As the role of women in the workplace has evolved and become accepted, the look of the female “power suit” has also morphed. Women’s business suits have come along way from the floppy bowed look when the concept was to mimic a traditional men’s suit as much as possible.

Now the traditional credence of buying a good quality basic suit has not been tossed aside. A well made, expertly tailor suit that fits you well is an excellent place to base a business wardrobe off of.  Any wardrobe staple should have total versatility and the most recent trends in women’s business wear really amplifies that.  Adding to your career wardrobe no longer demands that you buy a whole new suit with a full on matching blouse, the key is to add selectively and mix it up.

Mixing up your suit basics is also a great way to get many more looks from standard pieces. For example, take a khaki skirt suit and a black pants suit. You can easily double your possibilities by trading tops and bottoms. If you are able to trade out the matching shirts with each look, then you have 8 different outfits.  Now for every different shirt you add in, you have an additional four new outfits. Say one is just starting out and you have just the two suits and five shirts. It’s just a matter of simple math and well thought out purchases. If they all can go together, you have twenty different outfits. 

After that, you can selectively add additional pieces. A bright colored jacket that works with all the shirts, added to the basic closet above creates another 10 looks. By keeping the bottom piece of your suit in a more traditional, dark, or neutral color, your jacket can still maintain a professional and polished look. Try a fun pink or add in purple with black and gray to take advantage of one of this season’s hot color combinations.

Any suit, whether it is a more casual pants suit or a red on red power dress suit, can be modified simply by changing the look and feel of the shirt underneath.  A navy blue jacket over a classic starched white collared shirt has a completely different feel than a navy blue jacket over a black lacy camisole top.  A suit jacket can also look different with the very same shirt underneath depending on whether the shirt collar is out or tucked in over the lapels.

 There is no excuse to get  stuck in a rut with your women’s office suits.

Loehmann’s has a huge selection of new suits coming in this fall making it really easy to add a few new key pieces to your work wardrobe.   Even if polishing up your career closet was not on your budget, at prices 30% to 65% off, can you afford to not look great? 

Do you have all the business suits you need?

Then brush up your style with some new fashion career blouses.  Spend some time looking at your closet and then treat yourself to some fabulous new tops that will update your suits in a hot minute. Yes, Loehmann’s has a huge selection of fashionably forward colored blouses and knit tops, too.

Tags: Office Clothing, Trend alerts!, Women's Fashion // Add Comment »

While Tina Fey is definitely more known right now for her SNL appearances as Sarah Palin, we need to get our priorities straight and bring all this political talk back to fashion:

Tina Fey looked fantastic on the Emmy red carpet wearing a David Meister original gown.

 Yes, she lost her purse, but winning for outstanding lead actress, outstanding writing, and then the top outstanding comedy series, 30 Rock, can pretty much make up for a lost bag. It is great to see an intelligent actress and writer being honored for funny and smart acting and writing. 

Now frequently, if a woman scores well with intelligence, the media has a field day ripping apart her appearance, but that just can’t happen with Tina Fey. For the big Emmy red carpet walk, Tina wore a tailored, yet sexy David Meister strapless gown in a classic navy blue. And everyone had to admit, funny and looks great!

As with most of David Meister’s collections, the classic lines and beautiful fit are  made to be worn by women who not only want to look beautiful, but feel beautiful as well. So while you might not be as rip roaring funny as Tina, or impersonate a vice presidential hopeful; you can look as good as she does thanks to Loehmann’s.

Loehmann’s has a lovely shipment of David Meister designs hitting the selling floor.

So even if you don’t have a red carpet event in your near future, Holiday parties and events are right around the corner.  While it might be tempting to pretend to be Tina Fey, the best bet is to just follow her lead. And be who you are naturally, showing off your own talents and assets in a well fitting, beautifully designed David Meister original.

Plus, if it is from Loehmann’s where your fashion sense and your fashion cents combine, allowing you to get the best for less.

