Weekly Deals & Steals 9/30 to 10/07

Looks like I dropped the ball a little bit on this post.  It's been a busy weekend, ya'll.  What with moving, reclaiming my social status at home, managing through the 5-car wreckage of an Outlook calendar at work on Friday...  A girl can get exhausted.  In the midst of all that, there is a small glimmer of hope that I'll actually be able to do some real shopping (for work clothes, boo) this afternoon.  Fingers crossed.  To make up for it, I'll give you the low-down on the near-ending sales and some ones that might be coming up in the next two weeks (again, sorry, boo).

Some choice steals for the weekend and into the next week definitely at Bloomingdales.  I loved the tech accessories they had for sale like their tablet and laptop cases from Marc Jacobs and Rebecca Minkoff.  Definitely worth taking a look.

Tibi Diamond Jacquard Circle Skirt at $269.50; Marc by Marc Jacobs Dreamy Logo Neoprene Tablet Case at $40.60 without the extra 20% off at Bloomingdales

Online

• Bloomingdales - Extra 20% off regular and sale items with the code FANDF, ends tomorrow.
• Diane von Furstenberg - 30% off new fall items with the code SURPRISE, ends Wednesday
• J. Crew Factory - Extra 25% off, ends today.
• Tibi - Pop-up Sale, up to 40% off plus free shipping, ends today.
• Urban Outfitters - 50% off fall womens and mens items.

In-Store

• Bloomingdales - Save 20-30% off regular priced and sale items, ends tomorrow.
• Gap - Extra 40% off all sale items, ends today.

Sales - New York

• Rent the Runway - Sample Sale, up to 95% off of gently worn designer dresses, at 260 Fifth Ave between 28th and 29th Sts, ends Oct 5.
• Scoop NYC - Closet Clean-Out Sale, up to 85% off designer clothes such as Philip Lim, Alice and Olivia and more, 430 W. 14th St. between Washington St. and 9th Ave, ends Oct 22.

Lookbook: Red, Red, the Color of Your Heart

Alright.  I'll admit that ever since graduation last December I've been missing school like crazy.  College is fun.  College is freeing.  College is where you can wake up for an 8 o'clock class, crawl right back into bed afterwards, and still not have any of it matter.  I ventured again back on campus this weekend for my sorority's annual Red Dress Gala fundraiser, which benefits the Alpha Phi Foundation and the American Heart Association.  For a brief moment, my current sorority sisters allowed me to pretend that I was still in college.  Decked in our best red (and sometimes black) dresses, the event was a combination of a casino night/silent auction.  As such, the event made for not only a great lookbook entry for the blog, but to showcase how sexy, adorable, amazing, and downright stylish these girls look.  Too many compliments?  I'll let you be the judge of that.

Trina Turk Dress (similar in green), J. Crew Suede Heels (old)

Being the ever-so future-conscious bargain shopper, I found this amazing Trina Turk dress at Bloomingdales at winter clearance last year for under $80.  While Trina Turk is known for some of her more bold patterns and designs, I love her basic pieces.  The cuts are incredibly feminine and have a bit of a 1950's/1960's Mad Men vibe to them.  I particularly love how this is a great fall/winter dress as well, with its denser and comfortable material.  Seriously, I had been waiting to wear this dress for a while.

I paired it with some old J. Crew nude suede heels purchased for under $60 dollars, which complemented the bright red well while providing some textural contrast to the entire outfit.  That's potentially less than $150 (or at least estimated) for a fun, stylish night with my favorite ladies!  Other than some of the fabulous fashions that were demonstrated by my girls, it also didn't hurt to end the night on a great note.  I managed to snag a free Dry Bar blow out in the raffle, which I will probably document in lengthy detail right here.

Before I go, I have two side notes.  Side note number one is a huge shout out to my girl Sarah Z, who looked stunning in a draped tank dress.  I didn't get a picture with you, but I sure as heck wish I did.

Side note number 2, the Alpha Phi Foundation raises money and awareness of women's cardiac healthcare.  Heart disease is one of the leading killers of women in the United States.  If you could take the time to either read, educate, or even donate to the cause, it would be greatly appreciated on behalf of myself and all my sorority sisters.  You can donate at foundation.alphaphi.org.

