That dreaded annual ritual known as back-to-school clothes shopping is about to begin— a time when balancing the family’s budget with the kids’ fashion requirements is overwhelming for most moms.

But help is at hand—at least on the saving money front—thanks to some digging that reveals the best days to find discounts on must-have youth fashions.   Here at Shop It To Me, we’ve prepared the following analysis based on sale data from the past 12 months*.

• For the biggest markdowns (41% off) on the most categories of boys’ clothing, Moms should shop on Wednesday.

• Discounts on girls’ clothing items online average 36% off most days of the week, but shop on Saturday for bigger sales on casual pants (63% off) and skirts (47% off).

• The best day to save on boys’ shoes is Friday for discounts on average of 54% off.  For girls’ shoes and jeans, however, shop on Tuesday for the best price cuts (49% and 38%).

*Methodology:

We looked at over 102,000 children’s items that went on sale at over 100 online retailers from the time period June 2009-June 2010.

And when it comes to some of the top back-to-school shopping destinations—here’s some additional food for thought for where to save big:

• The Children’s Place offers $5 shipping, no matter the order size. It’s a minimal fee that makes skipping the store worthwhile.

• J. Crew’s Crewcuts is offering various free shipping promotions throughout the Back to School season, including free shipping on CrewCuts items (the discount is automatically applied at checkout).

• Old Navy and Gap, which are both owned by Gap Inc. allow you to shop across sites and pay one shipping fee/go through one checkout process.  They are currently offering 20% off your order of kids’ items by using code KIDS20 at checkout (ends 8/11).

• Piperlime and Endless, which are both great destinations for Kids’ shoes, always offer free shipping and free returns.

• American Eagle is currently offering free shipping with any jeans purchase.

• Other retailers to check out for unique kids’ clothing include ASOS.com, 7forallMankind.com, Petit-bateau.us, EllaMoss.com (with brand Little Ella).

With the Red Carpet starting in an hour, fans everywhere are wondering who will look fabulous in what.  Beyond predicting which flicks and actors/actresses will take home statues, it’s fun to guess what styles will abound.  Here are a few predictions on our end of fashion that we’ll be seeing strut the red carpet.  Excited to see how close we are to reality…will we be accurate?!

Oscar Style Predictions:

* Color of the year will be champagne/neutral full-length gowns

* Bold jewel colors, like teal, royal blue, and fuschia will also be popular choices

* Low back styles will replace one-shoulder looks that donned awards ceremonies this past year

* At least a few of the starlets will wear basic sleek ponytails

* Gold and rose-gold toned jewelry will be most common

* Jewel-encrusted (read: diamonds) stilettos will be seen on at least a few of the women

* For the men, long ties will be more popular than in past ceremonies, replacing the traditional bow-tie

To a fashion-filled and exciting 2010!

Our Shop It To Me team is always on the look-out for new ways to help you find the best prices on the items you want.

Recently, we sifted through data on the more than 90,000 items of apparel from 100 retailers that went on sale during the first half of 2009 in search of clues about the best days to shop for the deepest discounts or the biggest selection.

What we discovered was surprising: In the weak economy, retailers have been racing to beat each other’s sales by putting more items on sale earlier in the week. That’s great news for shoppers … if you have the inside scoop on when to shop. Here’s what you need to know:

* Wednesday and Thursday are now the days when retailers put the most new items on sale.

* Wednesday is also the day to find the steepest discount across the board on men’s items, children’s clothing, and on women’s accessories, shoes and intimates.

* Tuesday is the best day for the deepest markdowns on dresses – both women’s and girls’, men’s sweaters and boys’ jeans.

Our analysis also revealed that retailers are discounting women’s merchandise at higher percentages than men’s, and that discounts on many women’s items are higher than they were two years ago.

To download a copy of our press release with all the details, click here.

A must have for this season is the sleek and stylish black jumpsuit. This versatile trend can be worn as a casual summer look that can even be transformed for the red carpet!

Gal pal fashionistas, Victoria Beckham and Katie Holmes have both been seen rocking the little black dress-alternative lately. While I am sure both of their get-ups came with a tremendous pricetag, the great news is that Sale Spot has an excellent selection of black jumpsuits that won’t break the bank!

From left: Juicy Couture Smocked Jumpsuit: Was $178 – Now $124. 68, Alice + Olivia Flutter Sleve Jumpsuit: Was $367 – Now $256.90, Twelfth Street By Cynthia Vincent Strapless Jumpsuit: Was $372 – Now $223.20

Looking like your favorite celebrity has never been so easy! They sell out fast, so get ‘em while they’re hot!

