Cheryl Shops

Years ago, I was admiring my then-boss's boots, which were a gorgeous warm lilac color, in buttery-looking leather with a spindly, sculpted heel. "They're so comfortable!" she gushed. "They're Jimmy Choo!" Those boots likely cost more than I made in a week, but they certainly stuck in my mind. Under the direction of Tamara Mellon, Jimmy Choo has since ventured into a flashier, ultra-fabulous direction, but with the launch of Choo 24:7, the company is getting back to its roots with a capsule collection of more iconic, classic styles. Prices start at a reasonable $415 for flats (but, really, who wears Jimmy Choo flats?), and $495 for a classic mid-heel pointy-toe pump and slingback, which, in spite of being practical and classic, are still quite sexy (it's all about that elegant Choo stiletto). Prices--and sex appeal--creep up with the peep-toe platform and this lovely-looking wedge sandal. Two of my favorite pairs--which, of course, are the two most expensive--are the Private platform sandal and the Glenys gladiator sandal, both with, again, that sexed-up Choo heel. Nevertheless, these are investment shoes--take good care of them, and you'll have them for years. The best part? I can picture my boss in all of these, but, even better, I can picture myself in them as well.

With Valentine's Day soon approaching with it comes the question, "what will I wear for an evening of romance?" Whether it is your fifth date or your 5th anniversary, no other fabric says 'romance' like lace. A delicately woven lace dress adds a sweet message of feminine charm. Choose a modern silhouette with a higher hem for the season. The dresses shown here have interesting layering at the skirt and a fitted waistline. Pair this LBD lace confection with some killer statement heels (Miu Miu Forma cutout sandals, $755 at Net-a-Porter), a ribbon necklace (Zsa Zsa's Rhinestone and Ribbon Bib Necklace, $44.99 at emitations) and a satin embellished clutch (Lanvin Oulala satin clutch, $1,090).

BCBG Max Azria's Lace & Organza Party Dress, (left, $468.00 at Nordstrom.com) features a plunging neckline infused with party girl charm. The tiered ruffled organza skirt is edged with lace and is cinched with a removable medallion wide belt. From Nanette Lepore, the designer who is known for her girly looks, brings us the "Love Triangle" Lace Dress, (middle, $320.60 at Bloomingdales.com). This dress is certainly more appealing than a real-life love triangle, and this paisley lace frock offers a serious date-night look for an evening of romance. Thakoon's Addition Twist Front Dress, (right, $347.50 at Shopbop.com) is embellished with a bias lace panel at the neckline and twisted waistline detailing at the front and the back. I absolutely adore the ruched shoulders and balloon hem on the sleeves and skirt. Long live romance!

Save on your purchases with Coupon Codes from Nordstrom.com from TheFind.com's new coupon site

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops

The Screen Actors Guild Awards are a less flashy affair than the Golden Globes--the ceremony is typically on a Saturday night and does not air on a major network--and while many actresses went the traditional red-carpet-gown route, a handful took some risks that paid off. (Others, perhaps scorned by Golden Globes critiques, went more conservative with their dresses.) Here, in no particular order, are my five favorites.

Anna Kendrick
The award for most improved goes to Ms. Kendrick, whose sculpted chiffon Alberta Ferretti was both youthful and elegant. (I'm not going to comment on the Marchesa gown she wore to the Globes.)


Sandra Bullock
Not only did Bullock's Alexander McQueen dress fit her like a glove, it stood head and shoulders (literally--check out those strong shoulders!) above the typical draped goddess and/or strapless glamour gown worn by 90% of the other attendees.


Meryl Streep
Perhaps all the jokes about her shapeless dresses and oversize ethnic jewelry started to get to her, because Streep has obviously hired a stylist this year (either that or her daughter, Mamie Gummer, is helping her shop). This gown is...wait for it...Balenciaga. And while I'm not certain that women of Streep's age were the intended customer for this slightly tongue-in-cheek collection, I think it looks age-appropriate and lovely.


Nicole Kidman
I'm generally not a fan of either Nicole Kidman or Oscar de la Renta, but the two seem to work so well together here. Again, Kidman's look was very unique considering her peers, and paired with her curly hair, she looks like a pampered, relaxed--and, well, rich--bohemian goddess.


Anna Paquin
Paquin clearly loves the plunging neckline, as her Stella McCartney Globes gown had a very similar silhouette in the bodice, and she's not afraid to take risks in terms of fabrics. I think this one works better--it's a straight-from-the-runway Alexander McQueen, and it's perfectly youthful and sexy.

