Designer Looks For Less: Shoe Edition

Hello SASsy friends! I am so sorry about not posting last week, I was traveling. This week's blog was inspired by my boyfriend's constant complaints about how much money I spend on shoes. True, I do love high end designer shoes, however I've found that you can find a similar shoe at a fraction of the price.

Here are some of my favorite designer shoes and comparable shoes for less online:

Look 1: Python Pumps

Designer Shoe: Christian Louboutin $1400 neimanmarcus.com

Compare To:  BCBG Python Pump $79 zappos.com

Look 2: Boots

Designer Shoe: Dior Boots $1400 http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/

Compare To: Jessica Simpson $210 dillards.com

Look 3: Studded Pumps

Designer Shoe: Brian Attwood Stud Pumps $1900 saksfifthavenue.com

Compare To: Sam Eldman Studded Pump on sale $169 lordandtaylor.com

Look 4: Glitter Pumps

Designer Shoe: Miu Miu Glitter Peep Toe Pumps $570 http://www.net-a-porter.com



Compare To:  Promiscuous Glitter Peep Toe Pumps $49 zappos.com



 Look 5: Animal Prints

Designer Shoe: Alexander McQueen Calf Hair Pumps $995 net-a-porter.com

Compare To: Michael Kors Calf Hair pumps $140 michaelkors.com

So ladies, the next time your boyfriend or husband complains about how much you spend on shoes, show him this blog and remind him you that you could be spending a lot more. :)

Have a great weekend!

Like the SASsy Report? Have suggestions for upcoming posts? I want to hear from you! Leave feedback and I will respond promptly. Follow me on twitter @MzSAS

Spa Reviews

Hello SASsy Friends, I hope everyone is having a great week.  With the weekend rapidly approaching, many of us will be heading to the spa for some much needed R&R. Here are my reviews of 3 spas in NYC:


The Setai Spa- Setai 5th Avenue:

This is by far my favorite my favorite spa. I will start off by saying this spa is located in one of Manhattans newest and most posh 5 star hotels.  The services are not cheap by any means but what you get for your money is well worth it.

With the purchase of any treatment, you have full access to all of the spa's facilities for the entire day. I checked in at 10am and left at 7pm and really didn't want to leave then.  Fellas, this is the perfect holiday, just because, mother's day out, or even get out of the doghouse gift for your lady.  Trust me she will LOVE it and you!

I started off my day with a great workout in the well equip gym, and then enjoyed a relaxing shower with music.  From there it was off to my 1hr massage. ($185)  I have never felt so relaxed in my entire life and my chronic neck pain subsided for weeks.


After my treatment, the masseuse led me to the humum (steam room with lights on the ceiling that look like stars) for a complementary Turkish body wrap and mud mask.  Then she showed me the lounge, whirlpool and shower rooms.  There simply isn't a better way to spend a day!
Overall Grade A+

Humum Room

Lounge

Whirlpool

Skin Spa:

The skin spa focuses on various skin treatments to prevent aging and to keep your skin fresh and healthy.  They recently started offering massages (I haven't tried one of theirs yet)

Unfortunately their Soho location is quite underwhelming.  It's a typical NYC building, no posh amenities or anything special about it and the treatment rooms feel more like a doctor's office than a relaxating spa.

The facial I received was great and I loved how soft my face felt afterward.   Their services are reasonably priced (1hr facial $75), but if you are looking for luxury, look elsewhere. 

Overall Grade B-

Treatment Room

Silk Spa:

Hidden in the lower east side of Manhattan is this gem of a relaxation.  Silk spa is an Asian themed spa that is the perfect place to relax after a long week.  When you are arrived you are allowed to select the type of music you like, it's volume and even how much you like the masseuse to talk during your treatment. My massage was wonderful, in fact I fell asleep.  Afterwards you are taken to the relaxation room and then provided with amenities to shower and refresh yourself.   There's a huge selection of treatments and I will be going back to try more.

Overall Grade A

Lounge

Bath

That's all for this weeks edition.  If you would like more information on any of these spas, please leave comments and I will respond within 48hrs.

Twitter: @MzSAS

Keeping the Winter Blues and Pounds Away

Hello SASsy friends, I hope everyone is having a great week.  Now that the weather is changing, it's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to stay warm in comfy in the house all winter long.  During the winter months we like to trade in sweating at the gym for lounging in sweat pants, social activities for movie nights and salads for mac & cheese.  To avoid turning into and looking like a couch potato, follow these tips:

Tip 1: Keep it Moving

That's right keep it moving, not in the sense of getting rid of a guy/girl and moving on, but keep doing what you've been doing.  So what if you can't go to your favorite rooftop or dine outside, that doesn't mean you can't hang out with your friends.  Try organizing a girls night out, poker night for the fellas or a weekend getaway. Continue to be social, the more social you are, the more you will be able to ward off the winter blues.


