Hope you had a Merry Christmas (for those who celebrate the holiday).   Because the big after Christmas shopping day fell on a Saturday this year,  I noticed more people than usual taking advantage of the deep discounts offered by the major department stores.    Armed with my triple tall -real chocolate-  mocha latte (thanks to Caribou Chastain) and holiday cash (thanks Mom) I felt like I was late to start shopping at  8am. 

If you decided to stay away from the malls today, not to worry, there are many deals available well into the New Year and you can still take advantage of the discounts.

If you are in the market for new furniture, I highly recommend a visit to Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams for the Winter Clearance Event.  Starting Dec 26th all of the fall stock merchandise will be reduced 25% to 60% off. Many items are “stock” pieces, so in most cases you will get a brand new piece at the discounted stock price.  www.mgandbw.com  There is a lot of …

Continue reading The shopping never ends.. »

Continue reading Are you last minute shopping? Again…? »

Christmas is less than a week away and if you are still not sure what to get that hard to buy for person this new website may help.  The Christmas IT list ranks the hottest gifts this season by following Twitter trends and the buzz on over 50 social networking, e-commerce, and news websites. www.christmasitlist.com.  
They have features like each gift’s daily buzz stats and an indicator as to whether the gift has risen or fallen from the previous day.  It just stated on Dec. 1st and runs ’till Christmas.

Don’t forget to price compare before you buy.  Time is running out to shop online and not pay a fortune to have it shipped before the holidays.  These sites are great for holiday and year round shopping, bookmark for future use.

www.pricegrabber.com  find the lowest price online and sign up to get email when a price drops.
www.shopzilla.com – comparison shop and find the hottest online gifts.
www.smarter.com – price compare all the top merchants, read reviews, …

Continue reading Christmas “IT” list. »

Need a new holiday look but don’t want to overspend?  Check out this new website and rent your next special occasion dress rather than invest hundreds on a dress you will wear only once or twice.  
Rent The Runway lets you rent designer dresses for special occasions and the only charge is the rental fee. Rentals start at just $50 (for $350 dresses, $200 for $2000 dresses) and brands include Badgley Mischka, Alice + Olivia, Diane Von Furstenberg, and many more.  Search by trend, event, style, and the dress is mailed directly to your door.  The rental period is 4 days and when you are done with your dress you simply return it in the included envelope.
(Also great for weddings, prom, and other formal events.)

Membership is limited – email me jessica@jessicashops.com and I will send you a membership referral which will give you immediate access, or sign up on your own and be added to the wait list.  
The website is www.renttherunway.com
Don’t forget to add your own …

Continue reading Steal the show at your Holiday or NYE party. »

I love everything about Holiday shopping.  I love the light, the music, the late shopping hours, the decor and the overall convivial feeling. Everyone just seems happier and friendlier (except when fighting for front row mall parking or waiting in line to check out).

It’s also easy to get lost in the merriment and not be mindful of safety. After all, who thinks of bad things on Christmas? Well, some people do, so be smart and take note of these Holiday shopping safety tips:

• Keep your handbag and valuables close to your body—front of body preferably. If you can avoid bringing a wallet or bag, better. Keep money deep down your pockets. (And these pockets shouldn’t be loose.)
• Don’t bring an insane amount of cash with you. And don’t bring out the bling when dressing up for a trip to the mall.
• Be wary of strangers—always.  If you feel uncomfortable for any reason, ask for help or an escort to your car.
• Stay alert. Have clear visibility of your surroundings- do not …

Continue reading Safe Holiday Shopping tips »

Bargain lovers – add this to your holiday shopping list, especially this time of year when extra vases, glasses, decor,  gift ideas etc. are needed. 

Napa Home is a wholesaler of home and garden decor products.  Usually not open to the public, they will open their doors for this sale only.  Save at least 50% off wholesale prices and 75% to 85% off retail- sounds confusing but the bottom line is, deals are abundant! 

