Style: Hold Your Horses, Saturday is the 138th Kentucky Derby!

This Saturday is not only Cinco de Mayo but it also marks the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby. Whether you're making out down to Churchill Downs or sipping on a Mint Julep with your feet up, I've made a list of some of the best derby-ready gear out there.  It's always fashionably chic to look like you're off to the races - in spring or fall! 


My favorites? A raffia stripe riding hat from Burberry, a skipjack baseball cap from Southern Tide, a jockey shirts silk bow tie from Vineyard Vines, a polka dot canvas clutch by Miu Miu on The Outnet, a Kentucky Derby tumbler from Tervis, suede accented riding leggings from Threadsence, a ruffle wrap dress from Milly, a floral ruffled top from Lilly Pulitzer, a bold floral print bag from Vera Bradley, and a silk sash / scarf from J.McLaughlin. Check out the full list by clicking on the box below. The Kentucky Derby will air on NBC Sports this Saturday 5-7pm.

Style: Lulu Guinness for Uniqlo ~ $9.90-19.90

Lulu Guinness is perhaps one of the most iconic British fashion designers out there. Items like her whimsical umbrellas with storefront designs and bold lip clutch purses have delighted savvy shoppers since 1989. This month she's teamed up with budget-friendly Japanese retailer Uniqlo for a fabulous and wallet-friendly tee collection.  All of her tees for Uniqlo are priced at $19.90. I visited Uniqlo's Soho (Broadway & Spring Street) this past Wednesday and saw the entire collection. All the designs were absolutely adorable and they were even marked down to a promotional price of $9.90 because they'd just come into the store!  I'm not sure how long that promotion is going on, but you should definitely hurry to your closest store to take advantage of this deep discount while it lasts! 

The only negative thing to note about the tees is that they do run a little small. Given that they are 100% cotton, they may shrink a little bit too. I haven't washed any of mine yet so I can't tell you for sure. Regardless, I would definitely recommend purchasing your tees one size larger than what you'd normally wear. I wouldn't go any bigger than that unless you're particularly tall, as the tees are quite long. I've included a snapshot of my favorite designs above - the black or white storefront striped shirts, black or tan repeating silhouette shirts, and the white with red lips shirts! Early Mother's Day gifts? These tees look great on all ages - especially the London By Night, storefront, and silhouette prints!

You can view ALL of the designs on the Uniqlo website HERE.

Uniqlo's New York locations are in: Soho, Midtown (53rd & 5th), & Herald Square.

Style: 20% OFF Your Total Purchase at Daffy's

Get 20% OFF Your Total Purchase at Daffy's

Valid through April 30th, 2012

Excludes gift cards, jewelry, electronics and home items.

Simply print this page and cut out the coupon.

If you haven't been to Daffy's before, it's a NY area designer discount shop similar to a Marshall's or TJ Maxx.  It has stores in Soho, Grand Central Station, and Columbus Circle, among other locations.

What's my favorite find from Daffy's? 

See by Chloe 100% Silk Dress

Original Price: almost $1000!

Yoox.com Price: $430

Daffy's Price: $220

Style: An Amazing Sale at C.Wonder in Soho!

One of my favorite new shops in the city is C.Wonder. It only opened in the past year, but has already received lots of praise all around. It's located right next to the Spring Street 6 Train Station, on Spring Street between Lafayette and Crosby Streets. They provide fun, colorful clothes, jewelry, bags, and home decor that girls just love.  They are also a fairly good value for the impressive quality. The store itself is quite a fun place to visit - it has ornate bright thick lime green doors to welcome you and delightfully unique "control panels" (see below) in each of the fitting rooms that allow you to adjust the lights and music as you try on your favorite styles!

