The Best Shopping Sites

We hunted down the best and most innovative sites to get all your shopping needs done in a fast, convenient way.

TheFind & The Find Mobile APP – TheFind lets you quickly locate anything you’re interested in from a selection of 500,000 stores from Amazon and eBay, to mom-and-pop online shops, and everything in between. Due to its enormous database of products, TheFind allows you to see all of the available buying options for that product available online and in your local store; so you’ll be sure to get the best price possible. TheFind Mobile APP is a free shopping APP that can scan barcodes and QR codes; helping you quickly and easily discover the best price on an item you’re interested in buying. Other great features-user reviews are available and you can also run a text search to see if an item is available in your nearby location.

ModaOperandi – Customers are able to pre-order the latest runway fashions from such designers as Derek Lam, Rag & Bone, Marchesa, and Rachel Roy. So how exactly does this work? A designer presents their fashions on the runway or in a showroom. After the show, M’O shoots photos of the collection. M’O then runs a three-day Trunk show which allows members to pre-order any looks from the designers completed collection (a 50% deposit is required). The designer then produces the pieces that are then sent to M’O for distribution.  An added bonus: many of these looks aren’t available in stores; great for those looking for a special event outfit or love one-of-a-kind pieces. Requesting membership is required.

Suddenlee – This free-to-join site allows you to shop from over 300 retailers (Nordstrom, Gap, and Zara, among others) with one transaction, next day affordable shipping, and all purchases being consolidated into one box. This is the only website to offer this service. How Suddenlee works-once a purchase is made, shoppers are dispatched to buy your items and have them delivered to you in a timely and affordable fashion; great for anyone who dreads the typical 3-10 day delivery schedule or expense of having it overnighted. Since Suddenlee is a shopping service and not an actual retailer, they do not offer deals or specials, however, every Monday they provide a list of new sales on their blog. There is a service fee on all orders (fee includes obtaining the items, packing and next day shipping). To view cost, click here. Purchases from the first two stores are included in the standard rate table, $2.50 for each additional store.

Shop It To Me – Forget spending hours trying to find the perfect look- Shop It To Me (free to join) updates you on your favorite brands in your sizes. To start, you begin by filling out a personal profile including your favorite brands, sizes and what you’re shopping for. Then the Shop It To Me team emails you information based on your profile featuring all the best online sales; as oppose to just listing sales that you may not be interested in. Another great feature-you control how often you receive these emails: daily, weekly, or twice a week. Shop It To Me is a sale aggregator, which means that you make all purchases directly from the brand or retailer.  So how does Shop It To Me differ from other sites?- it takes all the work out of having to scour numerous websites for the rights items and sizes and finding coupon codes and sales; great for those with hectic schedules.When you join, you can get a $10 gift card to your favorite retailer for every 10 friends you get to join.

Bloom – Never again will you have to worry about buying the wrong cosmetics. This free-to-join “social beauty” site gives you the best products that have been most recommended for women by women with your interests and concerns. The Best4You recommendations is a list of product suggestions that are broken up into categories (cleansers, hair-care, make-up, bath & body). Once you choose your category, it asks you about your skin type, sensitivity, complexion type and eye color; a fool-proof way to get the right product every time. Bloom is a great site for those who love deals- consumers get 10% back on all beauty purchases that can be put toward purchasing any products.  Customers also receive a BloomBox gift with every purchase filled with samples and products customized to fit your individual beauty needs. Now until the end of October, Bloom is running a “Share The Beauty” campaign where members are encouraged to invite 10 or more friends to join Bloom for an instant $20 gift code for use on a future purchase of $40 or more on the site.

Shop My Label – This new website lets anyone over the age of 14 to become an online seller (no sales experience required) without having to pay any start up fees, purchase any inventory or create your own website.  Members create their own boutiques by choosing merchandise from roughly 1,000 retailers and merchants from the Shop My Label inventory. Once items are chosen, the store is then promoted through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and You Tube. Members have the freedom to  choose items that they either personally like or are geared more towards their audience. Shopkeepers will get a 5% commission on each sale and perks for getting others to join; great for creative types and those looking to make a little extra income.

