Just a little reminder for today

You Had Me at Free Delivery

What is better than sitting at home, post workout, shopping online only to find out that you can have great clothes delivered to your door, same day, by the very people who sell the clothing.  This is genius!  Welcome to Shop Billie a local online retailer with a wonderful selection of clothes at super reasonable price points.  Think Anthropologie without the line or mall experience.  I fell in love with this sweater, that they carry in brown, and think it will be perfect for this winter. You probably think I am crazy, with the cutout sleeves on thirty-degree days, but I am one of those people who are perpetually too warm.  This sweater is the perfect compromise.  Check the ladies out at Shop Billie, they are just as adorable and nice as the clothes they sell. 

RD Style, Cutout Sleeve Sweater, $58

Fall Fashion Market

Fashiondenver.com- who knew?  I didn't until this week and I was thrilled to find out about the Fall Fashion Market, happening today at the Space Gallery.  What an event; great retailers, music, food all in an excellent space.  At the event I met Kat Dudden who runs, katybelle.com.  This store is a Gelty lover's dream, with all items under $60, and cute too.  Check out this super fun Ikat shirt that zips in the back to reveal a silky blue underlay for $46.00.  I believe this blouse, Kat Dudden, and I will have a bright future together.   Check her out online or let me know if you'd like to set up a showing of her merchandise.

If Only I Could Be Like Aphrodite

The goddess of love, beauty and pleasure sounds like a pretty big job, large shoes to fill. Though I'll never get there, except in my husband's eyes (wink wink) I can certainly engage as though I can, thanks to Clover Canyon.  I originally saw this brand at a Last Call store. My eyes fell upon a sequin smoking jacket that I had to have, only to find it in an extra small :(.  I saw an amazing shirt shortly after giving birth to my second daughter at the regular NM that I sadly couldn't fit into either.

I don't know what took me so long, but finally this week I signed up for email updates through their website. I am so glad I did! Today I got an email that their sale items are now discounted 50%. Forget Aphrodite, just call me Stephanie, goddess of a good deal.

Here are my pics from the sale, all available at www.clovercanyon.com

Furniture Weave Split Dress, $116

Grecian Bouquet Pencil Skirt, $154

$895, $660, $48. Going, Going, Gone

For about five years I've wanted the Stella McCartney, Falabella Crossbody bag. For a fleeting moment I thought I was going to get it. Then my loving and adoring (aka excessively frugal) husband saw the $895 price point and all but begged me not to get it.  Then last Christmas the cost fell to $660 and I tried to convince him it was a steal. Trying to avoid a divorce and/or stroke I decided to give up on my arm candy aspirations... until last Saturday.

Before you get super excited, let's look at some pictures. 

Phase 3 

Phase. 3

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney

Both bags are vegan leather, whip stitched with chain details. Though the shape is slightly different, is one really $847 better? I think not. At $48 even if it doesn't last forever, you don't have to feel bad about it. I say ditch the designer bag and get the one that will make you equally happy for 95% less.

The Phase 3 bags are available at nordstrom.com. If you want to know where to get the Falabella, email me so I can convince you itherwiae

Even the Most Enviable Closets Need Editing

This was the closet I walked into today. It is unbelievably beautiful. Not only is it an amazing space with storage galore, but it is full of beautiful clothes I can only aspire to have.  Lucky for me it belongs to my sister. Unfortunately, she is a size 00 and let's just say, I'm not. Anyway, before we walked in to start editing I was informed by my dear sister that she "wears all of her clothes." And then this happened.

Four bags of clothes for Goodwill

A sufficient pile of clothes for resale.

While I could only identify one item she needs to make things more complete, we identified a lot of things she is not allowed to buy ( workout clothes, sweaters in navy, grey or black, pantyhose, etc. ) This by the way made my brother-in-law extremely happy.

We took her stuff to Goodwill and then to the resale shops. $300 dollars later my sister has some additional shopping money and room in her closet to buy what she actually needs. It was a successful afternoon all around.  

Friends and Family

I remember my first Friends and Family sales event at the Gap. It was back in the day when you actually had to be a friend or family member of someone who worked at the retailer.  I remember buying a pair of men's jeans and my mom was furious. Everyone has made progress since then. Now you don't have to have any relation at all to take advantage of this type of discount. Right now there are a plethora of sales in this category, with most retailers offering 25% off your purchase with their designated promo code. To get the biggest bang for your buck head to the sale section and see what you can find that is seasonally appropriate. Here is a list of some current offers from my favorite sites.

Saks-25% off
Tibi- 25% off
Alice and Olivia- 25% off
Cole Haan- 30% off
Boden- 25% off
Neimans- $50 off $150 on regular priced items
*** Just added, Trina Turk- up to 60% off

There is so much to choose from I suggest staying clear of clothes for the opposite sex, unless they are for your partner, or that's what you're into.

