Posts from — September 2008

Shop It To Me is giving away a Gift bag from Lucky Shops!  Value $500!  

All you have to do is write in the comments section here what you think of Lucky Magazine.  We’ll randomly pick from all comments listed between now and October 8th — and the winner will take home this amazing bundle of goods!

Items inside include great brands of beauty, hair, and body products, DVDs, clothing/accessories from American Eagle, Kipling, Dwell Baby, Champion, and more… 

Be sure to visit the Lucky On The Lookout site for other great giveaways including L’Oreal Paris Mascara, Designer bags from Rafe, Lauren Merkin, Rebecca Minkoff and other great names, a weekend for two in NYC, and more…  Also — Lucky Shops, the ultimate shopping event in NYC is coming up on November 7th and 8th. Save up to 70% on some of Lucky magazine’s favorite designers. Get your tickets NOW!

Lastly, don’t forget to leave a comment on this post to put yourself in the mix and possibly win this VIP bag!  We’ll announce the winner soon!

Just as yesterday we posted about great booties found on sale, my Salemail has also been full of amazing fall outerwear pieces!  This time of year is so fun to dress for because you can break out the layers, and complete any look with a great statement coat or jacket.  I was drawn to the below items in particular because of their blend of functionality and style.

Juicy Couture – Skirted Trench Reg: $348.00    Now: $174.00 also comes in an awesome pink!	Via Spiga Women’s Belted Cotton Rain Coat Reg: $250.00    Now: $109.99
Joie -Artichoke cotton twill double breasted jacket Reg: $210.00    Now: $104.99	Nanette Lepore ‘Shoppin’ Around’ Coat Reg: $430.00    Now: $284.90

Here at Shop It To Me, we’re not the only ones — our Trendsetter Ma Petite Chou has recently posted on great fall coats/jackets, and also plaid coats to die for.  Check out her thoughts — complete with many pictures!

I was also elated to see Shopbop is offering 20% off all regular price jackets and sweaters until Sunday — just use code SHOPBOPSECRET at checkout!

Booties are everywhere these days — magazines, TV, recent posts on The Budget Babe, Debutante Clothing, My Fashion Life, and Fashion Tribes… and even in my Salemail!

Check out these hot styles — it’s refreshing to see that sale prices aren’t only available on last-season’s goods, but even on brand new trends:

Loeffler Randall Blythe D-Ring Bootie Reg: $439.00    Now: $307.30	KORS MICHAEL KORS Black Reg: $334.99    Now: $180.89 Use code SEPT08 at checkout for this price.
Jessica Simpson ‘Lefigo’ Bootie Reg: $118.95    Now: $79.90	Charles David Leopard Pony Reg: $534.99    Now: $288.89 Use code SEPT08 at checkout for this price

We hear that it’s sometimes difficult to shop online because of body type concerns, and the reality that you can’t try on the clothing before you purchase.  Today, we’ve brought on wardrobe consultant Mayna Sgaramella from Closet Fly to share some tips, since she’s an expert in helping people wear what’s best for their bodies.

Closet Fly is one of our Trendsetters who offers tips on what to wear and how to wear it best.  I’ll let Mayna take it from here!

Knowing what styles and cuts look best on your body type is hard enough shopping in stores, so how do you ensure you’re selecting the right clothing for your body type when you shop online?

1. First, determine your body type. Are you an inverted triangle, hourglass, pear (triangle), rectangle, apple (round), or some version of one of these? To identify which shape your frame is, stand in front of a full length mirror wearing just your undergarments (drinking a glass of wine before hand is optional). Pretend you are looking at someone else’s body so as to detach yourself and look at your body in terms of proportion and shapes (as if someone was shining a light behind you and your silhouette was projected on a screen). Determine if your shoulders are wider or smaller than your hips or if they are about the same. If unsure, use a measuring tape.  Also determine if you have a defined waistline or you don’t, if your butt is round or flat, if your bust is large or small, and where you carry your weight (top, middle, or bottom).  Then determine if you are Petite, Plus, or Average in height and proportion. Remember, petite does not necessarily mean small; it means smaller proportions. Clothes are generally cut smaller or shorter in the arm opening, pant rise, waistline, arm and pant length for petite sizes, but you could easily be a Plus Petite. Also, you may be of average height, but wear a petite top and a regular bottom depending on your frame.

The idea here is to balance out your body so that it is more proportioned and flattering for your figure. For example, if you are an hourglass shape, you want to avoid clothes that drape over the body and hide your figure. Instead, use waist belts and fitted garments that follow the line of your body. If you are an inverted triangle, you want to balance your top half with your bottom half so a full skirt or wide leg pant might help balance out your shoulders.

2. Next, research the online retailer’s sizing chart. Most online retailers will provide a sizing chart for you to compare your measurements to their sizes. But keep in mind that sizes vary from one brand to the next. That’s one more good reason not to be so rigid about the number of your size, because how your clothes fit and flatter you is much more important than the size number you’re in. So, be sure to take your measurements every three months or as your body changes and keep a written record next to your computer so you can easily find your size based on the retailers sizing chart. Here is an example from Nordstrom:

3. Then research the return policy, shipping costs, and other resources. The perk of online shopping is that you don’t have to leave your house and can try on your newly purchased items in the comfort of your own home. Most online retailers are making it easier for you to purchase and return items with free or flat rate shipping and printable return labels. Also take advantage of other resources like “How to Measure” and get the correct measurements for your body so you won’t have to return those items!

