GROUPE THINK

Slow news day for Gilt!

Be sure to shop Gilt Groupe's final Fall sale tomorrow (October 23rd beginning at noon) for up to 90% off Malandrino, McQueen, Marc Jacobs, and over 50 other designers.

Preview Rag and Bone's silk "Blondie" strap dress on the left, on sale tomorrow for $78, down from $375.

Special sale for iPhone users who are Gilt on the Go members -- there's an app for that!

Need an invitation? Be my guest by visiting www.gilt.com/invite/stylechil. Check out newly launched Gilt Jet Setter and Gilt Man while you're there.

Click on the label below for more on Gilt and additional discount shopping information.

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE

It’s been a while . . .

This Summer I moved (back) to Philadelphia primarily because I accepted a new role as an associate in-house counsel at an investment company. It's now Fall and I can no longer hold on to the many excuses (moving, getting adjusted to a new job, finding an apartment, unpacking, etc.) that I used to delay blogging, working out, checking e-mail and generally fulfilling other obligations. I’ve accepted that there’s no time like the present to return to business as usual. While I was “gone” we’ve had NY Fashion Week, the launch of Gilt Fuse, the announcement of Sonia Rykiel for H&M, the release of The September Issue and Coco avant Chanel . . . all of the foregoing despite the financial crisis. Now that the equity markets are resurging (read: slight uptick, but we can be optimistic, right?) I can only imagine how many bigger and better fashion shows, movies and launches are to come!

Stay tuned, and, as usual, thanks for reading!

OOH LA LA!

Two of my favorite online discount shopping destinations are having serious holiday deals. For up to 70% and 80% off retail on brands such as Just Cavalli, Fendi, Dolce and Gabbana, Tahari and Zac Posen check out Gilt Groupe and Rue La La. Due to the exclusive nature of membership to these sites, not everyone can take advantage. However, StyleChile readers can enjoy VIP membership to both Gilt Groupe and Rue La La just in time for the holidays.

Gilt Groupe

- log on with www.gilt.com/stylechile

Gilt Groupe is having the following sales this week: Botkier and M Missoni on December 9, Jill Stuart RTW and Shoes and Bedat & Co. on December 10, Milly Marc Bouwer Glamit and Marco Bicego on December 12 and Ali & Ro on December 13.

Rue La La

- Go to www.ruelala.com; select "invited by a member"; enter "vip@ruelala.com" to bypass the waitlist and get in.

Rue La La is hosting the following boutiques, just in time for holiday shopping! Kooba and La Perla on December 9, Kate Spade on December 11, Ellen Tracy and Samsonite Black Label on December 12 and Via Spiga and Honora Pearls on December 15.

For comprehensive coverage of Gilt Groupe and Rue La La read my vintage post here. If you'd like your own invitation to these exclusive shopping sites, shoot me an e-mail at stylechil@gmail.com.

Stay tuned for more on my guest blog on Gilt Groupe!

SOMETHING LIKE A PHENOMENON...

Let me preface by stating that I blame the blog for my newfound fascination with online shopping. Unsurprisingly, I love clothes. Surprisingly, I detest shopping. But! Ever since I started blogging (which requires that I look for clothes online), I’ve started ordering and ordering and ordering…I mean, I like the Target collaborations and all, but I’m not going to wear half of that stuff. And, seriously, how many CFDA-Vogue Fashion Fund-Gap white shirts can a girl own? It doesn’t help that my work require that I sit at a desk in front of a computer for countless hours…and so, when I have no time to go out and shop, and when I’m feeling sorry for myself for not having any time, what do I do? I send myself gifts! Methinks I need to get another hobby.

All of this is a really circuitous way of saying that: if you’re going to shop online, you might as well look into the tres exclusive (high end luxury discount) sites below. Moschino straight from the runway? Check. Dolce & Gabbana? Duh. Badgley Mishka? They’ve got it. And for dirt cheap—so to speak. Each site is by invite only and requires a referral (in the case of Editor’s Closet, no referral means you’ll have to join the waitlist—and folks have been waiting since time immemorial!). If you’re interested in joining, shoot me an e-mail at stylechil@gmail.com and I will send you an invite.

Brief synopses of a few of the more popular sites follow. Happy shopping! You can thank me (or not) later. And I have to thank David B. for inviting me to two out of the five listed below. He totally fuels my passion for fashion!

Gilt Group

www.gilt.com

"Luxury Brands; Hand Selected Styles; Members Only Prices"

StyleChile Rating: Amex up!

This one should be called “guilt group” because guilty is how you’ll feel after each purchase…it’s not that the items are expensive per se…well, relatively speaking…it’s just that the prices are so good, that the frequency with which you’ll make a purchase might prove problematic. I have a friend (she shall remain nameless, but if you want to know who, click here) who curses me for sending her the invite…she’s lost track of what (and how many) items she’s ordered…some of us have self control (ahem) and…a $25.00 credit for each referral who makes a purchase. So, my Valentino skirt, which would have otherwise been $200+, was almost free. Read here for Forbes' article on Gilt Group.

Haute Look

http://www.hautelook.com/

"The Most Exclusive Sales, Happen In Private."
StyleChile Rating: MasterCard down!

While I was able to buy a super cute “Plenty” by Tracy Reese car coat (for cheap folks, I’m talking cheapy-cheap cheap), I was not impressed with the wait time. If you’re anything like me…I need instant gratification (don’t ask why I shop online)…you’re going to grow impatient with the slouchy service! Be prepared to wait 7 days for HauteLook to receive your item (that’s 7 days AFTER you’ve clicked submit), plus a few—or many—additional days for them to ship it to you. Being the letter writing lawyer that I am, I was able to score a terse apology and a miniscule credit for my wait time.

Editor’s Closet

http://www.editorscloset.com/
StyleChile Rating: Visa’s on deck!

I’ve yet to try this one, but I’m intrigued. I was even more impressed when my Cavalli-wearing, French-shopping-spree-executing, gazillion-Louboutin (what these ole things?)-having friend, sent me an e-mail to thank me for this invite…she said she was wondering how she was going to get on. So you know this one must be good!

Rue La La

http://www.ruelala.com/
"Rue La La is an exclusive online destination of private sale primier brand boutiques that are each open two or three days each. Membership is free, as long as you know somebody."
StyleChile Rating: Debit Card at the Ready!

I joined this one today, and sadly, made my first purchase today. It was worth it though! I mean, the discounts are unbelievable. Miu Miu sale is tomorrow, so hop to it!

Urban Daddy

www.urbandaddy.com
StyleChile Rating: Cash in Hand!

Interested in hearing about the coolest and newest roof top lounge in your city? Want to know what the hot restaurants are doing with absinthe now that it’s legal? Want perks that most other urban dwellers can’t get their hands on? Well then, get in the know with Urban Daddy. Downside? They’re pretty aggressive with the e-mails…and while it’s all good information, I wish they would send weekly newsletters in lieu of bi daily feeds.

Sheesh, I think this might be my longest. post. ever.