Tip 2: Try Something New

Don't stop going to the gym just because it's cold outside and it's so much warmer in your bed. (We have all made that excuse, myself included.) Remember you can hide your fat with lots of layers in the winter, but when spring comes and the layers come off, you don't want extra fat and dimples to fall out.

When working out, try new exercises to keep yourself motivated.  This one is my favorite total body workouts.  I train 4-5 days a week and can only do 3-5 of these so don't feel bad if you can't knock out a ton the first few times you try it.

The ManMaker:

Get two dumbbells (db) of manageable size for rows/dumbbell squats (I use 5-10lbs, after one rep you will understand why)

1) Start in the push-up position with hands on db's, complete a push up

2) Row one of the db's after you're in the up position of the push-up, then place db back on the ground and do another push-up

3) Repeat step 2 with the opposite arm performing the row at up portion of push-up

4) Jump your feet near your hands

5) Bring db's to waist height and squat down until you can rest db's on deck slightly in front of your body.

6) Stand up from the squat while raising the db's over your head

6) Jump back into push up position and repeat

For a video demonstration follow this link:


ManMaker Demo


Tip 3: Shop, Shop Shop!

When all else fails, retail therapy always me beat the winter blues.  I love the feeling of new clothes on my back and shoes on my feet!  These are my favorites:

Nine West Nathania:

Burberry Nova Leather Boots

Laundry

Alica + Olivia

Elie Tahari

That's all for this week!

Like the SASsy Report?  Have suggestions for upcoming issues?  I want to hear from you! Leave comments and  feedback and I'll respond within 24 hrs.





Get the Right Deal Online

Hello SASsy friends, I hope everyone is enjoying fashion week.  By now you have noticed that there are tons of "deal" sites popping up left and right.  Here are a few tips to make sure you get the right deal for you online.

Tip 1: Try Before You Buy

There are tons of fashion sites offering great deals on designer clothes. But guesing your size can make online deal shopping tricky and some sites only give site credits on returns.

Before you look for deals take a trip to your favorite department stores and try on clothes by designers you like.  Be sure to write down the sizes and styles that work for you.  This way, when they are featured on a deal site you don't have to guess whether or not it will fit. The same thing goes for shoes, try them in the store and find an online deal for a fraction of the cost!

Here are some of the great deals you can sore online right now!

Jones NY Pants $45 Myhabit.com

NYLA Webebe Boots $75 ideeli.com

7 For All Mankind Men's Jeans $99 ruelala.com

French Connection Zola Dress $115 Hautelook.com

NYLA Becka High Heel Pump $50 hautelook.com

Tip 2: Order Evening Attire Custom Made Online

If you follow me on twitter, you may remember my recent melt down about my evening gown I wore in Miss Florida when I was 25 no longer fitting. I was distraught for several reasons.  When online shopping for the perfect evening gown to wear to an upcoming wedding, I stumbled upon Goldwo.com. 

I'll be honest, when I first found this site I was a bit skeptical, but I came to find that this is the best thing that ever happened to dresses!  

Goldwo.com is a Chinese dress wholesaler that custom makes evening gowns, wedding and bridesmaid dresses way less than department store prices. You get the pick the fabric, color, gve them your exact measurement and they make the dress tailored to your body.  There is a large selection on their site and you can even submit other dresses not featured on the site.

I had this dress custom made and shipped within 15 days for $250!  When it arrived yesterday it was perfect and the quality impeccable, the same as you would find in a department store! I'll be sure to post pictures once I wear it.

Tip #3: Do Your Homework

With so many deals for "spas" you really have to research them before you purchase the deal.  I recently redeemed a deal purchased on bloomspot.com for a shellac manicure, spa pedicure and glass of wine for $30 and Veda Spa in NYC.  This place was the furthest thing from a spa, I actually needed a trip to the spa afterward to relax!

Veda Spa is your typical loud nail salon with poor ventilation and even with an appointment, I still had to wait for 30mins. My manicure was awful, she got the shellac on my cuticles and it chipped off with in a few days.  To add insult to injury, my "free glass of wine" was served in a styrofoam cup! Who does that? Wine taste awful when it's not in a wine glass ewwww!

To avoid a dreadful experience like mine, check out the website and read reviews before purchasing a deal.   No matter how steep the discount or how good of a deal it may seem to be, there is nothing worse ending up in a fake spa hoping to get good service and relax.


Follow these tips and you will be sure to have success shopping for deals online.  Happy Shopping!

I want to hear from you! If you like the blog, have question, suggestions or would like to know more about the things mentioned in The SASsy Report, please leave comments and I will respond within 24 hrs.
Thanks!