If you ask me, one of the most underrated masstige collaborations is Pierre Hardy's Design Edition shoes for the Gap. I have a pair from nearly every collection he's done, and not only are they all incredibly comfortable, but people routinely stop me on the street to ask where I got them. And since Hardy's namesake collection (as well as his shoes for Balenciaga) remains way out of my price range, I am happy to partake. Nitrolicious has photos of his upcoming summer line, which hits select Gap stores May 4th. The nude cork wedges are my favorite pair, but, knowing me, I'll probably buy all three--even so, three pairs of the Gap shoes are still way under what a single pair of regular Pierre Hardy sandals would cost. And, in case you're still interested, Hardy's suede buckle boots have finally hit Gap.com (two months after they arrived in select stores).

Speaking of shoes, have you ever found yourself drooling over Christian Siriano's runway shoes, only to find that his Payless collections contain far more restrained, conservative (and maybe a little disappointing) versions? According to SheFinds, his spring 2010 collection boasts straight-from-the-runway looks, which will retail for $79.99 (a king's ransom at Payless!) and arrive in stores mid-March. I have no idea how I'm going to walk in any of these but, they're so ferosh, for $80, I'll try.

Finally, if Sonia Rykiel's lingerie line for H&M last month didn't whet your appetite for coquettish French clothing, you'll be happy to hear that her full line of knitwear hits stores on February 20th, and The Cut has a video preview of the collection. It's striped, rhinestone-studded, colorful, and, overall, very Sonia Rykiel.

Top 10 NYC
Just in time for Valentine's Day, stock up on fancy lingerie from Araks, La Perla, and more for $10-$250 at La Petite Coquette. Through 1/31; 11-7, 11-8 Th, noon-6 Su; 51 University Pl. (9th & 10th Sts.).

Coveted brands like Alexander Wang, Elizabeth and James, and more are 50%-70% off at Aloha Rag. Through 2/15; 11-7, noon-6 Su; 505 Greenwich St. (at Spring St.).

Select beauty items are up to 75% off at Space NK's awesome-sounding sale. 1/28–1/30; 8-8 Th, 10-7 F & Sa; 99 Greene St. (Prince & Spring Sts.).

Pre-fall and fall/winter items are up to 75% off at Temperley London (note: still mid- to high three figures). 1/27–1/31; 8-8 W, 11-7 Th-Sa, noon-6 Su; 453 Broome St. (at Mercer St.).

Trendy, downtowny designers like Acne and United Bamboo are 50% off at Castor & Pollux. Ongoing; noon-7, 1-6 Su (closed M); 238 W. 10th St. (Bleecker & Hudson Sts.).

Clothingline has children's clothing from Crewcuts, Jacadi, Marie Chantal, and other coveted brands for rock-bottom prices (discounts vary by vendor). 1/26-1/28; 10-6; 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Satya is closing out its Soho pop-up store with a blowout sample sale. Through 1/30; 11-7; 449 W. Broadway (at Prince St.).

Dennis Basso fur coats, clothing, accessories, and more (mostly for women) are on sale at Soffier Haskin. Credit cards only; leave strollers and children under 12 at home. 1/30-2/3; 9-6:30; 317 W. 33rd St. (8th & 9th Aves.).

Sale items are now an extra 30% off at Scoop stores; click here for locations & hours.

Chocheng's gorgeous suits, jackets, and coats are up to 75% off. 1/28–2/28; call 212-967-5044 for hours; 51 E. 63rd St. (Park & Madison Aves.).

Top 10 online
I don't normally list sweepstakes, but this one is too good to pass up: In honor of their millionth order, Net-A-Porter is giving away a $40,000 shopping spree. Click here to enter.

Take 15% off any order at Alloy with code A15AFF through 2/4.

Take 15% off all Bliss and Remede products at blissworld.com with code FEB210 through 1/29.

Take an extra 25% off sale items at WHotelsTheStore.com with code R8T24 at checkout through 1/29.

Get an awesome sample-filled makeup case by Marchesa with your $150 order at Beauty.com while supplies last.Take $20 off orders of $75 or more at Delia*s with code 2075D at checkout through 2/4.

Take an additional 20% off clearance prices at Express through 1/27.

Get a L'Occitane Shea Butter gift with $85 purchase. Enter code SHEA at checkout.

At Lord & Taylor's Second Take, take 15% off regular and sale prices, and 20% off clearance with code TAKE2 through 2/1.

At BigelowChemists, take 10% off any purchase over $50 with code big151 through 3/31.

If your New Year's resolution isn't going so well, get a kick start with a juice fast from Blueprint Cleanse; take 15% off any three-day (or longer) cleanse with code SUNDANCE15 through 1/31. (I've ordered mine already; I'm starting on Monday.)

