Gap's Denim Recycling Program: Save 30% on New Jeans and Donate Your Old Jeans

Have you seen the recycling containers at your local Gap Store? From March 5 through March 14, you can donate old denim that will then be given a “new life” by being converted into UltraTouch natural cotton fiber insulation and donated to communities in need.  The two-week denim drive is part of Gap’s “Recycle Your Blues” event, where customers who donate denim will receive 30 percent off new denim purchases from Gap, GapKids or babyGap through March 14.  And, my understanding is it can be any denim that you donate, not just denim purchased from the Gap.  I am putting together a big old bag today of all my beyond repair thread worn jeans in sizes I don't wear anymore.  I love the idea that my old jeans could be turned to insulation to help keep someone warm.  With that incentive, I will clean my closet!

The in-store program is featured on Gap’s online consumer site, as well as at Cotton. From Blue to Green. Be sure and check it out.

The Best Things in Life are Free: Enter the Seven Deadly Sins Giveaway

Pictured: Sale.com's fabuless 7 Deadly Sins giveaway

In this time of tight budgets and penny pinching, I have turned to giveaways to frequently to satisfy my yen for luxury goods that are ,er, not quit affordable. One that is on my watch list right now is The Sale.com 7 Deadly Sins giveaway. This a great giveaway running over the next few weeks called the 7 deadly sins. It features luxury items we envy and high tech gadgets we lust for. Did I enter already, you betcha! I will be entering every week as the contest progresses. The item I must covet it the listing under Envy. That is the beautiful Y-Bow Bowler Bag from Yves Saint-Laurent. I love it! I need it.

Pictured: I envy anyone who carries this beautiful YSL Y-Bow Bowler Bag. I am in the Sale.com contest to win it! Retail price: $1,365.00 US

Every week there will be a different prize draw. And the prizes, beyond the YSL bag, are amazing! This week the sin is Pride, and the giveaway is Ulta Beauty Basket. Coming up are:

Wrath: Feb 26 — Mar 5 PS3 & Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Sloth: Mar 5 — Mar 12 Tivo HD DVR
Greed Mar 12 — Mar 19 Raybans in 4 Colors
Lust Mar 19 — Mar 26   Apple iPad
Envy Mar 26 — Apr 2 Yves Saint Laurent Bag

To enter into this giveaway, and try to win each deadly sin object of lust, click here. When you are asked for a referral code, please enter this one: RECESSCHIC like so.

Pictured: When you enter, enter referral code RECESSCHIC in the box to let them know The Recessionista sent you!

Beyond signing up to win some fabuless treats, you'll become a member of Sale.com. Sale.com is The Chic Bargainista's friend. This helpful site aggregates tens of thousands of coupons and savings alerts from favorite retailers. The site even gives you the scoop on more than 1,000 email promotions. Put Sale.com in your savings toolkit. Every little bit of savings is goodness in today's shopping environment!

Macy's Go Red Campaign brings Extra Valentines Day Savings

Pictured: This INC. Red Dress is on Sale as part of Macy's Go Red Campaign. Perfect for Valentines Day.

Attention shoppers! It's not a blue light special, its a red light special at Macy's this week.
Macy's is having a "Go Red" Campaign in their stores right now. National Wear Red Day is February 5th . Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's nationwide movement that celebrates the energy, passion and power of women to join together and wipe out heart disease the #1 killer of American women and men. Part of the campaign is a lovely coupon that you can use for savings at Macy's. Click here for a coupon from the Wear Red Sale. The"Go Red Sale" is from Feb. 3rd to Feb 7th. With the coupon, you'll receive an extra 20% purchases at Macy's. Take advantage of some extra savings and help a good cause. Your purchases help Macy's contribute to the cause. Here are some ways you can get involved in the campaign and enjoy social activities and savings.Enjoy the 20% off Savings at the Wear Red Sale

• Take fashion to heart and buy the limited edition INC International Concepts Little Red Dress
  
• Share your story at the Go Red Casting Calls
• Attend a Go Red luncheon in your area
• Join Go Red For Women

Since 2004, Macy's customers and employees have contributed more than $21 million to the Go Red for Women movement. Props to Macy's! To enter to win a $25.00 Macy's gift card, leave a comment on The Recessionista Blog by midnight, Feb 5th, 2010.

iTunes Special Offer: FREE sampler of 20 songs at the iTunes Facebook Group

Here's a nice deal for some free music that I just found on Facebook. You can get a FREE sampler of 20 songs from iTunes just by joining their Facebook group. The download is of the "Artists to Watch Sampler" from iTunes. To take advantage of this offer, go to the iTunes Facebook group,(just search iTunes) become a fan and then you get the code to download the music sampler. Easy peasy free music! US only while supplies last.

