Tag It : How To Add Value To Your Gifts

If you're an aficionado of the Antique Road Show on PBS or you adore shopping for antiques you probably already known the value provenance can give to an object. When attached to gifts it can be an added gift in itself. A simple way to do this is to add a tag using acid free papers, glue and inks to make sure it lasts. Here are a few ideas:

• When giving a family heirloom or something that has been autographed write a letter of provenance about its history, how you came to receive it—its complete story. Try to be as descriptive as possible and even include a photograph or two as additional documentation.

• When giving art, mirrors or pieces of furniture add information to the back with a descriptive label. This is especially helpful if you got it directly from the artist and there isn't a signature.

• Attach a tag to pieces of jewelry, especially if they are unsigned, and clothing detailing where it came from and where it was worn. Etsy is a great place to find beautiful and decorative tags that adds to the charm of your gift. I adore the one above by yourheartscontent.

• Use a tiny envelope, such as what is used for gift enclosures or tips and insert a letter documenting the history of your gift.

• Attach your own bookplate with the story behind the book, how you know the author &/or why you're giving it. One of my favorite gifts is an autographed book from the 30's which included newspaper clippings, a detailed history of how the recipients received it from the author and their found memories of growing up with him. It turned the book into an incredible piece of history you cannot help but cherish.

{Designer John Galliano sends tagged broaches down the runway, '09}
Image: yourheartscontent | Style.com

Also Read:
- Making Gift & Place Cards Extra Special
- Etiquette: Enclosure Cards & Gift Tags

The Secret To Scoring Online Sample Sales

Yes there is a bit of strategy involved...

If you're new to the whole world of online sample sales you might have already come away feeling a bit vexed and vanquished. The new, yet largely unknown, shopping craze is taking on previous score sites such as ebay and Overstock.com but many are finding it has its own set of rules.

First, for those who are completely new to this secret underworld and in need of a little 411, online sample sales bring the experience many major city women brave and fight for to the virtual world. Now no matter where you live you can have a chance at scoring an authenticated luxury piece at deep discounts (we're talking up to 90%) at destinations with names like, Beyond The Rack, gilt [see an inside look video here about gilt] and Haute Look. The catch is that many require an invitation from someone already on the inside and a bit of anonymity so that designers feel their brand isn't being undermined. If you're like many you might not know anyone who can invite you and requesting to be put on a waiting list usually gives you zero access. To remedy this here is a compilation list of invitation codes along with reviews of the best sites I've vetted so you can join in on the experience right now. [In need of an invitation? Click here for ours and start shopping now.]

The best part about these sites, which I believe has a lot to do with our current economic situation, is that the items being offered for purchase are in most cases perfectly giftable. Gone are the defaced or cut tags, missing parts or overly trendy and now outdated designs from 5 years ago. Instead you might be shocked to find classic handbags from the current season or imported dinnerware from a boutique. The sort of deals that caused pushing and shoving now has moved online but it can still be tough and there are still ropes to learn so you don't end up getting shut out of a major steal:

1) Get familiar with the website after you join but before you shop. After you've signed up for your choice of websites and activated your account, take the time to browse around and learn how the website works. Unlike ebay items are not bid on, instead a sale will go live for a certain number of hours or until items fully sell out. Shoppers quickly add items to their online shopping carts and pay within 10 to 15 minutes less another buyer has the chance to grab the deal.

Be sure to look at each sites return policy and how much shipping might be. Take the time to pre-fill in your shipping and billing information so you do not have to do this while checking out. Also see how long you're allowed to hold an item in your shopping cart. The timer placed on your checkout experience can cause those who are new to these sorts of websites to become flustered and a deal to slip through your fingers.

2) Make sure their emails are making it into your inbox. This is extremely important. Make sure you've activated your account by clicking on any activation emails they send you and that you add their email address to your address book. In many cases these sites will email you just before a sale will go live. It's important to look for these alerts as not all of these sites give information about upcoming sales.

