Cheryl Shops

Nanette Lepore is always a favorite around Cheryl Shops—her clothes are unabashedly feminine but also fun and free-spirited. What's also fun and free-spirited is scoring her looks for a song: I'm talking $50 tops, $65 skirts, $80 dresses, $109 blazers, $130 coats, and $20-$35 shoes. Clothingline is hosting the sale, featuring samples and stock, for two days only—go early and go often. 2/1-2/2; 11-8 W, 11-7 Th; 261 W. 36th Sth. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

A confession: Valentine's Day is usually not a very romantic occasion in our household. This is because it generally falls during Fashion Week, so by the time I get home, I'm exhausted (hey, running all over the city and looking at clothes all day is hard work!) and not exactly in the mood for love. Not to mention, MW has a particular disdain for so-called Hallmark holidays. That said, Valentine's Day is still a good excuse to treat yourself to something sexy. Here are some of my current objects de desire, perfect for spicing things up anytime.



Top row:
Knowing Alexander Wang, these fur-trimmed sandals were probably meant to subvert the stereotypical froufrou bedroom slipper, but the combination of the extra-high heel and exaggerated pouf of fur just makes them extra sexy to me.  Alexander Wang Chantal Sandals, $398

This Kiki de Montparnasse necklace has an, ahem, added feature that just might come in handy when you least expect it. Or when you do.  Kiki de Montparnasse Cigar Pocket Vibrator, $375

Mary Green makes all manner of cheeky eye masks (I have a blogger-appropriate one that says "I'd rather sleep than tweet"), but this "Never enough" one carries a fun double entendre. Because who ever gets enough...sleep?  Mary Green Never Enough Embroidered Sleep Mask, $27

Middle row:
There's lingerie that serves a more, shall we say, practical purpose, and then there's lingerie that's suited for one role only. Teddies tend to fall into the latter category, but I love how this Brulee teddy somehow combines a minimal, sophisticated look with a more playful quality. Brulee Vamp Ava Teddy, $158

Champagne, particularly the rosé variety, is one of my favorite things to drink—it tastes good, it's bubbly, and you always look chic holding a flute of it. There's also something to be said for its ability to grease the wheels, so to speak. Taittinger Brut Prestige Rosé Nv, £57

What goes best with Champagne? Chocolate champagne truffles, of course!
La Maison du Chocolat Champagne Truffles, $55

Bottom row:
As a perfume junkie, I have scents for pretty much every mood and/or occasion. For seduction, one of my favorites is L'Agent Provocateur's namesake scent. I once read a review that referred to its essence as "dirty knickers," and before you get grossed out, let me just say that that's a good thing. Trust me.
Agent Provocateur eau de parfum, $60

Adam and Eve, apples, tree of knowledge, serpents, etc. This rose-gold Stella & Dot Sidewinder ring is a little bit dangerous, in a biblical sense.  Stella & Dot Sidewinder Ring, $69

Probably one of my favorite gifts here, these Kiki de Montparnasse panties look like days-of-the-week undies, but upon closer look, say things ranging from "aime-moi" to "mange-moi." Since these are meant to be French lessons, I'll let you figure out their meaning on your own.  Kiki de Montparnasse French Lesson Panty Set, $295

While feathers may not be treasured as dearly as the more popular animal-inspired embellishment, faux fur, this holiday season, feather details are having a serious moment. Platform pumps and strappy heels are getting fancied up with feathers of all kinds, from dramatic statement-making peacock to wispy bursts of color and texture that are sure to steal the show at your next holiday cocktail party. Who cares if you have nothing to wear - bust out your tried and true little black dress and slip on a pair of these festive feathered heels and you've got yourself a look-at-me new look that's right on-trend, no matter how many times you've recycled the same dress! If a lofty price tag doesn't make you cringe, you must take a look at these fierce suede heels from Chiara Ferragni, but if you're on a more modest budget (with just the slightest wiggle room for splurging), these Kate Spade pom-pom heels have loads of character! Seeking a pop of color? Look no further than these Enzo Angiolini Thaddea ankle-strap pumps, or these sexy purple platforms from Nine West!