This week they are having a truly amazing sale. You'll get an additional 25% OFF of all of their sale items in the Soho store. Now, these sale items are not just slim pickings. Some of their best items are included: colorful doctor handbags, trendy colorblock chambray shirts, striped classic button-down shirts, gold buttoned long-sleeve cotton shirts with cargo pockets (what the sales associates were wearing today), Goyard-style printed canvas totes, quilted totes, blazers, cardigans, bangle bracelets, and several ballet flats. It's like a full-blown sample sale! Only a few of their sale items are still up on their website and the ones that are don't seem to match the in-store sale prices.  So, you really need to visit the store to reap the benefits of this sale. However, I've gathered a selection of most of them at the bottom of this post in a Have to Have list so that you can get a preview of what great things are in the store! My picks? A "Striped Classic Shirt" in Green & Yellow (Sold for $26.24, Originally $68) and a "Doctor Handbag" in Natural (Sold for $29.99, Originally $78).

Don't miss the adorable green baubles at the checkout counter for $4. They're keychains that contain a poncho - perfect for an unexpected rainy day! I spoke to the sales associates today and they said that the sale should last through the weekend, if not into next week as well. Grab these great deals while they're still available!

CORRECTION: Use the code "25OFF" at checkout to receive 25% off sale items online.

Style: Eco-Friendly Products for Earth Day

Happy Earth Day! On this special day, I wanted to take some time to share with you a few of my favorite eco-friendly products. These include items such as: recycled jewelry, clothes, wallets, throw blankets, all-natural beauty products and snacks.

My personal favorites are: Hansen's Diet Cola (at Soap.com), Silk Chocolate Soy Milk (at Soap.com), Hint Unsweetened Essence Water in Pomegranate Tangerine (at Soap.com), Pop Chips in Original and Sweet Potato (at Soap.com), Monogrammed Pendleton Eco-Wise Throws (at PBTeen.com), Rewined Candles in Riesling (made from recycled wine bottles, at Swoozies.com), Jetsam Recycled Wallets (made from recycled men's suits and neckties, at Fab.com), PeaceBOMB Capsule Bangle Bracelets (made from recycled war scrap metal in Laos with proceeds benefiting bomb clean-up efforts, at peace-bomb.com), and Warby Parker Eyeglasses (for each pair purchased a pair is donated to someone in need and all pairs $95 w/ prescription lenses, at warbyparker.com).

Be sure to check out my Have to Have list below and to let me know what your favorite eco-friendly products are by sending a tweet to @hauteonthespot1 or leaving a comment below.

Events: FREE Origins Lotion for Earth Day at Sephora

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Sephora and Origins have teamed up today for a fantastic Earth Day themed campaign. For today only, if you bring into Sephora any empty cosmetic product container to be recycled, you will receive a FREE full-sized Origins moisturizer. You'll have a choice between "A Perfect World" (SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturizer with White Tea) or "Starting Over" (Age-erasing Moisturizer with Mimosa). You can also get one of these bottles with a $30 online purchase at either Sephora or Origins by using the code "EARTH12" at checkout. Supplies are limited, so hurry! I think it's such a great idea that they're encouraging everyone to recycle these products. Now I know what to do with the empty fragrance bottles I've kept around. They're far too attractive and bulky to just throw away, and now I've found a great cause. What cosmetic item will you bring into the store today?

* The Sephora stores in Salt Lake City, UT and Paramus, NJ will be holding this promotion tomorrow (4/23) instead of today.

Foodie: 50% OFF Tea & Tea-Infused Treats at Harney & Sons via Scoutmob

There's an excellent deal on today for 50% off (max. $10 discount) tea and tea-infused treats at Harney & Sons in Soho. The shop is located at 433 Broome Street between Broadway and Crosby Street. That's just a few blocks from the Canal Street subway stations.  I'll definitely be checking this out after work and will post a review for you all. Please check back later!

Menu Highlights: Tea Ice Cream - $2.50, Carbonated Tea Floats - $5.50, Scones - $7, Cheese Plate - $12.50

You can download the deal on the Scoutmob application.  If you haven't tried Scoutmob yet, you should definitely give it a shot.  Unlike daily deal sites like Groupon or LivingSocial, Scoutmob sends a wonderfully tempting local deal to your inbox, often involving food, for absolutely FREE! You don't need to pay anything in order to get the deal. Many of the deals are available through email; however, some special ones like the Harney & Sons one today can only be accessed via their smartphone app. Be sure to download it today and start enjoying all of the wonderful treats that they have to offer without ever paying a penny!

