Brew Fashion: Zac Posen For Target

I peed on myself a little when I read this (hey, don't judge, it don't take too much to excite ole girl these days)... 

via FabSugar 

The next high-end designer to hit Target is New York darling Zac Posen. While Rodarte for Target hits stores and online Dec. 20, the retailer has already announced the next one up to style a "Go International" collection.  Zac Posen's line will be in most stores and at Target.com April 25 through May 30.  Also next year, Zac is starting a lower-priced line called Z Spoke that will sell at Saks.  I'm accepting donations right now... no checks, but you can PayPal me.  Thanks in advance!  

Zac, this news totally makes up for you letting Diddy dry hump you...

Pampered...On A Budget

I'm all about getting more bang for your buck. I've actually been all about this even when we weren't in a recession...but I am NOT cheap! Just wanted to get that outta the way.

Anywho, just because we've got less money to throw around these days doesn't mean we should pamper ourselves any less.

I decided to put a little "me" time in my schedule and trekked to the Potomac Massage Training Institute in DC. It's a school for masseuses (the real kind...not the ones who send you penis texases, hoping for a happy ending). Since it's a massage school, you can make an appointment for a student massage for just 37 bucks! And you can't tip them since they're students. Ain't life grand?!

You get the same treatment you'd get at a professional spa (okay, there's no cucumber water but I hate that stuff anyway) but for a whole lot less. Student massages are $37, graduate massages (tipping optional) are $55 and professional massages (tipping also permitted but not expected) are $80...all well below a typical hour-long massage in this area!

Head to Google to find a massage training school near you. I swear, I love the innawebs.

Brew Fashion: Get Your "Swirl" On

Ain't nothin' like a good sample sale.  The trouble is, finding them.  Unless you're in the inner circle, know the password and knock three times.

Hip, in-the-know site DailyCandy hopes to fix that with the launch of Swirl.  All of the items on the new sample sale site will be selected by DailyCandy's editors, so you won't have to wade through any junk.  Swirl will offer deals up to 80% off.  Now, that's what I'm taumbout!  The site is in beta mode right now.  It's set for a soft launch on November 16th and a real launch in January 2010.

Swirl membership is exclusive to DailyCandy members for the beta launch.  So head to the website to sign up.

Brew Fashion: Christian Siriano For Payless

Jem likes nothing more than the words designer + pay + less.  And if the word shoe is thrown in the mix, I might combust!

Season 4 Project Runway winner Christian Siriano has launched a new line of footwear for Payless.  The limited edition collection launched in September, but there are still some looks available.

The shoe line ranges from flats to heels and platform boots. Siriano’s line features a lot of black and gold with lux touches here and there. He says the shoe line will get more dramatic as he goes along. I got $5 on the peeptoes!

Fabulous Fashion: Sonia Rykiel for H&M

Sonia Rykiel is the latest designer to lend her name to H&M.

This holiday season, she'll craft a line of lingerie. The collection will also sell in her international boutiques starting in December.

In February, Rykiel will launch an accessories and spring knitwear collection for women and girls.

The lingerie will launch in 1500 H&M stores, but the knitwear will only be sold in 250 stores.

Not to be outdone... Jimmy Choo's line of shoes, handbags and clothing drops in H&M stores on November 14th.

Cue up the line now for the crazies (read: me) who'd camp out for designer fashion at a reasonable price.

Source

Neiman Marcus Catalog Acknowledges Recession...Sorta

It's not even Halloween yet but the folks at Needless Markup Neiman Marcus are already thinking about Christmas.

This year’s top fantasy item in the annual Neiman Marcus Christmas Book is sports aircraft and pilot training for two for $250,000. The catalog also features the world’s fastest electric motorcycle for $73,000 and a $25,000 cupcake car.

Who will buy in this recession? For Neiman’s, that’s not what the Christmas book is about.  Company officials say they don't look at the items for salability. "If they sell, terrific. But if they don’t, they’ve gotten attention. They’ve made people smile and given you something fun to fantasize about during the holiday season,“ said Ginger Reeder, vice president of public affairs for Neiman Marcus.

Uh, okay?!?

The gifts are a little less over the top this year. If you can believe that. This year’s most expensive gift is only $250,000, instead of millions as in years past.

See, the kind folks at Neimans were thinking about us recessionistas.



Source

Brew Shopping Network: Shecky's Girls Night Out

"Women be shoppin'! You cannot stop a woman from shoppin'!"

-Dave Chappelle

There's nothing I like more than shopping.  Okay, maybe I like a good dinner, 8 hours of sleep and good peen a nice date from time to time.  But, by and large, a good deal ain't never hurt me either.


