Cheryl shops for a vacation
I am off to Chicago on Wednesday, so posts are going to be spotty for the next two weeks, what with the holidays and all. Please feel free to comment or e-mail me if you come across any particularly good post-holiday sales. I will definitely be back in full effect on January 2nd. Happy shopping!
Website of the week
Because I am totally into the Christmas spirit this week, the website of the week is not about fashion or shopping--it's about giving. Everyone's favorite upscale furniture emporium, ABC Carpet & Home, has set up a lovely website called ABC Home & Planet, devoted to the art of giving charitably. A small but high-quality list of gifts is divided into "gifts of compassion" and "gifts to visionary organizations." The recipients are varied, from giving a milk-producing goat to a child in the Caribbean to making a donation to the New York-based Housing Works, which helps people suffering from HIV and AIDS. All of the causes are explained in detail, and unlike buying furniture at ABC, you don't need to drop thousands of dollars--literacy for an Afghan girl is just $75. Of course, this is ABC, so a certificate of your good deed comes in a pretty bejeweled bag. And, as an added bonus, the gifts are 100% tax deductible. But gift bags and tax breaks aside, the best part is getting into the true spirit of the season and giving, because god knows a Cambodian family needs a water buffalo more than you need that cashmere sweater.
The week in shopping
C'mon, aren't you sick of shopping yet?

For the Upper East Side young socialite look, check out Tuleh, where their spring and fall collection is a whopping 75%-90% off. Through 12/21; 11-6; 181 Chrystie St.

Elizabeth Charles has Australian designs marked down by 30%. Through 1/5; noon-7:30, noon-6:30 Sun., closed Mon.; 639 1/2 Hudson St. (at Horatio St.).

My favorite shoes, Sigerson Morrison, are 30% off. Bags too, at the 242 Mott St. location. Through 1/2; 11-7, noon-6 Sun.; 28 Prince St. (at Elizabeth St.).

Rafe's downtown-chic handbags and shoes are 30%-50% off. Through 12/24; noon-8, noon-7 Fri. and Sat., noon-6 Sun.; 1 Bleecker St. (at Bowery).

Gianfranco Ferre's very Italian mens's and women's clothing is up to 80% off. Through 12/22; 9-6:30 Tue., 9-5 Wed.; Parsons School of Design, 560 7th Avenue (at 40th St.), 2nd fl.

Get 5% off your order and free ground shipping at recent Cheryl Shops website of the week Vogue Handbags when you enter code VHSALE.

Select styles are 30% off at PinkMascara.com.

This week, Clothingline again has Ben Sherman and Evisu for men and women (as well as all the stuff they had last week, including Kooba bags, Mavi jeans, and more). My boss TC said they had a lot of good stuff, but mostly in size large and up. 361 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Take 30% off everything at former Cheryl Shops website of the week Le Train Bleu when you enter code "Merci" at checkout.

Nearly everything at yet another Cheryl Shops website of the week NYC General Store is 20%-50% off.

And virtually every e-commerce site is offering free expedited shipping. Take advantage!
Coming soon
Dispersed throughout the countless last-minute-shopping e-mails I've been receiving from virtually every e-retailer in existence are e-mails announcing the arrival of the resort collections. Last year I had the pleasure of going to Roatan for the holiday, but this year I'll be freezing my ass off in good ol' NYC. So for those of you lucky bitches who are going somewhere, I'll provide a mini guide to resort wear. Look for it next week.
Sayonara, Yaya
So, tonight was the not-at-all-awaited season finale of America's Next Top Model, and as a reader posted here a few weeks ago, I was basically watching just to make sure Yack Yack didn't win. It was close (she was the runner-up), but as I predicted at least a month ago, Eva won. Big whoop-de-doo. This season was the worst so far, because with the exception of Norelle and maybe Toccara, none of the girls were likeable. Also, they all had some major flaw that, in the real world, wouldn't fly. Granted, this is a TV show, so it's more important for them to have interesting people than contestants who would actually make the best models. Has anyone seen Adrienne Curry since her spread in Marie Claire? I saw Yoanna in a toothpaste commercial--hardly the high-fashion work they touted on the show. Eva is cute and has personality, so she'll most likely end up being an actress of some sort. Yaya will probably be a UN translator or something equally obnoxious (no offense if any readers are UN translators; Yaya will be obnoxious doing it--the job, and the respectable people performing it, is not). I'm guessing Amanda will become some sort of spokesperson for the blind. And let's all hope Toccara has a successful career as a plus-size model, because after all she went through, she certainly deserves it.

One more note: I thought all the episodes in Japan were, in a word, dumb. I think the producers just wanted to go to Tokyo and shoot all the Harajuku girls. And I have a feeling that real-life top models like Gisele or Daria aren't strapping on the kimonos and performing tea ceremonies for cranky Japanese businessmen. (Seriously, what was that?) I know Japan is a "fashion capital," but I feel like no one in the U.S. cares. Paris, yes. Milan, yes. New York, of course. Tokyo? Not so much. (Disclaimer: I went to Japan in 2002 and had a blast. The clothes are awesome, but I didn't buy any because a large in Japan is a size 6 here, and no shoe is bigger than a 37.) Let's stay more mainstream next season, okay?

There's a new season of ANTM coming in spring 2005, so in the meantime, I'll be watching Project Runway, my new favorite show. I won't be doing weekly updates (unless everyone really wants me to), but I will do a little reporting during the spring 2003 fashion shows, when the three finalists will present their collections. Keep an eye out for it.
Website of the week
Last week I reached the end of one of my favorite candles. I went around the corner to Flight 001, where I had purchased it, but they no longer carry the brand. I panicked for a second, then came home and Googled the name, and lo and behold, I came across Aromapharmacy's website. I was pleased to find they not only carry candles, but various bath products as well. Most of the merchandise seems geared toward men (there's a heavy emphasis on shaving), but many items are unisex. Aromapharmacy has a whole philosophy, which is that plants have therapeutic qualities, so they blend them in aromatherapeutic quantities and make nifty bath products. (They're based in Los Angeles, hence the nature-loving.) The website is organized simply, by type of product. I was most familiar with the prescription candles (get it? Aroma-pharmacy?); I have Niagra and Valiumello (the one I ran out of), but the candles come in a ton of scents, including the self-explanatory Hung-Over and Thin-Thin. One of the best parts about the candles is the cost: At $14, the larger size is almost a quarter of the price of a (admittedly, very good-smelling) Diptyque candle. As for other products, the Pre-Op hand soap looks promising; Aromaid kits have essential aromatherapeutic oils; and for the man in your life, the shaving kit features three full-size shaving products for $30--quite a good deal. Hmm, one shaving kit for your man, many candles for you!
An article that will make you feel much better about yourself
So, I like to think of myself as a pretty generous person. And I really enjoy shopping for and giving gifts. But while shopping for said gifts, I almost always end up buying stuff for myself too, and this has always made me feel awful. Like, "Jesus, Cheryl, can you for once not shop for yourself?" (The answer, apparently, is no.) But upon reading this article in today's New York Times, about women who, ahem, shop for themselves during prime Christmas shopping season, I felt waaay better. Especially when I read about the woman who dropped $900 on a jacket for herself. Good god, woman! So, go out, spend some money on your loved ones, spend some money on yourself, and don't feel bad about it. A dollar is a dollar is a dollar, and it all helps the economy. Right?
Not so much
Guest shopper SL hit the Hanro sale today. Here's her take on the event:

Hanro sample sale? Sucks. Only old lady nightgowns, most of
which are ugly and/or shrunken and ungiftable even to moms and aunts. 
Didn't really go through the bras and panties, but was told by others
at the sale that those, too, sucked.


In summary, don't waste your time (unless, of course, you like old lady nightgowns).
The week in shopping
Judging by all the jewelry and handbag sales happening, I'd say this week's sales are geared toward last-minute shoppers, a.k.a men. But for us ladies, there's Catherine Malandrino, Paul & Joe, and more.

Frenchy Catherine Malandrino has halter dresses for $179 (were $348), silk skirts for $149 (were $338), sweaters for $149 (were $328), jackets for $299 (were $598), and blouses for $139 (were $398). 12/16-12/21; 9-7, 11-4 weekends; 275 W. 39th St. (8th Ave.), 6th fl.

Hanro makes some of the softest cotton underpinnings out there; everything is up to 75% off at this sale. 12/14-12/15; 8-6 Tue., 8-4 Wed.; 40 E. 34th St. (at Madison), ste. 819.

The always excellent Find Outlet has one of my favorite labels, Paul & Joe. Wool coats are $321, sweaters are $148, and skirts are $140. If I weren't completely broke from Christmas shopping, I would so be there. 12/16-12/19; noon-7; 361 W. 17th St. (8th & 9th Aves.).

