Compelling Reasons for a Little Shopping

Twinkle by Wenlan is offering up to 75 percent off silk dresses, sweaters, knitted accessories and whatnots from its Fall 2009 line. Photo courtesy of Twinkle by Wenlan.


A favorite mantra of mine: “That shoe/dress/jacket may have cost $600, but I got it for $29.99!” Usually I’d copped my deal at Filene’s Basement-Downtown Crossing. The Boston location is the Mother Of All Filene’s Basements. No other store offered up the variety and quality of deals that this old girl did when she was doing brisk business.

Yours Truly has had Filene’s Basement muchly on the brain the last couple of weeks as notice after notice of a sample sale or huge sale has arrived in her e-mail inbox. Finally, I stopped deleting them. After all, just because I am not shopping does not mean that no one else is! While most of these deals offered over the next few days are not of the magnitude of a Filene’s Basement, they can save a few pretty pennies in this Great Recesssion and holiday shopping season.

I share the wealth with two caveats: shop responsibly and, fashionably:

LABEL/STORE: Christian Lacroix
SALE: up to 75 percent off dresses, jackets, pants and whatnot from past seasons
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Wednesday-Friday, 18 -20 Nov., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m-1 p.m.
LOCATION: 260 Fifth Ave. @29th St., Ground floor


LABEL/STORE: Saks Fifth Avenue
SALE: FASHIONfix: 50 percent off Chloe, Herve Leger, Alice + Olivia, Zagliani, Theory et al.
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Tuesday, 17 Nov. at noon until Wednesday, 18 Nov. until noon (or until supplies last); online only
WEB SITE: saksfifthavenue@news.saks.com


LABEL/STORE: Twinkle by Wenlan
SALE: up to 70 percent off silk dresses, coats, knitted accessories and whatnot
DATE(S) /TIME(S): Wednesday, 18 Nov. and Thursday, 19 Nov., 10 a.m- 7 p.m.
LOCATION: 545 8th Ave., 17th Fl., b/w 37th and 38th streets


LABEL/STORE: Steve Alan
SALE: Cashmere sweaters for her $90; Shirts for him from house label under $70 and whatnot
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Thursday and Friday, 19-20 Nov., 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 21 Nov., noon- 7 p.m.; Sunday, 22 Nov., noon-5 p.m.
LOCATION: 87 Franklin St., b/w Broadway and Church streets


LABEL/STORE: Araks Lingerie
SALE: up to 80 percent off camisoles, bras, panties and whatnot
DATE(S)/TIMES: Thursday, 19 Nov., 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Friday, 20 Nov., 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: 137 Grand St., b/w Crosby and Lafayette streets, 5th Fl.


LABEL/STORE: Lela Rose
SALE: up to 75 percent off selected frocks
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Wednesday and Thursday, 18-19 Nov., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 20 Nov., 10 a.m.-5 p.m..
LOCATION: 224 W. 30th St., b/w Seventh and Eighth avenues, 13th Fl.


LABEL/STORE: Yigal Azrouel
SALE: up to 70 percent off women’s, men’s, Yyigal and accessories
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Wednesday and Thursday, 18-19 Nov., 9 a..m.-7 p.m.
LOCATION: 225 W. 39th St., 7th Fl.


LABEL/STORE: MZ Wallace
SALE: $100 nylon bags!
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Thursday and Friday, 19-20 Nov., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 21 Nov., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
LOCATION: 125 Crosby St., b/w Prince and Houston streets


LABEL/STORE: Ricky’s (20th Anniversary “Back to Beauty” Sale)
SALE: 20 percent off products, including appliances (except InStyler) and professional hair care (except Fekkai and Phytologie); 1989 prices on select RickyCare items
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Regular business hours throughout November
WEB SITE: Visit www.rickys-nyc.com for a list of New York City locations and general informaiton


LABEL/STORE: Armani Warehouse Sale
SALE: up to 80 percent off Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans and accessories for women and men; credit cards only; no cash/checks
DATE(S)/TIME(S): Thursday-Saturday, 19-21 Nov., 3 p.m.-8 p.m.
LOCATION: Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St., 4th floor gallery

Wear/use your purchase(s) well and in good health!