3) Do a little research or a lot. If possible prior to the sale (if they give you information about upcoming sales) look around the web and local retailers for the designers mentioned. Some of the items can have unfamiliar names but are cult favorites among those in the know. They can be created by a designer known for impeccable craftsmanship or it can be liquidation from a company going out of business... in the case of the latter know that the items value may be seriously undermined and base your deal meter accordingly. Read Daily Candy and TONY's sample sale listings to see the percentage off at brick and motor events.

If you're already browsing a live sale have another window open so that you can compare prices on Amazon.com, ebay, etc., to see what the going prices are on each particular item. Also watch out for inaccurate (as in inflated) retail prices which can create the appearance of a larger discount. Once you factor in shipping the deal may really be more like retail or a small department store discount. In such cases it might be a better idea to pass. The main thing is not to get so caught up in the deal process that you regret it later.

4) Mark your calender and set your alarm. Look at where the site is located, is the start time EST? Coming in late to a sample sale and seeing everything already sold out can be incredibly disheartening (although there is some comfort to be hard, see #7 below) and the emails sent by these websites might not get to your inbox as soon as the sales open so be vigilant and try to log in prior to the start time. When a rush of people come flooding in the login area of the site can become bogged down. Try to get inside beforehand and keep refreshing until the offerings go live. See the online collective sale calender of events at SampleSaleCrush.com.

5) Add items to your cart and browse later. Quickly scan the items offered and then add what you're really most interested in to your cart on face value. Then look at the specks and if the item is not to your liking immediately remove it from your cart so someone else can snag it.

6) Why it pays to come back. Sometimes people give up too quickly. Everything in a sale can look like it's sold out or is already in another persons cart but the truth is once the first flood is over and people decide not to buy anything the landscape can look totally different. A persons credit card can be declined or for what ever reason they never complete the checkout process. Come back in 15 or even 30 minutes and see if any of those buttons have changed back to "Buy Now". You might be surprised at how much is actually left over.

7) If you miss out on a score it will probably pop up someplace else soon. Part of the fun of sample sale sites is knowing that your really scored something incredible and that means limited numbers for sale. In some cases that can mean only one. The whole idea of luxury was exclusivity or the perception of it in the first place. Once its gone, its gone... or is it!? One of the perks of signing up for multiple online sample sale sites is you will often see the same designers spread over a few of these sites. If you miss one or find it fully sold out keep your eyes open because the item might show on another site soon.

8) Shop with friends. Shopping with a circle of friends can be beneficial for a number of reasons. First, many of these sites will charge a flat fee for all of your purchases if they are made together &/or within an hour of one another. This can seriously cut down on shipping and handling costs. Second, most of these sites offer incentives to get your friends to join and shop. This can range from $5 to $25. If you refer each other and shop for the first time, the credit can be used as a discount and you all can split it between yourselves.

9) Know the differences in these sites from regular online retail. If you're looking to purchase something to give as a gift right away be careful and read shipping times thoroughly. Many of these websites can take anywhere from a few days to one, two or three weeks to actually ship your item and projections can be iffy. It can all depend on the actual item or designer being offered as some of these sites act as a middle man and shipping is done by someone else. Thinking and projecting in terms of "Business Days" can also be helpful... i.e. 14 business days can = 19 days altogether with weekends removed.

10) Keep up with industry calenders. Just like with regular sample sales there are ebbs and flows depending on the season. Around any fashion week you'll see a glut of events as designers dump stock that was never ordered by retailers or samples that were used in shows and campaigns which are no longer needed. Certain times can become lean so try to plan your shopping around the traditional sales (Spring = around May and Fall = around October).

