Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th Sneak Peek!

Last night I had the pleasure of being invited to a VIP Spring preview of merchandise at the newly renovated Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th. Wow. As previously mentioned in yesterday's blog post, this was always my go-to Opry Mills destination, and I couldn't be more excited that this store, and the entire mall, is reopening to the public this very minute! (I was anticipating attending the ribbon cutting ceremony this morning, but had to come to work instead.) 

Upon arrival at Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, I was greeted by a few friendly employees distributing coupons. I was immediately struck by the updated and stunning new store layout. This place is beautiful. A store manager informed me they were trying to achieve an upscale department store layout with thick wooden cashwraps in the center of the space, four dressing rooms flanking each side. Oh, and the merchandise! Stella, Chanel, Prada, YSL, Marc Jacobs, oh my! I thought I'd share a few of my favorite shots from the evening....

L.A.M.B. shoes

Loved this adorable display in the children's department.

Rows and rows of trendy spiked Sam Edelman shoes.

The new Men's department is clean and streamlined.

Is that a shout out to Nashville Fashion Week, I see?!

I loved this stylish customer's pants.

Rows of exquisite formal dresses.

Prim and proper.

DVF.

Heavenly shoes.

Classic Chanel.

I quickly became obsessed with this snake print Stella McCartney dress. If only you were in my price range!

New store layout. Love it!

Delicious treats from the evening.

I'm drawn to anything sparkly.

Free People and other brands.

Wooden and stone bracelets.

Gems and stones.

How adorable are these mini plates and salt/pepper shakers?!

DVF at around $280 a pop.

DVF.

Beading and sequins, you get me every time.

New shoe department.

I had to try on these YSL shoes. Love!

Chloe anyone?

The fine jewelry department. From David Yurman to Elizabeth and James, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th has you covered.

Claire's Closet Consignment Sale: April 13-15, 2012

Have you ever heard of the 80/20 theory when it comes to a woman’s wardrobe? It’s a much-researched philosophy hypothesizing we wear 20% of our clothing 80% of the time. Think about it! How many pieces do you continually skip over in your daily wardrobe considerations because it’s no longer the right size, shape, style, etc.? I know I’m guilty of recycling the same outfits over and over again, promising myself I will some day brave those Michael Kors sky-high stiletto heels I scored two summers ago on mega sale or will lose those 10 lbs. to fit back into that darling Marc Jacobs sweater I once loved.

Well, for that 80%, Nashville Fashion Blog has you covered. As the warm weather approaches (or I should say as 80 degree weather is now upon us), it’s time for a bit of spring wardrobe cleaning. And instead of getting rid of all your unwanted items, why not sell them? I was recently turned on to Claire’s Closet, a 3 day upscale consignment resale in Franklin, TN from April 13-15, 2012 (drop off day for clothing is April 12^th). Here are the details posted on Claire’s Closet’s website:

Claire's Closet is a semi annual women's consignment sale specializing in upscale and name brand clothing and accessories.  This season's sale will be held in the Clubhouse located in the Westhaven community in Franklin.  We accept new and gently used women's clothing (size 0-14) shoes, bags, belts, scarves, and jewelry.

Claire's Closet is a 3 day event.  That means  you no longer have to wait months for your clothes to sell at a consignment store or deal with the frustration of organizing a garage sale.  All you have to do it tag your items and bring them to the sale.  We will do the rest!  You set the price and we sell it for you! You receive a check for your sold items within 2 weeks.

Consignors receive 70% of the sale proceeds. A $15 registration fee is required to participate in the sale and must be paid at the time of registration. This fee covers the cost of rental space, advertising and associated costs.

Volunteer to work a shift during the sale and you can shop before the sale opens to the public. 1 shift volunteers shop early and 2 shift volunteers shop even earlier!   This means you get first choice of all the fabulous items for sale. 

Claire's Closet was started by Paige Cleveland and Ashley Renner. As participants in countless children's consignment sales, they began to wonder why kids get to have all the fun.  They saw the need for an upscale women's sale and decided that they were the people to fill it. 

Visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/clairesclosetsale or contact us at clairesclosetsale@gmail.com for even more information.

Items from last year's haul. What will this year bring??

Chanel purse. Yes, please!

Louis Vuitton cuff bracelet.

Nicole Miller jacket.

Prada shoes.

Saks Fifth Ave. Off 5th Store Reopening @ Opry Mills Mall

Hopefully you know by now that Opry Mills is scheduled to reopen this Thursday, March 29, 2012 (see article here). This marks a momentous occasion and milestone of rebirth and growth after the flooding that destroyed much of our city years ago. After much passing, Opry Mills will finally reopen, and I couldn't be more excited. With the debut of stores new and old, one I am most looking forward to is Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th. This was my Opry Mills store of choice for fine designer goods at affordable prices. I've scored everything from Vera Wang dresses to Louis Vuitton scarves at this beloved retailer. And this Thursday, my pocket book is ready for some epic spending. 

My favorite Vera Wang dress scored at Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th seen here on Carmen Electra.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, New York (March 23, 2012) – Saks Incorporated’s Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH announced today that it plans to reopen its Nashville, TN store on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Located 15 minutes from downtown Nashville, next to the Grand Ole Opry House, the approximate 27,500 square foot store will be located in the Opry Mills Shopping Center. Operated by Simon Malls, upon completion, the Center will be the largest shopping outlet in Tennessee, with over 200 stores, multiple restaurants and an in-house movie theatre.