Items include one of a kind samples and more…
Glass ∙ Vases ∙ Rattan ∙ Planters ∙ Tabletop∙ Serveware ∙ Occasional Furniture ∙ Decorative Accessories ∙ Estate Pots and Planters ∙ Italian-style Ceramics ∙ Lamps ∙ Mirrors ∙Hand-thrown Pottery ∙ Pot racks ∙ Wine racks ∙ Glazed Stoneware ∙ Etageres ∙ Lightweight Planters ∙ Indoor and Outdoor variety.

Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
LAST DAY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009

This is a great time to shop for gifts or get an early jump on spring gardening projects! 

Home & Garden, …

Continue reading Home and Garden sale »

Is everyone else in Atlanta sick of this gloomy weather? It’s been raining for months now and while I understand ‘we need the rain’ it’s getting old…but at least this weather provides a good excuse wear rain boots.    

Rain boots are extremely functional, and it’s rare that “function” exists in fashion.  But it can.
I actually think that rain boots are fun—and you should have fun wearing them.

Here are some ways to keep it chic when wearing this rainy day essential:

• If it’s raining but not freezing (or actually, even if it’s not raining!), wear them with denim cutoffs.
• Try rain boots with short dresses too. They tone down the frilliness of the dress. Think of rain boots here as the new version of the ’90s staple, DocMartens.
• Wear them with anything skinny: skinny jeans, tights, or leggings they are suppose to show off your legs. The first rule in rain boots: Don’t wear them with anything baggy! The Farmer John look is just not happening.

Rain boots …

Continue reading What do I wear with rain boots? »

Celebrate the cold weather by visiting the new Ice Rink  at the St. Regis in Buckhead.  The recent opening is exciting news for all you wanna-be figure skaters who want to show off your front crossover.   As Georgia’s only hotel ice skating destination, The St. Regis Atlanta offers skating at their recently opened rink.  The Astor Holiday Rink will be open to all visitors and hotel guests from 12:00pm – 8:00pm daily throughout the month of December.

Skating sessions will start every hour, on the hour, and are not cheap - $30 per hour for adults and $15 per hour for children under 16. 
88 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30305-2212
(404) 261-3820

Of course your less expensive skating option is Centennial Olympic Park.   Admission is $7 per person and skate rental is an additional $2 for 90 minutes of skate time.  The rink is open daily, including holidays, until Jan. 31, 2010. For extra savings, here is a coupon for free skate rental.  

Know of any …

Continue reading Skate your way through the holidays »

Looking for some unique and different holiday gift ideas?   Visit the High Museum on Saturday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a  Holiday Craft Fair in the Museum’s Robinson Atrium.  A select group of Atlanta’s outstanding craftspeople from distinctive world arts to textiles, works on paper and contemporary jewelry will showcase their works.  Don’t forget the Museum store which is often overlooked for holiday gifts. 
1280 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309 ..(404) 733-4444

Also worth a mention is the PaddyWax Open House.  PaddyWax distributes to retailers and catalogs nationwide.  We are fortunate to have the warehouse here in Atlanta and can score great deals on irregular and discontinued candles and diffusers. Perfect for gifting or holiday decor.

December 5th from 9AM-5PM
235 Dekalb Industrial Way ~Atlanta

www.paddywax.com
Check out their website and sale section if you prefer to shop online.

Visit www.jessicashops.com for more deals and …

Continue reading Unique gift ideas »

Q – I’ve seen people wearing belts around bulky winter coats.  Some look great, but not sure about others.  Is this the new style? …. Traci P – Atlanta

A – I love coats and winter fashion.  I mean if we have to deal with cold temps, we might as well look good.  A nice coat is always in style, but bulky outerwear makes us lose our shape all winter long which is  more frump than flatter.

I’m a fan of belted coats most times.  If your coat didn’t come with a belt, or you want to spice up your look, there are plenty of options.  How do you decide on the right one?
Here are some quick tips:

• Don’t go for skinny belts; you’ll just lose them in the coat’s bulky/thick fabric. Look for structure and width in your belts for coats.
• Go for elastic belts which can adjust according to how thin or thick your coat will be. And they also accentuate waists really well.
• Choose an obi. Obi belts are thick belts that really define your waist. (They were inspired by the traditional …

Continue reading Ask Jessica: Belted coats are a cinch. »