Deals & Steals 9/22 to 10/1, plus a Sample Sale Preview

By the way, did I mention I was back?  And with a force!  I'm going to do a little something different this time around, and focus on one grand sample sale that's coming up before I go off posting the low-down on what's going on in retail world.  Why?  Because, I do not want you to miss out on this great opportunity.

Left to Right:  BCBG Mazazria; Monique Lhuilier; Badgely Mischka; Elizabeth and James

There are moments where I wish with all my heart of hearts that I was back in New York.  Next Monday begins one of those moments.  Rent the Runway, which you may know as the smash designer dress rental website, is hosting their sample sale starting 10/1 to 10/6.  If you're in New York and you haven't been, you are truly missing out on gently (and I mean gently) worn fashions for 95% off.

This had to have been one of my favorite sample sales I went to last spring.  Located in Midtown, the organizers make it a point to keep everything neat and organized at the end of every sale day, which is an astonishment given the racks on racks of designer goods that's there.  While some items may be damaged or stretched, a majority is still in good condition, albeit a slight discoloration or two.  The prices themselves make it worth it.  I managed to snag a Lela Rose dress with an original price at $1200+ for a mere $125.

Rent the Runway will sell some of their sample jewelry and accessories, but those pale in comparison to the dresses.  The line to the dressing room is a bit of an organized disorder, and you will have people sneaking peaks at what you're trying on as your dressing.  However, in my experience, most of the shoppers have been rather polite about it.  If you're in town, go for it.

Starts 10/1, ends 10/6.  Located at 260 Fifth Ave., NY, NY

Online

• C Wonder - 30% off sale items with code EXTRAEXTRA and 15% off full-priced items with coded PJ15.  Ends 9/30.
• DVF - 30% off entire purchase with the code SURPRISE.  Ends Wednesday 10/3.
• Old Navy - Extra 15% off with code ONEXTRA15.  Ends Sunday.
• Theory - 25% off entire purchase by registering at this address.  Ends Sunday 9/23.
• Tory Burch - Extra 40% off purchase of pre-fall clothing.  

In-Store

• Banana Republic - Extra 40% Off Sale Merchandise.

New York City - Sales

• Armani - Sample Sale, up to 80% off womenswear.  Prices range from $99 to $600, which according to high fashion world, is a steal.  Ends Sunday 9/23.  At 407 W. 13th St.
• Dolce and Gabbana - Sample sale, prices at 80% off.  Prices range from $50 to $400.  123 W. 18th St.  Ends Sunday.
• Hester St. Fair Stylist Tent - Tent Sale, with prices as low as $10 for designer goods like Barneys and Prada from the wardrobe of personal stylists.  Ends today.  At the corner of Essex St. and Hester St.
• The Row - Sample Sale, deep discounts on ready to wear and handbags.  Ends Sunday, 9/23.  At 317 W. 33rd St.

Travelogue: The Madrileña Part II - Of Churros and Toros

In the vain hope of actually documenting my trip, you'll see some entries interlaced in between ones of actual life back in the States.  I apologize for the chronological confusion that is about to occur, but hopefully pretty pictures will allow you to forgive me.

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid

Lesson one about Madrid is that it may not be for the faint of heart.  It's rich, yes.  Both in culture and in cuisine, which we apparently learned the hard way when wandering through the Museo de Jamón (Museum of Ham) or watching an actual bull fight at Las Ventas.  For the sake of not disturbing you too much, I'll probably forgo from the discussion of the bullfight.  It was gory.  Fortunately, I was so exhausted from jet lag that I actually fell asleep in the middle of the bullfight.  The plus sides?  The bull fighting ring was beautiful, and the toreadors have some cute tooshes.

Left:  Anita and I in front of the Chocolateria de San Gines; Right:  Devouring the churros.

Lesson two?  The extent of how gory the bull fight was was made up for in the deliciousness of Madrid's markets and local staples.  One of the must-go-to places on my list was the Chocolateria San Gines.  The store specializes in churros con chocolate.  Now, these aren't your run of the mill churros from Taco Bell or Costco, which I'll be honest were the only churros I had eaten at that point.  These are hot, funnel cake-like, melt in your mouth sticks of deliciousness, dipped in a soup-like chocolate.  The chocolate was not too sweet, but had a delicious dark bitterness to it.  Needless to say, they were eaten very quickly.