How To Not Hate Your Legs

I was working with a client the other day, whose body I would kill for, that hates her legs. She thinks she is pale and has knobby knees. Despite the fact that tans are out of fashion and her legs are awesome, perception is reality.   We've all been there, hating a part of our body that everyone else perceives to be just fine. Thankfully for this client pencil skirts and knee high boots are totally in fashion. Combined they result  in a beautiful silhouette without an ounce of skin showing.

Today Shopbob is offing 25% off your purchase.  You can easily replicate this look by adding a pencil skirt to your wardrobe and matching it with boots you already have. I personally love this one, on sale at Shopbob now. Match it with a black or dark brown sweater and viola, amazing outfit.

Free People Geometric Plaid Pencil Skirt, $75.60 + 25% off

Sunday Success

A picture is worth a thousand words they say. I think the progress made on this closet edit today is worth a thousand more.  It's easy to see how a little nudge can make you realize that you don't need everything you have. Again I'll say, less is more, especially when less was actually purchased in the last decade.

Here are some before shots.  What's hard to see is the pile of clothes on the floor and the mix of off season items mixed in.

This is what we pulled out of the closet for resale, donate and summer storage.

Donate

Summer storage

Resale

After some additional work, the end result is beautiful. 

Fashion Advice Needed

This was the subject of an email I got from an amazing girlfriend earlier this week.  Since then, four or five emails transpired between us, last of which ended in an email from her to me, definitively stating, "I think its safe to let go of the interview suit I got in 1999.  Don't you?"

Umm, let me think about this for a split second. YES!!!  Mind you, this suit probably made its way through four house moves and two states. Regardless, 1999 was fifteen years ago, I am fairly confident we are not the same size we were in 1999.  If you are, more power to you, but please still get rid of the clothes you wore back then.  In no uncertain terms should you still be hanging on to this stuff.  Here is a list of other items you should let go of.

• Anything you wore for a costume party that has made its way into your regular rotation of clothes. 
• The square heeled, square toed, loafer style shoes that were fashionable in the early 2000
• Same goes for the boots with the same configuration
• Anything that is too big, too small, and you haven't worn in a couple years. If you haven't missed wearing it yet, you likely won't miss it next week either. 
• Just because you paid a lot of money for something doesn't mean you have to keep it.  It is absolutely of NO value sitting your closet without rotation into your favorites.
• If you wore it in your twenties, and you are now in your thirties or older, let it go.  You can never get that time back, don't try to do it through your clothes. 
• Anything white and dingy or pitted out should find its way into the circular file.  Even basics needed to be replenished from time to time. 

Don't be in denial about your clothes.  You know who you are.  Its time to make some room in your closet and let the good clothes breathe. 

Life Before Lululemon

What did we do before Lululemon? How did we convey a sense of style and comfort all at the same time? Don't get me wrong, I love the place as much as the next guy, despite the price points. But what happened  to being casual and not wearing yoga pants (especially when a good percentage of us don't even practice  yoga).  With boyfriend jeans, jeans with stretch, maxi skirts, etc  being totally in fashion, can we mix it up a bit? Can we go get some basic long sleeve t-shirts, maybe a few  decorative sweatshirts, a denim button down, and break out of the black yoga pant slump?!?!

Here are some suggestions, all priced less than our favorite active wear retailer, from neimanmarcus.com

Joes Jeans, Easy High Water, $57

DL 1961, Cindy Sonic Slim Boot Jean, $58

RtA Denim, Distressed Boyfriend, $78

Bailey 44, Katherine Boat Neck, $65

DVF, Gaylen Blouse, $69

Majestic Paris, Striped Line Boat Neck, $54

Using Filters to Find What You Love

As I a sure you all know, I love Neiman Marcus.  At original prices the brands they carry are way out of my reach. But being the deal hunter that I am, I always wait for the sale and then can usually get a better deal than I can find at Nordstrom, Saks or Bloomingdales. Today for example is the last day of their Real Deal sale, where you can get an addition 10% or 20% off the sale prices online, which make the savings about 65% off.  By filtering by your favorite designer, size, and/or desired price point you can narrow down what you're looking for pretty easily.

There are seasonal finds as well, so don't think all you can find are summer steals.

Laundry by Shelli Segal

Long-Sleeve Combo Cocktail Dress

$245

NOW:  $147 + an additional 20% off
 

The Sunday Seven page has some additional great items at a good deal.

My Lady Crush

I have a major crush on Alexa Chung. It all started with my constant quest for perfect hair, which by the way I will never have. I think it's because I am constantly trying to make my hair something that it isn't. Anyway, back to my crush. This girl is adorable, great style, fun hair, and she looks like she comes by it all honestly. She has that classic "I look awesome, but didn't try" attitude that I'd pretty much die for.  Today on Whowhatwear was an article about dressing like a celebrity without the budget, and there she was, my girlfriend (errr I mean fashion idol).

Right? Now you see what I am talking about! I think I will go get this outfit today. Because nothing says stalker like imitating your idol.  Just kidding. I am going to buy the less expensive options from the links below.
 Skirt
Shoes
Sweater