Get the details on today's Harney & Sons Scoutmob deal HERE. 

The deal expires 10/18/12.

Image from Scoutmob.com

Not in New York? Nowhere near Soho? Scoutmob has daily deals for a large number of US cities and individual neighborhoods. Be sure to check out what's available in your area.

Style: Explore Bryant Park and Receive Discount Men's & Women's Beauty Treatments

Bryant Park is one of my favorite spots in all of New York City.  If you haven't been yet, it's a real treat. The park features: a children's carousel, a children's bird observatory (seasonal), lunchtime piano performances (seasonal), lunchtime fencing lessons (seasonal), the HSBC reading room in which you can borrow various periodicals and books, various game areas (petanque, chess, backgammon, and ping pong), ice skating at CitiPond at Bryant Park (October-February only), Bryant Park Summer Film Festival, Bryant Park Grill and Bryant Park Cafe,  'wichcraft, the Southwest Porch which hosts a lot of great promotions and events throughout the year, and much more! The park is privately funded and is always impeccably clean. Because of its midtown location, it is also able to host a lot of great public events sponsored by local businesses.

The Gotham Beauty Lounge has just opened up today near Bryant Park at 32 West 40th Street (Lobby). In celebration, they are offering the following promotions this week:

• Wed. 4/18: $20 Braids + Blowouts | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m | Choose between three styles of braids (The Sleek Fishtail, Braided Updo, Headband Braid) or a traditional blowout for $20.

• Thurs. 4/19: Boys Night Out | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m | Choose the ‘Gentleman Caller’ (Gotham Man Express Facial + Man-E-Cure) or ‘Beards + Burns’ (Ingrown Hair Treatment, Beard Trim + Sideburn Trim) for $50.

• Fri. 4/20: Velvet Rope Ready | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m | Enjoy $50 make-up applications + complimentary champagne. Guests can choose between three celebrity-inspired options: Gotham Glam (Angelina Jolie; smoky eyes), Lady Gotham (Reese Witherspoon; light, natural) and The Marquee (Lady Gaga; wild, bright hues).

• Sat. 4/21: Express Yourself | 10 a.m. – 9 p.m | Experience one of Gotham Beauty Lounge’s signature facials, the Gotham Express, for $30.

• Sun. 4/22: Fake It Till You Make It | 11 a.m. – 5 p.m | Get a half-set (two eyes; top lashes only) of Eyelash Extensions for $100.

Full price treatments will no doubt be pretty pricey given the convenient and lovely location.  Be sure to pamper yourself with at least one of these deals this week. I have to say, the braids and blowouts definitely caught my eye!  A $30 relaxing Saturday facial doesn't sound too bad either. For more info, visit ChiChi212. 

While you're in the area, why not grab a drink at Cellar Bar to further relax and pamper yourself? It's one of my favorite NYC bars, located in the basement of the Bryant Park Hotel. Its vaulted ceilings and chic cocktail concoctions are a real crowd-pleaser. Another great bar in the area is the open-air Bryant Park Cafe, located inside the park at 42nd Street. Beauty treatments and cocktails - what better way to celebrate a long work week?

Sports: Snag $25 NJ Devils Hockey Playoff Tickets for College Nights

Hockey fan? Never been to a hockey game before? Just love the movies "Slap Shot" or "Mighty Ducks"?  Now's your chance to experience the unbridled energy of Stanley Cup Play-off hockey at an unbeatable price! You can get Round 1 playoff tickets for only $25 to tonight and Thursday's 7pm New Jersey Devils games vs. the Florida Panthers with a College ID/valid college e-mail address. The New Jersey Devils are 3-time Stanley Cup Champions and have a star-filled team this year with favorites like Patrik Elias, Zach Parise, and Martin Brodeur. It's sure to be an exciting series!

Tickets will be in the 200-level of the arena and include a FREE hotdog and soda voucher. Bring the tickets to the Group Sales Table across from Section 18 for your food and drink vouchers.

