Perfect for a 'morning after'

There are only a few things in life that bring me more joy than an unexpected and significant discount on an item I've long wanted but whose acquisition I could never really justify.

Pedigree commercials with happy endings, making it through the day without snagging my tights, catching "Serendipity" on TBS -- you know, the special stuff.

If you're like I am and have a few somethings you've been eyeing over at Active Endeavors recently, maybe a few items a wee bit outside your price range or that fall too squarely in the "I don't really need it" category, take advantage of ASJiNE's first personalized promotional code* -aptly named, 'noexcuse'- and go get one of 'em for 20% off its regular price!

Last year, my girl L got herself a Minkoff 'morning after' for Valentine's Day, and from what I hear, they're not just still going strong, they're inseparable.


So many relationships fail these days -- I see no reason why we shouldn't invest in something that offers up a more reliable return, especially when there is a whimsically-printed silk lining and $120 discount involved.

Happy shopping!

*the 'noexcuse' promotional code is good through the end of February for 20% off any regular priced merchandise

A rainbow of (affordable) pretty, pretty dresses

I just love a pretty party dress.

I love searching for them online, I love weaving through them on store racks, I love walking by them in glass-encased displays, I love watching them sashay on skinny little things down runways, I love admiring them on other women, I love trying them on, I love buying them, and I love wearing them out on a weeknight to a fancy steak dinner at the Palm followed by an opening-night showing of an action movie at the Chinatown cineplex.

A day without a cocktail dress occasion doesn't go by without notice; if I could, I'd wear one every day of the week, even to a Capitals/Oilers game at the Verizon Center.

And who knows, maybe I will...

For the rest of you dress-hungry ladies, I've rounded up a few more pretty lil' frocks to brighten up this very cold and very dreary DC day.

Enjoy.

Satin tulip dress by Betsey Johnson
($179 at bluefly.com)

‘Claudette’ blouse by Elie Tahari**
($129 at bergdorfgoodman.com)

Draped belt dress by Leyendecker
($79.20 at shopbop.com)

‘Maggie’ dress by SharDann
($225 at starsandinfinitedarkness.com)

Silk taffeta dress by Castle Starr*
($275 at basicboutique.com)

‘Virgine’ high-neck dress by Samantha Treacy*
($231 at shopbop.com)

Cotton ‘Cady’ dress by J.Crew
($250 at jcrew.com)

Round-bow dress by Karen Zambos Vintage Couture
($197 at revolveclothing.com)

Ruffle wrap dress by Eliza J*
($158 at nordstrom.com)

Runway shift dress by Tracy Reese
($183.20 at eluxury.com)

Bead chiffon dress by Phoebe Couture
($147 at nordstrom.com)

Tucked dress by Crispin & Basilio
($218 at revolveclothing.com)

Plaid ‘Dolly’ dress by L.A.M.B.
($230.90 at saks.com)

*your Editrix's favorites
**I desperately tried to find a $250-or-less orange dress worthy of inclusion but after coming across this after this after this, I gave up and instead shared with you this fabulous, orange-ish Tahari blouse that I, myself, may have a "place order" party with later on tonight...
***credit to Etcetera for showing me the Eliza J dress (apologies for not doing so sooner)

A rainbow of (affordable) pretty, pretty dresses

Check back later today for my reader-requested follow-up to Monday's array of beautiful but not so budget friendly dresses.

In this one, I promise, nothing over $250.

Since I didn't feature a metallic dress in the previous post, I won't do so in this afternoon's, however...a golden Karen Zambos Vintage Couture beauty I've had my eye on since the day of its inclusion in Bop's "new arrivals" last August just had a final markdown overnight from $341 to $102.30.

That's a pretty good deal...

For those of you who were admiring her yesterday...

...Ms. Reese's adorable, betuliped housewife-style dress can be acquired (with free two-day shipping) at Revolve for 20%-off the original $308 price-tag using the following promotional code:

revolvepeople07*

I know for many of you (myself included), the threshold for purchasing a new dress you don't need right away hovers around the $250 mark, and because of that, I was eager to share with you the opportunity to add this very versatile and very uniquely-cut dress to your collection for just under that at $246.40.

Happy shopping!

*kudos to HRL for the heads-up!
**note: the 20%-off code applies to any non-sale item at Revolve

Such a good deal, even *I* bought flats

Our friends over at the aptly named SmartBargains.com have really done it this time.

Not only were they able to convince me to part with $99 of my saved-up stash the day I leave for the most expensive city in the country, but even more shocking is that their newest promotion would have me spend that sum on not one, not two but three pairs of heel-less footwear.

"Flats" I hear the kids are calling them these days.

Normally, I'd delete an e-mail with the words "sale," "3 for $99" and "great selection" in the subject heading (stupid but true), but considering that earlier in the holiday season I was able to find my favorite flats on their site for almost two-thirds less than they cost on my beloved Zappos.com, I began to look at discount sites -SmartBargains in particular- in a much more maybe-I'm-missing-something-here light.

So, if you're like I am and need a blowout sale to motivate you to buy a pair of flats, head over to SmartBargains and pick out your three favorites among the many cute pairs of Sam Edelmans they have in stock.

And if you follow this link, you'll also receive free shipping.

Be safe and have a great weekend!

best,
J

Well, sale me happy, there's room in my budget for two!

After denting the couch with back-to-back TBS airings of A Christmas Story, there's nothing more satisfying than topping off the best day of the year with a trip down everyone's favorite lane -- the shopping lane.

