See what the stylish Shop It To Me gals donned when given the challenge to create a look with a timeless basic — a plain white tee.

Vanessa (left): I went for the comfortable look accessorized with belt/watch. Favorite Sweater – Vince, La Mer watch, Zara belt, Dolce vita peep toe wedge

Ilana (right): Aqua white tee, Loehmann’s blazer, J Brand jeans, Michael Kors watch, Gap loafers

Tamra (left): This was an easy and comfortable outfit that I could walk far distances in (thanks Banana Republic ballet flats) … and hide my baby bump :)

Kelly (right): I styled my white tee from BCBG with black cuffed chinos from Gap, booties from Hive and Honey, my favorite necklace from Lulu Frost and some bangles. I like to dress up simple classic pieces with edgier accessories.

Caitlin (left): Urban Outfitters white tee, Gap jeans, J.Crew field jacket, Report booties

Maurissa (right): H&M white tee, Kate Spade necklace, Young Fabulous & Broke maxi skirt, Steve Madden boots… and a “modeling” pose gone all sorts of wrong

Natalie: White tee, skinnies, leather jacket, oxfords. Super-simple combo that never fails.

Need to refresh your basic white tees? Here are a few options we’re smitten with:

From left: Madewell tee $38.50 | Rag & Bone tee $66.50 | James Perse tee $52.50 | C&C California tee $40.60

For ways to find all of these brands and more, join Shop It To Me now!

If you spied original Bachelorette Trista Sutter on GMA dishing with her hot hubby about her pre-40 mommy makeover, we thought you’d want the skinny on the Nanette Lepore midi dress she was sporting courtesy of Shop It To Me.

Busy mom that she is, Trista scanned her Salemail and found the perfect dress for her NYC press tour. How could we not make it hers?!

If the watercolor floral print silk makes you swoon too, you can still snap it up at Shopbop, Piperlime and Bloomingdales.

Nanette Lepore Midi Dress from left: Bloomingdale’s $201.60 | Shopbop $224.00 | Piperlime $357.99

Many of us at Shop It To Me will be observing the Jewish holidays. We all want to look our best for these occasions, but what to do when you can’t run out to buy something new?

We asked some trusted sources for help and they offered the following advice for transitioning summer wardrobe pieces for fall:

Tracey Lomrantz Lester, Contributing Style Editor at Glamour says the High Holidays give her an excuse to “look more ladylike than I normally have occasion to. I love the idea of dressing up a simple, solid-color sheath — especially one I’ve gotten great use out of all summer — with some very uptown accessories. Think wide-brim wool or felt hat, a few chic brooches worn near the shoulder (I love clustering three or four of them together!) or a pair of textured tights that bridge the gap between summer and fall perfectly.”

Tracey says a great way to get more mileage from your sleeveless summer dresses is to layer something underneath rather than put a cardigan on top. “You look so polished with a crisp white button-down shirt under your sleeveless dress. A black turtleneck works really well, too.”

Chloe dress | Oscar de la Renta brooch | Sonia Rykiel brooch | Christian Dior pumps | Nicole Miller tights

Style and Beauty expert Jenn Falik says her go-to piece for the High Holidays is “a pencil skirt just fitted enough to reveal a shape.” She pairs the skirt with either a jewel-toned secretary blouse or a slim-cut cashmere sweater with 3/4 length sleeves in a more somber shade.

“Your office basics can easily transition into something occasion-appropriate for the high holidays,” she says.

Theory blouse | Narciso Rodriguez skirt | Raven clutch | Rachel Roy cardigan

Marci Penn, stylist and buyer at Hirshleifers, one of the country’s most celebrated specialty stores, says her clients want to look chic and sexy, but appropriate. “We sell a lot of fitted dresses (think Victoria Beckham, Roland Mouret, DSquared2) with synagogue-suitable detailing such as cap sleeves.”

Marci agrees that a pencil skirt with a silk top and a cropped jacket or cardigan is a classic look. She suggests re-using a silk underpinning from spring/summer (in chartreuse, orange or fuschia for example) with a classic V-neck black cardigan, pencil skirt, and black boot or bootie.

“You can glam up your look with hosiery, or a classic pump with a bit of edge – like a pair of red velvet pumps.”

Yves Saint Laurent dress | DKNYC dress | Rebecca Taylor blouse | Rampage booties | DKNY cardigan | Vince Camuto skirt

Lila Delilah of MadisonAvenueSpy says weather at this time of year “can be a crapshoot. Choose items that are summer weight but can easily be paired with a sweater. Cashmere is always dressy, warm and cozy.”

