Friday Miscellany: Summer Sales And Goings On
Les soldes are now officially underway in France. They have strict and complex rules about when and how merchandise can be discounted, and there are two big Sale windows each year…one in January-February to clear out winter merchandise and now through August 7th for summer items. If you’re in France during either of these periods, you can find some nice discounts in the shops.
But many retailers have found ways to reduce prices on selected items outside of the allowed windows…they’ll have “special promotions” on certain items or certain days. Keep your eyes peeled when shopping and you might find some unexpected savings at any time of the year.
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Not On Sale, But…
In addition to the waxed cotton moto jacket, Eileen Fisher has also brought back the coated jeans. They’re a great alternative to leather pants. I’d passed on these the first time around because I found them a bit rubbery feeling, but the updated version is an improvement. As with the jacket, the waxed coating is a little bit softer and more subtle, which I like. They’re also a bit less snug on the lower leg, also an improvement IMO. Available in Misses, Petites and Plus sizes.
It’s Always Something…
I feel as though I’m finally caught up with some projects and correspondence after our trip, even with a couple of unexpected “glitches.” For starters, our internet was out for several days beginning last Thursday. Not a catastrophe, (we still had our phones for email, etc.) but an inconvenience for sure. Service was finally restored Monday afternoon. Then on Tuesday as I was flossing my teeth after lunch, one of my crowns popped off. Fortunately nothing had broken, and the dentist was able to see me right away to cement it back in, but it meant another couple of hours out of the day that I’d planned to use for other projects.
And the week after next, I get to start the fun – NOT – process of replacing one of my front teeth with an implant. (The root was damaged when I was a kid by a wayward permanent canine tooth that went drifting. In the past couple of years, the root and bone have both receded to the point that it’s begun causing problems.) First step: deciding what kind of temporary will work, and getting impressions. The whole process with the implant will take several months.
In The Plus Column…
Still, I did get a bit more organization done in my closet this week (no, it’s not done yet). Call me compulsive, but once I clear out and tidy up a space, I keep going back to admire it. Do you do that?
And I finally got around to ordering replacement drapes for our bedroom. As one of our neighbors has a motion sensor floodlight that seems to be set to lighthouse-level brightness and gets triggered multiple times per night, we opted for the blackout lining.
I’ve actually started and fizzled out on Weight Watchers a few times already this year. It’s not hard to do the tracking, but I kept finding I was hungry all the time and wasn’t really seeing results. My friend Karen has been raving for months about a program called Faster Way To Fat Loss, so I signed up for the session that began June 18. I’m finding it relatively easy, and even though I’ve been ignoring the recommended workouts and doing my own, I’m already seeing some results. I don’t just want to drop a few pounds, I want to build/maintain lean body mass, which this program claims to do. Have any of you tried it? What did you think?
Summer Sales
So we have plenty of sales going in advance of the July 4th holiday. If your summer wardrobe has some missing pieces or needs items replaced, it’s a good time to shop.
The Vince tie cardigan I’m wearing here is on sale, and an additional 25% off with code SUMMER18. This is an excellent travel piece, and offered in two colors.
Ann Taylor: 50% off your purchase with code SUMMERSTYLE.
Anthropologie: extra 25% off Sale items.
Bloomingdales: 30-50% off selected items.
Chico’s: 40% off entire purchase with code 69579.
Eileen Fisher: up to 50% off.
J.Jill: extra 30% off all sale styles.
Lands’ End: 50% off swimwear and water shoes, 30% off other full-price styles.
Mansur Gavriel: shoe sale!!
Net-a-Porter: clearance up to 70% off.
Neiman Marcus: Last Call sale, up to 70% off.
Saks: designer sale, up to 60% off.
Talbot’s: Red Hanger markdowns, 40% off one, 50% off two or more.
Vince: extra 25% off sale items with code SUMMER18
And put a pin in your calendar; the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts July 12 for cardholders, and July 20 for everyone. I’ll be posting some of my updated shopping strategies prior to the sale, and will share my picks once the sale starts.
Bon weekend!
