Lucky Shops New York VIP Charity Shopping Party 2011 and Jane By Design Screening

On Friday, November 4th, I attended the Lucky Shops New York VIP charity shopping party at Highline Stages at 441 W 14th Street, with 50% off sales from VIP tickets benefiting Baby Buggy. The VIP event included music, cocktails, snacks, hors d'oeuvres and giveaways.

Attendees were in a shopping frenzy, snatching up their favorite designers at up to 70% off retail.

Shoppers received prizes at the Gifting Suite based on 'Lucky You' Rewards points (one point earned for every dollar spent) and received double rewards points for purchases made with an American Express Card.

Since I've been attending Lucky Shops for the past few years, I was always used to finding incredible deals within the last two hours on the last day, which is always Sunday. But this year there were special flash sales held hourly, with additional percentages off.

I did of course go back to the Lucky Shops sale on Sunday, and ended up scoring a pair of Pour La Victoire Avalon black leather oxfords for only $65 (originally retailing at $250) and a Yumi Kim silk tank for $35.

Jeanius Bar

Sampling of handcrafted chocolates from Fannie May and internationally acclaimed chocolatier Norman Love

Complimentary mini-makeovers at Maybelline New York Color Studio

Erica Dasher with Kim Weling

After the Lucky Shops New York VIP charity shopping party, I headed over to Crosby Street Hotel for the Lucky Shops After Party and a private sneak peek screening and Q&A of ABC Family's highly anticipated new original series, Jane By Design, starring Erica Dasher and featuring Andie MacDowell.

Jane By Design is funny and fashionable! It reminds me of a cross between Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Clueless and Devil Wears Prada. Be sure to watch when it premieres on January 3rd!

Q&A with Jane by Design Costume Designer Olivia Miles (left) and star of the show Erica Dasher (middle)

- Kim Weling

Lucky Shops 10th Anniversary VIP Shopping Party and Saturday Shop-A-Thon

On November 4th, I attended my most anticipated shopping event of the year - Lucky Shops, celebrating its 10th Anniversary. When I arrived the VIP shopping night was in full swing, with a ton of cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and designer merchandise at up to 70% off (and let's not forget the fabulous gift bag worth over more than $500 that VIP shoppers received in a purple canvas Lucky tote).

Here are some highlights of the shopping night, including stops at my favorite designers.

Maybelline New York Color Studio provided complimentary mini-makeovers with the season’s hottest shades.

Ford Warriors in Pink had t-shirts, totes and more, with 100% of the net proceeds going to Susan G. Komen supporting breast cancer research.


DVF leather gloves with the ruffle detail


Always one of my favorite spots is the 'Jeanius Bar', with jeans from Goldsign, Citizens of Humanity, DL1961, MiH Jeans, AG Jeans and more. The only thing that was missing was the free on-the-spot tailoring that used to be offered when you bought any jean at the denim bar. I hope Lucky Shops brings that back next year!


Rebecca Taylor


Cocktail Bar

The Free Arts NYC boutique included a fabulous array of pieces from designers like Doo.ri and Erin Fetherston. Plus, limited-edition items created exclusively for Lucky Shops!

Tracy Reese

Jill Stuart

Botkier


My favorite design duo - Nicholas K! They had great fall pieces, including leather jackets, coats and sweaters.

Since I had three other events I had to go to on Thursday, I didn't have any time to really shop so I went back on Saturday from 3-5. Now compared to Thursday's VIP shopping night, everything on Saturday seemed to be picked over, although you got the best deals on whatever was left, with deeper discounts taken.

My best find was a pair of the DVF leather gloves with the ruffle detail reduced from $75 to $45. I would have loved to get them in grey or cobalt blue, but they only had them left in purple, which I still love! During the last half hour, everything at Alice + Olivia was $79. Everyone made a mad dash over to see what was left, which wasn't much. There was a size 0 cocktail dress but it would have been huge on me. It originally retailed for $550! I spotted a pair of booties I wanted from Nine West's Vintage America Collection for $50, but they didn't have my size. Jill Stuart Dresses were down to $125 and Yumi Kim tops were $50!

So if you plan on going next year, my advice is if you are looking for particular pieces, go as early as you can, whether it's the VIP shopping night, Friday preview day or Saturday morning. If you are just looking for the best deals, then go within the last few hours on Saturday and take your chances on what you may find.

Thanks to Lucky Magazine for another great Lucky Shops this year!

- Kim Weling

Still Time to Get Lucky Shops Tickets!

Have you gotten your tickets to Lucky Shops yet? This is one shopping event I have anticipated year after year! If you've never attended, you'll be amazed at the selection of designers and discounts! I have met so many people that aren't even from the NYC area and fly or drive just to attend this shopping event!

The Lucky Shops weekend kicks off with the 10th Anniversary VIP Shopping Party. Tickets are limited for the exclusive, red carpet opening night gala celebrating Lucky’s 10th anniversary. Attendees will enjoy a night of amazing designer deals (up to 70% off) music, cocktails and major giveaways. Your ticket also includes a VIP gift bag valued at more than $500!

Lucky magazine will gift 50% of the net proceeds of each $185 ticket to Free Arts NYC.

If you can't make it to the VIP Shopping Party, you still have Friday or Saturday to shop and enjoy giveaways and complimentary cocktails. Don't worry, inventory will be refreshed throughout the day! Click here to read about my experience at Lucky Shops last year.

To purchase tickets and view the list of vendors, go to luckyshops.com.

If you are a ZYNCSM Cardmember, you'll enjoy exclusive Lucky Shops benefits, including:

• Fifteen percent (15%) off the regular price of tickets
• Access to preview shopping on Friday and Saturday
• Early access to Lucky Shops via exclusive ZYNC Cardmember entrance when you show your valid ZYNC Card

- Kim Weling

Lucky Shops 2009

Hayden-Harnett Jackson clutch wallet

If you missed Lucky Shops 2009 this year, be sure to stash some cash and plan to go next November. Last Saturday, November 7th, I attended the anticipated annual event, at the Metropolitan Pavilion. For the past two years, I've not been able to get there until around 3:30, only giving me an hour and a half to shop. That means no time for drinks, just quick shopping for designer favorites. The upside to coming late in the day is that by this time, prices get dropped and reduced even further.

Instead of using the shopping map, I resorted to hitting each row. I first saw a Theory burnout rib tank that I wanted, with a retail price at $75 and 60% off, I decided to wait. I found myself at the denim bar and couldn't believe my eyes. Written on a chalk board I saw that several denim brands, including Miss Sixty and Genetic Denim were marked at $15! I had to ask "are they really $15 a pair?" When that was confirmed I immediately asked the sales associate to pull what she had in my size. I ended up trying 3 pairs of genetic denim jeans (two flare, one straight leg) and ended up buying the two flare jeans. Definitely the best deal of the day! Genetic Denim jeans run from $154 - $253. That's not all - I was able to get them both tailored for free! There are several sewing machine stations with on-hand tailors, so my jeans were being hemmed as I shopped (I am very lucky, I just made the cutoff at 4pm!).

Next I passed by Splendid and bought a fitted motorcycle hoodie in grey for $50, and then a Charlotte Ronson brown silk blouse with sequin details at the shoulder. After quickly grabbing a cup of raspberry gelato from Gelato Giuliana, I made my way back to Theory as I heard more reductions have been taken. Theory was now up to 70% off, yet tanks were now $20! So instead of $30 I ended up getting the tank for even less! As I waited for my jeans to be done at the tailoring station, I made my way back to the Hayden-Harnett booth and decided to buy the black leather wallet I had been eyeing. The retail price was $160 and I got it for $64!

So all together I spent $254. Any more time there and I could have done some more damage at seriously deep discounted prices! Lucky Shops is the ultimate sample sale at up to 75% off, with top designers participating. My only regret is that I completely missed the "Shop for Success" boutique, featuring nearly-new and one-of-a-kind items from Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg and more. 100% of the proceeds benefited Dress for Success.

I really wish that Lucky Shops was twice a year instead of once a year! Here is my advice to any of you that decide to attend next year:

• Make sure you are still shopping from 3-5 pm when designers discount their merchandise even further. If you can wait, come back around this time frame, but note that if you wait it may not be there later.
• Be sure to visit the "Shop for Success" boutique or whatever it may be the next time around. I remember getting a Prada brocade skirt last year for $40, and the year before getting a Jil Sander white button down shirt for $25 and Pedro Garcia open toe sandals for $30.
• Make a note of all the items you want from your favorite designer's fall season ahead of time, so you can visit those booths first and see if they have your items available.
• If you plan on buying jeans from the denim bar, either wear the shoes you'd want to wear with your jeans, or bring your shoes with you (boots, heels, flats) with you - that way when you get your jeans tailored you can try the jeans on with your shoes (I was wearing flat boots at the time, so I had to stand on my tippy toes when getting my jeans tailored).
• Buy your denim jeans before 4pm so you can still get them tailored for free! If you have any other shopping tips you'd like to share for the next Lucky Shops event, feel free to share!

- Kim Weling