Recently in Frugal Snob Category

Donna Karan

As I write this I can barely move! That's me below in a jumper I recently bought from Timo Weiland. I very rarely wear shorts, so I completely spaced on re-lathering the SPF throughout Super Saturday - a day-long charity, shopping fundraiser started by Donna Karan. The annual event took place this past Saturday in the Hamptons and all proceeds went to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Pretty much every A-list celeb on the East End came out to support the cause. Kelly Ripa, who was one of the hosts, was there and so unbelievably friendly - she was literally all smiles chatting with everyone who came-up to her (and dang her body looks even better in person!). Beth Stern, Christy Turlington, Edie Falco, Gayle King, Hilary Rhoda, Kelly Rutherford, Lorraine Bracco, Mariska Hargitay, and Christy Brinkley were just a few of the other big names spotted.

The ticketed family-friendly event features a one-of-a-kind designer garage sale with over 200 designers selling clothes at 30-80% below retail, a carnival for kids, and endless indulgent stands where you can get everything from a mani/pedi from essie/Physique 57 to Crumbs cupcakes and O.N.E. Coconut Water. Among the designers with stands were Donna Karan, Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera, Calvin Klein, Catherine Malandrino, Diane von Furstenberg, Elizabeth & James, and so many more (even Rachel Zoe was there with a booth, called A to Zoe, that was selling a slew of designer wears).

QVC did a live 2-hours broadcast from the event where all those that weren't in the Hamptons had the opportunity to buys discounted apparel, accessories, jewelry and beauty.

I picked up a ton of Ports 1961 pieces (14 jackets, dresses, and skirts to be exact...where will I put them all!?), and no less than 9 pairs of VPL undies (some of which were only $15 down from over $100). The event was absolutely fabulous and my fashion loot combined with the unbelievable Sant Ambroeus-catered buffet lunch make it worth me having sausage-like legs at the moment! Can't wait for Super Saturday 14!

For more information on the charity, check-out their website here.

Rudy and Judith Giuliani and Ashley Greene.

My first Fall purchase was this McQ Draped Dress. It is flattering on any figure and you can't beat the price. The red hot and tight mini makes it incredibly sexy but completely tasteful. There is a full tank dress lining to give proper draping without clinging. There is a lot going on with all the draping, ruched shoulders and slashed sleeves but when on, it looks effortless and simple. The only thing is, it is viscose and wool (and it has many layers) so it is a bit too hot to fit in my rotation so now I'm wishing for cooler weather! Go crazy with giant heels or you can actually pare it down with the current flat strappy sandals trend. At Net-a-Porter for $275.

$88 (adult) and $48 (kids), available at Alice + Olivia boutiques and at www.aliceandolivia.com

For ONE day only, Alexandra Knight is offering her must have alligator cuffs at almost half off for $50!!! The quality of Alexandra Knight skins are top notch, I have several of her small items and everyone thinks I'm using Hermes when I pull them out :) This is definitely the bargain of the week, email Alexandra Knight or call 713-527-8848 to order.

Order fast because they will not last! I can't wait to get a juicy orange gator cuff for myself!

The Zac Posen for Target collection was the most AMAZING surprise ever. Target's limited edition designer collaborations never disappoint both aesthetically and quality-wise, but I have to say that the Zac Posen for Target lookbook does not do the collection justice. The pieces are so, so, so much better in person. The collection officially launches online and in stores April 25th, but there was a 24-hour pop-up in NYC last Thursday to Friday with a special VIP shopping preview before it opened to the public (The City was there filming - you might even catch me in the background as I had to sign a release since they apparently caught me in a few shots - along with Claire Danes, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mena Suvari, Selma Blair, and a slew of models and socials). I went expecting to get nothing more than a pair of the black tuxedo pants and ended-up buying three of those tuxedo pants (for $34.99 I would have gotten more, but they ran out of my size), two dresses, two skirts, and one bodysuit! The pieces are all lined (one of the dresses, which can be worn three ways, even has a built-in bustier), and every piece I bought looks like it could retail for at least five times as much as I paid for it (with the exception of perhaps the bodysuit which I just bought for fun:-)). I highly recommend getting up bright and early to shop for the collection you're sure to pick up some great finds! And again you'll be surprised how much better the pieces look when worn than they do in the lookbook/on the hanger.

On a side note the Eugenia Kim collection is now online!

I collect Chanel jackets and have done so since I was 23 (it's funny how we desperately want to be 'mature' when we're young and now that we're 'mature' we just want to be young!) but I just can not bring myself to buy yet another Chanel jacket at the current astronomical prices when I already have, like, 20! And with cheap thrills like this fab jacket above White House/Black Market, I may not need to shell out four figures for a Chanel jacket again!  I don't think I have ever shopped at one of these stores but my friends go there for basics and vouch for the quality so I ordered this jacket online (fingers crossed it's not hideous in person) this weekend.  It will be so cute (hopefully) with the many luncheons I have scheduled in the upcoming months, in fact-- I'm on my way to one right now as you read this!  I'm heading to the Ritz Carlton for a luncheon with Pamela Fiori, Editor-in-chief of Town and Country magazine. But you can merch it up for evenings, too-- leave it open with layers of fun jewelry and a pair of skinny jeans and you're ready for cocktails!  Embellished tweed jacket from White House/Black Market $168.

The Garden Collection by H&M is the frugal retailer's first sustainable collection made entirely from environmentally adapted materials (including organic cotton, organic linen and recycled polyester). The collection is made up of 80 items and 10 accessories and hits their stores March 25th. Fitting given its name, the collection is full of romantic florals (lots of painterly prints and rosettes that make me think of Jason Wu). All the garments have been produced using sustainable materials or using recycled PET bottles or textile waste and follow the debut of H&M's first ever range of skincare products made with certified organic ingredients (the range of everyday essentials includes shower gel, body scrub, body lotion, hand cream and lip balm, all of which are based on natural and organic ingredients and are certified by Ecocert). I haven't seen these pieces in person yet, so I can't attest to their quality, but for frugal Jason Wu you can't go wrong given the cheaper than cheap prices of these pieces compared to the four-figure designer prices. Can't wait for warm weather to sport some florals!

The Row has great tees, but they get pricey -- very pricey. Alternative Apparel offers a ..ahem..welcome alternative! Richard Chai partnered with the up-and-coming brand for his Fall 2010 LOVE collection getting the brand some much-deserved added visibility. Chai used Alternative's original fabrications including semi-sheer and super-soft modal silk and linen jersey fabrics (pictured above). I'm a big fan of Alternative Apparel V-neck tees ($30), because they're thin, soft, and just a touch sheer so you can dress them up with bold jewels, high-high shoes and skinny black pants or wear them with sweats and sit tight and comfy in front of the TV:-)

I came across COS while I was walking around Munich's town center. I had never heard of the boutique before and was surprised at the mild prices (most everything is under 129 euros), given the quality of the materials used. The bi-level store was choke-full of monochromatic pieces that appeared simple, but had small details (exposed zippers, ruching, cowl neck...) for both men and women making for great staples; kind of like a frugal Ports 1961, no? When I paid for my buys I asked the sales woman about the line and she told me that it actually is owned by H&M! So far boutiques are only in select European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom), but hopefully they will roll out in the U.S. soon!