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I know you’ve been waiting for the Labor Day weekend, and not just because of the extra hours of sleep on the day off, or the prospect of a guilt-free barbecue with friends.
For some of us, serious shoppers, Labor Day is also the end of summer shopping season, the perfect time to take advantage of sales, and the beginning of the fall NYC sample sales season. We want to remind you that it’s the end of the season for retailers too, so most of them have some sort of sale. Be wise, get only what you need, don’t stuck up your wardrobe with things you are not going to wear, just because they are on sale. You have to admit you’ve been guilty of making that mistake at one point or another. To reward you for being a TSC insider (because you are one, right?) we’ve made it easy and selected some sales with significant markdowns. Take a look, pick carefully and shop responsibly.
Abercrombie & Fitch: This Labor Day weekend, you can find your new essential fall denim at Abercrombie, where all jeans will be $39. The entire stock, meanwhile, will be 40% off.
Allen Schwartz: Dresses, jumpsuits, and more will be marked down from September 1 to September 4; enter the code LABORDAY at checkout for 30% off regular-priced items and 60% off on-sale merchandise.
Amrita Singh: All jewelry and accessories will be 50% off through September 5; enter the code LABOR17 at checkout.
Ann Taylor: Get decked out in polished Ann Taylor goods this Labor Day weekend. The retailer will be offering 50% off sale items from August 31 through September 4.
BaubleBar: On-trend accessories are available at up to 80% off from August 31 through September 4—though, this extra discount applies only to items already on sale.
Beyond Yoga: Hit your yoga mat after the long weekend in new gear from Beyond Yoga; the brand will be marking down on-sale items even further from September 1 through September 4, so you can get up to 75% off.
Cosabella: Save an additional 20% off already reduced garments for savings of up to 60% off classic styles this Labor Day weekend. Use code LABORDAY20. Also, all $100+ order will receive free ground shipping on Continental USA.
Dressbarn: Select tops and denim will be buy one, get one half off online at Dressbarn during Labor Day weekend.
Eileen Fisher: Enjoy an extra 25% off sale items at Eileen Fisher from August 31 through September 4.
Furla: Furla’s Labor Day sale will also follow a buy-more-save-more structure. Get 20% off online purchases of $300 or more, 25% off $400 and upwards, 30% off $500 and up.
Halston: Use code LABORDAY to get an additional 30% off sale and clearance items at L.A. luxury brand Halston starting on August 24 and going through September 4.
Hanky Panky: For an underwear overhaul, head on over to Hanky Panky, where select styles will be up to 60% off from August 30 through September 5.
Havaianas: Stock up on flip-flops (vacation will come back before you know it!) with 25% off full-priced online purchases from August 31 through September 7
Joe’s Jeans: Joe’s Jeans has a two-in-one code for Labor Day weekend if you’re looking for a denim fix: Enter LD30 at checkout to enjoy 30% off select styles and get free shipping.
Kate Spade New York: In the market for a new bag or wallet? Find one in stores or online at Kate Spade New York, where all full-priced items will be 30% Labor Day weekend.
Lord & Taylor: With the code LABORDAY, get 20% off regular-priced items and 25% off women’s clearance online. The retailer will also have a buy-one-get-one-50%-off deal on denim. Both promotions will run from August 30 through September 5.
ModCloth: Shoppers will enjoy 20% off all purchases, 25% off orders of $100 or more, and 30% off hauls that are over $200, all Labor Day weekend.
NYDJ: From August 31 to September 5, get 20% off two items or 30% off three items or more . Consider this your signal to stock up on every kind of denim this Labor Day weekend.
Old Navy: We can always count on Old Navy for a good deal—and its Labor Day weekend sale is no exception. From August 31 through September 4, get 50% off all jeans, dresses, and tees (except for clearance).
Rachel Rachel Roy: Looking for a new dress or swimsuit? Head on over to Rachel Rachel Roy, where sale items will be an extra 30% off from August 31 through September 3.
White + Warren: Cozy wraps and other warm things from White + Warren are up to 60% off until Labor Day. Stock up before it actually gets cold.
Posted by Staff Writer at 12:35 AM
News: Fashion, Beauty and Retail , Shopping like a Pro |
0 What’s a Mystery Box?
Not to be confused with beauty boxes, which send you sample or medium-sized products via a monthly subscription, mystery boxes are exactly what they sound like: “surprise me” packages.
