Don’t miss this week

After a savory holiday weekend of delicious home cooking and overindulgence in desserts, come today you may be looking for ways to work off that second helping. I have a new work out routine for you to abide by this week – bargain shopping in New York City! The adrenaline rush of being among the first to step foot inside a sample sale and the race through the store in order to grab your favorite designer’s duds before anyone has a chance to snap it up for themselves is a sure fire way to burn a few excess calories and get that heart pumping. So throw on your cute gym outfit and instead of wasting time on a treadmill, run out to grab yourself some cute new finds!

This sale could have come in handy last week, before you had to cook for twenty this weekend, but stock up for the next holiday and treat your inner chef to brand new and top of the line cookware and cutlery at the Zwilling J. A. Henckels Sample Sale.  Starting Wednesday, April 11^th at 10AM Zwilling will be selling their useful and long lasting cookware for up to 70% off at the Chelsea Hotel. A safe tip: Avoid fighting over the last knife set with a fellow bargain hunter.

Sure to be a popular sale, arrive early and get ready to utilize those running shoes as the doors open at the D&G – Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale in the Meatpacking District (407 W 13^th St). Said to be carrying over 3,500 tops, dresses, skirts, jeans, etc., this sale is certain to have a treasure or two for you. Bummed that you can’t get there the first day? New items will be arriving daily so don’t fret!

Who doesn’t love spring and summer clothing? Rena Lange is helping to provide you with a new warm weather wardrobe as the Rena Lange Sample Sale kicks off Sunday, April 15^th at 10AM. A shocking up to 90% off women’s couture, accessories, and shoes will be on hand at the sale’s Meatpacking District location on West 14^th so you can pick up armfuls of colorful fabrics for the weekends and beautiful summer suits for the work week.

After a stop at Rena use those muscles to lug your bags uptown as you power walk to Soiffer Haskin on 33^rd Street for a duel sale of 50-70% off one of a kind diamond pieces and up to 70% off exotic handbags, accessories and eyewear at the Judith Leiber & Diamond in the Rough Sample Sale.

Whew, what a workout! After all of that hard work I grant you full permission to treat yourself to a stellar bargain this week. I personally would recommend that the treat be in the form of a beautiful new pair of diamond earrings, but hey, that’s just me. I’ll leave you to it and provide you with a few parting words of comfort: It’s not considered splurging when it comes to indulging in food on a holiday and it certainly isn’t considered splurging if your spending money on bargain shopping!

By Caitlin Colford

Hop, hop, hoppity hop right into spring thanks to this weekend’s Easter and Passover holidays and…shopping! I can think of no better way to relish in the pastel colors, breezy skirts, and the beautiful, vibrant colors of spring than to shop for a cute new outfit to show off to your family and take in the refreshing, spring time aroma that flora provides us with at the Macy’s Flower Show.

This spring is all about feminine edge mixed with bohemian and cultural themes. Before that wonderful 80-degree weather returns to us in all her glory, get your outfit of the season at the Brunello Cucinelli, Missoni, Etro Sample Sale. Even if it isn’t exactly warm this holiday weekend, the spring holidays allow you a pass to wear your fabulous new lace top and flowing skirt.

Aw shucks, you were only able to find yourself an amazing (and cheap) new pair of earrings? I have you covered. Come Wednesday Bindya is having a Sample Sale on all scarves and accessories! Her floral prints and oversized scarves are sure to suit your needs.

Wait, you still didn’t find yourself a scarf to go with your new spring holiday outfit? Don’t fret my friends! Bindya has even more scarves to offer at Chic Tweak 30-70% off Sample Sale exclusively featuring top selling scarves from other designers as well including Chan Luu, We Are Owls, Love Quotes, Theodora & Callum, Tilo, and more!

Now that your outfit is all picked out it’s time to do some other picking at the Macy’s Flower Show going on now at Macy’s Herald Square. Exhibiting a gorgeous selection of flowers with a Brazilian theme within a large tent in Herald Square, Macy’s Flower Show is the perfect stop for those with a green thumb or who appreciate colorful blooms that evoke Brasil’s tropical rainforest and urban gardens. Their six stunning gardens are all interlaced featuring various forms of Brazilian horticulture. Want more? All week there will be various in-store events including a floral demo with  Denise Porcaro on Friday, April 6^th.

Between spring clothing and accessory shopping, browsing a brilliant array of gardens and floral collections, and celebrating the spring holidays with family and friends I’d say we’re all set and ready for the warm spring and summer seasons to come! Bring it!