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That’s a gorgeous shot of the Eiffel Tower.
Re the soldes, usually each week brings another markdown. However, the pickings get ever slimmer.
Re losing weight, the slower the better, if you want to keep it off. Pilates is great for developing lean muscles (not bulky ones, but dancer muscles, nice and long).
C’est dommage about the neighbour’s light! We are having the same experience at our cottage with a paranoid neighbour but the bright LED light is on all night no motion and yes blackout lining is a good idea:(
Have you tried Essentrics? I believe it’s on PBS at 6:00am in most cities. A form of exercise developed by Miranda Esmond-White a former ballet dancer.
It is both strengthening and restorative, Miranda’s book Aging Backwards looks at the three foundations of aging well flexibility,balance and strength check out the web site and lots of try before you buy videos on YouTube. It’s amazing how your body changes after just a few weeks of following her program!
Susan – I’m on the same round of faster way as you! It has been the best program I’ve tried and I’m getting good results so far. I was hoping that 6 weeks would get it all done, but I think I’m going to have to continue using the program basics on my own to get the rest of this dumb belly fat to leave. I was wondering if I could maintain the intermittent fasting part of the program, but have found to my delight that I can and did. Bonus: something in this regimen has really decreased the pain in my wrists and hands…yoga is waaay better now.
Love your blog, thanks as always for sharing great info. Are you going to continue faster way or strike out on your own plan?
Hi Cynthia, I’m definitely going to finish up the 6 weeks, though doing my own exercise program. I’m still hoping to find a workable yoga or pilates program for the long run.
I too am signed on for the June 18 Faster Way To Fat Loss and have started seeing results even after this short time. I had already lost 7 kilos with Weight Watchers last year but then hit a ‘plateau’ and could not budge the last couple of kilos but things are heading in the right direction now! I enjoy your blog and love your style. I live in Australia most of the time and so I can’t always locate/purchase your style suggestions (not everyone ships here) but I enjoy reading about them all the same.
I’m curious about The Faster Way. I’ve heard of it but hesitate because I better follow it closely. I tend to let my bad lifestyle take over. I guess I’ll try something but I need some quick results to for me to stick to it. I also tried Weight Watchers and it really didn’t work as I thought it would.
Love this column! I have a big credit at Nordstrom and now I know where I will spend it – at the sale. 🙂 By the way, the catalog just arrived and I didn’t find it inspirational but will look further online once they set that up. As to exercise, motivation is important so I try to keep in mind why I’m doing it: vanity, health, desire to be physically capable… I love Pilates and have done it for years, and also go to a gym (not enough!) for weights and TRX classes, and I try to take a brisk walk every day. I do find a FitBit motivating as it tracks my steps. A new discovery is a wonderful YouTube yoga channel: “Yoga with Adriene.” She has videos at many levels. On low energy days I can do Gentle Yoga and when I’m feeling vigorous, something more challenging. When I don’t have much time, she has some nice short ones.
Hi, I’m a personal trainer, muscles are long appearing because of your body type/ shape. If you have long arms, your muscles will appear long, short arm muscles, will not ” lengthen”, just as you cannot make yourself taller. The Fitness industry knows which “buzz words” to tell their clientele. I’ve been in the business for 25 years, All exercise is good for you, just enjoy it, the long term payoff is huge.
Hello Susan. Thanks for the sale tip! Beth over at Chic At Any Age has been doing Faster Way and has a few posts about it, sponsored I think, but well done.
I meant Style at a Certain Age! Oops! Beth Djalali!
I also will be losing a front tooth, same reason. I’m not looking forward to it! Hope you’ll keep us updated.
What a happy surprise – I was just trying to find a review of the Faster Way to Weight Loss program written by someone who is not 30 years old. Please continue to share your results.
Hi Susan, Beth Djalali an over 50 blogger at styleatacertainage is doing this programme and has shared quite a lot about it (look under fitness) I enjoy her fashion writings too! Wishing you well with the the new programme,Dawn
Anything with the word fasting in it has me switching off. It wrecks my metabolism. My husband and I both lost 14 & 10 kilos respectively by cutting out carbs at night. It took 6 months and mostly stayed off until we allowed in very small portions of occasional carbs again. That added a couple of kilos each but we both seem to now be at our natural weight. We are in winter here in New Zealand and maintaining our walking regime is challenging with so much rain. Bring on spring when we’ll be going hard out in our garden which will elevate our fitness again.
The fasting is only for short periods, a few hours in the morning. I’m only holding off eating a couple hours longer than previously.
I just had 2 implants put in, then a bridge on top of them. It is a long, expensive process. I had to have the bad teeth pulled, let that heal, then put in the implants and let that heal. That being said (and fingers crossed), they feel great. I hadn’t been able to chew on that side of my mouth for over a year and now I can!
I’m always looking to the next season for inspiration. I had been looking for a leather blazer (the moto jacket just doesn’t fit my personality). I was looking at a big retailer of leather & I wasn’t willing to pay their prices nor did I like their styles. I just bought a pink (to me, the new neutral color) leather blazer ($80,00) & a long boyfriend corduroy blazer in a pink/rust ($40.00). I’m going to have to make adjustments to my winter wardrobe for my European Christmas trip!
Hi Susan, I’m going off topic here, forgive me, but I just have to ask what hardside suitcase you are using along with your Lipault in the last photo? I bought a small 20” Lipault on your recommendation in 2016 and I love it, but I need a new larger bag that I can check. I have a 24” softside roll-aboard that I am looking to replace. I would be happy to see a review of luggage that you would consider and why. Perhaps intime for Holiday gifts? Thanks!
Hi Jacqueline, the spinner suitcase I’m using is an older version of this one from Briggs & Riley: http://bit.ly/2N9IreR . I’ve been very happy with it. And yes, I’ll be writing more about luggage options in the near future.
You have to find a program that you like & can stick with, & that works for you. I’m still a Weight Watchers fan, although I’m “off the wagon” at the moment! I admit I don’t understand how one can be hungry on WW, especially now that eggs, plain yogurt, and lean meats are zero points. But YMMV. Am also a Pilates devotee, as it’s low impact and so good for flexibility and strength. I normally go twice a week, and can really feel it if I miss a week. Things start getting creaky! Thinking I need to add more cardio, though, and maybe additional strength training (so I can more easily shlep my rather heavy suitcase when traveling, since I don’t pack as efficiently as you do)
I had to laugh at your comment about having to go back and admire your tidied up and organized areas. I do that too! There’s such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction about getting a job like that done that I have to check it out numerous times.
I’d love to hear more about your tooth. I have a similar situation that will need to be dealt with eventually and I’m not looking forward to it. Thanks and good luck to you!
thanks susan …you look fabulous by the way ! gawjus …
mercury is retrogade for a little longer …
thaaangs sure is confusin’ & stalled …..patience is required ladies …lol
There you are in front of Tom Bradley where I will be next week. We will be in Paris for only three days, but the grandkids (all under 12) are looking forward to it. The old carousel in Luxembourg is their favorite. I’m keeping my eyes open for Les Soldes, but since one stop on the itinerary is a girls’ lunch at Galleries Laffayette (Haussman), I don’t know if I’ll be able to afford much! This post has me all excited now.
Hi Kay, have a wonderful time!!
I had a lower implant a few months ago and during that period when the screw part was healing I had what’s called an Essix retainer. It’s a clear retainer with a tooth stuck in the missing spot. It Looked fine it was so hard to eat with it on, but did a good job of holding my teeth in place. I’m going to say it’s probably a good time to go on a diet because I did find with the missing tooth and this weird retainer thing that I was in the habit of cutting everything up into little pieces and that I ate more slowly. Even with the permanent implant corn on the cob is not something that I am ever going to eat again.
Love all the news but when it is 90 degrees and going to be hot for a long time, the last thing I can think of buying are clothes for fall!! Just can’t even go there!! The East is hot and sizzling right now…even warmer than Florida…my winter place!
Thanks so much!
Thanks for the round-up, Sue, and you look wonderful! xox
Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com