Fab – This flash sale site acts as a distribution channel for emerging, independent, and well-known designers/artists; a great site for those looking for unique home-decor pieces. The site features 3-day flash sales as well as longer-term Pop-Up Shops that stay on the site for a longer period of time (30-45 days). Members of Fab are introduced to at least eight new designers/merchants in each daily email and all items featured on Fab are available for purchase. As opposed to featuring a designers full inventory, Fab focuses on items that are new/in season and offer them at discounted prices. An added bonus: members are also allowed to upload photos of designs they like in a section called “inspiration.” Request membership required.

StyleBook App – The best way to a clutter-free closet starts here. This iPhone App ($3.99)  lets you track your style inspirations, organize your clothes, create outfits and mood boards, and keeps track of your outfits on a daily calendar.

Top 5 Black Friday Shopping Steals

My turkey is almost ready for the oven, which means that the biggest shopping season is about to begin. Before you start your post-Thanksgiving shopping it’s important to have a plan because nobody wants to be trampled from a doorbuster that’s not a winning score.  So here are top five favorite post-Thanksgiving shopping picks.

Barneys:

If you have a thing for high-end shoes then Barneys is the destination for you. The store carries an extensive selection of high-end names and the most must-have styles. Most department stores usually start their shoe markdown 30% off but Barney’s usually cuts their prices 40%.

Gap:

Yes, we all love luxury boutiques but a girl also needs her basics. We are longstanding fans of the Gap’s jeans and tees. If you haven’t checked out their winter warm leggings, then you really should. For their Doorbuster, Gap is offering 50% off everything in the store until 10am Friday. Online shoppers can save 40% during the Thanksgiving weekend and through cyber Monday.

Gucci:

If you have a taste for fine luxury Italian tailoring this is the place to go. We suggest bypassing the handbag collection and going straight to the ready-to-wear department. Starting December, 2 the markdown on clothing will go to 50% off. But you can find the private presale link at Madison Avenue Spy.

Piperlime:

If you are looking for some one-stop-shopping, you might consider tapping your fingers over to Piperlime. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the online retailer will be offering customers 20% off on everything on the site. If you’re not sure where to look first, we suggest browsing the stylist’s picks. Rachel Zoe – is always a good launching point.

Saks Fifth Avenue:

An extra 50% off all reduced items can draw quite a crowd and that’s what Saks Fifth Avenue does almost every Friday after Thanksgiving. Until noon, shoppers can save up to 70% off at the swanky department store. I suggest sorting through the contemporary designers and waiting for further markdowns in the higher end brands, which will come later in the season.

Lila literally wears (and owns) many hats, as her multidimensional personality gives her the ability to inspire and admire. As a visionary, she is known for spotting trends before they are in style. For instance, in 2001 she declared cuffs and capri’s to be the look of the future. We all know where that went.  Lila possesses duel degrees from FIT and MIT, which were integral in her success in inventing the push-up bra and high heels. Most recently, Lila was instrumental in the search for WWD, in Iraqi. Unfortunately, her tour abroad was unsuccessful except the amazing deal she got on a camel hair coat. MadisonAvenueSpy.com was started, in May 2008. Lila has written for SmartMoney.com, the Wall Street Journal and Accent Magazine. Lila’s combined experience in covering retail and financial markets allows her to bring a unique transparency to the luxury goods market. She developed Madison Avenue Spy to share “insider” information in a sector that kept very hush hush to most luxury retail shoppers.

Melissa’s Tips, Tricks and Product Picks: Purple Love

This season I’ve been OBSESSED with all things purple.  Here are some of my favorite purple purchases:

Ramy Brook Casey top, Buy Now, $395

Thakoon Sand-Wash Side-Drape Dress, Buy Now, $525

Nike Dri-FIT Wool Half-Zip Women’s Running Shirt, Buy Now, $80

BY TERRY Crayon Khol Terrybly in Purple Label, Buy Now, $33

Sue Devitt Hydrating Marine Minerals Destination Eye Palette in Kilimanjaro, Buy Now, $37.50

Rag and Bone EXCLUSIVE Midrise Skinny Twill Leggings, Buy Now, $185

Edit New York: Melissa’s Fave Upper East Side Shopping Spot (and one of Leighton and Blake’s, too!)