To order a ticket, visit newjerseydevils.com/college and use the code "stanley". You will need to use your college e-mail address to register for the tickets. 

Getting There: The Prudential Center is a short PATH ride away from downtown Manhattan - World Trade Center Station (about 25 minutes). The arena is located just a few blocks away from the downtown Newark Train Station - you can't miss it! The PATH costs $2 per ride and you can use your regular MTA MetroCard to pay.

Style: Tax Day Sales Galore

Dogeared: 20% off selected items w/ the code "SURPRISE2012" (ends 4/16)
Piperlime: 20% off sitewide w/ the code "TWENTY" (ends 4/17)
The Stationery Studio: 17% off $75+ w/ the code "TAXDAY2012" (ends 4/18)
Bobbi Brown: 20% off $65+, no code needed + FREE Shipping (ends 4/18)
BeautyBar.com: $15 off $75+ w/ the code "GREENB"
C.O. Bigelow: 20% off any C.O. Bigelow candle w/ the code "CANDLE"
Casa.com: 15% off any one item w/ the code "GREENC"
Betsey Johnson: 30% off all clothing, no code needed (ends 4/18)
Old Navy: 15% off w/ the code "ONMONDAY" (ends 4/16)
Asos: Mid-Season Sale, up to 50% off
HSN: New Clearance Items, up to 60% off
Shopbop: 20% off sitewide w/ code "INTHEFAMILY20" (ends 4/18)
Last Call by Neiman Marcus: 20% off w/ the code "CNMSAVINGS" via Ebay Fashion Outlet (ends 4/30)
Lord & Taylor: 25% off almost everything, 10% off fragrances w/ the code "FRIENDS"

Check out my picks from these sales by clicking on my HavetoHave list below:

Style: Titanic Passengers in Fashion Remembered 100 Years Later

As you may know, today marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage to New York City. Many groups across the world have found a variety of different ways to remember and reflect on this tragic event and the 1,514 passengers who lost their lives. In keeping with this sentiment, I've decided to share with you a brief reflection on a particular group of passengers aboard the fated ocean liner, those who devoted their careers to the fashion industry. While some of these names may found familiar, I am sure there are some you have never heard of before. I hope you enjoy hearing the stories of these turn-of-the-century famed fashion entrepreneurs.

The most well-known passenger to fall under this category was Isidor Straus. Starting in 1896 he and his brother had full ownership of Macy's Department Stores. Isidor Straus was previously a member of the US House of Representatives, 1894-1895.  By the time they traveled aboard the Titanic, Isidor Straus had been married to his wife, Ida, for over 40 years. They were inseparable, celebrating their birthdays on the same day, even though their actual birthdays were far apart, and writing letters to each other every day that they were not together. So, when Ida was given the opportunity to hop aboard one of the Titanic's lifeboats, she refused, as she did not want to part with her husband. They both gave up their opportunities to escape, offering their spots on lifeboats to younger passengers. Ultimately, they both died aboard the ocean liner at ages 67 and 63. Their funeral drew over 6,000 mourners to Carnegie Hall. Store employees donated what little they had to create a bronze memorial plaque for the couple to be hung in Macy's 34th Street Flagship Store. However, due to building renovations which are set to end in 2015, the plaque has not been on display to the public in the last 10 years.