Tags: Formal Wear, Special Deals, Women's Fashion // Add Comment »

We imagine that you have heard about the political hoopla regarding the fact that the Republican National Committee spent nearly $150,000.00 on clothing for Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin and her family? The story broke first over on Politico and has been making waves ever since.

 Now the big deal is not about that she is wearing high quality designer clothing. Everyone seems to agree that she looks great and that she need to look the part of knowledge and authority. And really, it does seem like all the main candidates do wear expensive designer digs; that’s not the issue. We don’t even care that the RNC paid for it and or whether or not it all goes to charity should Sarah need to return to Alaska and her fuzzy parkas.

 It’s just that spending 150K on designer threads is not smart shopping! What were they thinking paying full price???

It’s just not necessary when you can get the same designer look for so much less at Loehmann’s!

 As Washington Post’s Robin Givhan writes; 

 ” How do you sell someone as a no-frills hockey mom who sold the state plane and fired the official cook and hunted her own moose meat, and then try to explain wardrobing her in clothes from Neiman Marcus — a store occasionally referred to by aggrieved, frugal shoppers as Needless Markup? ……..Any retail expert can tell you that part of being a good merchant is finding a way of speaking to who it is the customer believes herself to be. A smart retailer stands for something. And in our culture Neiman Marcus stands for “elite,” not for “Everyman.”

The fact is that even those of us that adore top name brands and fabulous clothing, know how to find a great deal at Loehmann’s. 

 Now the bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined total of $49,425.74, reports Politico. And that’s not all. There were also two major shopping sprees to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one in early September that rang up a staggering bill of $75,062.63. Payments in September were also made to Barney’s New York ($789.72), Bloomingdale’s New York ($5,102.71) and Macy’s in Minneapolis ($9,447.71).  

That’s a pretty hefty junk of change, and as shown by the Washington Post, just not needed at all. The Reliable Source’s Roxanne and Amy actually went shopping at both Neiman Marcus and Loehmann’s to find appropriate vice presidential clothing.  Dollar for dollar, it went like this:

The Washington Post

In case you don’t feel like doing the math, that’s a savings of $11,526.82 by going to Loehmann’s.

 Want to know more? Follow these links:

Washington Post:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2008/10/rs-palin23.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/22/AR2008102202187.html?nav=rss_politics  

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102301432_2.html   

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/24/AR2008102401029.html  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/24/AR2008102400631.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102303330.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/10/23/DI2008102301241.html

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7685067.stm

LA Times; http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-palinshop23-2008oct23,0,5314359.story?track=rss:

WWD: http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news/palins-fashiongate-1841561

The Atlantic: http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/republicans_disgusted_by_rnc_s.php

Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14844.html

Tags: Fashion News, News, Office Clothing, Women's Fashion // 2 Comments »

Hi all,

I know most of us didn’t get to partake in the huge Diesel Jean 30^th Anniversary Party. Even though there were 17 parties in 8 time zones and  since Mick Jagger was in New York and an “entertainment spaceship crash landing on Tokyo’ on Saturday the 11^th,  we somehow missed the invite. Thankfully, with Loehmann’s you can still take part in celebrating this men’s jeans collection.

Loehmann’s is offering new Diesel men’s designer denim at 40% to 55% off department store prices.

Yup. You heard me right.

That translates to 99.99 for some of the finest crafted fitted men’s jeans. With details as nickel-free rivets, trims that cost six times the price of regular ones and double loops that can fit both thick and skinny belt, we know there is a reason why Diesel annually churns out seven million pairs of five-pocket jeans and has been able to for 30 years.

Standard pricing for these men’s modern jean run between $160 and $240, but if you have worn a pair of Diesel Jeans, then you know why they are worth the money. A Diesel specialty from the very beginning has been the washes, treatments and dyes used in the creation of this designer line. They never used bleach or chlorine to fade the denim; rather going for a unique artisan process that ages the material using only water and stones. This makes the aging process extend from a 30 minute chemical wash to a laborious 3 hours process.

“This is why our jeans age and fade very well and look better when they’re worn out. We gained experience here by studying 19th-century Levi’s that were manufactured with artisanal techniques,” said  Diesel creator, Renzo Rosso.

