Blog It To Me

Shop It To Me, Unzipped: Chicago

When it comes to fashion, Chicago’s often been pitted against its rival cities on the east and west coast. Lately, the city’s enjoyed a little bit of come-uppance thanks in no small part to a lady named Michelle Obama and her secret style weapon and fashion advisor, Chicago boutique owner Ikram Goldman. What makes the city’s shoppers tick? Read Shop It To Me’s data and find out.

Popular brands by Chicago zipcode

(click image to enlarge)

They put the gold in…The Gold Coast

If you’re seeking luxury label aficionados, look no further than the aptly named Gold Coast, where, in addition to being an Ugg-loving lot (hey, Chicagoans have to stay warm and chic in their cold climate!), residents of this zip code have a serious thing for Gucci and Louis Vuitton.

Budget shoppers come together in…Wrigleyville

No Gold Coast here! It’s all about Ann Taylor and its cool younger sister label, Ann Taylor LOFT in northside nabe, Wrigleyville. Aside from career clothes, inhabitants of this storied ’hood are fans of Victoria’s Secret and Uggs—proof that the mandate of keeping cozy knows no zip code boundaries.

If you’re a hipster, you probably live in…Wicker Park

Yeah, Wicker Park might be too pricey these days for true hipsters to afford to live there, but its locals definitely like to stay on the cutting edge of fashion, selecting labels such as Puma, Free People and 7 for All Mankind on their list of favorites. And they too, dress for the city’s sub-zero weather: North Face is another top brand.

Tomorrow we’ll head to the West Coast to look at the brand preferences for California girls – both San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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“Brands Unzipped” Methodology: Shop It To Me (ShopItToMe.com), the popular free online personal shopper, took a random sample of its members in major metropolitan cities, and analyzed the most popularly selected brands within each geography.  We compared the top 20 most selected brands for each area.  {Randomly selected sample: Chicago 26,700 members.}

May 6, 2010   3 Comments

Shop It To Me, Unzipped: NYC

Yesterday we discussed how the place you call home—right down to your exact zip code—may reveal your shopping “DNA,” i.e. your predisposition towards certain brands and designers. Nowhere are the differences so pronounced from neighborhood to neighborhood as in New York City. Here’s what the data collected by Shop It To Me reveals:


Popular brands by NYC zipcode

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You can find the most diverse shopping taste in the city in…Jamaica, Queens

Who woulda thunk it?! The neighborhood otherwise famous for proximity to JFK Airport really marches to the beat of its own drum when it comes to fashion brands. Popular in 11432? Ann Taylor LOFT. Dolce and Gabbana. Juicy Couture (This is the only New York City neighborhood that mentions Juicy anywhere on its list of favorites—comparable numbers of Juicy fans probably only reside in the ’burbs or on the country’s left coast). Can you say “hodgepodge?”

The most conservative dressers live on…The Upper West Side

The top brands in 10025 (Banana, Nine West, Tahari) are no more at home on this area’s city blocks than in every suburban mall in America, but they’re no less appealing for their well-priced, stylish basics, cute dresses and polished career clothes.

They’re all about their accessories in…Midtown West

Whether it’s affordable luxury in the form of Cole Haan and Tory Burch or splurge-y, sexy footwear via Jimmy Choo, 10019-ers cite accessory brands as number one on their lists. Midtown’s clearly home to not just the headquarters of the Hearst magazine empire but shoppers with a sense of practicality — with the income to shell out for a pair of high-heels with a couple zeros at the end of the price-tag.

They’ll look for a deal but not at a department store in…The East Village

If you’ve ever lived in 10003, you know it’s home to not only a huge population of NYU students and hipsters, but also some of the city’s funkiest dressers (next stop: Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Makes sense then that East Village shoppers have a thing for Free People, a real-people priced line of boho-minded clothes and accessories. This is a nabe where a brand’s gotta meet the both the constraints of a college budget and an independent-minded stylista—though 10003-ers’ love for labels like Chloe and Vince would indicate that fashion often trumps bank accounts.

Luxury knows no bar in…Murray Hill

Some places you just expect to find a lion’s share of devotees of designer fashion (aka the Upper East Side, fictional stomping grounds of the Gossip Girl characters). Some places you wouldn’t necessarily anticipate it, aka decidedly unglamorous Murray Hill (best-known as home to throngs of post-college grads, looking to make their first big break in the city), where luxury house Louis Vuitton rules as one of the area’s preferred brands. Also big among the secretly spendy residents of 10016: Prada and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Stay tuned — next up…Chicago!

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“Brands Unzipped” Methodology: Shop It To Me (ShopItToMe.com), the popular free online personal shopper, took a random sample of its members in major metropolitan cities, and analyzed the most popularly selected brands within each geography.  We compared the top 20 most selected brands for each zipcode.  {Randomly selected sample: New York 26,600 members.}

May 6, 2010   3 Comments

Brands, Unzipped: The Common Ground

This week, we’re examining the favorite brands selected by members in 4 major U.S. cities: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Okay, differences aside, here are the common ground brands you all love, plus some sale picks.