Another famed passenger at the time was Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff Gordon. Lady Gordon was a leading fashion designer in 1863-1935 who went by the professional name "Lucile". She was the first English designer to receive international acclaim and was especially talented in couture designs and fashion industry public relations. Lucile developed an interest in fashion at an early age by playing with dolls, admiring women's gowns in her family paintings, and making clothes for herself and her sister. She opened her original fashion house in London (1894) and  others later in New York City, Paris, and Chicago (1910-1915). Her client list included royals, nobles, and film and stage personalities - and she even did a lower-priced line for the Sears, Roebuck & Co catalogue! She frequently wrote fashion columns for Hearst newspapers, Harper's Baazar, and Good Housekeeping. She also trained the first professional models and staged the first runway / catwalk shows. She took risks with her designs by creating liberating styles for women with "slit skirts", "low necklines", "less restrictive corsets", and "alluring, pared-down lingerie". Lucile (age 48) and her husband, Cosmo, were able to board Titanic's Lifeboat 1.  The boat was capable of holding 40 passengers but only carried 12. There was much controversy at the time about a rumor that Cosmo may have paid off the ship's staff to not return to the wreckage to pick up survivors. However, it is also rumored that Cosmo's payments may have been a gift to the crew, as they discussed with him aboard the lifeboat how they had lost nearly everything when the ship sank. The inquiry's final report concluded that the Duffs did nothing to deter the crew from picking up survivors. Lucile had several close calls. Not only was she aboard the Titanic, but she also survived another shipwreck off Jersey as a child and was booked to travel on the Lusitania's final voyage but cancelled her ticket! One of Lucile's pieces is housed in the permanent collections of London's Victoria & Albert Museum (above left: a Lucile evening dress from 1913) and others have been displayed in a variety of exhibitions in New York. This year her great-granddaughter, Camilla Blois, has re-launched the Lucile brand at www.lucileandco.com.

Yet another famous woman aboard was Helen Churchill Candee.  Candee was a feminist and journalist, but was perhaps best known as one of the first acclaimed interior decorators. She had many illustrious clients including President Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary of War Henry Stimson. She also published a book in 1906 entitled "Decorative Styles and Periods". Candee, age 53, was traveling back to America on the Titanic because she received an important telegram while performing research in Europe for "The Tapestry Book". The telegram informed her that her son had been injured in a car accident. She escaped on Titanic's Lifeboat 6 after falling and fracturing her ankle. She produced one of the first eyewitness accounts in a major magazine and parts of her story are thought to be the inspiration for several key scenes in James Cameron's film.

Finally, there was Adolphe Saalfeld. Saalfeld was a 47-year-old perfume maker from Manchester, England, who brought along 65 vials of perfume samples with him aboard the Titanic. He planned to start his perfume business in New York by displaying these samples to a variety of department stores. Although Saalfeld escaped in one of Titanic's lifeboats, his dreams sank with the ship. With the loss of his precious vials, he came back to England and continued his work as a chemist, never making another attempt at the perfume business. He died 14 years later, a tormented man shunned by society because he was one of the few male survivors. In 2000 his leather satchel filled with 65 perfume vials was recovered from the ship's wreckage by the Mir 1 submersible. Saalfeld's great-great niece, Astra Burka, a Toronto-based filmmaker and architect, took a great interest in the discovery of the vials. In response, she created a 6 minute animated short film entitled "My Titanic Uncle" (2012). The film features the narrative of an actual letter Saalfeld sent to his wife when the Titanic docked in Queenstown, Ireland. It's such a wonderfully creative short film and you can view it below:

Although Benjamin Guggenheim was not exactly involved in the fashion industry, he was arguably the most famous passenger on the ship. The wealthy businessman and his secretary were reported to have spent the night of April 15, 1912 assisting women and children with getting onto the lifeboats. Guggenheim did this while dressed in his finest attire and said, "We've dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen." Thus, fashion brought an air of dignity to Guggenheim's tragic yet honorable end.

Out of the Titanic's 2,223 passengers, it is amazing to learn that among them were a department store tycoon, a fashion designer, an interior decorator, and a perfume maker. At the time, these industries were certainly not as large or illustrious as they are today. Men and women like Isidor Straus and Lady Duff Gordon really paved the way for those that work in the industry today and should be remembered warmly on this historically significant day!

Style: Kate Spade Friends & Family Sale

Today and tomorrow Kate Spade is offering 25% off all of her items in the shops, outlets, and online (excludes home, stationery, and watches). This includes Sale items! 

Simply use "FFSPR12" at checkout. 

There is also FREE ground shipping to all 50 states.

Not sure how to take advantage of this fab sale? 

Click on my shopping list below:

Events: Today is National Pet Day

Quincy, the HauteontheSpot pup!