Unis has great, sort of vintagey men's and women's apparel for up to 75% off. Through 12/16; 11-7; 226 Elizabeth St. (at Prince St.).

Neal Decker's innovative handbags and totes are $30-$75, up to 75% off. 12/15-12/17; 11-6; 153 W. 27th St. (6th & 7th Aves.), ste. 700.

Catch a Fire by Cedella Marley has brightly colored womenswear for 305-80% off. 12/15-12/17; 9-7, 9-5 Fri.; 632 Broadway (at Bleecker), ste. 901.

Gerard Yosca's sparkly costume jewelry is 50%-90% off at this cash-only sale. 12/15-12/17; 10-6, 10-4 Fri.; 39 W. 38th

Moyna handbags and other accessories are $22-$95. 12/14-12/17; 10-6; 225 W. 35th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 12th fl.

Mom will love Joan Vass' chic, simple clothes for $25-$300. 12/15; 10-5; 36 E. 31st St. (5th & Madison), 3rd fl.

M+J Savitt's bling is 40%-60% off; call 212-684-4221 ext. 106 to make an appointment. Through 12/16; 9-6; 475 5th Ave. (at 40th St.), 20th fl.

If you're really generous and in a last-minute-gift situation Michael C. Fina's super-expensive household accessories are on sale. 12/14-12/17; 9-6:30, 9-5 Fri.; Parsons School of Design, 560 7th Ave. (at 40th St.), 2nd fl.

Armani is having a sale, with 40% off fall/winter items. Go to the website for locations.

Select items are 40% off at Agnes B. as well. Go to the website for store locations.

Get 20% off at Bloomingdales.com through 12/16 when you enter code FF4PCC at checkout.

I got this e-mail last week, so no guarantees on there being anything left, but Gabay's received a shipment of shoes by Hollywould, Dior, Tod's and more for 50%-60% off.

eLuxury.com is having a pre-holiday sale with items up to 40% off (including Citizens of Humanity jeans!).

This week at the Shop at Style.com, Kate Spade, Cole Haan, Freeze 24/7 face cream, Marciano clothing, Tiffini Dooris jewelry, Gentry de Paris lingerie, and MZ Wallace bags.

Sweaters are on sale at Gap.

This week, Clothingline has Mavi and Seven jeans, Smith's, Kooba and Buzz by Jane Fox bags, and more. 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.).

Last-minute Lord & Taylor coupons. Use 'em Thursday and onward...

Starting 12/17, fall/winter items are up to 70% off at BCBG stores.
Cheryl shops...a bunch of sales that are over now, and Theory
Today was the Macys.com holiday luncheon, then we got to go home at 3! Yay! So, of course, I went shopping. First I hit the White + Warren sale (today was the last day). They had a lot of nice but very basic sweaters, most of which were $85, but turtlenecks were $50 for some reason. I think White + Warren makes pretty high-quality cashmere, especially compared to some other brands, but the styles are a bit generic.

Which was a huge contrast to Inhabit (today was also the last day for this one), where I wanted to buy every sweater they had. Inhabit had plain v-necks, but they were in different muted colors; they also had wrap sweaters, ponchos, and really interesting pointelle-type knits and other sweaters with innovative textures. I ended up buying a high-quality cotton tank top and a sort-of matching superlight cashmere sweater that has this drapey, ruffle-type thing on both sides--kind of like an open cardigan, but you can probably experiment with brooches and pin it in different ways. Prices were incredibly reasonable--I didn't see anything for more than $100. The sale is over (sorry!), but I signed up for the mailing list, so I'll definitely let you know about the next one.

My final stop was Clothingline for the much-hyped (yes, by me too--I'm guilty) Theory sale. I was, in a word, disappointed. There were a lot of pants, I guess, but they were all in plain black or khaki cotton for the most part, and do I really need another pair of black cotton trousers? (I think I own about eight pairs, so, no.) They had a few ugly blazers, even uglier skirts, and some basic knitwear--nice cashmere sweaters for $80 or so, T-shirts, tanks, etc. They also had a lot of "tailor" suit separates, which appeared to be no different from regular Theory separates, other than that they were made of wool and were only 40% off (as opposed to everything else at 60% off). That was about it. Granted, I waited until Thursday afternoon to hit the sale, so I'm sure if I had gone on, say, Monday, there would've been a better selection. Still, I was disappointed, and I think I would've preferred 70% off--you can get better deals at the Theory outlet store at Woodbury Commons.
Buy it
My god, I have no idea how I have existed these past four or five years with a dial-up connection. I just installed my cable modem, and I feel like a new woman. People, if you're still using a dial-up connection, please contact Time Warner and get a cable modem. It will change your life.
The Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide Bonus Edition: Your Girlfriend (For Guys)
Because we all know you haven't even started shopping yet.

For the girl who appreciates subtle luxuries: You don't have to drop $1,000 on a designer handbag to make your woman happy (seriously), but a little Louis Vuitton agenda can put a smile on her face every time she peeks inside her bag.

For the girl who thinks she's Carrie (or Miranda, or Charlotte, or Samantha): She probably already has all six Sex and the City seasons on DVD, so she'd love this behind-the-scenes book written by Amy Sohn.

For the girl who enjoys dressing up: La Perla lingerie may be the classiest, but Agent Provocateur is way sexier. Need proof? Check out this Fifi slip.

For the sophisticated lady: Imagine how elegant she'll look with Kimberly Faith's gorgeous opera necklace draped around her neck.

For the old-school dame: She'll look totally chic when she travels and carries this Bobbi Brown train case. Granted, no one really looks glamorous when they travel anymore, but one can try.

For the progressive feminist: If you're a guy, you probably don't remember the scene in Father of the Bride when the daughter freaks out because her fiancee gets her a blender and she views it as a symbol of repression of women, etc. If your girl could give a crap about such issues, get her DeLonghi's commercial stainless steel blender so she can make smoothies and, more importantly, margaritas.

For the girl who's always cold: Personally, I'm either freezing my ass off or sweating like a hog, but I know many girls who are always shivering. So buy her this Juicy Couture fur-lined hoodie and end her teeth-chattering ways.

For the girl who always smells good: I can't give away any secrets here, but Red Flower makes some of the best-smelling products on earth. Take your pick of lotions, bath gels, candles, or all of the above.

For the girl you're afraid to buy clothes for: I can't think of any girl who wouldn't like this Cardi-wrap sweater, which can be individualized in umpteen ways.

For any girl: I think Boucher's four-inch duster earrings would look good on just about anyone, and you can get them in your choice of stone.
Random notes
1) Tomorrow I'm going to jump into the 21st century and get a cable modem. Hopefully this will assist in my doing Cheryl Shops from home.

2) Inevitably, Women's Wear Daily discovered I'd been reading it for free for years (I'm guessing other people were doing it, too) and upgraded its website, so now you can't read anything without a subscription. Bastards. So, unfortunately, I will no longer be linking to it.

3) Along those same lines, while I had much free time to read the various online fashion publications at my old job, I am actually quite busy at my new job. So, in the interest of having some time to myself when I get home from work, I'll no longer be posting a daily digest. I will post some noteworthy news stories as they occur, but it will not be a regular Cheryl Shops feature anymore. Of course, please feel free to comment on this decision; if a lot of people miss daily digest, I'll consider bringing it back.
Website of the week
All of a sudden, for some reason, I am obsessed with designer handbags. I have a Gucci Jackie O bag (it was a college graduation gift to myself), a buttery leather Miu Miu messenger bag, and a vintage Dior logo doctor bag, but other than that, I tend to prefer more quirky, individualistic bags from smaller designers. But not anymore. A few weeks ago, I saw this woman at my nail salon with the most gorgeous tan leather hobo-type bag; I asked her where it was from, and she said Gucci. With a bit more research, I determined this was the large Gucci horsebit hobo and that Jessica Simpson owns, like, four of them. Bitch. Anyway, the bag retails for $1,290 and is routinely waitlisted, although there are pretty good knockoffs going for about $350 on eBay if you're into that sort of thing (I am not). Then I saw a picture of Gwyneth Paltrow (someone who, if you're a regular Cheryl Shops reader, you know I totally idolize in terms of style) with the Balenciaga Le Dix bag, and now I'm completely obsessed with that one (I think it would go better with my cheetah-print fur coat anyway). So in my search for affordable (ha!) designer handbags, I came across Vogue Handbags. All bags sold here are authentic but are 30%-70% off retail prices because they're bought directly from the vendors (hence saving you the retail markup). They have a concentrated selection and carry only Gucci, Fendi, Prada, Tod's, Luella, Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, and Lambertson Truex--wallets and handbags for the first four brands, handbags only for the latter four. You can shop by brand or search--the site isn't too complex. The deals, however, are pretty good. You can get this current-season Fendi bag for $289 (61% off), a basic Prada bag for $109, and not quite so cheap but still a good deal, this Gucci horsebit bag for $429, which is 37% off. But most importantly, they have my Balenciaga Le Dix bag, as well as my coveted Marc Jacobs Stella tote, in basic black no less! Granted, $800 is still a bit out of my price range, but I signed up for the mailing list and I'm going to wait for a coupon to come, and then I'm going to pounce.
A tale of two shoppers
MK and I both hit the Girlshop sample sale preview (for members only) today; MK was there at noon when the sale opened, and I went after work, at 6:30-ish. Here are our reflections on the sale, MK first:

wallet...hurting...ow, ow, owww...

