It’s Free Shipping Day! That applies to all items featured in today’s Shop It To Me Salemail!  Retailers participating include RalphLauren.com, KateSpade.com, NeimanMarcus.com, NineWest.com, ShopGoldyn.com, Splendid.com, and many more!

If you don’t normally receive Salemail on Thursdays, have no fear.  You can log on to your personal Sale Spot, and see the items that match your brand preferences and sizes — and charge $0 for shipping!  Most stores are even delivering in time for Christmas Eve.

Need something that’s not clothing?  Several other retailers (think books, electronics, etc) are participating as well.  See Freeshippingday.com for even more options!

We recently gave away 4 copies of “Fashion For Dummies” and want to introduce you to the winners!  See them below, and hear what they had to say about winning.

Even though you may not have scored a copy of the book, it’s not too late to have a chance at the $5000 shopping sweepstakes from “Fashion For Dummies” — enter now!

Samantha M.

“Shop It To Me – you’re awesome! I’m so excited about winning the “Fashion For Dummies” giveaway. The hardest part about fashion is putting all of your fabulous finds together. Thanks to Shop It To Me and my new Fashion For Dummies book; I’ll have a fun, functional wardrobe in no time!”

June D.

I am so excited about winning the Shopping For Dummies book! Thank you! I saw Jill Martin and her book on TV and thought it was a great idea. Although I’m 63, I’m young at heart and like to stay up to date on fashion. Shop It To Me is a way for me to afford more of my favorite fashion brands and vendors, like Jones NY, Coldwater Creek, Ann Taylor, Macy’s, and Brooks Brothers.

Janice N.

“I am new to shopittome but look forward to using it. “

Andrea W.

“Winning this contest is an absolute dream come true because trudging around in the western New York snow looking exactly like all of my classmates depresses me to no end; as if the snow itself wasn’t bad enough.”

We would love to give a warm welcome to two new Trendsetters this week! We’re excited to have you as a part of the Shop It To Me community!

REVOLVE offers one of the largest selections of women’s and men’s fashion online, from emerging and hard-to-find labels to your most beloved high-end designers.

Krasey Beauty is a beauty blog for all things beautiful in New York City. From reviews, to event coverage, to swatches, you can find a taste of everything and anything your beauty-loving heart desires.

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

We gave away 4 copies of “Fashion For Dummies” by Jill Martin, fashion extraordinaire, who often appears on the TODAY show.

We chose 4 questions from the many asked by Shop It To Me members, and were lucky enough to get Jill to answer them!  Here’s what she had to say (and watch tomorrow’s post for a bit about our winners of the books!):

How can I look stylish at college without looking too dressed up or styled amongst all the UGG and NorthFace-wearing clones?

Try a pair of flat knee high boots instead of Uggs. Tuck a pair of skinny jeans or leggings into the boots and pair with a great sweater and belt over the sweater. A beautiful wool pea coat has more style than the typical NorthFace jacket. Pair that with a cute hat, scarf and messenger type bag and you will still be comfortable and casual to walk around campus, but be totally stylish and stand out from the crowd!

At 53 and a grandma of 2, I still feel young and am told I don’t look my age. What suggestions can you offer for dressing in fashion without looking like I’m trying to be 20 again and yet not look like a “granny”?

Go for classics that fit well and flatter your figure. At your age it is about expressing your style and not worrying about what’s “trendy”. Try shopping at places like Banana Republic and J.Crew – stores that have current pieces, but are not too trendy or too young looking. You can put together great outfits with jeans, slacks, blouses, sweaters and fitted blazers that will look pulled together, chic, and age appropriate. Just avoid anything too cutesy, or too mini, or anything that is not figure flattering.

Many of us Baby Boomers have acquired a “middle”. How can I better define my waist, while hiding the larger midriff?

Try wearing pieces that will attract attention away from the midsection. Bootleg cut pants and jeans draw the eye down the leg and away from the waist. V-neck tops and off the shoulder tops draw attention to your shoulder/neck/face and will also minimize attention at the waist. The combination of those two pieces will give your entire look more balance and detract from the focus on the midsection. A fitted blazer will give you more structure and define the shoulder area, minimizing the waist in proportion. Avoid anything too tight or too clingy that hugs the area you are trying to minimize.

Trends aside – what part of your outfit (or wardrobe) should you invest in/or spend a little more money on? And, where can you get away with spending a little less?

Spend a little more on great shoes and bags. You can really tell the difference in the quality of accessories. You can find great jeans and t-shirts very inexpensively at stores like the Gap, but this is not the case with accessories. If you pair an expensive bag and shoes with a basic jean and t-shirt, you will look fabulous. Better quality shoes and bags will also last a lot longer and serve you better than inexpensive ones.

In addition to using sites/services like Shop It To Me to score great designer fashion for less, what other tricks do you have to find great deals and look like a million bucks?

The trick is to pair your less expensive items with the more expensive or nicer pieces you should be collecting for your wardrobe. So mix less expensive, trendier pieces from stores like H&M, Zara, the Gap, or Target with your basic or investment items that you spent more on.

We recently hosted a contest to win a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, or a $500 gift card to the store of the winner’s choice.

Congrats to our winner, Chris from Denver, CO! Chris chose the $500 Saks gift card, and bought himself a new BOSE SoundDock which he is extremely excited about.

