Blogger Shop Around - Premium Outlets

Image

Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a Dallas Blogger Shop Around at the Premium Outlets located in Allen, Texas.  The Dallas Shop Around started at 10 am with breakfast and learning more about the benefits of outlet shopping.  

The Premium Outlets offers the VIP Lounge is free to join online and offers great benefits exclusive online coupons, voucners for a free VIP Coupon Book, as well as updates on sales and special events.  Some of the examples of the deals include 15% off a purchase of $100 or more at Brooks Brothers Factory Outlet, 20% off any single item at Cole Haan, 25% off one regular-price item at Last Call Neiman Marcus and much more!  The VIP Lounge is a great way to earn lots of savings.

After the introduction to the Premium Outlets, we headed to Banana Republic Factory Stores to learn about summer fashion trends.  Brady, the store's manager, focused on on three summer trends.  The first trend was to go with bold stripes or exaggerated polka dots.  The trend was showcased with a gorgeous striped maxi and cropped cardigan.

The second fashion trend focused on botanical prints and wide leg pants.  Floral is a huge trend for summer.  

The last summer trend is probably my favorite summer trend, color blocking!  This trend was showcased with a color block top and cropped pants which made the look great to go from work to happy hour. 

Brady also mentioned wearing great shoes this summer and a pop of color with accessories.

After Banana Republic, we headed to Samsonite to learn how to pack for trips.  This lesson was great.  Samsonite has some great new luggages including a new bag that weighs only 2 1/2 pounds packed.  Samsonite offers these great packing cubes that allow to pack in a much more efficient manner.  One of the cubes allows to pack 2 pair of slacks, 1 skirt, 2 polo shirts, 1 t-shirt, and 2 button up tops.  How great is that?  The cubes start at $24.  I definitely want one of these!

Once the demonstrations were finished,  it was time to shop.  The Premium Outlets gave us a $50 gift card to do some shopping as well as provided a $15 gift card from Columbia, coupons, and swag bags from White House Black Market and Vitamin World.  

With the coupons and gift cards, I did great (if you follow me on instagram) you saw my haul as well as some of the outfits I tried on.  I picked up a pink workout jacket from Columbia as well as a red tank (and spent none of my own money).  At New York and Company, I had a $25 off coupon off a purchase of $25 or more.  I picked up a great print skirt (you will see it on the blog tomorrow) and a gold necklace (and again spent none of my money).  Bass Outlet was running a huge sale.  You could buy one pair  of shoes and get two pairs free.  I picked up flats for my new job including a beige, red, and black pair.  Here I spent $60 of my own money but basically got three pair of shoes for $20 a piece.  After the Bass Outlet, I hit up the Kitchen Collection to pick up my free egg skillet and a kitchen tool.  At the Kitchen Collection, I only spent $2.59.  

For all of this, I only spent $62.59!

The event was fabulous!  A huge thank you to the Premium Outlets for organizing the day!  For the event, I decided I wanted to be comfortable while still looking stylish.  I wore my navy LOFT dress, leopard print flats, and carried my orange Cole Haan Bag.

Look at all those shopping bags!

Navy Dress - LOFT, Leopard Print Flats - Me Too (gift), Orange Handbag - Cole Haan, Gold Bracelet - won in a giveaway, Gold Earrings - Charming Charlies (gift), Two Tone Watch - Michael Kors (gift) 

Fashion Walk For A Cause

Monday night I attended Fashion Walk For A Cause at Suite.  The event was a fashion show to raise awareness for breast cancer and proceeds went to Donna Rodriguez a local breast cancer victim who has stage 4 cancer. 

The evening started with local vendors showcasing their designs. 

The first vendor I saw was The Diva's Den.  The Diva’s Den is an online boutique selling exclusive nontraditional pieces of jewelry and accessories.  I really loved the pieces, because they were like no jewelry I had seen.

The next vendor I met with was Stella & Dot stylist Lauren Kirby.  Steel and Dot is a San Francisco based social selling company that creates opportunities for women.  The jewelry and accessories line is exclusively sold through in-home Trunk Shows.  Loved some of the jewelry.  

I next met with Lashanda Wall from Salon Eleven. At Salon Eleven, Lashanda performs cuts and highlights and fusion extensions including feather extensions.  

Also at the event was Candy Shop Jewlz.  Candy Shop Jewlz specializes in jewelry for your inner diva.  Candy Shop Jewlz has bracelets, earrings, necklaces, scarves, and even hats.

