Who says blazers are boring? With all these styles – impossible! La:Dolce:Vita is here to show us why the blazer is not just your ordinary jacket. Be sure to check out the haven on inspiration featuring editorials, campaigns, and our ideal looks!

Without a doubt, the Blazer is the most versatile and highly coveted item of the season. Adaptable for it’s wearability from day to night by dressing it up or down, and highly coveted because, well, we’re all after that chic and fabulous look. The Blazer isn’t some new invention; it’s a trend that has been in fashion forever, but this time around it’s more tailored and sleek and commands the attention of the “whole look.” I saved you guys some time by sifting through all the great styles, and shapes to narrow down the 5 must-have blazers of the season with two options in each category.

1. The Tuxedo Blazer: Usually very tailored and close to the body, cropped in a fabric with a sheen finish like leather or satin. Can be worn with accompanying tuxedo pants for a complete look, or dress it down with wide leg jeans.

Option 1: Forever 21 Dressy Tux Blazer- 22.80 @ Forever21.com

Option 2: Torn by Ronny Kobo Saba Leather Tuxedo Blazer @ Shopbop.com for $330.00

2. The Sequin Blazer: A flashback from the ’80s but worn with simple hair, few accessories, and toned down make-up creates an updated look. To avoid looking overly extravagant, the sequin blazer should be the dressiest part of the look. Go with bright gold, bronze, black or silver sequins.

Option 1: Antik Batik Classic Wallace Sequin Jacket in Gold @ Revolveclothing.com for $415.00

Option 2: Free People Black Sequin Blazer @ Freepeople.com for $168.00

3. The Boyfriend Blazer: Already a modern classic, wear this pretty much any way you want. Slim fit jeans or skinnies would do the trick.

Option 1: Boyfriend Woolie Jacket @ Freepeople.com for $168

Option 2: Silence & Noise Tweed Boyfriend Blazer @ Urbanoutfitters.com for $49.99

4. Knit Blazer: Unquestionably a casual and fun item to wear on the weekends. Looks great with light washed baggy, slashed boyfriend jeans.

Option 1: Trouve’ Double Knit Boyfriend Blazer @ Nordstom.com for $88.00

Option 2: The Battalion Equestrian Blazer in Slate @ Revolveclothing.com for $363.00

5. Strong Shoulder Blazer: Balmainesque indeed! Strong shoulders say you are powerful, sexy, and demand attention.

Option 1: Robert Rodriguez Ruffle Shoulder Jacket @ Nordstrom.com for $495.00

Option 2: Gryphon Collarless Sequin Sleeve Blazer in Black @ Singers22.com for $545.00

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.

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!

I’m Not Obsessed is an entertainment website dedicated to providing the latest celebrity gossip, paparazzi photos, pop culture news, beauty & fashion reviews.

Becky Fashionista is a one-stop read for lovers of fashion, beauty, savings and fun.

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

Last week, Farnoosh Torabi, Money Coach extraordinaire, was on The View sharing a bit about a new show she’s starring in called “Bank of Mom and Dad”.   And this week, we had the chance to chat with her personally!  She lent some great wisdom around saving (and splurging), and gave us a behind-the-scenes peek at the episodes that lie ahead.

Photo Courtesy: ABC

The show:

First, a bit about “Bank of Mom and Dad”.  The premise?  The ten-episode show takes money-struggling young women in their 20s and 30s, and provides them with a financial coach to help them on the road to becoming debt-free.  The girls must face their parents moving in for a week to help control their overspending, who along with Money Coach Farnoosh Torabi, help to curb the  gals’ bad habits.  Each week, the girls must face a harsh reality check as their parents move in and each penny they spend is scrutinized.  It’s airing at 10-11pm Wednesday nights on SOAPnet — we’re off to set our Tivos now to ensure we capture every single episode…hopefully we’ll learn a thing or two!!

Tonight’s episode:

As an added plus, tonight’s episode (10/7), even has a fun style/fashion component to it!  It highlights Danielle, a 27-year-old wife, mother and aspiring fashion designer in Hartford, CT. Her $40,000 debt is taking its toll on her dream of having her own design business, while still hoping to provide a stable future for her family. She spends money she doesn’t have on wigs, beauty products and fast food while student loans, car loans, parking tickets, medical bills and bills pile up. With the help of money coach Farnoosh Torabi, Danielle’s mom Natalie and stepdad Fred move in to help get Danielle’s priorities straight. (SOAPnet/MARK BRENDEL)

Inside Scoop – Up Close & Personal with Farnoosh Torabi:

Farnoosh Torabi, Author of “You’re So Money – Live Rich Even When You’re Not” is known for her captivating words of wisdom about spending.  And lucky us, as we mentioned, had the chance to chat with her up close and personal– check out the words of wisdom she shared with Shop It To Me!

