shopping truth:  after a promotional discount code shall quickly follow massive markdowns.  case in point:  both shopbop and saks have cut prices on all of their pre-fall pieces just days after their respective “shop and save” events.  typical.  the shopbop sale wasn’t thrilling me, but saks has me all aflutter.

hurry over now to score this morning’s 40%+ markdowns on early fall pieces i’ve been dying to own, like this vince boyfriend cardigan i mentioned a few weeks ago, and this gorgeous quilted tory burch leather jacket.  and the dresses…my god, the dresses.  this robert rodriguez is an amazing classic, and a piece you can wear year-round.  or this lovely DVF that’s making me oh-so-happy right now.  i even love this elizabeth & james wilde vest jacket – so preppy, but so cool…and about 60% off, so it’s actually reasonably priced now!  but move fast…the good pieces are going to be gone the moment i find my american express card! 

i’ll admit, i was a little skeptical of nina garcia’s new book, “the one hundred”.  to begin, i really know her only as my favorite judge on project runway…”nina-garcia-fashion-director-of-elle-magazine” (spoken in a fantastic german accent).  i absolutely live for her bitchy comments about some of the heinous designs on that show.  but i wasn’t sure i was willing to put my entire wardrobe in her hands.

moreover, the title made the book feel like an extended version of that “classic 10-piece wardrobe” myth you hear the occasional fashion guru spout about.  i don’t know who these people are, but i’m pretty confident they have a great deal more than 10 items in their closet.  100 sounded more do-able, but i had to wonder if it was possible for any list to truly encompass every woman’s basic wardrobe needs.

fortunately, nina seems to know this.  she makes it clear at the outset that her “list” is really just a guide, and that it wouldn’t be style unless you put your personal spin on it.  fair enough. 

there’s nothing truly remarkable on this list, except possibly the image of nina garcia wearing converse sneakers (which i simply cannot conjure).  some are obvious: the little black dress, opaque black tights.  some are not necessarily pieces i would have put in a “must own” category:  frye harness boots, a cape.  i’m not entirely on board with what she deems the four handbags on the planet worthy of a splurge, if only because i think the most important thing about a truly investment-worthy bag is that you absolutely, wholeheartedly adore it, and can’t imagine your life (or, at least, your wardrobe) without it.  but i can’t deny that her choices are solid classics.

despite my departures from nina’s style on several points, i still loved the book.  for a fashion novice, it’s a great working checklist, and it provides some timeless words of wisdom (ie, when you buy animal print, go designer – cheap animal print looks just that).  for someone a little farther up the educational ladder in this arena, there is still plenty to learn from nina.  i finally figured out, for example, what all the fuss is about wolford tights.  they’re $80, so i’ve always just mocked and moved on.  turns out, there’s a whole system of weights and measures when it comes to tights, and wolford is the only manufacturer that makes the 80-denier (ie, the most opaque) tights out there.  who knew?  i also never knew that real camel hair is gathered from a camel’s underbelly by professional camel hair gatherers who follow camel herds around the desert, collecting these hairs.  no wonder that coat i wanted last year was $4,000.

like any “guide,” it’s not perfect – it’s just that:  a guide.  if anything, it intentionally doesn’t reflect nina’s personal style…it’s general enough to allow you to find your own style within its confines.  or to decide for yourself, like i did, that frye harness boots aren’t necessarily an essential part of your wardrobe…but maybe those loeffler randall flat boots i’ve been after for a year now would be a good substitute.

whatever your level of expertise, i’m pretty convinced nina has something to teach us after all.  grab your copy today, and let us know what you think.

at first, i was afraid it was a crush.  but every time i look at this stunning gemma pump from loeffler randall, it becomes more clear:  this is definitely love.  love the luscious raspberry color, the open toe, the swirl detail on the vamp, the lizard embossing, and the super-practical 2″ heel.  love absolutely everything…except the $450 pricetag.  money tree, where art thou??

i do, however, think this qualifies as a worthy splurge.  unlike her handbag line (tragically, i’ve had several bad experiences there), jessie randall’s shoes are built to last – and i have a closet full of them to attest.  this color will be amazing all winter with those colored tights you’re seeing everywhere, but really, can you imagine a more perfect summer party shoe?  i simply cannot…and a shoe i can wear literally 12 months out of the year is a rare enough commodity it may be worth biting the proverbial bullet.