“A huge part of dressing well is dressing appropriately. It might be tempting to get lured into buying an evening cocktail dress for double duty, but it usually doesn’t translate well,” she says.

Finally, like our other experts Lila says, “Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize! Hats, belts, necklaces, bracelets…you just can’t have enough. We especially love celebrating the new year with some new jewelry.”

Nordstrom Collection sweater | Missoni necklace | Rebecca Taylor sweater | ADAM blouse | Kate Spade necklace

So, if you’re getting ready to observe the Jewish holidays, remember these three great tips: repurpose something that’s already in your closet, mix in some great new accessories to create a fresh look … and don’t forget to shop the sales!

For up-to-the-moment beauty, lifestyle and fashion tips, you’ll want to visit 24-7 Style, a blog started by Shop It To Me Trendsetter, Laura Yoder. See how she builds outfits, her most-coveted closet staples, and learn a fun little game she plays using her Shop It To Me email (you’ll want to try this next time you open yours up!).

Shop It To Me:  How long have you been blogging, and what inspired you to start?
24/7 Style: I’ve been blogging since 2007, starting when I felt “stuck” in a career-rut.  Blogging gave me the opportunity to create content in the industry I loved!

SITM:  How do you normally build an outfit? Walk us through your process.
24/7:  Ahhhh…crazy, BUT, typically, I build my outfit by the shoes I want to wear, and then I work my way up.  The silhouette I’m trying to create will decide what pants, skirt or dress I opt for, which decides what top I choose.  There are times I feel like wearing a certain piece of clothing and then work around that, but typically…it’s all about the shoes!

SITM:  Name one fashion or beauty essential for each season that you can’t live without.
24/7:  Winter: Cozy sweaters I can pair with leggings or skinny jeans. Spring: I am breaking out my peep toes at the hint of spring weather…there might be snow on the ground, but if the sun is shining, I’m ready! Summer: Dresses and strappy heels!  Impossible to go wrong with either of those. Fall: I cringe when the weather starts to turn because I’m so in love with summer…but I do love my boots – “if I’m going to have to dress for cold weather, I might as well look good doing it” is my theory!

SITM:  Okay, spill it. Any favorite online stores?
24/7:  For accessories, 24-7 Style (of course!); but I love Shopbop, not just for their huge hot inventory, but it serves as fashion inspiration as well.  I love Etsy for their originality…I could spend an entire day without even realizing it looking through all of their stores.

SITM:  What determines when you buy full price items vs. when you buy sale items?
24/7:  I’m super thrifty, so I rarely pay full price for anything!  However, if I find something unique that I’m going to wear a lot or for years to come, I don’t mind paying full price.

SITM:  Now that you can choose to see your Shop It To Me email organized by either retailer, by clothing type or by brand, what method do you prefer/why do you shop that way?
24/7:  I still sort by retailer.  I like to play a little game of “Who’s the Designer” in my head as I’m going through it.

SITM:  We’re all about time-saving here at Shop It To Me. Can you share a time-saving trick that’s part of your daily routine?
24/7:  I wish!  The only thing that seemingly saves me time is an early morning.  I think more clearly and am less distracted.

SITM:  Any embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions or a fashion faux pas you want to share?
24/7:  There is the possibility I was in a fashion show recently in which the dress didn’t quite fit me correctly….the strap slipped down and the entire front row got a little more of a show than they payed for!

SITM:  Tell us something unique to you —  after all, it’s what makes you YOU!
24/7:  So many things!  If you know me at all, you know I’m a huge Yankees fan, a little shoe-obsessed (I keep them in original boxes, organized by color), would wear dresses all day everyday if could, and I’ve never ever colored or highlighted my hair!!  It gets so light in the summer and I wouldn’t trade those natural highlights for anything!

Follow the 24-7 Style blog, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest

Want to have your blog featured? Apply to become  Shop It To Me Trendsetter by emailing trendsetters@shopittome.com

Retailers are getting a jump on the upcoming 3-day weekend, and several Labor Day sales are already in effect!  No more need to sleuth to find out what’s happening; your sale scoop is here in one handy spot. Enjoy saving time while you get your shop on.

Labor Day sales we know about so far (we’ll be adding to this comprehensive list throughout the weekend, so stay tuned and revisit often):

TORY BURCH

Spend $300 get 20% off, spend $500 get 25% off, spend $750 get 30% off with code WEEKEND at checkout. Free shipping over $300. Ends Mon. 9/3.

NORDSTROM

Shoe clearance up to 40% off & free shipping on all orders. Ends Sun. 9/16.

DIANE von FURSTENBERG

30% off select styles with code SURPRISE at checkout. Ends Mon. 9/3.

