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Glory be! The coupons gods must be smiling down upon us.
Get a little and give a little using this coupon good for 30 percent off at the Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy. It can't be combined with other discounts. But on the bright side, you can donate five percent of the purchase to a good cause...
Happy clipping ... err, printing!
Deal Diva Letitia
Can we discuss?
This is a fashion blog, and so we analyze what people wear, but I still feel like this needs a hearty preface. Congrats to Taylor Swift on her big CMA award Wednesday, which my pal Sean Daly readily predicted. I'm actually a big Taylor Swift fan. I got the chance to review her concert in 2008, which was suh-weet. I jam to her album in the car all the time. I think she's refreshingly cute and non-slutty. Her songwriting skillz are hot. She's dating the sex machine from Twilight. She did a great Shakira impression on SNL last week. Basically, I want to be her. So don't take this the wrong way...
Girlfriend needs a new dress.
At face value, the dress she wore Wednesday (above) is gorge. It's glittery, and if anyone here at Deal Divas loves glitter and has two thumbs, it's this girl. But here's the thing. Taylor wears a dress like this to almost EVERY EVENT. It's sparkly. It's neutral. It's princess-y.
Exhibit A: The MTV Awards heard round the world. Here, you'll notice Kanye West addressing Taylor with his crazy eyes, pleading that she please consider color next time she's gonna steal an award from Beyonce.
Exhibit B: Taylor at the 2009 CMT Awards. Angelic and beautiful, yes, but mother of pearl all the same. I'd even go for a good, old-fashioned 80s country bolo tie or a teal rancher shirt at this point, just for a little variety.
Exhibit C: Taylor at the American Music Awards. I never -- and I mean EVER -- thought I'd say this, but... LAY OFF THE SEQUINS.
Knowing what looks good on your body is one thing, but here is my concern with Tay-Tay. Because I'm such a fan, I feel somewhat big-sisterly in this capacity. She is 19, and I fear that she's going to get so burned out on the Cinderella gimmick that she'll spiral shamelessly in the direction of leather riding crops and denim thongs and general Los Angeles Lohanity. I think she needs to gradually explore some fun, mature variety on the red carpet before she gets frustrated and finds herself strewn across a bar covered in limes. I honestly only want the best for her.
Am I off base here? Would you wear silver sequins every day if you could? It's a valid argument.
Deal Diva Stephanie
Photos: Times files
We're still debating the fug or fab quotient on leggings. But the verdict's clear on tights: There's simply no hotter (or easier) look to try on this fall.
Girly lace. Racy tattoo. Funky patterns. Tights bring a new spin to your basic essentials - the little black dress, the brown work skirt, the prim tweed. All for less than the price of a dinner entree!
The catch? There are so many cute options out there right now. And so little time to give them a whirl in Florida, where fall/winter is a two-month season.
Still, a cool front is coming through tomorrow, so there's no better time to get tight with tights. What styles are you jonesing to try on?
I love purses. And though I'm not one to splurge on a designer handbag, I can appreciate (and envy) those who do.
I can also salivate over the savings now available through the Kate Spade sample sale. Through Friday, get up to 75 percent off Kate Spade purchases online, and pay just $5 for shipping. (Note: All sales are final.)
In the words of Victoria Beckham, some of these deals are MAY-JAH. Check out this gorgeous Tortola Paola clutch, regularly $345, now $89. Get the Fairfax Short Paola purse for $119. The sale includes shoes, accessories, jewelry and clothing.
Consider this an invitation to do some smart holiday shopping for the Kate Spade lovers in your life. Or heck, just go ahead and buy yourself a little something. You deserve it.
Deal Diva Colleen
Ian Beckles is a triple threat: Former Buccaneers lineman, sports radio host and now jewelry designer. Last month Beckles, 42, launched BeFly, a collection of rings.
Beckles plans to expand to necklaces, bracelets and earrings, says his still-in-progress Web site.
Now for the price: $249 apiece.
Still reading? Then I'll tell you the rings are available at Urban Body, 715 S Howard Ave., Tampa. I wonder why Beckles doesn't hawk the goods at his own store, As-I-Be. I also wonder what you think: Is $249 reasonable to spend on a fashion ring? And who's more likely to wear these, you or your guy?
Deal Diva Dalia
(Photos: Ring photos courtesy of Icon B. Marketing and Publicity Group. Ian Beckles photo by Kathleen Flynn of the St. Petersburg Times.)
So, boot season is here in full effect. And I am on the hunt. This year's trend du-jour: over-the-knee boot.
They come in a variety of textures and either heeled or flat.
I've been on the fence about this look for a while and I'm just about ready to leap. One half of me thinks slutty 80s raunch while the other side says trendy stylish statement.
What's a girl to do?
So I pose the question to you purveyors of style: OTK boot: Fug or Fab?
Deal Diva Nicole
(Picture: Elle.com/Givenchy)
You know how it goes. You're at a wedding. You're drinking lots of wine. Inevitably, you need to go to the bathroom.
