more about what she’s passionate about.

The plummeting stock markets couldn’t hold down the opulent, imaginative and decidedly hopeful designs pouring down the runways overseas. Here, just a taste of what you can expect (dresses, dresses and more dresses!):

LONDON–(left to right)  ISSA gives the girl-on-the-go sophistication without stuffiness. I love the combination of subtle color and radiant shine. From the Nigerian born, London based designer Duro Olowu comes more of what he does best: Exotic patterns. His keen taste of over the top patterns and refined silhouettes, strike balance that is perfect for the lady who likes to stand out in a crowd. Finally, Ossie Clark is a fashion house in transition, trying to revitalize it’s hay-day in the 70’s. This solid collection is making for a promising start. Check out the matching dress and shoes…brilliant!

MILAN– (left to right) You can always rely on Marni to give you fun, quirky and absolutely fabulous prints every season. Consuelo Castiglioni delivered a collection of well constructed separates and dresses that anyone can mix and match throughout their wardrobe. Gotta love versatility! You can’t talk about Milan fashion week without mentioning Dolce and Gabbana. These guys know what ladies really want….the comfort of PJs with the glam of a movie star. Done! This collection is complete with Men’s Pajama inspired style and a whole lot of sexy. Speaking of sexy, just look at that Raf Simons for Jil Sander black fringe dress. Enough said.

PARIS– (left to right) Ahhh, Josephine Baker…one of my style idols! It’s only fitting that she was one of the inspirations behind the all-imporant Louis Vuitton collection. Exotic prints, embellishments galore and tailored separates pulled Marc Jacobs’ (creative director/designer for LV)  vision together. Don’t be surprised if you see every one of Giambattista Valli’s collection on all the Hollywood starlets. Young celebutantes are mad for Valli’s frocks (Rhianna is a huge fan) and his crop of spring designs are the perfect transition from red carpet to after party! Now if you’re the type of gal that has a full social schedule, you’ll want to make sure you have a Lanvin in your closet, because you can’t go wrong with one of Alber Elbaz’s designs. The spring collection for Lanvin uses volume and skilled draping to invoke light and airy pieces that could certainly elevate any occasion.

I absolutely live and die for accessories! Shoes, bags, belts, jewelry and beyond– make my heart sing! They are the perfect investment since you can wear them a lot more than, say, that fuschia dress you adore (”there she goes in that pink dress again”). A great bag or pair of shoes are meant to be worn all the time, so the price to mileage ratio is perfection!

Check out these haute accessories for Spring 09 (I would do very bad things for those Yves Saint Laurent Eiffel Tower inspired booties...I’m just saying)!

The handbag guru, the founding editor of BagTrends.com and one of the most fabulous women I know–Pamela Pekerman–is throwing a party called ARM CANDY that you won’t want to miss!

What:  BagTrends ARM CANDY PARTY Fall 2008 Season
When: Sept 22 6-9pm
Where: Union Square Ballroom (NY, NY)
Why: The chance to feel like the VIP you know you are!

Cost: $10 @ BagTrends.com…or $15 @ the door (believe me, these prices are a steal for what you’re getting)

RSVP to RSVP@bagtrends.com

Pamela’s sharp eye for trends and everything fabulous when it comes to accessories has gained her tons of success. She has appeared on VH1’s The Fabulous Life and has lended her expertise to the Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal and New York Magazine (the list goes on…and on)! And, a BIG congratulations to Pamela on her recent wedding proposal….Yipee!

With all that said, if you’re a bag lover like me (right now I’m obessed with the Prada Nappa S Shoulder bag), then don’t waste anymore time and RSVP to this event!

Here’s what you can expect:

– Exclusive discounts from your favorite brands and the chance to preview new lines

– Meet acclaimed handbag designers such as Rebecca Minkoff, Ted Rossi, and Vegan Queen (eco)

– Yummy complimentary drinks

– BagTrend Gift Bags full of spa discounts, makeup, books, chocolate, and more! (for the first 300 ticketed guests)

– A spa/wellness center for guests to indulge in treats from Booty Parlor and relaxing massages

–And lots more!

Click HERE to get the lowdown on their last event…

I’ll see you there!

So, fashion week is a wrap and who better to close it out then Ms. Fabulousity herself, Kimora Lee Simmons, with her Baby Phat collection that just turned 10-years-old! Happy Birthday!

I’m not a die-hard Baby Phat fan, but boy does Kimora know how to put on a show. Everyone from music stars like Maxwell to athletic gods like Carmelo Anthony (and of course his wife Lala) were there…front row status, naturally!

My biggest star spotting of the night was the delicious Djimon Hounsou (you remember him from the movies Amistad and Blood Diamond. He’s dating Kimora, but whatever)!  I had to tap him on the shoulder and pose for a quick photo. Can’t let beauty like that escape a Kodak-moment (although I must note that I do have a drop-dead gorgeous boyfriend…love you boo)!

Back to the show: the clothes were typical Baby Phat (lots of bedazzled spandex and dresses that would make the average woman look like a stripper), BUT the music was blasting, the models were killin’ the catwalk and the stars were out…

Check out these exclusive videos of Baby Phat’s Decade Celebration video and the final walk (complete with Kimora and her gorgeous daughters–Ming Lee and Aoki Lee)!

Now what would the young, hot, It Girl of the moment have in common with our potential First Lady Michelle Obama? Both made People’s List of Best Dressed Stars of 2008.

Once the 20 year-old Bajan beauty cut her hair first to the much copied angled bob and later to the style Halle used to rock back in the 90s, she has become a striking style icon. And it seems that her fashion choices have gotten better and bolder. I just hope that she doesn’t follow the lead of other singers and do the obligatory clothing line. (I don’t know about you but House of Dereon is not right).

In contrast, Michelle Obama knows how to rock clean lines that have a little something extra.Loved the details on the dresses she wore at the Democratic National Convention. But whether she is wearing Maria Pinto (the Chicago designer she is known to favor) or a more affordable frock (like the one she wore on The View from White House Black Market) she makes it look rich. The secret is in how she carries herself. Grace, poise and confidence are something that will never go out of style.

So it is not only that clothes make the women but it’s the attitude you have while you wear them. Think of that the next time you get dressed in the morning.

Be political and fashionable all at the same time… A handful of top-notch fashion designers and celebrities have made that possible for Barack Obama fans across the country in a fashionable initiative called: “Runway To Change”

Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang, Diane von Furstenberg, Jay-Z and Beyonce are just a few of the superstars lending their stylish skills to raise money for Obama’s race to the White House.

The T-shirts, tote bags and scarves range in price from $45-$90 and 100% of the proceeds go towards Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign!

We have less then 2 months people….Click HERE to start shopping!

Here are some of my favorite designs in the photo displayed above:

Tracy Reese’s long-sleeve Obama 2008 shirt, $70
Diane von Furstenberg Tote bag, $75
Nanette Lepore Anchor t-shirt, $65

The Great Britain equivalent of H&M –Topshop– has arrived in the states! English gals and lads have been going bloody crazy over these trendy and affordable clothes for years, and now we’ll have the chance. (Plus, supermodel Kate Moss has a super-cute clothingline with the store)

We’ll have to wait for the flagship SoHo, NYC store to open in the next month or so…BUT, never fear the internet is here!

The Topshop website (www.topshop.com) is up and running for the United States…so start clicking!

Forget about juice and chips, Target is offering something much more exciting at their new pop-up bodegas….Fashion!

Our favorite affordable mega-store is setting up four temporary bodegas around New York City and opening their doors to the public on September 12th. What a great idea, considering the closest Target is in Brooklyn and it’s usually packed.

Keep in mind the stores will only be open for a limited time, so get your fashion-fix quick! Plus…you’ll get to shop Target’s new and modestly prices designer collections– Anya Hindmarch, Sigerson Morrison and Jonathan Saunders before they hit nationwide on October 5th. You’ll get to rock your fabulous finds almost a whole month before the rest of the world!

Click the link below to find out more:

http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp?title=bullseye_bodega