BLOOMINGDALE’S

Big Brown Bag Sale: save up to 40% on huge selection of merchandise. Free shipping over $150. Prices as marked. Ends Mon. 9/3.

TRINA TURK

 20% off all summer items with code SUMMER20 at checkout. Ends Mon. 9/3.

STEVE MADDEN

20% off all orders with code BOOT20 at checkout. Free shipping over $75. Exclusions apply. Ends Tue.  9/4.

7 FOR ALL MANKIND

Up to 50% off denim, sportswear, footwear and accessories, plus free shipping on all orders. Prices as marked. Ends Mon. 9/3.

NINE WEST

Extra 25% off select sale styles & free shipping over $50. Discount applied at checkout. Ends Mon. 9/3.

CALVIN KLEIN

Site-wide sale, 40%-off. Discount applied at checkout. Ends Mon. 9/3.

RALPH LAUREN

Extra 40% off selection of already-reduced prices & free shipping over $195. Discount applies at checkout. Ends Wed. 9/5.

CLUB MONACO

Extra 30% off already-reduced styles & free shipping on all US orders. Discount applies at checkout. Ends Tue. 9/4.

LAST CALL by NEIMAN MARCUS

Extra 30% off sitewide sale, discount applies at checkout. Ends Mon. 9/3.

NAUTICA

30% off entire order with code LABORDAY12 at checkout. Free shipping over $100. Exclusions apply. Ends Tue. 9/4.

C&C CALIFORNIA

 30% off sitewide with code CCLABOR30 at checkout. Free shipping over $99. Ends Tue. 9/4.

YOOX.COM

Up to an extra 80% off on Spring/Summer collection. Prices as marked. Ends Tue. 9/11.

REI

Up to 30% off on outdoor gear and clothing & free shipping over $50. Prices as marked. Ends Mon. 9/3.

INTERMIX

Extra 50% off already-reduced prices & free shipping over $150. Discount applies at checkout. Ends Mon. 9/3.

ISAAY.COM

50% off sitewide sale with code LABOR50 at checkout. Free shipping on all US orders. Ends Mon. 9/3.

PIPERLIME

20% off sitewide with code SPLURGE at checkout. Some exclusions apply. Ends Mon. 9/3.

ANTHROPOLOGIE

Additional 25% off sale clothing and shoes this weekend. Ends Mon. 9/3.

By now it’s obvious that <a title=”Labor Day sales” href=”http://blog.shopittome.com/2012/08/28/labor-day-or-black-friday-it-depends-on-what-you-want/” target=”_blank”>we can’t wait</a> for this weekend’s Labor Day sales. We think you’d share our excitement if we shared a few more numbers with you. In this post we’ll focus on 10–the top 10 days of 2011 that, according to our data, offered the highest average percentage off discounts on men’s, women’s and kids’ clothing that was on sale online.

Let’s start with the top 5 days of last year, all of which fell on or around Labor Day: September 4 (Sunday), September 3 (Saturday), September 5 (Monday), September 2 (Friday) and September 6 (Tuesday). This doesn’t mean these days featured <em>the most</em> items on sale, but of what was on sale online, these days offered the highest percentage off discounts, 48% off or greater. The next best days were August 20 (48%-off), January 15, September 1, October 1 and August 23 (47.5%-off each).

You can compare that with 44% off, which is the average percentage off on clothing on sale online from our retail partners for the full year.

Maybe that doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but like grandma used to say, “it’s better in your pocket.”

<em>Methodology: <a title=”shop it to me” href=”http://www.shopittome.com/” target=”_blank”>Shop It To Me</a>, the free online personal shopper, analyzed markdowns of nearly 700,000 items of clothing, accessories, and shoe throughout 2011, available from over 150+ online retailers.</em>

Shoe envy has brought on a whole new meaning since we chatted with Holly, founder of Holly in Heels (aka a shoe lovers paradise). Holly is a Shop It To Me Trendsetter with two shoe closets (say what?!) and an affinity for ’90s music. Get to know Holly and her wonderful world of shoe blogging!

Shop It To Me:  How long have you been blogging, and what inspired you to start?
Holly:  It seems like I’ve been blogging about shoes since the minute I could put them on! But in reality, I started in 2010.

I was originally inspired to blog after watching my sci-fi-loving husband do some non-stop blogging about his passion: nerd stuff… I thought to myself “what do I have that I love that much?” — the answer was SHOES!

