Diary of a POSH Shopper

Our POSH Shopper is Now Making Lemonade!

2009-06-03T12:45:00.002-04:00

Now that the 2009 POSH Sale has ended, we'd like to take a moment to thank you all for great support of both the Sale, and Lighthouse International. Recently, many of you have asked what will happen to the POSH shopper and her diary?

Well, Joanna has now moved on to helping me with a multitude of other Lighthouse related writing projects, but she's also launched an exiting personal project! Here's a note from our volunteer extraordinaire:

With the end of the POSH Sale, it seems that I will now be making lemonade. Lemonade you ask? Well, when life deals you lemons, that is what you make! Please stay tuned for my new blog "Lemonade". It can be found at www.Lemonade-ideas.blogspot.com. I will let you know when the postings begin.

Special thanks to the Lighthouse International and Kim Rossi, who was my blog originator and partner. It was all for a great cause. Now it's time for Lemonade for everyone! Hope to see you a POSH next year!

~ Joanna

And we at the Lighthouse would like to extend OUR thanks to Joanna for creating such a great blog! Be sure to check back every now and then to see what's going on in the world of POSH. I'll be posting updates every now and then about the dates of future sales, donation opportunities and more.

Oh What a Night!

2009-05-13T17:55:00.002-04:00

Lighthouse Opening Night Benefit Preview is a HUGE Success!

All I can say is WOW! POSH's opening night Benefit Preview was a huge success. My closest friends and industry colleagues came to support Lighthouse International's POSH Sale benefit for a night of fashion and unbelievable fun. What was more amazing was how this great cause connected all those I invited. New friends were made and the POSH Sale connected everyone present to a commendable cause. (Check out www.lighthouse.org for more on what the Lighthouse does).

I was so grateful that both industry greats and great friends came and shopped until they dropped at POSH. The feeling of fashion combined with philanthropy left us all with that great feeling you get when you know you've been involved with a good cause.

Greg Slattery (second from right), VP and Group Publisher, along with his Marketing Director, Melissa Merlino (far right), were both first-time POSH shoppers. Greg told me he loved the event, and the cause. He bought something special for his twins; shoes for his son and a surprise for his daughter! Mario (far left), was just in from LA for the sale. He bought gifts for his family, a new suit, and a Borsolino hat to pitch his latest TV and movie projects.

My dearest friends were all first-time POSH shoppers and vowed to return next year! From Mara with her new fur jacket to Nicole Starr with her tiara, each became a POSH star that night.

Mary Beth Wright of OK! Magazine, has always made me feel "OK!" about the loss of my job and last night her dedicated support to me went from ok to off-the-charts. Thanks for coming to the POSH Sale, Mary Beth!

I am so thankful to be a part of the POSH Sale, and that the benefit preview received such an overwhelming response!

The POSH Sale goes on until Sunday, so be sure to come to Lighthouse International. I guarantee you will find fashion at unbelievable prices and leave with that "feel good" feeling we all get when we know we're involved with a good cause.

Get your tickets here!

And to see more photos from the event, visit our flickr page!

Rumor Has It ...

2009-05-12T17:29:00.004-04:00

He was the most charming publisher in the industry. He could have charmed a snake. Every media planner had a crush on him, and his second in command had been a close follower for many years.

When an opportunity opened up to work with him, I knew I had to jump at it. It was the perfect position for me; he was smart, savvy, and wonderful to work with. Seeing him everyday would allow my creative juices to flow. There was just one tiny flaw: he had a bald spot. I knew that if I was going to make it in this job I was not only going to have to land the position, I was going to HAVE to give him advice on that bald spot and his clothing.

Now, rumors run rampant in the publishing industry. The internal grapevine means that if someone sneezes at one magazine, the sales team at another will tell her "Bless you!"

So when I decided that I was not only going to give this publisher the best marketing ideas I had, but also the best fashion advice, it got around quickly. After inviting this high-powered industry insider to the POSH Sale so he could replace those boring white shirts, the advice made me gossip fodder rather quickly. 3 emails, 6 phone calls, and a text message later, and suddenly it was rumored that I had turned from Marketing Director to Fashion Make-Over Consultant.

There was no truth to that rumor - well, except for the truth that any man who wants to be well-dressed, in-style, and very hot, should shop at POSH.

