Intermix Warehouse Sale!

It's that time of year again! The Intermix Warehouse Sale is upon us, and I've been waiting all summer. I'm thinking with a slow retail season the merchandise is going to be even better than past sales.

Here are the deets:

110 W. 18th Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues (enter at 125 W. 18th)

Thursday, Aug. 27: 8AM - 8PM

Friday, Aug. 28: 9AM - 8PM

Saturday, Aug. 29: 9AM - 6PM

I went last summer and it was packed, but not overbearing. If you're on a mission for a great deal, then you will fight the crowds. I found a $700 Missoni dress for just under $100 - well worth digging through racks and piles of designer duds.

My top ten rules for surviving such an event:

1. Wear modest underwear since you'll be changing in a public dressing room

2. Wear comfortable shoes that are easy to take on and off

3. Allow yourself at least an hour and a half - you don't want to be rushed

4. Don't come hungry

5. Go to the bathroom before you get there

6. Don't talk on the phone while you're there - you need to stay focused

7. Grab everything you like

8. Inspect everything for tears, holes, etc.

9. Be vicious only when you have to be

10. Yes, you need that Elizabeth and James corset dress

Thou Shalt Covet

Let's face it. We all have coveted something in our lives.

But one sale-shopping Web site is helping us to not break this commandment by making fashion more affordable.

Covet.com is different from other sale sites because it has a (digital) personal shopper that learns your fashion personality. You take a fun quiz where you decide which outfits (and cocktails) are more your style, fill out your sizes (don't lie) and wait for the sale emails to invade your inbox.

The best thing about this digital personal shopper? You don't have to feel bad if you don't like what it brings you or if you delete it all together.

Thou shalt Covet.

Louboutin Sale

The red-souled shoes are going on sale Tuesday. There's no place like Louboutin.

Jetset on JetBlue

Jetsetters, start your engines.

I wish that I had more funds and free time because I would totally take advantage of JetBlue's "All You Can Jet Pass."

Book by August 21st, and for $599 enjoy unlimited travel from September 8th through October 8th. Fly places where your friends live and stay for free.

I just took my first JetBlue flight last month and it was smooth sailing (or should I say flying?) all the way to Los Angeles. Unlimited, free and tasty drinks & snacks, complimentary TV, and no charge to check a bag - makes a five and a half hour flight way more enjoyable.

A Nightclub or a Gym?

I often skip the gym on weekends, because Sarah and I justify dancing until 4AM a great cardio session. When I’m out dancing I can bust moves for hours. I don’t get bored or countdown the minutes like I do on the treadmill.

Why can’t I have this great energy at the gym all the time like I do at SouthSide in the wee hours of the night?

Problem has been solved!

The next best fusion after peanut butter and chocolate is the brilliant blend of nightclub and gym from The David Barton Gym on Astor Place. Work out at the club while you go clubbing at the gym!

I’m dying to work out here (do I wear my cocktail dress and heels?). I’m dying to go clubbing here (do I wear my Nike Shox and spandex?). I’m dying like those skeletal chairs to get in to this place.

The David Barton Gym is giving away free one-time guest passes, and this is one club that I am sweating to be on the list. It's crunch time.

What a Stash

Yesterday was The Stash Consignment sale. I got there early to make sure that I could have a chance to see all the fabulous things before someone else bought them. Immediately, I was greeted by the lovely Élan Kaplan Barish, founder of The Stash, and darling Julia of Sunshine Sachs. Julia had on killer gold & black leopard pumps that immediately caught my eye... until I saw the mimosa bar.

Oops 11:30AM on a Wednesday and a mimosa was the only thing I had consumed. Ok, ready to shop, mimosa in hand, Élan and Julia took me through the racks of designer deals. The silver Marc Jacobs coat almost made me spill my drink- it was stunning! And when Julia tried on the rose pink YSL jacket we all just about lost it. We went through racks of Dior (I die), Missoni (oh my) and had the best time searching for more treasures.

Julia pulled an amazing Miu Miu navy and royal blue tunic that she insisted I try. You don't have to twist my arm to try an a $100 silk Miu Miu tunic! (Which, by the way, we decided could be a dress with the proper undergarments.)

As I scanned the shoes I cursed my genes for giving me a size 9 because I saw the most adorable Gucci flats - size 6. I felt like the Ugly Step Sister trying to squeeze into Cinderella's glass slipper. Oh well. I had my prince, and his name was Miu Miu.

I could have stayed all day, watching everyone try on these great pieces. An editor from Ebony tried on a sassy Alexander Wang romper and Barney shoes and the whole room went wild. There was no way she was leaving without her new outfit.

And there was no way I was leaving without a mini banana cupcake. They were bite size so I can still fit into my new tunic/dress and I really needed substance. Plus, it was banana, and that's healthy, right? I left the sale a very satisfied recessionista.

More Gilty Pleasures

Today at noon, you may find yourself deciding between the sales at Gilt Groupe and its new lower-priced sister site, Gilt Fuse.

Gilt has dominated online sale shopping, hosting daily designer sales, in which shoppers race to fill their digital shopping bags. Dramatically reduced-priced items go within minutes of the 12pm start time. The company has mastered the frenzy that gets their 1.2 million members logging on at noon (EST), without the mess of a warehouse sample sale.

Fuse will feature women's contemporary designers, making more of our favorite brands affordable. The first sale includes Kova & T, Generra and Modern Amusement. Tags will be reduced 70% off - we're talking about prices around $75 - $150. Thank you Gilt Groupe!