Shop It To Me: You look so great on camera!  Give us some behind the scenes scoop on the taping of the show itself — how much is your wardrobe influenced by a stylist vs. your own picks?

Farnoosh: I have more than 30 outfit changes for this show – but a limited budget for clothing – so it was important to get expert help.   I have the fortune of working with two very talented stylistas. Jamie Rosenthal and her assistant Amber Stolec. To establish my look for the show – which we wanted to be chic and professional but not stuffy — Jamie examined my existing closet and asked me where I like to shop, the brands I prefer and my sizes. From there she hit the stores of New York where she could find affordable and versatile pieces. Much of my wardrobe stems from Banana Republic, Zara, Macy’s, J.Crew and my own closet. The idea was to blend some of my own clothing with Jamie’s purchases so that I was really portraying myself. If she brought me something that I would never wear in real life – it most likely wouldn’t make the show.

Shop It To Me: Anything incredibly exciting or unexpected from this season of “Bank of Mom and Dad” that you can tease us with?

Farnoosh: Let’s just say it’s not just the daughters who have breakthroughs. Sometimes Mom and Dad also learn a thing or two about money management proving it’s never too late to enhance your money management skills.

Shop It To Me: To be 20-something and in debt is a common situation.  If you could only pass along one, and only one, tip to 20-something women regarding their finances, what would it be?

Farnoosh: Keep busy and find opportunities to make more money if cash is tight. On average, women earn less than men, all while living costs have gone up. So if you find yourself at the end of the month with empty pockets do what it takes to land a side job to supplement your income in a way that allows you to pay down debt aggressively and save for a rainy day. Not to mention – the busier you keep yourself the fewer chances you’ll also have to get bored and shop.

Shop It To Me: We’re dying to know about you personally.  Farnoosh, did your parents teach you money management, or was it something you learned on your own?

Farnoosh: My parents taught me almost everything about money. And it wasn’t like they sat me down and had weekly money sessions at the kitchen table. Much of what I learned was from just observing them. I was an only child until I was 11-yearss-old so I spent a lot of time with my parents – going to open houses with them when they were house hunting, sitting forever with them at the mortgage signing, watching my mom haggle at flea markets, seeing her pay off her Macy’s card with cash in the mall and seeing my dad manage the family’s finances on Quicken. My dad also took me to the local credit union when I was 12 to open my first savings account. I vividly remember a phone call in college, too, between my mother and I where she basically told me that if I ever got into serious debt she and my father would not bail me out…all while secretly I carried a $4,000 balance on my Visa. Gulp. That sure had me get my act together. My finance degree and eight years writing about personal finance has contributed a great deal, too. My parents, though, take the cake.

Shop It To Me: Our members love to shop.  Any thoughts on responsible ways of shopping where you can still get your fashion fix?

Farnoosh: I actually use shopittome to deliver all the great sales out there from my favorite designers and stores. I also think it’s important to budget for clothes and not to see it as, say, $100 a month (if that’s what you decide) but rather $1200 a year. This way your budget doesn’t seem impossible. You can suddenly see a whole wardrobe with $1200. The trick is – if you spend all of it at once you have to spend the other 11 months not buying a single item. So best to spread out your purchases and not feel deprived the rest of the year. I also find more women swapping clothes these days. It’s completely free and offers the chance to clear out some of the unwanted items in your closet in exchange for something you’ve had your eye on in your friend’s closet.

Shop It To Me: When it comes to clothing, when (if ever) is it appropriate to splurge?!

Farnoosh: Splurging on a piece that you consider an investment with a valuable return  – like time or confidence – can be worth it sometimes. For example, a black cashmere cardigan is classic so it’ll never go out of style and you won’t be back in the store buying another one next winter. Pieces that also win you confidence can sometimes be worth the splurge. For example a power suit that’s going to win you an interview and serve you in your job as you climb the ladder (and earn more money) can be a great investment. (But hey, still shop around).

Time to celebrate Laura’s birthday!!

In life, sometimes less is more – but what fun is that when it comes to birthdays? So to celebrate her big day, we put together a semi-indulgent list of food and fashion items we’d get her if we had unlimited funds.

