Shopping High –End Designers for the Holidays

When people mention Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom most people would think of high end designers that only these department stores will sell at a retail price. Over the past year and with the advantages of online shopping, these retailers opened an outlet version for online shopping. Sometimes with a little bit of luck and patience you can score a great pair of shoes or a handbag.

My personal favorite is Saksoff5th.com because of their high end designers that include: Gucci, Saint Laurent, Burberry and others. In the past I have gotten a Burberry Quilted Coat for a fraction of the retail price. Currently, Livingsocial has a promotion that you can buy a gift card of a $50 value for $35. This is perfect since you can save even more by buying the gift cards and then using them to purchase the item of your choice.

This item is on top of my list:

Saint Laurent

52mm Wayfarer Sunglasses

$149.99 (use Gobble to get an extra 40% off)

Other Outlet Department Stores:

 Nordstromrack

Neiman Marcus Last Call

Barneys Warehouse

NS

Cannot get enough Beauty Boxes!

Target just released their beauty box for this season. The previous price including shipping was $5, but this time is $7. If you decide to purchase it, see below for the items that you will receive.

If you compare the Target Beauty Box with the Wal-Mart version of it, I would prefer the Wal-Mart’s box. See our review for it here. These boxes are still available; you only pay $5 including shipping.

Will you be getting one?

NS

Give your Black Leather Jacket a Break

A black leather jacket is a staple in every NYC girl’s closet but this fall season give your black jacket a break. We are seeing beautiful pastels leather jackets this autumn that can soften your look and make it more feminine but still keeping the edge. I have round up several jackets from different budget that can bring a bit of color to your closet.

Faux Leather Jacket $59.99

Forever 21 Faux Leather Moto Jacket $22.90

(Minus The) Leather Boxy Moto Jacket $138.00

NS

Collaborations and Friends and Family Sale

Like most people I love when Target or Kohl’s release a collaboration with a feature designer. Remember last year when Target did two collaborations with Prabal Gurung and Phillip Lim; both collaborations were sold out within days especially the handbag (similar to the Pashli) that was sold out within 2 hours!

This week Target release Altuzarra for Target.

Starting September 26, Kohl’s will release its collaboration with Elie Tahari.

Currently Kohl’s is having a friends and family sale, use the promo code yes2fam to get 20% off.

NS

Look4Less Handbags 2nd Edition

Every girl should splurge on items that would make her feel special in every way. From time to time we come across a few items that we think we cannot live without; however these pieces tend to be items that we desire but not love. With my online shopping obsession I came across with these pieces that are very similar to their designer brand name but would not damage our bank accounts.   

With the upcoming season approaching, these handbags will give your wardrobe a special touch. Instead of getting the reliable black handbag, opt of a different color such a gray or a burgundy. 

Chanel Medium Flap bag:

   

Left: Express 'Quilted Chain Strap Shoulder Bag', $49.90

Right: Chanel Large Classic Flap Bag, Price Upon Request

Celine Luggage:

             

Left: Forever 21 'Zippered Faux Leather Satchel, $32.90

Right: Celine 'Burgundy Mini Luggage Tote Bag', Sale Price $1960.99 

Those who needs a Black Handbag; Chloe Marcie:

 

Left: Forever 21 'Faux-Leather Mini Satchel', $24.80

Right: Chloe 'Large Marcie' Leather Bag, $2050.00

NS

From summer to fall shoes

Maybe I am the only one that is very excited that fall is around the corner. To help me with this transition, I have purchase new shoes that will be perfect for the current weather and the autumn days in the city. 

Top Left: Nine West Arielly 'Gray'

Top Right: Nine West  Arielly 'Black'

Bottom Left: French Connection Damini

Bottom Right: Sam Edelman Brayden

All four pairs are on sale, hurry before they are sold out!

NS

Birchbox August 2014 & Coupon Code

Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends you 4-5 samples items for you to try, the cost for this is $10 plus tax. If you leave a review for each sample, you can get 10 points and for each 100 points you can get $10 off on your full items purchase at BirchBox.

This month you were allowed to choose a sample or to choose The Evergirl Box. This month box was not one of my favorite. See below of the products that I received:

Number 4™ Super Comb Prep & Protect (In love with it)

Harvey Prince Hello - 50 ml

Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner

Not Soap, Radio Body Wash

Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub Sea Kelp + CGF

Currently, Birchbox has two limited edition boxes: Mass Appeal 2014 Birchbox for CEW and Prestige Headliners-  2014 Birchbox for CEW. If you purchase the boxes together, you will automatic get $5 off getting both boxes for $28. You can also use the promo code mobile20 with a purchase of $50 or more to get 20% off. 

      Prestige Headliners                        Mass Appeal 2014 

NS

Tory Burch Private Sale

If you missed out on the recent sale, you still have a chance to score Tory Burch items on sale. The Private Sale just started today and it will end on Friday, August 15, 2014. The sale items are up to 70% off and the selection and quantity is limited. They included the ‘Reva’ flat which is unexpected.