Today's National Pet Day, a day devoted to the love all pets everywhere and to bring awareness to all of those furry creatures living in shelters who are still looking for forever-homes. I have a few fun ways for you to celebrate:


1. Play the "Guess the Celebrity Pups" game on Celebuzz! Hugh Jackman and Liv Tyler's are definitely my favorites. Which are your faves? Personally, I never would have guessed which was Kim Kardashian's without peeking! If you're more of a cat lover, be sure to check out their fab "Celebrity Cat Lovers" gallery too. Gotta love Katy Perry's cat, "Kitty Purry".

2. Shop at Wag.com and get 20% off of pet supplies with the code "20WAG" PLUS free 1-2 day shipping on orders over $49. Treat yourself to not having to schlep that giant kibble bag or fish tank home from the store! They have products for all pets: cats, dogs, fish, reptiles, birds, bunnies - you name it. Be sure to also check out BarkBox.com.  It's a play off of Birch Box, a popular subscription site that delivers monthly boxes of  surprise beauty goodies. The canine version delivers toys, treats, shampoos, cleaning supplies, and other goodies for as low as $17/month with free delivery. The best part of all? 10% of proceeds support rescue dog groups. You can also send 1, 3, and 6 month subscriptions as a gift for $25, $75, and $150 respectively. Subscription packages are tailored to the size of your dog.

3. Enter to win a fantastic 40-piece collection of Carolee jewelry to celebrate Carolee's 40th anniversary and their Westie dog campaign.  Simply submit a photo of your dog wearing jewelry to their Facebook contest page before April 17th.

4. Treat yourself to a keepsake of your favorite pet. Visit PishPoshPaints's "Custom Orders" section and get a custom oil painting of any photo you submit.  Paintings start at $165. You can see the painting I had made by them at left (using a fantastic Groupon deal), along with the original photo. Alternatively, visit Erwin Pearl jewelry's "Adorable Pooches Collection" and get a pin, charm bracelet, keychain, or cufflinks that looks just like your dog.  I have a Pug bracelet (pictured left) and Cavalier King Charles pin from this collection - the bracelet was purchased recently on Ideeli!

5. Explore the variety of pet products out there by visiting my National Pet Day feature on Have to Have's blog and checking out my curated product list on their site:

Sports: NY Red Bulls Games & $50 Ticket and Transport Packages

The last game I attended - October 2011 vs. LA!

Attention all sports fans! While many of you have probably been to a Yankees, Knicks, or Rangers game...there's another great team that's been missing from your life.  A trip to a New York Red Bulls soccer game is a truly special and unique experience. The team plays in a truly extraordinary arena that rivals some of the best in Europe. One of the Red Bull's stars, Thierry Henry, of Arsenal and Barcelona fame has had an illustrious international career and is a true treat to watch. You will find cheering fans of all nationalities (Europeans, Latin Americans, etc) and some really amazing food stands outside the arena before the start of the game.  Believe me, the Brazilian mixed grill stand is well worth the short wait in line and a real bargain! To top all of this off, the Red Bulls have been surging upward in the league rankings so far this season. Lately, they've had a three game win streak and have won all of those games by a differential of three goals or more! They've moved up from 8th place to 4th place in the rankings and it looks like they will continue to rise. You can read more on their latest performance HERE. 

Upcoming Games: Saturday 4/14 vs. San Jose Earthquake, Saturday 4/28 vs. New England Revolution 

Getting There: Although New Jersey may sound far away to some, the arena is actually only about a 30 minute ride from Manhattan via public transportation AND all you need is your MetroCard! Simply take any Newark-bound PATH train and swipe your MetroCard (it's only $2 each way - cheaper than a regular MTA ride!).  The arena is located within just a couple blocks of the Harrison, NJ stop on the PATH. There's usually a good crowd going to the game from NYC, so just join them - you can't miss the stadium from the station!