White is on fire this spring. I am loving the cool crisp shades in bold shapes inspired by the season's futurism trend. I hope you didn't miss Kate Hudson's all white Marchesa gown at Sunday's Golden Globes. The Marchesa gown and sky high Casadei platform pumps are a definite departure from Kate's typical Malibu-inspired boho casual look. And she looked ahhhmazing! We are not personally hitting the red carpet anytime soon, but we love the look of white this spring.

Set your springtime eyes on this all white body con bandage dress from Preen (Preen Power dress $1,185 at Net-a-Porter). Show off the body you've been working so hard at toning up since making your New Year's resolution to get in one full Pilates class every day. Stretch out those gams with a pair of high stepping Fendi wood strappy platform sandals ($790 at Net-a-Porter). These chunky wood sandals would look great with shorts, dresses and even white denim jeans. On your shoulder this head-turning Rock & Republic Capri handbag ($632 at Zappos.com) is dual purpose. Wear as a more formal shoulder bag or as a cross-body bag for a casual look. Polish off your look with some opaque Rescue Beauty Lounge white nail polish ($18 at Beautysak). White sunglasses always look dramatic. Get a jump on the round sunglass trend for spring with these these round Christian Dior white 'Josephine' sunglasses ($143.99 at Bluefly). And what could be more white-hot than these Kenneth Jay Lane Crystal drop earrings ($80 at Net-a-Porter)? Fire and ice really do make a nice combination, don't you think?

Save on your purchases with Coupon Codes from Zappos from TheFind.com's new coupon site

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops.

I tend to express my love of fashion through words; I consider myself a writer after all, and as those of you who read my Fashion Week posts know, photography is not exactly my strong suit. That said, I find photography-focused fashion blogs incredibly inspiring--in the case of Jak & Jil, Sea of Shoes, and, yes, the Sartorialist, a picture truly can speak a thousand words. And while I love so-called amateur bloggers (although two of the three I've listed above can hardly be called amateurs anymore), sometimes it's refreshing to see a seasoned professional get into the blogging game. Enter TerrysDiary, a new Tumblr blog from famed fashion photographer Terry Richardson. Like most Tumblr blogs, TerrysDiary consists chiefly of photos with very short captions, but the photos are so fantastic, they don't need much in the way of narration. Subjects range from top models (Catherine McNeil, Abbey Lee, Karlie Kloss) to family members to celebrity friends (Josh Hartnett, Kirsten Dunst) to wacky self-portraits to totally random objects. It's all brilliant insight into what inspires Richardson and what it's like to see the world through his eyes.

And speaking of The Sartorialist, as much as I love it, the blog is certainly ripe for a good parody. Not only does The Catorialist get the lighting and the titles correct, it deftly combines the style-gushing of the Sartorialist with the "OMG so cute" vibe of cat blogs (in a way more mellow manner, of course). My only criticism is that there's not enough text--the Sartorialist generally lets his photos speak for him, but he will often describe what drew him to his subjects. I should note that I'm not really a cat person (I'm allergic to them), but this blog is very well done, and quite amusing. And it allows me to ogle pretty kitties without sneezing.

Soon after advertising images of Jean Paul Gaultier's collection for Target appeared last week, the lookbook was leaked to Refinery 29. They've since taken it down as per Target's wishes, but Racked still has it up! The collection is kind of all over the place but has many Gaultier signatures (sharp tailoring, stripes, tattoo prints). The styling is a little everything-but-the-kitchen-sink, but there definitely appear to be some standout pieces, like this trenchcoat at right. Gear up for March 7th, ladies.

Fashionista has slightly better-quality pictures of the Zac Posen for Target lookbook, which has a lot of very Zac flirty dresses and sexy one-piece swimsuits. Prices for this line appear to be a bit higher than usual, which only makes me hope this means they've used nicer fabrics than the last few collaborations, which suffered from major synthetic usage (ahem, Rodarte). This very summery dress (and several other worthy contenders) hit stores April 25.

With Joan Rivers returning to E! Fashion Police, there's enough bitchiness to go around, and thus in the name of good karma, I'm only going to focus on the dresses I liked at this year's award shows. (In other words, if you don't have something nice to say...) Cathy Horyn might have complained about how uninspired this year's choices were--and I agree on one hand, although I feel like ever since stylists got involved, that's the general direction things have been moving--but I found plenty to like. Here are my favorites, in no particular order.

Emily Blunt
There were a lot of nude dresses this year, to varying degrees of success, but I thought Ms. Blunt's Dolce & Gabbana dress was the best--there's enough draping to create movement, and the trumpet hem is not too out of control. Having a cute date also helps.


Zoe Saldana
There is a lot going on in this Louis Vuitton dress--the tiers, the ruffles, the ruching, the mixed media--but the color reminds me of a nice glass of shiraz, and the statuesque Ms. Saldana looked both elegant and relaxed in it.