 With 30 years of such success, we do not require much more proof that it works. Diesel knows how to make a great jean and at Loehmann’s great discounted prices; the perfection only doubles. So remember to get yourself over to Loehmann’s beginning October 24^th to partake in these great savings while the Diesel supply lasts.  Please note selection will vary by store.

You heard it from Jack!

Tags: Fashion News, Jack's Buying Hints, Men's Style, New Selections, Special Deals // Add Comment »

People Style Watch is a fun and easy way to keep track of all the trends as they happen in Hollywood. It’s like an interactive game as you get to vote on different polls like the who wore it better Fashion Faceoff or the 5 most Shopped Celeb Looks, plus it really helps keeping one up on new fashions and where to find them.

As seen in the October 2008 StyleWatch, one of the upcoming trends for this fall season is Feathers.

Feathers and plumes of the favored ostrich, peacock, pheasant and marabou have been seen on many of the runway shoes this fall. Donna Karen, Ralph Loren and Christian Lacroix have all used fine plumes as trim, skirts or other delicate details. The look becomes graceful, sensous, and a bit ephemeral.  While most of us don’t have a reason for a full feathered gown, as with any hot trend, touches of this fun accent have begun and the ripple effect is happening. Feathered headbands, purses and jewelry have been making waves or, if you like obvious puns, ruffling feathers for a bit now.

In StyleWatch, we have all sorts of celebs finding their flock. Renee Zellweger, Leighton Meester, Rachel Bilson all have got on this feathered trend train. But, we are most thrilled to see Gossip Girl’s Nicole Fiscella shown wearing Alex and Ani’s feather earrings.

Loehmann’s loves it when we can feature a fab find at a great low price for you. Alex and Ani has become one of the greatest scores. Loehmann’s brought you their Signature Expandable Bangles back in August. Being a wonderful jewelry designer, out of wonderful materials, with a wonderful intent can only be better when you are right on the cutting edge of trends, and then, can be had for less than retail price.

This month, Loehmann’s will be getting in a lovely shipment of Alex and Ani feathered earrings.

Like the ones shown in People’s StyleWatch; delicate, boho-chic, and so naturally pretty.  For less than you would ever pay elsewhere, you can get on this feathered trend as well.

You’ll want to fly on over.

Tags: Ava's Loehdown, Fall, New Selections, Special Deals, Trend alerts!, Women's Fashion // 1 Comment »

Hey, Ava here.

All you ladies with size 6 and 7 feet….have you got your shopping shoes on???

Loehmann’s has one of the most fabulous Designer Shoe and Boot Sample Sales!  

Designer Shoe and Boot Sample Sale at Loehmanns

For designer shoes in California or New York, this is a sale not to be missed.  Beginning Thursday, October 2, these designer samples  of shoes and boots will be arriving on the selling floor.  Just look at these designer names and prices:

Stuart Weitzman: usually $285 to $595, now 99.99

Cole Haan: at 49.99 to 79.99 as opposed to $70 to $450

Kate Spade, Diane Von Furstenberg, Kors, Dani Black, Michael Kors, and Arche all will be from 79.99 to 99.99 when they range from $150 to $950 elsewhere!  That’s up to 80% off department store prices on some of the most high end and sought after designer shoes. 

Selections will vary by store and the sample sale will only be available in  our Chelsea, Upper Westside, White Plains, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, and Chevy Chase stores. The sale ends on Sunday October 5^th, but for best selections, get there early.

And if you are not blessed with the perfect sample sized foot, spread some good shopping karma and tell a petite footed friend, the shopping god’s will smile on you soon, I promise!

 And that’s the Loehdown!

Ava

Tags: Ava's Loehdown, Designer Shoes, NYC, New Selections, Women's Fashion // 1 Comment »

 Hi! Ava here with another fantastic buyer’s tip for you!

I just confirmed that Loehmann’s is receiving a lovely quantity of Carmen Marc Valvo dresses at 70% off the regular prices.