But therein lies the conundrum.
It took a good five minutes to squeeze into the shapewear that hides beneath your bridesmaid gown to make you look beautifully lump and bump-free. You ask yourself: Is it worth the trouble to wiggle out of the skin-tight contraption, or should you just pray for super-human bladder strength? You drink another glass of wine to mull over these inconvenient options.
Ah, the irony. In order to look good on the outside, we deal with discomfort underneath. Men would never subject themselves to such ridiculousness.
A recent Wall Street Journal story delved into the troubles of shapewear, which apparently manufacturers are trying make more aesthetically pleasing and easier in general to navigate. The opening scene sounds like something straight out of Bridget Jones's Diary. This is an occasion for genuinely tiny knickers...
Deal Diva Colleen
(Photo: Universal Studios' Bridget Jones and her not-so-tiny knickers.)
After months of lustful lurking, I did it. I finally took the plunge. I bought a pair of shoes online.
Two, actually.
Now I've always been a late bloomer. I'm still not much for shopping online, except for shoes. Over the past year, I've spent hours and hours flirting with cyber shoe stores like 6pm.com. But I was always a good girl and went home alone. Until last week.
I was ready. I wanted to make the buy. Shoes (on sale) seemed like a reasonable splurge in these difficult times. Especially when 6pm.com was running a deal on Nine West-- every pair for $20.
I spent a scandalous lunch break surfing the styles. Since I had to pay for shipping, it only made sense to buy two pairs. The ones that I needed (solid yet stylish brown pumps) and the ones that I wanted (gold peep toe wedges).
I expected to wait a week after clicking "buy," but the shoes I ordered arrived in two business days! I tore into the box and pranced around the house. The fit was perfect. And the high was better than, well, I'm not going there.
But I want to do it again.
Deal Diva Letitia
(Photos: My shoes! I got the peep toes in gold and the faux croc pumps are already a workday fav.)
We just have to brag on this a little...
Junior Deal Divo Tucker DeGregory, who helped readers decide what to wear to see Tim Gunn's speech at the University of South Florida this Wednesday, had the pleasure of meeting the style guru in person.
In fact, Tim's peeps were so impressed with 11-year-old Tucker's article, they arranged for him to sit down with the Project Runway rock star before the event. Tucker, an aspiring fashion designer and 6th grader at Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School in St. Petersburg, got to show off his very own design sketches, which the incredibly gracious and enthusiastic Tim Gunn autographed. He also gave Tucker useful feedback, tips and resources for making his career happen.
So, what we're saying is this: When you are rich and famous and we're all paying big bucks for your designs, remember us little folks back at the blog, Tucker!
Deal Diva Stephanie
(Photo from Tucker's proud mom Lane.)
WARNING: BIG FUN AHEAD!
Colleen and I spent Wednesday working from the malls (it's a hard job, but someone has to do it), finding you the best deals you can ALREADY get for holiday shopping. I know, I know, it's only the first week in November, but that's exactly the point. You can't walk into a store without seeing a heavy array of pine and glass bulb ornaments and snowflake window stickies. Just submit to the seasonal retail gods and take advantage of the sales that come with the madness.
An entire opus will run in the St. Petersburg Times tomorrow. We hope readers will take some notes over their coffee before hitting the stores. But for you, loyal Diva fans, we present a sneak peak. And if you've seen any good sales we missed, add them to the comments section!
Deal Diva Stephanie
The Deal Divas are on the prowl in Tampa Bay, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. From Macy's coupons to Dillard's department stores, boutiques to thrift stores and Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft, the Divas leave no shopping stone unturned. Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Because shopping should be all about the Washingtons! Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising.  Email us ideas you'd like us to write about.
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Stephanie Hayes came out of the womb wearing high heels. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She loves animal prints, black mascara and anything that sparkles. She objects to visible panty lines, Crocs and anything that costs more than a car payment. And she doesn't drive a nice car. She can be reached at (727) 893-8857 or shayes@sptimes.com.
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Since she was a little girl Nicole Hutcheson dreamed of dressing like a Vogue cover girl. But her reality was more JCPenney catalog. The fact only honed her better ability to find luxury for less. Always on the hunt for markdowns on designer labels, this Deal Diva’s weaknesses are good jeans and killer heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8828 or nhutcheson@sptimes.com.
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Colleen Jenkins learned two invaluable shopping tenets from her mom: 1. Buy quality. 2. Get it on sale. Then she added one of her own: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! This Deal Diva’s idea of a blissful Saturday includes a trip to the Ellenton outlet mall. She loves mixing classic with trendy and cheap Target accessories with her markdown Banana Republic duds. She can be reached at (813) 226-3337 or cjenkins@sptimes.com.
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A disciple of the little black dress classics school, Letitia Stein stretches her budget by looking for styles with staying power. She lives for 80 percent off shoes at DSW, floral sundresses and bohemian chic tops. She confesses to being a bit of a snob when it comes to handbags and jewelry. She can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or lstein@sptimes.com.
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