- Alexandra Gambardella

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops.

Jason Wu has already been on the Today show pimping his Target line, and while I have a feeling it won't quite incite the mass hysteria that Missoni did, I think it will sell out pretty quickly. The collection of clothes, bags, and scarves retails for $19.99 to $59.99 and hits stores February 5th. Here are some of my favorites.

Blush blouse ($34.99), lace-print skirt ($29.99), lace clutch ($29.99)

Pleated top ($32.99), pleated skirt ($29.99), lace clutch ($29.99)
Flared dress ($59.99)
Straw flap bag ($39.99)
Cat print scarf ($19.99)




For those of you who like a similar Zooey Deschanel-like aesthetic, Refinery29 reports that New Zealand designer Karen Walker is creating a lower-priced line for Anthropologie, called Hi There From Karen Walker. No word on pricing or exact dates, but it hits stores sometime in March. Check out R29's rather extensive slideshow for a good preview of the nautical-flavored looks, like this cute dress.


For the Zac Posen fans out there, he's designing a special line of 12 dresses exclusively for Lord & Taylor under his Z Spoke label. The collection will hit stores in April and will retail for $149-$199, less than half of what a typical Z Spoke dress usually goes for. No photos (nor exact dates) available yet, but I will post them as soon as I have them.

Finally, for those of you who can't wait for Mary Katrantzou's upcoming Topshop collaboration (due in stores next month), you can buy one of her Longchamp bags right now on the Colette website. Prices range from 55 Euros ($72) for a makeup case to 350 Euros ($456) for a structured tote; the signature Le Pliage bags run 95-160 Euros ($124-$208).

Opening Ceremony takes many of the NYC's-coolest-store accolades, but in terms of edgy yet accessible, I actually prefer Oak. For one, it's much more affordable, particularly during its semiannual 30-40-50 sales (which last week hit 50% off, in case you were wondering). For another, it has all the cool designers you want—Alexander Wang, Cheap Monday, MM6—plus a bunch of new ones you haven't heard of yet, as well as a very cool in-house label. Even better, starting last Friday, Oak unveiled a secret sample sale in the basement of its Bond Street store, featuring true samples, accessories from photo shoots, and other treasures unearthed in storage. Shh, don't tell the hipsters. Ongoing; 28 Bond St. (Bowery & Lafayette Sts.), basement.

For those of you not in NYC, you can still shop the 30-40-50 sale online.

Although it's safe for us shopping addicts to officially start welcoming spring trends, unfortunately the weather doesn't often know how to keep up with our fashion-forward tastes. In other words, let's be honest with ourselves - it's still freakin' cold out, so you shouldn't feel like you're "out of season" for equipping yourself with some cold-weather must-haves you can actually enjoy now! One of my favorite wintry accessories this season has definitely been the convertible mitten. Unlike fingerless gloves, convertible mittens help you get the best of both worlds by giving you wiggle room to text, but also providing the option to take cover with a cute buttoned mitten extension for extra-chilly days. Sure, they're not the most streamlined or sleek of glove styles, but they're pretty awesome for multi-taskers like me who love to bundle up but also value freedom to carry out basic functions (like operating a touch screen)!

Pictured above: Lulu Convertible Stripe Mittens, Cooperative Cupcake Mitten, Plush Fleece Lined Fingerless Texting Mittens, MICHAEL Michael Kors Fingerless Converter Gloves, and Barneys New York Convertible Mittens.

Content provided by TheFind in partnership with Cheryl Shops.

