Archive for December, 2008

How To Get The Most Out Of Post-New Years Deals

Consumer spending is down, and retailers need to get rid of merchandise – so there are still deals out there. But everyone else is after bargains too.

Since we spend most of our time shopping, browsing, and combing through stuff online, we’ve figured out some ways to take advantage of the early-January sales.

1. Spend those gift cards
If stores close or you forget about them and wait too long, gift cards can become less valuable or even worthless. Make a list of your gift cards, and decide what you want to put them towards now.

We spent almost $500 at Kmart in about an hour and a half – you can do it.

2. Shop (at least browse) online
We’ve seen shoppers complaining about low sale inventory in stores – probably because stores have been discounting almost all season. To avoid wasting time (and gas), shop online first to see if your item is in stock.

If you find what you're looking for and don't want to wait for it to ship, call your nearest location and ask if you can pick it up there for the online price – some retailers give deeper discounts online.

For example, Old Navy’s up-to-75%-off sale is going on right now – online only.

3. Buy seasonal items; wait on the evergreen ones
Right now, sweaters and snowflake greeting cards are the sorts of items retailers want to get rid of fast. Buy these things before a Nintendo DS, which stores can keep on shelves for a while.

Case in point: The cardigans you'll see in today's Deal of the Day in a couple of hours are up to 70% off.

4. Sign up for e-mail lists
You'll be the first to know about the best sales if you sign up for favorite stores' mailing lists – sometimes you'll even get private coupon codes.

We got one from Saks this morning – up to 75% off women’s clothes. Good to know.

5. Look for bundling
Retailers who just can't discount any further will start giving deals in packages – save on t-shirts if you buy two or three, or purchase a computer and get a free printer. Ask about these deals, especially if you need to shop in bulk.

Like Banana Republic’s fantastic seamless camis – they’re normally $30, but you save $7.50 on each one if you buy two or more.

6. Let us do the work for you!
Sign up for our newsletter, and the best deals of the week will show up right in your inbox.

December 31st, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
sales and deals

Post-New Years Deals: Up To 70% Off Cardigans At Shopbop, And Lots More

If you’re in the market for deals, these are the sorts of things to buy now: cozy cardigans and other winter wear that stores don’t want on their shelves when spring merchandise arrives.

A cashmere “grandfather” cardigan ($117, was $234) is the perfect middle layer for a freezing day.

This Juicy Couture Textured Double Breasted Stripe Cardigan ($98.40, was $328) can be worn as a jacket in the fall.

Splendid’s Superfine Cashmere Cardigan ($119.50, was $239) is a well-made classic; ribbon detail along the buttons is a fun little twist.

More after-New Years sales and deals on the web:

Up to 75% off contemporary clothes at Saks

Up to 75% off at Old Navy

30% to 70% off all fall and winter merchandise at Pink Mascara

Up to 60% off at shoes.com's winter sale

Up to 75% off at James Perse

50% off winter tops, dresses, and outerwear at Queen Bee

December 31st, 2008 12:00 am

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Ring In The New Year With Up To 90% Off At The Sample Sale Sites

There are huge (huger than usual) deals to be had today on a few of our favorite sample sale sites: Rue La La, Hautelook, and Gilt Groupe. All three sites are having end-of-year, multi-designer sale events, so get on over and take a look. Clothes and accessories are up to 90% off. You pay 10% of the original price. Woah.

At Rue La La, they’re featuring 30 brands, including La Perla, Nicole Miller, Theory and Kate Spade. There are also a ton of Cole Haan items to choose from, and they’re selling out fast. We’d sign on before this patent-trimmed bag is all gone.

Hautelook’s sale is divided by item, not brand, but you’ll find deals on Gold Hawk camis, James Perse knits, and one of our personal favorites, Foley & Corinna. This LBD is marked down to $41.80 from $418. Seriously, 90% off. It almost feels like a joke.

Gilt Groupe’s knitwear and winter wear sales end today, but there are still plenty of great finds from White and Warren, Alice + Olivia, and more. We’re big fans of this ladylike Walter blouse - perfect with a pencil skirt or a pair of high-waist trousers.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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January. Love, SheFinds.

