Black Friday with a Preppish Influence

Hello-Hello, and Happy Thanksgiving once again.

It’s that time…. a look at Black Friday Sales & Savings opportunities with a preppish slant. As always, we have done the best we can in terms of information gathering, but if you have any questions, do check with your individual store to verify our information.

• At LL Bean, those spending $50 or more receive a $10 gift card, and shipping is free with any purchase through December 20, use promo code TIMETOSHOP and pin# 2310
• The same applies at LL Bean Signature.

• Lands’ End is taking $20 off purchases of $75 or more, those spending $150 or more receive $50 off
• Lands’ End Canvas continues its ongoing sale…
• And Canvas is also offering a new discounting promotion, The Classifieds, very similar to the Orvis Tent Sale

• Brooks Brothers is repeating its special of last year, an additional 15% off your entire online purchase through Saturday, and in-store Friday and Saturday until noon. There are also special discounts on various items, too many to list here.
• Brooks Brothers Factory Stores: 40% off entire purchase through Sunday. Those shopping before noon on Friday and Saturday will receive an additional 10% off their purchase.

Brooks Brothers

• Polo Ralph Lauren offers an additional 25% off many already-reduced items.

Polo Ralph Lauren

• At Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Stores, there are a number of different savings.

Via Daddy 'O Deals

• Nautica is offering 40% off the entire site, use promo code SAVE40 to receive the discount.

• Tommy Hilfiger suggests avoiding the crowds, continuing its 30% off special online and in-store through the 30th.

Tommy Hilfiger

• Tommy Hilfiger Factory Stores: take 40% off the entire store on Friday

• Regular J. Crew stores are taking 25% off purchases of $150 or more, online use promo code TURKEY
• J. Crew Factory Stores offer those shopping before 8am an additional 40% off clearance merchandise.
• J. Crew Factory Online is doing 40% off all styles through midnight Friday night. A few cautionary notes, this does not apply to Factory Stores, while the graphic says ‘two days only,’ the fine print says the offer ends Sunday night.

• Kate Spade offers 10% off your entire purchase with a coupon slated to arrive shortly via email; the company’s Facebook page also has the coupon. Additionally, the “Find the Penguin” promotion returns, items marked with the little guy are 20% off.

• Tory Burch: Those spending $300 or more in-store and online receive 30% off; use promo code GETGIFTS. Also, customers who spending more than $150 get a free tote bag.

• Coach Factory Stores have an additional 20% off promotion, click here to print a coupon for use in-store.

• Ann Taylor: Until noon on Friday, 40% off entire purchase, if shopping online, use promo code THANKS at checkout
• Ann Taylor Loft: 40% off entire purchase, use promo code ENJOY at checkout (no end date for this offer is shown)

Ann Taylor Loft

• Gap stores:

Gap Stores

“Start out your Black Friday shopping with style! Get 50% off the entire store until 10am only.

Offer ends at 10am sharp at all Gap, GapKids, babyGap, and GapBody stores. Certain restrictions apply. Only select stores will open at midnight. Please check with your local stores for their operating hours.”

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Gap is also doing free shipping on orders totaling more than $50.

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As many are no doubt aware, Target decided to open on Thanksgiving. To see their discounts, click here.

Vera Bradley has a number of special offerings online and in-store, including a free tote Friday, but only for in-store shoppers spending more than $100. For more information on the company’s promotions, click here.

• Saks continues its sale, with increased discounts on Friday from 8am to noon, including an additional 50% off already reduced prices.  For shoppers spending more than $100 in cosmetics/fragrances, the retailer is offering a $25 gift card.
• Until Noon on Friday shoppers at Saks Off 5th outlets receive  additional savings of 30%-50% off entire purchase

• Neiman Marcus continues its sale, look for increased discounting in-store and online.
• Neiman Marcus Last Call has an enticing offer for those who can cope with the mayhem:

Last Call

• Bergdorf Goodman continues its 5F (designer) sale.

• Banana Republic is taking 25% off your entire purchase online and in-store through Sunday night, use promo code BRTHANKS at checkout.

Banana Republic

• Talbots is offering a variety of special deals, one item to be discounted, the cotton cabled turtlenecks normally selling at $69.50 will be $25.00, although we don’t know the duration of the markdowns. Additional, the retailer is offering free shipping with any purchase.

And a few shops or promotions that won’t appeal to everyone:

• Apple is teasing a one-day shopping event, from our experience this is unlikely to offer significant savings.

Apple

• It’s Clinique Bonus Time at Saks, that means we need to toddle on over and purchase a lot of unnecessary cosmetics and peruse the counter, the gift shown below accompanies a $35 purchase. If shopping online, use promo code CLINQUEG to receive the gift.

Saks Fifth Avenue

• Coach fans may be interested in the current purchase-with-purchase at Dillard’s.  A special Coach cosmetic bag filled with goodies is offered at $35 with the purchase of any Estee Lauder fragrance.