I've got more pictures of food where that came from.  You should click the next page to see it!  It'll make you hungry, I'm just going to warn you.  Click next to read more!

Lookbook: Layers into Football Fashion

Needless to say it, but the beginning of fall has meant a very long pause away, be it for vacation, for work, for training or for the ever-so-lovely mister visiting Atlanta with only three days notice.  Then again, I'm not a girl to complain about having more than a week's notice about visitors, especially of the male suitor variety.  Since JZ had never really explored the South before and with the coming of a new football season, it meant a fun filled weekend of tailgating, the Georgia Tech - Virginia game, and grits.

Left:  Bobby Dodd Stadium at the start of the Georgia Tech vs. Virginia game; Right:  one of the only two photos of which I was coherent enough to take.  Sorry to my friend Maz for cutting off his face.  It's too beautiful for the masses to see.

The one thing to know about college football in the South (for the average sorority girl and the occasional fabulous man-friend) is that it is as much of a fashion statement as it is about the sport.  Yes folks, we dress up for football just like we'd dress up for church.  The men are dressed in what could be their Sunday best, and the women don their school colors in skirts, sundresses, and short combos.  While recycling old game day outfits it perfectly acceptable, those who still can't afford a brand new outfit every game can re-mix and match.  This of course was my very predicament as I decided to go less than 24 hours before the game.  Let's call it, the 1-hour challenge for the quest for the perfect white and gold combination (with navy being an acceptable contrast color).

Madewell Perfect Racerback Tank; Madewell Serenade Tank; Crafts and Love Fringe Necklace

The result?  A fortunate trip to Madewell that resulted in a two-for-$35 tank deal for their perfect racerbank tank and their Serenade tank on sale.  I loved how the racerback's nude color paired well with my skin tone, and managed to make my wobbly bits not show.  Paired with an three-year-old navy Banana Republic miniskirt and a Crafts and Love layering necklace, the outfit was a touch of old gold and vintage charm.  

Sorority sisters both new and alumni, which also is picture number two in which I was coherent enough to take.

Lastly, big props to my sorority sisters looking super fine, and the girl who I managed to catch on the right side.  Cowboy boots at a football game deserve major style props.  Go, whatever your name may be.  Let your style ring out into the corners of the Internet.

What do you think readers?  A welcome post after weeks of not being here?  Got a tale of game day glory you want to share?  Holler at your girl down below.

Travelogue: The Portable Madrileña Part I

Remember when I said that I would be posting often on this trip?  Clearly, I was very much incorrect, as evidenced by the fact that I am clearly at home right now.  After arriving, we spent two days in Madrid before departing for Toledo for a day en route to Barcelona.  Surprisingly enough, Madrid proved to be the very definition of calm and quiet, with a large amount of its population being on holiday.

Lunch at Dolores Promesas at Sant Pere in Madrid

As tired and hungry tourists, our introduction to the city was through food.  As with a majority of Spanish cities (especially those frequented by tourists), tapas dominate the culinary scene.  With the aid of some guidebooks (namely "Rick Steves"... or as my friend Ashley lovingly calls him "Rick"), we found an amazing little canape (toast with meat, cheeese or sauce on top) bar a couple blocks down from our hotel called "Dolores Promesas."

Above:  Book stands on the side of the Cuesta de Moyano; Below:  Parque del Retiro

With the streets being mostly empty -- aside from tourists and the few locals we did spot -- we had plenty of room to wander around before the art museums became free of charge.  The Old Quarters of Madrid seemed to be a treasure trove for the intellectual, with used books peddlers with goods from as early as the late 1800's in great abundance.  Wandering through a mostly empty park with unobstructed views didn't hurt too much either.

Somehow through all of the wandering and our tired stupor, we managed to hit both the Prado and the Reina Sofia art museums.  Unfortunately, I got a stern talking to when I attempted to take a picture at the Prado, but fortunately, the Reina Sofia museum was a little bit more relaxed about me pulling out my camera phone.

In any case, it's my first weekend back in Atlanta before I fly off to Dallas for training.  More Spain recapping to be done later!  Holler at your girl!