Everything She Wants

We love to shop.  And we especially love to shop in Brooklyn. So Everything She Wants was thrilled to be invited to the grand opening of the new Saks OFF 5th store in Sunset Park at Liberty View Industrial Plaza  ( entrance on 31 st  Street,  next to Micro Center ) .   Shoes and more shoes at Saks OFF 5th./ Everything She Want s The location is a little out of the way if you don't have a car, but taking a Lyft from downtown Brooklyn will only set you back about $10 , and it's well worth the trip! To experience the "thrill of the hunt" firsthand, we  were gifted a $200  Saks OFF 5TH  gift card,  and we spent several hours perusing the racks at the 31,000 square foot former warehouse space stocked with more than 800 designer brands for men, women and kids.  The standout "Meet Your Sole Mate" shoe section has 7,000 pairs of on-trend women's shoes . Although we didn't come home with the fab pair of Vince Camuto over the knee ...

Now that school is back in session, make sure your kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and leave home with a fresh and healthy lunch.  So skip the sugary and sodium-filled snacks and pack a lunch full of wholesome goodies from ALDI.   ALDI offers so many choices and low, low prices./ESW If you haven't heard of ALDI ,  its a chain of affordable, quality supermarkets owned by the same parent company as Trader Joe's. And guess what? It's just as good, if not better, with many items a fraction of the TJ's price.  W e shop at ALDI when we visit family in Baltimore, and t he  SimplyNature Organic Soy Milk ($2.19) is our favorite. So check out at an ALDI near you . To help you revamp your shopping list and plan healthy, kid-friendly meals and school lunches, here are a few dietician-approved product picks from the ALDI Advisory Council.   Tara Gidus, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN :   “My picks are all about products that prov...

Today is Amazon Prime Day , and Prime members have exclusive access to more deals than Black Friday. For just one day, the superstore e-tailer is offering deep discounts on electronics and computers, toys, music, movies, jewelry, home goods, clothing and more. An Amazon Prime membership is $99 per year and it offers free two-day shipping and exclusive access to movies, music and Kindle books. If you're not already a Prime member, you can start a 30-day free trial today .

Everything She Wants reported that Conway stores were closing in NYC , and they did. But as one of the cashiers at the downtown Brooklyn outpost informed us last month as we snatched up the remaining sale Conway in downtown Brooklyn re-opens. merchandise, the store would re-open under new management ( Fallas ). While the other Conway stores in Manhattan remain shuttered, this weekend we perused the "new" Fulton Mall store...but what's inside leaves a lot to be desired. Pum-pum shorts, polyester maxi dresses and a sparse assortment of other gaudy clothing and accessories. If this is the "Grand Opening," as the sign outside proclaims, we'd hate to see what the store's next closing will look like. Armani Exchange represents the new Fulton Mall./Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins Downstairs--which used to be fully stocked with nicely priced housewares and home goods--most of the shelves are still empty.  And flimsy fashion shoes for women ...

As recently reported here on Everything She Wants , Conway stores are closing in New York City.  We've learned the 70-year-old chain has also closed its stores nationwide. A couple weeks ago, we asked if the last holdout in downtown Brooklyn's Fulton Mall was also down for the count, and many of the employees seemed clueless, despite the fact that the writing was literally on the wall (everything in the store has been on sale since February). Conway store in Brooklyn closing./Tracy Hopkins But now it's official. The Fulton Mall store is shuttering on Saturday, March 15. Most items are 50% off, and many are $4 or less. We checked out the store last night and there were still plenty of bargains to be found. Here's a quick peek at the inventory left: Mundi wallets and change purses, $3 Geri C. fashion dresses, $4 Baby blanket gift sets, $4.70 Assorted t-shirts and tops, $3-$4.50 Sandals and flats, $2.50-$6 Bras and undies, $$1.50-$3 Socks and leggings, ...

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and...

You know how much we enjoy  shopping  at Goodwill stores. Remember all the LOFT goodies we found over the summer?  And if you enjoy thrift shopping, too, here's your chance to win a $100 Goodwill gift card by participating in the Goodwill Hunting scavenger hunt through Monday, February 10, 2014!   Goodwill store in Brooklyn./Photo by Everything She Wants Everything She Wants  is gonna play to win, and we will scout out at least 3 stores in Brooklyn  and  Manhattan to find 20 or more of the 32 items on the scavenger hunt list. Download printable contest rules, list of scavenger items and store locations  here . How to Enter: 1. Visit a Goodwill store (participants must visit at least 3 Goodwill stores). 2. Check in your location on twitter, tag us  @Goodwillnynj  and tweet to us your Pinterest name. 3. Create a Pinterest “ Goodwill Hunting”  board with all your scavenger hunt findings. 4. Send your board t...