As if his ordinary styles are not enough to make women go wild, Christian Louboutin had to outdo himself once again with his very limited-edition, very amazing, Marie Antoinette inspired heels.

Saying these pretty shoes cost a pretty penny would be an understatement– but just look at them! Marie Antoinette, known for her lavish clothing and excessive lifestyle, would surely be proud. The heels, which will make their US debut at South Coast Plaza’s Christian Louboutin Boutique at the end of this month, are priced at $6,295-OH MY! If you live in the Southern California area and need an excuse to splurge (or you are just dying to get a look at these lovely Louboutins in person), the creator himself will be there to introduce his new collection, and sign shoes, on February 23. They will make their way to his Madison Avenue Boutique three days later.

Only 36 pairs of these museum-worthy heels will be created, and the shoes come with more than just the joy that accompanies wearing a work of art on your feet. Each pair will be individually stamped and numbered, come in a uniquely designed box, and will include a book illustrating Louboutin’s collaboration with Jean-Francois Lesage (embroider and creative partner for the collection).

Their frilly femininity, combined with that sexy edge that Louboutin’s classic red sole is famous for, makes these shoes très magnifique! I do realize that they may not rank very high up on the wearability scale, but that won’t stop me from gushing!

What do you think? Completely amazing or completely over-the-top?

Here at Shop It To Me, we love hearing how our subscribers are using their Salemail.  We couldn’t resist sharing this experience with you.  Sarah K. from the University of Michigan took a moment to share with us how she found Salemail helpful this past holiday season, to assist her student-budget:

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Thanks to Shopittome.com, I got everything I wanted this holiday season! Using the useful email feature (the small envelope under each picture) in the salemails, I was able to send my parents pictures of exactly which clothes I liked. The emails were so detailed, that my parents were able to know which size and color garment I desired. And of course, the prices from ShopItToMe were lower than the already decreased sale prices in stores!

The trend that I am into right now is delicate embellishes on clothes. Two of my favorite presents featured these details: a shirt for the Gap featuring a beaded bow on the front, and a cardigan from J.Crew decorated with a delicate silk flower. These are a simple update on a classic look that really makes the outfit stand out from others. I also got a new pair of True Religion jeans at a great price through shopittome.com.

To say I got everything I wanted and more this holiday season is an understatement! With the economy the way it is, I did not think my family was going to be able to give me the kind of holiday I’m used to, but thanks to shopittome.com and the great sale prices, I was able to get the clothes I wanted!

All over the news are tips on how to save money and make your dollar stretch.  It’s the talk of the town!

As you’ve probably noticed, we’ve been including guest blog postings recently from our Trendsetters.  David from Style Points has taken the time to share his insight on how to make the most of your money in these tough times.  His blog is about style from a male perspective.

David’s also a loyal Shop It To Me subscriber, often discussing items he’s found in his Salemail.  But, he also has some other tips.  Check out what he has to say.

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These days, “sale” is the best sounding four-letter word in the dictionary, especially in an economy where retail spending is expected to slow down.

Those who are students of the Shop It To Me school of bargain hunting know there are deals online for quality designer items.

• Allow me to guide you a step further: When surfing other retail sites, browse for what’s new, but click directly to the “sale” or “clearance” section of the site. For instance, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Macy’s, and Nordstrom have “sale” tabs that immediately take you to what’s marked down. You can then consider items that are more likely to be in the range you’re willing to pay.
• If you plan on taking a road trip, head out to a factory outlet near you.
  Prime Outlets, Chelsea Premium Outlets, and Tanger Outlets have locations through out much of the U.S. (These links provide maps to their various locations)

• If factory outlets are beyond your traveling range, check out your local Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Ross and Kohl’s for options at low prices.
• Not least, price clubs such as Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s offer members designer clothing at surprisingly low prices.

The thrill of bargain hunting is in knowing where to look, having an idea of how much you want to spend, making a list of items, and executing the plan. The result should be disciplined purchases, maximum bang for the bucks and happy campers who got a gift they can use.

Good luck.

Christian Louboutin…just the name makes the faces of many women light up!  Instant images of the infamous red soles from these glamorous shoes…  Carrie Bradshaw trotting around NYC…  and stars strutting their way down the red carpet…

Everyone loves Louboutin.

Recently, Running With Heels, (one of our Trendsetters) wrote an amazing piece chronicling his life and providing some inside scoop and little known info about this legend.  

