Take Heart with Summer Sales

Pictured: This week’s issue of Life & Style magazine features The Recessionista. Kim Kardashian is on the cover. Kim– take heart, the sales can help!

Happy Sunday readers! This week was one of total craziness, but finished with a flourish. My tips on to shop the summer sales and some great finds are featured in the fabuless new issue of Life & Style magazine (it’s fabuless because the magazine is a full dollar cheaper per issue than many of it’s competitors.) So first, let me just say I feel bad for my fellow Los Angeleno Kim Kardashian whose “heart break” is featured on the cover. But Kim, this too shall pass and the summer sales are here to help.

As we all know, some great sales are currently underway. But I don’t advise that you go to the mall and shop all day for deals. That type of random shopping always leads to credit card overruns and too many finance charges. My best advice to bargain shoppers is to go to the store with purpose. Use all the great web technology at your fingertips before you head out, so that you know where the deals are for the things you like. The clothes and accessories that flatter you. There’s no need to wonder the mall like the walking dead looking for bargains. Take a look at sites like Pricegrabber.com and Next Tag to see where the savings are for the items you like. Then head to the sales. I promise, your time will be much more productively spent.

Here are some of my recommended finds:

Pictured: French Connection’s Arty Dress, 50% off, available on their website for order from the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan.

This French Connection Arty Dress is so classic. I wrote about Jackie’s 80th birthday this week, and to me, this looks like something she would’ve worn when she was Mrs. Kennedy. All you need to add are some pearls or a brooch for the full-on Jackie look. The price of the dress is now $60.00 US. The elegant grey color and slim cut will be in style for years.

Complimenting the dress is the little JustBe clutch from Urban Outfitters. Regrettably, these are no longer on the Urban website (let me know if you see them turn up.) But you may still be able to find them in store, for gasp, $2.00 US!

Pictured: Urban Outfitters Just Bee clutch reduced from $28.00 to $2.00. Check Urban Outfitters in-store for this little beauty

Pictured: A final cheap n’ chic touch, Forever 21.com’s pink pearl studs are $2.80. Nothing like some pearls to raise the spirits!

These are just a few good items from the summer sales. Here are some other sales worth your attention :

Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale, One more day of the sale. On Aug. 3, the prices are going back up.

Bloomingdale’s 40% off sale, today is the last day. (Aug.2, 2009)

Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic customer loyalty event. If you are a card holder, you should’ve received a coupon for 30% off.

J Crew sale. I’m heading over there today to take a look at this dress, just reduced. It’s definitely Michelle O material.

Pictured: One of my pics from the J. Crew Sale. The Gwendolyn dress, reduced to $89.99 from $ 260.00 US.

Pictured: Michelle O wears a similar style at the Naval Academy.

One last item of note, Norma Kamali’s eBay store. I’m watching several of her vintage dresses and beautiful swimsuits today, attempting to move in for the lowest price.

So happy Sunday shoppers. Enjoy the day, and let me know what you find. The bargains are out there.