Vacationing in Europe!

Hi divas! I am currently traveling in Europe, so sorry for the delayed posts. I arrived in Paris yesterday and flew to London today just for the weekend. Though the exchange rates for the Euro and £ are both really bad right now, I was able to find some great buys in Paris yesterday that I will tell you more about soon!

London shopping has been so disappointing because of the pricing and exchange rate, but I hope to get some more good deals when I return to Paris tomorrow. If any of you have suggestions on great bargain shopping places in either London or Paris, please post a comment or send me an email!

For My Petite Divas - Not Quite a Bargain Though

I must give you a disclaimer: I am committing a cardinal sin by posting something that is NOT a bargain, but I still wanted to include it as an ode to my fellow petite divas. Over the weekend I was at Bloomingdale's in the premium denim section and found something that brought tears to my eyes - premium denim for petites!!!

Paige Premium Denim "Laurel Canyon" Petite Jeans

The first pair I found were actually made by Paige Premium Denim. I had never heard of Paige, but when I saw it say "Petite," I almost lost my mind! Unfortunately I couldn't find my size, so I couldn't try them on to see how they fit, but conceptually they have my stamp of approval. And you know what else? They make maternity premium jeans too!

Joe's Jeans - The Provocateur

After I couldn't find the right size in the Paige jeans, I noticed Joe's Jeans also had a petite cut. As soon as I tried them on, I fell in love! They come in a variety of washes including Maude, Thompson , Jackson, Harvey and black (I bought Thompson). It was so nice not to have to get my jeans hemmed!

Laundry by Shelli Segal Online Deals

I love Laundry by Shelli Segal. I found the following deals online - I hope you can take advantage of these fabulous items!

Print Wrap Matte Jersey Dress - $81.90
I love wrap dresses - they are flattering for so many body types. This floral print wrap dress, available at here at Nordstrom.com, was $205.00 and is now $81.90 - what a great deal!

Drape Jersey Top - $65.90

I love the cut and style of this shirt. It is amazing that this shirt is almost $100 off (was $165)! Grab this one at nordstom.com now!

Appliqué Bubble Dress - $167.90
I love this dress! And with it being on sale from $420, this is a fantastic deal. What an elegant display of a bubble dress. You can find it at nordstrom.com here.

Botanical Print Dress - ONLY $85.90

So dainty! The empire waist, sheer handkerchief hemline and floral print make this one great for a wedding, dinner, or party. By the way, this was originally $215.00. Grab it now!

Lisa T-Strap Heel - $49.99 (originally $159.99)
These t-strap heels are approx. 4" with jewel embellishments. These would be great with a black cocktail dress or even a dressy pant suit. And with $110.00 off, you almost can't beat the price! You can find them here at smartbargains.com.

Entertaining on a Dollar - Gourmet Potluck

I am a huge fan of potlucks. Not only is a way to avoid having to cook an entire meal while entertaining, but it is also a great way to enjoy your friends' culinary expertise! Do you have a few friends who are great cooks? Do you want a way to partake of their delectables? Have an "iron chef" dinner party! A few of my friends and I have been doing this for the past few months. Here's the skinny:

1. Select a few friends who like to cook and are good at it (you may want to limit it to the number of courses you want to eat).
   
2. Every month, select an ingredient that can be included in each course (sometimes dessert doesn't count, but all main and side dishes should have the ingredient). So far my group has used shallots, prosciutto and orange.


3. Assign someone to cook each dish and rotate each month.


4. You can even rotate who hosts each dinner.


5. ENJOY!

You would be so surprised how creative and excited people get about their dishes. This is not only a great money saving way to enjoy a divine meal but it also allows people to put all their focus on one dish instead of three or four!

Have You Heard of Judy's Book?

Hi Divas! I recently started a side gig as an Expert Shopper for Judy's Book - an online community for bargain shoppers. Basically, users post deals they see on the web and post them on judysbook.com. We all know there are so many great deals out there that is hard to keep up with. Judy's Book helps direct you to not only websites having sales, but also deals on free shipping, coupons, etc. Check it out!

Adrienne Vittadini Stores Going Out of Business!

Last weekend I went to the Chicago Premium Outlets for some shopping with my mom and had an amazing shopping extravaganza. While there we discovered Adrienne Vittadini is closing all of her retail stores (sucks for her, yea for us!). Everything in their outlet store was 80% off of the marked down price! Mom and I stocked up! I bought a skirt suit, python heels, a black turtleneck and an orange turtleneck sweater for $116 (almost $1000 worth of stuff)! I must say, sales like this bring tears to my eyes. Click here to find a location near you.

I took a look at their website too. Though I saw a lot of markdowns, the prices were no where close to the prices in the outlet store. Run, don't walk!

Oh, What You Can Buy for $50!

Yesterday I went to Bath & Body Works to use a gift card that my brother and niece oh so graciously gave me for Christmas. Let me tell you, using it during the semi-annual sale was such a great idea! I bought eight (yes, 8!) items for a grand total of $51.11 including tax. Unfortunately the website does not have most of the deals I found in the store, so you may want to try there first before the sale ends. Here are some of my new goodies:

Wallflowers - 2 packs for $5 each

I bought both Blackberry and Tropical Passionfruit - mmmm!