Left: Brooks Brothers, $15
Center: Brooks Brothers, $15
Right: Ermenegildo Zegna, $15

Left: Jones New York, $15
Center: Pronto Uono, $15
Right: Jones New York, $15

Hat: Borsalina, $35
Tie: Brooks Brothers, $10
Suit (left): Studio 0001, $149
Suit (right): Neiman Marcus, $100

Hat: Borsalina, $35
Shoe (detail shot below): Gucci, $25

To the Hamptons!

2009-05-11T17:33:00.006-04:00

Each summer, just like the movie "March of the Penguins", my crowd of loyal friends makes the annual drive down the Long Island Expressway to the Hamptons. Like the penguins, who instinctually make their annual trip, we also migrate to find mates, soak up the sun, and enter the Hampton's sea to recover from the winter.

And just like any migratory group, our "Beach Society" has certain rules:
1. Blanket and umbrella placement is important: you've got to get a spot early and make sure it's close to the water, not too crowded, but of course - close to the cutest guys on the beach.
2. Find the addresses to all the best parties - thank God for GPS
3. Pack a weekend bag that includes a variety of outfits from beach cover-ups to black-tie attire to cover all manner of possible social occasions.

This summer, my blackberry will be filled with all the important numbers, including the one to call the unemployment office to claim my weekly benefits. But my weekend bag is unconscionably empty. But as always: POSH to the rescue!

Kim and I just spent a few hours downstairs while my fellow volunteers were setting up the Sale (remember - POSH starts on Wednesday with the Benefit Preview, before opening to the public on Thursday - get your tickets soon!), and already I know what I'll be making a bee-line for when the sale opens later this week.

It's sad that Sagg Main Beach has started eroding, but at least with POSH coming up, my new Hamptons clothes won't erode my wallet!

These pants just screamed "Hamptons" to me, I couldn't resist: Maxou, size 10, $15. Top: Izod, size M, $15.

Maybe I AM teaching Kim a thing or two, she picked this outfit out on her own! Dress: Ralph Lauren, size 4, $30. Blazer, size 10, $25.

Beach cover-ups: Cho, size 10, $30 each

I absolutely adored how slimming this was on me! Silk skirt, size 6, $15. Top: Sagaie Chemise, size 2, $15.

Kim picked this one out on her own too, I was so proud of my little fashion misfit! Vintage, no label dress, size 8, $40. And you've just got to see the other photo of this here: they don't make bead-work like this anymore.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T17:18:00.002-04:00

Today, May 10th, 2009, is Mother's Day, and as always it finds me and many of my friends scrambling to figure out the perfect gift for our moms or mothers-in-law. If your mom is like mine, when asked what she wants for her special day she will always reply with "Nothing, don't buy me anything." I wrack my brain each year, but this year will be different. I am inviting Mom (Ida) to join me in some mother-daughter bonding. We're going shopping: at POSH.

My earliest memories of my mother are when she would take me back-to-school shopping at Alexander's and allow me to pick out my fall outfits. Now, with a little role reversal, I will get to buy Mom whatever she chooses at POSH. And since the prices are so affordable, it's a gift that I can give without spending beyond my unemployment budget.

This is actually an extra special gift because my mom has macular degeneration, and I wanted her to know that my volunteer position with the POSH Sale benefits others who are dealing with this disease and other types of vision loss as well. Since all proceeds benefit Lighthouse International and their services to help people who are visually impaired.

So with love, with all my heart, and with a great cause in mind, I've invited my uber-fashionable mom (hey, I had to get it from somewhere, right?!) to POSH to shop for Mother's Day. Why not invite the special mom in your life? It's better than a spa gift, perfume, etc. and it's a great way to bond and show mom how much you love her and love shopping with her.

You can buy tickets by clicking here.

Every New Yorker Should Have One

2009-05-08T15:59:00.004-04:00

After my last boyfriend turned out to be a dog, I decided to get a dog to replace him. After all, unconditional love and the excuse to walk to Central Park every day is ideal, no? And a dog was the perfect accessory for every Upper East Side fashion girl!

Before I was laid off, I used to walk past the Petco in Union Square every night, and I was particularly smitten with a cute little dashund named Candy. So the weekend after the break-up, I made my way to Petco, filled out all the paperwork and Cami (I changed her name) was mine!

After a few walks in Central Park, I realized that Cami was getting more attention on our walks than I was. But being unemployed, my budget didn't exactly cover a new outfit to compete with my cute new pup!