The more that I blogged and browsed online for the hottest heels, cutest kicks, and latest styles, the more my love for fashion grew. And with a name like Holly, the name “Holly in Heels” just stuck! From my blogging, a whole new life of freelance writing began, and now this Miss Holly in Heels is a regular contributor to the fastest-growing fashion + lifestyle magazine in Orange County, CA, Locale.

SITM:  How do you normally build an outfit? Walk us through your process.
HIH:  Oh wow. It’s usually a lot of primping in front of the mirror to get my make-up and hair at its best–and that’s my palate. I could never quite plan my outfits ahead of time or the night before, they always reflect the way I’m feeling on that day. I usually start with an idea in my head of what I’ll be doing that day and what would be fun to sport while doing it (heading to a coffee shop to write, to the mall to shop, or headed on a spontaneous road trip up Pacific Coast Highway). From there, I build an outfit that usually contains a pop of color, pattern or texture, then find some accessories–and the shoes are always the finishing touch! It’s super fun to dig through one of my two shoe closets (oh yes) and find just the right icing on the outfit cake.

SITM:  Name one fashion or beauty essential for each season that you can’t live without.
HIH:  You KNOW this is gonna be all about shoes, right? Ok here goes…

• Winter: a great suede boot or bootie is a MUST, color optional.
• Spring: a neutral patent or leather heel–good for any outfit, I promise.
• Summer: a pop of color with a wedge heel. Perfect to show off those tanned summer legs!
• Fall: animal print anything, always a classic–pumps, kitten heels or flats, you pick!

SITM:  Okay, spill it. Any favorite online stores?
HIH:  Soooo many, but here are my Top 3:  Piperlime is my go-to. I look to them for fashion trends, new designers and sweet online deals. Then, if I can’t make it in-store, I head to Nordstrom - I just love the fashion inspiration they have from online stylists. Aaaand, of course Shop It To Me  has amazing deals and steals for this girl on a budget.

SITM:  What determines when you buy full price items vs. when you buy sale items?
HIH:  Oh man, I think if I reeeeally want it, I’ll buy it full price. But when I come across a good sale my signature saying is “I’d practically be losing money if I didn’t buy it!”. I just can’t pass up a sale when I see one!

SITM:  Now that you can choose to see your Shop It To Me email organized by either retailer, by clothing type or by brand, what method do you prefer//why do you shop that way?
HIH:  I love to see my SITM emails by brand–I get a big Friday morning coffee and get my inner fashion blogger prepared to cross my fingers for good deals on designer items like Tory Burch, Ella Moss and DVF, and then move to less expensive ones like J.Crew and Urban Outfitters lines. I love to see what the different designers and collections throw my way!

SITM:  We’re all about time-saving here at Shop It To Me. Can you share a time-saving trick that’s part of your daily routine?
HIH:  You might laugh at this, but I have to say it all comes down to two words: dry shampoo. I have this cheap-o Suave Dry Shampoo (I’ve also tried “Psssssst!” Dry Shampoo) that does wonders for my greasy-ness and volume when I need I am short on time! A must-have in every girl’s product drawer.

SITM:  Any embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions or a fashion faux pas you want to share?
HIH:  I won’t tell a lie: I love the mystic tan. I know you do too, come on! It’s quick and easy and I get that glow that I want every time!…well, almost every time. I’d say my biggest faux pas was getting a little too dark of a mystic spray just a day before a big wedding that I was in. The little flower girl asked me how my skin got that color, and I think I was as red as my shoes. Thank goodness for loofas–yikes!

SITM:  Tell us something unique to you —  after all, it’s what makes you YOU!
HIH:  My good friends (and those who attend my birthday house-parties) know this, but I love 90′s music. Third Eye Blind, Alanis, The Fugees, Weezer, The Breeders–heck, I even had my first dance be an Edwin McCain song at our wedding! Fashion of the ‘90s…not as much…but throw on The Cranberries album and I’m yours!

SITM:  Anything else?
HIH:  Tweet me @hollyinheels and let me know a little bit about YOU! I love to connect and make fashion friends!
Follow me on Twitter, Like me on Facebook and visit my blog, Holly In Heels!

Want to have your blog featured? Apply to become  Shop It To Me Trendsetter by emailing trendsetters@shopittome.com

Our August 10 post comparing online Labor Day sales with discounts on other well-known sale holidays has generated quite a bit of interest. We’ve received comments and questions from a variety of sources who just couldn’t believe that Labor Day trumped Black Friday for discount value of clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories.

Honestly, we were surprised when we first saw the data from 2011. But what we saw was pretty compelling:

· For the Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend last year, our 150+ retail partners offered sales on more than 56,000 items online. However, only 8,000 (or 15%) of those items were offered at deep discounts of 60% or more.