I just dropped over $300 at the girlshop sale. Ow...
On the bright side, throwin' down a wad of 20's bought me some sweet
goodies! I got there before they opened for VIP day. They had two
boxes of funky silk-lined cashmere Priorities sweaters for $65 each,
so I picked one up in garnet. Of course I raided the jewelry counter
and plucked the prize pieces out right away: Two awesome Double
Happiness bracelets made with Swarovski crystals and gorgeous gold
clasps, and one asymmetrically-delicious semiprecious necklace by
Maya Brenner. Also scored two gorgeous black tops for going out, one
looks sort of gothic Lolita-ish. They'd better fit.

There were two racks of Guyshop menswear, but nothing
impressive...just a bunch of rock tees and unimpressive button-down
shirts. Cute little Totshop section, and a good number of
handbags (T-bags, Felix Rey, Julie Brown). However the nicer purses
were only marked down to like $150, not exactly a steal. Lots of
scarves, hats, and nice leather driving gloves. The women's tops are
so cute this year. There were some boots for sale, but I didn't take
a good look.


Now, my impression. Petty things first, the e-mail from Girlshop noted that they've moved to a different, "more spacious" location. I beg to differ. I could barely move, and I didn't even think the sale was that crowded. The layout was just not conducive to movement. Anyway, I was a bit disappointed in that they only had one small table of jewelry (usually the best part of a Girlshop SS). If you like the clothes, however, they had way more than usual, although the labels represented were definitely of the more indie variety. I saw some great embroidered tunics, silk dresses and skirts, tweed, knit tops, and tees. There are a lot of handknit hats and scarves, as well as leather gloves. As MK mentioned, there are a lot of bags, but very few for less than $100 (the exception to this being a lot of cute Loop tote bags and sequined purses). There are some shoes from Costanca Basto, two racks of guys' stuff, and some cute kids' stuff. As for jewelry, I got a gorgeous necklace from Double Happiness and some earrings and a bunch of bangles with little critters on them from Oscar and Nancy. Somehow that came out to $107. Anyway, it's worth checking out for the quirky accessories and clothing, but I wouldn't recommend looking for anything specific from the website.

The week in shopping
It's T-minus 18 days till Christmas and the sales are in full effect. A smattering of this week's offerings...

Sale of the week: Clothingline's twice-yearly Theory is a sure thing. Women's pants, sweaters, shirts, jackets, outerwear, and more are 60% off retail (and often get marked down as the week goes on). Through 12/9; 10-6, 10-7 Tue. & Thurs.; 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Another must-shop sale this week is the Girlshop sample sale (also featuring items from sister sites Guyshop and Totshop). They've moved to a bigger space, too! 12/8-12/12; noon-8, noon-6 Sun.; 819 Washington St. (Little West 12th & Gansevoort Sts.).

I love Eberjey's retro-girlie lingerie; undies, camis, nighties, and swimwear is 50%-75% off. 12/9-12/10; 9-7; 40 E. 34th St. (Park & Madison), ste. 610.

Do you really need a reason to go to Helmut Lang's sample sale? Okay, how about past collections for men and women at wholesale and below? Through 12/9; 10-6; 80 Greene St. (Spring & Broome Sts.).

Find party-ready silk frocks and separates at Miguelina's sale; items are $35-$250. 12/7-12/10; 11-6; 20 W. 36th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), 6th floor.

I am sad to say I still don't own a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, but I could pick one up at this sale, where they're $125, and tops are $75. 12/7-12/10; 9-8, 9-3 Fri.; 260 5th Ave. (at 28th St.).

For the girly-girls, Lulu Guinness handbags and accessories and Tibi clothing are up to 75% off. 12/8-12/10; 10-5; 230 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 16th floor.

Inhabit's excellent cashmere sweaters are a very affordable $20-$150. 12/7-12/9; 10-7:30; 1441 Broadway (40th & 41st Sts.); ste 3101.

Very feminine Lauren Merkin totes, clutches, and handbags are 40&-70% off at this sale. 12/7-12/9; 11-7; 231 W. 29th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), ste. 201.

Get cashmere sweaters and tees from Three Dots for a bargain $60-$100; 12/8-12/10; 10-5; 230 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 14th fl.

I'm inclined not to shop at the Nanette Lepore sample sale because 1) she was kind of a bitch on America's Next Top Model, and 2) because it's cash only. But her coats are now $250 (were $528), tops are $115 (were $230), and cardigans are $110 (were $218). 12/9-12/10; 9-6; 225 W. 35th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 6th fl.

Colette Malouf turns out some of the most innovative accessories out there. At this sale, they're 60% off. 12/10-12/11; 10-7 Fri., 11-6 Sat.; 594 Broadway (Houston & Prince Sts.), ste. 1214.

Perlina handbags are $20-$100 (that's up to 70% off) and wallets are $10 at this sample sale. Through 12/12; 10 W. 33rd St. (5th & Broadway), ste. 210.

Menswear maestro John Varvatos is hosting a sample sale for his womenswear line, with prices 50%-80% off retail (many are under $150). 12/8-12/10; noon-8 Wed., 8-8 Thurs., 8-7 Fri.; 26 W. 17th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), 12th fl.

New York Dog has dog carriers, collars, leashes, beds, toys, and more at their sample sale; carriers start at $15. 12/8-12/12; 8-8, 9-6 Sat., 10-6 Sun.; 133 W. 25th St. (6th & 7th Aves.), ste. 8 West. -

Auro has all manner of trendy accessories, from wraps to ponchos to capelets; prices are $20-$90 (retail $150-$300). 12/8-12/10; 9-5; 7 W. 36th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), 13th fl.

Huge in the '70s and '80s, Carlos Falchi's handbags are here to stay, and at this sale, they're up to 70%t off. 12/8-12/10; 10-6:30; 260 W. 39th St., (at 7th Ave.), 16th fl.

Lola hats are up to 80% off at this cash-only sale. 12/8-12/10; 10-7; 535 8th Ave. (at 36th St.), 20th fl.

The very high-end Michelle Roth and Henry Roth bridal gowns are $795 and under (normally $2,500-$10,000) at this sale. 12/11; 9-5; 24 W. 57th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), ste. 203.

I saw the cutest White + Warren sweater in the Neiman Marcus resort catalogue; I hope they have it at this sale, where their famed cashmere sweaters are $25 and up. 12/8-12/9; 8-6; 80 W. 40th St. (at 6th Ave.), 3rd fl.

Highly coveted Area linens are $4-$150. 12/8-12/9; 10-8 Wed., 9-7 Thurs.; 180 Varick St. (at King St.), ste. 936.

Swedish line J. Lindeberg is 60%-80% off at this sample sale. 12/9-12/12; noon-7, noon-6 Sat., 1-5 Sun.; 588 Broadway (at Prince St.), ste. 908.

Yoana Baraschi's very feminine clothes are $39-$99 (were $130-$225). 12/7-12/9; 8:30-6, 8:30-7 Fri.; 330 W. 38th St., (8th & 9th Aves.)., ste. 502.

Maya knitwear is 60% off. 12/7-12/10; 11-7; 58 Thomas St. (at W. Broadway).

Get it done right at queen of fur Adrienne Landau's sale, where fur accessories are $10 and up. 12/7-12/17; 10-7, 10-4 Sun.; 225 W. 35th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 14th fl.

Nautica's preppy clothes are 60% off. Through 10/9; 10-6, 10-3 Fri.; 40 W. 57th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), 8th fl.

Cousin Claudine's semiprecious handcrafted jewelry is $1-$90; Through 12/10; 8-6, 8-5:30 Sat.; 228 E. 45th St. (2nd & 3rd Aves.), 2nd fl.

Malo knitwear for men and women is 75% off. Through 12/8; 9-6:30 Tue., 9-5 Wed.; Parsons School of Design, 560 7th Ave. (at 40th St.), 2nd fl.