Bonus Tip: Keep a NYC sample sale sort of mindset when shopping these sites and things can go much easier. By this I mean take returns out of the equation. As mentioned above your shipment can take weeks to arrive so if the item is to be a gift try to shop 1 or 2 months in advance instead of a couple of weeks, only to miss the due date and feel the need to now return the unneeded gift. Otherwise look for gifts that could be given to various people, such as hostess, housewarming, etc., and store them for just the right moment. Many of these sites do not handle returns well, only give store credit or do not take them at all. The same MO as most brick and mortar sample sales in the city. Shopping for keeps has been my best mantra with anything too iffy being passed over.

Update: Do your research... There have been mummers simmering for a while that some of the stock offered for sale is not sample sale fare but instead products created by labels specifically to meet the demand of these quickly growing websites. This practice hearkens back to cries of fowl play by avid outlet shoppers and articles in the late 90's pointing out that such designers as Calvin Klein were creating pieces which used cheaper quality fabrics and embellishments such as buttons. The outlet discount was seen as being not from liquidation but from cheaper construction. This has mostly been phased out by the more up front "capsule" collections which have popped up over the years at popular haunts such as H&M, Target and Topshop. With these collections people understand part of the accessibility comes from cheaper fabrication.

Unfortunately labels still seem to carry weight and the outlet practice of yore looks to be coming back in the form of online sample sales. Gilt's CEO, Susan Lyne recently noted in BusinessWeek that authentic sample sale pieces are becoming depleted, "But increasingly we're saying we're going to need x million dollars of product from this brand in six months. How do we get there? In some cases, it could be a mini-collection or a proprietary line for Gilt.".

In some cases this has been highly welcome such as with Gilt's exclusive work with charity collections such as Versace's Art Unite tote bags and NYC's Fashion Night Out promotion and samplings of new collections at major steals. What may concern is the creation of pieces specifically for sale on sample sale sites which are not labeled as exclusive capsule collections but instead passed off as remnants of a legitimate lines main collection and which may incorporate inferior fabrics or construction. (for more on this read Gilt CEO's "clarification" at their blog which includes that statement that sometimes they ask designers to cut pieces "from another fabric"). With this in mind, being educated about what you are buying is a must going forward (and really always has been). Do research, keep images from magazines, catalogs and online stores. Snap pictures with your cell phone when shopping brick & mortar. I personally will be making sure the item I'm interested in buying can be located elsewhere in the form specifically being offered at these sites or is something I have experienced in person.

Also Read:
- Online Sample Sale Invitation Codes & Reviews
- A Calender of Sample & Flash Sale Events All In One Place Daily
- The Top Secret Invitation Code: We Have It
- The Best Secret Sample Sale Sites for Men

High : Low - Alexander Wang vs Steve Madden

Alexander Wang vs Steve Madden

Well it was only a matter of time before someone would try to grab a little piece of the brass ring called Alexander Wang and here is the latest attempt by none other Steve Madden. If you've been looking to gift your girl the cult favorite Wang 'Brenda Zip Bag ' (top) but didn't feel comfortable forking over $750. take a peek at Steven by Steve Madden's 'Wild Thing Mini' in black leather for $195. Obviously the huge change in the design is the extra inch, zipper going another direction on the pocket and chain strap. (yes this found its way into my hand one day while out shopping and it quickly slid back out... coming in a gun metal gray along with the black the leather was incredibly thin and the dog chain like strap x fanny pack look was strangely "adorable biker-esk", no wonder it was on sale.) Steve, really! It almost feels like NYC's Canal street but not quite.

Give Twice : Payless - Whatever It Takes - Miss Dogooder

A few days ago I discovered that Whatever It Takes Org has a whole collection of gift worthy items in their online shop to go along with their really cool series of tote bags. Great gift picks include gorgeous silver rings signed by various music celebs, funky dinner plates and sneakers by Vans. It's worth a look as the offerings are rather unique.

