black & white at bebe

Visit bebe on 34th Street for the perfect black and white striped dress.

iPhone pic #forgotcamera

This dress is a perfect cut and design, thanks to the Stella McCartney-esque optical illusion effect via cleverly placed stripes. There's a lot of optical illusion fun going on at the bebe website, but currently this dress isn't online and IMHO it's the best one.

I also adore the bell-shape of the skirt and its pockets. Pockets rule.


bebe
1 West 34th Street at Fifth Avenue

Feeling a Little Like Spring at Old Navy

What's in Old Navy on 34th Street right now? In addition to a wall full of bright and colorful spring blouses, Old Navy on 34th has new T's, jeans, silky dresses, a very fun group of scarves, and a pleasing selection of flats.

Those leopard print flats ($19.94) are perfect for throwing in your bag when one needs to swap out the heels (see Lincoln Center's southern wall along Columbus Avenue during #nyfw). Also, I found a perfect lightweight cargo jacket ($39.94).

Strawberry jeans (old), Vince Camuto boots (just bought).

 Love the jacket both closed and cinched or slouchy open. A nice little basic to get spring started.

Old Navy
150 W. 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

Beauty on 34th Street: Erasing and Brightening

I've been ignoring my dull skin for long enough: finally, after consulting with beauty expert Sarah of StyleIt, I chose to jump start my 2013 skin with the new Korres Brightening Sleeping Facial. Anything that does the work for me overnight is tops in my book.

I've got very sensitive skin. I've got a lot of skin problems. I bitch about this all the time. Thus, I rarely go beyond the very pure, very basic Vanicream for skincare as I react badly to a lot of big-brand products. But the Korres brightening facial? Zero irritation, and my skin is super-soft the next morning. Although I've been using it for less than two weeks, I feel more confident about my skin and its appearance as the Korres truly seems to be balancing my worrisome skin tone. Find it at Sephora on 34th Street, $48.

Buying the Korres inspired me to walk across the street to Macy's Herald Square, and pick up one of my old-school favorites, Clarins Doux Peeling cream.

This was formerly known as Doux Peeling Visage. It acts like an eraser as users apply, wait a minute, then gently rub it off their skin. Doux Peeling is one of those classic Clarins' products that works wonders without a lot of bells and whistles (ingredients are clay and primrose extract). If you've got sensitive skin this is your exfoliator, and if you suffer from occasional dry patches, Doux Peeling immediately zaps them away. I'm very happy to find it at Macy's ($30) as it's not carried at Sephora.

Now go shop 34th Street and get all glow-y and peeled ;)

Sephora

130 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

Macy's Herald Square

151 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

Don't Miss It: Last Days of Levi's Sale

The 50% off clearance sale ends Tuesday at Levi's Herald Square, so visit today or tomorrow for a last chance to get items like...

Same-same? Au contraire! Note the very different hand positions. Coated black pleated skirt is $25.-ish.

Embellished trucker jacket, up close. Got this for $15, and Alternative T underneath for $15.

Black, black, and black. Can you tell I'm fashion week shopping? These pieces are half off the online price, and sale is over end of day Tuesday.

Levi's

45 West 34th Street

34th Street Weekend Sale Picks: Great Jackets, Great Boots, Great Denim

#1. bebe
There's an additional 50% off all markdowns, and there are some beautiful pieces in the sale section by the dressing rooms (hello, leather/suede/asymmetrical coat below, reg. $255, now just under $8. Also, printed skinny jeans like the ones below are 30% off.  1 West 34th Street

#2. Timberland
Get an extra 30% off sale styles, including this beautiful ankle boot, the Stratham Heights, now $55.99. Smartwool socks and tights are buy two get one free, and there are also some cute winter hats on sale.  28 West 34th Street

Also, stop by American Eagle Outfitters tomorrow to tell everyone what you love, and your heart will be displayed in the windows!  40 West 34th Street

And definitely stop by Joe Fresh at 34th just west of Seventh Avenue, and try on these fun jeans for $39:

Athens, Take Me Away

When it feels like seven degrees outside, one needs to look to 34th Street retailers for some warm climate fantasizing. Voila, The Athens.

Love these. I'd probably get the silver. Find them in the 34th Street Vince Camuto boutique.



Vince Camuto
30 West 34th Street

When babyGap Makes Me Want to Have More Babies

Please, babyGap and Peter Rabbit, stop making such adorable baby clothing.