Glenn Close
Some of the best-dressed women on the red carpet were d'un certain age, Sigourney Weaver, Helen Mirren, and Sophia Loren among them. But I thought Glenn Close looked better than many actresses half her age, in an age-defying sequined strapless column dress. The minimalist shape and allover sequins go together like, er, Hollywood and Botox.


January Jones
I certainly hope we see more Lanvin on the red carpet, because it's so perfect--it manages to take classically feminine French concepts in fresh new directions. This gown is actually perfect for an older woman due to the demure silhouette, and the dramatic collar draws all the attention to one's face (although, as anyone who's seen Ms. Jones in GQ can attest, there's nothing she should really want to cover up).


Chloe Sevigny
I love Chloe Sevigny because she always seems to be trying new things and pushing her own personal style forward. In other words, she takes risks, which is always refreshing. I wouldn't have expected to see her in this ultra-feminine ruffled Valentino frock, but it was soft and lovely and had great movement as she walked up to the stage to accept her award.


Julianna Margulies
For some reason, I had a hard time finding a red carpet photo of Ms. Margulies, which is too bad, because her Narcisco Rodriguez gown was one of the most sleek, understated, yet sexy looks out there. The back and front both had cool asymmetrical cutouts, and the gown fit her like a glove, which considering how much boob spillage was happening at the Golden Globes, was much appreciated.


Ginnifer Goodwin
I am always surprised that more younger starlet types don't wear short dresses to the Globes and the like (for the Oscars I can understand all the gowns, however). I loved the cut and the bold color of this draped Vionnet style, and I'm sure Ms. Goodwin loved the fact that she didn't have to drag the hem of her dress through the soggy red carpet and suffer cold, wet legs for the rest of the evening.


Reese Witherspoon
Something tells me that breaking up with Jake Gyllenhaal was a good choice, because Reese has never looked better--she appeared to be glowing while up on stage presenting an award. Her dress is not at all showy, but I like that it's midnight blue (a color that looks better on her than black anyway) and its simple design lets you focus on the fact that, well, she looks amazing.


Diane Kruger
Granted, Diane Kruger could make a hefty bag look fabulous, but there's something old-school movie star about her Lacroix gown, and the color just makes me happy. Let's hope this spurs some wealthy investor to throw some dollars toward M. Lacroix's ailing couture house--designers capable of such beauty deserve to stay in business.


Julia Roberts
You have to hand it to Julia Roberts to showing up to the Globes in what is essentially a black jersey day dress (albeit an Yves Saint Laurent one). Then again, this is a woman who let her unshaven armpit hair dangle from a sleeveless top at a movie premiere several years back. The woman does not. Give. A. Fuck. That said, her hair looked great, her legs looked even better, and she seemed totally at ease. I'll have what she's having.

In NYC (only 5 this week)
United Bamboo has fall 2009 men's & women's clothes for up to 85% off (dresses are $110), plus cat calendars too! Through 1/19; 10-8; 217 Centre St. (at Grand St.), 6th fl.

Clothingline has J.Crew samples for men, women & kids (plus Madewell too), and they're restocking regularly. 1/19-1/23; 10-7 T-F, 10-5 Sa; 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Cole Haan shoes and bags for men & women are up to 75% off retail. Credit cards only. No strollers or children under 12. 1/23-1/27; 9-6:30 Sa-Tu, 9-6 W; 317 W. 33rd St. (8th & 9th Aves.).

If you like ornate jewelry, then hit the Judith Ripka sale, where you can score her distinctive designs (18k gold and silver) for 50%-70% off. 1/21-1/23; 10-8 Th, 10-6 F, 10-3 Sa; Carlton Hotel, 88 Madison Ave. (28th & 29th Sts.), Seville room.

Spend $200 in beauty at Bergdorf Goodman and receive a cosmetic bag loaded with samples from Amore Pacific, Tom Ford, Kiehl's, and more. Available in store through 1/30; online through 2/1.


Online
Fall 2009 collections are now up to 70% off at Rogan and Loomstate.

Le Train Bleu's end of season sale features Rachel Comey and other cool Portland-approved designers.

Rag & Bone, Acne, Alexander Wang, and other coveted designers are now 30%-80% off at Forward by Revolve.

Save up to 70% on handbags at Piperlime through 1/24.

Get a swanky sample-filled makeup case designed by Marchesa with your $150 Beauty.com order while supplies last.

Take 25% off all sale items at Pink Mascara with code EXTRA25.

Take 20% off select products at the blissworld.com Blowout Sale with code SAVE20 through 1/21.

Take 20% off everything at National Jean Company with code SALE20.

150 products are up to 50% off at L'Occitane's winter sale.