Badgley Mischka for HSN Now Available, Chanel & Vuitton at CostCo?

Hello-Hello, and Happy Thursday!

We begin today with a question: does it seem a tad early for the Black Friday frenzy to be underway?

We have seen several stories on the topic in the last two days, including several focusing on the Target and Wal-Mart strategies for boosting sales. From a CNN/Money story:

“Target is hoping to lure this year’s Black Friday shoppers with $3 toasters and coffeemakers, deep deals on high-definition televisions, and discounts of 50% on clothes and toys…”

Le Boutique even has a Black Friday ad sign-up page on its website; we’re not clear what one receives when signing up on that page, and much as we adore our readers we just couldn’t bring ourselves to sign up in order to learn more.

Courtesy Target

There are a number of sites with the Target ad and many others to peruse if so inclined:

• Black-Friday.net
• BlackFridayAds
• GottaDeal.com
• BlackFriday2009.com

Last year we shared as much information as seemed reasonable about fiscally-friendly opportunities at retail establishments with a preppish slant, Brooks Brothers, Talbots, Neiman Marcus, J.Crew, and the like. We planned to do the same this year. We just feel there is an ever-earlier encroachment, but perhaps it is selective recall on our part.

Speaking of Target, we have more photos of the Rodarte for collection, due to debut December. Below, this dress is featured on Teen Vogue’s December cover with Dakota Fanning.

Teen Vogue

The issue also showcases this Lace Dress, it will run $45.

Courtesy Target

This next image is a scan from Marie Claire:

Marie Claire

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Another major collaborative group launches much earlier than the Rodarte line seen above; the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection will be unveiled this Saturday.

Jimmy Choo for H&M

Below, actress Demi Moore sported a dress from the line in October.

Steve Granitz/Wire Image for H&M

Another look:

Jimmy Choo for H&M

We aren’t going to devote too much space to this however, as the collection isn’t available online in the US and not everyone is near an H&M.

There are a number of interesting stories on this line and the growing trend for fashion collaborations and defusion lines, including this piece from ABC.

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One final joint effort to share today: the Badgley Mischka line for HSN, American Glamour.

The collection is scheduled to launch November 17th with a special program on the shopping channel, but from the looks of things, many pieces (if not the entire line) are already available online.

The Animal Print Bag is showcased in either a Cheetah or Zebra pattern, selling at $349.90.

Price points run from $39 to $499; the collection includes clothing, jewelry and accessories. (But no housewares as in Isaac Mizrahi’s line for QVC discussed in Tuesday’s post.) The Big Bold Ring is $59 and the coordinating 5 Stone Necklace is $79, $69 for the event price. (?)

The Hinged Cuff Bracelet runs $99.

Courtesy HSN

We find this all more-than-interesting to watch from the sidelines, the marketing and merchandising techniques are fascinating.

HSN/American Glamour

WWD’s story on the line says the launch online at HSN is November 15, but everything seems to be available now.

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According to this story in today’s Times, Blake Lively hair is all the rage.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

“At the Bumble and bumble in Bloomingdale’s, Michael Wilson, a stylist, said that more than half his customers ask for the “Textured and Tousled, or Curled and Swirled” styling … It is a request he attributes to Ms. Lively’s hairstyle.”

And the popular Gossip Girl star’s reaction?

““I didn’t really realize the extent of it,” Ms. Lively said of her hair’s popularity, though she had an inkling: fashion forerunners like Vogue staffers routinely approach her at events and fixate on her hair, she said.”

Finally, news that may put smiles on the faces of some fashionistas, while creating scowls for others: one may now purchase both Chanel and Louis Vuitton handbags at CostCo.

A post at StyleList notes the discount warehouse has the Classic Chanel Flap bag at $1999 :

Daniel Acker, Bloomberg via Getty Images via StyleList

From today’s Post:

“The Post found plenty of small-living-space-appropriate surprises in-store.

Like the massive wall of Ugg “Ultra” short boots ($124.99), the Chanel classic flap handbags ($1,999.99) and the classic Louis Vuitton “Speedy 30” mini-duffels ($589.99).”

Of course this is in addition to the Burberry, Tod’s, Ferragamo and Coach merchandise at Costco, at least from what we read.

We’re guessing Costco is not carrying this:

Courtesy Photo via Grazia Daily

This creation from Vuitton honors the Red Cross.

Courtesy Photo via Grazia

This story in Grazia explains more about the limited edition item:

“The box was commissioned by Patrick-Louis Vuitton, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder who says, ‘When reflecting on our collaboration with the Red Cross, it came to my mind to create a special Red Cross kit… [this is a] visually impactful and a truly unique piece.'”

The upscale leather goods firm is also donating a percentage of proceeds from certain handbag sales to the Red Cross.

For more on these efforts and loads of fab photos, click here.

With that we say good bye until next time!