December 26th is one of my favorite shopping days of the year.  I line up my gift cards all in a row and start hunting for the best online deals on the favorite items I have been following all season.  When I sat down to scope out the specials today, I was initially intrigued by huge markdowns.  Unfortunately, what I have also found is very low inventories.  There are still great bargains to be had but patience is the word of the day.  And flexibility.  I did spend a few of my gift cards on treasure but most of them will be stored away for a month or two when inventories are a little more plentiful. 

If you don’t see what you are looking for, many sites will let you sign up to receive an email when the products are available.  I love this!  Its like having my own emailing personal shopper! 

Thanks to the internet, personal service and product offerings based on my preferences is back!  And thanks to social intelligence, that computer even knows my name!I grew up in a small town where I went to school with the store owners who were also the store managers/cashier/purchasing manager and custodian.  I grew up in the day of personal service.  When I went into a store, I was greeted by name by the owner who had a pretty good idea why I was there.  She usually had suggestions to guide my purchase in between questions about how my family was doing, how school was going, etc.  Even the chain stores were franchises with local ownership and coexisted peacefully among the mom and pop stores. 

Then big box discounters moved in during my high school years.  My college roomate used to say about Walmart, “If they don’t have it, you don’t need it.”  And with them, the small mom and pops became a thing of the past.  There are still wonderful small stores, but they are much more gift, hobby and lifestyle oriented.  And with them, relationship shopping left the landscape.  You were expected to purchase with the masses as inventory became a decision of scaled purchasing on massive discount.  So, if I was willing to go with the flow, I could buy what everyone else was buying from the front of the store at a massive discount. 

Meet the loyalty program.  The best of both worlds.  I have been Christmas shopping the past few days and my email inbox is bursting from the seams.  Discounts and links to items that are similar to or complementary to my purchases.  Coupons to entice me into the store and to the website.  And the banner advertising on my Google and Yahoo mail accounts all reflect where I have been spending money either online or in the store using loyalty cards and coupons.  And when I go to the site, I am greeted on a first name basis and links to products are ready and waiting to hop into my shopping cart! 

Gotta run!  Some of my loyalty coupons are only good today…Happy shopping!

Every week, as part of my Weight Watchers online subscription, I receive an email with great tips and strategies.  Some weeks, they are geared to the time of year.  Other weeks, they are more geared toward where I am in my weight management goals.  They always provide encouragement and lots of great ways to maintain my goals for maintaining a healthy weight with nutritious choices.  This is an excerpt from this week’s article, which was just too perfect for the Monday after Thanksgiving!

Have a healthy holiday!
Even in the hectic weeks ahead, you can make small adjustments that will make it easier for you to tackle your weight-loss goals in the new year. The first step toward a healthful holiday season is simple and effective: Don’t use the season as an excuse to splurge. The second is to always be on the lookout for ways to fit healthy behaviors into your life.

Click here to learn more about Weight Watchers Online. 

Just in time for Holiday shopping, GlamourByLBD is very pleased to announce its partnership with Zappos.com.  Zappos is a fabulous online retail destination with a huge inventory of shoes, clothes, handbags and accessories. Yes, even Glamourous LBDs!

Last spring, I was on what I expected to be a futile hunt for a favorite discontinued style of jeans.  I found two pairs in my size on Zappos.com and grabbed them both! 

So, how will I work with Zappos.com?  Several times each week, I recommend clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit a certain occasion, opportunity or body shape challenge.  Zappos will be an important part of my “bag of tricks” for finding just the right piece to make my readers glamourous. 

Here are a few quick nougats that drive home what Zappos.com does so well…

- Zappos.com has free shipping on all orders.

- Zappos.com has the best selection of shoes and handbags anywhere.

- Zappos.com offers over 1200 brands with 130,000 styles and more than 2.7 million products in stock!

-Zappos now offers clothing and accessories and is continually adding new product categories.

Click here to Start Shopping at Zappos.com

Starting on Monday, my focus into the new year will be sales and specials.  However, if there is a trend that you want to hear about or a fit challenge that you want GlamourByLBD to write about, please let me know about it and I will add it to question of the week. 

 I will also bring back the shopping page.  Please visit it and let me know what you’d like to see there!  I am here for your questions! 

As the Nordstrom Half Yearly Sale is drawing to a close, there are still many beautiful LBDs available online and at the store.  And the timing is perfect as the holiday party invitations are just beginning to arrive! 

I love the construction of this Tadashi Shoji Seam Detailed Sheath Dress.  It is very flattering to the over 35 figure for several reasons:

• Horizontal seams accent a sleekly fitted sheath shaped with a wide V-neck and cap sleeves.  The eye is drawn up and down instead of attention hitting the sensitive areas!  Cap sleeves are great for deaccentuating the bust and horizontal seams take the eye off of the midsection.  Don’t be misled into believing that hiding under an oversized dress is slimming when the opposite is actually the case!
• Back zip with hook-and-eye closure does not put zippers or buttons in a place where it will distract or draw attention.  And yet, it is reasonable to tailor if a nip or tuck is needed. 
• Approx. length from shoulder to hem: 41 3/4” makes for an elegant length with high heels.  If you are thinking of a lower heel, be sure to take this dress up to just at the knee. 
• Lined, with underwire support.  Wardrobe malfunctions are practically impossible.   

Enjoy the holidays in your favorite new LBD from Tadashi Shoji at Nordstrom.com!

Not sure what the perfect LBD for you is?  Click here to visit the Nordstrom video library on fit.