Most items are 50% off at Seattle's Sway and Cake.

Call it whatever you prefer, the schoolboy, menswear or eclectic dandy. This look incorporating vests, tweeds, corduroy, menswear inspired plaids, fedoras and suspenders. Whatever version of this season's style you choose, a pair of oxford flats are in order. Menswear inspired oxford flats come in many different types of leather and material as you can see. All of the toe shapes have some version of point to them. The shapes of the toe range from the extremely pointed to more rounded shapes inspired by a dancer's jazz shoe. Some of the styles might be mistaken for a men's shoe, such as styles sporting a tip and coloring obviously inspired by a man's wingtip shoe.

Here are our four top picks for menswear inspired oxfords with prices that will appeal to all budgets. From my favorite maker of authentic French ballet flats is the Repetto Zizi Femme Patent Oxford (top left, $162 at Neiman Marcus). The ink blue or "encre" shoe is made of patent leather and has a leather sole. A gorgeous and more feminine take on this trend. This solid color could be worn successfully with black legging or skinny jeans. From Maloles is the sparkly Maloles Studded Oxford (top right, $228 at Neiman Marcus). The pigskin embellished oxford is covered with silvertone studs. The Spanish made Maloloes oxford has a rounded toe and leather sole. Ultra-trendy types on a budget will go for these Deena & Ozzy Wingtip Oxfords (bottom left, $58 at Urban Outfitters) featuring a super pointy toe, two-toned faux leather uppers and perforated detailing. The low stacked heel adds a nice detail to this shoe. Bring on the jazz age with these two-tone black and white patent-leather lace-up oxfords (bottom right, $105.00 at Shopbop.com) with perforated detailing on the toe cap and seams.

For our Fashionista friends across the pond...Visit TheFind's new stylish UK Shopping Blog!

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It figures just when I write a MasstigeWatch post, big news drops the next day. Nevertheless, Fashionista reports that Tucker, designed by Gaby Basora, will be the next Go International designer, following Jean Paul Gaultier's designer collaboration in March and Zac Posen's Go collection in April (Fashionista estimates Tucker's line will hit stores mid-summer). This is significant for two reasons: 1) Tucker is probably the least-known designer yet that Target has selected (I will admit, I had to do a search to put an aesthetic with a name), and 2) Fashionista broke this news (usually Target leaks news to Women's Wear Daily). It should be noted that Fashionista has a new co-editor, Lauren Sherman, who, having worked at Forbes for years, likely has an extensive network of business-side fashion sources. I look forward to reading the new Fashionista.

And speaking of Target, the first camera-phone leaks of Jean Paul Gaultier's upcoming designer collaboration have hit the interwebs, via Fashin's live journal page. From what I can tell, it's stripes, jersey, trench coats...in other words, very Gaultier, and very promising (I hope). Gaulter hits Tar-zhay le 7 de Mars (or March 7th for those who ne parlent pas francais).

Finally, the latest installment of Jil Sander's +J collection for Uniqlo hit stores this morning, and the best coverage of what's available comes to you from Racked. Reportedly the spring collection will be rolled out gradually (as opposed to being dropped all on one day like fall's was), which will hopefully allow people like me a chance to buy something this time.

The unstoppable downtown retailer Opening Ceremony is teaming up with Levi's for an ongoing collaboration [subscription required] to be sold at OC stores, levi.com, the Levi's San Francisco flagship, and several other exclusive stores like Barneys, Colette, and Liberty. The capsule collection includes unisex pants and shorts, shirts, and jackets, most of which are in corduroy, and prices range from $106 for the shorts to $178 for the jackets (which are sized separately for men and women). It will bow at OC stores during Fashion Week.

The London-based Canadian designer Mark Fast got lots of press for sending a handful of plus size models down the runway last September, and now he's making headlines for creating the wittily named Faster [subscription required], a contemporary line featuring his signature sexy cutout knits. Faster, which wholesales for $25-$400 (multiply that by roughly 3.5 for retail prices), will be available at Curve and Seven in NYC this spring. (Fast is also doing an even cheaper line for Topshop, which will be available later this year.)

Speaking of Topshop, Grazia reports Louise Goldin's super-awesome spike-covered pumps will be available in stores February 5th for 150 pounds (or about $240 in current conversion rates). Expect to see them popping up all over Jak & Jil.

I love Refinery 29's street style posts, and a standout in this one, on the best street shots of 2009, was former Vogue-ette Lauren Santo Domingo wearing the Chloe scalloped shorts that were everywhere last summer. Of course the shorts are long gone from stores, but thankfully their inspiration lives on. I thought I spotted a similar style in the latest Urban Outfitters catalog, but when I went to their website, I found an even better pair: these Kimchi Blue scalloped shorts. My first instinct was to buy the nude, but the black is pretty cute too, and for $24, you can afford one of each. According to a review, they're a bit see-through, but that makes them ideal for wearing now over tights. Because if you're anything like me, you're ready for this cold snap to be over--spring (and its cute clothes) can't come quickly enough.