So come equipped with those holiday gift cards and feast your eyes on these hand-selected, me-approved major markdowns, a few of which - yes, Jill Stuart handbag, Zanotti pumps and Fendi blouse, I'm looking at you three - probably aren't yet low enough to 'place in basket', but still, just like porn, there's nothing wrong with looking, right?

Right.

Enjoy.

Belted stand-up collar jacket by Tahari

($248 $165 at nordstrom.com)

'Rivington Emelle' handbag by Jill Stuart

($525 $349.90 at nordstrom.com)

'Paper bag' tweed skirt by Robert Rodriguez

($297 $88.95 at saks.com)

'Domini' skinny trousers by Theory

($305 $183 at saks.com) Brushstroke brocade coat by Nanette Lepore
($625 $313 at shoptwigs.com) Pump with leopard-print heel by Giuseppi Zanotti*
($450 $253 at eluxury.com) Silk trapeze top by Fendi
($625 $300 at eluxury.com) 'Jester' trapeze dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim
($836 $418 at standardstyle.com) Rolled-collar cashmere coat by Vince
($365 $219 at standardstyle.com) Cuffed-sleeve sweater by Joe Basilio*
($132 $92.40 at basicboutique.com) Cowl-neck dress by Lewis Cho
($198 $138.60 at basicboutique.com) High-waisted pencil skirt by Rag & Bone
($242 $169 at activeendeavors.com)
'Mayfair' jacket by Sunner
($415 $208 at revolveclothing.com) 'Leggy' jean by Rich & Skinny*
($176 $88 at revolveclothing.com) Metallic tweed jacket by Anna Sui
($378 $226.80 at net-a-porter.com)Linen-blend tulip skirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim
($315 $189 at net-a-porter.com)
Cowl-neck bubble-sleeve dress by Thread Social
($440 $224.50 at shopbop.com)
Pleated leather box clutch by Erva*

($325 $162.50 at shopbop.com) Brocade coat by Alice + Olivia
($440 $308 at shopbop.com)
Satin flats by Marc by Marc Jacobs
($315 $94.50 at shopbop.com)

*your Editrix's top picks

To pass the time in your empty office...

Why not invest in a new Winter coat?

With Bop's annual (and very temporary) "Get a Jump" discount*, you can snap up that sleek L.A.M.B overcoat, that festive metallic Alice+Olivia dress coat or that deliciously impractical Hanii Y white wool confection you desperately want need for $50 to $100 off the original price.

Or, you could always go for the big time and order my beloved Juliana Jabour mini dress for $250 off.

In a size 4.

And then mail it to me.

*as always, Bop offers free 2nd-day shipping

Before we have to start buying for others...

We've all been told it's better to give than to receive.

Yeeeah, okay I can see that. I guess I get the flutters when I open the bag of chicken jerky and see the awed look of "Really, Mom? Really?" on my smuckerbug's face, and I'm pretty sure I remember a kind of warm rumble in my mid-section the last time I gave him a no-reciprocation-required paw massage.

But beyond those special moments, my favorite kind of giving is when I give myself something pretty, something in the way of a nice wool-jersey blend with cute pouf-sleeves and an of-interest neckline. Or maybe something of the fitted black cashmere variety. Or something high-waisted in a nice houndstooth.

You get the point.

The best store for this sort of me-to-me gift giving is without doubt the Narnia of neutrals, the don't-worry-it's-okay-to-wear-all-black-in-here haven known as Club Monaco. And thanks to reader 'holiday,' we all now have an excuse to head over there (unfortunately, they don't sell their clothing online) between 11/15 and 11/19 for some serious good-deal shopping.

Outlook it, ladies -- you don't want to let this opportunity slip away.

*note: make sure to print out the above advert and bring it with you when you visit the Club Monaco location nearest you

A selection of *this season* sale dresses

It's been a good long while since I scoured the Interwebs for sale items, and believe it or not, even though we're nowhere near the end of Fall, I found a whole flock of currently in-season items that have undergone a drastic markdown.

And since there's nothing I love more than a frock that fares well both at work and play, here below are a selection of, for the most part, office-appropriate sheath, wrap, sweater and coat dresses that will stylishly take you from your desk to drinks.

Enjoy (the savings).

Bicolor knit dress by Nola & Scout

($288 $169 at intermixonline.com)Flannel dress by Laundry by Design

($235 $141 at dillards.com)*

Shirt dress by eDressMe NY

($92 $40 at edressme.com)
Gathered waist dress by Cynthia Steffe
($230 $137.90 at saks.com)

Roll-collar dress by David Meister

($345 $206.90 at saks.com)*

Cap-sleeve lady dress

($168 $109 at bananarepublic.com)

Silk color block dress by Sarah Luna

($350 $280 at activeendeavors.com)

Stripe shift dress by Alexander Wang

($450 $135 at basicboutique.com)

Florent kimono dress by Sunner

($282 $197.40 at shopbop.com) Julian wrap dress by DvF

($298 $177.90 at nordstrom.com)

Sweater dress by Laurie B.

($161 $95.90 at nordstrom.com)

Stretch wool toggled dress by MARC by Marc Jacobs

($498 $237.90 at nordstrom.com)*

And for the lawyers and sugar daddied among us with their fancy six and seven-figure salaries...

Gathered waist dress by Chloé

($1,970 $780.60 at net-a-porter.com)

Bib-front dress by Viktor & Rolf

($1,620 $648 at net-a-porter.com)*

Lace-hem plaid dress by Alexander McQueen

($6,965 $2,786 at net-a-porter.com)

*your Editrix's top picks