Stores in New York currently having sales of 30% off or more:
Bergdorf Goodman, 5th Ave. at 57th St.
Balenciaga, 542 W. 22nd St.
Bottega Veneta, 697 5th Ave.
Calypso, 426 Broome St.
Christian Dior, 21 E. 57th St.
Chanel, 139 Spring St. (at Greene)
D&G, 434 W. Broadway
Etro, 720 Madison Ave.
Gucci, 685 5th Ave.
Issey Miyake, 992 Madison (at 77th), 119 Hudson (at N. Moore St.).
Jeffrey New York, 449 W. 14th St.
Kirna Zabete, 96 Greene St. (Prince & Spring Sts.)
Ralph Lauren, 379 W. Broadway
Seven New York, 180 Orchard (Stanton & Houston Sts.)

For a limited time, get 10% off Herman Miller products at Retromodern.com, Design Within Reach, and Highbrowfurniture.com.
The Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide: Babies and Pets
Things that make you go, "Awww..."

For a fashionista baby Gywneth Paltrow's daughter, Apple, wears 'em, so you know baby Uggs are the real deal.

For the fashionista pet (but, really, more for you): One of the best parts about having a little toy dog is that you can carry it around in cute carriers like the Charlie bag, a pretty good knockoff of Marc Jacobs' Stella tote.

For a baby who's outside a lot: Since we're New Yorkers who rely on walking and public transportation, we don't have the luxury of carting our kids around in warm, heated cars. So swaddle the kid in Gap's sherpa bundler, which is sure to keep your wee one toasty. For bonus cute points, add the matching hat.

For the cat who rules your apartment: Your cat probably already knows he or she is royalty, but this crown-adorned Swarovski collar will remind you daily.

For the baby with Linus aspirations: If the kid's going to drag its blanket around everywhere for the next six or seven years, it might as well be cute. Hence, Red Envelope's lamb blanket. Cue cooing.

For the New Age baby: If Mom's at Jivamukti every morning at 9, get the kid this Little Yogi Kit so he can start his "practice" at a ripe, early age.

For the eccentric baby: Granted, most New York City babies are a bit on the eccentric side, but it takes true personality to pull off this vintage-y sock monkey sweater.

For a dog with a strong personality: You can't put this ladylike sweater on a German Shepherd. And as much as I think it's totally dorky when people dress up their pets, this sweater is just too hilarious.

For any baby: A little baby probably won't appreciate Kiehl's baby gift set, but rest assured, his parents will--if only to steal the products for themselves.

For any pet: When boring ceramic or stainless steel won't do, Jonathan Adler's pet bowls work for both cats and dogs.
Coming tomorrow
Just as I hit "publish" on the final installment of the Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide, my computer crashed. Thanks, crappy dial-up connection! Anyway, I'll be posting that and sales for the week late Monday night. Please keep checking back and bear with me as tomorrow is my first day of work at my new job.
Notes
*Seeing as how it's 1:30 a.m. now, I'll be publishing a catch-up news digest tomorrow.

*I was really excited about my website of the week, but upon further examination, I discovered that you can't actually buy anything there (for the record, it was JasmineSola.com, the website of the popular Boston chain, which is a more affordable, and, in my opinion, better, version of Scoop). So due to time constraints, there will be no website of the week this week. Sorry.

*Amazingly, there are more sales. I will try to post them tomorrow, but if not, hopefully I'll get around to it sometime this weekend.

*Tomorrow is my last day of work, and I am so excited. I'm off to pick out my outfit now!
The Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide: Your Sister or Girlfriend
Granted, some of this stuff would be better for your sister, and some would be better for your girlfriend. I'll try to make a distinction.

For the gal on the go: Dior's Temptations set has toner, lip gloss, and mascara--all essentials--and comes in a cute makeup bag that can double as a small purse. Perfect for your little sister, or for your girlfriend to leave at your place for morning-after touch-ups.

For the health nut: Is yoga still trendy? Ah, who cares--it's important to be flexible. And this striped yoga mat will make those sun salutations far less tedious.

For the liberated gal: All I have to say is, if the Accuvibe is good enough for Samantha Jones, it's good enough for your girl.

For the party girl: At first I saw this mini Moet belt and laughed my ass off. But it's kind of cool, isn't it? I can see Kate Moss wearing it, keeping all the models tipsy during Fashion Week.

For the US Weekly reader: Everyone's favorite busy 18-year-old, Lindsay Lohan, stars in the Dooney & Bourke ads, so a gal who follows her every jiggle would love one of these (actually very cute) coin purses.

For the girl with idle hands: Let me tell you, my life has changed drastically since I learned how to knit. But if you'd prefer to learn to crochet (it's supposedly much easier), Loop's crochet kit will do the trick.

For the not-reckless-at-all driver: Prove you're the more responsible sibling by getting your younger sister this woman-friendly BarbaraK! Roadside Safety Kit. Your parents will thank you.

For the accessory maven: Chances are she's ashamed of the ugly black nylon case that came with her iPod, so get her this e.vil iPod case, an appropriately girly mix of gold lamé and pink fabric.

For the girl who's so over her Tiffany's bracelet: Replace it with this surprisingly understated and affordable Juicy Couture charm bracelet.

For pretty much any girl: Even if she's a bag snob, chances are she'll love this sherpa-trimmed cargo hobo from the Gap. And if not, hey, she can exchange it for something better, Sport!
The Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide: Your Boyfriend or Brother
After working at a men's magazine for two and a half years, I should know.

For the gadget dork: Now that he has an iPod, he's so over CDs. With this inMotion portable audio system, he can ditch the monster stereo system. Unless, of course, he has his home theatre system hooked up to it...

For the guy who always has at least three days' worth of beard growth: Drop a hint with this Art of Shaving gift set, which features all the tools he needs to execute an old-school shave, plus a 100-page book extolling the virtues of a clean-shaven man.

For the guy who's always checking his cell phone for the time: This Diesel leather-strap watch looks more like a cool, sleek cuff bracelet than a watch, and its innovative design is definitely a good conversation-starter.

For the guy whose wallet is the size of a brick: Once he removes those three-year-old gas station receipts and movie ticket stubs, he can put his cards, money, and a picture of you in this perforated leather J-Fold wallet.

For the guy with a strong inner 12-year-old: The guys in my office are going nuts for the Nintendo DS, which, from what I can tell, is like a souped-up GameBoy. For amusement at the expense of others, read the user reviews.

For the stylish guy: The cool thing about this Ben Sherman Mercury sweater is that I can picture guys with a range of styles wearing it--prepsters can wear it with a polo shirt and docksiders, hipsters can pair it with thrift-store pants and Converse sneakers, and even hip-hop guys can rock it with baggy jeans and Timbs. (Yeah, I'm down with the lingo!)

For the guy who still carries his backpack from college: If he's an big boy now, it's time to upgrade to a big-boy bag. This Hugo Boss St. Moritz messenger bag is sleek, but utilitarian enough not to scream metrosexual.

For the football enthusiast: MW and his friend CK play some football game on PlayStation for hours on end. I can only imagine the fun they'd have with this EA Sports Madden Football Mat.

For the sk8r boy: Crazy Jackass Bam Margera designed a line of skateboards for Element, and this Comanche skateboard deck, vaguely reminiscent of The Partridge Family, is my favorite. Hopefully it won't be used to crash into bushes or a lake full of alligators.

For any guy: When in doubt, do your part to fight dirty-sock odor and buy him some new cologne. Some of my favorites: Dolce & Gabbana, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Burberry Brit.
Cheryl shops...the Lutz & Patmos sample sale
I hit the Lutz & Patmos sample sale after work today with high hopes, having bought gorgeous sweaters there the past two years. This year...yikes, whip out the AmEx Centurion. (Um, if you have one. In which case you're probably not reading this blog or shopping at sample sales, for that matter.) I saw one sweater for $150; there were several filmsy, not very soft sweaters for $175; most of the sweaters were $200, $250, or more. I was in a bit of sticker shock. Granted, Lutz & Patmos sweaters can retail for up to $1,600, and the ones they had for $450 were a gorgeous, probably 8-ply cashmere, but that was just a bit much for me. So I left empty-handed, but I think I might go back on Saturday afternoon to see if there are any markdowns. A girl can dream...
America's Next Top Model vs. Project Runway
I will readily admit that I watch a lot of TV, much of it reality shows. I may be snobby about fashion, but when it comes to TV, I'm not so classy. (Then again, is TV ever classy?) I am addicted to The OC (how about Cohen and the punk girl, eh?), for example. And while America's Next Top Model has been a highlight of my fall TV viewing schedule, I can now happily say that with the addition of Project Runway Wednesday has become Fashionista Reality TV Night.