· On Labor Day weekend, there were fewer items on sale – about 41,000. But, we found that over 13,000 (or 30 percent) were offered at 60% off or more, many more than Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

So, the bottom line is that it depends what you want: Shop the Black Friday-Cyber Monday weekend if you want the largest selection of clothing, shoes and accessories on sale online and don’t mind if the discounts aren’t the best. Shop Labor Day weekend if you want the steepest discounts for the items you buy. Or, shop both weekends and reap the best of both worlds!

If you want a easy way to stay up to date on all the upcoming sales, keep an eye on our blog, facebook page and twitter feed for the latest news from all your favorite stores. And remember–the best way to outsource your sale searching and enjoy the last three-day weekend of the summer is by quickly checking your Salemail or logging onto your personalized search page at any time. Relax! We’ve got you covered.

A prep-tastic sale trio worth splurging for. Start with the Lilly Pulitzer annual sale, which is now up to 75% off, then shop the Milly spring/summer collection up to 50% off and last but not least, the Kate Spade surprise sale will have you saving up to 75% off. Ready, set, shop!

Lilly Pulitzer: It’s finally here—the annual three-day sale. Shop now and discover your closet’s new favorites up to 75% off.

Milly: Pretty prints and gorgeous silhouettes now up to 50% off!

Kate Spade: A dream come true? We think so. It’s the Kate Spade Sample Sale up to 75% off. Shop now for steals from the iconic designer.

Here at Shop It To Me, we love our Trendsetters and getting a glimpse of their fashionably-filled lives. We most recently interviewed  Teiler Robinson, lover of all things fab and glam, and founder of JettSetFashion.com. She shared her fashion faves, seasonal musts, and some exciting upcoming projects involving nail lacquer (stay tuned!).

Shop It To Me:  How long have you been blogging, and what inspired you to start?
Teiler Robinson:  I’ve been a published writer for 7 years (newspapers), however, I’ve been blogging for 2 years now. I was inspired to start because I’ve been a lifelong lover of fashion and lifestyle. I wanted an outlet where I could give my opinion on all things fashion, dining, travel and more, as well as develop a brand and a career.

SITM:  How do you normally build an outfit? Walk us through your process.
TR:  What I wear depends on my mood and the occasion. From there I may have an accessory or pair of shoes that I really want to wear, so I’ll build around that item. If I don’t have an accessory that I am coveting, I like to style a few complete looks and choose my favorite.

SITM:  Name one fashion or beauty essential for each season that you can’t live without.
TR:  Summer — My favorite, enormous Nine West floppy sunhat. Fall (My favorite season) —  Leather EVERYTHING. Winter — Fur EVERYTHING. And Hip Chick cosmetics lip balm for chapped lips (I know, I know, it was supposed to be only one essential. I cheated!). Spring — Ultra feminine dresses.

SITM:  Okay, spill it. Any favorite online stores?
TR:  YES! Yoox (I love the upcoming designers that you can find on there), Net-A-Porter, Moda Operandi and Shop It To Me (of course!).

SITM:  What determines when you buy full price items vs. when you buy sale items?
TR:  I can’t really say that there is anything specifically that determines whether I buy full price or on sale. When I am shopping for a new season, I naturally tend to buy more full price items. When I am getting a few random pieces in the middle of a season, I tend to buy sale items.

SITM:  Now that you can choose to see your Shop It To Me email organized by either retailer, by clothing type or by brand, what method do you prefer and why do you shop that way?
TR:  I love to shop by brand, that way I can target my favorite designers and see what they have to offer.

SITM:  We’re all about time-saving here at Shop It To Me. Can you share a time-saving trick that’s part of your daily routine?
TR:  I like to “pre-plan” my outfits ahead of time, that way I don’t have to worry about getting lost in my wardrobe and running late.

SITM:  Any embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions or a fashion faux pas you want to share?
TR:  Let’s just say a naturally clumsy girl attempting to throw on a pair of Jeffrey Campbell Lita’s for the first time and run out of the door in a rush isn’t the best idea…

SITM:  Tell us something unique to you — after all, it’s what makes you YOU!
TR:  I have an eyelash mutation that caused me to have a double row of lashes. People always ask, “where do you get your lashes done?” but they are 100% real!

SITM:  Anything else?
TR:  Be sure to check out JettSetFashion.com and my Twitter (@jettsetfashion) for a daily dose of fashion snobbery and updates on my upcoming projects including a nail lacquer collection called Studio Nyne and a bi-annual fashion magazine called FAQTOR!

Want to have your blog featured? Apply to become  Shop It To Me Trendsetter by emailing trendsetters@shopittome.com