Tutti Dolci Fantasia di Cioccolata Lip Gloss - $2.50

It looks like Bath and Body Works is getting rid of this line - I couldn't even find the brand on their website. I love this gloss though! The one I purchased is a metallic mulberry color, though it goes on sheer. AND, it tastes good too!

True Blue Wet Your Whistle Lip Balm - $1.00

Can you believe it was just a buck? It was $4 marked down 75%.

Bigelow Rose Hydrating Gel Treatment - $10

I have been looking for a good moisturizer, especially with the dry cold air here in Chicago. So far, so good. I have sensitive skin and it seems gentle enough though it may not be moisturizing enough to battle my dry skin from this weather. It probably will work much better in the spring. By the way, this is normally $20 but I got it for 50% off!

True Blue Spa Lay It On Thick Shea Butter Moisturizer - Large tube for $20, small tube for $1.50

I did splurge on this one. I have very dry skin and Lay It On Thick is by far the BEST body moisturizer I have ever used. They used to only have the 6 oz tube as shown, but when I saw the large 10 oz tube, I had to buy it, despite it being full price. To make things even sweeter, I lucked out and saw a 2 oz in the 75% off bin and grabbed the last one for just $1.50!

Last, but not least...a sneak peak of a new product launching in the spring - Ile de Tahiti Inu Body Lotion with Tamanoi (they don't even have it on their site yet). I purchased a 1.7 oz bottle for $2. It says it has the "world's richest blend of hydration and healing." The jury is still out on that claim, but it does smell light and tropical!

Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale Starting Today!

It is now past 9 AM (at least in Chicago) and the Victoria's Secret Semi-Annual Sale is now on! Last night, I saw the sales people at the location in the Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, IL working relentlessly to prepare for the sale. Can't get to a store? That's okay, you can get free shipping online with purchases of $100 or more by entering the code "SEMI" out checkout. Enjoy!

New Years Resolutions: Define Your Style Diva!

Happy New Year Divas! Wow, 2007 is finally here. I encourage all of you to make the most of this year. Every new years eve my best friend and I attach a theme to each upcoming year. We have called 2007 the "Year of the Come Up." Learn more about what that means here.

In light of resolution season, I am taking the time to re-define my style. Since I am a sucker for a good deal I sometimes find myself buying items just because they are on sale. Unfortunately just because something is a good deal doesn't always mean it's cute! So my resolution this year is to only buy items consistent with my personal brand. Here are some steps you can take to do the same:

1) Determine Your Personal Brand: Is there a celebrity whose style do you emulate? Are there common themes in your closet? Are there items that you see and say "that is SOOO me!"? Would you consider it romantic, sporty, haute, bohemian or something else? Think about it - you can even name your personal style diva!

2) Define and Refine Your Personal Brand: Once you have labeled your personal style, look through some current fashion magazines and cut out pictures that are consistent with your personal style. By doing this, you can visually lock in what types of concepts and pieces you should be looking for when you shop.

3) Stay True to Your Personal Brand Image: Before you purchase an item, ask yourself: "does this fit in with my personal brand?" If so, buy it! If not, put it back on the rack!

Sales Galore!

So if you haven't been to the mall yet, check it out! Here are some of the sales I saw at the Old Orchard Mall in Illinois:

Arden B: Sale on most winter items - especially coats. Most winter/holiday items were 30-50% off.

Sisley: 50% off the entire store!

Limited: 30% off most of the store

Bath & Body Works: Semi-Annual Sale (yea!) - Lots of items for just 5 bucks!

Forth & Towne: Several racks that were $9.99, $12.99, and $14.99.

The Body Shop: Lots of make-up eith $4 or 3 for $10. Some items for just $1.

Disappointments:
Express: I am already disappointed with how high they have raised some of the prices for quality barely over H&M! I mean, $69 for some black polyester pants? Anyway, on Thursday night they only had some of their items on sale, maybe this weekend they lowered some more.

Banana Republic: They had some items on sale, but the discounted prices were still pretty high.

Bebe: They must know people still haven't bought their New Years outfits yet, so the prices were still pretty high. Wait until next week.

Let the Sales Begin!

Christmas is over and now the fun really begins! This next week will be filled with sales galore as stores try to get rid of their holiday merchandise and make way for spring collections. Here are some tips to make the most of this great shopping time of the year!

1) Shop early...or late. It is already December 27th, so now is the time to shop to get the best selection. Also, it is good to go to stores when they open. People are not as eager to go shopping early now that the holidays are over. However, as the week goes on, items will be further reduced in some stores so patience does pay off!

2) Buy your holiday cards and decorations for next year now! I did this last year and am so thankful. Holiday decorations and cards are at least 50% off or more at many places. Stock up for 2007 - you will thank yourself later.

3) Some retail stores will have better deals than the internet. This usually is not true, however, retail establishments often are constrained by space and need to physically clear out their stores for new merchandise. Shop online first to see what's there, but wait until you compare at the malls before you make any purchases.