However, I am quickly losing interest in ANTM. This season, there has been no Shandi (the ugly duckling-turned-swan) or Yoanna (fat duckling-turned-swan); basically, there are no truly likeable characters, because they're all bitches. (The exceptions to this, however, are Toccara, who got booted several weeks ago, and my favorite, Norelle, who was eliminated this week.) While casting such strong personalities may make for good television, there is no star, there is no one I really want to root for, and I feel like none of the contestants is going to make a kickass model, as opposed to last season, when, by the time they got down to the last four or five girls, any of them could've been a great choice as the winner. But now we're left with Yack Yack, who I hope to god gets kicked off soon because she is so goddamn annoying; Ann, who is gorgeous but can't pose for shit; Amanda, who is a friggin' model dinosaur at 25 years old; and Eva, who is so obviously going to win, I almost don't need to watch the show anymore. Eva's the only one who can walk and she's the most consistent in the photographs, but she turned off Tyra this week when she showed some emotion. I was like, What?!?! I give up.

I perked up considerably while watching Bravo's Project Runway, a reality show for aspiring clothing designers. It's hosted by Tyra Banks' fellow Victoria's Secret "Angel" Heidi Klum, who goes about her duties with a friendly chirpiness but quickly turns into a stern German hausfrau when it's judgment time. The contestants range from a mulleted recent Pratt graduate to a really annoying 41-year-old gown designer/mom from Washington. While a few showed some surprising insecurity, most of the designers are so flamboyant and cocky, it's fascinating to watch. Their first competition was to make an evening gown out of items from the grocery store; the winner constructed his from corn husks, and it was simply gorgeous. The guy who was eliminated was by far the most cocksure and egotistical (but, who I thought, made a pretty decent dress out of admittedly mundane materials). It takes a flamboyant personality to become the head of a clothing empire (hello, Michael Kors or Donna Karan), and as I watched the designers proudly, self-assuredly watch their designs parade down the runway, I knew this was going to be an interesting show.
Yet another reason I'm glad I'm leaving my job
Our Internet access went down at 1:30, and by the time I left work at 7:30, our e-mail was down as well. So while I had a ton of time to waste today (since no one had Internet access, no one could really do any work), I couldn't do anything useful like, oh, post stuff on Cheryl Shops. God willing, the ol' Internet will be up and running tomorrow, but if not, I will sacrifice my prime Apprentice viewing time to finish up the Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide, because I love all of you way more than I love the Donald.

So, coming Thursday (knock on wood): America's Next Top Model vs. Project Runway, Website of the week, Daily digest, and gift guides for the men and women in your life.

Thanks for your patience!
The Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide: Your Dad
He's quite possibly the hardest person in the world to shop for.

For the golf-loving dad: Golf tees, check. Ball markers, check. Golf ball, check. Flask, check! This golf flask gift set has all that Dad needs for a morning on the course. Will a nip of Scotch help his swing? It's worth a try...

For the indoor dad: This six-in-one game features chess, checkers, backgammon, dominoes, cribbage, dice, and cards--enough to keep him busy on a rainy day.

For the dad who's master of his domain: If you're a Seinfeld fan, that probably conjured up some really nasty images. Anyway, Seinfeld has finally come out on DVD, and the limited-edition gift set features episodes from the first three seasons, plus other goodies like playing cards and salt-and-pepper shakers. Serenity now!

For pretty much any dad: I've had a pair of Gap pajamas since middle school (we're talking at least 14 years, here) and hopefully these Gap pajamas will last him half as long.

For the Dostoevsky-loving dad: Crate & Barrel's vodka set keeps his beverage of choice ice-cold and ready to sip.

For the film snob dad: More and more when I travel, I see guys with a portable DVD player. Get your dad one and he'll never have to watch a bad J.Lo movie again.

For the dad who can appreciate luxury: J.Crew is undergoing a bit of a makeover, and their cashmere sweaters are top notch: an ultrafine 12-gauge knit, made in Italy, and available in an array of colors.

For the dad who doesn't watch Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: Kyan would freak if he saw the Safeguard soap and Old Spice in Dad's medicine cabinet, so give him Kiehl's Ultimate Man Collection for a QE-style "make better."

For the dad who loves irony: When A Christmas Story is on TV, my dad, who has a rather dry sense of humor, cackles uncontrollably. So I have a feeling he would love this leg lamp, an exact replica of the one featured in the movie. I have a feeling, however, that, much like the mom in the movie, my mom wouldn't appreciate it so much.

For the dad who keeps meaning to take that European vacation: If he still hasn't gone on his wine-tasting trip through Tuscany, Wine.com's Viva Italia gift set will save him $5,000. And we all know that saving money is what Dad likes best.
The Cheryl Shops Holiday Shopping Guide: Your Mom
Come on, she carried you in her womb for nine months!

For the eternally dieting mom: Now, if your mom is a very sensitive person, this is not the gift to get her. But I think the Sharper Image's carb scale is the coolest thing I've seen in awhile, especially for the low-carb dieter. Plunk down your whole-wheat pasta and it'll tell you how many carbs you'll be consuming, perfect for holiday negotiating ("Well, if I have one pumpkin spice cookie, I'll eat steak and lettuce for the rest of the day!").

For the mom who's picky about her surroundings: Jo Malone's travel set features three of her best-selling candles that can help Mom recreate that comforting environment anywhere from Alaska to Antigua.

For the geneology-obsessed mom: Red Envelope's family tree will help her visually organize everything, and it's monogrammable for that family-heirloom touch.

For the practical yet indulgent mom: My mom likes the Isotoner gloves that you buy at Sears, but if yours is a bit classier, try these cashmere-lined leather gloves from Nordstrom.

For the lounging-loving mom: Don't tell her I said this, but sometimes on the weekends, my mom never gets dressed. (Hey, she's retired.) So for days like that, a pretty robe, like this one from Anthropologie, is in order.

For the mom who hates to cook: In the morning she chops some vegetables, then tosses them and some meat and maybe some broth into the All-Clad Slow-Cooker. When she gets home from work, voila! Stew!

For the mom who loves to cook: My mom's recipe book is a binder filled with recipes my grandma copied by hand, then stuffed in the side pockets are hundreds of recipes my mom cut out of magazines and newspapers. For organizational purposes, you can't beat Soleberry's recipe notebook from French artist 100drine.

For the mom who likes to think she's still hip: Vince's cashmere poncho is stylish, but the forgiving cut of the poncho is something Mom can handle.

For the proud mom: Get Mom a Alex Woo number necklace for the number of kids, grandchildren, or, if she's Angelina Jolie, lovers she has. Or get her favorite number (lucky seven?). Or get her the five and pretend it's Chanel! (In case anyone was wondering, five is my favorite number.)

For the mom who has everything: Cowgirl Creamery has several cheese-of-the-month clubs to choose from. Yeah, it's a little wacky, but I doubt she already belongs to one.
Daily digest
WWD: After raves for his spring collection, Patrick Robinson is leaving Perry Ellis; clearly in financial trouble, Prada might sell Helmut Lang and Jil Sander; Neiman Marcus to open a new L.A. store; online shopping is the way to go; and the timeless appeal of the bohemian.

NYT: The marriage between fashion and jewelry; and Black Friday on the black market.

IHT: Suzy Menkes sings the praises of fur.

WaPo: The life of the personal shopper; teens are label-crazy (blame it on The OC!); and how to look good at your high school reunion.

The Daily: Michael Kors to appear with Jane Pauley; my mouth is watering over the upcoming Elle Accessories magazine; an interview with fashion icon Marisa Berenson; and sexy Italian legwear.

Lookonline.com: In the "I feel old" department, Lookonline is 10 years old.

Daily Candy: Because you can afford it, $1k jeans.
Gift guide: coming tomorrow
Remember last week when I said I'd be posting a five-part gift guide this week, one for every day of the week? Well, since I just spent three hours working on sales for this week (yes, really, three hours), I'm going to have to postpone part one. But that means you get two parts tomorrow! Yay!
The (very busy) week in shopping
Sale of the week: One of my favorite stores in the city, Foley + Corinna is taking up to 70% off their new and vintage clothes for men and women. 12/3-12/4; 10-7; 143 Ludlow Street (Stanton & Rivington Sts.).

Frette linens are up to 70% off at this sale, but be forewarned that a sheet set is usually four figures. Through 12/3; 9-6:30, 9-5 Fri.; 560 7th Ave. (at 40th St.), 2nd floor.

Kill multiple birds with one stone at the Patch NYC, Leigh Bantivoglio, and Malia Mills sale: Patch NYC bags are $25, scarves $20; Leigh Bantivoglio camis are $35; and Malia Mills swimwear separates are $10-$40. 12/1-12/4; noon-7, noon-5 Sat.; 263 W. 38th Street, (7th & 8th Aves.), 10th floor.

Alice + Olivia's excellent-fitting pants, jackets, and sweaters are 60% off. 12/3-12/4; 10-7; 80 W. 40th Street (at 6th Ave.), 2nd floor.