If the PATH is not convenient for you or if you'd prefer to travel by bus, there is also another fantastic option to get to the game:

Upper 90, New York's premier soccer store, has arranged special packages for several of the upcoming games through its "NYC Bus Stampede" program.  The buses depart 2 hours prior to the game from Upper 90's locations in Manhattan's Upper West Side and in Downtown Brooklyn.  There will also be some sort of rally event at each store starting 1 hour prior to bus departure! With your purchase of a $50 package / $180 if you get the family 4-pack, you will receive round-trip bus transport, a Lower Level game ticket, and either a giveaway like a shirt or soccer ball or a raffle entry (see the specific game you wish to attend for details).  All tickets will be in Section 116, so if you make any friends on the bus you'll be sure to see them at the game! You can purchase Upper 90's packages up until noon of game day by clicking HERE.

Style: Boat Race Fashion with Ralph Lauren's 25% Off Giving in Style Event

One exciting event that will be held this weekend is The Xchanging 158th Annual Oxford & Cambridge University Varsity Boat Race on the Thames River in London.  It's a big tradition that always has lots of great style.  I attended last year (Go Light Blue!) and loved seeing all of the boat club alumni and students wearing their respective teams' jackets.  The Boat Race will be broadcast live tomorrow morning (Saturday 4/7) on BBCAmerica at 8:45am ET.

Rugby Ralph Lauren makes a few fantastic "boat club" blazers that look just like the real thing (see below) in both Oxford (dark blue) and Cambridge (light blue) colors!  Additionally, your purchase of these or many of their other fantastic items will support a great cause.  The Ralph Lauren Corporation is kicking off a fantastic philanthropic campaign this spring.  Its allocating $250,000 to donate to its Pink Pony Fund for cancer care and prevention.  The Pink Pony Fund's mission states, "Pink Pony supports programs for early diagnosis, education, treatment and research and is dedicated to bringing patient navigation and quality cancer care to medically underserved communities."  Ralph Lauren plans to raise these funds through their "Giving in Style Event" in which they are offering YOU 25% off select merchandise today. Enter GIVE2012 or RLGIVE2012 at checkout.  This offer is available on both RalphLauren.com and Rugby.com and in their retail stores (excludes outlets).  I've checked online and the code can be used on sale items in addition to regularly priced items.  So, show off your old-school preppy style and get these "smart" blazers for 25% off today!

Traditional English Boat Club Attire

Rugby Ralph Lauren's Blazers

You can purchase these blazers here: 

LEFT ($148 w/ discount) and RIGHT ($261 w/ discount).

Events: DIY Easter Treats

Easter is coming up this Sunday and for those who celebrate (or those who just want to celebrate Spring), I've decided to share a couple of my favorite homemade goodies that I've recently discovered online - a cheap and fun way to fill those Easter baskets!

#1 - Paper Bead Bracelet
First, I have to say that I absolutely love Vera Bradley's creative blog ideas on Inside Stitch.  Her team does a "D.I.Y. Wednesday" post every few weeks in which they come up with wonderfully simple ideas for using a variety of things you'd find around the house to make fantastic gifts.  All the better if you use old Vera Bradley paper or fabric scraps to add lovely patterns to your creations!  My favorite is this adorable paper bead bracelet.  All you need are: some paper scraps (they used a page from an old Vera Bradley Desktop Calendar), thin drinking straws (the size of coffee stirrers - snag some from your office!), tape, a long ruler (24" preferred but you can make do with any), a pencil/pen, scissors, glue, and a stretchy string and ribbon to make your bracelet (or necklace).  You can find the full instructions HERE.

Image from Inside Stitch, Vera Bradley's Blog

#2 - Homemade Creme Eggs
I've also noticed that people go absolutely bananas over their Cadbury Creme Eggs this time of year!  I cannot tell you how many fights I have seen at the drug store over the last Cadbury egg.  There are also interesting debates over the eggs like "which is better: the original or the new chocolate or caramel flavored ones?" or "which is the real Cadbury Creme Egg: the British one or the American one?".  To avoid all this madness, I was delighted to find a recipe on the Six in the Suburbs Blog for your very own homemade Cadbury Creme Eggs!  I have yet to try it out, but it looks simple enough for someone like me...and trust me I am usually a total dunce in the kitchen. To make this festive treat, you will need: sweetened condensed milk, butter, corn syrup, salt, vanilla, confectioners sugar, yellow food coloring, and semi-sweet chocolate morsels. You can get the full recipe HERE.

