Coach: lusting after expensive bags and shoes? Lust no more!

So, every season, Coach introduces new silhouettes with aggressive marketing, and before you know it, you've been seduced!

After years of snobbish refusal to send coupons to anyone except customers who bought full price during the preceding 12 months, Coach now sends 25% off coupons to everyone, with every new launch, and at end of season & special holidays. 

If you're like me though, you don't find prices palatable there, even after 25% off. Enter Coach Factory Online, an invitation only site, which has limited time sale events constantly. Customers can only shop when invited, but the site is the first to receive and offer end-of-season merchandise from regular Coach stores. The standard discount is 30% off plus additional offers on top. I have bought $600 bags for $100-200 dollars and $200+ wallets for $80. Don't those sale prices sound more reasonable?

8 times out of 10, the items have never been opened before and arrive in perfect tissue wrapped virginal form. I love.

Here's a snapshot of a flight bag which has dipped to even lower prices around jan/feb and is currently offered with an additional 20% off at checkout.

I just restrict my search to items from coach stores and voila! Based on my observation, a season lasts about 2.5 months at Coach. Then the new styles come over to Factory. Clearance is 70% off plus an occasional 10% off that!

If you'd like an invitation, please drop me a comment here (or email at maqsadshop at gmail dot com) with your email, and I'll send you an invite via Coach.

Ciao!

 

J Crew: brass blooms bracelet

Ok, so I made that name up (and the real name is the "cast wildflower bracelet" - I think my name might be more descriptive...). They're running an in-store 25% off jewellery and honoured the 25% off Facebook coupon on it too. Whoopie!

The bracelet is very architectural, very arresting. I think there are five brass blooms and they're stung together on a chain, which is resultingly stiff, like a cuff. That's why small wrists are required to wear it, despite there being an extender chain to close on as well. 

I've pictured the tag number below.

There's a "matching" necklace, which isn't as well done IMO. It has strange open flowers and hanging "buds" that dangle below. It lacks the cohesion and statement that the bracelet achieves.

For more pictures and item number info, you can also see it on Rose's blog, here

J Crew: cashmere striped tunic and impulse buy

The impulse buy:

Espadrilles in pink fabric upper. 

These shoes are cute, beachy, definitely easy to wear. 

While TTS overall, they have a poor fit at the heel, which kind of sags, since the insole has no contouring and to get an amazing fit, you need some kind of shaping to one's foot. The store has a 25% off sandals promo, which applies and brings them to $45. Teacher discount stacks on top, if you are eligible.

I ended up returning them bc of the bad fit at the heel and the high likelihood that I won't wear them as often as one might hope.

The cashmere tunic in heathered stripe: the heather dockside colour is showing up online, on sale, but this colour keeps selling out. I got it on pop back, but was surprised by the base colour. I had braced myself for it to be beige. It turned out to be a rainbow coloured wool. It's a bit bizarre, but I like the overall fit and shirttail hem in the back of the tunic enough to keep it.

General style note: after careful observation,  I think a really "wide" hem roll (see below) has a lengthening effect, compared to short more utilitarian (or more conservative) rolls. Try it in the mirror for yourself and tell me if you agree!

Thanks for reading! I'd love your thoughts!

Tory Burch: Spring 2014, wedges

Mackenna Wedge Pump, $325/-

These pointy toe wedges in black and white are possibly the most comfortable shoes ever. The wedge is indiscernible while one is wearing the shoes. The front of the shoe has a snakeskin pattern embossed on it, topped by stripes.

I love the subtle wrap d'orsay executed here. 

Love the gold bar in the heel.

Excellent leather and interior padding.

These sold out in a flash, I think, but if you ever come across them, go for it! I got mine at the TB site directly, but a reader has just found that Nordstrom is carrying size 8.5! I've posted the link below.

The "under wrap" portion of the shoe front is elasticated fabric in a very fine grain. You only see that it's fabric if you hold it up.

The link at Nordies:

http://m.nordstrom.com/Product/Details/3576952?origin=keywordsearch

Tory Burch: Lolita pump (Bordeaux/black)

This is a pump from fall 2012. I wore these to a wedding last weekend. Though the heel is as close to a stiletto as I own, the shoes were incredibly comfy to walk in!

Tory Burch, Spring 2014

Tana sandal, shell pink, size 6

The colour is actually tan in my opinion, not any kind of pink. It's not a natural nude for me, sadly.

The sandal has a block heel, 1.5", very comfortable; zip entry in the back; ankle strap with very sleek logo. Leather sole, padded insole. Love the leather pulls for the zippers.

This shape of sandal is a current trend, reminiscent of the 60s and 70s. 

I am undecided on whether the shoe is for me, but it is otherwise TTS, very comfortable and of course well made.

If you've ordered TB shoes this season, have you noticed that they've started doing dustbags? Love!

Le dust bag!

How do you like the low heeled ankle strap block sandal? Buying into the trend?

Collection lace print cropped pant, 00

Pros: beautiful silk twill fabric; colours are vibrant; nice print.

Cons: none

Sizing TTS

Verdict: love it. I have too many printed pants, so I'm conflicted. But the print is sophisticated and well executed. 

Thanks to JCAs for telling me about picture collage apps. Tell me if this works well (especially for mobile readers) or you prefer the single picture format.