Cashmere sale #1: I always hit TSE for cashmere sweaters; here, they're up to 60% off. 12/1-12/5; 10-7, 11-7 Sat., 11-5 Sun.; 106 Spring St. (Mercer & Greene Sts.).

Cashmere sale #2: Autumn Cashmere ponchos, sweaters, scarves, wraps, hats, dog attire, and other items are up to 75% off. Through 12/3; 9-6; 231 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), suite 1006.

Cashmere sale #3: I buy a sweater every year at the Lutz & Patmos sale and intend to buy another one this year; their ultra-luxurious cashmere sweaters for men and women are up to 75% off. 12/2-12/4; 11-8, 11-6 Sat.; 425 W. 13th St. (9th Ave. & Washington St.), suite 406.

Cashmere sale #4: Meg Cohen Design's cashmere scarves are $50-$85; blankets are $165. 12/1-12/4; 11-7; 920 Broadway, (20th & 21st Sts.), suite 905.

Cashmere sale #5: Whim and Cullen knitwear is now $20-$70 (was $70-$350). Through 12/3; 8-6; 231 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), suite 1016.

Cashmere sale #6: Armand Diradourian's cheeky cashmeres are 60% off at this cash-only sale. 12/3-12/21; noon-6; 160 5th Ave. (at 20th St.), No. 901.

Usually a good but pricey sale, Staff International has men’s and women’s Martin Margiela, Diesel, 55DSL, and more for $100-$500. 12/2-12/3; 10-7; 495 Broadway (at Broome St.), 8th fl.

Stella McCartney's ready-to-wear and accessories are 40% off. 12/2-1/15; 11-7, 12:30-6 Sun.; 429 W. 14th St. (9th Ave. & Washington St.).

While you're in the neighborhood, support indie designers Cloak, Le Full, and Tani Keller, whose men's and women's clothes are 50%-70% off. 12/2-12/5; noon-8; 416 W. 13th St. (9th Ave. & Washington St.).

Get it before they go out of business: Plein Sud is 70% off. 12/1-12/17; 10-6; 70 Greene St. (at Spring St.), 2nd fl.

Miss Sixty plus Energie and Killah clothes and shoes for men and women are 60%-70% off. 12/2-12/5; 10-7, noon-5 Sun.; 435 Hudson St. (Morton & Leroy Sts.), suite 400.

Girlshop.com fave Yochi Design has fashion jewelry for 50%-80% off. Through 12/21; 10-5 (closed weekends); 50 W. 36th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Lila sportswear is $75 and up (normally $160-$205). Through 12/3; 9-6, 6-2 Sat.; 231 W. 39th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 5th fl.

Brothers & Sisters Showroom has clothes and accessories from Only Hearts, Sanctuary, and Lemon for $10-$50. Through 12/2; 9-4; 499 7th Ave. (at 36th St.), Ste. 3 South.

Satya's yoga-inspired jewelry (not as dorky as it sounds) is up to 80% off; necklaces and earrings are $10-$60 at this cash-only sale. 12/3-12/5; 10-7; 330 Bleecker St. (at Christopher St.).

Lower East Side girls love Johnson's girly-tomboy clothes; get 'em for 15% off at this cash-only sale. 12/3-12/5; 6-9 Fri., 1-6 Sat. & Sun.; Chrystie St. (at Stanton St.), 5th fl.

Carolina Herrera and Rena Lange's skirts, pants, dresses, and more are on sale. 12/2-12/4; noon-7 Thurs., 9-6 Fri., 9-5 Sat.; the Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St. (6th & 7th Aves.), 4th fl.

R.J. Graziano's glittery jewelry is $38 and up. 12/1-12/7; 11-5:30 (closed Sat. & Sun.); 389 5th Ave. (at 36th St.), Ste. 310.

Stuart Weitzman's comfy yet stylish shoes are 30%-50% off. 12/3-1/31; 625 Madison Ave. (at 58th St.), the Shops at Columbus Circle.

Daniella Simon's sexy satin robes, nightgowns, and boyshorts are 30%-75% off. 12/2-12/5; 10-7, 11-6 Sat. & Sun.; 150 W. 72nd St. (at Amsterdam Ave.), Ste. 2A.

Working woman fave Lafayette 148 womenswear is up to 80% off. 12/3-12/4; 9-7 Fri., 10-6 Sat.; 148 Lafayette St. (at Howard St.), 6th fl.

Ply Design handbags, David Barthold ceramics, ME & Blue clothing, and other stuff is 30%-75% off. 12/4-12/5; 11-6; 74-76 Reade St. (at Church St.), ste. 1E.

Meryl Waitz jewelry and home accessories are $6 and up at this cash-only sale. 12/1-12/4; 10-7; 264 Canal St. (at Broadway).

Loom Company's showroom has home and fashion accessories from Alexis Bittar, Hable Construction, John Derian, and more for 60%-75% off. Cash only. 12/2-12/4; 10-7, 10-4 Sat.; 1140 Broadway (at 26th St.).

New Upper West Side store Böc is offering 20%-40% off Rebecca Taylor, Seven, Vince, and others for one night only. 12/2; 5-9; 491 Columbus Ave. (at 84th St.).

Donna Karan Intimates and DKNY Underwear bras, tanks, and panties are $3-$20. 11/30-12/2; 10-6; 136 Madison Ave. (at 32nd St.).

For the super-fancy dressers who have a ton of cash on hand, Georgia Hughes’ beautiful, handmade velour, velvet, and fur hats are 70% off (now $125-$325) at this cash-only sale. Through 12/4; noon-6; 45 E. 89th St. (at Madison Ave.), Ste. 21D.

Rachel Reinhardt's semi-precious-and crystal jewelry is up to 75% off. 11/30-12/2; 10-6, 10-7:30 Thurs.; 37 W. 39th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), Ste. 901. 212-921-5675.

LAI's gorgeous alligator, crocodile, and leather accessories are now $20-$2,000 (were $500-$5,000). 11/30-12/2; 12 W. 57th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), Ste. 403.

Judy Ross' bedding, pillows, and other home accessories are wholesale and below; 12/2-12/4; noon-8 Thurs., 9-7 Fri., 11-6 Sat.; 41 Union Square West (at 17th Street), suite 907.

Random bridal sale #1 (why anyone is having bridal sales during prime holiday shopping season is beyond me): RM Designs by Reva Mivasagar has sheaths, bias cut, and A-line bridal gowns are for up 80% off. By appointment only; call 212-372-2804. Through 12/6; noon-6 (closed Sun.); 10 W. 18th St. (at 5th Ave.), 4th fl.

Random bridal sale #2: Saks' Bridal Gown Sale features Monique Lhuillier, Ulla-Maija, Reem Acra, Amsale, and others for 50%-70% off. Through 12/5; call 212-753-4000 for an appointment; 611 5th Ave. (49th & 50th Sts.), 9th floor.

Random bridal sale #3: Get your whistles, ladies: Vera Wang bridal and bridesmaid dresses are 50%-75% off; no refunds and all sales are final. 12/4; 8-5; Penn Plaza Pavilion, 401 7th Ave. (32nd & 33rd Sts.), at Hotel Pennsylvania.

Cantaloup's warehouse sale features jeans by Blue Cult, Hudson, Joe's and more for three for $100; plus pieces by Sass & Bide, Frostfrench, Alice Roi, and more for up to 80% off. Through 12/6; 11-7, noon-6 Sun.; 1359 2nd Ave.

Lounge's Red Dot Sale features Rock & Republic, Dolce & Gabbana, and more for 50% off. Through the end of the season; 10-9, 10-10 Fri. & Sat., noon-8 Sun.; 593 Broadway.

Get up to 70% off Nicholas K. and Mimi Turner dresses, tops, coats, pants, and more. 12/3-12/4; 11-7 Fri., 11-6 Sat.; 27 W. 27th St., 6th Fl.

If you like amber (and, really, who doesn't?) Valerio888's selection of earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, cufflinks, and pendants is 66% off. Through 12/28; 11-7 (closed weekends); 35 W. 36th St. (5th & 6th Aves.), 3rd fl.

Carmen Marc Valvo's very glamorous dresses, separates, suits, and accessories in all sizes are up to 75% off at this one-day-only event. 11/30; 10-5; 530 7th Ave. (38th & 39th St.), 23rd Fl.

If you missed Aeffe USA's sale a few weeks ago, here'a another chance; Moschino, Gaulter, Alberta Ferretti, and Pollini are 40% below wholesale. Men's and women's items are available, but sizes are on the sample (read: small) side. 12/1-12/2; 10-5:45; 30 W. 56th St. (5th & 6th Aves.).

Alexia Crawford excellent holiday sale is in effect; get her semiprecious jewelry (plus scarves, bags, and more) for super-cheap. Through 12/24; 11-7, noon-6 Sat. (closed Sun.) 35 W. 36th St. (5th & 6th Aves.) 6th Fl.