A favorite of many Hollywood celebs, Carmen Marc Valvo dresses are often seen on the red carpet at many swanky awards events.   Lara Spencer, the host of the TV show “The Insider”  has been seen wearing a Carmen Marc Valvo on the show and wore a Carmen Marc Valvo dress to the Oscars this past year as well. As Spencer says in a US Magazine Article.

 “I wore a great Carmen Marc Valvo gown to the Oscars this year. I felt like a movie star - and two of my fashion idols actually asked me where I got my dress. I mean, how often does a girl share style secrets with J. Lo?”

Now, you might be thinking, “I don’t need a dress that fancy! I don’t have any red carpet events coming up.”  And that may be true my fashion loving friend, but I have two words for you: Holiday Parties!

Fall is officially here and that means that party season is right around the corner. You know you’re going to get an invite to some fou-fou event and the first thing that is going to run through your mind is:   

“I have nothing to wear!”

Prevent that fashion panic and plan ahead.  With a Carmen Marc Valvo dress just waiting in your closet, you will be ready, able and perfectly dressed for whatever invitation the mailman might bring.

I mean, we are talking the right dress at the right price. You won’t get another opportunity like this!  With new stock, you can have your pick of styles and sizes.  You won’t spend a million bucks but you can feel like you did.  Plus, what better day to shop than this coming Thursday for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund event? Great designer, great dresses, great prices.. for a great cause!

Remember: Holiday parties plus Carmen Marc Valvo dresses equals fabulous you.

And that’s the Loehdown!

Ava

Tags: Ava's Loehdown, Formal Wear, New Selections, Shopping for a Good Cause, Women's Fashion // Add Comment »

Hi my fashionistas! Ava here and I have another buyers tip for you! 

I know you watch what the darlings of Hollywood are wearing. It’s OK to admit it. We all pay attention to what happens on the red carpet and try to incorporate the glamorous life into our own world. So, I know you have noticed many a lovely wearing those super sleek and silky, spicy colored dresses from Hale Bob in California.

Well guess what?

I have a large shipment of beautiful Hale Bob Dresses coming in to Loehmann’s stores!

Now these are the kinds of dresses that set you apart from the crowd. That’s exactly what they were designed to do.  They have an authentic, highly specialized California lifestyle brand of flirtatious and sophisticated clothing that embody feminine individuality.

“Hale Bob is not your wardrobe staple. It’s your wardrobe spice,” says line designer, Daniel Bohbot. 

So, take it from Ava, there is no better time to spice up your closet. I can’t even tell you how super the discount will be. Just hurry in for a Hale Bob dress.

And that’s the Loehdown!

Ava

Tags: Ava's Loehdown, New Selections, Special Deals, Trend alerts!, Women's Fashion // Add Comment »

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and Loehmann’s is joining the fight. A day of shopping can make a difference.
Loehmann’s has teamed up with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. On Thursday, September 25, all Loehmann’s stores across the country will host a shopping event to benefit the OCRF.

Ovarian Cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer that affects women.

The symptoms are very ambiguous and often missed and then treatment sadly comes too late. Only 19% of cases are caught before the cancer gets a chance to spread. It can be a very aggressive form of cancer and currently, only 45% of women survive longer than 5 years.

Approximately 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in this country in 2008 and about 15,520 will die from this disease.

While there is no ”good” cancer, watching a previously vital and healthy person get blindsided by this monster is horrific. If you need some shopping inspiration, then please look into the eyes of these women or read their own words at Blog for a Cure. Then dry your tears, and go shopping.

Shoppers can take 15% off their purchases that day when they make a $5 donation at the Loehmann’s register. The entire $5 amount plus 5% of the day’s proceeds from participating shoppers goes to funding research to find a method of early detection and, in time, a cure for ovarian cancer. So the more you shop, the more you give.

This is a National Charity Event so find the closest Loehmann’s to you and plan your day of shopping. Stock up on new fall fashions and support OCRF, please.

Ovarian Cancer is a harsh killer and the 5^th leading cause of cancer death in American women, so for our mothers, for our grandmothers, for our aunts, friends, cousins, and daughters… and maybe for yourself, go shopping on Thursday, September 25^th.

