Saks’ Sale on Christmas, Fierce Footwear & A New Anti-Prep

Hello-Hello and Happy Thursday!

Today we begin with a topic of a serious nature (ahem) impacting almost everyone (not exactly) in the free world: Hello Kitty.

Please allow us to be among the first to proclaim our fondness for said Kitty. While not found on anyone’s list of Top Preppish Accessories, we still find her to be cute and cuddly, perhaps even a little cheeky. Our appreciation of Ms. Kitty comes as no surprise to readers who have suffered through occasional posts containing KRC (Kitty Related Content).  Perhaps the best that can be said about this practice is that we have been consistently inconsistent, writing about the Hello Kitty MAC collection here, sharing products from the upcoming 35th Anniversary Collection here….

…or talking about miscellaneous Kitty merchandise here.

We have even included some Kitty products in our Pretty in Pink category.

We haven’t always understood everything Kitty, like the Large Diamond Pendant necklace at Needless Neiman Marcus… or the Coffee Maker… or the Toaster.

.

However, we have always been able to comprehend their creation and merchandising.

Until now.

PHOTO: Markus Klinko - Indrani

This creature is known as Lady Gaga, and the next image may fall under the NSFW umbrella (Not Safe For Work viewing), something we diligently try to avoid here at Princess HQ.

PHOTO: Markus Klinko - Indrani

The Daily Mail initially got their little journalistic paws on the photos, and their story explains their ultimate purpose:

“The images – by celebrated photographers Markus Klinko and Indrani  – will be featured on the cover of  the special, limited-edition reissue of GaGa’s hit album, The Fame.

The 23-year-old New Yorker… is reportedly giving away a lock of her hair with every sale of the box-set.

According to her website, it will also include a pair of 3D glasses to view ‘forthcoming Gaga visuals’ and the definitive ‘book of Gaga’.”

Not only is this a Help Us Understand, it is most assuredly an addition to the Anti-Prep Wall of Shame, don’t you think?  If anyone is capable of passing along some information or perspective on Miss Gaga, we would be most appreciative for your gentle guidance and educational assistance.

NOTE: We have been advised by our house guest that she enjoys Miss Gaga’s musical offerings.

Evidently the performer will be guest starring on Gossip Girl next week.

PHOTO: Giovanni Rufino/the CW

In the photo above she is seen with G2 stars Leighton Meester and Penn Badgley.

There you have it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Those in search of fierce footwear will be pleased to learn that some of Christian Siriano’s line is already online at Payless Shoes.

The new handbags in his Holiday collection are not yet online, but the six shoe styles are available. Below, the Micola Zipper flay on the left; the Slither Boot is on the right.

Styles unlikely to be seen here at the Prepatorium, but certainly appealing for those more hip than TP (a group including most of America’s female population).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We have several quick Sales and Savings opportunities to pass along, beginning with the Vera Bradley sale at ‘members-only’ shopping site Rue LaLa.

If in need of an invite, just email us: thepreppyplanet@gmail.com.

Don’t forget the Polo Ralph Lauren Private Sale begins today as well; use promo code NOV0509 to receive an additional 15% discount on reduced merchandise.

The Nordstrom semi-annual sale for women and children has commenced.

Also underway, Saks’ Online Only sale.

There is a significant amount of this year’s holiday merchandise in the sale, including Christopher Radko’s 2009 Saks ornament (originally $55, now $38.50), and the I’ll Take Manhattan ornament (originally $45, now $31.50).

.

Also available, an ornament Silly Tilly would love.

Black Friday Ads: Target, Polo Ralph Lauren & Hilfiger & J. Crew, Banana Republic Outlet Stores

Greetings of the day and all appropriate niceties, we thought it best if we just shared this information with you right away.  We have more information on a number of Black Friday sales, starting with Target’s ad, available here.

To view the complete insert that will be in local newspapers the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, click here.

Also, expect lower prices at your local Boutique Tarzshay for the foreseeable future, especially in the clothing and home store areas.  The effort to jumpstart Target’s slow sales includes going head-to-head with Walmart on some merchandise, along with using the online component to boost sales. From a recent Associated Press story:

“The company will also offer half a dozen “value items” online every day at special prices.”

