70% off!

Here are some great deals at http://www.shopbop.com/

Jill Stuart wedges are $113 from $378. They're white, and the wedge makes them a little chunky, so wear with care. I would pair them with an at the knee pencil skirt, or one of falls coming fuller, to the calf skirts. Skinny trousers or capris would work too!

This shirt by Ever is $59 from $198. It covers the bell sleeve trend at an unbeatable price. Pair with leggings, jeans, trousers (tucked in for a more bus cas look if you're thinking of wearing to the office).

Start with accessories

Accessories are the easiest and cheapest way to pop your look, create a unique style or look, and are either beyond trends, or can be pulled out and put away for later again and again.

Here are a few accessories from Barney's sale that are hot!

If you don't yet have a BIG bag from a big label, grab this FENDI bag for $389 from orig $1,560. 75% off.

Botkier bag for $239 from $595. Patent is off and on trend, so you can use it when it's in, put it away when it's out, and either way it's fab for less than $250. Only 60% off though....

I'm not a huge flats fan, but these are beautiful! Lanvin, $220 from $550, only 60% off, but these would make an outfit on their own.

Now is the time!

I only really SHOP during markdown season. I look for two things: 1) that the item is at a discount of 65% or more and 2) that the item has a long term us in my wardrobe.

Point 1 means that I won't go broke shopping at full price to keep up with trends that are by their nature designed not to last past a few seasons - forcing you to always "have" to shop. Point 1 also means for every dollar I spend on sale, I can have more in quantity as well as quantity. For example, if I pay $1,000 at full price I could have 1 pair of Gucci boots. But if I wait until everything marks down, I could have 1 pair of Gucci boots plus 1 pair of Prada boots for the same $1,000. The difference is getting 1 or getting 2 no more than 2 months later.

Which leads to point 2. You have to be dissaplined enough to only buy quality, trend-proof items/brands. This way, you always have a closet with bench-strength to draw upon to look fab during those 2 months that your in a new season, but waiting to shop.

So, these next few posts are going to be full of things on sale that I think are great wardrobe builders to buy now and why.

Let's get busy!

Item to watch: TOYWATCH

Will this ever go on sale?

Probably no.

But it may be worth buying at full price.

My iPhone - I LOVE IT!

Makes the Honor Roll - fabulous gadet at half original price.

Sent from my iPhone

My first gilt.com purchase!

My first purchase from GILT.com !!!

I love this site. I HATE this site.

I have never been able to log on in time to get what I wanted on one of these sales until now! A Lorelei bag!

Victory is sweet. A for effort. No extra credit - it was only 30% off original retail.

Game time decision!

Having worked in retail for a while now, I am incapable of paying full price for just about anything. I advise anyone I meet to only purchase statement pieces at 75% off original retail or more. You spend less money and accumulate better pieces. A few years of discipline and you can have a closet full of statement pieces that last forever for the same cost or less of being at the whim of in and out seasons and throw away clothes.

So, I came across this bag (in orange, calf. Not up to the gator price point yet!), unexpectedly, and had to make the play and purchase before some other smart fashionista beat me to it. The final price was almost 80% off! A Ralph Lauren Ricky bag.

A+ with extra credit! This bag will always make a big statement.