The Siren Song Of A Sale:
Dollars Saved Justification
January 26th, 2012 By

Know what I miss about New York? Century 21. For many years, I lived just a stone’s throw from the downtown outpost, which means I had ample time to wander through the happy jumble of aisles every weekend. And sometimes after work. (One friend used to make a morning pit stop on her way to the office, and legend has it that she managed to befriend one of the security guards at the door who would keep an eye on her coffee while she shopped. No drinks and food allowed.) Anyway, one of the brilliant things about Century 21 is that the largest graphic element on the receipt is the number of dollars you managed to save—and when you’re dealing in high-priced designer gear, that number can be staggeringly high. For dollars spent, my friend Emily was super pro at maximizing that number (I don’t think she ever left without hitting at least a thousand)—in part, because she was super pro at finding that lone, pristine Balenciaga blazer amongst the racks that had somehow been put on triple clearance and was priced at $69. To this day, when it comes to sale shopping, she’s kind of like a truffle-snorting pig. But really pretty.


So what’s the point of this ramble? You can bargain hunt on Beso, too, without the physicality. (If you’ve been to Century 21 you know how aggressively physical it can get.) There’s a Sale tab on our homepage: Click on it, and the category of your choice, and then click on the Stores tab on the left to refine by your favorites (otherwise the search returns will be too staggering). You can also choose to see things that are at least 20, 40, 60, or 80 percent off. It’s dangerous territory though: If you’re anything like me, you see that 72% off banner and feel compelled to give the item a home. Meanwhile, I’ll be compiling my finds in this collection right here. In Century 21 style, if I buy the four items above, I’ll have saved $1,302.50. Isn’t that like paying myself to shop?

clockwise, l-r: THEYSKENS’ THEORY PAX FALM PANTS, $88.50 (from $295.00), Shopbop; DOLCE & GABBANA WATERCOLOR SKIRT, $125.00 (from $490.00), Bluefly; NICOLE MILLER STRAPLESS GOWN, $178.00 (from $550.00), Bluefly; NANETTE LEPORE “DIVINE” FLORAL PRINT DRESS, $239.00 (from $598.00), Bergdorf Goodman.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Seaside to Shoreside in Nanette Lepore April 26th, 2011 By

We already have plans to head to the beach in the weeks ahead, therefore, our mission is finding swimsuit cover-ups that can be worn seaside to shoreside.  We love Nanette Lepore tunics and dresses because they are light and airy for the beach, and can also be worn out to dinner.  The next time you buy a cover-up, choose one that can transition into a casual look for maximum versatility.

Nanette Lepore Fiesta Embroidered Tunic, $147.00

Nanette Lepore Fiesta Embroidered Tunic

Nanette Lepore Crochet Cover-Up Dress, $173.00

Nanette Lepore Crochet Cover-Up Dress

Nanette Lepore Tapestry Ikat Dress, $163.00

Nanette Lepore Tapestry Ikat Dress

Nanette Lepore Copacabana Tunic, $145.00

Nanette Lepore Copacabana Tunic

Nanette Lepore Cover-Up Tunic Dress, $143.00

Nanette Lepore Cover-Up Tunic Dress

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Editor’s Picks: Pretty in Punk December 14th, 2009 By

Nanette Lepore's Divinity Dress

Nanette Lepore's Divinity Dress

With party season upon us, it is time to start putting together outfits for the different get-togethers and events we have planned.  The holiday season gives us a chance to really dress up and express our style.

This season, I’m loving outfits that are a little bit pretty and a little bit punk.  Leather and lace, studs and ruffles, the juxtaposition of frilly and fierce is what takes an outfit from ordinary to spectacular.

BCBGMAXAZRIA Studded Clutch

BCBGMAXAZRIA Studded Clutch

This studded clutch from BCBGMAXAZRIA is the perfect complement to a pretty ruffled dress like Nanette Lepore’s Divinity Dress.  This Alexis Bittar Scaled Cuff will give your outfit some extra kick.

A lace dress and leather OTK boots will keep you warm and stylish.  We like Diane von Furstenberg’s Hasina Dress. The super-short hemline is sure to look good with even the tallest OTK boots (you should always show a little skin).  Wear this outfit with some Han Cholo Spike Earrings for a little extra edge.

One of the best parts of mixing these two styles is that you can stay true to each other.  Wear your lace dress with strappy sandals for a wedding in the spring or your OTK boots and studded purse with skinny dark jeans and a tank on a Saturday night out.  In this economy, it pays to have clothes that multitask!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Wear Hot Pink October 13th, 2009 By

Black Halo Eva Minidress

Black Halo Eva Minidress

Neons are in for fall and our favorite is hot pink.  The trick to wearing hot pink without looking clownish is to make it the highlight of your outfit.  Never make it compete with another color. Pair it with black or charcoal grey.  Black provides more contrast and will help the bright pink to pop.

Pair a hot pink camisole like Nanette Lepore’s Whimsical top with a charcoal grey business suit for day. The bright pink will keep the outfit interesting while the grey tones down the look so it’s more “stylish woman” than “party girl.”

Beirn Ellie Clutch

Beirn Ellie Clutch

For evenings, carry a hot pink purse like the Beirn Ellie clutch or the Whiting and Davis V-Flap Clutch with a black outfit.  It’ll look great with a little black dress and a super sexy cage bootie or a sparkly black top and dark jeans combo. The other stand-out item (the shoe or sparkly top) keeps the outfit interesting without making it colorful.

If you want to make a bold statement, try a hot pink dress. Pair it with black tights, black shoes and a black handbag.  Let the dress be the star of the outfit.  The feminine detailing on Black Halo’s Eva minidress keeps it fun and flirty.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

How to Wear: Leather Skirts October 1st, 2009 By

How To Wear: Leather SkirtsTurn heads in a leather skirt this season.  Leather is supple, soft and flaunts your curves while providing enough weight to hide lumps and bumps.  Leather skirts look chic paired with opaque tights and ballet flats or ankle bootsSuede knee-high boots are great for evening and the difference in texture keeps you from looking too biker babe.  We recommend wearing a loose, ruffled blouse on top for a contrast that works surprisingly well.

Pay attention to the cut and length of the skirt itself.  Don’t go too short or too tight.  We like this Nanette Lepore leather skirt because the ruching makes the skirt look more feminine and keeps it from looking skin-tight.  If  you need a jacket, try a short trench coat.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Old-Hollywood Glamour September 11th, 2009 By

Try a 40s inspired pencil skirt this fall.  Hollywood style icons Veronica Lake, Katharine Hepburn and Lauren Bacall inspired Lucky Magazine’s 40s Modern fashion story.  Look for a form-fitted skirt that falls at or below the knee and pair with platform pumps and fine-weave fishnet stockings.  You don’t have to show much skin since the skirt will hug your curves.  Victoria’s Secret and Nanette Lepore offer some great pencil skirts with beautiful detailing.

Tags: , , , ,