Happy 2009, everyone. This month we’ll be bidding adieu to Gossip Girl for a while (January 19), trying to remember our SPF (January 15), and sorting through the workout gear options (January 1, 6 and 27). Perhaps if we just resolve to buy some exercise clothes, the whole thing will seem less overwhelming…

January 1
Happy New Year! Trying to turn over a new fitness leaf? Danskin has a new yoga collection launching today, and if you’re really ambitious, take a look at their also-new triathlon collection. Or just purchase a part of it – we’ll still be impressed.

January 2
Today Bring It Up launches their new, improved Smooth & Lift Nipple Covers – one with a lot of coverage and a little support, and one for larger chests with coverage plus maximum lift. Go ahead and bring that backless dress to the front of your closet.

January 3
IZOD’s resort collection launched this month at JCPenney, so you can outfit yourself for that much-deserved vacation without dipping too deep into your cocktail budget.

January 6
Forces continue to converge encouraging you to buy new workout clothes this month. Today we’re sending out a whole guide of inexpensive exercise gear, which means you’re almost out of excuses. Also, definitely out of excuses to keep running in your sorority’s homecoming tee (guilty).

January 9
Watch Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson duke it out in Bride Wars, which opens today. Though we much prefer Ms. Hathaway’s sophisticated Oscar look to that poufy white thing.

January 10
Looking to lighten up your winter fragrance rotation? Try Magic Senses' newest Shea Body Butter scent, Cucumber Melon.

January 12
We love the multitasking bent of a candle that turns into massage oil. Scandle Body Candle’s version comes in a ceramic container with a little spout for easy pouring – and starting today you can buy candle refills, which we’d order now to have on hand for Valentine’s Day weekend.

January 15
It’s easy to forget SPF when it’s freezing – but don’t! Avon ANEW Rejuvenate Day Cream, which launches today, has SPF 25 plus anti-aging benefits like more even skin tone and fine line reduction. Find it at Avon.com.

January 16
Tusk’s reasonably priced but luxurious Acapulco collection launched yesterday at Tusk.com. The crinkled patent leather coin purses, wallets and more range from $40 to $174, and come in four bold colors, plus a shiny, sensible black.

January 18
In a partnership that seems random but sort of cool, Three Custom Color and Showtime have created four lipsticks inspired by the characters on The L Word. They’re in stock starting today, to coincide with the show’s season premier.

January 19
OMG, Gossip Girl finale! It’s called You’ve Got Yale – does anyone else really like these episode titles? Anyway, we’ll be watching because of the clothes, as usual.

January 20
In honor of President Obama’s swearing-in ceremony today, we’ll be sending out a guide about how to dress like Michelle Obama, the most stylish first lady we’ve seen in forever. Here’s to four years of chic patriotism.

January 26
Go to Lather.com today to check out the company’s new Moisture Magnet hydrating serum ($38), meant for plumping up and recharging dull or dehydrated winter skin.

January 27
Reward yourself for actually having gone to yoga every week: Lucy launched a new yoga collection this week, designed to stay put while you bend in and out of poses.

January 31
Celebrate Justin Timberlake’s birthday by shopping his subtly rock ‘n’ roll William Rast collection, which includes tons of designer denim, tees, and a few very chic jackets.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Stars Keep Coming Back To CC Skye….We Understand Why

While not a celebrity in the traditional sense, CC Skye is most definitely a star among celebs thanks to her insanely successful jewelry designs. And as someone who loves to cover celebrity style, CC Skye is one of my favorite lines. She makes adorable handbags and other accessories, but the stars (and I) cannot seem to get enough of her fashion forward jewelry – specifically the bracelets. Looking to steal some of your favorites’ pieces? Here are some gorgeous picks from today’s hottest stars:

A favorite of Hollywood’s hottest is the Double Wrap Woven Leather Bracelet ($259), counting Nicole Richie, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Vanessa Hudgens as fans.