When I was a teenager, I thought I was fat. Part of this was due to the usual adolescent insecurity, and part was due to the fact that I danced, but even when you weigh 15 or 20 pounds more than the teeny-tiny ballerinas in your company, you feel like an utter cow in comparison. The thing was, I wasn't fat. At all. But it took me a very long time to shake that notion. As in, most of my twenties, and maybe a little of my thirties. So a few years ago, I really started taking care of my body—a big component of this was starting Core Fusion at Exhale, which to this day is the one type of exercise (aside from dance) that I actually like doing. And at some point I realized that not only I am still not fat, I wasted years of my life thinking I was. If I could go back in time, I would tell my 16-year-old self to show more skin, be more confident, wear things that are shorter, tighter, sexier. In other words, dress like teenagers do now!

So while I spent much of my life covering up in tankinis, boy shorts, and other camouflage-oriented swimwear, I've discovered in the last few years that I can wear bikinis. And while the styles I like would probably be considered tame in, say, Brazil, I've found that traditional triangle tops and side-tie bottoms look best on me—and I would venture that with their adjustable, customizable construction, they'd look good on a lot of people, perhaps testament to their enduring popularity. Now, considering how little fabric is involved in bikinis, people often balk at their high price tags, but when you are practically almost naked to the world, you want those tiny triangles of Lycra to be as well constructed as possible, so as to best support and flatter your assets. And, believe me, there is a lot of construction and refinement of fit that goes into a swimsuit. My favorite suits, by Vix, tend to run close to $200, for example, but I firmly believe that when it comes to swimwear, you get what you pay for. (And if you take care of it properly, it can last for several years, if not more.)

MW and I are planning a Caribbean spring break of sorts, which has me eager to replace several of the older styles in my arsenal. The first one that caught my eye this season is this soothing, tie-dyed beauty from a collaboration between A.P.C. and Tooshie, which is a French swimwear label not widely available here. There are 11 pieces in the collection, including some one-pieces and some swim trunks for the guys, but the traditional bikini is my favorite. It's simple, and yet the bottoms are slightly wider on the sides and thus a bit more forgiving than the traditional style. I look at it and just think summer. The stumbling block, however, is the price, which is a bit outside of my swimsuit comfort zone and hence why this qualifies as an object of desire. Then again, I think of all the years I wasted covering myself up on the beach, so maybe it's worth it, to make up for all that lost time. And considering it's only a matter of time before things start sagging and drooping, perhaps there's no time like the present. Carpe diem! Which, in my book, is Latin for "Wear a bikini!"

Back in my personal wish-list entry in my holiday gift guide, I featured Loeffler Randall's crushed blue velvet Natane lace-up stilettos, noting that I was watching them like a hawk in case they went on sale. Saks.com marked them down the day after Christmas, but, alas, by the time I got to them, only size 10 was left (and those are long gone now). After I finished mending my broken heart, I came across the next best thing. They might not be blue velvet, but the metallic lizard version is the silver, er, gold lining in the cloud. They are still available on Loeffler Randall's website and, even better, are on sale, although still on the pricey side, at $313. Still, have you seen a pair of shoes that so deftly toe the line between glamorous and edgy? And in spite of the 105mm heel (about 4 inches), I'll bet that, like every other pair of Loeffler Randall shoes I own, they're quite comfortable. While I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for another markdown, if these babies are still around by my birthday, I think I might have found my present to myself.

Helmut Lang and Theyskens' Theory seem an unlikely duo for a joint sample sale: the former is a contemporary reinvention of a visionary minimalist designer's line (minus said minimalist visionary), while the latter is a contemporary line currently helmed by a visionary neo-gothic designer. But, really, the common denominator is that both companies are owned by Link Theory, and at this sale, they're up to 70% off, which is really the important part. Through 1/20; 11-7; 93 Mercer St. (Spring & Broome Sts.).

This is the time of year where everything is on sale for like 9000% off, and while you can score some amazing bargains, I generally walk into a store, take one look at the clearance racks, then turn around and leave. I'm just getting to the age where my time is worth more than my money. An exception: Shopping the sales just seems so much easier on the Internet--there are no crowds, no craziness, and no sad, dirty clothes to weed through. Not to mention it's easier to find what you're looking for. In other words, it's official: I'm turning into my mother. Next stop, Chico's.