By Caitlin Colford

It’s a mad, mad world and we all know where we will be (or what our DVRs will be set to) come Sunday at 9PM when Mad Men returns to AMC for Season 5.  The sixties are in full swing in the land of Draper, times are changing and so is the fashion. What will Betty wear this year as she lounges around the house while sipping martinis in style? Will Joan maintain her sultry style around the office? The only way to find out is to watch, but we must wait patiently until this Sunday. To get us ready for the scandalous tales of Madison Avenue, take to this week’s best sales to provide yourself with the modern attire of your favorite character.

Housingworks The Best of Spring Sales Event

Housingworks is the be all end all of affordable vintage. Rustic furniture, gorgeous art, costume jewelry and, of course, dresses straight from the sixties. This Tuesday from 5pm-8pm, Housingworks is offering 25% spring items at their 96th and Broadway, 2569 Broadway, location allowing you to go easy on your wallet and stock up on vintage threads. You never know, perhaps some of these items once lived within the closets of the original Madison Avenue ad men (and women thanks to ladies like Peggy!).

Hugo Boss Friends and Family Sale

Dress your man up in a superbly cut suit from Hugo Boss in order for him to appear as though he belongs seated within the offices of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, drink in hand. Maintain your own sleek look as well with a fabulous new dress from the designer at the Hugo Boss Friends & Family Sale beginning Tuesday at 260 Fifth Ave.

Oscar De La Renta Sample Sale

It’s time to glam up for the Clio Awards (where Don won for his Glo-Coat ad) and what better choice than to wear an Oscar De La Renta dress? Beginning Tuesday, the Oscar De La Renta Sample Sale will offer up to 80% off readywear, eveningwear, as well as current pieces at 37 W. 57^th St.

Pucci, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale

Madison Avenue fashions, handbags and jewelry for up to 75% off at the Pucci, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale. Beginning Wednesday at Boutique on 57 women of all shapes and sizes, whether you’re a curvy Joan or thin Betty, can relish in designer fashions as they will offer sizes 0-12 in ready to wear apparel.

Come Sunday, all eyes will be on the Don’s and Betty’s of 1960’s Manhattan, but until then make sure all eyes are on you, with the help of a sample sale or two of course.

By Caitlin Colford

Wasn’t among the lucky set of early birds to land some goods from Marni for H&M last week? Don’t fret my pets! You’re in luck, there is ample opportunity this week to land yourself some designer goods with their price tags slashed, thanks to the almighty sample sale.

Project Runway All Stars Sample Sale

Presumably borrowing the idea from the new sure-to-be-hit “Fashion Star” on NBC, the uber popular “Project Runway” is bringing out past designs from the vaults of their All Star cast, which includes the likes of Jerell Scott, Mondo Guerra and Michael Costello, and selling them at decent prices.

Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale

Designer, designer, designer! More, more, more! Keep bringing them on! Boutique on 57 is providing 75% off ready wear from Emilio Pucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, D&G, and Prada.

Blumarine Sample Sale

Beginning Monday (3/12) for members only, and Tuesday (3/13) for the public, Exclusive Fashion Club is offering 60-80% top designer brands such as Cavallli, Armani, Missoni, and Valentino, in sizes 2-14. Please note: You do not need to possess an Italian surname to gain entry, but you do need to own a credit card or a megawad of cash as these sales can still be quite pricey.

Bird Blowout Sale

Brooklynites and Alexander Wang fans: don’t miss out on Bird’s Blowout Sale going on now until 3/15. With boutiques in all of Brooklyn’s trendiest areas – Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Williamsburg – you have an excuse to try out the latest buzzed about restaurant after shopping 25-75% off accessories and clothing at Bird from Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, A.P.C., Loeffler Randall and more. A slim selection of sale items are available on Bird’s website, but this one may be worth the venture into foreign shopping territory.

I-ELLA Spring Sample Sale

Keep ‘em coming! As promised ladies, I have another opportunity for steep designer discounts this week. I-ELLA is hosting a two-day sale, beginning 3/15, with up to 75% clothing, shoes, and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Rebecca Taylor, and DVF. I’ve never visited this showroom, so am unsure why they request shopper’s to RSVP to [email protected], but if Chelsey’s going to ‘wow’ us, a measly little RSVP email is my pleasure.

A whole week of discounted designer shopping from a whole slew of top luxury brands sounds like seven days of pure bliss. After being beat up at Marni last week, I’ll need this, as well as a pint (or three) of green beer on Saturday while I celebrate St. Patty’s Day in style. Caution: Green beer does stain.

By Caitlin Colford