Happy Birthday, Cotton Island!

photography courtesy of Cotton Island

Cotton Island, one of SMU students’ favorite affordable boutiques, has been in Dallas for 30 years now. To celebrate, they’ll be giving away goodies to lucky customers all month long. Winners are drawn daily, and prizes include Cotton Island t-shirts, Kendra Scott earrings, Dogeared necklaces, and Kai perfume. Throughout March, you’ll also receive an additional 30 percent off sale merchandise, and a free scarf with any purchase of $300 or more. Stop by the store to enter–and to sample some of the celebratory treats.

Jessica Mitzner is a ShopTalk intern.

The Beat the Clock Sale at H.D.’s Clothing Company Starts Today

In case you’re in need of a little Monday afternoon pick-me-up, head over to H.D.’s Clothing Company for their Beat the Clock sale. For four days only, this Greenville Avenue favorite is having some major deals, which change from hour to hour. From now through March 7, stop by during lunch, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and you’ll find select items for 40 percent off. Come by a little later, from 2 to 4 p.m., and you’ll get 50 percent off. Or, drop in after work for the biggest discount, 60 percent off. Adjust your schedule accordingly.

Jessica Mitzner is a ShopTalk intern.

F.I.G. Finale is This Weekend

photography courtesy of F.I.G.

Empty your e-shopping carts. F.I.G. Finale is this weekend, remember? You have the whole weekend to shop discounted apparel, accessories, and shoes from some of the most beloved boutiques and local designers in town at up to 75 percent off. Find wares from Abi Ferrin, Forty Five Ten, L.bartlett, V.O.D., Elements, Hemline, Melanie Gayle, Merge, etc. (Full list here.) Make it extra special (and less inhibited) by purchasing tickets to Thursday’s VIP evening, full of cocktails and hosted by Cynthia Smoot of Oh So Cynthia. Tickets range from $10 (one day pass) to $50 (VIP) and can be purchased online or at the door for a couple extra dollars.

Elizabeth Showers Online Jewelry Sale Starts Tomorrow

Elizabeth Showers is offering up a beautiful selection of her past-season jewels on sale for up 75 percent off tomorrow. The local fine jewelry designer will announce sale prices on the gold and silver pieces in the morning at 10 am. The sale ends Monday, February 4.

Last Chance to Score a Major Deal at Forty Five Ten

Joslyn's snapshot of her loot.

Forty Five Ten’s much anticipated sale is coming to an end, but you have until 3 pm today to score some seriously luxe designer goods, slashed in price by 75 percent. Joslyn made like a bandit and walked away with an armful of goodies, including Celine boots and a Victoria Beckham dress. Make going to the T Room for lunch your excuse and just happen to wander into the store to peruse the sale rack. You won’t be sorry.

Can’t-Miss Sale: Cicada Collection in Snider Plaza

photos from summer

Pencil in the three-day sale at Cicada this weekend. This store (read all about it here), full of ultra modern, hard-to-find European lines, is having a huge sale. Everything on the floor is 50 percent off (excluding a few accessories) from Thursday, January 17 through Sunday, January 19.

Shop These 3 Post-Holiday Sales

NOW it’s the most wonderful time of the year. When the holiday chaos has come to end, your New Year’s Eve hangover has subsided, you have your income back to shop for yourself, and stores are offering up every rack of goods for a discount. NOW, I’m merry.

Piermarini Boutique: For the month of January, all clothing is 40-50 percent off.
Melanie Gayle: Through Jan. 19, buy one item, get 50 percent off the second one.
Tootsies: From Thursday, January 10, to Sunday, January 13, shop marked down merchandise all over the store, including shipped-in goods from the Houston flagship store.

Update:
Flirt Boutique: Everything in the store is 50 percent of Wednesday, 40 percent off on Thursday, 30 percent off on Friday, 20 percent off on Saturday, and 10 percent off on Sunday.

Black Friday Sales in Dallas You Don’t Want to Miss

If you’re not so full of stuffing that you can handle zipping up your boots and heading out into the world on Friday, shopping intern Margaux Anbouba has rounded up a few hot Black Friday sales that you won’t want to miss. Some of my absolute favorite boutiques are knocking the prices down on everything in the store for the day. Check it out.

Bloom
8 am – 10 am 30% off full price items, 10 am – noon 20% off full price items, 10% off the rest of the weekend

Gypsy Wagon
50 % off select boots, 50% off select bags, 40% off party clothes, 20% off holiday decor, 20% off apparel

Jenna B’s Boutique
40 – 75 % off all merchandise

Julep
25 % off sweaters, 40% off cashmere, 40% off off Michael Stars

lou lou
children monogrammed boots on sale for $39

Piermarini
30% off the store excluding sale, opening early at 9

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Shopaholics, Head to Stanley Korshak This Weekend

Today and tomorrow, you can spend big to save big at Stanley Korshak.

Buy multiple things from the women’s sale (which is already discounted up to 40 percent off) and tack on an extra 10 percent off.

Multiples that count:
-3 or more pieces in apparel (if you insist)
-2 or more pairs of shoes (that’s easy)
-2 or more handbags (like I needed an excuse)

Happy shopping.

Storage Wars’ Mary Padian on TV Stardom, Finding Weird Stuff, and her Fabulous Refurbished Furniture Store

I love when some of our magazine’s stories don’t get posted online. It gives me delicious scoop to post on ShopTalk. Like the story about Mary Padian, owner of home shop Mary’s Finds and as of late, reality star on Storage Wars: Texas. She’s our November issue’s Person of Interest. If you haven’t visited her restored furniture shop yet, you’re missing out on some crazy cool housewares. This weekend’s the perfect time to go. You can score some serious deals by stopping off at her Hoopty Sale. Joslyn has the scoop. But first, read this Q&A. Then, print it out and have her autograph it this weekend. Kidding, don’t. Unless you really want to…

Person of Interest: Mary Padian
She turned her Design District furnishings store into a starring role on Storage Wars: Texas. –by Zac Crain

Q: We’ve been trying to do this for a week, but you’ve been busy shooting.

A: God, I mean, it’s taken up most of my time. I didn’t think it was going to be this time consuming. I mean, it’s a full-time job. [laughs] Yep. We go to at least two auctions a week. [They bid on the contents of abandoned storage units, essentially sight unseen.] And then we have to excavate the units and see what we have. So it’s an all-day thing. And then, if we’re not doing auctions and excavating, we’re doing appraisals, or I’m doing refurb stuff.

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Go Get Your Dallas Partners Card

This year marks the 20^th year of the Dallas Partners Card. This nifty little item is more than a piece of plastic that gives you a great discount at some of the best retailers in town, it is the main fundraiser for The Family Place, a local domestic violence agency. Through the Partners Card, they have raised over $12 million in the past, and each and every penny spent on the Partners Card goes to supporting survivors. From October 26 – November 4,  you can use your card to receive 20% off at any of the 750 participating stores, including Equinox fitness clubs, Hemline, Intermix, LAFCO New York, Thomas Pink, Drybar, and more. Purchase your card online now for $70.

Piermarini Boutique’s Got New Digs

Racks of fall deliciousness, waiting to hit the floor.

And they’re pretty sweet. Although the cozy uptown cottage was cute, Snider Plaza is a perfect spot for the new location of Piermarini Boutique. Lots of foot traffic, more space for parties, and an airconditioned dressing room. Merchandise is as good as ever, and most of what’s currently on the floor is on sale for 40 percent off to make room for fall merchandise. (Like this gorgeous pleated cream skirt with a hint of mint; these perfect, Won Hundred not-too-short shorts; this last ombre silk top; and these cool green croc-print zipper leggings.) But I’m more excited about the autumn collections, which I sneak peeked. (See right.) Imagine sweaters with zippers and cutouts, tailored dresses with leather details, and soft blazers for guys you’ll want for yourself. Very New York. Very exciting. Even more exciting than the LnA bralette I bought to wear under all the sheer tops and backless dresses I own. Equally as exciting as the news he let slip that women’s shoes are in the lineup for spring 2013.

Renée Rouleau’s Anniversary Product Sale is Back: 15% Off Everything

You can find your skin type and start with The Basics collection.

Every year esthetician Renée Rouleau offers her online shoppers a 15 percent discount on all Renée Rouleau goods purchased at www.reneerouleau.com. It’s a helpful little deal for products that are truly effective, but can add up at the register. You’ve got until August 26 to stock up on discounted skincare products. Just enter HP2012 in the promotion code box at checkout.

Where to Shop in Dallas This Weekend

Bargains and Bellinis on Lovers: From August 3-4, Elements, Elle, Mine, Hemline, and Lou Lou have banded together for an event you can’t miss. Shop spring and summer styles for 50-75% off, or peruse the sidewalk racks at Elements for designer pieces under the $100 mark.

Piermarini’s Closing Sale: You may have already heard that Piermarini is moving off of Hibernia Street. No need to fret, the boutique will  re-open in Snider Plaza soon enough, but don’t forget to say your goodbyes this weekend with some great steals. Most items are already 40% off, but through this Saturday, shoppers will receive an additional 25% discount, so check out all the amazing pieces before it’s too late!

L. bartlett Beat the Clock Sale: Get ready to watch the clock because L. bartlett is hosting a margarita fueled shop fest this Saturday, August 4. There are major discounts to be had on sale items, and the earlier you get there the better. Come by and get 70% off from 9 am to 12 pm, 60% off until 3 pm, and 50% off until close.

Sunday Funday at y&i Clothing Boutique: Make sure to stop by West Village this Sunday for great deals and colorful cocktails. In addition to a fully stocked mimosa bar, the store is taking 10% off of all full priced merchandise, so there’s plenty to go around.

Don’t forget F.I.G. Finale runs through Saturday.

Kelly Belter is a shopping intern.

HUGE Sale at LF in West Village: Colorful Cutoffs, Flowing Sheer, and Studs Galore

I spied all these things in the boutique. (photography courtesy of LF)

It’s was a Dallas hipster’s* paradise yesterday. The line was out the door at 2 pm. The wait for the dressing room was over an hour. But the deals were killer, and they’re not over yet. Although yesterday marked the exclusive preview of the big seasonal sale, everyone’s invited to LF today to take advantage of the storewide 60 percent off. That’s right. The merch on every rack, every shelf, every nook and cranny and jewelry stand is more than half-off. Find cutoff shorts in every color of the rainbow, an abundance of studded things (shoes, shorts, jackets, clutches, etc), pastel cutout dresses, floral print, and ombre everything. It was entertaining (if slightly annoying) listening to SMU 20-somethings babble on about rush and getting Mom on the phone to find out the spending limit, but a pair of black waxed jeans (from $200 to $80), a sheer, skull-print high-low top in mellow yellow (from $148 to $60), and a little lilac number with chain straps (from $124 to $50) was worth the earful. Sale runs through Sunday.

*Hipster vs. Dallas hipster: A Dallas hipster buys vintage-inspired clothing versus used garments (e.g. $200 cutoff shorts rather than homemade).