Of course, now that I'm working with the POSH Sale, all that's changed. Kim might not have to walk her pet (her cat Tessie is perfectly content to stare out the window at the pigeons on the fire escape), but she came with me to the POSH storeroom anyway to help me pick out a new dog-walking outfit. What do you think of our picks?

Jacket: Lee Anderson, size 2, $20
Skirt: Tappy, size 4, $40

Jeans: Ralph Lauren, size 10, $30
Sweatshirt: Mentic, size 8, $20

High School Reunion

2009-05-07T14:43:00.004-04:00

It's that dreaded time of the year, again. Weddings (see previous post), the threat of bathing suit season, and of course: high school reunion time. You don't necessarily HAVE to go, but you know you should. I knew that if I went to mine, I had to look fabulous to compete with all those girls who had gotten married, had 2.5 kids and are now living in Scarsdale. Besides, you never know when your next professional networking contact is going to crop up!

My high school was not typical. I attended Christopher Columbus in the Bronx, and as a large, public school, we had nothing -- no sports teams, no after-school activities; we barely had enough chairs in a classroom to sit. We didn't know that other schools had all the things we lacked. But what we did know was that we had loyal friends who all grew in the same "hood."

I didn't go far geographically after high school; I made it to Manhattan, but believe me, from Columbus High School to East 72nd Street was a long way to go.

The reunion is going to be held at Fratelli’s restaurant. Louie Fratelli was my classmate, and he became a restaurateur on Eastchester Road in the Bronx. I had to look great and show my former school friends that even though I was "still single", a greater curse than not having a job for any girl from my high school, I have a great life and am still the fashion queen I was back in the day.

I knew the POSH Sale was my first stop before heading back to the Bronx.

Faux, sheared mink coat with ribbon embellishments, size 6, $60

Kim's next reunion isn't for a few more years (lucky girl!), but this dress would be perfect for it! Black, strapless dress, Theory, size 8, $25.

Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride

2009-05-06T12:14:00.009-04:00

Just home from the gym, I opened my mailbox to find those annoying bills, a summons for jury duty and that dreaded big ivory colored enveloped addressed: Ms. Joanna Daidone and Guest.

Wrapped in a moss green ribbon, (obviously the brides' theme color) was the invitation to Sara Ann’s wedding. Sara Ann was determined to get married, and now, here was the proof that she earned her diploma and was graduating from the single girl’s life to a four-bedroom house in New Jersey.

Sara Ann was throwing a 4th of July ceremony to celebrate her newly found "love fireworks" (her words, not mine) - in Bermuda! The invitation covered every possible activity:

Friday night arrival: Casual Cook-out, Island Style
Saturday: Pool Party, Followed by Dinner
Sunday: Wedding and Black-tie Reception
Monday: Brunch

Sara Ann is a close friend and I clearly have to attend. But with CP already booked to spend the 4th of July weekend on the farm, I'm going to have to RSVP with Kim (my go-to-girl) as my "plus one". I'm not about to endure a destination wedding on my own!

Once I had picked my escort, it was time to pick out the clothes for the wedding from among the POSH Sale racks (which are becoming more and more numerous now that the sale is only a week away!).

Here's what I learned today: want to look better than the bride? Then the POSH Sale is definitely the place to go. Check out some of the amazing outfits Kim and I found:

This outfit was perfect for arriving in Bermuda: light, comfortable to travel in, and totally tropics-appropriate. Skirt: $30, Top: $25

Kim's Ralph Lauren button-down (size 4, $30) looked adorable paired with the high-waisted Et Cetera skirt (size 8, $40)

Click on the photo above to see it full-size, or check out the front of the dress here, because Kim looked absolutely amazing in this. It fit her like a glove, and for a girl who loves her jeans so much, she pulled off a dramatic color incredibly well (dress, by Angelo Sanchez, size 10)

Can you believe this dress (a size 6) is being sold at POSH for only $40? I love Sara Ann, but I definitely got a better deal than she did on the dress she'll be wearing to the wedding ;)

Chic Weekender

2009-05-04T16:44:00.007-04:00

I met him at a Hamptons Party. He was the most handsome creature I ever laid eyes on. That salt and pepper hair and yellow tiger eyes, the likes of which I had never seen. CP owned a thorough-bred horse farm in upstate New York. I love horses almost as much as I love shopping, and I was determined to get an invitation to his farm to do some riding.