I will be hitting the malls later today so I will be sure to keep you posted on what I find!

Shopping Trip to NY

Last weekend I had a fun trip to New York that (of course) involved some shopping. Some people think shopping in NYC is extremely expensive. The reality is, NY is a great place for shopping at any and every price point. Here are some of the items I bought this weekend:

Guess Melton Wool Blend Coat - $99.99

I found this one at Square One store in the Manhattan Mall located on 34th St. and 6th Ave. for only $99.99 (including tax!). Though it is listed online at Nordstrom for $148, if you're going to be in NY anytime soon, it's worth checking out! What I really like about this coat is that you can have the collar open, or closed depending on how cold it is outside, or how sassy you want to be :)!

American Eagle "Fiction" Mary Janes - $19.99

A while back I did an article on the new and improved Payless. Though I hadn't had any luck in the Chicagoland stores, I figured the Manhattan stores would probably have better selection (and I was right!). I lucked upon a buy one, get one (BOGO) half off sale, and bought these shoes and a very cute hobo bag - barely over $30 for both including tax. Though these created some blisters on the back of my ankles after the first day walking around all of NY, by day two they were broken in.

Red Short Sleeved Turtle - $14.99

I couldn't find the exact shirt I bought from Forever 21 near 34th Street while I was searching online, but I did find this one that is pretty close. The difference is mine does not button in the back and it is red and black, not red and white. Regardless, it is a cute shirt that is particularly hot with a wide belt.

Top Gifts Under $50

Christmas is less than one week away and, if you're like me, you haven't even started shopping yet. Don't fret - you can still get some great deals just in time for the big day!

Red Envelope
www.redenvelope.com has some great deals that can be shipped as quickly as overnight (for a fee, of course!). The great thing I like about Red Envelope is their signature red boxes. They make any gift seem luxe. Here are some gifts you can purchase for under 50 bucks (plus shipping):

Heart Measuring Spoons - $38
OK, so they may be a little pricey for some measuring spoons, but aren't they super cute? Someone gave them to my mom as a gift and I think they are adorable. Who wouldn't feel all warm and fuzzy after measuring "a pinch of kindness"?








Circle of Friends Votive Holder - $24
Do you have a good friend who you're having trouble shopping for? This may be the perfect answer. A sweet symbolic gift, this Circle of Friends Votive Holder can remind any friend how special they are to you.










The Bombay Company
So you may have to actually go to your local store to pick up these deals instead of shipping them, but these are great buys nonetheless!

Bottle Coaster with Taper Holders - $9


What a cute gift! This set comes with both a wine bottle coaster and an elaborate bottle stopper. Unlike anything I've seen before, this is a great conversation piece and is a very classy gift.

Small Geo Bowl - $12



Very simple and elegant, the unique shape makes this one a great gift.

Target - Michael Graves Collection Games
Michael Graves has done it again! I absolutely love his game collection - chic and sleek, these are great gifts for sophisticated board gamers.

Michael Graves Monopoly Set - $27.99



Michael Graves Scrabble Game - $27.99


Michael Graves Poker Set - $39.99

Other Goodies
Cocoalicious Lip Sugar from COCOACHiC- $9

This Shecky's Beauty at its Best Winner is the perfect lip balm for these cold weather months. Check it out at www.COCOACHiC.com!

More Coats Under $200: Su-FUR-fluous

Whether it's real or faux, fur collars always make me feel glam. Check out these coats that turn you into a diva on either a dollar or a dime!

Diva on a Dollar
1 Madison Three Quarter Length Quilted Down Coat - $158
The combined sheen and fur turns this puff coat from casual to chic.










Michael Kors Black Down Jacket - $180
I love Michael Kors! This fabulous raccoon fur jacket was originally $300. Grab it now at www.bluefly.com!








Marvin Belted Faux Fur Trim - $158

This is by far my favorite! Even in white, it makes the "I'm Too Cute Coat" list :)!










Diva on a Dime

Fur Collar Parka - $68.40
Apparently modeled after a coat worn by Madonna, this casual coat is great paired with jeans and boots.

Giacca Faux-Fur-Trim Bouclé Coat - $92.99

A more conservative pick, this coat is perfect layered over a suit or dress - ideal for the office.











Ann Taylor Loft Fur Hood Puffer Coat - $89.99
This looks like a great one to keep the cold out. And you just can't beat the price!

Coats Under $200: White Hot

Even though it is after Labor Day, these white coats are nothing but hot!
Puffy Long Coats
Diva on a Dollar: Calvin Klein Pillow-Collar Puffer - $153.99

















Diva on a Dime: Bebe White Quilted Down Coat - $129


















Puffy Short Jackets
Diva on a Dollar: Laundry Down Jacket - $139.99


Diva on a Dime: White Black Rivet Stitch Down Jacket - $78

White Wool Coats
Diva on a Dollar:
Ann Taylor Moleskin Patch Pocket White Coat - $148.50


White Brass Plum Solid Wool Blend Trench Coat - $128



Diva on a Dime: White Albert Nipon Coat - $84.99