One of my fave places to shop on the Upper East Side is Edit New York – I live in all the clothes I buy there!  They carefully “edit” the best styles from designer brands like Alexander Wang, Rag and Bone and Phillip Lim and offer great personalized service.  One of my favorite go-to dresses is a T by Alexander Wang black dress that I bought there last season.  I paired it with a the cutest fur vest by Rebecca Taylor, also from Edit.  For fall, I love this gorgeous Proenza Schouler dress and the sand-washed ruffle side dress from Thakoon, two of my favorite designers.  Shopping in Edit’s gorgeous and townhouse is just divine. I am not alone here–Gossip Girls Blake Lively and Leighton Meester were just spotted shopping there recently!

PageDaily Fashion Week Giveaway

PageDaily is celebrating fashion week with an amazing giveaway including tickets to Pamella Roland’s presentation!

All you need to do is Like us on Facebook for a chance to win!

The value is over $1250 of goodies that include the following:

• 2 tickets to Pamella Roland‘s Fashion Week Presentation
• $300 gift card from edit New York
• $200 Beauty & Essex gift card
• Ippolita Bangle
• Riller & Fount Wrap and Top
• Essie Fall Nail Collection
• tarte radiant &rested volume II kit

The winner will be announced on our Facebook page Friday, September 9th.

Know a fashion-obsessed friend? Share this with them!

 

The Ultimate Party of the Year-Fashion’s Night Out

It’s back-and better than ever. In it’s 3rd-year, Fashion’s Night Out, where thousands of retailers across the country stay open late for the ultimate shopping party of food, drinks-and of course to celebrate fashion. This all-out extravaganza will hit New York City on Thursday, September 8th, a prelude to New York Fashion Week (September 9th, 10th & 12th).

With debuts from J Brand and Chanel, to celebrity appearances from Heidi Klum, Rachel Zoe, Joss Stone, Ne-Yo, The Real Housewives of New York; and to top-it-off, Vera Wang in an ice cream truck, this is one star-studded event you won’t want to miss.

Here are the events you’ll want to check out in New York, LA, Miami, Dallas, and Chicago:

New York:

Topshop, 478 Broadway between Broadway and Broome

• Teamed up with Vogue Magazine, top models Chanel Iman, Coco Rocha, Karlie Kloss, Abbey Lee, and Charlotte Free will be giving out styling tips for the upcoming season; they will also select their favorite items from Topshop’s AW11 collection, debuting on FNO

• Customers who purchase one of the “favorite items” get the chance to be photographed with their favorite model; pictures will be posted on Tophop’s Facebook page

• Shoppers who spend over $100 will receive a notebook with a print from the AW11 collection on the cover; choose from one of four covers

Bergdorf Goodman, 754 5th Avenue at 58th Street

• Appearance by Michael Kors; Performance by Audrianna Cole

• Oscar de la Renta will be signing his limited edition “Face of Fashion” Fall kaleidoscope palette by Le Métier de Beauté

• Badgley Mischka, Joseph Altuzarra, Lela Rose, and Reem Acra will walk the runway with their furry friends in the Designer Dog Show

Diane von Furstenberg, 874 Washington Street at 14th Street

• Performance by Grammy Winner Estelle; performance features songs off her new album, All of Me

• Sample DVF’s new fragrance, Diane, before it hits stores in October. Enter to win an autographed bottle from Diane herself

Tory Burch, 797 Madison Avenue between 67th & 68th Streets

• Spend $250 or more and get styled by Vogue Editor Jessica Sailer and photographed by Fashion photographer Beau Grealy; chance to be featured on the Tory Blog

• Limited edition tote will be given to everyone who makes a $100 purchase

DKNY, 655 Madison Avenue between 60th & 61st Streets; 420 West Broadway between Prince & Spring Streets

• Shoppers who spend $250 or more will receive a limited edition tote with a DVD of documentary “Bill Cunningham New York”

• Complimentary popcorn and beer provided by Brooklyn Lager

• Complimentary Blind Barber haircuts

Michael Kors, 610 Fifth Avenue at Rockefeller Center

• Appearances by the Rockettes

• Champagne and live music by a guest DJ

• Chance to win denim totes signed by Michael himself

Sephora, 597 5th Avenue between 48th & 49th Streets

• Get all your beauty questions answered by a panel of experts: Vogue Beauty Director Sarah Brown, celebrity hairstylist Oscar Blandi, Founder and Creative Director of Urban Decay Cosmetics Wende Zomnir, and skincare guru Kate Somerville