CP and I wrote letters to one another, (no, really!) in which he told me about his life on the farm, and I told him about my life on the Upper East Side. After running into him this past weekend, I finally got an invitation to spend a weekend at his farm.

But what does a girl who was born in the Bronx, and had ridden subways not horses, wear for a chic weekend in the country???

Of course, POSH had the answer.

By the time I board my train this weekend, my suitcase will be filled with outfits ranging from “farm girl” to “barefoot contessa”. And everything in between.

The outfit I chose:

Pants: Theory, size 8, POSH Price? $40

Jacket: Bernado, size 4, POSH Price? $45

The skirt I had Kim try on was from Anage Too, size 8, and had a POSH price of $40. I loved the little bows!

From Frog to Prince Charming

2009-05-04T16:14:00.008-04:00

It might not have been long since Brad kicked me to the curb, but Friday night, the girls convinced me that it was time to dust myself off and start dating again. Of course, like everyone else I know, I turn to the megasite Match.com to find my new knight-in-shining armor.

So Friday night, Kim help me set up my profile, and it was off to the races! I was surprised at how quickly the emails started coming in, but I was intrigued by one of the men who "winked" at me and we started sending the back-and-forth emails and finally agreed to meet for a drink at the Accademia di Vino on 3rd Ave.

Of course this necessitated a call to Kim, because I needed access to the POSH storeroom stat! I needed a date outfit: the clothing that makes you look thin, sexy, and much more confident than you actually are!

As I sat at the bar, my date approached. That photo he sent me over email? Must have been at least 12 years old. And he’s definitely not 47 (more like 77). To make matters worse, as the date progressed, he kept talking about his ex-wife from 20 years ago!

As I’m wracking my brain for an escape plan, my eyes catch someone at the end of the bar. It’s CP, short for Chris Peter, the love of my life, my “Mr. Big”. This Park Avenue derivatives trader and jet-setter was my biggest crush for more than 5 years. It went nowhere, but there he is, heading my way, saving me from the Match date from hell. Thank God I looked hot in my outfit from POSH!

This outfit may have been wasted on my dud-of-a-blind-date, but at least CP seemed to appreciate it! And who wouldn't spend $45 for a dress that boosted my confidence and eliminated those pre-date jitters?

Boyfriend Out Leads to Girls Night Out

2009-04-30T14:22:00.006-04:00

I've never believed in "the one", but I did believe that Brad cared deeply for me - especially after those two-carat diamond earrings showed up! Brad was a dream come true: super successful, caring, the whole nine-yards.

Knowing I was thrown for a loop by my recent unemployment woes, Brad was kind enough to send me for a weekend of rejuvenation at the New Age Health Spa. Little did I know that while I was getting my chakras opened, so was he - though in totally different ways.

No job, cheater boyfriend, what's a girl to do?

Round up the girlfriends for a night on the town, of course! There is nothing like good friends and bad wine to help you forget a bad breakup.

Of course, retail therapy doesn't hurt either, so Kim and I headed down to the POSH store room to get some ideas for our girl's night out. What did I need? The perfect "find a boyfriend substitute" outfit.

Nothing makes a girl feel prettier than pink! Wish I could find something this cheap at the stores, this dress won't be on sale until May 13th at the POSH Sale, but it's only $40!

Kim keeps reminding me that she's a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl, but I am determined to show her how wrong she is: doesn't she look great in this little black dress we found for $30 in the POSH store room?

"Reverse Infomercial" -- Going from a Size 2 to a Size 8 in Just 4 Weeks

2009-04-29T10:45:00.006-04:00

It turns out that working from my "home office" also means working a little too close to the "home kitchen". My blackberry has been replaced by the TV and the infomercials on how to go from a size 8 to a size 2 in just 4 weeks air over and over again. Since I am unemployed, home and bored, I have accomplished the exact opposite – I have gone from a size 2 to a size 8 in just 4 weeks. I have gone from granola to brownies, oatmeal to Oreos and cashews to chocolate chip ice cream. How'd I get here? It was a three step process:

Step 1: Lose your job
Step 2: Find out your boyfriend of 2 years has cheated
Step 3: Eat all the comfort food you can get your hands on

But I've decided to add a step and put a positive spin on the situation:

Step 4: Clean out my closet for the spring season, and donate clothes to the POSH Sale before attending the sale next month to buy new clothes that fit!

