If you don’t receive their emails, do sign up already: theirs are one of the few I actually open.

The new Lutz & Patmos online boutique is open, so now you can buy those soft chunky knits directly from the source! Click below for just a few of my eco-friendly favorites…

Desperate time call for desperate measures. Don’t believe me? Check your Inbox.

• Barneys lures (effectively, in my case) with ‘PRIVATE SALE STARTS TODAY! + Complimentary Shipping’
• The Discover Store tries to put immediate pressure to buy with time-sensitive subjects like: ‘20% Off Site-wide Secret Sale Ends Soon!’
• BCBG begs customers with ‘50% Off Winter Sale Continues - Plus Free Shipping Offer!

And the list goes on and on and on and on…and will continue to (so make a mental note in case you haven’t already - DO NOT buy anything at full price right now because in a day it will be discounted). But what really takes the cake are the messages sent out to anyone a marketing team can get an email for that are meant to be tender, heartfelt personal letters directly from big company CEOs, founders, whatevers, to us (the little people) that practically beg for our business but mask it with unending inspiration (Don’t know what I’m talking about? Click the link below for a recent example). Needless to say, I find these incredibly annoying and insulting - I mean, even the design on these emails is usually very poor. Like I’m seriously going to shop more at some store because some poor copywriter was made to stay an extra 3 hours one night drafting this bullshit that some poor graphic designer clearly didn’t care about either. No, not at all.

If these business really want my business then they should offer better product selection, control their marketing people so we are sent a reasonable amount of communicative messages, check their own egos, and think about what consumers what - honestly the “75% off New Styles Hand Delivered Right to Your Door!” emails are a million times more inspirational than the ones that try too hard to be ‘real’ and personal.

I’m more than slightly obsessed with my email and check it constantly from the moment I wake up around 7:45 am until I fall asleep somewhere around 2 am. All I can say is that I’ve been opting out of a lot of email programs lately.

I would rather eat a salad with chopsticks than a fork. I think it is really odd to wear shoes indoors. I enjoy boba tea (hot and cold) and can even order it in Taiwanese. I’m what you would call an ‘egg’ - you know, white on the outside, yellow on the inside. And yes, a lot of my friends happen to be deliciously wonderful twinkies and bananas.

When I first moved to New York from Hawaii I found it extremely odd (and really exotic) to hear a slew of European languages being spoken in the subways, on the streets, in stores, in bathrooms. Needless-to-say, Chinatown was sort of a comfort. Korea-town, with Morning Glory, was better. And even though Manhattan is definitely my home now, I really felt like I was back in Honolulu last weekend when I walked into the insanely fabulous Japanese bookstore, Kinokuniya.

If you’ve ever wanted to find a hundreds of books on Japanese street style, both English and Japanese-language manga (as well as other anime-related paraphernalia), Japanese magazines galore, adorable children’s book and insane kumon workbooks (which will make you realize why Japanese kids are so much further ahead than our own), crazy toys, thousands of videos (including some of my personal favorites from Hayao Miyazaki including Howl’s Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away), fashion pattern books, and so much more, then you really should make your way over to Kinokuniya, but give yourself some time…

But there is more. Much more. In fact, there are three floors just full of ‘more’. A million cute pens and notebooks (which I’m such a sucker for), packets of origami paper, glittery stickers, even crystals to bling up your phone right next to a book featuring zillions of ways to do it. “Kawaii” to say the least.

And then I spotted the I Am Plastic book by Kidrobot and had to resist a sudden (and quite strong) urge to buy the fabulous visual history of the psycho designer toys that I’m so taken with. Anyway, my little trip into Kinokuniya was such a great break from my typical Manhattan and I’m sure will become a new hang out (especially as there is a cafe upstairs).

Want to go to? Of course you do! Kinokuniya is located right at Bryant Park (making it the perfect escape during fashion week) at 1073 6th Avenue, between 41st and 40th Streets. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm & Sun 11am-730pm. See below for a bunch of pictures inside the store (which I wasn’t supposed to take - oops!)…

We are lucky, lucky people.

Obama won (woo-hoo!) and now, Abaeté (a forever-favorite label of mine) is having is having it’s seasonal sample sale tomorrow. And you know what that means ladies…

40-60% savings on a bevy of beautiful dresses, amazing coats, sexy skirts, and great easy tees usually found in Bergdorf, Saks, and Bendels. Lots of styles - especially in sizes 4 and 6.

