Style+Beauty Editor

All right, it’s time to pull yourself together! Big-name fashion designers may still be in denial about the recession, but you’re not. If you were given $100 to get your closet off life support, what could you buy? There are feel-good bargains waiting for you right now. But before we get to that, let’s discuss seven things you can do to nab discounts and sales:

•    Check sites like Reesycakes.com, RetailMeNot.com, and Styleforfree.com to find online fashion discounts. Search by retailer name and the sites will reveal current promo discount codes and printable coupons. 

•    Or just type the name of a store or brand with the word coupon or discount into your favorite search engine.

•    ShopItToMe.com sends out weekly or daily e-mails telling you when styles and brands you like (Theory, Ella Moss, BCBG for example) go on sale in your size by constantly scouring sources like Bluefly, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom for you.

•    Shefinds.com is another source where you can sign up for a newsletter; the site is also on Twitter.

•    Sign up with Stylenotes.com, and they will e-mail you as soon as there is a sale at your fave store or on a style you’re looking for.

•    StoreAdore.com is a directory of the best shopping on- and off-line at boutiques all across the country.

•    Join an online sample sale site like RueLaLA.com and get up to 80 percent off designer duds.

Shoes are the big look-makers now, and chunky strappy gladiator styles are the first thing to look for. They update all your dresses from last year and look great with a jeans mini and a boyfriend blazer too. I discovered six pairs of shoes that look chic for under $89. 

•    At Payless.com I fell in love with the Sydnee Gladiator sandals for $19.99 in gold or silver reduced from $24.99, and metallic gladiator thongs for $22.99. How can you say no?

•    At Nine West fierce work shoes ruled. The Urban Warrior Snooks at $89, and Jamil at $89 look like they walked straight off the runways. You’d swear they were from Barneys. Also great from the same site are the Strahan leather ballet flats for $69 with pointed toes in silver, bronze or black.

•    At Kohls.com I found Daisy Fuentes patent two-tone chunky strap pumps for $26.99, reduced from $56.99
(these look very Prada-ish). Kohls was also a goldmine of more couture look-alikes in clothes--for example, a Chaps trench dress for $70, reduced from $100, that has a very Michael Kors feeling (this would be a great work dress) and a Simply Vera by Vera Wang plum draped dress (very downtown gallery-hopping + cocktails sort of thing inspired by her own pricier collection) for $44.99, marked down from $78.

I hope these pointers get you all going for spring. They say it’s not winning but playing the game well that counts, and in this case, you can do both!