Retailer Hightlight: United Apparel Liquidators

If you haven’t been to United Apparel Liquidators (UAL) located at 2918 West End Avenue, you need to grab your girlfriends, your Kate Spade pocketbook, and get there now. UAL offers high-end designer duds for men and women at grossly slashed prices- 70 – 90% off daily. For example, you could score a $6,000 Valentino gowns priced at $800 or $480 Marc Jacobs shoes for $79. With a rotation of name-brand merchandise this little store is always crammed packed with goods, so you do have to dig for a while. However, the assistants are always very helpful, guiding you around the store and letting you know about the hottest deals and designs. Here is what people are saying about UAL:


“If you have some time to dig, crawl, and sift through cramped and unorganized racks....it can certainly be worth it. Trust me; it's worth the effort because you can find deals that the fashion industry doesn't want you to know about. It can be our little secret.” – Marcia M.

“Best shopping in Nashville, bar none. You definitely have to visit often to take advantage of the continual shipments of amazing stuff (and to start figuring out where everything is located around the store!), but I almost never leave empty-handed or with an empty wallet. You can find everything from up-and-coming designers to the most established high-end labels. It's gotten to be a fun hobby of mine to spot the exact same clothing or shoes at the other boutiques and stores in town that I've seen or purchased at UAL for literally fractions of the prices.” –Kate S.

“HOLY MOTHER OF DESIGNER BARGAINS!! Do you remember the feeling when you were a kid and you walked into a toy store for the first time - so much to see your heart raced and your head started spinning? THAT'S how I felt when I walked into UAL for the first time yesterday. Thanks to the wonderful yelpers I checked this place out - and like within the first 10 minutes I already had 50 dresses to try on.” –Rahel K.

“Labels such as Jimmy Choo (seriously? heels for $150!!!!!!), Balenciaga, Velvet, Black Opal, Hollywould, Michael Kors, and MANY others live there. Here's the kicker--they really ARE like 70-90% off (I'm not kidding about the Jimmy Choos...probably $650 shoes at $150--can't beat that with a stick!)” –Robin R.

“The sales people are nice. It caught me off guard to have such cheery, nice people offering to bring me tons of stuff, since I'm used to sifting through racks of musty old clothing at Goodwill and such, but the service is certainly very... friendly. While most of the stuff is very affordable, they also have the more couture stuff, perfect for very formal events or when you have money to spend on a truly designer dress. At the least, it's fun stuff to look at.” –Emma L.

Quotes from http://www.yelp.com/biz/united-apparel-liquidators-nashville.

Spring Symphony Fashion Show Designer Announced: Marchesa

Sure, April 26, 2011 may seem like an eternity away, but make sure to mark your calendars for the Nashville Symphony’s annual spring fashion show. The Shermerhorn Symphony Center has previously featured fashion heavy-hitters such as Monique Lhuillier and Isaac Mizrahi. (I had the opportunity to be invited to the Isaac Mizrahi fashion show and it was unbelievable!!) This year the New York-based designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig’s high-end fashion label Marchesa’s Fall 2011 collection will be featured. The incoming Symphony Orchestra League Board President Sadhna Williams announced that Janet Bentz andJohnna Watson will chair the 2011 event. According to the Nashville Scene ABC News Correspondent Deborah Roberts, a reporter on 20/20 and substitute news anchor for Good Morning America will emcee the event. The featured band has yet to be announced. Below is an inside shot of the Shermerhorn Symphony Center and looks from Marchesa's Spring/Summer 2009 collection.

photo from www.thelobby.com/city/nashville/

photos from http://www.wgsn.com/members/catwalks/shows/cw2008aug05_085610?view=Standard&report=33&page=1

Samurai Hair Care - Cute Packaging Found Online

Found this in my travels in cyber space. Just love it. Not sure who designed it, but simply love the identity and packaging. It's simple and pretty and I would be happy to have it on my shower shelf.

Casting Call: Couture Magazine Cover Girl

Online based Couture Magazine is looking for their next cover girl. The following is an excerpt from their website:


We are looking for a Couture Cover Girl! Send us an email with your best Cover Girl photo. Be sure you have the photographer's permission to submit the photo. This competition is open to females ages 18 and up! In the email describe in 400 words or less why we should pick you to be Couture's Cover Girl. Submissions that make it through round one will be displayed in Couture Fashion Magazine and open to the public to vote for their favorite! Only one entry per person. Send all emails to Contact@CoutureFashionMag.com. The winner will be selected to be on a Couture cover in 2010. Good Luck!

Retailer Highlight: Sevier Skirts

I’ve heard of Mary-Kay parties, Tupperware parties, sushi parties, and even book parties. But a skirt party? The Nashville-based company, Sevier Skirts, has established and grown their business doing just that!

Producing over 6,000 custom made skirts annually, Sevier Skirts “takes classic, timeless, styles that women have grown to love and embellishes them with gorgeous and unique fabrics”. The company purchases their fabrics from New York City’s top fabric houses who also sell to names as Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, Chanel, and Cynthia Rowley. Skirts range from $100 to $200.

So, where do the skirt parties come in? According to their website, “Skirts are most commonly sold at "skirt parties" in which a group of friends gather together at a hostess' home”. The parties require a host and a minimum of 10 to 12 guests; usually they are held on weeknights from 5:30 to 9:00 pm. Hosts also receive a 10% discount of the total party sales.

Sevier Skirts has been featured on local NEWS stations and was recognized as the 2010 Entrepreneur of the Year by the city paper.

Find out more about Sevier Skirts here.

photo credit: sevier skirts website

Diamond Star Halo Vintage sale: August 30 - 31, 2010.

Libby Callaway, former fashion editor of the New York Times, has an eclectic collection of unique thrift and antique finds housed at Fanny’s House of Music (1101 Holly Street). Since 2005 Callaway has been selling merchandise from her Diamond Star Halo Vintage collection to thrifty and fashion-conscious men and women of Nashville. And now through August 31st everything is 40% off. Make sure to take advantage of this opportunity and adorn yourself in some hip threads!

Haute Swapping for a Cause: September 18, 2010

On September 18th join Nashville fashionistas for a day of shopping at Haute Swapping for a Cause.


Haute Swapping for a Cause is an alternative way to "thrift" shop and support the community. Individuals get together and swap items from their closet, participate in the Haute Lounge and silent auction while raising money for a local non-profit organization.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank and runs from 5-10 pm, at Velocity in the Gulch. Haute Swapping has partnered with Sephora, Cherubim Ink, Emeri Pink Moscato, and Vitamin Water Zero.

Click here to purchase tickets.