Neiman Marcus is currently running their Last Call Sale at most stores. Sale merchandise is 55% to 65% off. The reason Last Call is so appealing for discerning discount shoppers is that Neiman Marcus runs their Last Call sales at their Texas and California stores first. They then ship the leftover sale merchandise to East Coast stores. So, not only is the merchandise marked down to its lowest level, but the stores are full of a fresh assortment of sale merchandise that you may not have already seen! Don’t expect to find a great handbag, but the shoe assortment I saw today was inspiring. You never know what treasure you may discover . . .

Another year, another Flash Sale site. Bluefly.com has entered the flash sale space with www.belleandclive.com. The site looks promising. Today they have Gucci shoes and accessories; tomorrow Chloe handbags, Elie Tahari apparel and Loro Piana!  The Gucci is around 30% off; I’m hoping the Loro Piana will be more! If you already subscribe to bluefly.com emails, you can just use your email address and existing password on the Belle & Clive site. Wondering what other sites you might be interested in? Check out my list of favorite shopping sites including flash sale sites on my “Great Sites” page at www.thefashionfind.com. Happy Shopping in this Happy New Year!

If your list of New Year’s resolutions includes trying harder to find a great pair of Christian Louboutin heals on sale, buyer beware. The signature red sole that so easily distinguishes Louboutins from other designer shoes is at risk. This story begins with an avant garde pair of red Yves Saint Laurent pumps for Resort 2011 – they were red all over – including the sole.  Christian Louboutin got wind of the YSL all red shoes and sued to stop YSL from infringing on Christian Louboutin’s trademark protected red soles. This may not have been a good move. Many in the fashion industry questioned whether Christian Louboutin should ever have been able to trademark a red sole and now the case was heading for the courts. Well, the case did go to court and Christian Louboutin lost. There is an appeal in the works, but just keep this thought in mind: even on sale Christian Louboutins will set you back $400 or so. They can be stunning and they really are well crafted, but everyone from Nine West to Jessica Simpson may be able to start selling shoes with red soles. Ouch. Maybe I’ll just stick to my 2012 resolutions to lose 5 pounds and organize my closet . . .

The designer sale, up to 60% off, starts today in stores and online at Barneys.  Check out the handbags and accessories first!  There is a good selection.

If you like Ippolita jewelry, check out www.lastcall.com today.  Great gold styles are on sale for around 47 % off (for the styles I calculated!). Christmas and Hanukkah are coming . . .

Just a friendly reminder to wait until after Christmas to buy you or your loved ones anything and everything cashmere.  Stores ranging from Macy’s to Neiman’s buy their cashmere with markdowns in mind.  They use historical sales data to estimate many sweaters they will sell full price, how many they will sell at 20% off and how many they will sell at 50% off.  They price their cashmere so they can still make money – even after they discount it. It is a holiday commodity. Bottom line: Wait for the 50% off (or more!) markdown.  It always comes.

Saks chairman, Stephen Sadove is leading an initiative to encourage the U.S. government to relax visa requirements for Chinese tourists.  Currently, Chinese tourists who make the in person trip to one of 5 visa offices in all of China, and then wait 2 months to visit the U.S., spend over $6000 per person in our stores. In Europe, where Chinese tourists need only wait 10 days to visit, the sales numbers are much higher.  This explains why BOTH Hermes stores I visited this past summer in Paris were sold out of entry level priced scarves and small accessories.  According to a Printemps (French luxury department store) spokesperson, over 30% of the stores sales can be attributed to tourists – mostly Chinese. He added, “they come for the international luxury brands (Chanel, Hermes, Cartier, Louis Vuitton) especially accessories and high-end time pieces.

So what does this mean for you and me? Yes, Mr. Sadove, other retailers and hotel executives are correct in their position that relaxing Visa requirements for the Chinese and Brazilians (currently the highest number of tourists with a $4000 spend per visit) will boost our economy and create American jobs, but I can’t help but to think that this could mean fewer and smaller mark-downs for you and me.  Of course, Chanel, Hermes, Cartier and Louis Vuitton don’t mark down anyways.  Let’s just hope the Chinese don’t develop an appetite for Loro Piana, Bottega Veneta and other brands I love . . .

Just got an email from www.ruelala.com. Ippolita jewelry is one of todays featured sales.  50% off. Many great styles.  Sign up and check it out.

Now thru Sunday Oct. 23rd, take 25% off any J. Crew order of $150 or more.  Online only. Free shipping too.  Use code LOVEFALL.

They have some great items in their “Collection.”

Let me know if you find something!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . . Well almost.  Saks is having their bi-annual “Friends & Family” sale. There are many, many designer exclusions (see below).  This is why it is almost wonderful.  Merchandise not excluded is 20% off and jewelry is 15% off.  Cosmetics and Fragrances are not part of the promotion.  The sale starts in stores on Thursday, Oct. 20th and runs through Sunday, Oct. 23rd.  The sale has already begun for Saks email subscribers.  Use code “Friend9″ at checkout if you shop today.  The code changes each day, so sign up for email alerts (this is a good idea anyway!). Saks FASHIONfix (daily flash sale) merchandise is not included.