Fall is a great time to re-evaluate your closet and ensure that you have the staple pieces that every woman should own.  Then, it’s fun to spice the rest of the wardrobe up with plaid, sparkles, ruffles, flounce, patterns, bows, vivid colors, and other such treats.

Julie Watson, personal shopper and wardrobe consultant, based out of Chicago, recently shared her thoughts on the “must-have” items that every woman should own.  Besides just naming the five pieces (little black dress, white button shirt, cardigan, jeans, black suit), she elaborates on what to/what not to look for regarding each piece.  I thought this was a great recap and wanted to share it with you.  Julie has many other tips and resources that can be found on her site JulieWatsonStyle.com.

This article can also be found here

We were on the “The Morning Show With Mike & Juliet” today! If you want to check out some great styles from Shop It To Me and hear more about other great ways to shop online too, check out this TV segment.

This piece highlights an entire “casual day” outfit originally found through Shop It To Me.  The original price for the whole outfit was $622, but the grand total when on sale was only $349. That’s a whopping $273 savings — what I call a steal!  Not to mention, great styles — adorable L.A.M.B. shoes, Citizens for Humanity jeans, and a great J.Crew sweater jacket.  Perfect for this time of year!

For our street style column, we ran after these two friends for at least a city block, hoping to catch on camera their spin on basic summer-to-fall dressing. They both took simple, easy pieces – light cotton tops in neutral colors paired with jeans – but made their outfits their own with accessories. A fabulous, vintage-style belt and sleek boots keep the woman on the left ladylike and polished, while bright, chunky jewelry and hardware-enhanced heels add edge to the woman on the right’s outfit.

See our other Street Style snapshots here: (part 1 and part 2)

We’re curious: do you and your friends practically share a closet? Or would you never borrow or share clothes with your best friends? Answer in the comments below!

Online shopping has always been seen as both a time and gas saver; yet that saved money can be quickly spent on the extra shipping charge tagged onto your order. Shipping prices can be outrageous; most frustrating is when the shipping becomes pricier then the item itself!!

Here are five of our retailers that relieve you of that $5.00-25.00 burden, and offer free shipping:

Shopbop.com

Endless.com

Piperlime.com

Tobi.com

Zappos.com

We recently added a new Trendsetter category called “City Near You”.  I wanted to take the time to highlight a few of our Trendsetters who, from coast to coast, are making fashion and social aspects of city living accessible to their residents.

Social Miami celebrated their 8th birthday yesterday on September 8th!  This is a go-to site for all things social in Miami.  The site updates daily for the latest on social events, people to know, the arts, and fashion.  Special sections are also dedicated for Beauty & Health, Luxury Living, and Philanthropy, along with an Events Calendar and updates on Upcoming Miami Events.

Chicago Picks scoops the city’s hottest spots (and best-loved secrets) for shopping, dining, drinking and pampering, and can be delivered free every Friday to your email inbox.  Shop It To Me was recently a Chick Pick,  helping all Chicagoans to score great steals on style.

After 5 Detroit is Metro Detroit’s premiere guide for where to go, what to wear and how to find it. The hottest boutiques, fashions, live music updates, and must-attend events.

Check back to our “City Near You” section regularly to discover the latest happenings in a metropolitan area near you!

It’s NY Fashion Week…and here on the other coast, we’re doing our best to keep up with the exciting happenings and show coverage.  It’s always interesting to explore the link between runway fashion and economic concerns.

After watching last week’s Project Runway starring Diane Von Furstenberg, I was especially intrigued with what she’d show for her spring collection.  As “WSJ’s Heard On The Runway” shared, the looks were more hippie and gypsy inspired.  It will be interesting to see how these runway looks transition into office-wear, and if the wrap dresses and easy throw-on elegance she is so known for will still surface.

Photo courtesy of “Heard On The Runway”

Aside from Diane’s style showcase, I was captivated by the point that “Designers this season are hoping that striking looks and novel pieces will nudge shoppers to start spending on apparel again.”

Personally, I was a bit surprised by this approach because I believe there are two sides of the coin: 1) either being drawn to more unique and out-there pieces, or 2) being conscious of making your dollar stretch and buying understated yet premium basics that can be worn and re-worn season after season.

However, Diane isn’t alone with her gravitation toward boldness.  WSJ shares, “…several designers are hoping that daring styles will appeal to retailers in search of pieces that stand out as special in today’s sour economy. With apparel sales still soft, retailers are shying away from basic looks and searching for items that may spark an impulse purchase.”

“Heard On The Runway” Examples from Fashion Week included:

Designer Peter Som – striving for “striking, vivid looks” with bold prints in bright colors such as cherry red and tangerine with embroidered details. He even said, “The thing not to do is go basic when the economy is the way it is. “You have to entice the customer – it’s got to be a ‘gotta have it’ kind of thing.”

Designer Carmen Marc Valvo – although usually erring on the side of elegant and conservative, this spring is showing short dresses that are more revealing, with eye-catching details such as shiny patent leather mixed with lace.

Designer Tracy Reese – expressed “The shopper wants something that just grabs her and shakes her—when times are tight, that’s what clothes have to do. They have to speak to you and look compelling.”