A Diva State of Mind

Like many large retailers, JCPenney is committed to giving back to the community and wants to encourage customers to do the same.  This year each month, the company will support a worthy cause by inviting customers to round up their purchases at the register to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the featured charity partner. Customers will also have the option to round up their online purchases when they shop at jcp.com.

You all know that I am a supporter of Dress for Success. I have volunteered with the DC affiliate for years and truly believe in the work they do to help improve the lives of women. This month, JCP is partnering with Dress for Success for this round up at the register initiative.  So far this month, JCPenney has raised $245,933.

Dress for Success provides professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in the workplace and in life. Worldwide, the organization has served over 650,000 women through more than 120 affiliates in 13 countries.

JCPenney has really stepped their game up in terms of its apparel offerings over the years. I found a few skirts at the store for a client last year and a friend recently purchase really cute tops.  If you plan on shopping this month, please consider making a purchase at JCPenney to support Dress for Success.  I know I will!

Learn more about JCPenney’s round up at the register initiative HERE.

It’s that time of year again! Dress for Success is hosting its annual tag sale this Saturday, February 2, 2013 from 10am to 2pm.  Proceeds from the sale benefit Dress for Success’ programs so the organization can continue to serve women in the Washington, DC community.  

If you’re interested in updating your wardrobe and give back to your community, please stop by this Saturday!

Hosted by Nife O. of Skinny Hipster and fashion/beauty blogger, Naja of NajaDiamond.com, the POP-UP BEAUTY LOUNGE will transform the La Petite Marmoset showroom into a live fashion and beauty lounge.  Guests will enjoy cupcakes by Red Velvet Cupcakery, holiday hair consultations from celebrity hair stylist Adrin “Seven” Washington and more.  The lounge will also feature models donning holiday looks for those female guests whose schedules are overflowing with company parties and family gatherings.

The first 50 guests will receive a gift bag featuring products from the following sponsors: IMAN Cosmetics, African Pride hair care, Crux NY jewelery, Kiehl’s skin care (Georgetown), Plush Beautiq, Seven and Company, and Phyto hair care.

A portion of proceeds from sales at La Petite Marmoset will go to benefit the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp.  You may recall, the shopping soirée I hosted earlier this year also supported the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp. The camp encourages entrepreneurship in creative careers amongst young women in the DC metropolitan area.  

The event is FREE. RSVP http://popupbeauty.eventbrite.com/#

Walish Gooshe Boutique invites you to join them for Stand by Her: Shopping Soirée. This event shines light on those who have fought the battle and their caregivers and supporters.  All attendees will enjoy:

• Music by DJ Q
• Light refreshments
• Raffle & Prizes
• Cake cutting demo by The Bakers Lounge
• Make-up session by Sasha and Samantha  of S&S Enhancements
• Free style consultations by me!

The featured designers at the shopping party include Dennya Clothing and Intimate Xpressions as well as jewelry designers Lola Ro (talk about some amazing pieces!), Nesy Creations and Elena Design Studio.  Proceeds from this fabulous shopping event will benefit the Howard University Cancer Center.

This is a great opportunity to enjoy refreshments and music, shop fabulous designers, show our support for those who have fought and continue to fight breast cancer while giving back to the HU Cancer Center! An organization that focuses on (1) cancer biology; (2) cancer etiology; and (3) cancer prevention, control, and population sciences.

Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Time: 6-9pm

Location: 7610 Georgia Ave NW Washington, DC

RSVP: http://standbyhersoiree.eventbrite.com

Hope to see you there!

On Monday, I was invited to attend the Nordstrom Rack Tysons Corner sneak peek event. The new Nordstrom Rack is located on Leesburg Pike right next to Fairfax Square. The new store is HUGE!  It’s two levels with women’s clothing and shoes taking up the entire second floor.

Upon arrival, each guest was given a Nordstrom Rack bag (I look forward to using when I go shopping in Montgomery County or DC since they charge $.5 per bag). The sneak peek allowed guests to enjoy drinks, food and shop.  I’m not sure what’s featured at other Nordstrom Rack stores in the area, but Tysons Corner featured major designers including Alice + Olivia, Michael Kors, Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang, Tracy Reese and many more.

Check out a few sneak peek pictures:

Greeted with drinks!

Nordstrom Rack features Helmut Lang, Alexander McQueen, Alice + Olivia and more!

Alice + Olivia gold sequin dress

Lots of designer shoes including Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Stuart Weitzman, and DVF.

Dolce & Gabbana glasses $34.97 to $89.97

In person this skirt is more burgundy than red as shown in the picture offering two fall trends in one: burgundy & leather!

Patricia serving delicious treats.

I didn’t do a lot of shopping at the sneak peak event.  The lines to the fitting rooms were long and although they did sell designer labels for less, the prices were more than I wanted to spend so I opted for this Kensie sweater on clearance.

Originally $78. Clearance for $15.

If you’re interested in shopping at the new Nordstrom Rack location, the store opens Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 9am. Happy Shopping!

National Harbor is holding its inaugural Sample Sale featuring merchandise up to 70% off!  Score great deals on clothing, shoes, accessories, gifts, artwork and much more.  Participating retailers include Angst, Blink Blanco, Critique Boutique, The Dandelion Patch, Hats in the Belfry, Jos. A Bank, Occasions to Remember, S.O.A.P., SimplySoles, The Maris Elaine Gallery, and The Black Dog!

Date: Saturday, August 25^th

Time: 11:00am-6:00pm

Location: 181 American Way (just a few steps away from Nando’s Peri Peri)

With designer names like Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Ark & Co., BB Dakota, Lillybee, Collective Concepts, Daniel Rain, THML, Angie, Very Bradley, Crane & Co., and countless more, you can’t afford to miss National Harbor’s Sample Sale!

The Fashionista Flea Market is an outdoor/indoor open-air flea market bringing together girlfriends and bargain shoppers.  Shop one-of-a-kind pieces while enjoying bite sized bites and beverages by Opal-Fusion catering services and music by DJ che’Milian.  10% of proceeds will benefit the 815 Youth Center.

Vendors include:

•  A Three Couture, designer inspired handbags and fashion jewelry
• Genesis GNO, foot jewelry and earrings
• Sole Girl Shoe Party, shoes galore
• Moms Rock Collection, funky and fresh tees for moms
• Sugar Plum Gallery, handmade jewelry
• Styles by Elo, shoe accessories
• Closet of Vintage, vintage dresses and accessories
• Cheryl’s Bracelet Bar, stackable bracelets for women and men
• Stella & Dot, unique jewelry pieces  
• Handbag Consignment Shop offers designer handbags
• Closet Junkie, handbags and jewelry
• KK Jewelry Kreations, one-of-a-kind gemstones

Date: Saturday July 28, 2012

Location: 815 Youth Center (13604 Old Annapolis Road Bowie, Maryland 20720)

Time: 9:00am-12:00pm

This event is FREE! RSVP HERE: http://fashionistafleamarketjuly.eventbrite.com/

If you follow me on twitter you may have seen tweets about an upcoming shopping soirée.  A Diva State of Mind has teamed up with Current Boutique to host a shopping soirée next Thursday, July 26^th to benefit the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp scholarship.

I met Rebecca and Madiana Margao of Red Sprinkle last month when I interviewed them for the latest issue of Façon Magazine.  The Fashion Camp provides free fashion classes to teen girls 13-17 years old in the DC area.  The classes focus on a variety of areas in the fashion industry including fashion blogging, wardrobe styling, hair and makeup and fashion photography.  Some classes are taught by celebrity hair and wardrobe stylists.   This camp is a great way for you girls to better understand the industry and begin to figure out what area of fashion they are most interested pursuing.

Not only does the camp offer FREE fashion classes but select students will receive a scholarship at the end of the 6 weeks to go towards their college education.

10% of the sales from the Shopping Soirée will benefit the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp scholarship.  All attendees will enjoy refreshments and shop the latest trends. This event will serve as a great opportunity to shop and network with other fashionable professionals in the DC area.

Ladies if you need to shop for a new dress or fellas you need to get a gift for the special lady in your life, I encourage you to attend the soirée next week!!

Please RSVP at http://shoppingsoireeatcurrent.eventbrite.com

I hope to see you there!!

SNOBSWAP, the ultimate online destination for designer consignment has teamed up with Labels for Love to offer SNOBSWAP members the opportunity to shop the closets of Bravo TV’s Real Housewives of DC Mary Amons, founder of Labels for Love, and Lynda Erkiletian.

Labels for Love was founded in 2006 and produces fashionable events to raise funds and awareness for local and national women’s and children’s causes. 2012 initiatives include Cancer Schmancer and Girl Power 2 Cure . “I am thrilled to have the perfect opportunity to continue our mission of promoting fashion to benefit charity.” says Mary Amons.

The joint venture will offer SNOBSWAP users exclusive access to the reality stars’ coveted clothing and handbags including Lynda’s Zac Posen dress worn at the Real Housewives of DC Premier. SNOBSWAP offers Labels for Love a cutting edge, online platform to raise funds.  With its priceless pieces and deals to die for, SNOBSWAP continues to lead the way as the premier online marketplace for luxury lovers across the country to swap, sell and shop for designer goods with a simple click of the mouse.

To learn more or to become a member of SNOBSWAP visit: www.snobswap.com. For additional information on Labels for Love please visit: http://www.labelsforlove.org/about.html

On my quest to find new pieces to add to my wardrobe for spring, I came across some great retailer promotions.  I was going to tweet about them continuously all day, but I thought it would be best to just list them all in one place.  Check out this week’s discounts at some of your favorite retailers!

H&M

• Sign up for H&M Fashion News and receive 20% off 1 item of your choice (I literally signed up before uploading this post. You’ll receive the coupon instantly).  Click HERE to sign up.
• Buy 2 Get 1 Free On ALL pants (excludes Marni collection). Click HERE for coupon. Ends 3/18

EXPRESS

• $15 off $75 with coupon code 1184 online. Click HERE to print and use in store. Ends 3/18

The Limited

• Like The Limited on Facebook and receive a $15 coupon to use on any item, excluding markdowns. Click HERE

Nine West

• Nine West Loves Members get a head start on the Friends & Family sale. Receive 25% off your full price purchase.

Lord & Taylor

• 20% off regular & sale items. Online code SALE. In-store code for regular items is AAAAGWGV and sale items is AAAAGWHE

Endless.com

• Friends & Family: 20% off $100 on select styles. Ends 3/15

Last Call

• Free Shipping on online purchase of $75 or more. Code LCMAR75

 LOFT

• Buy 1 Get 1 50%off select full price Knit Tops, Tees & Sweaters. www.loft.com. Check LOFT frequently. They usually have one day only or weekend only 30% or 40% off entire full price purchase promotions.

Banana Republic

• 25% off your purchase online. Use code BRSPRING. Ends 3/14. Banana Republic has these type of online sales ALL THE TIME, so if you miss this one, check out the website periodically for another promotion code.

Old Navy

• Free shipping every day on any order over $50.
• Stock Up sale on shorts, flip flops and more. Adults starting at $6 and kids starting at $4.

Piperlime

• Sign up for the newsletter (located at the bottom of the page on the website) and receive 15% off your first purchase. Click HERE.

Happy shopping!!!!