Sephora Soho, 555 Broadway between Prince & Spring Streets

• Be one of the first 50 customers here and receive a free makeover and a “Stila-Girl” inspired sketch of yourself

Sephora Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Circle between West 58th & 60th Streets

• Celebrity skin experts Sophie Evans and Fiona Locke of St. Tropez share all their beauty secrets

• Complimentary spray tanning

• Product giveaways- all customers will receive a free gift with a St. Tropez purchase; change to a prize valued at $200

Lord & Taylor, 424 5th Avenue between East 38th and 39th

• Wear This, Not That author Suze Yalof Schwartz answers all your style questions. Enter to win a $1,000 shopping spree

• Singer/Songwriter Solange Knowles will be DJing. Meet her and receive a photo

• Meet Ivanka Trump and receive a photo

Macy’s Herald Square, 151 West 34th Street at 6th Avenue

• Gucci Guilty Dance Party with Samantha Ronson

• Appearances by Tommy Hilfiger, Coco Rocha, America’s Next Top Model Judge J. Alexander, Bobbi Brown, Anna Dello Russo, Karolina Kurkova, and Rachel Roy

• Live musical performance by Joss Stone

Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 5th Avenue at 49th Street

• The Chronicles of Narnia, Tilda Swinton will be making an appearance with Pringle of Scotland​ designer Alistair Carr and Central Saint Martins’ Louise Wilson

• Hat signing and performance by Ne-Yo
• Win a $10,00 Fall Shopping Spree from StyleList, visit: stylelist.com/saks/

Victoria’s Secret, 591 Broadway between Houston and Prince Streets

• Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio, Erin Heatherton, and Lily Aldridge will be offering customer makeovers, photo opportunities and a fragrance preview

L’Occitane, 48 9th Avenue at 14th Street; 146 Spring Street between Wooster St & Broadway

• Complimentary chilled rosé

• Complimentary hand massages

• Riviera-inspired tote bag filled with the brands most essential beauty goodies

QVC, 428 Broadway between Howard & Canal Streets

• Meet QVC Designers as they discuss fashion, beauty and trends

• Try on the latest fashion and accessories in the Rowenta fashion closet

• Heidi Klum is unveiling her new jewelry line for QVC, WILDLIFE by Heidi Klum

Bloomingdale’s, Soho, 504 Broadway between Spring and Broome

• Appearance by Rachel Zoe; her recent clothing line The Rachel Zoe Collection is available for purchase

• Appearance by Erin Wasson and her capsule collection for Zadig & Voltaire

• A truth or lie game told to shoppers; hosted by Bono’s Wife, Ali Hewson

Helmut Lang, 93 Mercer Street at Spring Street

• Live performance by indie band Best Coast

• Food by Luke’s Lobster; Drinks by Death + Company

• An interactive digital photo booth will livestream images from store onto helmutlang.com

La Maison du Chocolat, 30 Rockefeller Plaza at 49th Street; 1018 Madison Avenue between 78th & 79th Streets

• La Maison du Chocolat will be hosting a chocolate ganache tasting

New York & Company, 715 Lexington Avenue between 57th St & 58th Streets

• Shop, eat and take pictures with the cast of The Real Housewives of New York City, Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Ramona Singer

• Music by DJ Steve Powers

Patricia Field, 302 Bowery between E Houston & Bleecker Streets

• Meet designers V.O.N., Seville Michelle Anastos, Phillipe & David Blond, and Zana Bayne

• Receive special gift bags and be included a prize raffle

• Vodka cocktails will be served; party goes until 1am

Rebecca Taylor, 34 Gansevoort Street between Hudson & Greenwich Streets

• Jams provided by Brooklyn band AVAN LAVA along with DJ performances by Narcisse & Fischerspooner’s Ian Pai & Le Chev

• Enter the “Who Wore it Best” contest from 7pm-9pm to win 2 tickets to a Rebecca Taylor Fashion Show