You, too, can make needed room in your closet by donating your new, never worn, (see the photo of my bolero jacket – what was I thinking? I was NEVER going to fit into that!) or gently worn designer brand clothing and accessories.

Donations are accepted year round, but remember the POSH Sale is only once a year! So buy your tickets soon!

And don't forget, you can still donate your new and gently worn duds to POSH, too. It's starting to get warmer outside, a little spring cleaning might be just what you were looking for! (POSH donation guidelines) Check out some of the stuff I donated:

I really loved this outfit; absolutely perfect for spring. But at a size 2, that skirt isn't gonna fit any time soon! Ditto for the outfit below. By the way, all the pieces in these two outfits are going to be sold for $30 or less at the POSH Sale. Let me tell you, that is NOT what I paid for them when I bought them :)

I bought this size 8 blue satin evening outfit without a real event to wear it to. It's now turned into one of those dresses you have in the back of your closet that you completely forget about and never end up wearing but is still perfect for someone else. And even though I've never worn it, you can still get it at POSH for $40!

(you can always check out more photos on my Flickr page!)

From Pink Drinks to Pink Slips

2009-04-27T13:44:00.000-04:00

After a night out celebrating a friend’s birthday at Cipriani’s (with those little pink bellinis, of course), the first email of the day seemed fuzzy. It read: “Come to the Vice President’s office for a Business Review meeting.” It was a good thing I was wearing my navy pencil skirt, tailored white-collar shirt with cuff links and those power patent leather heels with grosgrain bows that cost a fortune. I was looking good and ready to wow my bosses!

But a “Business Review” meeting it was not. More like a “Pink Slip” party. Without warning, the magazine I worked for had folded, and now I, and the rest of the staff, were suddenly out of a job. So many worries flooded my head. Can I pay my rent; can I buy food; and dear God, can I still go shopping?

I had spent 4 years building the marketing department with my big ideas (while wearing my biggest heels). And now there was no doubt that action item #1 on my “Pink Slip To-Do List” was to get an interview suit, shoes and bag to carry my portfolio in. I just didn’t know where to start.

But as they say, “I get by with a little help from my friends”. Kim Rossi is a great friend of mine, and as the Online Content Manager for Lighthouse International, she saw an opportunity. She knew I loved fashion, I loved a good cause, and that I’d make a great volunteer for the organization. Enter the POSH Sale, where I now get to peruse the racks of New York’s leading fashion fundraiser for inexpensive ways to keep my wardrobe stylish, all while sharing my adventures with you.

Every “pink slip” does have a silver lining – just like the one in the suit I’ve got my eye on in the POSH storeroom.

I tried on this great suit by Daquin that would be perfect for interviews. Size 6, $30! The shoes were Jimmy Choos, size 9 and drastically out of my price-range at $500 - but they were awfully fun to wear! (check out more photos!)

And since trying on clothes is never fun alone, I had Kim try on this stunning Danielle Looveren size 4 suit ($30). I adore that color on her. And I've got a feeling that she didn't want to take her $500 Jimmy Choos off either, especially since they were donated to the sale by Kim Cattrall!

(check out more photos!)

Looking POSH is Affordable at New York's Supreme Buying Extravaganza: Lighthouse International's POSH Designer Sale

2009-04-21T11:42:00.001-04:00

If you're a fashionista on a budget, the POSH Sale is not to be missed! This sale is known among stylish New Yorkers as an exclusive fashion event with a legacy (in fact, POSH is now in its 37^th year!)

Interested? Imagine four days of "shopping heaven". Offering thousands of couture, designer, contemporary and vintage items for women, men and children, all available at highly discounted prices. Up to 80% discounts on new and gently worn merchandise from top designers such as Burberry, Christian Lacroix, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Comme des Garcons, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Kate Spade, Kay Unger, Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch, Zac Posen and more!

What can you find at POSH? It could be the Jimmy Choo's or Manolo's you long for, the Kate Spade you love, or that Carolina Herrera you can't live without. The inventory is replenished daily, offering a multitude of great fashion finds.

POSH is more than a great sale; it's New York's leading fashion fundraiser, so as a shopper, you are truly a fashionable philanthropist. At the POSH Sale, you can feel good about shopping in these recessionary times: all proceeds from these designer bargains benefit Lighthouse International. Lighthouse International is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment.