Style Fix

If you have been keeping yourself away from the temptations of malls and clothing stores, you are missing two big things right now (which are perhaps reason enough to brave the temptation and head to the shopping district):

1. Barneys is the exclusive retailer of Michelle Obama’s designer of choice, Isabel Toledo. The store will be featuring the yellowish dress that Mrs. President wore on inauguration day in their windows and on their racks, for about $1,500, starting in March. “I’m sort of annoyed that Michelle Obama has spring merchandise before us,” Barneys creative director Simon Doonan said. The dress for sale will not be exactly the same as Michelle’s as hers was custom tailored for additional warmth.

2. Alexander McQueens line for Target stores - McQ - is on its way. Nylon Magazine has a sneak peek. Click on Nylon’s header below to view more outfits and pieces from McQ.

She’s been dressing celebrities for years, but it wasn’t until her Bravo reality show The Rachel Zoe Project that this fashion stylist became a well-known name.

Aside from her show and her book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, and Everything Glamour, you can discover what trends Zoe loves at online store Piperlime where she regularly selects her favorite shoes.

Need even more incentive to scope out Rachel’s picks? Piperlime is sending one lucky winner and a friend to Los Angeles to meet Rachel Zoe!

The $10,000 grand prize package includes:

** A three-day stay at the glamorous Roosevelt Hotel for the winner and a friend.
** Roundtrip airfare to Los Angeles for two.
** Transportation to and from the airport, and to meet Rachel Zoe.
** $2,000 each towards a shopping spree at Rachel’s favorite spots.
** $500 each towards Piperlime shoes.

To enter to win visit Piperlime.com from now until January 25.

Merry Christmas to all today!

The big shopping holiday has finally arrived and you know what that means … get ready for some great after Christmas sales, clearances, deals, offers, etc.

But for now, enjoy the day; celebrate in style. Don your red or green: both are allowed only subtly. Ditch the themed sweaters, unless your gracious grandma that bought it for you is standing nearby. And, as always, stay warm while looking as tailored and stylish as these impressive little munchkins looked at the Christmas tree Party on Wednesday, December 17 in Monaco as they posed with Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Stephanie of Monaco and Princess Caroline of Hanover.

And, of course, if you don’t celebrate Christmas: Happy Hannukah or Kwanzaa or Human Light!

Just can’t wait to get spending? Read up on how to maximize your dollar during after the holidays sales at any or all of these cheer-spreading shopping sites:

* Chiff provides tips on how to utilize every coupon, sale, discount, and more.

* Frugal Living at About.com details how you can pile savings on top of savings.

* Dealio has links to several stores after Christmas bargain specifics.

* After Christmas Sales tracks the sales for you, providing details, deadlines, and links.

* eHow: How to Survive the After Christmas Sales offers up some useful, albeit comical, tips, too.

But you know … you could always stay home and spend the day trying on all of your duds and hosting a fashion show for any family members willing to watch.

If you haven’t signed up for the online, designer sale, members only club Rue La La yet, there’s still time to do so before the current sales for Nicole Miller and Michael Kors Bedding expire.

Every two days, Rue La La launches a new, short-lived boutique featuring merchandise from one brand or designer label. Each boutique hosts current fashions and products at 30 to 80 percent off regular retail pricing.

Sign up today and skip the waiting list with this VIP membership code offer:

* Visit www.RueLaLa.com.
* Select “Invited by a Member.”
* Enter this e-mail address as your key to get in: VIP@ruelala.com.
* Shop and save!
* Then, invite your friends to join, too, and you will earn $10 to spend at Rue La La each time one of your friends joins and makes their first purchase.

Other upcoming sales will feature John Hardy jewelry, Delman shoes, Alexis Hudson purses, and clothing by Shoshanna, BCBG Max Azria, and Theory.

Happy Black Friday shopping extravaganza day! Oh yes, and happy belated Thanksgiving, too!

I’m in a good mood because, although I have to work today, I managed to squeeze in $100 worth of sale shopping before work.

I take two buses to get to my job. The buses meet up at a mall - a deadly bus stop for a shopaholic to have, for sure! This morning, my first bus pulled in to the depot 10 minutes early, leaving me with a solid 20 minutes to wait for the next one. I innocently realized that, being Black Friday, Starbucks in the mall was probably open early. Upon entering the mall, however, the atmosphere got the better of me (and my wallet).

Chick-fil-A handed me free coffee as soon as I stepped inside, and I crumbled like the addict I am: “I have to buy something!”

In 45 minutes - I succumbed to pressure and took a later bus - I bought:

* New pink and gray Adidas sneakers, bamboo socks, and aloe vera socks from Lady Footlocker to aid in my recent running hobby.

* Underwear and yoga-style pants from American Eagle.

* Nothing at Journey’s, H&M, or Borders, but I still managed to browse all three.

… And then I had to sprint to catch the bus, but it’s okay because I had new running shoes on.

I am in a good mood now, despite having to work. Between the free caffeine, the adrenaline rush of speed shopping, and the fact that it is Friday, I’ve got energy and happiness on my side. Plus there’s the anticipation of stopping after work to check for late-in-the-day sales!

We may be in the midst of an economic hardship, but not everyone is feeling it just yet - Burberry just reported a 13.1 percent rise in revenue. They are not the norm, however. Brands that once flourished in the realm of women’s clothing are seeing large losses. Saks, for example, just reported a $42.8 million drop.

So exactly how do retailers and designers intend on surviving this downturn? Well, creating an affordable line for a inexpensive chain store seems to be one option.

Charlotte Ronson (yes, as in Lindsay Lohan’s girlfriend Samantha Ronson. They’re sisters - twins, actually!) has a spring line debuting at JCPenney. With items ranging around $15 to $65 each, the new collection - called I Heart Ronson - features prices that are half those of Ronson’s regular collections. Grab a sneak peak at some of Charlotte’s Penney clothes at NYMag’s The Cut blog. Click on the outfit shown here to view more previews at Nylon magazine.

As the Isaac Mizrahi-Target collaboration comes to an end, Target begins a new venture with designers: Designer Collaborations, a line that will feature rotating designers. First up - Alexander McQueen. Read the full McQueen-Target story and see a piece from the upcoming collection at WWD.

Today only shop Piperlime and receive $20 off your next purchase of at least $100 in celebration of the online shoes and handbags store’s second birthday. If you are truly lucky, perhaps you will be one of the 1 in 100 people to receive $100 off your next purchase!

Plus, while your shopping don’t forget that you can simultaneously order from Old Navy, Banana Republic, and GAP, with your whole order being combined for shipping, which is free with purchase of $150 or more.

I save a lot of e-mails. My inbox is overflowing with ads and whatnot displaying things that I found cute, fun, stylish, etc. So in efforts to free up some computer space, I’m doing some house cleaning.

Here are some fashionable things from my inbox that I love:

I’ve searched for a clutch exactly like these that are available at Endless, but turned up nothing. And now here it is, in fun colors no less! Visit the site and find over 100 other styles of clutches.

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The Bag Lady provided me a first look at Louis Vuitton’s new campaign and model … and it is brilliant! Sean Connery is an unexpected, yet perfect, icon to represent the label.

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Old Navy is rockin’ some affordable, classic coats! I also spied similar ones at Target.

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More from the Bag Lady! This time, she caught me off guard with something from Balenciaga that I actually like. Click on the picture here to find out which semi-celeb was spied carrying this bag around town.

It’s a long running tradition for upscale department stores to create elaborate, expensive, ultimate dream gifts. Very few are probably sold, but they do it every year to give people a fun fantasy-like shopping (or wishing) experience.

Last year, I chose Saks’ Create Your Own Snow Globe as my fantasy purchase from amongst their items that were dreamed up by children of St. Jude’s Hospitals (which benefited from any sales). This year, regardless of the state of the economy, stores are continuing the beloved tradition.

Neiman Marcus published their 100th anniversary Christmas Book last year, and has the 2008 edition ready now. The book, which has been published even during wars and depressions, creates extreme, over-the-top fantasy gifts. At one point, the book was the most reported stolen piece of mail.

Previous gift ideas have included matching His and Her hot air balloons for $6,850 in 1964; a $250,000 bag of uncut diamonds in 1972; a solid milk chocolate Monopoly set in 1978 for $600; a $10,000 mermaid package, complete with tail, faux pearl top, and swimming lessons in 2003; and a limited edition home for your pet in 2006 for $5,000 to $7,000. This year, you can get a portion of turf cut from the Dallas Cowboys’ Texas Stadium for $500,000.

The Neiman Marcus 2008 Christmas Book is on sale online or in stores for $15. However, that $15 will be credited toward any purchase you make - and there are some affordable ones: a pine wood children’s play wagon in 1965 for $145; $5 for candy pebbles in a jar in 1972; and a bronze spearhead from the Persian Wars for only $35 in 1974.

The cover shown was the 2004 book design.

Online shoe haven Endless has had a lot going on lately!

1. Costs are low and shipping is fast.

The store offers a constant good deal on shipping: Overnight shipping is free, meaning you pay regular and they upgrade you at no charge. Return shipping is always free, too. Plus, they have a price match guarantee where, for up to two weeks after you order, they will match any competitor’s lower price on the item. They also will refund you the difference if the item goes on sale within two weeks of your order.

2. New brands are constantly being added.

Recently, Endless has added Puma athletic shoes to their stock. Select Te Casan designers have also been added, although none yet from Natalie Portman’s collection.