The reopening marks Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH’s return to Opry Mills after it was closed by the May 2010 floods; the original store opened in April, 2000. In reopening the store a number of original staff are returning, including Store Director Kris Broadrick.

“We are excited about Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH's return to Nashville and the Opry Mills Shopping Center,” noted Robert Wallstrom, President of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. “We look forward to working with many familiar and new faces as we continue to bring Nashville the latest fashion at the best prices.”

A distinctive assortment of brands will be available at outlet prices in the remodeled store, including women’s and men’s apparel, fine jewelry, handbags, shoes, and children’s collections. For spring, women will find both designer and contemporary merchandise, from brands such as Ralph Lauren, St. John and Escada. Men can shop spring sportswear from designers such as John Varvatos, Penguin, Vince, James Perse, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors, or opt for sleek tailoring by Saks Fifth Avenue, Calvin Klein, Hickey Freeman, and Versace. The Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH assortment features spring’s most sought-after trends, such as colored denim for all (even children!), printed pants, and loosely woven knits.

The store will be modeled in Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH’s innovative ‘luxury in a loft’ store design. Since its debut in 2008, the innovative layout has been well received and set a new standard in outlet shopping. This design maximizes efficiency and flexibility, enabling easy changes in the general layout. The store will be bright, uncluttered, with no hard aisles and one consistent hard-surface floor throughout. All fixtures will be on casters, ensuring ease in movement, and all hardware will be interchangeable between fixtures.

In celebration of the re-launched store, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH will host a cocktail party for its loyal customers on Wednesday, March 28. Attendees will enjoy an exclusive preview of spring merchandise and receive a complimentary signature tote with any purchase. Continuing with opening celebrations, the community is invited to attend a red carpet experience on Friday, March 30 from 11 to 5, where a photographer will be on hand to capture the guests as they enter. Throughout the opening weekend, all customers will receive a VIP Savings Pass with five opportunities to save and will be eligible for FastCash by signing up for the Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH MORE! Rewards loyalty program. This program offers weekly discounts, sales and promotions on merchandise throughout the store.

About Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH is the savvy shopper’s premier source for value-priced designer clothing and accessories, offering customers an exceptional array of both coveted designer names and unique merchandise under the Saks Fifth Avenue label. Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH places the highest priority on style, selection, and customer service. Today, there are a total of 61 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores in 23 states. Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH is a part of Saks Incorporated, which also operates 45 Saks Fifth Avenue stores and saks.com.

Nashville Fashion Week 2012: Day 5

Nashville Fashion Week returned to elegance with last night's runway show at the Pinnacle building downtown. Of all the venues and shows, this was my favorite one. Cozied between two new friends front row, I snapped photos of the exquisite collections, muttering things like "Sooo pretty" and "I need that..." to myself. My favorite collections of the evening were Nashville-based designers Jamie and the Jones with their always fascinating textile, color, and fabric pallets, and the Oscar-worthy gowns of Randi Rahm. So beautiful.

The evening ended with an after-party, delectable treats provided by Arnold Myint, and chit chatting with friends new and old. Here's a visual synopsis of the evening:

Collection 1: Jamie and the Jones

Jamie and the Jones is the brainchild of Nashville designers Jamie Frazier and Hannah Jones. The duo discovered their mutual appreciation for slow process design as sophomores at O’More College of Design. Their collective skill at creating clothes that combine clean silhouettes with painstaking handwork (knitting, crochet, embroidery, beading, and hand painting are all hallmarks) brought them high honors from O’More during both their junior and senior years, when they were awarded the Critic’s Choice and Distinguished Designer awards respectively. Jamie and Hannah have continued to produce their line from their studio inside Local Honey, Nashville's premiere source for local design.

Collection 2: Kal Reiman


Cleveland native “Cally” Rieman took an unconventional path into the world of fashion, graduating from Denison University with a degree in East Asian Studies and Political Science. Her interest in fashion began during a study program in Taiwan, where she taught English to the owner of a textile manufacturing and marketing company. After graduation, she spent four years working in finance before pursuing a degree in fashion design at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her design career began at Jean Charles de Castelbajac, a prominent French designer of men’s and women’s wear collections. She moved to New York in 2002 as a design assistant for Rubin Chapelle’s women’s wear collection. As a designer for Hilfiger’s H men’s line, she solidified her experience in tailored goods and began to work towards starting her own collection. Her collection launched in 2009 and is currently in its fourth season of distribution.

Collection 3: Magid Bernard

Magid and Michele Bernard make up the luxury fashion house, Magid Bernard. Their love of art, architecture, beauty and design of every kind drive their selection of luxurious European textiles which they craft into timeless designs with a twist. The Magid Bernard label is well known for its attention to clean lines and elegance. The line’s astonishingly engineered bias-cut dresses, French laces, and hand-embroidered fabrics are favorites among an international clientele. Magid Bernard’s showroom and atelier are in the prestigious New Mart Building, in Los Angeles’ Fashion District, where every piece is made under the Bernards’ watchful eye.

Collection 4: Randi Rahm


Randi Rahm’s runway show, featuring her Fall/Winter 2012 collection, will mark Lexus Nashville Fashion Week's finale on Saturday, March 24 at the the Pinnacle at Symphony Place, 150 3rd Avenue South in downtown Nashville. Rahm’s hand-beaded creations have graced the pages of major magazines and illuminated red carpets worldwide. Her designs have drawn rave reviews from fashion aficionados coast to coast including Beyonce, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Julianne Hough and Halle Berry.

OMG, after party cupcakes. I may or may not have eaten two of these delectable treats.