This is a great time of year to select a wonderful fall dress from Diane von Furstenberg, a tunic from Tory Burch or a great set of trousers or shoes from Elie Tahari.

The fine print indicates that the exclusions vary online and in stores.  This has me wondering if there may be some flexibility in stores for designers that are on the exclusion list.  Bottom line: it never hurts to ask.

Happy Shopping.

**Designer exclusions: 3.1 Phillip Lim Initials, 3.1 Phillip Lim shoes  and handbags, 51Fifteen Restaurant and Lounge, Akris apparel and  handbags, A.L.C., Alexander McQueen, Alexandra Neel, Alexander Wang,  Alexandre Birman, Altuzarra, Ann Demeulemeester, Anya Hindmarch, Araks  apparel, Azzedine Alaïa, Balenciaga, Be & D, Beatrix Ong shoes,  BeeQueen, Behnaz Sarafpour, Belstaff, Bottega Veneta, Boy by Band of  Outsiders, B Brian Atwood, Brian Atwood, Bridal Salon, Bridal Sample  Sale, Brioni, Brunello Cucinelli, Buccellati, Bugaboo, Burberry Prorsum  apparel, Bulgari, Cacharel, Camilla Skovgaard, Canada Goose, Cartier,  Cartier Vintage, Celine, Chado Ralph Rucci, CHANEL, Charbonnel et  Walker, Charvet, Chloé shoes and handbags, Chopard, Christian Louboutin,  Christian Siriano, Christopher Kane, Comme des Garcons Play, Comme des  Garçons, Consignment Jewelry Collections, Corum watches, Costume  National apparel and shoes, David Yurman, De La Cour watches, Deos  watches, Derek Lam apparel, shoes and handbags, Dior, Dior Homme, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan shoes, Doo.Ri apparel, Dries Van Noten, Drome,  DSquared, Dylan’s Candy Bar, Edmundo Castillo, Elie Saab, Elisanero,  Emilio Pucci, Emporio Armani, Erdem apparel, Etro, Fendi, Gareth Pugh,  Garrard, Giambattista Valli, Georgina Goodman, girl. by Band of  Outsiders, Giuseppe Zanotti, Givenchy shoes, Gryson, Gucci, H. Stern,  Haider Ackermann, Halston, Haversack, Hermès, men’s Hunter, Isaia, Isaac  Mizrahi apparel, Issey Miyake apparel, J. Mendel, Jason Wu, Jay  Strongwater furniture, Jean Colonna, Jerome C. Rousseau, Jil Sander, Jil  Sander Navy, Jimmy Choo, John Allan Men’s Grooming Salon, Jonathan  Kelsey, Junya Watanabe, Katherine Kwei, Kaufman Franco, Kenzo, Kiton,  Lanvin, Lila Castellaneta, Little Marc Jacobs, Loro Piana, Louis  Vuitton, Lux Collections, MCM, men’s Mackage, MacKenzie-Childs, Maison  Martin Margiela men’s and women’s apparel, women’s shoes, handbags,  jewelry and accessories, Manolo Blahnik, Marc Jacobs, Marchesa Couture,  Mario Schwab, Marni, Martin Grant apparel, Marsell shoes, Martin  Lawrence Art Gallery, Max Kibardin shoes, Max Mara, Miu Miu, MM6 Maison  Martin Margiela shoes and handbags, Moncler, Moschino shoes and  handbags, Neil Barrett, Nicholas Kirkwood, Nina Ricci, Ohne Titel,  Opening Ceremony, Oscar de la Renta apparel, shoes and special orders,  Paul Smith, Penfield, Peter Pilotto, Peter Shoiket, Peter Som, Pollini  Shoes, Pomelatto, Prada, Prada Sport, Prabal Gurung, Premier Salons gift  cards and products, Pringle, Proenza Schouler apparel and shoes, Rachel  Roy apparel, Ralph Lauren Collection and jewelry, men’s Ralph Lauren  Black Label and Purple Label, Reed Krakoff, Rene Caovilla, Rick Owens,  Rick Owens Dark Shadow, Rick Owens Lilies, Ritmo Mvndo watches, Robert  Clergerie shoes, Roberto Cavalli apparel, Rochas, Roger Dubuis watches,  Roger Vivier, Rupert Sanderson shoes, Sacai, Sacai Luck, Salvatore  Ferragamo shoes, Sergio Rossi, Simon Spurr, Sophie Theallet apparel,  Special Delivery to 10022-SHOE, Special Orders, St. John, Stella  McCartney, Stephane Verdino, Suno, The Fur Salon Store and Alterations,  Thakoon, Tivoli, Tod’s, Toy Watch, UGG Australia, Valentino, Versace  handbags, men’s Viktor & Rolf, Vionnet, Watch and Jewelry Repair,  Yohji  Yamamoto, Yves Saint Laurent shoes and handbags, Zac Posen handbags,  Zegna, Zenith watches, Zenobia and Zuhair Murad. Designer exclusions may  differ in stores and online.

Exclusions apply for Saks.com only: Acne, Donna Karan apparel, Ippolita,  L’Agence, men’s Maison Martin Margiela shoes, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela  apparel, Mikimoto and T by Alexander Wang.