Last-Minute Halloween Costumes in 5-20 Mins

Hurricane Sandy got us all a little bit behind on our Halloween plans here on the East Coast. Here are some last minute Halloween costumes that don't require a lot of prep time using things you can find around the house and/or just a computer and some paper.

1. The Crawley Sisters (Downton Abbey)

If you have a light hair color, you may choose to be Lady Edith. If you don't mind sporting a baby bump, you may choose to be Lady Sybil. If you're planning on being a real wild child this Halloween, then Lady Mary's definitely the way to go...just beware of any handsome Turkish diplomats!

What you'll need: A knee or floor length dress with bead or lace detail (Old prom dresses, anyone? The more 1920s the style the better i.e. Sue Wong dresses, etc), white elbow length gloves, a beaded/bedazzled/lace clutch (optional), a folding fan (optional), art deco inspired jewelry, an updo

Prep Time: 5-15 Minutes

Great for: History & Book Lovers; Those with Gatsby costumes from a previous Halloween

2. Miss Frizzle (The Magic School Bus)

What you'll need: A knee-length navy blue or purple dress, red shoes, a hair curler (if your hair isn't naturally curly), paper, and a computer (to print out pictures of the solar system), safety pins (to attach the solar system pictures to your dress)

Prep Time: 10-20 Minutes

Great for: Teachers; Trick-or-treating with your younger sibling or your child

3. Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"

What you'll need: A lime green dress or top (pair with any pants you like), a lime green jacket, an undo, 2-3 fake black birds OR black paper + safety pins to create your own birds to pin on to the jacket

Prep Time: 5-15 Minutes

Great for: Cinema Lovers, Hitchcock Fans

4. Nickelodeon's Legends of the Hidden Temple
What you'll need: A solid color t-shirt in orange/blue/purple/red/green/silver or grey (or just turn a tee with a design inside out), paper & a computer (to print out your team's logo), an additional yellow/gold piece of paper & string (to draw & create your "pendants of life"), a bike or skateboard helmet (preferably in gold or yellow), elbow pads and wrist guards (optional), sneakers

Prep Time: 5-15 Minutes

Great for: 1990s kids, Groups! (the more the better)

5. Zara Phillips (equestrian + royalty? LOVE)

Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II AND London 2012 Olympic Silver medalist in equestrian? What's not to love about the very fashionable 31 year old beauty?

What you'll need: A top hat / bowler hat / riding helmet (any black hat) worn with a low bun OR no hat + a poufy updo, a navy blue blazer, a white ruffled blouse, khakis or white skinny jeans, flat knee-high leather boots, a silver medal (optional), black leather gloves (optional)

Prep Time: 5-10 Minutes

Great for: Anglophiles, Horseback Riders, Groups (have friends dress up as Classy Kate - don't forget the sapphire engagement ring, Pippa - SEE BELOW, Wild Harry - up to your imagination, The Queen, etc)

6. Pippa Middleton

What you'll need: A white gown (great use of old white commencement / graduation / debutante dresses), a throw pillow (to add a little stuffing to the rear...), a real or faux copy of her party planning book "Celebrate" (optional, print out a copy of the cover HERE & attach it to the cover of any other book you have around)

Prep Time: 5-10 Minutes

Great for: Anglophiles, Groups (have friends dress up as Classy Kate - don't forget the sapphire engagement ring, Olympian Zara - SEE ABOVE, Wild Harry - up to your imagination, The Queen, etc)

Events: Under Armour Sample Sale THIS Week

*Postponed until Thursday 11/1 due to Hurricane Sandy.

Under Armour Sample Sale

@260 Sample Sales

260 Fifth Avenue (btwn. E 28th & 29th Streets)

11/1/12 - 11/4/12

Thursday - Saturday: 10am-7pm

Sunday: 10am-4pm

All forms of payment accepted.

Stock up on some of the highest quality work-out / athletic gear around at bargain prices!

Sale of the Day: 25% OFF Sale Items at Madewell

TODAY ONLY

Extra 25% OFF all Sale Items 

at Madewell

FREE Shipping on orders $100+

Enter "YIPEE" at checkout.

Madewell, a jeans-focused company started in 1937 and a member of the J.Crew Group, has a really unique combination of quintiscentially hip items: novelty / intarsia sweaters, floral and graphic print jeans, whimsical necklaces and friendship bracelets, lace, ombre and peplum shirts, leather dresses, smoking flats, and more!

Here are a few of my fave sale items:

25% OFF Madewell Sale by victoria-harman on polyvore.com

Events: An Evening with Stacy London 11/2

Stacy London, co-host of TLC's "What Not to Wear" and author of The Truth About Style, will be giving a lecture on style and self-esteem this week. The event will be followed by a book signing.