Another great piece is the Patent Stud Cuff ($185). Eva Mendes loves this rocker hot bracelet that adds a little unexpected attitude to a cocktail dress.

Hilary Duff prefers these funky Large Bamboo Hoop Earrings ($145). These oversized statement pieces add some urban appeal to any look.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
celebrity style
fashion
jewelry

Taste Test: Which Red Mary Janes Will Have You Skipping for Less?

Say sayonara to sequin overkill and teleportation powers. This season's ruby slippers are of the sleek patent leather variety, and they'll have you dancing all night, not pining for home (hello, dullsville!).One of these patent leather hotties will set you back over $200 while the other costs only $80. Click on the pair you think is cheaper and see if you're right.

Then skip through the Taste Test archives to try your hand at further deal-scoping.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
fashion
shoes
taste test

Scarred For Life: Which Beauty Issue Were You Teased About In School?

We've all felt the pangs of embarrassment from being picked on in grade school. I was known as The Gap in 7th grade thanks to the massive space between my two front teeth. (I tried to get the kids to call me Lauren Hutton instead but it never stuck.) Rather than hide our adolescent emotional scars, SheFinds has aired them out in the open and shared with you ways we are now preventing these beauty disasters from ever happening again.

We're not quite sure why he'd decide on the nickname "Hairy Turtle", but Rebekah's 3rd grade nemesis has made her conscious of hairy arms ever since.

Growing up, Erin decided to take matters – and her bangs – into her own hands, creating what could only be described as a Big Bang Disaster.

Kristin's teen modeling days led to an unfortunate incident with foundation, a boy, and a makeout session gone terribly wrong.

Plucking her unibrow in second grade was only the first step on Christine's long quest to rid herself of all unwanted fuzz.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
beauty

Why I’m Scarred for Life: I Had My Own Big Bang Theory

Growing up, I always had bangs, not because they looked particularly spectacular, but because I insisted on trimming them up myself whenever I felt they were getting out of line. The result of my inspired styling was at best a crooked line, and at worst a straight-down-the-temple snip that resulted in a hairdo that most closely resembled a handlebar mustache on my forehead. To make matters worse, I'd use whatever semi-sharp edged utensil happened to be within arm's reach (this was most usually the glitter-handled safety scissors I kept in my pencil box). As a result, my bangs kept getting thicker and thicker, and my hairline moved back farther and farther until it was practically mid-crown (I looked a lot like Kate Walsh up there, from the bangs up, that is). Stylish, hip Betty Page bangs these were most definitely not, and it took me 'til halfway through high school to grow them out.

Now, since I have what Tyra would lovingly call a fivehead, I really do look better with a few balancing wisps. But deciding to get bangs cut again for the first time in who knows how long was a tortured, traumatic process. I finally gave in, but with some stipulations. Now, I must always:

1.) Have any number of clips and no-slip headbands in all of my various bags for emergency hair-in-eyes situations (since I never know when my scissor fingers might get the itch again). Scunci makes affordable snap clips ($2.50) and elastic headbands with tiny rubber grips ($4) that make sure these bangs aren't going anywhere while I'm at the gym or playing co-rec volleyball.

2.) Devote half of my (already ludicrous) blow drying time to my bangs. There's a whole multi-instrument regimen, which includes blasting bangs straight with a highly focused diffuser, then curling them in towards my nose with a medium-sized ceramic thermal round brush ($11). Finally, an ultra-thin ceramic straightener with gripping teeth, like the Maxius Miniglide ($30), gets plugged in to do business on my bangs.

3.) Actually use styling products. As a rule, I'm not big on pomades, sprays, gels, and balms, but I've started using Hair Play's SEAL ($22) to keep my bangs in line on humid days.

Check out our Hair Tools Guide for more ways to tame your mane.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
beauty
embarrassing
Hair Care

Bizarre Beauty Treatments: Which One Is The Most Out There?

Inspired by the recent US arrival of fish pedicures, we rounded up the weirdest, most bizarre, and flat-out nonsensical beauty treatments to let you decide which ones you think actually work and which ones are just in it for the wow factor (or ewww factor in some cases).

