My dear internet friends, Francesca has been at her computer, typing away for the Day Job, almost non-stop since Sunday morning, and her head may very well explode. This calls, you know, for retail therapy.

AVENUE introduces their “screens and jeans” collection.

CATHERINES end-of-year clearance sale ends today. Also ending today, bras and shapewear are “buy 2, get 1 free” and panties are “buy 3, get 2 free.” Finally, today only, get 40% off a regular-priced item with code 777003245.

FASHION BUG, too, is having sales on intimates, online and in-store through January 19. Bras are “buy 2, get 2 free.” Panties are “buy 3, get 3 free.” Shapewear is “buy 1, get 1 at 50% off.” They also have some nice new workout clothes.

JUST MY SIZE is having a bra sale through January 18.

IGIGI has added new items to their sale rack. Francesca’s pick: the Jessica dress (pictured) is now under $50 (limited sizes). They also have some VERY interesting new arrivals.

JESSICA LONDON is having a winter sale including coats and boots and other things to get now at good prices to wear next year (and this year). Francesca’s pick: the Leather Trench Coat.

MAKE YOUR OWN JEANS will take 10% off any purchase with code 10JEANS through January 31.

MAXIMUM WOMAN is selling coats at 50% off, and for a limited time if you buy one sale coat you can purchase a second for $50. Use code SUKA. Also see their clearance sale here.

MONIF C is having a “secret sale” through Friday: PHONE IN your order at 1.212.842.1641 and say “secret sale,” and they will take 50% off the original price of holiday items, and 50% off the clearance sale of clearance items. (This also works in person, if you can go to their Manhattan boutique.) If you have been eyeing the trench coat, or if you are on the love side of the “love/hate” divide on the convertible dress, now is your chance.

OLD NAVY is having a clearance sale.

PERFUMANIA is having a big sale on a wide variety of scents, and you get free shipping on U.S. orders over $65.

That should take care of Francesca’s headache! xoxo

SILHOUETTES will take an extra 25% off clearance with code SCL25. Ends tonight at midnight.

KIYONNA will take 20% off everything from their site, and give free shipping on orders of $100 or more, through midnight tonight. Use code RESOLUTION.

CHADWICKS is having their first sale of 2010.

TORRID has new swimwear. Francesca’s pick.

SHOEMALL is having a sale.

LA GRANDE DAME will take 25% off everything on the site with code NEWYEAR, through Friday.

CHICO’S will take $25 off purchases of $100 or more with code 6712, through Sunday.

B & LU is having a terrific post-holiday sale, with many fantastic party/night-on-the-town tops now for under $20.

JESSICA LONDON is having a winter clearance sale.

AVENUE is having a “winter sidewalk” sale. If you can wear empire waists, check out this fun “Sosie Geo Print” dress for the summer, costing just $12.96 on clearance.

FIGLEAVES is having a nice sale, with items up to 50% off.

ALIGHT has a sale going on.

ZAFTIQUE‘s clearance sale ends on January 11.

JUNONIA, the wonderful source for cold-weather clothes and activewear, is continuing their after-Christmas clearance sale.

SMART BARGAINS is having a big liquidation sale with truly excellent deals. Women’s apparel. Shoes. Fine Jewelry. Women’s watches. Handbags and other accessories.

Francesca’s picks: Check out these incredible designer-shoe opportunities:

• Charles David leather boots for $72.
• Isaac Mizrahi satin peep-toes, $72.
• Taryn Rose Cap-Toe Wedges, $143.
• Charles David crocodile stiletto boots, $192.
• Cole Haan “Genevieve” copper pumps, $98.
• Taryn by Taryn Rose double-strap Mary Janes, $66.
• Cole Haan “Lucetta” Mary Janes, $104.

To kick off 2010, Francesca reminds you to take certain life-saving measures (and directs you to designer shoes on sale at terrific prices):

Always wear your seat belt, whether you are in your own car, or in a friend’s, or in a taxi.

Make a fire evacuation plan with your family. Make sure everyone in your house knows where all the exits are, and decide now on a rendezvous point outside. When you have sleepover guests, show them all the exits, too.

Burn prevention tip: If you have small children, put down tape on the floor a few feet around the stove, and make a rule that they may never cross the tape.

Tell your spouse/parents/medical proxy that if anything should happen to you, you want to donate your organs to save someone else. Signing a donor card is nice, but ultimately the decision will rest with those who love you. Don’t leave them with the burden of wondering what you would have wanted!