The below piece originally appeared on September 30th in Running With Heels:

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Christian Louboutin. Far from a pop culture icon or fleeting Hollywood darling, this couture designer is the essence of inspired footwear.

Born a Parisian in 1963, Christian Louboutin grew up heavily influenced from a natural source, like that of his three sisters. However, the first true lightening bolt came in 1976, while at the Musee des Arts Africains et Oceaniens in Paris. What was this inspiration you ask?  A rare jewel? Perhaps a magnificent shield or sword hilt. Alas, the inspiration that catapulted the creative mind of Christian Louboutin into overdrive was much more basic.

As the story goes, a sign forbidding the wearing of ‘spiked’ heels, or stilettos was posted at the museum to deter damage to the wood floors.  Upon seeing this, Louboutin became fascinated and indeed obsessed with these shoes and sketching them.  In fact, Christian was so enthralled by sketching stiletto heels that his attention would become devoted entirely to this pursuit and he would ultimately be expelled from four schools (source).

A formal academic education is not always the best route to creative pursuits (i.e. Stuart Weitzman, former Wharton Business School graduate turned shoe designer extraordinaire). Design training combined with travels around the world to Egypt and India would become the major influence and foundation of the elaborate designs for which Louboutin is known.

Combining immense talent and nerves of steel, Christian Louboutin displayed his portfolio to the couture design houses in Paris and would eventually apprentice for Roger Vivier. Roger Vivier is credited with the creation of the stiletto and ultimately revolutionizing the world of heels and women.  Imagine!  Working for the creator of your obsession?!  Louboutin also credited Roger Vivier with infusing him with the knowledge that “the most important part of the shoe is the body and the heel.  Like a good bone structure, if you get that right, the rest is makeup.” (source)

Christian Louboutin’s freelance design history in the 1980′s reads like a who’s who of footwear, including the likes of Chanel, Yves St Laurent and Maud Frizon.  Continuing in this vein of course, would come super-star clients such as Princess Caroline of Monaco, followed later by Hollywood glamour such Madonna, Gwenyth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker.

One of the most intriguing parts of the Christian Louboutin story is the origin of the infamous red soles.  The actual story varies slightly depending on the source, but most versions go something like this: When looking at one of his sketches, Louboutin felt something essential was missing.  Inspired by the scarlet nail polish of his assistant, he painted the sole of the sketch with the very same red.  Voila!  Instant trademark and “an element of flirt” according to the man himself.  (source)

Writer’s note: Designers-be nice to your assistants! They could be your next muse!

Other fascinating aspect of the Christian Loboutin story are the sources of his inspiration and his alternately quirky and down-to earth personality. This trapeze-flying, yacht-owning individual also rides a humble vespa to work and professes not to own a television. This is an interesting dichotomy Louboutin who can count media mogul Oprah Winfrey among his devotees.

Christian Louboutin’s quirkiness however, belies an innate talent for finding inspiration in the strangest of places (feathers on an egg being one of them) and an incredible work ethic.  Only passing over the managerial reigns of his 15-year old company last year, Christian had previously overseen the production of every pair of shoes. This isn’t a surprise for a man who by his own admission “cannot say that I have a real boundary between the moment I’m working and the moment I am on holiday” (source).

We of course, are the beneficiaries of all this hard work and creative genius. There is nothing like a Christian Louboutin shoe.  When you see a pair-you know it. These shoes are adorned with anything from feathers to satin bows to silver chains. Of course, the colors cannot be discounted as everything from vibrant purples and reds can be found alongside brilliant metallics and the ever essential black.  All these are mounted on his classic stiletto heel. Although the flats still maintain the heart of Louboutin’s design, the stilettos are really the soul.

Where there is a dream, there is a price to pay!  Paying $1,400 for a pair of shoes may indeed limit a pair of Louboutin’s shoes to dreams for some. If these lovelies are within your reach however (or if you forgo lunch, rent and some other necessities) you can find them at Saks, Nordtrom and Neiman Marcus.  Don’t forget online resources like Bluefly and ShopItToMe for possible discounts!  Remember though, you want to make sure your purchase is the real deal.  After all, who wants to pay tons of money for a pair of faux-Louboutin’s?

Ah… a pair of Christian Louboutin stilettos.  I may be ‘just a bit’ off from the Sex and the City salary of Sarah Jessica Parker that would enable me to buy these gems, but hey, a girl can dream can’t she?