Forget the after-Christmas sales.   H&M is having the sale of the season right now. All sale merchandise is an additional 50 percent off, so they're practically giving clothing and accessories away!  We've visited several H&M stores in New York City and each one has a slightly different selection. You will have to do some picking and rummaging through messy racks and piles, but that's the way Everything She Wants likes to shop. So far, we found the best sale booty at the flagship store on Fifth Avenue and 51st Street , where sale jewelry and accessories were "Buy One, Get One Free."  There we purchased four scarves that were marked down to $5 each and four stud earring sets marked down to only $1 each--all for a whopping $12. Then we visited the H&M in Soho (on Broadway closer to Prince Street), and scooped up a navy pinstripe jacket we've had our eye on since it went on sale around Christmastime for an incredibly low $5 and a little...

We barely put the Halloween decorations away, but it's already Christmastime in the city. The biggest shopping day of the year, however, is right around the corner.  So are you ready to brave the early morning Black Friday sales? Black Friday shoppers./Image from Bloomberg.com To help you map out your Black Friday strategy, try ShopTrotter --a navigational shopping website and app that makes shopping trips less stressful by finding users the stores they're most interested in based on product type, price and brand, and then providing them with a customized route to their destinations. ShopTrotter currently features route-planning capabilities for over 80 cities worldwide. Here, the app offers 5 tips on how to navigate the door-busting madness: Pack plenty of water and snacks.  Let’s be honest – a thirsty, hungry shopper is a crabby and less-efficient shopper. Stay on your A-game by packing water and snacks in your purse. Map out your route ahead of time wi...

Have you heard of Crossroads Trading Co. ? Everything She Wants was recently introduced to this buy-sell-trade chain by a friend, and it's a refreshing change of pace from our usual thrifty haunts, Buffalo Exchange and Beacon's Closet. The recycled fashion retailer opened its first store in San Francisco on Fillmore Street in 1991.  And today Crossroads has 29 retail locations , with outposts in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Chicago and New York City. We stop by the Manhattan store in the Flatiron District often and there's also a Crossroads in Brooklyn in the uber-hip Williamsburg nabe we're eager to check out. We purchased this new pair of flats from Old Navy with a cute umbrella print for only $8.50! Like Buffalo and Beacon's, the store offers on the spot cash or store credit for your quality, new and gently used clothing, shoes and handbags.  Think fast fashion from LOFT and H&M, and designer wear from Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors.  But...

After months of anticipation, French fashion clothier Promod  is finally open for business about an hour outside of New York City at Palisades Center in West Nyack, New York.  The store, which sells distinctly fashionable European clothing, shoes and accessories for women, has a modern edge similar to Mango and Zara.  But how well will it stack up against H&M, which has flooded the U.S. fast fashion marketplace? At the huge, dimly lit Palisades Center, Promod is located directly across from H&M and it seems to attract a similar trendy clientele.  Promod, however, reminds us more of La Chateau, where we used to shop in the 80s for the latest new wave-inspired styles.  Curiosity is bringing in customers and we overheard a teen enthusiastically ask her Mom what her spending limit was as she pronounced Promod her "new favorite store." Adding to its roster of stores in Paris, Beijing, Madrid and Mikolov (Poland), Promod currently has...

Besides being a great place to shop for deeply discounted brand name clothing and accessories, Goodwill stores are stocked with housewares and knick-knacks that can spruce up any college dorm or apartment. Many of the New York City stores have an assortment of picture frames, decorative pillows, rugs and wall art. And skilled bargain hunters will notice new housewares items donated from Target. On a recent visit to the Goodwill in downtown Brooklyn on Livingston Street,  Everything She Wants  picked up four brand new rectangular dinner plates from Ikea for just $1.99 each.  We also purchased an adorable cat trivet at the Chelsea store. Below is a sneak peek at the treasures we found. We encourage you to visit a Goodwill store near you for home decorating inspiration. And check out the  A Good Look by GoodwilNyNj  blog ( Everything She Wants is featured!) for more budget style tips. Cute cat trivet, $.99 (from the Chelsea store)...

Have you been to a Goodwill lately?   We have . And to our surprise, we discovered racks and racks of brand new dresses, pants and tops from LOFT! Apparently, top retailers (in addition to LOFT, we also spotted new goods from Target, Ann Taylor and Ikea) donate current season merchandise to the charitable store. We even found the coveted pair of purple and copper linen pants with a paisley print that weren't available in our size at several LOFT stores, and for $6 less than the current sale price. Now that's what we call good shopping karma ! So if you're a LOFT girl and you live in New York City or plan to visit soon, make a beeline for the Goodwill stores in Chelsea (W. 25th Street near Sixth Avenue) and on the Upper East Side (E. 89th Street and Second Avenue). Here's a look at the cool LOFT-for-less separates Everything She Wants scooped up (accessories not included), all for under $100. All pants pictured were $19.99 each and the tops w...

Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities and supporting them is a great way to help fuel the local economy. According to research, eighty-nine percent of consumers said they believe that small businesses contribute positively to their local communities. So remember to Shop Small® on Small Business Saturday today on November 24th. As an incentive, American Express cardholders get a one-time $25 statement credit when they use their enrolled card to spend $25 or more in a single, in-store transaction at a qualifying small business location.  To enroll your Amex card and for more information about participating small business locations, go to www.shopsmall.com . 