Several beer baths have popped up in Europe, claiming to aid in detoxification. That's a joke, right?

In need of some vaginal rejuvenation but just don't know where to go? Well, lady, it's your lucky day. (And we're not talking about Cornelia.)

If your last diet failed and you don't have the motivation to hit the gym, try piercing your ear to lose weight. But watch out, it's gonna hurt.

No matter how good it felt, we don't think we'd ever allow snakes to be placed on our naked backs. Unless they were Gummy Snakes and it was a different kind of massage (see Cornelia above).

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
beauty

Appear Fresh And Rested After A Night Of Too Much Partying

Have a good NYE? A little too good? I must admit, I indulged in a cocktail or two, and now I need some of the below products to rejoin the land of the living. Next time maybe I'll stick to a Christian rock star evening.

Start off giving your body back the moisture those vodka tonics took away. This Korres Velvety Moisturizing Mask ($27) replenishes the skin and leaves your face feeling smooth and hydrated.

Your eyes are always a dead giveaway to how you're feeling. Fool them all with a cream that both nourishes and brightens your under-eye area. Smashbox's Photo Op Brightener ($18) moisturizes under eyes, brightens your circles, and preps the skin for concealer application. And ironically enough, it's made from red wine extract.

You'll need some color before you walk out the door, and Tarte's Cheek Stain ($28) is where you should get it from. This wonder tube doubles as an anti-inflammatory to prevent redness and calm the skin, all the while giving you a subtle, dewy rose-hued glow. (It's also great for lips.)

Perhaps the most important facial fixer-upper is a pair of chic, oversized shades to cover as much of your bleary eyes as possible. These Jee Vice shades ($250) are a favorite of Lindsay Lohan – and we know she's had her share of hangovers.

Want to rid your body of all those nasty toxins? Check out our Detox Guide for ways to start fresh.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
beauty
fashion
solutions

Good Question: Where Can I Find A Removable Purse Liner To Organize My Handbag?

Recently, one of our lovely readers emailed us:

Question: I am looking for a purse liner you featured — it slips inside a handbag, the fabric is leopard, and the cost was $19.95. Can you help?

Answer: What you are looking for is the Joey Junior Ultimate Purse Organizer, which comes in red, black, tan, zebra, and of course, leopard. We featured it in our Organize Your Handbag newsletter, which is a cool guide to fun solutions for keeping your essentials at easy-to-find range. We even feature great designer purses that are more organizationally inclined. So check it out!

Need help finding something? Tell us about it on the boards, and we'll get on the case.

December 30th, 2008 12:00 am

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Categories:
good question

SheFinds’ Best Solutions To Fashion’s Biggest Problems

We've noticed that women fall prey to the same fashion faux-pas over and over. The visible thong, the raggedy hem, the uncontainable cleavage busting out at inappropriate times. So we've put together our list of the best solutions we've come across over the years. Take a look and find an easy way to fix the style issue plaguing you the most.

1) Strapless dress issues: We've all faced the embarassing problem of a strapless dress that seems more affected by gravity than by our pathetic attempts to subtley reposition the bodice above, not below, our boobs. Luckily, there's an easy fix for putting your dress in its place–Lacebugz.

2) Raggedy Hems: So your pants are a little long, and you haven't the slightest idea what to do with a needle and thread. Try Zakkerz, an incredibly innovative tool that will quickly put your cuffs where they should be and save your Sevens from dragging all the way to the subway.

3) Visible Thong: Trust us–there's nothing classy about showing off your thong above the waist of your low-rise pants. Try the new Hip-T for an easy way to cover your assets and give a cool, layered look to your outfit.

4) Overly Obvious Cleavage: There are times when the gals should be put on display. But usually you'd like them to stay covered. Keep gaping shirts in place with the Bosom Button, a pretty and easy to use button that attaches to ill-fitting clothes to help keep some things hidden.

5) Nip Slips: Speaking of your breasts, be sure to use a pair of Nippies Stylin' Tape to hold barely there dresses in place should you go braless.