Twitter @MzSAS

Sassy and Sheek Fashion Week

Hello SASsy Friends, I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend.  Summer is just about over and fall is quickly approaching and what better way to bring in the new season then by celebrating with Fashion Week!

If you are lucky enough to live in NYC, you will have a plethora of options for Fashion Week.  Every store, boutique and restaurant in the city will be buzzing with activities.  Here are a few tips to make sure you show up in style:



Tip 1: Chose the Right Outfit
There is nothing worse than going to an event in the wrong outfit. For all shows you should be sheek and trendy, but please at all cost avoid looking like you are having a  mid-life crisis or that girl who is desperate to get noticed and/or get a modeling contract.   Here are a few looks that are fashion show appropriate:

Tip 2: Get the Right Bag and Shoe

Going to a fashion even without the right shoe, jewelry and bag is a complete fashion no no! You must pull your look together.  If you are wearing a simple outfit in a solid color, wear a show stopper shoe, and a nice bag.  If your outfit has a lot of patterns or colors, keep bags and shoes simple Here are a few of my favorite bags and shoes that could stop a show!

Tip 3: Accessorize Wisely

Try using use colors and jewelry to accent your outfit. If you are wearing a bright colored accessory, be sure your base outfit isn't equally as bright.  When wearing big jewelry,  avoid over doing it with too many large pieces. Big earrings, a big necklace and a bunch of bracelets and rings will have you looking like Lady Gaga gone wrong! Chose one large piece and pair it with a smaller pieces of jewelry for a polished look   Here are some amazing accessories that will make your look stand out at fashion week:

Well that's all for this week's edition. I hope everyone enjoys Fashion Week 2011!

If you would like more information on the items shown in this blog, please leave a comment or send me a message.

Fall into Fashion

Hello SASsy friends, summer is quickly coming to an close and the fall season is upon us.  If you are like me and not used to having real seasons, you need to ramp up your wardrobe and fast.  Here are my top three fall fashion favorites and a few tips on how to snag them without breaking the bank.

Fall Favorite #1: Plaid

Say good-bye to the old farmer paid shirts and say hello to a trendy fall remix.  Plaids go well with almost any basic color.  I love a plaid jacket with a solid color pant or skirt for a crisp fall look. Another, equally as fashionable look, is to wear a plaid skirt with a solid top and pair it with knee high boots.  Make sure the boots are simple without a lot of embellishments on them as to not look over done.

Fall Favorite #2: Warm Colors

Just because summer is over, doesn't mean you have to pack away all your color in your wardrobe. Avoid sending yourself to the asylum from wardrobe depression and wear warm rich colors such as reds, oranges and greens.

There are tons of ways to add color to your fall wardrobe.  For starters, you can wear a nice jacket or overcoat a warm color.  This will provide a fresh fall look and have you looking very stylish as you head to the office.

There are lots of fun dresses and other pieces available in fall friendly colors such and forest green, eggplant and royal blue.  These pieces can be work with multiple blazers, jackets and sweater options, thus creating a versatile wardrobe.

Fall Fashion Favorite #3: Fun Funky Shoes:

My favorite thing to shop for is SHOES!! Not just any old shoe will do for me, I need some baaaaad ones. For fall it's all about booties and closed toe cuties that can be worn with multiple looks. 

Booties have been a fall favorite for years and can even be worn on colder nights with thick tights. Try looking for them in different colors and styles.  Booties (and boots) with buckles are very popular this season.  Check out these fun red booties and a tan pair from L.A.M.B (one of my favorite shoe lines):

Also this season, pumps will be taking a new twist on an old classic.  You will find lots of fun colors, styles and shoes with lots of fabulous embellishments.  Wearing shoes like this are sure to be a conversation piece. Check out these looks from Dior and Louboutin:

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Now, I know a lot of the items I showcased in this blog may be a tad bit pricey, (well not even a tad bit, they are flat out expensive), but looking at high end designer options, gives you a good idea of what you like and what availalbe on the retail shelves.

I recommend browsing fashion magazines and marking items that you like to going shopping.  This provides you with direction so you don't end up just buying everything you see.  Believe me, I am  guilty of buying a whole bunch of stuff I didn't need due to a directionless shopping trip. It also, gives you a good idea what items you are looking for as well as their price you can set your shopping budget accordingly.

Lots of stores are offering discounts on their fall preview as well as promotions for email subscribers.  Sign up for your favorite store's email list and like them on Facebook to receive exclusive offers. Do your research and find out who is having a sale, what's included in that sale, and the start and end times before you shop.

Happy Fall Shopping!

Follow me on twitter @MzSAS for shopping tips and entertainment updates!