Jones & Rose creates natural bath milks, body washes, shea butter, sugar and salt scrubs, and many other products.  All of the products are handmade in Jacksonville.  

Next, I met with Annie Grogan an Independent Representative for Silpada.  Silpada is handcrafted .925 Sterling Silver Jewelry.  The jewelry was trendy and very unique because each silver piece is different.

Last I met with Pink Underground.  Pink Underground creates homemade jewelry.  The jewelry is definitely girly and fun.

After meeting the vendors was the fashion show.  The fashion show displayed hairstyles from the A Team Stylists and Paul Mitchell.  Also jewelry from Silpado. 

For the event, I went with a classic look.

Little Black Dress - Ann Taylor purchased from Pencil Skirts & Lattes - Similar 

Pink Clutch - Thrifted - Similar 

Black Peep Toe Pumps - Bandolino - (no longer available) - Similar 

North Florida and Southern Georgia Blogger Meetup

North Florida and Southern Georgia Blogger Meetup

Date:  Postponed

Time:  5:30 PM

Place:  BB’s

1019 Hendricks Avenue

Jacksonville, Florida 32207

Since the first blogger meetup was such a success, I am going to plan one for each month.  This month’s meetup is scheduled around First Coast Fashion Week. 

I thought we could have great food, conversation and for those who want to go to the fashion show afterwards can. 

The meetup is open to anyone (bloggers, readers, or fashion lovers). 

Please RSVP by emailing me at fashionbyalicia@yahoo.com or commenting below by November 5th, 2011 so that I can make reservations at the restaurant. 

I hope that I will see you on November 12^th and feel free to spread the word about the meetup!

Trunk Show for Erin Healy

Wednesday night, I attended a Trunk Show for Erin Healy held at 3 Elements Boutique.  The boutique is located on Atlantic Boulevard and carries unique chic womens' fashions from denim to custom designed evening gowns.  3 Elements Boutique had great items for any woman.

Erin Healy Designs is a self-taught fashion designer born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida.  Erin’s designs are chic and feminine and would look great on any body type.  On display at her trunk show were many of her pieces, which embodied classic styles and colors.  Each item was something I would love to add to my wardrobe in fabulous styles and colors. 

Erin has plans to show her collections at Fashion By Moonlight and Jacksonville Fashion Week.

Accessories Night at Suite

Wednesday night I attended Accessories Night at Suite.  This event showcased many local designers and vendors.  The night was dedicated to accessories so I saw some great jewelry, handbags, and even fabulous belts.

The first vendor I met was Shelley’s Shoes-N-Things.  This shop had some great handbags and jewelry.  Shelley’s Shoes-N-Things is available for home parties.

Angel’s Jewelry Box creates handmade jewelry from semi-precious stones and beads.  The items are unique and one of a kind.  You can shop Angel’s Jewelry Box etsy shop where the handcrafted jewelry costs anywhere from $15-$100. 

If you plan to have a bollywood party, Sanskriti Boutique is the shop to contact.  Panthini Shah the shop’s owner specializes in bollywood costumes.  The detail on each piece is exquisite.

Also at Accessories Night was Muse.  Muse offers a collection of handmade leather belts that use no metal buckle.  These belts were amazing.  The design is unique and the quality of each belt is fabulous.  Muse Belts are made from high-quality leather that are safe for the environment and nickel-free.  These belts would look great with jeans or belting a cardigan.

Nicole from Vault Denim was there with designer denim.  Vault Denim offers designer jeans, capris, shorts, and skirts in all shapes and sizes.  The designer denim is priced between $48-$98.  You can purchase the denim from Nicole or even host a Denim Party.

Local handbag designer Manisha Joshi had her handbags from Sunisha Designs on display.  Sunisha Designs creates handbags in different shapes and from over 300 different types of fabric.  Manisha creates totes, clutches, backpacks, cosmetic cases, and even stationary sets.

I had a great time at Accessories Night and visting all of the vendors.

My look for the event was simple but lots of fun.

Red Exposed Zipper Blouse - Dorothy Perkins

Black Pencil Skirt - Macys (no longer available) - Similar

Black Booties - DSW Shoes (no longer available) - Similar

Stud Earrings - c/o Private Gallery

Red Cocktail Ring - c/o Anika Burke

Silver Bangles - Forever 21(no longer available) - Similar

Black Handbag - Coach Outlet (not available online) - Similar