• Blooming Cake Pops and Svedka vodka cocktails will be served

Scott J Aveda. Salonspa, 242 East 86th Street between 2nd & 3rd Avenue

• Free Hair Care Consultations, Makeup Touch Ups, and Hand Treatments

• Be one of the first 50 guest and receive an AVEDA Product Gift and a voucher for a complimentary hair treatment with your next service

Vera Wang, 158 Mercer Street between Prince & W Houston Streets

• Vera Wang and her team will peruse NYC in their customized Mister Softee truck; giving out free ice cream

• Shopping incentives and giveaways available

Worth & Worth, 45 West 57th Street between Fifth & Avenue of the Americas

• Great Gatsby themed Gala including build your own hat event, celebrity hat auction, cocktails, live music, photo booth, and more

Madison Avenue Spy Fashion Hunt, shops between 57th & 86th Streets

• The ultimate scavenger hunt-shoppers are invited to attend and tweet pictures from a list of events happening at retailers on Madison Avenue (between 57th-86th streets). Shoppers who complete three tasks will be directed to a secret Madison Avenue location where they will be awarded with prizes and champagne

• Chance to win from leading brands like Betsey Johnson, Juicy Couture, La Perla; for officials rules, visit  madisonavenuespy.com

Manolo Blahnik, 31 West 54th New York NY 10019

• Sarah Jessica Parker and Manolo Blahnik USA invite you to celebrate Fashion’s Night Out on September 8th at their boutique where they will unveil a special shoe Sarah Jessica teamed up with Manolo in designing.

• In toasting this very special collaboration a van will be tooting around the city with Manolo’s favorite treat—milkshakes.

• Milkshakes and Manolos, what could be better! A portion of the proceeds will go to The Fund for Public Schools.

LA:

The Beverly Center, 8500 Beverly Boulevard

• This star-studded Luxury Fashion Show hosted by Nicole Richie will feature the trendiest fall looks. Expect to see an abundance of A-listers, press, and fashion editors

Alice + Olivia, 134 South Robertson Boulevard

• This carnival-inspired theme block party makes you feel like a kid again with sno-cones, cotton candy, games and raffles

ADBD Space (Paul Frank Pop-Up Shop), 8246 Beverly Blvd

• This retro-inspired disco themed party hosted by Paul Frank and Red Light PR is complete with a pop-up shop,  henna tattoos, and a custom photobooth.  Taryn Manning will be Djing the event. Don’t miss out on the fully stocked candy bar and drinks all night

Miami:

City Style Collective, 695 North Miami Avenue

• 30 of Miami’s hottest acts from fashion and beauty will be participating in this pop-up shop event. This jammed-packed event will feature mini-make-overs, hair touch-ups, photo shoots, dancing, live entertainment, and music provided by DJ Rob Di Nero

Dallas:

Galleria Dallas, 13350 Dallas Parkway Suite 3080

• Participating retailers here are offering a ton of deals and freebies: Prosecco and Italian specialty cocktails at Gucci, photo sessions at Saks Fifth Avenue taken by an Estée Lauder photography artist;  free wristlet with your purchase of $150 at Dooney & Bourke

Chicago:

Oak Street Shops, Oak Street between Michigan Avenue and State Street

• Drink and meet the designers of Henry & Belle Denim Company all while receiving a 20% discount; Ashley Zisook, owner of Sofia and her stylists will be offering champagne, discounts and giveaways. First 500 guests receive a FNO tote bag. All shoppers will receive one raffle ticket with every purchase at a participating store

Shopping for a cause: NYC AIDS Fund is the official charity of Fashion Night Out where 40% of proceeds from sales of the limited edition FNO t-shirts ($25), long-sleeved shirts ($30), caps ($15), and totes ($50) will be donated. The collection is available at various retailers and major department stores and online at fashionsnightout.com/collection

Barneys will be donating 10% of its FNO sales at the Barneys Madison Avenue store (and 10% of Barneys.com sales) to the National September 11th Memorial & Museum.

Ask Melissa: Greece Getaway

Ask Melissa: I still have not made vacation plans for the summer but would like to take my family somewhere in Europe. What do you recommend?

One of my favorite places to travel in Europe over the summer is Greece. I had my first taste of Greece and its incredible beauty while backpacking as a college graduate through Athens, Corfu, and Crete. Last summer, my family and I were graciously invited by our Greek friends to explore Athens and a few of the most breathtaking Cyclades islands in the world… Sifnos and Santorini.