pick it up at shopjake, the store that is singlehandedly forcing me to think about what exactly would happen if i maxed every credit card i own.  i do believe you can use code heel08 to score 10% off…every little bit helps.

i think i’ve finally realized i’m not 20 any more…and so, have been on a quest lately for a good, line-minimizing night cream.  the problem is that most creams are designed for skin with much bigger problems than i have.  they tend to be thick, overly oily, and have kind of a weird smell (this is after testing at least 10 versions from different brands).

so, when i tried clarins line prevention multi-active night cream, i was cautiously optimistic.  their line is always a favorite of mine, but after so much disappointment, i wasn’t about to get my hopes up.  

fortunately, they seem to be the only company that has realized women under 70 need night-time moisture as well.  their version is actually tailored for younger women (30s, specifically, but who’s counting…).  it’s silky soft, contains just the right amount of moisture to give me a nice, dewy glow that makes me feel better about my makeup-free-face, and has almost no scent at all.  jackpot!

as an added bonus – my skin is completely in love.  when i try to go a night without doing the evening skin routine (i know, i know…very bad), it rebels like it never has before.  and while my wrinkles haven’t vanished, the ones on my forehead have improved…and the rest don’t seem to be getting any worse.  which is really about all i can ask of a moisturizer, i think.

find it wherever clarins is sold, or on their website, for $72.  yes, it’s a lot.  but i’ve been using it daily for a month now, and honestly, i’ve barely made a dent in the jar.  i’m estimating it’s a six-month supply…so just call it $12/month for happy skin.

i’ve been in the market for a new cosmetic case for a while now – something slim and chic to throw in my purse on a daily basis.  the one i have now is about 15 years old, no lie – it’s from coach, before they moved production to china and things went all to hell.  the leather is so soft and so perfectly broken in, i just haven’t had the heart to retire it.  well, that and the fact that am completely unwilling to splurge on the one i really want, since i know it’s going to take a daily beating.  even my excessive spending has its limits.

fortunately, i’ve finally found the perfect solution.  this gorgeous metallic case from andrea brueckner boasts sinfully soft leather, classic styling and a very accommodating size (9″x5″).  but it gets even better…use code lucky3, and you’ll get 25% off, taking it down to an impossible-to-pass-up $30 pricetag.  but grab it quick – a code from lucky means it’ll be gone before you know it. 

in celebration of the democratic convention kicking off this week, it seems only fair to give you some of the more fashionable ways to strut your political stuff.

if john mccain’s campaign started the internet buzzing with his ad mocking barack obama as the world’s most famous celebrity, paris hilton’s rebuttal had it screaming.  of course, after we all stopped laughing, i think there was a simultaneous pause, in which we all thought “wait, paris hilton’s solution to the energy crisis actually makes sense…”.

but since this site is about shopping, not politics, we had to resist the mockery….until we heard a rumor that hilton was designing her own line of “paris for president” tees.  while the line has yet to be released (it will be sold exclusively at l.a.’s kitson boutique), there are hundreds of political tees out there for you.  while not all are fashionable enough to receive a mention here, we have a few gems for you, no matter what your affiliation. as paris would say being political is hot…

“baracking the vote” is definitely the more fashion-forward choice over being a “mccainiac“, so there are more choices out there for our liberal readers, to be sure. still, we’ll do our best to keep you looking fab however you vote.

i love the sir alistair rai barack the vote tee in navy ($32), with proceeds going straight to camp obama. you can also head to your local urban outfitters for the barack progress tee in black ($28), recently rocked by beyonce. another celebrity supporter, halle berry, sported the public library obama rama tee ($22) tee.

after a lot of searching (and laughing) at mccain fashion options (seriously, who wears a mccain muscle tee?), i found some fun tees for the mccain supporters too. my favorite has to be this sassy “i only date republicans” tee ($28).  if that doesn’t do it for you, head over to zazzle, where you can design your own tee. for $38, you can choose a fun tonal stripe tee with a mccain 08 football-style graphic - much more chic than any standard-isuse campaign tee.

saving the best for last, while we eagerly await paris’ official tee, you can create your own over at zazzle.  my personal favorite is the oh-so-subtle “vote paris for president, bitches” ($36), on a white burnout tee. would we expect anything less?

just remember it’s not who you vote for…just get out there and vote!