THIS Friday, November 2nd

8pm

Kaufman Concert Hall

92nd Street Y (Lexington Ave & E 92nd Street)

Tickets: $36; 30% OFF ($25) if purchased via Time Out New York by Thursday, November 1st at Midnight HERE.

Books will be available for purchase at the event via credit card only.

Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012

As you may have seen in my previous posts reviewing the Spring Beauty VoxBox and Summer Beauty VoxBox, I was selected for a fantastic program for bloggers hosted by Influenster called the VoxBox. This month I received my third VoxBox in the mail, the Beauty Bloggers VoxBox. VoxBoxes are boxes of sample products sent to your home for absolutely FREE for testing purposes. 

My box this month included: a NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Palette in Dark Shadows, an EBOOST Daily Health Booster in Orange, a Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit, a Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream, a Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin Set for Dark Hair, a Bath & Body Works Mini Candle in Pumpkin Cupcake & Coupon for $10 OFF a 3-Wick Candle, and a Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm & Night Cream in Dry / Very Dry.

You can view my full revealing of all the products in the YouTube video below with reviews on a few specific products to follow:

I was particularly excited about the Bath & Body Works candle and the Boots No. 7 creams. I love BBW candles - they're great quality, often on sale, and come in such a wide variety of scents to suit everyone's tastes. The medium and 3-wick sized candles come with luxurious looking gold tone and silver tone lids. They make really great gifts! The 3-wick candles are currently on sale - 2 for $20 (reg. $20 each, shop HERE). Additionally BBW is having a lot of sales right now so be sure to stop by your local store and pick up a holiday coupon book! Boots is another really great high quality brand that I used a lot while living in England last year (it's one of the biggest pharmacy chains in the UK).
Other highlights (for me) this month include the the fantastic instructional IndividualEyes kit from New York Color which retails for only $4.99 and the Kiss false lashes which are made out of 100% human hair.
Here's where you can purchase all of the products:

Influenster Beauty Bloggers VoxBox 2012 by victoria-harman on polyvore.com

Sale of the Day: 30% OFF at Old Navy

Old Navy 1 Day Sale

Sunday, October 28th (until 11:59pm ET)

Excludes "Everyday Steals" & Dresses

Online Only

Enter the code "ONTRICK" at checkout.

Great deals on novelty sweaters, graphic printed pants, ballet flats, and more! (Think: $30 budget alternatives to all your fave items at J.Crew this season!!)

Here are a few of my favorite items at Old Navy:

Old Navy October 2012 Sale by victoria-harman on polyvore.com

Style: Alice by Temperley for Stella & Dot

Haute British fashion house Temperley (a favorite of Kate Middleton) has designed a limited edition special collection of fashion jewelry for American based online boutique Stella & Dot. Prices range from $39-148. Check it out HERE.

Here's a video of the designer, Alice Temperley, talking about her inspiration for this special collaborative collection of affordable pieces:

My October Style: Modified Equestrian Look

I'm loving the latest trend combination: oxblood + leopard print! So, I decided to try out the trend while doing my favorite autumn activity - pumpkin picking at Stults Farm in Cranbury, NJ!

Oxblood skinny jeans are the way to go this season and I found these at Lord & Taylor for just $48 from a fantastic brand called TINSEL. The blazer is a slightly different one than the one I included below because I found it on sale some time ago at TJ Maxx - it's by Ralph Lauren whereas the one I included is by Tommy Hilfiger. The boots are also slightly different from the ones below but also by Anne Klein.  I got them last spring when they were on sale. 

This style also announces the comeback of the turtleneck. Yes, I said it. They're not just for moms anymore! There are so many sleek styles out there, especially a bunch I recently spotted at J.Crew (I'm just adoring a cashmere one there). This one is just $20 by Merona at Target and comes in two different leopard print colors as well as some fantastic fall colors including oxblood! They are so easy to dress up with a blazer or the right tailored pants + statement jewelry. They're great for work because unlike most of the rest of my office wardrobe, these don't have to be dry cleaned!

The Look: Crested Navy Blazer w/ Gold Buttons + Leopard Print Turtleneck + Oxblood Skinny Jeans + Brown Leather Riding Boots + Gold Statement Button Earrings + Gold Chain Link & Pave Necklace

Shop my look here:

My Fall Fashion by victoria-harman on polyvore.com

Sale of the Day: 30% OFF Sale Items at J.Crew

J.Crew Online

Take an additional 30% OFF all sale items

Use the code "OURTREAT" at checkout

Through Saturday, October 28th at 11:59pm

All items FINAL SALE

Here are a few of my favorite finds:

J.Crew Extra 30% OFF Sale by victoria-harman on polyvore.com

Sale of the Day: 25% OFF Everything at Lord & Taylor's Friends & Family Sale

Extra 25% OFF Almost Everything

at Lord & Taylor and LordAndTaylor.com

Ends WEDNESDAY morning at 2am EST

Use the code "FRIENDS" online 

or print the in-store savings pass HERE.