Anyway, just because you can't deal with clearance racks doesn't mean you can't score some amazing deals this time of year. One of my favorite places to bargain-shop on the Internet is Yoox.com, which has been one of my go-to sites for as long as I can remember. The experience is great, it's easy to narrow down sizes, items, and designers, and it's amazing what you can find. While most retailers tend to hold onto items only for a season or two, Yoox is like a veritable archive of designers' recent collections, and whenever I'm looking for a specific item that I missed several seasons ago, it's usually the first place I go. Not to mention, the longer something has been on the site, the cheaper it gets. Here are some of the things I've been stalking, ranging from a $35 ADAM skirt to a $275 Be&D bag (which, by the way, was going for $375 at their most recent sample sale). With Yoox, who needs end-of-season clearance sales?

Clockwise from top left:

3.1 Phillip Lim pants, $65
ADAM by ADAM LIPPES skirt, $35
Eddie Borgo metal bangle, $138
Cut25 draped dress, $69
Dries Van Noten skirt, $145
CURRENT/ELLIOTT denim jacket, $168
Thakoon silk blouse, $125
Be&D leopard-print bag, $275
Ash leather sandals, $55

Lucky for people like me who missed the Giuseppe Zanotti sale a few months ago, it's back, with shoes in sizes 5-11 going for $225 (2 for $395) and boots for $295 (two for $550). As Nikki Minaj says, monster Giuseppe heel is the monster shoe. 1/10-1/12; 10-6; 381 5th Ave. (35th & 36th Sts.).

Clothinline is now hosting Showroom Seven's sample sale, which now means you don't have to schlepp to the far reaches of Chelsea to score Andy & Debb, Australia Luxe, and their other coveted indie designers. Through 1/11; 11-7; 261 W. 36th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 2nd fl.

Stock, archive pieces, and samples are up to 80% off at Cynthia Rowley's sample sale. 1/12-1/15; 10-8 Th-F, 11-8 S-S; 376 Bleecker St. (Perry & Charles Sts.).

It's been so long since I've done a MasstigeWatch post, but so many exciting things are happening in the world of masstige (not to mention the surprise Missoni Christmas presents some Target customers have received).

To kick off the New Year, a few Jason Wu for Target images have leaked to the press—Lucky has an ad campaign images as well as a few choice shots from the lookbook. While Wu is not exactly my style, this looks like a promising collection for fans of his ladylike looks. It hits stores in a month (!) on February 5th, however I anticipate having more lookbook images before then.

But as for masstige collections I'm really, truly excited for, H&M unveiled yet another powerhouse collaboration with Marni, due in stores March 8th. To add another layer of awesomeness, Sofia Coppola will direct the ads. I am particularly excited because March 8th is a Thursday, meaning (hopefully) people won't be camping out overnight for a chance at the goods, and thus I might actually be able to purchase something. I, of course, will share more photos as they're available.

And speaking of H&M, remember the Versace collection last November? Of course you do. Well, there's a part two of sorts, an online-exclusive resort collection due January 19th. The catch? H&M doesn't have e-commerce in the U.S. yet, so consider yourselves lucky, European readers! Fashionista has a preview of the entire collection, should you want to lust over it from afar.

If you love shoes and have several hours to spare (this last point is key), head to the annual Shoe-Inn, where you can find everything from UGGs to Chloe—there are over 7,000 pairs for you to sift through. Boots are $39.99-$249.99, shoes are $19.99-$99.99, and new stock is added daily. In the past, everything has been sorted by size and piled on tables several boxes deep (hence why I recommend clearing several hours). 1/4-1/8; 9-7 weekdays, 10-5 weekend; 1356 Broadway (at 36th St.).


Online: If your shoe shopping tends to happen on your lunch break, as mine does, click on over to shopbop, where, with code EXTRA20, you can take an extra 20% off items already 50%-70% off. (Shoes, yes, but also clothes, bags, jewelry, and accessories too!) Through 1/5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.