Have a safe and life-affirming 2010!

AVENUE has a large selection of items up to 80% off (online, and some are in-store only), “for a limited time.” Also, ending today, use code AV91143 for 25% off your most-expensive item and 30% off the next-most, if you buy 3 or more items.

TORRID has taken 50% off Clearance, and is having a holiday sale, including 25% off dresses. If you order $75 or more, use code CELEBRATE for free shipping. Francesca’s picks: Purple Fur Collar Cardigan for $17.50;  Black Rosebud Print Tiered Skirt $15; floral pencil skirt $15;  Black Corset Top $20.

CATHERINES will give you free shipping on orders of $75 or more, ending tonight at midnight Eastern. Their end-of-year clearance goes on through January 12 and is here. Also through January 12, bras and shapewear are “buy 2, get 1 free” and panties are “buy 3, get 2 free.” These offers exclude Goddess and (sadly) Spanx brands. Francesca’s Picks.

NORM THOMPSON is having their winter sale.

CJ BANKS is offering $5 shipping on any order. Francesca sees that they have some nice, classic, wardrobe basics in their section for sizes 4x and 5x.

ASHLEY STEWART is having an end-of-season sale, online only and “for a limited time,” with 50% off your entire purchase.

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE has new styles in by Christian Louboutin. Go look at the pretty $800 shoes here.

TALBOTS is having their famous Red Hanger sale. Note that they sell both Woman and Woman Petite sizes.

COLDWATER CREEK will take 60% off your entire purchase (online only), through January 4, with code WKH8281.

Mid-heel evening shoes are like cigarettes in jail: Difficult to obtain, highly valuable and worth their weight in gold. Also sometimes a really buff gay guy will try to stab you for them.

Mid-heels are perfect for New Year’s Eve parties because odds are you’ll be up late and doing a lot of standing.

Personally I’m wearing these:

which are most certainly NOT mid-heels, (the shoes are pewter lace-up sandals by Brian Atwood, the scarf is Couvertures et Tenues de Jour by Hermes) but I also don’t plan on doing much other than draping myself elegantly across a divan and/or bar stool and having champagne funneled down my throat.

A more sensible choice than the full talons aiguilles (literally “needle heels”) would be these thin-wale velvet darlings from Clone. At a sensible 2.7 inches with a pyramid heel, you’ll rock out the naughties in style.

Plus they’re closed-toe for your champagne-sipping pleasure!

Everyone should have a pair of neutral, solid-heeled day shoes in their personal collection. In fact, I keep a pair in my car at all times.

A good thing too, as I had a wardrobe malfunction on Christmas eve and had to switch from my redonkulous Brian Atwoods:

to a pair much more like these:

Are they exciting when compared to a pair of $900 fuchsia silk shoes bejeweled with hand-faceted crystals? Not, really, no, but they’re dead handy to have around and rate a lot higher in the utility department. They’re statement-y enough –it’s the slight banana heel that does it– to wear with boyfriend jeans for that louche Parisienne look, but they’re also classic enough to wear with pretty much every day dress in your closet.

Originally $228, limited sizes are available at YOOX for $49

Dearest readers:  Francesca is on her way to Bavaria, so this will be the last FFI until after the Christmas. xoxo

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. Today is the last day to order at Saks.com and get delivery tomorrow. Use code HOLIDAY9 for a free shipping upgrade, and click on “yes this order contains at least one gift” if you want complimentary gift wrapping. Plus-size apparel is here. Francesca’s pick: Ruffle coat.

LA GRANDE DAME has already started their after-Christmas sale, to clear out their winter styles. The sale includes nighties by Betsey Johnson, among other things. Francesca likes that they use Big Girls as models. Francesca’s pick for the woman of a certain age: Gold Tadashi gown, at a truly excellent price.

BLOOMINGDALES has marked down select merchandise through tomorrow. Plus sizes here. Francesca’s pick (pictured).

OLD NAVY will take 10% off purchases of new arrivals through January 2, with code ONSAVETEN (online only). Plus sizes here.

SWAK Designs introduces their “Starlet” collection. Francesca’s pick: Black and Nude Lace Evening Dress.

ALWAYS FOR ME is giving free shipping (in continental US) through tomorrow on orders of $50 or more, with code freeship50.

BEAUTY.COM will give you a free ($15-value) pack of 20 Peter Thomas Roth “Unwrinkle Peel Pads” with any Peter Thomas Roth skincare purchase. Limit one per household. Ends January 3 (or while supplies last).