Eva Mendes launches Vida for Espana at Macy's

Movie Starlet Eva Mendes turned up at Macy's in the OC over the weekend to launch her new collection of hand painted dishes and tabletop items called Vida for Espana. Eva looked like she was ready to banish the rain from Southern California forever in her Christian Lacroix floral cocktail dress. Here's a few pictures of Vida from Macy's. I like the cheerful, Mexican inspired colors and tiny patterns.


Vida is inspired by Eva’s childhood memories of spending time at the table with family and friends. MM... I wonder what was for dinner :) Check out Vida exclusively at Macy's. All of the Vida products are currently on sale at Macys.com Here's the deal: you'll receive 15% off when you purchase over $125.00 worth. Use the code: HOMEFREE for extra savings.

Macy's also offers a Vida by Eva Mendes home collection, which features comforters, sheets, decorative pillows and window treatments. Check out one of the bedding sets. This one is called Penelope. I am a sucker for red poppies.

Pictured: Vida by Eva Mendes "Penelope" 4-Piece Comforter Set from Macy's

Award Season Bling: The Statement Necklace.

Pictured: Sheryl Crow wearing Irene Neuwirth Jewelry

For all of us who love the red carpet walk of style, good news! Award Season is still on and tomorrow The Grammys will be broadcasting live from Los Angeles. Last night gave us a little Grammy style preview with the Grammy sponsored MusiCares benefit to honor Neil Young. While the very cool Neil is not a fashionista by any means, there were some amazing looks on the Red Carpet. Pictured above is one of my favorites, Sheryl Crow wearing and exquisite statement necklace by Los Angeles designer Irene Neuwirth. The is piece is such a show stopper. Her necklace is 18kt Rose Gold Necklace set with Labradorite and Onyx. The necklace is several thousand dollars, so I can't say it's a chic bargain :) What I like is the pairing of a "statement" necklace with a little black dress. The necklace draws the eye up so you really notice the beauty of the wearer. Look for fashionable statement necklaces at discounters like T.J. Maxx. Forever21, Loehmanns and Kohl's. One striking statement necklace that I like is this one by Amrita Singh. I have seen these at both T.J. Maxx and Loehmann's in their locked jewelry counter. Ask one of the sales clerks to help you to try on the pieces. They are amazing!

Pictured:Amrita Singh's Mother of Pearl Bib Necklace is a statement piece you can find at your local Loehmann's or T.J. Maxx. The piece really dresses up a little black dress.

To see some of Amrita Singh's statement pieces online, click over to HauteLook online shopping club. Click this sponsored link from HauteLook to join and shop as my guest. Most of their Amrita Singh pieces are under $50.00.

For a pair of earrings similar to what Sheryl wore at MusiCares, check out Kendra Scott Jewelry at sale at Gilt Groupe. Click this sponsored link from to join Gilt Groupe and shop as my guest. One of my favorite pieces are the Eden earring for $45.00 US.

Pictured: Red Carpet ready Kendra Scott's two faceted amethyst quartz stones wrapped in gold plated brass wire, on sale at Gilt Groupe.

Fashion 2.0 Awards: For those that wear Prada and Tweet about it!

For the past year, we've seen the face of fashion evolving via social media. From Burberry's Art of the Trench social media networking site, to designer blogs and runway shows streaming via the Internet, the web has changed everything. Personally, I love that I can beam into Prada and Burberry shows on the Internet. Or talk to Norma Kamali and DKNY on Twitter. You no longer have to be based in NYC, Paris, Milan or London to visit the designers. Their collections come to us via the magic of the Internet. And now you have a chance to give the designers your feedback on their social media efforts via the Fashion 2.0 awards. The awards are sponsored by the Fashion Coalition, the designer shopping club Ideeli and Lucky Magazine. So how to you get to be part of the voting. Easy, by pointing and clicking! You can vote on the Ideeli blog or on the Style Coalition website. There is a special award category for the Innovator of the Year. This is the The Innovator Award, Fashion 2.0. One of my favorite designers, Norma Kamali, is nominated in the Innovator category. How amazingly innovative of Norma to be the precursor of Internet fashion shows by doing fashion videos years ago!

The nominees, for the Innovator Award, drumroll please, are:

1. Burberry: website, their own social media site, Twitter page, and Facebook page.
2. Dolce&Gabbana: website, their blog, Twitter page, and Facebook page.
3. Norma Kamali: website, ebay shop, Twitter page, Facebook page.
4. Alexander McQueen: website, Twitter page
5. DVF: website, Twitter page, Facebook page
6. Vivienne Tam: website, collaboration with HP

So raise your voice and take the poll to tell us which brands engaged you, moved you, and inspired you to shop, dress, and think in 2009. Voting ends on Feb. 8th.