SAVE - Bloomingdales Fingerless Gloves - $58

I've been on the hunt for a suitable pair of fingerless gloves for a while now. Gloves with fingers, as crazy as it may sound, are somewhat limiting. Though they do keep your fingertips nice and warm, fingerless gloves allow you to not only zip up your jacket (a task that can seem rather daunting with a thick pair of regular gloves on), but also work your iPhone. Plus, fingerless gloves just look rugged and badass.

These gloves, from the Bloomingdales Men's Store collection, are great looking, functional (they can be converted into mittens for those extra nippy days), and super affordable. Save.

FALL MAILERS - Barneys & Bloomingdales

It's that time of year again: Fall mailers from all of the big department stores are arriving at my doorstep. Here is a selection of my favorite images that I scanned in for you guys. I will continue to add to this post of more arrive in the coming weeks.

BARNEYS:

Belstaff Coat $895, Grown & Sewn Pants $395

Left: Monitaly Coat $895, Yuketen Cotton Trousers

Right: Woolrich Nylon Jacket $595 and Jeans $165 and Bag $495

Left: Nigel Cabourn Authentic Down Coat $2985 and Sweater $315 and Pants $665

Right: Chimala Anorak $725 and Jeans $415

BLOOMINGDALES:

Left: Unis Pea Coat $648

Right: Earnest Sewn Pea Coat $395

Left: Nudie Jeans & Co Wool Zip Cardigan $374

Right: Evisu Lambswool Cardigan $358

Fall Buy - Barneys, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman

Earlier this week I hit my three favorite B's (Barney's, Bergdorf, Bloomingdales) for you guys in search of the best buys for Fall 2010. This fall will be all about the play on workwear and military inspired garments mixed with lush knits. I've tried to find garments that are not too trendy and will give you the most wear for their price.

Barneys:

My trip to Barneys began and ended with my search for the perfect toggle coat. While the classic Barbour or Peter Elliot option is certainly viable, I'm looking for something a little bit more modern, and a little less bulky.

This Gloverall coat was interesting, but still restrained with the exception of the leather panels on the upper chest. At almost $600, I was hesitant.

The search was over, though, when I came across this Oliver Spencer version. Priced at $100 less than the Gloverall (probably the best price in the whole store), this option is much more intriguing (plaid with contrasting brown leather detailing), light, and fitted. Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner! Sorry the picture is quite blurry, but I had to be secretive. Barneys is strict about the whole taking photos thing in case you didn't know.

Bloomingdales:

Bloomingdales has really stepped it up this season. Usually their men's selection is one of three things: extremely basic (they specialize in mountains of Theory, always for sale), incredibly outlandish ($2000 Marc Jacobs vests anyone?), or cheap. I guess I didn't give them enough credit because their fall men's wears are, for the most part, reasonably priced, on trend, and chic. Here are some examples:

John Varvatos Toggle Cardigan (Around $700)

Michael Kors Khaki Jacket with Grey Hoodie Insert (Around $325)

Comme des Garçons Parka ($1,100)

Paul Smith Fair Isle Sweater (Around $275)

Moncler Hidden Hood Parka (Around $780)

I think the John Varvatos sweater is a great statement piece, the Michael Kor's jacket is warm and the perfect take on workwear, the Comme des Garçons parka is full of design details (EX: a plaid patch on the upper back and rich brown leather elbow patches), the Paul Smith sweater is chic and phenomenally priced, and the Moncler coat is comfortable and simple.

Bergdorf Goodman:

BG was pretty dry with the occasional breath-taking piece that I could never afford, though I did manage to find a nice Lanvin scarf (still ridiculous at around $300), and some really cool bracelets.

At the end of the day, I'm going back for the Oliver Spencer Coat, the Paul Smith Sweater, and possibly a Moncler OR the Comme des Garçons jacket. Where the money is coming from for all of these is still a mystery...

UPDATE: A better look at the Comme des Garçons parka courtesy of Trés Bien Shop.

SPLURGE - Moncler at Bloomingdales - EXCLUSIVE Preview

I sat next to the nicest buyer from Bloomingdales on the Luxury Liner out to Southampton today. Apart from discussing the retail industry, she also gave me a sneak peak of their Moncler buy for Fall/Winter 2010. They bought 25 styles all together, but these are my three favorites. They are all new this season, and one is even exclusive to Bloomingdales, so head over to their 59th street location when they arrive in August and pick up one of these super warm coats for this winter. Splurge.

This model is reversible and also comes in navy. My favorite!

SAVE - Spring Sales - up to 60% off

Ah, yes. It is that wonderful time of year. The time for spring sales. It seems so ridiculous, though, that spring/summer is on sale when the season hasn't even ended, right? Well it is. How can stores manage to sell through when seasonal merchandise is only in stores for three months before new merchandise arrives? They can't, that is if they place a normal sized order. To compensate for the ever shortening selling period for each season, and the economic downturn's effect on consumer spending, stores are condensing their orders, effecting designers who rely on the store orders to make make money as well as get their product in the public eye.

The only group that this wacky schedule benefits is the consumer. Not only do we get a rotation of new goods every three months, but we get deep discounts on those items we didn't feel like paying full price for, and we don't even have to wait for the season to end. This means I can buy a chic Steven Alan plaid shirt from Barneys that is meant for spring/summer in July for $99, down from $205, and still get another two months of wear out of it, and if I purchase wisely, maybe even carry it into fall (all of which I did!).

I took a few pictures (taken secretly) of my favorite items on sale this season from Barneys and Bloomingdales. I was mostly on the look out for modern basics that were seasonless. Hope you like. Save.

BARNEYS:

Frank & Eileen Plain Button Down - $79

Chimala Grey Jeans - $169

Chimala Green and Navy Stripe Tee - $59

James Perse Khakis - $129

BLOOMINGDALES:

Ernest Sewn Ripped Jeans - $170 (Modeled by me)

Richard Chai Parka - $250

Acne Plaid Button Down - $135

* All prices listed are sale prices
** Confession: I purchased the Frank & Eileen shirt, as well as a Barneys Co-Op cashmere sweater ($99 people!), the Steven Alan Plaid shirt, and a Save Khaki Green Military Jacket (not on sale, unfortunately), all of which are not pictured. And I'm going back for those Ernest Sewn ripped jeans. Don't Judge me, I still have half of my second pay check.