Image from Six in the Suburbs, Origin: Food.com

Let me know how your bracelets and creme eggs turn out in the comments below or by a photo / tweet to @HauteontheSpot1. 

Sports: Congrats to the Baylor Bears, NCAA Women's Basketball Champions!

The Baylor Bears just defeated Notre Dame in an exciting match to win the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship.  They were the first team to win the championship after an undefeated season. To celebrate this historic victory, I wanted to highlight one particular collegiate collection I mentioned last week.
Smathers and Branson has a great variety of needlepoint gifts - anything from coasters to wallets to key fobs. All items are $25-165 and, of course, they have a fantastic selection of Baylor University items! Baylor sports has had a fantastic year, taking home the NCAA Women's Basketball title and the Heisman Trophy. Celebrate your school in style!

Style: Last Call by Neiman Marcus 30% OFF Everything - Today Only!

The sale is 30% off everything except clearance, 

ending tomorrow (4/4/12) at 8am CT. 

Discount appears at checkout.

Shop the Sale HERE.

Sports: Congrats to the Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA Men's Basketball Champions!

The Kentucky Wildcats just defeated Kansas in an exciting match to win the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship.  To celebrate, I wanted to highlight one particular collegiate collection I mentioned earlier this week.  The Pomegranate Collegiate collection, sold on Preppy Princess, has a great variety of plaid gifts - anything from bow ties to oven mitts to beer koozies. Be sure to grab your gear now, as Preppy Princess is having a special 20% off sale. As if it needs to be said, this includes their great line of University of Kentucky merchandise. All items are originally priced from $3.50-120. Use the code "APRILDEAL" at checkout to receive your discount on your entire shopping cart!

Style: Look Smashing in Smoking Flats

I just love the latest shoe trend, smoking flats (or smoking slippers, as some call them).  They're a great blast from the past available in all shapes & materials - modernizing the classic piece. While there are some well-known established smoking flat retailers, such as beloved Stubbs & Wootton, these fantastic shoes have historically been very hard to find at a price level affordable to all.  Below I have selected some of my favorite smoking flats that will fit all budgets. They span every style from needlepoint to animal print, classic velvet to tweed - all fit for everyone from preppies to rock stars!

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1. Regan Smoker Flats and 2. Rula Smoker Flats, both $19.99  at Beyond the Rack; 3. Madee Flats, $199.95 by Steve Madden; 4. Anchor Print Cotton Smoking Slippers, $125 at Saks (by Charles Philip Shanghai); 5. Gatsby Flat and 6. Gatsby Leopard Flat, both $69.95 at DSW (by Jon Josef); 7. Capri, $49.95 at Sole Society; 8. Sophie Wool Herringbone Slippers, $135 at Saks (by Charles Philip Shanghai); 9. Loafers, $39.99 at Kohl's (by Rock & Republic); 10. Baron Flat, $49.99 at Piperlime (by Mia); 11. Vectra3 Studded Slippers, $56 at TopShop; 12. Jillted, $89.95 at Steve Madden; 13. Vilda Smoker Flat, $19.99 at Target (by Mossimo); 14. Leandra Suede Loafer, $50.13 at Asos; 15. Monsieur Metallic Trim Slipper, $60 at TopShop; 16. Bees on Lime Needlepoint Loafer and 17. Frog Needlepoint Loafer, both $195 at By Paige; 18 Leo Slippers, $62.67 at Asos; 19. Suede Slipper Loafer, $98 at C.Wonder; 20. Slipper Loafer, $49 at Joe Fresh; 21. Leo Slippers w/ Tapestry Detail, $50.13 at Asos; 22. Velvet Leopard Slip-on Flat, $25.50 at Charlotte Russe; 23. Ling Linen Lofer, $325 at iomoi; 24. Faux Snakeskin Flats, $19.99 at Old Navy