Thursday, 11/6 | 11am-7pm
Friday, 11/7 | 11am-7pm
Saturday, 11/8 | 12pm-6pm

560 Broadway, Suite 509 (at Prince Street in SoHo)
Trains: R/W to Prince | B/D/F/V to Broadway/Lafayette
credit cards and cash gladly accepted

Want to know more about Abaeté?
See my review of the Spring ‘09 Collection, a trend alert, and see how the label contributed greatly to my personal style.

Want to be the fairest in the land? Then you might want to pick up this snow white shearling jacket by the brilliant Helmut Lang.

Of course, I’m still totally obsessed with the black leather one I saw back in July (and that AMAZING one-strapped cocktail dress I saw in Saks a few months ago), but when I saw this new style pop up on net-a-porter a few days ago I sort of died (it is also available at Intermix). I know it’s $1,325 and that it will probably get dirty the very first time it is worn, but I still love it.

Imagine, if you will, a cool fall afternoon, a massive conflagration of leaves igniting Manhattan from City Hall to the Cloisters, a large cup of freshly brewed coffee…and now imagine this stunning shearling Helmut Lang paired with dark washed Earnest Sewn Harlan jeans, simple Prada booties, and a vibrant blood-red scarf with fabulous fringe. Now that is what I call happily ever after.

When I became pregnant I went on a mad search for the perfect baby bag…so trust me when I tell you not to fall for the special bags with insulated pouches and pockets everywhere (they’re too damn bulky) - instead just go the Barneys and treat yourself to the standard Goyard tote (which will look great hanging from your bugaboo stroller). I promise you’ll love it from the day you buy it to the day your kid leaves for college.

But if you really want a great Goyard and aren’t knocked up (or planning to be) then splurge Monday, Nov. 17th at 7pm, when 21 very special Goyard bags go up for auction at Christies to benefit L’Institut Curie.

Goyard is auctioning off 21 unique bags - each one personalized by a different French personality, from Catherine Deneuve to Audrey Tautou and Vanessa Paradis. All the bags have been designed using the colors ofare L’Institut Curie (black or orange), and all proceeds go to support the cancer research of the organization.

And if you just happen to be in the City of Light between Nov. 3rd to the 15th, stop by La Maison Goyard in Paris 233 Saint-Honore to preview the collection before the sale. My favorites are the ones by Audrey Marnay and Sarah Biasini.

I know, I know - how can I think about shopping in these tough times?
Well, that’s just the kind of woman I am. And hey, new recession = more sales for you and I

Prada does everything right. This morning (even with a head-splitting hangover), I managed to make it to the fabulous Prada sample sale.

This is by far the most organized, clean, peaceful sample sale I have ever been to - and certainly worth the trek over to 609 west 51st street (which is all the way on the west side between 11th and 12th avenues).

There is lots and lots of amazing stuff from fall ‘07 (including a coat I’m just dying for that’s marked down from something around $3000 to a mere $675), and practically everything from the drop-dead gorgeous resort ‘08 and spring ‘08 collections.

There are no handbags, some shoes, tons of women’s dresses, jackets and coats; there is also very little for men (other than some absolutely absurd abominable snowman-inspired wooly jackets). There are also some decent Miu Miu pieces.

The sale continues through next Saturday and I highly recommend you check it out. I’m sure I’ll be dreaming about it all tonight…*sigh*

And now, something for all you posh politicos..

This year’s election has sparked interest in many fashionable people including Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, designers Maria Cornejo, Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Charles Nolan, Tory Burch, Narciso Rodriguez, Zac Posen, Nanette Lepore, Tracy Reese, Lutz & Patmos, Juicy Couture, Rachel Roy, Rag and Bone, Derek Lam, Isaac Mizrahi, Diane von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Brian Reyes, Jeffery Costello and Robert Tagliapietra - and they’re all contributing their talents to the Obama campaign with ‘Runway to Change‘

Roy’s scarf is great (but I’m a total scarf-girl), Wang’s tank is uber cool (and it’s only $45), and Derek Lam’s tote ($75) does the best at making politics pretty. Really people, who needs the presidential debates when you can just go shopping?

I just wonder why Thakoon isn’t part of this since he’s dressing Michelle Obama left and right these days… (and thanks to my politically minded fashionable friend Brooke for pointing this out to me!)