You’re all about your 7 for all mankind jeans

Perfect for summer nights: 7’s uber-chic Gwenevere Capri-length jeans combine Audrey Hepburn-esque gamine-glam with rocker details like rhinestones and metal studs at the ankle, and an almost black wash.

7 for all mankind pants

7 For All Mankind Gwenevere Crop Skinny Jeans

Originally $215, Sale $150

from shopbop.com

You love anything BCBG

Looking for a great piece that’ll take you from work to cocktails and dinner? This Deco-print BCBG V-neck style is just the thing. The muted colors make it office-appropriate and perfect under a black jacket, while the sexy jersey fabric is body-flattering after 8.

bcbg dress

BCBGMAXAZRIA mandarin deco jersey v-neck dress

Original $170, Sale $86.70

from bluefly.com

Marc Jacobs is also on your radar

If you’re in the market for a new bag this season, why not try the trendy pint-size “Classic Q-Derby” shoulder bag from Marc by Marc? It’s an ideal size for going out (holds your credit card, ID, lipstick, keys, IPhone) but won’t get cluttered. The cross-body strap is the way to wear this baby. It’s comfy, it’s cute—we’re sold.

marc by marc jacobs crossbody bag

MARC BY MARC JACOBS ‘Classic Q – Derby’ Crossbody Bag

Original $188, Sale $125.90

from Nordstrom.com

May 5, 2010   No Comments

Shop It To Me, Unzipped: The Brands You Love Where You Live

Remember when you first signed up for Shop It To Me and you typed in your Zip Code, then selected a list of brands that interested you most? Well, we’re a seriously curious bunch here at Shop It To Me—and we decided it was high time to take stock of what labels shoppers are lusting after, by Zip Code. We surveyed data from four major U.S. cities—San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago; all week, we’ll be sharing the results with you here.

Turns out, your city—even your neighborhood—may imbue you with distinct sartorial preferences. You know, those stereotypes about New York gals wearing nothing but black, and Angelenos wearing their flip-flops everywhere? We’re just saying….

popular brands across the USA

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The Big Apple:

For instance, if you’re a resident of New York’s Columbia University area, 10025, Banana Republic probably tops your list of preferences, while living across town in 10021, the posh Upper East Side, means you’re more likely to favor Theory. 10025-ers cite Nine West as a footwear favorite, while 10021-ers covet Jimmy Choo. Meanwhile, downtown New Yorkers surveyed in neighborhoods from Soho to the East Village go for a high-low mix, from affordable label Free People to pricey Chloe and smaller luxury labels like Vince. Surprisingly, Tory Burch ranks higher in popularity among Soho denizens than on the Upper East Side, where she launched out of her apartment in 2004. And—hot among inhabitants of 10027 a.k.a. Central Harlem—well, it’s Victoria’s Secret!

California Girls:

On the opposite coast, Californians, both Angelenos and Bay Area residents, select casual lifestyle brands like Ella Moss and North Face on their must-have lists whereas those brands barely make a dent on East Coast top 10 radars. Maybe expectedly for a smaller city, Bay Area preferences don’t vary nearly as much as New York City from Zip Code to Zip Code—whether you shack up in Pac Heights or the Haight you’re probably a fan of Citizens of Humanity, Kate Spade and Diane Von Furstenberg. (Wait, Kate Spade is more popular in California than New York?) Los Angeles definitely divides on Zip Code lines. Don’t go looking for a cheap brand on the wish lists of your 90077 crowd (it’s all about Prada, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana in Bel Air). Beverly Hills, however, prefers Juicy Couture. To get into humbler territory, a la Steve Madden, you’ve got to venture into 90027, also known as Hollywood, where the brands are no less mainstream but certainly more affordable.

Windy City:

Regional differences may obviously also be a matter of climate. If you’re living on Chicago’s Gold Coast (60610) or Wrigleyville (60657), you’re likely to be keeping warm in your practical but chic UGG boots. Chicagoans also demonstrate a definite preference for larger, established brands—makes sense for a city that prides itself on the “biggest” of everything, right?

Stay tuned throughout the week as we share even more highlights unique to the zips in each of these 4 stylish cities. Tomorrow, we’ll showcase New York & Chicago in more detail, and cruise over to the West Coast (San Francisco and Los Angeles) on Friday.

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“Brands Unzipped” Methodology:

Shop It To Me (ShopItToMe.com), the popular free online personal shopper, took a random sample of its members in each of 4 major metropolitan cities, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and analyzed the most popularly selected brands within each geography.  We compared the top 20 most selected brands for each area.  {Randomly selected sample: New York 26,000; Los Angeles 4,800, Chicago 26,000, San Francisco 10,000 members.}

May 5, 2010   1 Comment

Deal of the Day: Steve Madden flats for $19.99

At just $19.99, these Steve Madden brown suede flats are a simple addition to the wardrobe.  For those who prefer a little more glitz, they also come in black sequin.  As a bonus, you can get free shipping using code SMFREESHIP.