Athens:
We liked the modern Arion Resort & Spa hotel, which is 15 minutes from the airport, located in the Athens Riviera, and about 20 minutes from town. The hotel is one of three gorgeous Starwood Hotels and Resorts properties located in the same area. There are a few nice shops there, including one that sells designer bathing suits for women and men. Our spacious connecting rooms had incredible beach views. Although I did not get a chance to try out the services, the spa and gym also looked incredible.

Sightseeing: Our friends arranged a private tour for us with Helen (Elena in Greek) Soulioti, a member of the License Tourist Guides’ Union, a fantastic organization with over 1,000 multilingual members working throughout Greece.
The van picked us up after lunch and we headed out to the new Acropolis Museum (which cost $200 million to build, headed by NY architect Bernard Tschumi), and sits near the base of the Acropolis with a direct view of the Parthenon. We then walked up to reach the Parthenon, whose views of Athens and the surrounding temples below are magnificent. I recommend going at 6:00 p.m. when the sun is not as strong – it’s perfect after a day at the beach. Also, be sure to pack VERY comfortable walking shoes or flat sandals with straps, like a pair of K.Jacques. You will be walking on rocky ground and lots of stairs! The next day, we went to the Temple of Poseiden’s to watch the sunset. Our tour guide Helen told us so many interesting stories and myths along the way about Greek gods and goddesses. We also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament House, Olympic Stadium, and the Presidential Mansion.

Dining: At the hotel, we enjoyed lunch right on the beach at Taverna 37, a casual Greek tavern with the best Greek salad and fresh grilled fish. This outdoor restaurant is set into the rocks of the hotel beach area with great views from every table. For a more formal lunch, try ITHAKI, one of the best restaurants in Athens. We indulged in a variety of Greek specialties, as well as grilled calamari, prawns, lobster, branzini, and a variety of salads and dips. For dinner, I recommend trying Matsuhisa Athens, owned by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and perched on top of a rock in the Astir Palace Resort with amazing views of the Saronic Gulf. The quality of the Japanese food here is beyond delicious. My children loved it so much – except they did have to get used to “Greek time” for dinner at 10:00 p.m.!

Sifnos:
After two days in Athens, we took the high-speed hydrofoil to the magical island of Sifnos. The trip from the port of Piraeus took about 2.5 hours – there is a first-class lounge that serves good food and great coffee! This island is a hidden gem, and not well known to American visitors, although I heard that Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks have a place there. We stayed with friends on the beach, but also checked out a nearby hotel that was a hidden paradise, the Elies Resort. The contemporary resort is located on the beach, has a gorgeous infinity pool, and great food. I soon learned that Sifnos is known for some of the best food in the Cyclades, as well as its pottery. An interesting fact… there are over 365 churches on Sifnos and our host, who is an extraordinary photographer, Marina, who plans to photograph every one of them.

Sites, dining, and shopping: One day we took a boat trip to another small island called Kimolos, toured the nearby island Milos, and had lunch on the beach. Our lunch consisted of a variety of Greek appetizers and salads, shrimp, mussels, and the best branzini I have ever tasted. A beautiful butterfly landed on my hand during our visit there! At night we went to the town of Apollonia for dinner at Odos Oneiron (Avenue of Dreams). The food was delicious and a must if you are in town. We also walked around and shopped in some great local boutiques. Another night we went to the historic village of Kastro, a beautiful and fascinating medieval-style village that sits on top of a giant rock-hill with panoramic views of the sea. We walked down lots of steps to a local fresh-fish restaurant and had dinner within a magical setting at the edge of the sea. The children had a blast as the water crashed against the rocks with sea spray flying in front of us. Sifnos is not touristy and is truly a best-kept secret!

Santorini:
This unique Cyclades island is what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion that occured around 1660 B.C. and that formed the Caldera, a cauldron-like underwater volcanic structure that was created after the enormous blast. We stayed at the beautiful Mystique Hotel, another Starwood Hotels and Resorts where there are 18 gorgeous suites and villas built within the famous cliffs of Oia. The restaurant serves eclectic food made with local ingredients and overlooks the infinity pool and the sea. The hotel offers a wine tasting with rare and indigenous wines in its secret wine cave. I preferred the fresh-squeezed watermelon juice since I am not much of a drinker. Mystique is a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or honeymoon. There are a lot of rocky steps here, so it’s good to be in shape and wear comfortable shoes. Also, this property is not ideal if you are travelling with small children.