Items to consider

Top-Left: Clines Ballet Flat $149

Top-Right: Reva Patent Ballet Flat $189

Bottom-Left: Leather Zip Continental Wallet $99

Bottom-Right: Wray Mix Scraf $49

All items in the private sale is final sale.

Planning to get their flats, see our post on how to preserve your Reva flat. 

NS

Prevent Bag Sag DIY

One of my favorite pieces in my closet is the Gucci Boston Bag. I purchased this at the Gucci sale during my senior year of college; it was an investment that I still cherish.

I love this bag but I don’t use it often due lack of structure. By placing my wallet, keys and cellphone the bag creates a sag, see the picture below. But I saw a DIY in PurseForum that can prevent the “bag sag”

Things you will need:

Cardboard (I love the Piperlime design in their boxes)

Measurement tape

Pen or Pencil

Box Cutter

See below for the steps:

Don’t feel like doing this DIY, you can purchase a shapper on Ebay. Price starts around $20, see this link for Gucci Boston Bag but they have shapers for Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Prada, etc.

Remember to leave a comment in our giveaway for a change to win a mini set of beauty samples, click here.

NS

Turn Your Closet into Cash

Fall is approaching and I find myself buying new items for my beloved closet. To be honest with you, my closet space is very limited and for this reason I depend on Ebay and/or Threadflip to sell my clothing items that are brand new with tags or in new condition. Before you start selling on Ebay or Threadflip you need to understand how the fees/commissions work and do a little of research on the items that you want to sell, so you can get the most out of your item.

Fees/Commissions:

Ebay: Insertion fee of $0.30 per item on Buy It Now or no insertion fee for Actions. There is also a 10% on the final value fee including the shipping cost and a small fee for using Paypal.  

Threadflip: 20% commission fee on all items and no insertion fee.

Using these two websites not only creates more space for my brand new items but I get extra cash to spend on my new items. 

NS

Hairstyles - The Pinned Look

The bobby pin (those things floating around the bottom of your purse and all over your bathroom floor) was once purely used to give styles structure and hold them in place. Not anymore! Pinned hairstyles are in and bobby pins are used to decorate buns, waves, bobs, braids, and more. Here are some new ways to wear the hottest hair accessory of the moment.

 

After creating loose spirals with a one-inch curling iron, brush the hair behind the shoulders and slip the pins along the hairline and across the back of the head.  The pins add something new and modern to this classic style.

This pinned back bob is sleek and fun! Depending on the hair color, use contrasting colors to make pins pop.

 

Add a bit of pins peeking out and the look becomes edgy and interesting. For a similar effect, mist a texturizing spray throughout hair before blow-drying it, then wrap random sections all over your head around a one-inch curling iron. Pull the ends into a very, very loose, low side-braid or knot, and then start sticking in pins randomly.

 

Pull your hair into a low, messy bun and secure it at the bottom of your neck. To create the chevron pattern, slide a bobby pin in on an angle, then slide a second pin through the end of the first one in the opposite direction. Repeat that three or four more times, about a half an inch apart.

 

Try some of these fab looks out and let me know they turned out :)

 

MRS

Look4Less Weekend Bags

Summer is almost over and most of us will be traveling for the Labor Day Weekend; to be honest I hate dragging around my suitcase. For this reason, I rely too much on my Longchamp Le Pliage Travel Bag for weekend getaways. It’s large enough to fit several outfits and couple pair of shoes, plus the long strap makes it easy to carry.

The retail value is $255. But I got this in the San Juan Puerto Rico Airport at the Duty Free store for $140. Please note that different airport has different prices; when I came back to NYC that they have it for $165.

However, I found something similar in Ebay for a fraction of the price. This is only $14.99 plus Free Shipping. 

NS

Lets Celebrate Together! (Our 1st Giveaway)

Our three month anniversary is approaching and since we look for any reason to celebrate we are giving away a mini box with great samples to try. 

 Stila CC Cream 

Nexxus® Color Assure™ Pre-Wash Primer

Nexxus® Color Assure™ Vibrancy Retention Shampoo

Nexxus® Color Assure™ Vibrancy Retention Conditioner

OPI Sheer Tints Color-Tinted Top Coat

Soak Handmaid Hand Cream

COVERGIRL Bombshell Shine Shadow by LashBlast™

What do you need to do to get this box? Simply leave a comment below and you will be entering for a chance to win this. The winner will be selected on August 27, 2014 and will be contacted via email. Only valid for continental US.

NS

Birchbox (Get want YOU want)

Personally, I am not a makeup fan and I don’t spend hours at Sephora, but Birchbox has changed my beauty lifestyle. This month you can pick one of your samples or pick the Affordable Luxuries box in collaboration with The Everygirl. I choose The Everygirl Box which will be filled with products that each cost $35 or less in full size as you.

Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends you 4-5 samples items for you to try, the cost for this is $10 plus tax. If you leave a review for each sample, you can get 10 points and for each 100 points you can get $10 off on your full items purchase at BirchBox.

Currently, Gilt.com has an amazing offer for new Birchbox subscriber. You can get an annual subscription for $99, plus you will get an extra $25 to spend at Birchbox.com or at their store in Soho NYC.