A little about Chris:

Age: 25

Occupation: Copywriter

Favorite brands: Dior Homme, Acne, Surface 2 Air, Wrath Arcane, Oak, Apolis Activism, Cheap Monday, Wings + Horns, Rogues Gallery, J Lindeberg, Nudie Jeans, Chronicles of Never, Diet Butcher Slim Skin (to name a few)

Something Unique: Chris runs the fashion blog http://thingsiwant.chrisreinhard.com.

From his own mouth:

“I’d say that 50% of online purchases I make, I discover through Shop It To Me. It’s pretty great being able to look like I spent thousands of dollars on good name-brand apparel, knowing that I spent significantly less. Thank you for the gift card!”

We have enough to worry about during the holidays – mark the drama accompanying an accidental wine spill at a party off your list! Thanks to Jennifer, writer of 40 Is The New Fabulous, you’ll now know how to handle the not-so-desirable situation with grace. Be sure to check out her blog filled with coveted fashion, beauty secrets, health and fitness tips, and financial advice.

You can cry over spilled milk, but when it comes to the spillage of red wine, try to avoid making a scene. ‘Tis the season of red wine and favorite party dresses and they don’t always mingle nicely together. It’s easy to imagine knocking over a glass or getting bumped, but the resulting stain can be difficult to remove unless you act quickly.

For sure, spilling wine on someone or having wine spilled on you can be a horrifying. Trust me, I’ve been through both. But at a holiday party, where balancing a plate full of food, a glass of wine and shaking hands often happens all at once, you should gracefully handle the situation and keep the party going.

If you are the unfortunate recipient, don’t fret. You can always remove it, but you need to act fast. Find a waiter and ask for seltzer. Blot the stain with a white napkin or paper towel, rinse with warm water and blot again. There might be a tiny residue left, but go to your dry cleaner first thing in the morning to finish the job.

If you are the spiller, apologize and assist. Offer to dry clean the garment. Buy a round of drinks or a dessert. Recently I found myself at a bar with friends and I tipped the bottle, causing the wine to spill all over someone’s shirt. Mortified, I apologized and bought the whole table a round of whatever drinks they wanted. They were extremely appreciative and continued on with their night.

If you are having the party, it’s a great idea to stock up on spill cleaners and put them in an accessible place. I always make sure to have a bottle of seltzer and Shout wipes for such occasions so my friends can make a quick dash to the bathroom and avoid making a scene.

*photos courtesy of Beauty Chat Blog and eHow.

The gift of life.  As we purchase gifts for ourselves and others, the holiday season is also a time of reflection on life’s fortunes.  It’s also a time to think about the less privileged, and contribute to the many great charitable causes that exist.

At Shop It To Me, we were excited to discover that the organization Prize4Life is working with Amazon.com this holiday season.  You can support the organization while simultaneously crossing off purchases from your holiday shopping list!  With no extra cost to you, Amazon is donating up to 15% of all purchases directly to Prize4Life if you shop by clicking through here.

Dollar4Life is an organization that was created by students at Harvard Business School after a classmate was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at the age of 29. Given only 2-5 years to live, Avi Kremer decided to take matters into his own hands and created a non-profit organization to accelerate the cure for ALS.  ALS is also a disease all too well-known in the fashion community. Designers such as Cynthia Rowley and Roberta Freymann are heavily involved in benefit efforts.

In case you aren’t familiar, ALS kills thousands of people worldwide, and robs patients of their ability to walk, talk, swallow, and eventually breathe. ALS patients typically live 2-5 years after diagnosis, and unfortunately at the current time, there is nothing that doctors can do to help.  So if you’re considering purchasing anything through Amazon this holiday season, why not help this cause too? Donate a dollar, spread the word, and help find a cure!

We’re exited to welcome four fab new Trendsetters to the Shop It To Me community this week!

Turning 40? Check out 40 Is The New Fabulous! See how to achieve fabulousness with coveted fashion, beauty secrets, health and fitness tips, and financial advice.

TorontoShopoholic.com is where to look for great shopping in Toronto. They feature neighborhood shopping maps, store reviews and helpful shopping related tips.

Momologie is a free daily newsletter packed with fresh ideas and inspiration devoted to helping you live family life to the fullest. As a subscriber, you will have access to exclusive perks, giveaways and special discounts!

In a world where fashion meets finance, Wonderfelle shares her shopping ideas with you, one investment at a time!

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

Just when you think Barbie has it all — Dream House, pink Mustang convertible, and the perfect man — Christian Louboutin has to go and add his signature red-sole stilettos to her never-ending wardrobe. Say hello to Cat Burglar Barbie by Christian Louboutin, available exclusively at Net-A-Porter.com

Doll-collectors and fashion lovers rejoice! Cat Burglar Barbie can be yours – complete with four pairs of flashy spiked heels and adorable mini-shoe boxes – for, ahem, $150. It’s almost like the real thing! I joke, but truth is, for the first time since age 6 I’d be delighted to find a Barbie beneath the Christmas tree!

So, if you’re not ready to splurge on a $600+ pair for yourself (or four for that matter), you can always entertain your inner child and live through Barbie!

Would you ever spend $150 for this collector item?

Welcome, NeimanMarcus.com!

Loved seeing styles from Jay Godfrey, Cole Haan, Black Halo, Catherine Malandrino, Juicy Couture, MARC by Marc Jacobs and more in Salemail today…up to 50%-off!  And free shipping on all orders using code DECNM at checkout!