Sites, dining, and shopping: We were informed by our Greek friends about an amazing catamaran ride in Santorini to its nearby islands, operated by a company called Santorini Sailing. The trips are run by Ted and Dina Stathis, a couple who started these cruises out of their love for sharing the beauty of the island. They offer private, semi-private, and public tours. You can choose whether you want to do a lunch, dinner, full-day, or overnight tour. Meal options include a steak and seafood barbecue (their signature dishes have been featured on the Food Network). The cruise includes sailing past the Red and White beaches, the hot springs where you stop for a swim, and the volcano. They also stop in private bays for snorkeling. The next evening, we enjoyed walking around the quaint town of Oia, filled with cafés, shops, and places of interest. A few of our favorite restaurants are 1800, and Nectar and Ambrosia.

I plan to return to Greece soon and check out some other islands such as Mykonos, Crete, and to visit some other lesser-known towns, such as Kastoria. My grandparents are from this small town located on a lake north of Athens where it is known for its beautiful furs. I highly recommend this trip to Greece and can’t wait to go back!

My Quest to Find Pierre Hardy for Gap Shoes

I’ve been obsessed—literally, obsessed—with getting my hands on the Pierre Hardy for Gap black suede lace-up wedges since the collaboration was announced at the end of the summer. So obsessed that I’ve been saving a little stash of money for the pure purpose of chasing down the shoes, and have restrained myself with quite some difficulty from buying a less adorable yet more easily accessible look-alike. So you can imagine my despair when their release date was pushed back from October 19th to October 28th, my elation when the date was moved up again to October 25th, and my utter despair when on Monday the sales associate in the Gap flagship on Fifth Avenue told me the shoes would not be available until the next day, October 26th. Adding to this desperation was the fact that only 8 or 9 pairs of the shoes would be available in their respective sizes, which would not be a huge issue except for the fact that I was blessed with the most average of shoe sizes. I instantly checked Racked for an update on their quest for the shoes. I have to admit I was a little relieved to hear that they hadn’t found them yet either.

You would think that this would all be enough to derail me from my journey to Pierre Hardy awesomeness, but I guess you can’t stop shoe-crazed inertia. With only a glimmer of hope I decided to check back into the Gap on Fifth Avenue after work on the 26th and instantly tracked down the nearest sales associate, begging for merely a glimpse at these most elusive of shoes. He stated that only two pairs remained and asked for my shoe size. I answered with a range of 38.5-39, to which he replied, “Let’s hope you fit into this 40” and opened the gates of heaven.

And then there they were in all of their wedge-heeled, peep-toe, lace-up glory. I just knew they would fit, or knew I would convince myself that they did. I slipped one on my foot (the foot that is a little bigger than the other, of course) and was sold. Before any other Pierre Hardy fans could rip them away I proceeded to the register and purchased the covetable wedges for a slightly steep but totally worth-it $195. I sit here now in my new Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes, feeling quite proud of myself.

If you weren’t as desperate (or crazy) as me about getting your hands on these shoes and missed them in stores, don’t fret. Apparently shipments on the shoes are slowly trickling into Gap stores in major cities including NYC, Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Good luck tracking them down, and happy shopping! —Kate Bryan

Urban Outfitters Armor Plate Knuckle Ring: Armed and Bedazzled

I am a sucker for all things shiny and bedazzled (hence being deemed part of the Sparkle Twins by Nancy). During my last visit to Urban Outfitters, I told myself I was only allowed to buy ONE thing. But the second I spotted this Armor Plate Knuckle Ring, complete with rhinestones and gold hinges, I quickly grabbed it, put it on my finger and made it mine. It adds the perfect amount of “bad” to my girly accessories. –Lindsay Leff

Buy Urban Outfitters Armor Plate Knuckle Ring (in gold), $24, at urbanoutfitters.com

Gilt Groupe

Gilt-free Shopping

All that Glitters is Gilt

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