“We have taken a very aggressive point of view this year in terms of our promotional pricing, so we expect to be price leaders on selected items … “

The information for the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Stores event is also now available; they are calling the promotion ‘Midnight Madness.’

Courtesy Polo Ralph Lauren

We will continue to monitor them for information on what to expect at the regular Ralph Lauren stores as well as what additional savings are planned at factory stores other than this initial 20% discount off purchases of $150+.

Tommy Hilfiger is offering substantial savings for Black Friday:

There are also a number of coupons for specific savings, like the one shown below, “Save an Additional 25% on any $200 Purchase,” but we have no idea if one must have an “official coupon,” or if it could be printed off any site, like ours.

The J. Crew Factory Outlet stores are also doing Black Friday:

If it is difficult to read the small print up above, early risers who shop before 10am can take an additional 50% off clearance styles, nothing to sneeze at.

Bath and Body Works is doing a VIP Bag with purchases over $100, their scan can be seen here.

They are also doing Buy 1, Get 1 at 50% off now…

…along with several “Secret Online Sales.”

Other savings at specific factory outlets and stores:

• Banana Republic Factory Stores Midnight Madness 40% off the entire store! Expires: 11/28/08
• Eddie Bauer Factory Stores Midnight Madness Save an extra 30% off your entire purchase. Ad Code: 5700. Expires: 11/28/08

Vera Bradley will be offering free shipping on Dec.1,

We are a little surprised at Nautica’s listings, essentially $20 off a purchase of $100 or more, not nearly as aggressive as we anticipated considering their ongoing struggles in the marketplace.

For online shoppers, right now the company is offering free ground shipping on orders totaling more than $100.

On the electronics front, Best Buy has a number of discounts and markdowns that can be seen here.  The retailer will open at 5am the Friday morning after Thanksgiving.

Circuit City will also open at 5am; their ad scans are available here.

We do not yet have specifics on the Ann Taylor Loft stores, but can tell you they are now taking an Additional 40% off already reduced prices, a good deal in and of itself…

as well as offering a $25 gift card for every $50 you spend.

Keep an eye on the Tanger Outlet store site as well as the Prime Outlets site; both are decent resources for updates on special discounts and hours for the stores, although Tanger provides much more information than the Prime Outlets site offers.

When we have more on other retailers generally thought to offer a ‘preppy aesthetic’ or preppy styles, we’ll get that information to you, including the non-factory store sales and markdowns.

Unusual Sales at Brooks Brothers, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom; Shorts at J Crew, The Usual Sales at Vera Bradley, etc.

You are aware The Princess is loathe to discuss the “M” word (as you know, it’s just so crass and, well, common), but it seems that economic realities are forcing the issue, at least if we are to let you know about some unusual sales and higher-than-normal markdowns at a few of our favorite retailers. Let’s start with Brooks Brothers which has so many ‘specials’ running, it would be incredibly tedious to list them all, so here are a few highlights:

Online Only, Ending Sunday June 8 (until they extend it again…or not) markdowns to 60% Off, somewhat unusual for Brooks, LOADS of Father’s Day specials and Women’s Shoes & Handbags are 25% off.

One quick little promotional announcement from The Preppy Princess that is also of the saving variety, a reminder to use the code BLOGDEAL to receive 10% off the PreppyPrincess.com site until June 30, including these fab aprons (can you say great hostess gift?):

Over at Vera Bradley, that Sale continues as well, with 25% off Retiring Colors, and you know how quickly these can fly out the door. (Or off the site, so to speak.)

The Princess has always been partial to Capri Blue, and may snap up this little cosmetic case in that pattern. Or the Mesa Red eyeglass case? There are oodles of other sale items, including decorative accessories, lamps, and more soft goods like the microfiber lightweight luggage pieces, including this Garment Bag. There’s also tableware and stationery items, like the Citrus Loose Notes shown below.

One of the more unusual sales is found at Nordstrom, where there are two oddities from TP’s perspective. The first is that the Shoe Sale and Apparel Sale do not cross paths. As of now however, they do, which brings us to oddity number two, the amount of the discount or markdown: it is generally no more than 40%, but now it is 50% online & in store on select women’s apparel & shoes. More power to them. (In reality it would seem that it is more power to you and your Nordstrom card.)