Steve Madden suede flats

Steve Madden KINKY Flats

Regular $59.95, Now $19.99

May 4, 2010   No Comments

Shop It To Me Trendsetters: New This Week!

We’re excited to announce this week’s eight amazing new Trendsetters. Welcome to the Shop It To Me community!

Dreaming Spires is the brainchild of a busy, noisy Oxford student focusing on accessible high street and DIY fashion.

Jetsetmeg is all about embarking on a coast to coast journey, hoping to make the transition with both style and sanity.

Mlle is a personal fashion blog which includes all kinds of fashion-based bits and bobs; think fashion shows, events, LFW, and more.

PolkaDot Stripes is a blog about vintage finds, affordable fashion and body image from a lovely Northern lass who aspires to work in fashion.

See.Wear.Apply is your guide to fashion, beauty and everything fabulous, simplified.

Tiny Sparkly Things is a blog about current trends and analysis on fashion apparel, jewelry & other accessories.

T-Shirt and Tails is dedicated to the world of fashion, beauty and ultimately style.

Tweet is just a blog full of musings about fashion, photography, new designers and some outfit posts thrown in there.

*Want to be a Shop It To Me Trendsetter? Email trendsetters@shopittome.com with a link to your fashion or lifestyle blog to apply!

May 4, 2010   No Comments

Festival Fashion: Create your music-inspired masterpiece!

Coachella may be only a memory, but this doesn’t mean we can put spring/summer music festival style behind us! With the New Orleans Jazz Festival just passed, and a long lineup of festivals approaching, there’s no better time than now to get your closet concert-ready.

Coachella was flooded tons of our favorite celebrities, and some of these ladies really know a thing or two about style! Rachel Bilson, Camilla Belle, and Alexa Chung nailed it with their chic, casual looks. Checking out photos from festivals past is a great way to find outfit inspiration…

When it comes to festival attire – there are two main things to consider: looking stylish, and feeling comfortable. Think loose, flowy dresses and airy jumpers. Top off your look with a solid pair of sunnies and don’t be afraid to pile on the jewelry!

For all those in the UK… we know many of you even made the trek to Coachella! So no matter where you live – whether you’re waiting for Bonnaroo or gearing up for Glastonbury – Sale Spot has what you need to land your music-inspired masterpiece!

1. Marc by Marc Jacobs Disco Stripe Romper: was $248, now $173 2. Antik Batik Embellished Maxi Dress: was $186, now $109 3. ASOS satin and chain headband: was $13, now $8 4. Free People denim boyfriend shorts: was $78, now $45 5. Free People tunic dress: was $128, now $89 6. Steve Madden boots: was $149, now $49

And if you forget everything we’ve said, let us just leave you with this: be creative and have a blast! Festivals are the perfect time to get funky and have a little fun with fashion!

May 4, 2010   1 Comment

Introducing ASOS.com — Now In Salemail!

The rumors have been confirmed — British retailer ASOS is now available on Shop It To Me! It just appeared in Salemail this morning. We love ASOS for their women’s and men’s celebrity-inspired clothing and accessories at decidedly un-celebrity prices.

In addition to brands like Twenty8Twelve, Diesel, Calvin Klein and Cheap Monday, the retailer also has its own in-house ASOS brand. It’s a favorite among fashion bloggers and offers a variety of trendy basics and unique styles at reasonable prices. Add it to your brand preferences if you haven’t already, so you don’t miss the sales. Just log in to your account, click Edit Brands, then click the All Brands tab and select ASOS.

Here are a few ASOS items from this morning’s Salemail:

Asos pearl necklace in the style of Rihanna, Reg: $25.36, Now: $15.22


Lauren Moshi top as seen on Alessandra Ambrosio, Reg: $219.82, Now: $87.93

May 3, 2010   1 Comment

Deal of the Day: See by Chloé Tiered silk sleeveless dress

Nothing says spring like a light pink mini-dress! This little silk-chiffon number provides the perfect dose of femininity, and the airy style is great as temperatures continue to climb! Doesn’t hurt that it’s 60% off either…

See by Chloé Tiered silk sleeveless dress: Original Price $495 Now $198

May 3, 2010   No Comments

Trendsetter Highlights: A week in review

It’s about that time again — Trendsetter highlights are here! Since our lovely blogging friends spend hours typing away to bring you the latest and greatest in fashion, we’d like to share a few fun posts from this past week!

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Image courtesy of IMG (via StyleList)

*If you’re a Trendsetter, please feel free to submit your favorite weekly posts to us by emailing trendsetters@shopittome.com. We can’t wait to see your stuff!

May 1, 2010   1 Comment