One great place to find deals and steals is at Shecky's Girls Night Out.  The national event is a way to get your girls together and stock up on the trends of the season and have a few cocktails while you're at it.  There's nothing like getting a goodie bag and doing some drunken shopping.

The event is held in major cities across the country.  If you're in the DC area, enter DCTXT10 at checkout to get $10 off Goodie Bag tickets, which are regularly priced at $25. 


Shecky's schedule:

• Washington, DC – Oct. 13th-15th
• New York City – Oct. 19th-23rd
• Boston – Oct. 27th-29th
• Dallas – Oct. 29th-30th
• Houston – Nov. 5th-6th
• San Francisco – Nov. 11th-12th
• Atlanta – Nov. 12th-13th
• Miami – Nov. 19th-20th
• Los Angeles – Dec. 9th-10th
• Philadelphia - Feb. 23rd-25th
• Chicago – Apr. 6th-8th

Happy shopping!

Tech Talk: Recession iPhone Case

Man, this recession is a mofo! First, you scrimp and save and raid the couch cushions for an overpriced, pocket-sized computer/camera/typewriter/radio that makes calls, then you run out of money and can't buy a quality case. What is the world coming to?

Enter: the Case-Mate iPhone recession case. You can even get the thing "personalized" with free Sharpie script. Now that's a deal!

The thing has many uses too... you can make White Castle sliders in it! Go figure.

Tech Talk: Pimp Your Phone

We're all on that recessionista tip these days. If I don't need it, I don't buy it (ok, so I really NEEDED those boots…whatever... back to business!). Anyway, if you're tired of staring at the same ole phone, why not upgrade it! But, on a BUDGET!

Two new gadgets help you pimp your phones without actually having to buy a new one.

First, there's the sleeve that helps you turn your iPhone into something like a Blackberry. The iTwinge sleeve covers the touch screen with a real keypad. Makers of the gadget say it can increase your typing speed by 30-40% but it does make the iPhone a bit bulky. It also plugs into the phone (which we all know doesn't have the world's best battery life). The iTwinge will run ya about 30 bucks.

If you have an actual Blackberry and want to give it a lil makeover, then try changing the faceplate. Hong Kong-based TrueSupplier.com offers full Bberry "housings" if you want to switch things up. Or, you can just change the color of the keyboard or the trackball. Replacing the trackball is really easy and most Bberry users will have to do it at least once (those things get dirty).

Or, you could just suck it up and use the dang phone to make calls and not care what it looks like. But, hey, we like to offer you some options here at the Brew. Consider it a public service.

(iTwinge photo: Mobile Mechatronics)

Tech Talk: Free iPhone Apps

We all love free stuff, right? Free food. Getting in free at the club. If it starts with free, I’m all over it. Trust, I get my recessionista on!

There’s a place where you can score free applications for your iPhone! You spent all that money on the phone, why should you have to PAY for the apps, right?

Enter: FreeAppAlert

Apple’s app store is terrible at pointing out the free stuff, but FreeAppAlert does. The site provides a new list everyday of all the applications that are free (or, recently free).

So bookmark it and get to freeloading!

WTF Files: Strippin' On Crutches

Times really are tight if you can't take time off from stripping to get your leg right.

Make that money, honey! (I guess?!?!)

Thanks to Bossip for this gem!

Brew’Voyage: JetBlue Deal

I value your money as much as I do mine. (See how much we love you at the Brew?) So, I figured I'd pass along this little recession-friendly tidbit. JetBlue is offering an "all-you-can-jet" pass for $599 that lets travelers book an unlimited number of flights in a one-month period. This is better than the all-you-can-eat Sizzler!

The deal includes all of JetBlue's 56 destinations. You must travel between September 8 and October 8. There are no seat limitations or blackout dates either and taxes/fees are includes for domestic flights. Grant it, JetBlue is a relatively inexpensive airline anyway, but if you've got lots of travel to do, this is may be a sweet deal for you.

Hurry though. You've got to buy the pass by August 21^st.

Happy travels! (Feel free to take me along...I'm just sayin')

Anna Sui for Tar-jay

Clutch your pearls my fellow recessionistas: Anna Sui is coming to Tar-jay! Sui will be the second designer to do a collection for Target's Designer Collaboration series.

The new line was inspired by Gossip Girl (xoxo) characters Serena, Blair, Jenny and Vanessa ('bout time ole Nessa got some love). The collection will be released online and in select Target locations on September 13^th.

Click here for a sneak peek at the look book.