Essentially, you pay $X for a “mystery box” or “mystery bag” and the company sends you one or more items valued at more than what you paid. The items included are typically excess inventory that the company wants to move off their virtual shelves, creating a sort of win-win for both parties. In short: the buyer gets a good deal and the company makes way for new stock.
Companies That Sell Them
For example, ModCloth recently offered up a “mystery shoe” and “mystery garment” option on their website for $15 each. Instead of adding a specific item to your cart, you added the “mystery item,” specified your size and headed to check out. A week or so later, buyers got a package at their door with absolutely no idea what was nestled inside. All “mystery bag” buyers know is that the item is worth more than what they paid for (the ModCloth item retailed between $30 and $300, for example), which definitely makes for a fun mail day.
Of course, ModCloth isn’t the only company participating in the mystery bag bonanza. Companies such as Old Navy, Burt’s Bees, Julep Maven, JewelMint and BaubleBar — even sellers on Amazon, eBay and Etsy — have offered their own renditions.
Sometimes it’s a mystery item they’ll throw in with $X spent on other items. Other times it’s an actual gift card. For example, Victoria’s Secret is currently offering a “free secret reward card” with every $10 online purchase that’s valued between $10 and $500. These are essentially incentives to spend more.
Personal Experiences
I’m not going to lie. I find the whole thing very enticing. There’s something about scoring a good deal and getting a surprise in your mailbox that makes me want to jump on the “mystery box” train trend and never get off. And yes, I did buy the ModCloth mystery garment box offered last week.
The day it showed up on my doorstep was an exciting one and I could barely wait until company left to tear the box open. Inside was an adorable dress, titled the “Helsinki Prom Dress,” with a black tulle bottom and stretchy black top. Perfect for an evening soiree. The only problem? When I tried it on it was too small. I had specified a size medium and received a size small.
I spoke to another woman, Chicago resident and lifestyle blogger Michelle Shea Walker, who partook in the ModCloth mystery bag surprise, as well. Her results? “It was a dress that just wasn’t really my style, so I gave it away on a contest on my blog,” she told me. She also said the fit wasn’t flattering to her coloring or her figure. “I’d do it again just for the fun if budget allowed. It’s kind of exciting waiting for the surprise.”
It’s not always a sour experience, though. For example, a blogger at TheSwatchingSprite (a nail polish blog), purchased a mystery box from Julep Maven. “You’d pay $19.99 for a box that could contain anything from $60-$200…worth of products,” she writes. “I thought it would be fun to participate. I ordered my box within a couple of hours of them announcing it.” The verdict? Amazing, according to her. “The first thing I saw was the $120 gift card jumping out at me! Before I could look any further, I was running into the other room to wave my certificate in front of my husband’s face.” She also received a plethora of satisfactory products.
Is It Worth Your Money?
This all brings me to my next point. These mystery boxes are a gamble. If you don’t like the item or it doesn’t fit, in most cases you’re S.O.L.
You buy. They ship. End of story.
In my specific case, because ModCloth had sent the wrong size when I specified a medium, I did get a refund and got to keep the dress. If they had sent the right size and it didn’t fit, though, I would have a dress that didn’t fit and a bank account with a $15 debit. That’s not the kind of surprise I like.
When it comes down to it, is the element of surprise worth it to you? You’ll be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t love surprises, but there’s always the argument that you could spend the same $15 on a discounted product you picked out yourself. And is the reason these items are being sent off for at least half their price because they’re bad sellers? Or off trend and out of season?
If you’ve had any mystery bag experiences, please share them in the comment section here or on our Facebook page. We’d love to hear both positive and negative experiences.
By Wendy Rose Gould
Posted by Wendy Rose Gould at 09:00 AM
bargain news , Insights , Opinions , Saving Tips , SHOPPING , Shopping News , Tips Guides |
0 While the average consumer looks at Cyber Monday as at some kind of deal raid, we at The Stylish City understand that deals happen every day if you know where to look for. Having said that, we are not going to be the ones to ignore a day like today, which is expected to leave behind the billion dollar scored by Black Friday. While most Cyber Monday sales are on electronics (Target, Wal-Mart, Tiger Direct, Newegg) we found a couple of stylish offers in our mailbox. Remember though ladies, it’s called “Cyber Monday” for a reason, the sales take place only online.
Cyber Monday Offer At Belle and Clive
Cyber Monday Clearance At Zappos
Cyber Monday at Saks Fifth Avenue
Cyber Monday at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy
Posted by Mirela Gluck at 01:54 PM
bargain news , Opinions |