The extra 25% OFF includes sale and clearance items, many of which are already marked 25-50% OFF in-store!!! Red signs like the one below (in addition to the pink "Everything 25% OFF" signs) indicate which items are already on sale and will have a total of 50-75% OFF!

Brands to Watch: 

Some really great brands at Lord & Taylor that offer the hottest trends at very reasonable prices are: Eight Sixty, Ark & Co., Kenzie, Sugarlips, and Tinsel Denim. 

Extra Savings - Sales Tax: 

I found two gorgeous lace dresses by Eight Sixty and Free People - the savings put them under $100 which also saves you the sales tax! There are so many items included in the sale that would also save you the tax. 

75% OFF Classic Jewelry: 

I'd also recommend looking in the Lord & Taylor brand jewelry section for savings of 75% on all of their very elegant pieces (including 18kt gold over sterling silver). Most of those earrings, necklaces, and rings run around $18-$30 after the savings are applied.

Sale of the Day: Kate Spade Friends & Family

Kate Spade is offering 30% off ALL purchases (includes sale) through tomorrow, 

Sunday, October 21st. 

Just use the promo code "F12FFUS" at checkout.

Here are some of my favorite items in the sale:

Kate Spade Sale Faves Oct 2012 by victoria-harman on polyvore.com

Style: Stylish Deals I LOVE at Mango

Last week I had some free time and I decided to check out a store that I hadn't really visited much in the past, Mango. It is a lot like Zara in terms of style and the high level of quality (with slightly lower price tags) and had some great European influence - they even have a Kate Moss for Mango collection!

 I loved all the lightweight boucle jackets ($40), peplum dresses ($100), tweedy shift dresses and coats (~$100-170), intarsia sweaters (~$60), and sleek patent leather purses ($70).

There was one blue silky formal dress ($60, see below) in particular that I could definitely imagine Kate Middleton wearing! 

For some reason the fall statement item that really caught my eye was this cable-knit leather buttoned cardigan sweater (see below) - it looked like something cozy & warm that you'd borrow from your dad or your grandfather :) I think it was about $55 and came in several colors.

I visited the store at 7 West 34th Street. They also have a store at 561 Broadway in Soho and another in Flushing, Queens. Their other USA locations: Puerto Rico (Plaza las Americas), Las Vegas, Miami Beach, Orlando, and California (SF, Santa Monica, & Costa Mesa). 

If you don't live near a Mango store they have a great website (click HERE to visit) and shipping is FREE for all orders over $50.

Events: Martha Stewart's American Made 2012

I stumbled upon this wonderful event today in Grand Central Terminal and wanted to share it with all of you. It ends tomorrow (Thursday) at 5:30pm.

Martha Stewart American Made 2012
Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal
New York City
Open to the Public
Wednesday, October 17th | 7am-7pm
Thursday, October 18th | 7am-5:30pm
www.americanmade.marthastewart.com
#AmericanMade

What you'll find: made in America boutique shopping, free craft making workshops, artist demonstrations, free food sampling at the American Made Cafe (try the cream puffs!), a photo booth, panel discussions, and giveaways (tote bags, Martha Stewart Living magazines, personalized metal luggage tags, coupons, food, & more).

My favorite station was the one hosted by Toyota. They gave away tote bags that were screen printed in front of your eyes by two men, among other fun and interactive giveaways. Be sure to grab yours tomorrow!

Style: 50 Statement Necklaces for Under $50

This year, the bigger the better! Chunky statement necklaces are IN. They come in all different styles: peter pan collar, bejeweled, lucite, baroque, bubble, bib, druzy, filigree, southwestern, spike, chain link, lace, and more!

While some of these hot trends in jewelry can cost you several hundred dollars, I've scoured the internet to find you some of the most stylish necklaces that won't burn your wallet. 

My list includes some styles for as low as $8.99-$10 from popular retailers such as: Bauble Bar, ASOS, Swell Caroline, J.Crew Factory, Modcloth, Madewell, Piperlime, Threadsence, Macy's, Fornash, Bloomingdale's, Ruche, and Amrita Singh!

Which is YOUR must-have style?

50 Statement Necklaces Under $50 by victoria-harman on polyvore.com

Are YOU a Blogger? Check Out Influenster!