Shop at Loehmanns on September 25th and help find a cure for Ovarian Cancer

Shop for a Cure. Shop for Hope. Shop to stop Ovarian Cancer.

Tags: Shopping for a Good Cause, Women's Fashion // 6 Comments »

Hi! Ava here.

I have been so crazed this past week with running about, getting the Loehmann’s fall collections perfectly in place. It was so sad; I was on the road Wednesday evening and missed one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Yes, I will have to admit it: I am a Project Runway addict and I missed last week’s episode!

Usually, I get to spend my precious Wednesdays all comfy on my couch, surrounded by countless fashion magazines, suffering through endless E-harmony commercials, eating something forbidden on every diet list, and waiting for Heidi Klum to utter her famous last words, “You’re out”.

But it couldn’t be helped and I missed it. Now over here at Loehmann’s, I will confess that we often will discuss Bravo TV’s Project Runway, the designs and the designers. Usually, all around Loehmann’s on Thursday morning you hear tidbits of who’s left on Project Runway, but I avoided that this week since I wanted to be surprised. To my horror, this week it wasn’t so much who was left on Project Runway, but who was on it that made me want to cry that I missed it.

I missed Diane von Furstenberg!

Oh Bravo TV, I adore you for your endless repeats and thankfully, I just got my weekly fix and the joy of watching the designers not only design for DVF, but run about her sample room and attack her glorious fabrics. Speaking of which, if you never have wrapped yourself up in one of Diane’s designs, you don’t know what you are missing.  The feel of her knits, her silks, the swirls, the fit… really, she has a way like magic with the subtle flows and weights of fabrics.

Seeing the designers interpret not only DVF, a legend, but for a notorious Marlene Dietrich as well, I can clearly say that I don’t think some of them really “got it”.  For me, anyone who went for an above the knee length skirt missed the boat. It just didn’t fit the time period. I could never imagine anyone in a 1940’s movie running about Berlin or Shanghai in Joe’s or Jerell’s above the knee creations. Even Kenley’s perfectly constructed print dress looked a bit off above the knee.

It looks like the designers are getting a bit catty now. Granted they are under a lot of pressure, but some of them are just plain mean! I was happy to see Joe get called out on his ‘messy, messy, messy” mess-up after he gagged behind Kenley’s back. I would have rather seen him go then Stella, even if he is sometimes innovative. I’m kind of sad to see Stella leave.   I usually really love Korto’s designs and really think she has a good chance at winning, but she never looks happy or fun.  I was blown away by her seatbelt coat last week and was surprised she didn’t take the win. But I think she felt that way too. At least that is what I read on her face. She looks like she always believes that she has it in the bag, and then is just purely miffed that someone else dared to win when they had no right.

Leanne gown, which did win, was stunning. Leanne is turning into quite the little character. I used to think she was so mousy like and never had a chance, but she really is coming up on the inside now. Maybe with her two win’s now her confidence is growing and it should! And what a win this one is for Leanne! Her dress is being incorporated with Diane von Furstenberg’s fall line and American Express members can buy her Project Runway design. That’s a huge honor for her and deserving of the dress and its unanimous “good design’.

It is only fitting that any creation that is made by DVF is of pure good design. That’s one of the reasons that I have always loved DVF lines and been so happy when I can purchase them for my Loehmann’s shoppers. Sometimes I know what I am buying is hip and trendy and more about the name, but that’s not the case with DVF. Her clothes really fit a body and, as I said, the feel of them…

If you don’t believe me, I just happen to have just acquired a rather collection of Diane von Furstenberg dresses in stores right now. How’s that for serendipity? I might even have a dress in a fabric or two that were seen in the sample floor scene! You’ll never know unless you come to Loehmann’s.

As for me, I am gearing up for this Wednesday and to see who is left on Project Runway this week.

 Until the next time, that’s the Loehdown,

Ava

Tags: Ava's Loehdown, Fashion History, New Selections, Women's Fashion // 1 Comment »