Top 10 NYC
Isabel Marant, A.P.C., Rag & Bone, and other labels that cause me to drool are up to 50% off at Cheryl Shops fave Stuart & Wright. Ongoing; noon-7, noon-6 Sun; 85 Lafayette Ave. (South Portland Ave. & South Elliot Pl.), Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

Kimberly Taylor's accessible, sexy clothes are up to 80% off. Through 1/13; 10-7; 400 W. 14th St. (9th Ave. & Washington St.).

Hit Kidrobot's warehouse sale for $10 hats; $15 tees, dresses and skirts; $40 jackets; and $25 hoodies, crewnecks, sweaters, and rugbys. Through 1/13; 11-7; 56 W. 22nd St. (5th & 6th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Need an evening gown? Tuleh is up to 75% off and Angel Sanchez is up to 85% off at this sample and stock sale. 1/17-1/19; 11-5 Sun, 10-6 M-Tu; 148 W. 37th St. (Broadway & 7th Ave.).

Jewelry from Fenton/Fallon, Alexis Bittar, and other coveted brands is just $15 and up at Charm & Chain's sale. 1/12–1/15; 9-7; 300 W. Broadway (at Grand St.), ste. 2.

Prices on Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, and more have dropped down to 70% off at fashion wonderland Opening Ceremony. Ongoing; 11-8, noon-7 Sun; 35 Howard St. (Broadway & Crosby St.).

Clothingline is hosting a 2-day blowout with prices up to 95% off on Free People, Tocca, Milly, and more. 1/12-1/13; 11-7 T, 11-6 W; 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Fancy yet understated shoes and boots are up to 50% off at Dusica Dusica's sample sale, where sample boots are $250 and sample shoes are $150. 1/12–2/28; 11-7, noon-7 Sun.; 67 Prince St. (Lafayette & Crosby Sts.).

Prices are up to 70% off at Built By Wendy's fall/winter sale. Ongoing; noon-7, noon-6 Sun; 7 Centre Market Place (Broome & Grand Sts.), 46 N. 6th St. (Wythe & Kent Sts.), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Also online.

The entire store is 20% off at Flight 001; also available online with code NOWBOARDING. Click here for hours and locations.


Top 10 online
If you missed Rebecca & Drew's NYC sample sale last month, you're in luck: They're taking the sale online, with prices up to 80% off retail ($30-$65 for shirts, $80 for dresses, and $100 for coats). Sale starts at midnight 1/12-1/14.

It's time for a Spend Some, Get Some event at Saks: Earn a gift card worth up to $2,000 with code JANUARY1 at checkout 1/12-1/14 (available in stores 1/14 only).

The Rachel Zoe-endorsed luxury vintage site Shrimpton Couture is holding its first ever Luxe for Less event, with prices up to 70% off through 1/15.

At Karmaloop, take $20 off a $100 order with code JOYX20 or take 15% off any order with code JOYX15 both through 1/31.

Trendy shoes are up to 50% off at VinceCamuto.com, plus sign up for emails for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree through 1/30.

Whoa! Sale items are buy 1, get 2 free online only at New York & Company 1/14-1/18.

Designers like A.L.C. and Rachel Comey are up to 60% off at Cheryl Shops fave Satine.

Who needs the gym when you can take 30% off the Fat Girl Three at blissworld.com now through 1/18? Or, get free Shipping and a free deluxe sample of Fat Girl Slim when you purchase Fat Girl Sleep with promo code FGS110 at checkout.

150 products are up to 50% off at L'Occitane's Winter Sale.

Finally, taking a cue from Gilt Groupe, Shopbop has introduced an interesting new feature: Refer a friend to the site and receive a $25 credit if your friend makes a purchase. This applies only if your friend is a new customer and does not return their item, but, hey, free money! Keeping with that thought, please tell 'em I sent you.

It's a jolly new year and I can't believe it is already 2010. With a new year comes exciting new discoveries. To kick of the new decade I've scouted out a collection accessories from Aspinal of London. You're probably already familiar with Smythson's heritage brand of diaries and travel wallets. But you perhaps you've not heard of Aspinal of London. Although fairly new and they do not claim to be a 'heritage' brand. Aspinal was founded on the fundamental premise of offering beautiful, quality objects of unsurpassed quality and design handmade by genuine craftsmen at an affordable price. You'll find all sorts of leather goods in the collection including travel wallets, jewelry boxes, handbags, diaries, as well as exquisitely bound leather photo albums and frames. Aspinal's tailored luxury and classic accessories will see you through many seasons. I love the small details that add a supreme element of style that make it special. With any of these accessories you'll be instantly transformed you into the chicest of Sloane Rangers.