The J Crew Sale continues apace with one addition: selected summer shorts are 25% off, please note this is online only. Now we thought we might take this opportunity to remind everyone the J Crew sale includes their absolutely to-die-for Crewcuts line for children and the Boys and Girls sizes as well.

Speaking about children’s clothing reminds TP that one of our favorites, Garnet Hill, is having their incredible Semi-Annual Kids’ Sale and Clearance. If you have shopped this before, then you already know. If not, then stop reading and get going, because the merchandise is better than top notch, the styles are beyond delightful and the prices are killer. There are several pages of Kids’ items below $10, always helpful for the pocketbook. Of course, The Princess is always helpless before a bucket hat, especially when it’s for a child and on sale for $6, and Alligator Sandals for Toddlers and Little Boys from ECCO are just too cute, not to mention good for their feet.

Moving away from the ‘standard’ or annual/semi-annual type sale to the rather unexpected, we move to the Neiman Marcus situation. Mind you, as we write this we are not complaining whatsoever about the opportunity to save a few pennies whilst making our contribution to the bigger economic picture, not at all. We just dislike an unhealthy economic outlook from a global perspective.

In a story published in yesterday’s Dallas Morning News, CEO Burt Tansky said that business was so rough last quarter Neiman’s did some unusual things, like extending markdowns from a “One Day Only” Men’s Sale into a second day. Ouch. And he also told the paper the company is buying less Fall merchandise, somewhat unusual in and of itself. But here’s what shoppers want to know: he also told the newspaper the store will be adding more sales in upcoming months, and they are going to have to be more promotional. “More Promotional” is code for sales, or more aggressive markdowns, or both and this is sounding like both to us. At any rate, their Designer Sale is in its ‘Final Days’ at 35% off, and at the Last Call Online Clearance the bargains continue with discounts up to 65%.

While we’re talking upper end department stores, how about Barneys? Yikes! This is unheard of!

Really. This just doesn’t happen. The Princess realizes that if you don’t have cause to follow the retail scene or shop here, this truly is one big yawn. Understood. However, it ceases to be a yawner when one gazes upon that hideous orange and realizes that Barneys is doing 40% markdowns, and then furthers gasps, saying, oh my, they’re including Men’s, Baby, Shoes, and Home! I mean, look at this darling little Malina dress for Infant Girls of some of the softest 100% cotton you will ever (I mean, ever) feel. There are some good to great deals on Men’s Zegna dress shirt, A couple of FYIs on the online sale: There is a lot of men’s merchandise, including a lot of Prada, Zegna, while we would recommend skipping the Home Gift section unless desperate as it is slim pickings – in store offerings are much better on that front from what we are hearing.

Additionally, there is a significant group of Women’s Sale Shoes, with something for everyone (trust The Princess on this), with a good number of Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik, Prada, Miu Miu, Lanvin (including the Satin and Flower Ballet Flat!), Marc by Marc Jacobs, CO-OP by Barneys New York, Robert Clergerie, Fendi, Chloe, Jil Sander, Derek Lam, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Michel Cazabat, Sigerson Morrison, and Henry Cuir. We show the Prada Degrade Ballet Flat way above on top, and the Sigerson Morrison Mirror Metallic Sandal, way above on bottom. Now here is what’s known as a tease: you may want to make particular note of the Sigerson Morrison sandal, as our next post will involve Sigerson Morrison and your favorite discount store. Yep. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle…um, never mind.

Essentially, everyone is having a sale, including Chanel, with their private sale running through tonight, and then their one-day public sale running tomorrow. Talbots has taken an additional 20% off their clearance merchandise online only, so click here if it tickles your fancy, although TP has found very little there of late to get excited about. Net-a-Porter continues their Spring ’08 Sale, with new reductions taken.

We start to wrap up with J. Press, continuing with their sale both online and in their stores, always worth a stop, and then we have Ann Taylor with a Deal of the Week with 25% off Select Pants & Capris Online Only, as well as their ongoing Clearance with prices starting at 19.99. Ann Taylor Loft is offering 30% off select dresses & skirts online only and also 25% off maternity + free returns; use code JUNEMOM for the free returns. Also at Ann Taylor Loft their Clearance continues with new markdowns as well as other deals too numerous to mention.

That is as many as we have time for…happy hunting!