1. Prada Metallic Bowler Bag, Reg: $1,760, Now: $1,299
2. DVF Adrina Top, Reg: $225, Now: $157.50
3. Siwy Slim Boyfriend Jeans, Reg: $185, Now: $92.50

We raided Laura’s Sale Spot and found this beautiful Prada bag. This would be high on our list if money were no object. But it doesn’t go with much, so of course we’d need a shimmery shirt to go with it. This one’s DVF, one of Laura’s favorite brands. We’d also get her a new pair of Siwy jeans, since she swears by her current pair.

Almost as important as fashion are treats. Local San Francisco delectables are gingerbread cakes from Miette and chais from Caffe Centro. They’re the stuff of birthday dreams! We’d also get a tart frozen yogurt machine that she could pair with delicious mango and berry toppings.

Happy birthday, Laura, from the whole Shop It To Me team!

Gossip Girl style is all all over Shop It To Me lately! Case in point – this adorable Elie Tahari Sequined Floral Dress worn by the one and only Blair Waldorf was in my Salemail this morning!

The shimmery little number – originally $698 – is now on sale for $488 in a few remaining sizes. Getting sought after celebrity style has never been this easy (or affordable).

We’re so excited to welcome the latest retailer to Shop It To Me — introducing ShopGoldyn.com!

Goldyn started as an amazing and stylish boutique store, and now has a presence online as well.  You can even take advantage of using an online complimentary personal stylist if you want some 1:1 guidance.  A lovely perk.

Best news yet –  just for Shop It To Me members, an extra 20% off everything!!! The secret code is included within Salemail if you have items that match your preferences.  And another bonus — free shipping on orders of $100+!  Look at the below items from my Salemail today –  full of fashionable finds from Saint Grace, Loeffler Randall, Joe’s Jeans, ADAM, and more!

UPDATE: Voting is closed for Round 4. Vote on the final round!

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It’s the Round 4 Semi Finals, and we’re down to the Final Four brands. The winners of this round will advance to the finals!

Vote for a chance to win Marc by Marc Jacobs accessories. Voting ends this Friday, Oct. 9th at 5 pm PST.

To enter:
1. Leave a comment on this blog post listing your favorite brand from each match up, #1 and #2 below.
2. For an easy extra entry: Follow Shop It To Me on Twitter.com, if you’re not doing so already, and Tweet this sentence:
See what were voted the top 4 @ShopItToMe brands. Vote & you could win Marc Jacobs accessories! http://bit.ly/42yvc #ShopItToMe

Important notes:
1. You must be a Shop It To Me subscriber to win. If you’re not a subscriber, visit www.ShopItToMe.com and click Start Now. (It only takes 2 minutes!)
2. Marc Jacobs accessories will be sent to US mailing addresses only.
3. Limit one blog entry and one Twitter entry per person each week.

Round 3 stats:

Winner 1: BCBG, 72% (L.A.M.B., 28%)
Winner 2: Diane Von Furstenberg, 65% (Rag & Bone, 35%)
Winner 3: Theory, 53% (Alice & Olivia, 47%)
Winner 4:  Betsey Johnson, 68% (Vince, 32%)

Here’s a look at your bracket. We began with 16 brands and only 4 remain:

“Be Chic” – always a winning philosophy, right? Now it’s a winning magazine, too! We’re proud to announce our Trendsetter BeChicMag.com won the Best NY Blogger award in Latism.org!

Trendsetters are key partners who use Shop It To Me, and part of our network of favorite fashion sites. We’re proud that BeChicMag.com is not only a Shop It To Me fan, but a winning style blog as well!

The site has a constant stream of fantastic interviews with designers and celebs. Want to know Christian Siriano’s advice for aspiring fashion designers, or the actor who’s going on a “Fugly” tour? (Seriously, we wouldn’t lie.)

Answers to these questions, plus local NYC fashion finds, are all at BeChicMag.com. Special congratulations to Editor Mercedes Sanchez, who previously produced segments for NBC before founding Be Chic Mag!

Congratulations to Jasmine L., who won a Marc by Marc Jacobs umbrella in Round 4 of Battle of the Brands!

Jasmine is a preschool teacher right here in the San Francisco area and as it turns out, she’s also a big Marc by Marc Jacobs fan.

“I’ll literally wear anything from [Marc by Marc Jacobs], from the men’s cardigans to the accessories!” she said. “Shop It To Me always finds me the best deals on everything and finds me items that I haven’t even seen through my own shopping yet.”

There are two rounds of Battle of the Brands left, so two more chances to  win Marc by Marc Jacobs accessories of your own. Check back Monday and vote on your favorite brands to enter – we’re down to the Final Four!