Scouring street fairs, flea markets and discount shops for cheap, chunky costume jewelry is kinda our thing. As a sometime sidewalk sale seller and Etsy store owner, we’ve even sold thread earrings made in Brazil and Peru.  Street fair jewelry is cheap, but is if safe?/Photo by Tracy E. Hopkins Lately, however, we’ve noticed the label " lead compliant " on some of our fashion jewelry finds. But what does that mean? To get the skinny on lead compliance and what we should look for and avoid when shopping for budget costume jewelry, Everything She Wants asked two jewelry experts/medical doctors – Alexis Gopal and Matilde Parente -- for their tips. Everything She Wants : What does it mean when jewelry says, "lead compliant?"   Alexis Gopal : The term "lead compliant" means that the piece of jewelry conforms to the standards set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Information Act , which was signed into law in 2008. It set limits on the am...

Shop for spring trends at bargain prices at Buffalo Exchange, the place to go for new and recycled fashion. For many years, Everything She Wants has been buying, selling and trading at BE stores in Manhattan, the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. New Buffalo Exchange in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. So the fashion gods have blessed me with my very own Buffalo Exchange. Well, sort of.  A new branch opens today at 109 Boerum Place near Smith Street and Atlantic Avenue (718-403-0490), a half block from my humble abode in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn . The prime, 2,500-square-feet location previously belonged to the plus-size consignment shop, ReDress.  I miss Deb and the darling gals at ReDress, but I'm thrilled to have a Buffalo nearby.  This means no more lugging my bag of goodies into the city, and I'll get a jump on the long lines to sell and trade.  I'll also get first dibs on the $1 bin at the annual Earth Day sale on Saturday, April...

No one loves a bargain more than Everything She Wants . And when it comes to discounts for clothing and accessories, we're all about sharing the good news.   Recently, we were introduced to CouponChief.com *, where pennywise shoppers can find over 50,000 coupons from more than 15,000 retailers.  With the largest database of coupons on the web, all of Coupon Chief's coupons and store discounts for apparel, electronics, travel and entertainment are valid and rated by users.   Ice.com's peridot sterling stud earrings, $20 off!/Image from Coupon Chief Lately, we've been on a mission to find precious stone and gemstone jewelry because of their healing properties.  So we checked out Coupon Chief's coupon for Ice.com for $20 off your purchase, plus free shipping.  And we discovered a lovely pair of 3.5 karat peridot  sterling studs that were regularly priced $50 and are $30 with the discount. According to Jewels of Me, the yellowish-green perid...

While many of you were sleeping in or getting ready for a Super Bowl Sunday celebration, Everything She Wants was headed to Target by in search of the Jason Wu capsule collection .  Doors opened at 8 a.m. and I knew that diehard shoppers had lined up early, so I was anxious to see what was left. Jason Wu for Target shoppers./Tracy Hopkins When I arrived at the store in downtown Brooklyn around 8:35 a.m., at least 40 women bundled in winter coats, hats and boots milled around the tiny section where the collection was set up.  All I really had my heart set on was the Milu the Cat Signature T-shirt ($19.99), which was already sold out online. I asked one woman about the shirts and she said, "those were the first to go."  Luckily, a Target salesman put a Medium Milu tee back on the rack, which I promptly picked up.  The Jersey Dress in Red/Navy Stripes ($34.99) also caught my eye and found its way into my basket. "Mischief is in the Details" is the tagli...

If you're scrambling for a last minute Christmas gift or getting a jump on finding a glam outfit for New Year's Eve, check out ModaListas at  the Limelight Shops (656 6th Avenue at 20th Street), a three-story collection of independent shops and eateries. Monica Phromsavanh, Creative Director of ModaListas. Recently, the shopping emporium was remodeled and looks like a hip department store reminiscent of Barney's.  And ModaListas (in Spanish it means fashion list), a shop that started with less than 100 square feet has expanded to take over most of the first floor. "We were the strongest tenant," co-owner Monica Phromsavanh says of ModaListas. "With this economy, the recipe for success is to follow what the audience and public wants. Obviously we want to [cater] to high-fashion and higher end lines. But people are looking for fashion at lower prices, and we have a lot of options for under $100." What the women who shop at ModaListas want ...

If you missed the Black Friday deals at your local mall or just can't get enough retail therapy, today you can catch all the Cyber Monday sales on the world wide web (Note to self: save all your gift cards next year and use them online for greater savings). Image from GeekSugar.com Here are a few standout sales that landed in Everything She Wants' inbox: Save 40% on everything site-wide at  Esprit.com . Save 30% on your purchase at Athleta , Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy . And save 20% at Piperlime. Enter HUGECYBER at checkout. Save 30% on regularly priced merchandise on SA VA's website .  Plus, all sale items are still $25 at my favorite indie Philly retailer. Enter CYBER30 at checkout. Save up to 75% off the original price on classic Norma Kamali styles, only on the designer's website . Plus, free ground shipping. Quantities are limited. Save 20% on any item on fashion jewelry destination,  Jewelista.com , from 11 a.m. EST until 3 p.m., plus ...