i can tell it’s time for fall…because i’m suddenly sick of every piece of clothing i own.  it happens a couple of times a year, right before the seasons change – i just get tired of the same old things i’ve been wearing for the last 4 months.  so, i went through a major closet purge over the weekend – and lost at least 1/3 of my wardrobe in the process.

hurray for good timing – this morning, i woke up to a lovely “spend more, save more” code from shopbop in my email…that rare, elusive beast that’s going to convince me it’s finally time to start stocking up on fall cashmere!

just use code BOPFORFALL to save $25 on $150, $50 on $300, $100 on $500, or $250 on $1000 – but get it while it’s hot!  the code’s only good until wednesday.  i know what i’ll be buying…how about you?

when a much beloved clothing line branches out, i’m always a little nervous.  the potential for greatness is there, clearly, but sometimes it’s best to stick with what you know.

fortunately, james jeans’ foray into knitwear is definitely in keeping with its stellar reputation in the designer denim world.  the pieces are well thought out, beautifully designed and actually unique – a triple-threat that’s hard to come by in a world often overpopulated by gorgeous knits.

a very dear, and highly fashionable friend of mine (hi, H) has a jacket strikingly similar to this, which i always assume to be chanel.  i’ve seen her wear it with jeans and with a cocktail dress, and look fabulous each and every time.   to me, it exemplifies the reality that buying a truly classic piece is worth the investment – H has most definitely gotten her money back from that gorgeous jacket, no matter what she paid.  this style from james comes in cream and navy, and is just $350 – a fraction of what the chanel version would set you back.  it also comes in a longer version and, while i love both, the cropped style is more chic, more young, and certainly more timeless.  coco would be proud.

one of the biggest potential pitfalls of a classic trench is that the fabric can be a little bulky, and therefore not all that flattering.  james has taken on the classic silhouette, but updated it in a gorgeous, heavy knit available in either navy or red ($462).  the result is incredibly flattering,  and the ultimate jacket for spring and fall.  the detail on this piece is fantastic, and taken straight from the best trenches out there.  the hook closures at the neck, the foldover flap at the breast, and even the front slash pockets – all are a perfect recreation of the classic trench.  this one also comes in a cropped version, which has been slightly retooled to give it a stronger military vibe (front patch pockets, and a wider top placket) – it’s a fantastic way to add a little structure to your style this fall.

check out the entire line at james jeans’ website, and pick up your favorite now – i’m guessing this collection will be gone in a flash.

not technically a “deal” unless you win, i realize, but if you manage to score this gorgeous $300 rebecca minkoff bag from the girls at the daily obsession (seen here on the lovely agnyess deyn), it’s a serious deal indeed.  and you all know how i love ms. minkoff, so this deal is a personal favorite of mine.

to enter, go leave a comment on their post – what else do you have to do on a friday afternoon at work? 

in a recent interview with now magazine, sarah jessica parker said she’d choose shoes over a guy – because they’re more dependable than men (ouch! matthew broderick?!).  talking about her sex and the city character, carrie, the 43-year-old actress said she “could probably count on a manolo more than a man.”  so is it better than sex? they asked.  “yes!”

while i may not nessecarily agree with SJP, we definitely agree on a love for shoes.  and i’ve recently discovered a new shop in the internet ether – solestuck – that allows for some serious shoe indulgence.  the selection is amazing and, while there are no choos to choose from, these babies will fit much more nicely into your budget. 

i adore betsey johnson’s playful bestyville line, and the lani heel is no exception.  with the girly flower detail and the funky rubber heel, just thinking about them makes me feel like sugar and spice! 

to keep my feet comfy (thanks to a padded sole) and looking fab, the exchange by charles david can easily be paired with a suit at the office.  the liquid patent leather in burgundy is a perfect update to your fall look, and a steal at $44.95!

for a fun, casual weekend look, the dolce vita wendy boot is a gorgeous update on a riding boot, and would be perfect with jeans, a dress or even a mini – just make sure you add tights! 

for me, though, the best part about solestruck is that you can’t get into too much trouble.  most shoes are under $100, and i don’t think i saw anything much over $200.  plus, their packaging is truly fab – it makes the online order that much more exciting!

best of all, the kind folks at solestruck have generously offered SMC readers an exclusive discount!  just enter code FERXKU9UN at checkout for 20% off your purchase, but only until september 19…so shop it up!  and, of course, make sure you let us know what you pick up while you’re there.