3. You get a free subscription to Vogue when you order!

Spend $25 or more, now through November 15, and you will receive an e-mail follow up with a free gift subscription to the Vogue magazine of your choice: Vogue, Teen Vogue, or Men’s Vogue.

Back in May I introduced Rue La La, a site that offers its members exclusive access to great designer sales. Membership is free, but granted only by invite or after waiting it out on the wannabes list. But not for you, not today. You can become a member of Rue La La today, with no wait and no need to know someone!

Rue La La is offering Style Fix readers free instant access, just follow these instructions:

1. Go to www.RueLaLa.com.
2. Select “Invited by a Member.”
3. Enter “VIP@ruelala.com” as your key to get in.

Welcome and let the bargain shopping begin! Right now Rue La La is hosting a sale on Taylor, through September 24, and Absorba, through September 25. From September 24 to 26, members can save on Cole Haan. Sales include designers for women’s clothing, men’s wear, children, accessories, and even household decor.

Want to snag a pair of Natalie Portman’s Te Casan shoes without feeling guilty for the splurge? What if I told you that a pair of Te Casan pumps worth $300 are currently up for auction with proceeds benefiting charity?

A celebrity-filled online auction, supporting upstate New York’s Farm Sanctuary, is going on now though Thursday, September 18. The Natalie Portman shoes shown here have a current high bid of only $150! Support a good cause and get a bargain all at once!

The auction also features artwork, lunches with celebrities, high-end jewelry, makeup lessons, private shopping events, haircuts by celebrity stylists, and much more.

Click here to check out the Te Casan pumps, or browse the all 68 items up for auction.

Want a bag designed by Gwen Stefani without the price tag of L.A.M.B. or the teenage appeal of Harajuku Lovers? Would you do “Whatever It Takes” to tote her - and other famous designers, entertainers, and artists of all kinds - designs around, especially if it benefited deserving charities at the same time?

21st Century Artists is a unique project that collects artwork from leaders in all different fields, even including athletes, Nobel winners, and writers. Each participant is asked to create a piece of art that promotes and inspires hope. The collection of these goods are then produced and sold online at Whatever It Takes. Proceeds benefit a variety of charitable causes including children, foreign poverty, and the environment.

The team behind 21st Century Artists has set a goal of raising $3 million over three years. With designs like the pink Stefani-designed bag shown here retailing at about $14 (actual cost is £9.99), and Ewan McGregor’s landscape plate for $16 (£10.99), it’s easy for you to help them reach their goal while snagging a stylish piece of artwork.

In addition to plates and bags, the collection also currently includes mugs, t-shirts, wristbands, Eastpak backpacks, canvas prints, and Vans sneakers. Designers also include musicians Ozzy Osbourne and David Bowie, models Claudia Schiffer and Heidi Klum, actors George Clooney and Minnie Driver, fashion designers Giorgio Armani and Donna Karan … the list goes on - check it out for yourself!

We can always expect sales and an increase in advertising during the month of August for back to school shoppers, but this year I am noticing that clothing stores seem to associate jeans with back to school savings.

Check out all of these stores that currently have a denim sale going on:

* GAP: Take 25% off all Men’s, Women’s, and Maternity jeans GAP stores and online. Shop online, or click on and print the coupon shown here to save in stores. Discount only lasts until this Sunday, August 17.

* LUCKY: Buy any pair of jeans online through Lucky Brand and receive free shipping. While your there, sign up for the e-mail list and be entered to win seven pairs of Lucky jeans … seven free pairs of Luckys? I’d be in heaven!

* OLD NAVY: Prices on jeans are cheap to begin with, starting at $25 per pair. Plus, Old Navy just added petite and tall cuts. Check it out.

* BARNEYS: They just want you to know that they sell jeans. That’s all. View Barneys latest mailer which is all about denim online.

eLuxury always has good deals on designer shoes, purses, and more (good meaning still $300, but 50 percent off what they originally were). Today they have a special page set up as a “private sale” with exclusively Marc Jacobs shoes and bags.

Now, I am no crazy, necklace-wearing fan of Marc Jacobs, but (if I had the loot and was feeling frivolous) I could see myself with a Marc Jacobs bag.

The first one here is one that easily caught my eye. It’s the Quilted Colorblock Soft Pouch in Lemon, and was originally $695, but is now going for $419 at eLuxury.

The second, well, I really like the frog clasp … the cut and style of the bag is just too reminiscent of the mini backpack I carried in middle school. Plus, if I’m going to have an amphibian on my purse, it’s going to be a bargain buy not a $400 splurge. This Evening Rana Pouch is regularly $795, but is on sale at eLuxury for $479.

It’s hit or miss with Marc Jacobs for me. Check out the Marc Jacobs sale at eLuxury to decide for yourself.