My top picks from the collection include the Paris Bag (as shown in Smooth Brown, $490). The Paris bag is a traditional satchel named after the city, (not the celebutante). The perfectly ladylike bag is handmade from vegetable tanned smooth calf leather. It comes in several shades including embossed croc finishes, but I love this classic shade of brown best. Inside you'll find a grosgrain lining with an enormous compartment and zipped pocket for stashing your most precious objects (cel phone and Dior gloss!). This bag can also be monogrammed with gold foil or blind embossing upon the leather luggage tag. A fun and fab accessory for all of you Anglophiles out there (myself included). The Aspinal of London Brit Cuff Clutch (Deep Shine Italian Patent Calf, $210.00). Show your colours with this majestic and flamboyant interpretation of the Union Jack. This clutch wallet is transformed into a cheeky wristlet and embellished with a bejeweled grosgrain cuff. Lastly, the Poppy Bag with Cross Body Strap (as shown in Black Deep Shine Italian Patent Calf, $295.00). Yes cross body bags are one of this season's must-haves. This navy patent leather number is made in Italy by a small family tannery. It is lined in grosgrain and secured with a signature Aspinal gold clasp. Wear the strap crossed over or as a clutch for evening. Simply lovely adorned with one of Aspinal's colorful key fobs.

If you love these Aspinal accessories as much as we do you'll want to enter to win the Paris bag in our New Years giveaway at TheFind Blog.

To enter: Fan TheFind on Facebook AND leave a comment here on the blog telling us why you want to win the Aspinal of London Paris Bag.

Earn extra points for your chance to win:
(Be sure to let us know in comments below that you have completed either or both of these tasks for extra points)

+1 point: Post about the TheFind Giveaway: Aspinal of London “Paris” Handbag on your blog and include a link to the contest.

+1 point: Share this contest on your Facebook profile

The contest begins Wednesday January 6th 2010 at 12:01am and ends Wednesday January 27th 2010 11:59 p.m. PST. The contest winner will choose the Paris handbag in her/his choice of color (depending on stock availability). Giveaway details here on TheFind Blog.

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops

As much as I poke fun at the New York Times' Styles section for being a bit behind on news (hey, did you hear bloggers go to fashion shows?), I must give them props for their reporting, which is what truly gives the Gray Lady her strong reputation. And the Times dropped a doozy on H&M today with this article on how H&M mutilates unsold clothing and then leaves it out in the garbage. The blogosphere reaction has ranged from outrage to "Everybody does it", and H&M has already issued a statement on their Facebook page (which, by the way, is filled with countless "Shame on you" comments), explaining that this is not company practice, and they're looking into it. Of course, the obvious reaction is disgust, especially considering the thousands of homeless and/or impoverished people out there who could use a warm coat and clean clothes; even if throwing out clothes seems like a cheaper option (than, say, shipping them back to a warehouse somewhere), most charities will come pick up a sizable donation and give you a form so you can deduct the expense on your taxes. In other words, there's really no excuse for this. Whether or not it's standard industry practice, hopefully this incident will force retailers to become more responsible.

On a happier note, I'm always pleased to see my fellow bloggers hit the big time, so props to Bryanboy for his charming article in Paper about his trip to Michigan last fall. Bryanboy is fabulous enough to sit front row at Dolce & Gabbana, yes, but he's also witty and sweet and, as this article reveals, entirely human.

It's the next-best thing to an actual Nordstrom in the city, and so I am excited by the Shophound's news that the Union Square Nordstrom Rack will open May 11, 2010. Shoe sales, here I come.

In slightly more shocking developments, Racked reports that branches of No. 8 and Opening Ceremony will open in the Ace Hotel next month. The Ace Hotel has so far been a beacon of hope in the inexplicably slow-to-gentrify wholesale district sandwiched in between Chelsea, Flatiron, and Herald Square; hopefully these openings will get things moving once again.

Finally, Madison Avenue Spy has been fervently covering the stores' post-Christmas markdowns, and yesterday she noted that while the department stores have been advertising savings of up to 60%, many items actually exceed those percentages. So if markdown is a big factor in your purchasing, it might be time to whip out your calculator while shopping.