If you're a blogger of any type (travel, beauty, pets, weddings, etc) and you haven't heard of Influenster yet, you are missing out! Influenster is a fantastic company that sends out FREE sample boxes for testing purposes to bloggers with proven influence across social media channels - blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. It's really easy to join and you don't need to have the world's biggest following to be eligible. 

Through their site you can fill out surveys, write product reviews, and compete in brand challenges to pre-qualify for their sample boxes, called the "VoxBox". In return for your VoxBox, Influenster asks you to 1) fill out a survey with some brief reviews and 2) write a blog post and/or create a YouTube video discussing what you received. You can also participate in Brand Challenges hosted by the brands that appear in your box to receive prizes (often full-sized versions of the items).

So far, I've received 2 VoxBoxes and have won 2 Brand Challenges from Sally Hansen. It's pretty easy and a LOT of fun. A few brands that have been included in the past are: Bath & Body Works, Soyjoy, Sally Hansen, Hawaiian Tropic, Aveeno, Dr. Scholl's, & more! 

Head on over to Influenster.com to sign up for an account on their brand new re-launched website & check out my photos, reviews, and videos from the VoxBoxes I've received below. It's a really great company and a great way to 1) give feedback to some of your fave brands + 2) discover new products before anybody else for FREE! What's not to love?

Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox 2012 

Read my review HERE.

Watch my YouTube video HERE.

Influenster Summer Beauty VoxBox 2012 

Read my review HERE.

Watch my YouTube video HERE.

Style: Orla Kiely for UNIQLO (Full Collection)

As I wrote about previously, London-based Irish designer Orla Kiely has lent her talents to a fantastic line for UNIQLO. When I last wrote about the collection only her "stole" (scarf) collection was available at the 34th Street [read the previous post HERE]. When I checked back today there was significantly more available.

UNIQLO now has a larger collection consisting of zip-up hooded sweatshirts, long sleeved tee shirts, and lots of peter pan collar cotton dresses in addition to the scarves. There were lots of dresses (priced at $29.90) in quite a few designs left but only a few sweatshirts and tees. When I asked one of the very friendly salespeople he said that there could be more tees available at their Fifth Avenue location.

Here's a complete look at what was available at 34th Street:

Style: Surprising Finds At Rainbow Stores

This post goes to show you that no matter your budget, there is still a way to find the season's hottest trends and keep looking great.

While Rainbow does not necessarily have the reputation for carrying the best quality or classiest merchandise, I was pleasantly surprised by my first visit. I found lots of hot trends - moto jackets, "leather" accented pieces, booties, peplum tops, lace, & more! All of these items were under $30 and most under $20! 

While you won't find many brand names at Rainbow, I did see a large number of items by New Look, a popular retailer in the UK for cheap trendy items and office attire, all of which is decent quality.

My advice: if your budget is tight or you just don't want to spend too much money on a trend you think might not last through next year, you can grab a real bargain at Rainbow. It's definitely worth a look, so give it a shot! 

#1 Moto Jackets (especially some blingin' metallic ones!)

#2 "Leather" Accented Blazers

#3 Slouchy Skull Motif Shirts

#4 Booties

#5 Dresses with Cut-Outs

#6 Peplum Tops (especially with lace!)

#7 Lace, Lace, & More Lace!

Follow Me on Twitter for Even More Updates!

Can't get enough tips on bargains in fashion, food, and entertainment? Haute on the Spot is not just limited to the posts on this blog. If you're a regular reader of my blog and haven't checked out my Twitter feed yet, please head on over and check it out!

On Twitter you'll get real time updates on popular events like sample sales, free museum nights, sporting events, and more! Know before you go: get pictures and info that'll help you make decisions on the fly. I also post and forward all kinds of additional deals on Twitter that unfortunately don't all make it up on here - don't want to inundate the inboxes of my e-mail subscribers! 

Twitter is also a great way to give me feedback. Tweet me what you love, photos from one of the events I wrote about, or any other bargain hunting tips you'd love to share! I love learning about YOU so the more you share, the better. Send it all to @HauteontheSpot1.

Follow me at: http://www.twitter.com/HauteontheSpot1

xx HauteontheSpot

Style: Shop for a Great Cause & Save 20%!

Lord and Taylor is hosting a fantastic sale today. Use the code "ONEDAY" to get 20% off nearly everything on their website AND 5% of what you spend will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Hurry - starting now (11:40 pm ET) you only have a little over two more hours to shop! 

To save you some time, I've shared with you some of my favorite finds on my "Best of Lord & Taylor" Pinterest board: HERE.