Patricia Underwood's hats are the creme de la creme; get 'em for $40-$500 at this sale. 11/30-12/01; 9-6; 498 7th Ave. (36th & 37th Sts.) 24th Fl.

Going on a vacation soon? Check out By The Sea Showroom, where you'll find swimsuits by Inca, Zimmerman, and Red Carter for 50% off wholesale (that's cheap, dude). Through 12/9; 9-7 (closed weekends); 112 W. 34th St.(Broadway & 7th Ave.), Suite 1606.

Find handbags and travel gear by Adrienne Vittadini and Hype for $25 and up at this sale. 12/2-12/3; 8:30-7 Thurs., 8:30-5 Fri.; 320 5th Ave. (32nd & 33rd Sts.), 9th Fl.

Get all manner of jewelry at gabi d. for less than $20. Through 12/24; noon-6:30, 1-5 Sat. (closed Sun., except for 12/19); 40 W. 37th St. (5th & 6th Ave.), Suite 905.

Finally, a sale that sounds too good to be true: Design Italia has jeans by Seven, Joe's, and Blue Cult, plus C&C, Vince, and more in all sizes and for up to 90% off retail. One catch: It's cash only. 415 W. Broadway (Spring & Prince Sts.).

Daniel Levy's porcelain tableware and lamps are 50%-75% off at this cash-only sale. 12/2-12/5; 11-7, noon-6 Sun.; 155 W. 29th St. (at 7th Ave.), Ste. 3N.

Built by Wendy is having an online sale, with 25% off all regular-priced merchandise through 12/3.

Searle is having a sale; click here for a coupon for 15% off a $200 order.

The fall/winter collection is 50% off at BCBG.

Lord & Taylor coupon, vaild for one day only through 12/24. You're welcome.

Bloomingdale's private sale starts 12/2; Saks sale starts 12/1; and if you're lucky enough to know anyone who works for Gap, it's family and friends weekend at Gap and Banana Republic.
Daily digest
WWD: It's holiday shopping season, and so far so good; if you want to buy Prada stock, you'll be waiting a loooong time for its IPO; Fragments' uptown store; and and new Loyd Maish bags.

NYP: In a groundbreaking article, the Post exposes the shocking fact that well-dressed customers get the best service at swank stores; plus, stores that don't care what you look like and how to pretend you're rich; how to look thin in photographs (I feel like we see this article every holiday season); travel accessories; and moccasin boots trump Uggs.

LAT: A profile of American Rag's jeans expert Norm Adams.

The Daily: Fashion gossip; and more on the spring 2005 LeSportsac bags.

Vogue UK: H&M execs and size-14 women demand an apology from Karl Lagerfeld.

Daily Candy: An actually stylish warm winter coat from LaRok.
Random shopping notes
*Instead of going to the gym last night, I went to Loehmann's (yes, I know, shopping does not burn calories). They have a ton of Juicy Couture (at least 10 racks)--jeans, sweats, cashmere, T-shirts, even the clothes for little kids. They also have a lot of Joie, Chip & Pepper, Theory (now on the fourth floor), and La Perla. And I got some cute undies from Woo; they're so cute, I might go back and get another pair or two.

*I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Boston, but will return on Monday. In the meantime, I likely won't be posting. Don't forget, Friday is Shopping Day (or, if you're more of a pessimist, Black Friday), the official start of the holiday shopping season.

*Speaking of which, I'll be posting my holiday shopping guides, one for each day next week. As my postings might be a bit spotty in December (I start my new job on the 6th), think of it as my holiday gift to you.

*Happy Thanksgiving!
Daily digest
WWD: Holiday windows in NYC; and new makeup counters at Bloomie's and Macy's.

VV: Lynn Yaeger weighs in on Karl Lagerfeld for H&M.

NYO: Simon Doonan on Barneys' windows and Lanvin.

Style.com: Candy Pratts Price on gifts from around the world; a book for crafty types; and five great organic skincare lines.

Elle.com: Gifts for the home; cutting-edge fur collars; baby gifts; and Kabbalah candles (before you groan, I will vouch that they smell pretty good).
Website of the week
I was intrigued by one "Manolo," who left a comment here last week. I found that he writes Manolo's Shoe Blog, a blog that, as one would assume, is all about shoes--which is worthy in and of itself. The kicker is that "Manolo" writes in the Spanish-inflicted broken English of everyone's favorite shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, and the result is utterly hilarious. Manolo recommends and pans shoes with verve, but saves his zingers for insulting rival Karl Lagerfeld at every chance he can get. Nor are Hollywood starlets, political figures, or avant-garde designers safe from Manolo's acerbic wit. For shoe fanatics, this is a must-read.
Daily digest
WWD: L.A. Fashion Week moves up its date to be more "relevant" (uh-huh...); Zara-style Spanish chain Mango wants to come to the U.S.; French line Plein Sud is in huge financial trouble; asshole designer Marc Bouwer to peddle on QVC (gosh, to women with 39-inch hips?!); and, thank god, the Strand has expanded their fashion books section.

NYT: Yet another article on American Apparel founder Dov Charney (for the record, I thought New York's profile was better); and what we all need, Juicy Couture Barbies.

LAT: Booth Moore on the Juicy Couture phenomenon.

The Daily: Sacco's gilded sale; and hair masks.
The week in shopping
Since this is a holiday week, there aren't as many sales as there were last week, but rest assured, there will be a ton starting next week and going until Christmas. So think of this week as a brief respite for your wallet, or the calm before the storm. And remember, Friday is Shopping Day, the official start of the holiday shopping season. Also, from now on, I'll be posting sales on Mondays only, because by the time Friday rolls around, I'm too lazy to post more for the weekend.

Sale of the week: Pretty much everything--stuff from Paul & Joe, Rebecca Taylor, and more--is on sale for 20%-50% off at Lower East Side pioneer TG-170. Noon-8; 170 Ludlow St.

Féraud's very French ready-to-wear is up to 90% off. Through 11/23; 9-6:30, 9-5 Tue.; Parsons School of Design, 560 7th Ave. (at 40th St.), 2nd fl.

MoMo Falana's unique hand-dyed clothes are 25%-75% off. 11/23-12/24; noon-8, noon-9 Thurs.-Sat., closed Mon.; 43 Ave. A (at 3rd St.).

Upper East Side fave Pookie & Sebastian is having its annual sale with everything in the store reduced by 30%-70%, and through 11/25, Seven and James jeans are just $99. Through 11/29; 11-9, 11-6 Sun.; 1488 2nd Ave., 541 3rd Ave.

Groovy vintage store Psyche's Tears is taking 20% off all coats. 11/26-11/28; noon-7; 240 W. 15th St. (7th & 8th Aves.).

Rafe's excellent shoes and bags are 30%-50% off at this post-Thanksgiving sale starting 11/26. noon-8, noon-7 Fri. and Sat., noon-6 Sun.; 1 Bleecker St. (at Bowery).

Oliver Peoples' very stylish eyewear is 60% off. 11/26-11/28; 755 Madison Ave. (at 65th St.), 366 W. Broadway (at Broome St.).

Mike + Ally's bath and home accessories are at least 50% off. 11/22-11/24, 11/29-12/3; 11-6; 350 7th Ave. (at 39th St.), 8th fl.

Purchase an Apothia, Creed, Bond #9, Kai, Comptoir Sud Pacifique, Clean, or Child fragrance at Apothia and get free samples of the others when you enter code FALL at checkout through 12/5.

Macys.com, my new employer, is having a sale with savings of 25%-65%.

Enter code FF2004 at checkout at Sephora.com for 20% off, through 12/5.

Get free shipping on a $100 purchase at Saks when you enter code SNWFLKE4A through 12/15.

Get free shipping on a $100 order at eLuxury.com when you enter code STAR at checkout.

Spend $100 at Bluefly.com and get 15% off when you enter code NYTIMES15 though 12/3.

At cute website Blu Pyxie, get $10 off a $70 order when you enter code "Save", get $25 off a $125 order when you enter code "SaveBig", and $50 off a $200 order when you enter code "SaveHuge", all through 11/25.

All regular-priced outerwear is 30% off at Banana Republic; get free shipping on a $125 order when you enter code BRSTYLE1 at checkout.

Get $20 off your $100 order at recent Cheryl Shops website of the week Figleaves.com.

Get 20% off your order at another recent Cheryl Shops website of the week, Le Train Bleu, when you enter code "sugarplum" through 12/1.

Get $20 off your $100 purchase at Pinkmascara.com when you enter code Fall20 through 12/2.

Save up to 40% at psychedelic Swedish store Oilily.

Clearly a popular promotion, get $20 off your $100 order at Bop when you enter code JUMP2004 through 11/28.

Lord & Taylor Thanksgiving sale coupons!