Be sure to check out the super cute line of shirts by Miss Dogooder such as Fight Animal Cruelty and Miss Do-Gooder Fights Illiteracy. Each shirt which reminds me of those vintage super soft tees from the 70's and 80's has the added benefit is the 20% that is donated to causes such as the ASPCA and First Book. Check out all the shirts, $25., at missdogooder.com.

For the entire month of May Lisa Hoffman Skincare will be donating 100% of the proceeds from the new fragrance Japanese Agarwood to the Nancy Davis Foundation for MS. Every other product on the site will have 20% donated through May 2009.

As reported by Glamour Magazine Payless shoes has created a DIY series of shoes with 100% of the proceeds from each pair being donated to the Fresh Air Fund. For the full story click here.

Soaked In : NARS Essential Oil Infused Therapy Soak

REVIEW

{Forgo That Trip To The Spa}

Something about this frigid and very rainy time of year has a way of infiltrating your mind. Even in the gift department. All that water and the deep wish to warm up for a little while. Thalassotherapy! So you find yourself paying special attention to certain facilitators such as candles, oils, bath salts and things a person can soak in.

One recent find was the Essential Oil Infused Therapy Soak by NARS, $75. Containing a rather unique blend of Sel Gris from the waters off the French island of Noirmoutier, Bolivian red and Chilean salts, it resembles beach sand. Feels like it too. Cast it in the water and it seems to effect nothing but smell your skin afterwords and the essence of Gardenia (Tahitian tiare) is eerily left clinging to lull you to sleep. Its unobtrusiveness makes it so much more giveable. Imagine a large sheer silk pouch with this hiding inside along with a bottle of cult favorite NARS Monoï Body Glow, $59., a delicately scented candle, a book of love letters and a CD of calming music for a bride to be. Major swoon...

Image: mam for Gave That

Also Read:
- Giving Beauty: MDSC Purifying Bath Crystals
- Spring Skin Detox: Clarisonic & Opal Sonic

Who Wouldn't Want To Carry (or Give!) One Of These?

Lately I've been absolutely beguiled by these incredible PBA free, reusable stainless steal water bottles. You wouldn't believe the number of people who could use one of these badly... you know the ones in your life too I'm sure. Once a person is thirsty they're already dehydrated and dehydration can lead to all sorts of problems such as needless snacking, poor cognitive function and cries to go home just when you're about to find "it" while shopping.

The new flask these feel so luxe and would be perfect for giving out to guests at your next garden party or leave a few on your coworkers desk with a hang tag reading let's fill up at the watering hole—see you there. They'll love you!

Featured:
1) EarthLust Tree Stainless Steel Water Bottle, $21.
2) Gaiam Aluminum Water Bottle-Damask-Silver-Damask Silver, $12.99
3) Sigg Eco Friendly Maharadsha Ruby Red Traveler Water Bottle, $23.95

Give Twice : Tommy Hilfiger - Zac & Zoe - Cheeky Monkey

Why give once when you can give twice with our latest gift finds that give back to worthy causes...

Cheeky Monkey has created a number of cute charm necklaces in the shapes of endangered and threatened animals with a portion of proceeds benefiting animal charities. The little Seal pendent, $250., for instance supports the efforts of The Humane Society of the United States to stop the Canadian seal hunt. Pieces are sold at Bloomingdales.

Tommy Hilfiger has teamed up with Dress for Success to produce a limited edition classic silk scarf and necktie, both $30, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the cause to helping women become economically independent. Find them in select stores and online. As seen in Elle.

Tommy Hilfiger has also created a limited edition series of tote bags with photographer Jeremy Blake to benefit Free Arts NYC. $120. As seen in Elle.

Zoe & Zac are coming to Payless shoe stores and they're bringing some green with them. Using tagua nuts, recycled rubber and other natural materials the Zoe & Zac collection also comes with the bonus of donating $1 from each pair sold to the Nature Conservancy's Plant A Billion Trees Campaign. All are $30 and under at Payless stores and online at Payless.com.