Gilt members will have automatic and first access to sign up for Fuse. For those of you who are not members, I suggest you make it a priority.

This makes the race to snag the hottest items even tighter! My strategy is to have two browser windows open at the same time so I can optimize my gilty shopping opportunities.

The Stash Sale Tomorrow!

Remember that tomorrow is The Stash's Stretch Your Summer Sale.

You don't want to miss this insane sale with all of your favorite designers reduced 20% off their already 75% markdown. If that's not enough to get you running in your Louboutins, let me add that there will be cupcakes and champagne cocktails.

Click here for details.

Get the Blues

If you're like me then you've got about 25 pairs of jeans cramming up your closet. Ever since Seven made designer denmin hot in 2002, I've been collecting jeans from brands across the board.

Now I only wear about four of the pairs and the rest just hang there with a case of the blues. I can't seem to give up my True Religions after spending so much money on them, even though I will probably never wear those obnoxious-pocket jeans again.

I feel guilty about buying a new pair of $180 J Brands, because I basically already own a designer denim shop. Well now I can pull from my inventory and bring them to Barneys for a discount off my denim purchase.

Barneys will recycle your unwanted jeans through 1 Percent for the Planet, an alliance of business committed to maintaining a healthy planet, and give you 20% off your next pair. Not only are you saving the planet, but you're getting perfectly new and current season jeans at a discount!

You have until August 31 to be a Barneys blue jean baby.

The Gucci Gods are Bearing Gifts

I remember when I bought my first (and only) pair of Gucci stilettos.... it is a day I'll never forget. Like having your first child. Only better.

It was March 2006 in Mendrisio, Switzerland at the FoxTown outlets. I bought them for around $15o and it was the happiest moment of my life. They are killer. Black suede dominatrix style with gold grommets. I die every time I look at them. (See below.)

Now you too can have a similar die-and-go-to-Gucci-heaven experience.

Starting Thursday at 9AM select DSW locations will be featuring the coveted Italian shoes for 60% off! NYC girls: head to the Union Square store.

Who cares if they are last season or last year or last month. They are Gucci for God's sake! Buy something timeless and it will always be in style. Buy something outrageous because they are 60% off and you just need to have them. Buy both.

The Gucci Gods are smiling upon us!

Bliss Giveaway!!

We are still in the height of bathing suit season; it's so gross outside that the only thing I want to wear is my bikini. Seriously, it's too hot for clothes.

The last thing any girl wants to do right now is go for a bikini wax - the thought of hot wax in this heat makes my stomach turn. So what to do in this hairy situation?

Thankfully Sephora and Bliss are keeping things hot by cooling it down with product giveaways. Today and tomorrow, look for bikini-clad gorillas handing out free Bliss samples of hair removal and body-toning products. Check out the different creams and tools on blissworld.com, and receive 20% off through August 9th.

Rumor has it the gorillas will be walking all over the city, but to make sure you get your hands on some freebies stop by a Sephora location, especially the new store at 42nd and 7th.

Go bananas girls!

The Stash "Stretch Your Summer Sale"

Élan Kaplan Barish is the Robin Hood of the fashion world - except she's probably doing good in Chloé boots and a Balenciaga cape.

This entrepreneur, wife, mother and fashionista is the brains behind The Stash Consignment. After her friend, a closet organizer, visited a client who still had many new clothes with tags, Barish saw an business opportunity. She visits high profile closets around NYC and works with the women to pull top designer items that they no longer wear - always making them hold on to classic pieces that may one day come back or be perfect for their daughters. The items are then resold on her Web site and sales The Stash hosts. Sort of buying from the rich and selling to the budget babes at a very affordable price, all in "the spirit of sisterhood, fashion and honesty."

"Because of the economy, people aren't spending $2,000 on a bag anymore," Barish said. "We support the conscience of the fashion conscious."

Barish started the company last summer and has since grown a successful business, she nearly sold out each of the sale events and continues to do online business. And she makes sure her customers don't just feel like another sale as they would shopping at Bergdorf.

"I care about all of my clients. Being able to sell your friend a Birkin bag that she can afford feels great."

No bow and arrow in hand, just an honest eye for what can sell, Barish is making items accessible to women who wouldn't necessarily be able to afford it.

This native New York City gal knows that our summer weather isn't over after Labor Day. She also recognizes that women don't necessarily want to be buying full price summer items in August. To solve the dilemma, The Stash is hosting a "Stretch Your Summer Sale." Do just that - stretch your summer wardrobe and not your wallet.

Your favorite and most coveted designer duds will be discounted 20% off the already 75% markdown. Yes, you read that correct. The Stash is practically giving away Alice + Olivia, Fendi, Dolce & Gabana, Hermes Missoni, Prada and more.

Expect sample sale prices without the wild frenzy of a warehouse sample sale. No fighting for the last Chanel jacket or knocking down shoppers for a pair of Louboutin pumps. Instead, sip on a Fashionista cocktail specially created by Perrier-Jouët and Absolut, have a cupcake, and find your next treasure to take home.

Shop new with tags and pre-loved items on August 12, from 12 - 7PM at the home of Dana Haddad, 1182 Broadway. Cash and checks only. RSVP weiskopf@sunshinesachs.com.

Champagne cocktails, cupcakes and designer discounts; it's every woman's fantasy world. Maid Marian never had it so good.