Get a free deluxe 4 oz. sample of Philosophy's Double Rich Hot Cocoa 3-in-1 body shampoo at Sephora.com when you enter code HOTCOCOA, while supplies last.

Agnes B.'s pre-winter sale means 25% off select items, starting 11/26.

Get this bag free with your $160 Juicy Couture purchase at Neiman Marcus through 12/14.

This week at the Shop at Style.com, Shanghai Tang clothing, Barbara Cary jewelry, World According to Jess handbags, and Marciano clothing.
Daily digest
WWD: Designers sound off on whether they'd work with H&M (check out this priceless bit: “I would do it,” Marc Jacobs said Friday. “To be completely blunt about it, I understand Karl was paid a great deal of money to do it and that would be a great incentive.”); Jimmy Choo sold; this spring, we'll be wearing exotic (read: tacky) bags; unisex People in Motion bags; and, because we all need another off-the-rack bridal store, Men's Wearhouse to venture into bridal.

NYT: We have entered the age of the ridiculously expensive haircut (for the record, I pay a reasonable $65); fashionistas bitch about now-popular colors purple and green; high-end cleaning products for high-end clothes; and J.Crew's denim personalization kit.

NYP: Duh journalism at its finest, don't wear five-inch heels when you're wasted this holiday season; how to not look fat at Thanksgiving; the Ugg influence; and if you haven't heard, leopard is in.

IHT: Suzy Menkes on handbags throughout history.

The Daily: More on the new lingerie department at Bendel's; and the most luxurious lap blanket ever.

Hintmag.com: Dior and more in Beauty Duty; and fashionable links.

Daily Candy: A new hip Nolita salon; and Pippin the store, not the musical.
Random shopping notes, part II
1) On my lunch hour, I walked by the Lucky Shops thing. While there were a lot of people milling around, there appeared to be no line to get in. I talked to two girls who had just come out, and they said that the deals inside weren't so great (they didn't buy anything), but that the gift bag kicked ass. They also said they got free tickets from that IN: NYC AmEx card and probably wouldn't have paid the full admission price. Yikes. But they told me, "Try to go for free and get a gift bag!" Yay for gift bags, I guess.

2) Lured back by an e-mail announcing a new shipment of Ben Sherman shirts, I went to Clothingline again, and was much more pleased with the selection this time. They have two racks of men's woven shirts, in a variety of sizes--I even saw some smalls! The shirts are kind of eh, but some are pretty cool.

3) And because I am totally nuts, I went back to the Fresh sale. This time, I breezed right in. All of the body washes and lotions are gone, as are the "index" perfumes they had, but there are still a ton of little soaps, and I got five bars of "baby milk" soap for $1 each (I figure if it's okay for a baby, it's okay for me). There's still a lot of makeup; I got a lip gloss, a lipstick, and a four-eyeshadow palette. The makeup may be discontinued, but the colors are surprisingly normal, and Fresh makes really high-quality stuff.

4) A special shout-out to my new employer, Macys.com. Yes, that's right, I finally got a new job. Yay!
Guest shopper
While I was waiting in line for 90 minutes yesterday at Fresh, MK was waiting in line for 90 minutes at Steven Alan. Here's her report:


I just got back from the Steven Alan sale. I wish I had gotten up a
half hour earlier and not had so much work to do...last time I
remember getting there at exactly 8:30 and making it in right away.
This time I was there at 9:00 and got in at 10:30! They decided to
have no more than about 25 people in the showroom at any given time;
guess last time was deemed too insane. I spent a good 45 minutes
inside checking out the goods...the best stuff on the racks was
already taken, but there were still some treasures buried at the
bottom of the boxes. Brands I can remember are Mint, Indigo People,
Steven Alan, APC, (a lot of) Diana Lee, and cool Wrangler jeans in
human sizes. I bought ONE Diana Lee sweater for all my time and
effort...but I end up wearing stuff I buy from Steven Alan all the
time, so I guess it was worth it...
Random shopping notes
1) I decided to check out the sales at Barneys and Bloomie's last night. Barneys had some shoes, some Marc by Marc Jacobs, and some jeans on sale, but otherwise, not very much. Bloomie's sales racks were horrible-looking, so I didn't buy anything there either. I'd say wait till after Thanksgiving to hit both--Barneys has (in my opinion) some of the best markdowns come December.

2) On a whim, I tried on a pair of James jeans last night. Holy shit. Believe the hype! My legs are on the long side to begin with, but in these, I looked like a freaking model. The fit is totally different from Sevens and Citizens of Humanity, and they're a bit lower-waisted, but oh my god. As soon as I round up $140, I'm totally buying a pair.

3) The 59th Street H&M still has a lot of Karl Lagerfeld stuff (and from what I hear, so do most of the H&Ms in the city). It's on the 2nd floor.
Daily digest
WWD: I'm itching to go to Henri Bendel's new lingerie department; Sean John postpones its women's collection; Original Penguin is expanding; some denim news; I thought their store sucked big time last year, but Bluefly is opening another holiday store in Soho; speaking of Elle MacPherson, her lingerie line is coming to America in 2005; what teens want; and up-and-coming juniors designers.

NYDN: A preview of tomorrow's Lucky sale (plus, print out the article and get $15 off your admission price!); and tidbits.

WaPo: Holiday makeup.

LAT: Compared to my debacle today, L.A. sample sales sound totally civilized!

The Daily: Oscar de la Renta's son dabbles in high-end denim; the Daily "discovers" James jeans (a little slow on the uptake, guys!); pictures of rich ladies with Hermes bags; and polar-bear-esque Seven jeans.

Vogue UK: Karl Lagerfeld is pissed at H&M because they didn't manufacture enough clothes and he was not havin' the size 12s: "What I designed was fashion for slender and slim people," said the designer who famously lost 42 kilograms two years ago. Mmm-hmm. Yeah, I'm back to loving Marc Jacobs again.

Lookonline.com: Marilyn Kirschner reports on yesterday's Doyle vintage clothing auction.
America's Next Top Model recap
So, I thought last night's episode of America's Next Top Model sucked. It was the "acting episode," which I always think is stupid to begin with, because as Cindy Crawford, Rebecca Romijn, Elle MacPherson, and countless others have shown us, models can't act. So, anyway, the models learned how to "act" from some crazy old-school "acting" coach and Taye Diggs (UPN cross-promotion, obviously), then flew to Tokyo, where they had to film a commerical in Japanese with an non-English-speaking director and a bad translator (how Lost in Translation!). Ann managed to pull her shit together, but everyone else pretty much sucked. Their only other challenge was during the elimination, when they had to do another impromptu "commercial" for some stuff that obviously tasted like shit (thankfully the commercial was in English this time). There were no photo shoots, sadly. In the end, Nicole got the boot for not being memorable enough (both the "acting" coach and Tyra herself almost forgot to give Nicole her critiques--not a good sign). I wish they had kicked off Yaya, who has become soooo obnoxiously bitchy and superior (she spit out the food during her commercial), I can barely stand to watch her (people have hilariously taken to calling her "Yack Yack" on the Television Without Pity message boards). If Yaya's not the next to go, I'm going to be pissed. Still, I think Eva's going to win. Next week: More bitchiness!
Cheryl shops...the Fresh sale
I love Fresh. I wrote a story on the company when they were but a fledgling storefront in Boston, and I've been using their products ever since. Milk Milk is the only lotion in the world that doesn't irritate my eczema, everything smells amazing, and even the packaging is aesthetically pleasing. So I was totally psyched that they were having a sample sale...and so were hundreds of other women, apparently. I waited close to 90 minutes to actually get into the sale, in spite of warnings from the super that the wait was going to be over an hour and three pissed-off, empty-handed women who started telling everyone that it wasn't worth the wait. People seemed to be coming out of the sale with bags full of stuff, and I had been waiting so long already...When I finally got into the sale, I almost started crying. It was so crowded, I could barely move, but this was due mostly to the line of people waiting to pay, which snaked around the room (which was very small to begin with)--and the people were blocking most of the tables full of merchandise. As for the merchandise, they had a lot of everything and prices were very reasonable (most items were $2-$5, nothing was more than $10), but they only carried discontinued merchandise. No Milk line, no Sugar line, no Soy line. They did, however, have a lot of makeup, soap, shower gel and coordinating lotion, and accessories like soapdishes. Thinking a lot of the products would make good Christmas presents, I started to load up, then realized that if I were to actually pay for everything, I'd be there for at least another hour, making my now two-hour lunch a three-hour one. So in a fit of frustration, I left. My advice is to go either tomorrow or Saturday, avoid prime lunch hour, be prepared to wait, and don't expect to find your Milk & Rose Shampoo or your Sugar Body Scrub, 'cause it ain't there. Still...call me crazy, but I might actually go back tomorrow.