Forever 21 has teamed up with American Forests and Global Releaf to create a new Go Green Tote, $1.75, with each bag you buy (and give?) they will plant a tree.

From 04/21/09 through 04/22/09 Gilt Groupe will be donating a portion of the profits from certain designers such as Loomstate and Stella McCartney to the Audubon Society and Conservation International.

Also see our past post on the new Flying Wish Paper Pink Ribbon mini kit to benefit Breast Cancer causes.

Furoshiki Style

{Who needs wrapping paper!?}

For a good while now I've been wanting to switch over completely to the ancient Japanese art of wrapping things, such as gifts, which is known as Furoshiki. Instead of paper which usually gets torn and tossed, this technique uses fabric and intricate folds and knotting to wrap things up. Once unwrapped you can use it over and over again or for something else altogether. Think napkins or... I want to experiment with vintage scarves for two gifts in one.

While I search for the perfect scarf here are a few beautiful and simple examples of Furoshiki from our beloved etsy: Tussah Sage by ecoshikis $9.00, Naturally Dyed by girlwithasword $25.00, Green by goodtogoeco $15.95 and Furoshiki Gift Bag by Zabelou $50.00. If you want to try it too check out these instructions here or watch the below video.

Image: ecoshikis , girlwithasword, goodtogoeco and Zabelou

Also See:
- Chinese Paper Cut Jianzhi Themed Gift Style

Flying Wish Paper Mini Wish Kit for Breast Cancer : Give Twice

Founder and creator Julia Lambie of Flying Wish Paper™ just let me know about her latest kit, Flying Wish Paper™ PINK RIBBON, $8.00, with a portion of proceeds benefiting breast cancer. Flying Wish Paper™ is one of the most unique gift ideas I've seen and so incredibly timely. During spring it seems like everyone involved in positive thinking is touting the benefits of letting go of the past by throwing them away, quite literally. With these tiny kits you can write everything you want to let go of, burn them and let the negativity fly away.

Julia shared with me why she choose breast cancer as her first cause to partner with:

"I chose breast cancer because my good friend, Renee, is a survivor. You would think there is plenty of awareness and education out there, but it really takes a personal experience to make you think...hey, this could happen to me.

Renee survived because she found a lump early, through self-examination, and it would otherwise have been undetected for months until her next mammogram. It was a very aggressive cancer, and had she not found it herself it would have been very advanced by the time it was found via 'science.'

I am hoping to target my dollars toward literature or other promotion to encourage women to - well - touch themselves and potentially save their own lives."

This is the first in a series of Flying Wish Paper™ kits being created in the series and Julia tells me that she is looking for more charitable causes to partner with. If you're interested in working with Flying Wish Paper™ for your cause contact Julia Lambie at her website www.flyingwishpaper.com. At the Flying Wish Paper™ website you can also sign up for that latest release updates, specials and news.

New Beauty : MD Skincare Detox Duo - Heidi Klum's Spring Look 09 - philosophy unconditional love

REVIEW

* MD Skincare Detox Duo, Beauty In: Toxins Out Natural Beauty Collection: While this seems like a somewhat strange gift to give... please hear me out here. It isn't as medical as it sounds. This new series of products by Dr. Dennis Gross caught my eye for a few key reasons, some of which are rather regional.

The major reason was the need for some quality bath salts that weren't the humdrum mixture of Epsom and synthetic fragrance fillers. The other was the emphasis MD Skincare places on building chelator's into many of their products. Here in the north east we are known for having very hard water filled with impurities that gunk up your skin and even lead to inflammation. A major cause of aging to skin. The third reason was somewhat unexpected. This set is now a must give thanks to how incredible it smells. Something not really expressed in the product information.