Now I just need a baby to buy it for, as Baby Herald is now Preschooler Herald. I know, totally not as catchy.

Get it at Gap Herald Square!


Gap 
34th Street and Broadway

H&M's Spring '13 Conscious Collection: Vanessa Paradis and a Preview

Vanessa Paradis is the new face of H&M's Conscious Collection (due in stores in March), and besides all the official reasons for choosing the stunning French actress (beautiful, singer, famous, etc.), surely the number one reason involved two of my favorites from the collection.

Why? The multitude of greens and Paradis' unusual hazel eyes make for a mesmerizing photo. View the effect from the H&M shoot below. Paradis should be the Pantone cover girl for 2013.

Also, there is the multitude of items from the collection that evoke "paradise."

Dreamlike kid's paradise. Don't worry about the butterfly appliques, moms, as H&M does this best. I've washed an H&M toddler shirt with a sewed-on bow in the machine several times, and it's as good as new.

Wild horses in foggy hills? Total hipster paradise.

Duh, boy's paradise. 

Rose bomber + baseball cap = ironic granny fashion paradise. That's a good thing #need. I want to wear this playing poker now and on into my granny years.

See more on our Pinterest and get your shopping list going.

H&M
Herald Square, 34th and Broadway
Seventh Avenue at 34th Street

34th Street Weekend Sale Picks: Major Markdowns Up and Down the Street

#1.  Levi's

Take an additional 50% off sale items: find them in the back of the boutique by the dressing rooms. Don't think this means pickings are slim. I got the super-cute Alternative T below for around $15, this adorable cropped trucker jacket for the same price, and a coated black midi-skirt for about $25. There is also a big selection of sale jeans for women, with a good 501 representation.  45 West 34th Street

#2.  Desigual 34th Street

Sale items are up to 50% - 70% off. The Desigual by Lacroix is 10% - 30% off, like the coat below. Remember how spring '13 is all about textured fabrics and the tapestry look? The Lacroix coat below is perfectly on trend for 2013. Also, if you haven't ogled the kid's Desigual in the back of the store, now would be a good time because the sale items are up to 30% off, and there is a really cute backpack and other bags on sale. 358 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street

Reg. $324, now $226.80, 30% off

Just the cutest thing ever. Desigual  + kids is a perfect match 

#3.  Forever 21

See sign, shop, save. How's that for blogging brevity?! 50 West 34th Street

#4.  Aéropostale

Teens for Jeans is on! Donate your jeans and get 25% off a new pair at Aéropostale.  15 West 34th Street just west of Fifth Avenue

#5.  H&M Herald Square

It takes some digging in the sale racks on the first floor, but I found a great cotton shirt yesterday for $7, saw several cute dresses and Margiela for H&M shoes, and got two hats for $3. Moms-to-be, there's a rack of maternity skinnies for $10 that have the attached stretchy belly band (loved that, it's a big comfort bonus). Click our Hey, Mama button to read over and over how much I adored H&M maternity.  47 West 34th Street just east of Sixth Avenue

#6.  Zara
Second markdowns are on. The below were spotted, and there are TONS of great clothes marked down.  39 West 34th Street

Longchamp and Gucci Boutiques Now Open at Macy's Herald Square

I can pretty much let the photos do the talking here, but Longchamp at Macy's Herald Square is two levels of bags and accessories, and Gucci is three levels of bags and accessories, coats, and shoes. The first floor of Macy's Herald Square at the Broadway entrance is now divine perfection. One is surrounded by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, and Longchamp. It's the Bermuda Quadrangle of designer boutiques, and I would love to fall in.

Also, these Gucci scarves should probably always be hung as art.

Macy's Herald Square
151 West 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue

Inbox Picks: Embellishment, Groovy Color, and a Tennis Star

34th Street retail things that caught my inbox eye this week, starting with some obvious eye candy: International Czech tennis star Tomas Berdych signed a long-term deal with H&M. Good news for tennis fans, as this also means H&M will be producing a tennis collection in collaboration with Berdych.

More eye candy from the Vince Camuto newsletter: the embellished gladiator sandal for spring:

Last, but so not least, Dooney & Bourke's new DB Retro Collection. Remember how I've been contemplating Dooney & Bourke bags? These amazing hues are irresistible for spring. Please click for the range of colors, and look for them in Macy's Herald Square.

H&M

Herald Square at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue

Seventh Avenue at 34th Street

Vince Camuto

30 West 34th Street

Macy's Herald Square

151 West 34th Street