Marc Jacobs Loves Da Kids

Fashion guru Marc Jacobs (ok, the picture is a little much, no?) wants your babies to rock the freshest pool couture possible. The brains behind Louis Vuitton and his eponymous (Google it) line plans to drop Little Marc Jacobs swimwear in time for the cruise season of 2010.

The 50 piece collection will run from kiddie sizes 2-10 and will be priced at under 50 bucks. A steal? I guess. The line is expected to feature cartoon graphics and the kissing fish print used in other Marc Jacobs swimsuits.

What recession?

Screeching Cat Gets Clothing Line

I thought I already had 100 reasons to hate shopping at Wal-Mart. Now, here’s a bona fide 101: actress and cat-screeching singer (imagine my finger quotes) Miley Cyrus is reportedly partnering with BCBG designer Max Azria on a juniors line to be sold at Wal-Mart. You know, Max is the man who reinvigorated the Herve Leger bandage dress that everybody and their momma has worn on the red carpet lately.

Surely, discount retailers are making a killing among recessionistas, but why Lord why does the great Max Azria have to pimp a line with this gum-transplant needing girl?

The line will include separates, tees, shoes and accessories. All items will be priced below $20 and sold exclusively in Wal-Mart (that store kinda makes me itch) this August.

It doesn’t hurt that Wal-Mart is also sponsoring Miley Cyrus’ tour which starts in September.

Please don’t let them start running commercials… I can’t take this child’s voice.

The Outnet Launches...Finally

Hear ye! Hear ye, my fellow recessionistas... the long awaited sister site to Net-A-Porter.com has launched. The Outnet hit these here Internetz this morning, offering discounted looks that run the gamut, from Anna Sui to Zac Posen.

Of course, with any recession-friendly offering, there's a lil catch: all of the items are in limited supply or only available in one size. Hey, win some - lose some.

Even if your money is a little funny right now and you're not ready to do a Rambo-style shopping spree, sign up for the e-mail list because each month The Outnet offers "pop up" sales and other giveaways. And even in these lean times, sale is still a word that gets me o-f-f!

Recession Affecting White Jesus Too

This economy is a mofo. First the Fat Boys break up, now every day I wake up… oh wait, that’s Jay-Z. Anyway, Atlanta’s Bishop Eddie Long has been forced to scale back his elaborate annual Easter Celebration. This year marks the first time in 15 years that Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church won’t hold Easter service in the Georgia Dome.

The Easter celebration usually draws some 40,000 people to the Dome. But not this year. Trust me, two years ago, I watched this thing on TV and was mesmerized for hours, much like watching that screaming pastor on BET.

Long says church revenues are off by 20%. So this Sunday's service will not be the usual $200,000 production he’s used to conducting. Instead, the Bishop will hold three services in his 10,000 seat church outside Atlanta. His message: “Vision in Hard Times.”

I’d say so.

“I so wanna be SJP…”

“Sex And The City” actress Kristin Davis has a little something for us recessionistas. Davis has designed a clothing line for the Belk department store chain. The designs were part of an effort last year to boost sales for the retailer. Davis now has just under 200 pieces in the collection.

The clothes are a tad conservative (like her SATC character Charlotte), and likely, a bit more “everyday” wearable than the "Bitten" clothing line Sarah Jessica Parker offered for the now defunct Steve & Barry’s discount stores. Davis’ pieces are a bit pricier than SJP’s. These are definitely for the working woman who has a few dollars to spend.

The "Kristin Davis" line also includes shoes, accessories and lingerie.

Raid Rachel's Closet

Damn This Recession! First Circuit City, now celeb anorex stylist and reality show "star," Rachel Zoe is getting in on the "everything must go" liquidation action.

Next Thursday, March 26th, an LA store will host a shopping event for a small number of invited guests to shop handpicked jewelry items from Rachel's closet. A portion of the proceeds will go to charity. That's code for "I'm keeping some of this dinero, heffas." Here's the catch for us online deal grabbers: anything that makes it past the first night will be hocked on these here internetz (DecadesTwo.com and on the store’s eBay page). The whole shopping event will wind up on Rachel's lil reality show on Bravo, which I happen to watch along with all the other mindless TV. I just like the way she thinks every look she creates will "shut.it.down." She needs to shut down on a sandwich.

His Name Is Prince…And He Is Discounted

Prince got the memo on the recession! See, my efforts to spread the word have not been in vain. Time.com reports the tiny dancer is teaming up with Target later this month to release a new three-disc set. The set includes original studio albums, LOtUSFLOW3R and MPLSoUND, and a third disc, Elixer, which will introduce Bria Valente, Prince’s latest protégé. The set hits shelves on March 29th and will sell for just $11.98. Now that’s what I call a sign o’ the times.