A few years ago, I took a poll asking if you'd still read Cheryl Shops if I didn't list the weekly sales. A resounding 62% of you said no, and so I soldiered on with my listings. This has been both good and bad: As word has spread about Cheryl Shops, I've had more stores, showrooms, publicists, and so on contacting me about sales, and thus I've had even more listings to share with you. The bad news is that the more sales I know about, the more time I spend compiling them. And a significant portion of the time, I include sales that I don't know anything about, that may be of dubious quality, and/or that I seriously doubt any of you even care about. So I am making a change to the Week in Shopping: Instead of listing as many damn sales as I possibly can, I'm going to pick my Top 20 for the week--10 in NYC, 10 on the Internet. (And in the interest of full disclosure, I will note that sometimes links to online sales are affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase, I get a kickback from the retailer. This helps to support Cheryl Shops financially, and please be assured that not only do I appreciate every little bit I receive, but that sales I choose to include, I would do so regardless of whether the site offers affiliate links.) So, let's try this for a few weeks, and if you guys miss the maniacal lists, I will consider bringing them back. Of course, feel free to leave comments below, or email me if you're a private kind of gal.

Top 10 NYC
The 12th Annual Shoe-Inn boasts 10,000 pairs of shoes from Tory Burch, LAMB, Kate Spade, and Frye; shoes are $19.99-$99.99 and boots are $34.99-$199.99. I will hopefully be checking this out on my lunch hour tomorrow. Through 1/6; 9-7; Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway (at 36th St.).

Clothing and accessories are up to 80% off at my fellow native Chicagoan Cynthia Rowley's sample sale. 1/8-1/10; 10-9; 376 Bleecker St. (Perry & Charles Sts.).

Current and past Tracy Feith collections are majorly discounted at Tracy Feith's warehouse sale. The lower-priced LeShack line is $75-$180. Through 1/31; noon-7; 64 Grand St. (at Kent St.), Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Fall-winter clothing and accessories for men and women are currently 30% off at Oak during the first week of their 30-40-50% sale. 28 Bond St. (Bowery & Lafayette Sts.) in Manhattan; 208 N. 8th St. (Driggs & Roebling), Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and online.

Hurry over to Michelle Obama favorite Zero + Maria Cornejo, where fall/winter merch is up to 50% off. Through 1/5; noon-7; 33 Bleecker St. (at Lafayette St.), 807 Greenwich St. (at Jane St.).

Feed your mind with thousand of art, architecture, design, cooking, and, yes, fashion books for up to 70% off at Phaidon's warehouse sale. Through 1/10; 9-9, 9-7 Sun.; 100 Wooster St. (Prince & Spring Sts.).

At Odin for guys and Pas de Deux for the ladies, fall/winter merch from coveted labels like Rag & Bone, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Boy is up to 30% off. Through 1/15; 328 and 329 E. 11th St. (1st & 2nd Aves.), 199 Lafayette St. (Kenmare & Broome Sts.), 750 Greenwich St. (at 11th St.).

Cute indie-girl clothes from cute indie-girl lables are up to 60% off at the Lower East Side's Pixie Market. Through 1/15; noon-8; 100 Stanton St. (at Ludlow St.). Also online.

Brooklyn mini-chain (and Cheryl Shops fave) Bird has fall merch for men & women (think Alexander Wang, Acne, A.P.C) for up to 50% off. Through 1/15; noon-7; 220 Smith St. (at Butler St.), Cobble Hill, 316 5th Ave. (2nd & 3rd Sts.), Park Slope, 203 Grand St. (Bedford & Driggs), Williamsburg. Also online.

Jonathan Adler stores are taking up to 50% off pottery, lighting, textiles and more, now through 1/17. Click here for stores; also shop online.

Top 10 online
Gilt Groupe has an awesome lineup of sales for this week--Paul & Joe, Marc Jacobs, and Rag & Bone among them--but I'm most excited about Tuesday's Alexander Wang accessories sale. If you're not a member, click here to join.

Tuesday only, get an extra 20% off sale merch at Piperlime.com with promo code TREAT4ME. Ends 11:59pm EST 1/5.

Use code EXTRA20 for items marked 50% and 70% off at Pink Mascara.

Elizabeth & James, RVCA, and other coveted brands are 30%-80% off at Revolve Clothing's always-excellent sale.

Take an extra 25% off sale items through Midnight EST 1/5 only at UrbanOutfitters.com.

Get 15% off bliss and Remede products at blissworld.com with promo code JAN110 at checkout now through 1/10.

The store is picked over, but there are still a lot of good deals online at the Saks Designer Sale, where items are up to 60% off through 1/6.

Take an extra 30% off sale merchandise (which is already 70% off!) at New York & Company with code 4710 at checkout through 1/10.

At Lord & Taylor, take 55%-70% off fall & winter sale & clearance, plus take an extra 20% off sale and clearance items with code TAKE2.

Save up to 50% at Isabella Oliver's end of season sale.