Namely I'm talking about the Botanical Bar with Tea Tree & Aloe, $24 and the Purifying Bath Crystals, the latter of which is part of the new special set, about $50. Both have the most luscious, fresh orange scent going and it just dawned on me how much the scent reminds me of the long discontinued Comptior Sud Kumquat and John Varvatos' Artisan. Very light with dead sea and Himalayan salts and herbaceous thanks to lavender, anise, orange, grapefruit, lemon and mandarin oils, this really gets you going in the morning and is completely unisex. If only Dr. Gross could bottle the scent and sell it as a perfume. One can wish. In the mean time I'll continue with the set at hand which so far has gone over very well and won rave reviews for softening skin and getting kinks out of muscles.

* The Spring Look Makeup Set by Heidi Klum: This lovely makeup gift set came by way of New York Post blogger Danica Lo of the fantastic Hi Lo, thank you so much Danica! Despite being a Victoria's Secret VIP I've yet to try any of Heidi Klum's cosmetic offerings and I wanted to cover it here because I was surprised at how gift worthy this brand new set is.

First, I was somewhat surprised at the nature of the set. Instead of it being a kit created by Victoria's Secret super model Heidi Klum it is actually a recreation of the exact colors used by makeup artist Linda Hay on Heidi for last years Academy Awards. This essentially can mean tough luck for anyone who hasn't a similar complexion and hair color to Ms. Klum. All of the colors found in the collection are very subtle and obviously chosen to show up on a bisque canvas. My hope is Victoria's Secret and Heidi will come up with more of a range of colors because the makeup in the collection is actually rather impressive.

The standout in the collection had to be the sheer lip gloss in Blush. Not as sticky as their Beauty Rush line of popular glosses, Heidi's Blush gloss seems infused with some sort of peppermint oil to add a little plumping to your pout. Nice touch! The eyeshadow quad comes with an actual brush for a very soft look and the mascara, in blackest black, goes on very glossy. Best of all the set comes in a lovely padded white makeup case which includes a large hand mirror inside and a card giving you step-by-step directions on how to recreate Heidi's red carpet look. The set retails for $49. at VS online and in certain retail locations.

* philosophy - unconditional love: One always has to give it to philosophy for creating lovely gifts thanks to their poetic bottle designs. Just read the sweet label for the companies latest fragrance offering Unconditional Love:

"...when the call comes you know. you see all people and all living things as beacons of light and they see you as the same. together you love and together you transform. it is a divine journey to the highest and the best parts of who you are and why you are here. your age becomes your ally. with each day and each act of love you become more beautiful than the day before. you have unconditionally arrived realizing the love you sought was the love you already owned"

That in itself is so swoon worthy -and enough to make you ignore the pesky lack of capitalizing- you almost do not even care what the scent is. Just let me give it! Bravo philosophy! Still it's the scent that brings people to each specific product and this latest release is rather mysterious. philosophy simply likens unconditional love's scent to their falling in love only deeper and with, "an abundance of fruity notes and the warmth of cashmere vanilla". This of course tells you next to nothing by perfume snob standards.

As soon as I slathered the fluffy cream on I was, well, somewhat shocked and even now I'm still not sure if the sensation was a pleasant or revolting one. It was odd. The first note, if you can call it that, was one of vitamin C as in ascorbic acid... my nose wrinkled a tad. After a while that was drowned out in what seemed like strawberries, purple violets, bubblegum and all out sticky sweetness. This is an amplified gourmand on a sugar high and you know what? The end result is something rather comforting. It's also light enough for spring and summer wear.

Perfume in general is so hard to give but if you know a philosophy or falling in love addict this new scent can be something to cherish and a nice change of pace. At the moment they do not have a gift set version but I highly recommend bundling the bath gel (a lighter scent) $22., body cream $32., and perfume, $40., together for one swell treat. Include a bouquet of dried lavender and you'll really have something special.

Image: MD Skincare, Victoria's Secret, philosophy

Also Read:
- Soaked In: NARS Essential Oil Infused Bath Crystals
- Spring Skin Care: Clarisnoc & Opal Sonic