NYCMiss does not get commission on the review or ‘promotion’ of Birchbox, but I LOVE them so much that I can talk about them every day! 

NS

Are you a BirchBox subscriber?

If you are a BirchBox subscriber and planning to purchase a few items use this promo code Nextboxfree to get your August Box for FREE! This offer is only valid starting today to July 23^rd with the purchase of $75 or more.

Want to see what I got in my box this month, check my review here.

If you want a better deal, use promo code Mobile20 to get 20% of your purchase. Remember to leave a review for each sample you get, and use those points to purchase full items at the store (can be combined with promo codes for further savings)

NS  

Salon Professional Haircut for Nothing or Almost Nothing

I must confess...  I used to get free haircuts and styles by the junior staff at Ted Gibson Salon.

 

The Ted Gibson Salon is located on 23^rd street and Fifth Avenue and a few stores down is the Starbucks that I worked @ during my college years. Because of this, most of the hairstylist and Ted Gibson himself would come to Starbucks and would offer my co-workers and I free haircuts and style. This is the biggest kept secret in NYC Salons; they offer a wide range of free services for the junior staff to practice with. The junior staff members from top salons are qualified, and very experienced; They are also supervised. I am not sure if Ted Gibson Salon still offers the free services but click this link for other salons like Aveda for a fraction of the price.

Note: I was very vocal about the style, cut and color that I wanted. The stylist will take that into consideration but ALWAYS ask what they have in mind BEFORE they start. 

NS

Fab Finds - Kardashian Kollection @ Sears

 

Believe it or not, the Kardashian Kollection at Sears is pretty amazing! I love how the collection focuses on the style of the three sisters (Kim, Khloe and Kourtney) as they each have their own unique style. Not only is the collection very stylish, it is affordable! They even have a beauty line to die for! Here are a couple of fab finds on Sears.com:

 

 

1 - Elegant and dramatic, this one-piece has designer style that can easily take the place of a little black dress for your next night on the town. Only $64.99

 

2 – This scoop neck dress is flirty and fun! Comfortable stretch knit fabric is textured with a chic basket weave pattern. Hip pockets provide a fun-loving finisher. Only $9.60 Comes in Royal, Black, Coral, Yellow and Animal Print.

 

3 – This lightweight blazer tops any look off! Only $38.99 Comes in White, Black and Coral.

 

4 –  This dress has a cutout halter neckline that’s super sexy! Get this for only $34.00

 

5 – This wrap skirt is everything! Great for work and play only $23.60

 

6 – I am in LOVE with these cat eye sunglasses! So retro and Chic! Only $12.99

7 – Release your wild side with these animal print shades! Only $12.99

Check out the Kardashian Kollection @ Sears and Sears.com and let us know what you think!

 

MRS

The Look4Less (Poppy Delevingne)

If you don’t know Poppy Delevingne, she is a British socialite and older sister of model Cara Delevingne. Poppy hit a Bulgary party with this adorable white lace jumpsuit. See below for the look, and how you can create the Look4Less.  

White Lace Jumpsuit $10.89

Blue Blazer $11.88

White Pumps $19.96

Mini Cross-body Handbag  $4.64

All items are from Ebay. 

The total cost to recreate the look is $47.37

What you think of this look? 

Send me a challenge to create that Look4Less

NS

Makeup Mistakes – Look Younger NOT Older!

I believe that your choice of clothing and make-up can highlight your sense of style, compliment your best features, and keep you looking fresh and full of life! However, sometimes these choices can backfire: a not so flattering dress that sags in all the wrong places, or a shade of makeup that emphasizes wrinkles. Women don't always update their fashion and beauty routines as they get older, but they should; otherwise, the same products and pieces that once worked so well for them could suddenly give away their real age-or worse, make them look even older than they really are!

 

Here are a few tips that I found online that can help you look younger and more rejuvenated:

1 – No Blush - Our faces lose color as we age, leading to a washed out complexion that makes blush all the more important. Blend a cream formula onto the apples of your cheeks for a lit-from-within glow.

 

2 – Too Much Foundation – Caked up foundation just emphasizes the wrinkles on the face as the make-up settles into fine lines. Instead, use a damp sponge to apply a single light layer of moisturizing foundation (not matte or long-wearing), which will hydrate skin and deemphasize creases.

3 – Dark Lipstick - As we age, our lips become thinner, and dark lip colors actually make the mouth look smaller. Stick to bright or light colored lipsticks and add a dab of gloss in the center to plump your pout.

 

 

4- Eyeliner Around the Entire Eye - Solid dark eye liner can be very harsh, creating sharp lines that can bring out crow’s feet and make eyes look smaller. Instead, line only the outer three quarters of the eye, and smudge your liner with a Q-tip or angled brush to soften the look. Use a brightening shade to highlight the inner corners.

 

 

5 - Too Thin Eyebrows - Eyebrows thin out and fade with age, which is why fuller brows make most faces look more youthful. Use an angled brush to fill in thin brows with a powder one shade lighter than your natural brow color.

MRS