Offer from Lane Bryant: Get two years of Figure magazine for the price of one. Francesca enjoys the articles in Figure. It is feel-good reading.

New arrivals and new sale items at J.Jill. Francesca’s pick (pictured at left).

Get a pair of pants at Avenue for just $10, while supplies last. (Pants for Petites and Talls also available at this price!)
Many new items have been moved to the sale department of Talbot’s Woman and Woman Petite. Also, get free shipping on their newly-arrived shoes and boots through September 20 (or skip that and just buy these slingbacks on sale at 50% off). Francesca’s pick.

Nordstrom announces that their shoe department offers extended sizes and widths! Look, shoes in size 14! Extra-wide shoes! Francesca’s pick.

Through September 30, get $20 off any pair of pants or jeans at Coldwater Creek. Francesca’s pick.

Until September 16, get 30% off your highest-price item at Woman Within by entering code WW26354 at checkout. Remember, as always, their merchandise runs long – petites beware! Francesca’s pick.

Make Your Own Jeans has revamped its website and added new fabrics and new embroidery patterns for the pockets. Custom-made jeans and pants, shipped worldwide!

Through September 15, get 35% off your highest-price item at Roaman’s by entering code  RD15712 at checkout. Francesca’s pick (pictured at left).

Get your sexy plus-size Halloween costume (or just the fairy wings, or mask, or hair extensions, or whatever) at Torrid!

Kiyonna announces their new La Bella Vita collection. Francesca’s pick.

Happy shopping!

xoxo,

Francesca

Shoe clearance on women’s and kids’ shoes at Nordstrom! oh, oh oh!

(“Approval” meets Francesca’s approval! Especially at 40% off!)

Certain t-shirts at Avenue are selling now for under $10, while supplies last. Each one comes in so many wonderful colors! Stock up for next summer.

Today only, get discounted ground shipping on any order over $100 at Zaftique, by entering code FRSUMMER08 at checkout.

The bi-annual “red tag” clearance sale is going on at Coldwater Creek. Save up to 80% on over 1,000 items. (Here are the 45 items still available in Size 3X. Francesca likes this sweet gingham front-tie shirt, and this silk wrap-shirt. She is also thinking about getting this eyelet shirt-and-shorts set, for lounging around on a Sunday at home, or to cover up a bit at the beach when the sun is too strong for her.)

At Swimsuits for All, Find Great Deals on The Hottest Styles on Sale Now at get 20% off any Plus Size New Arrival by entering code NEW20. Or get 50% off any Women’s Christina Style
by entering code CHRISTINA50.

Always for Me is having a swimwear sale, with many items 25-50% off. (The style to the left is available here, at 25% off.) Please note: no returns on sale items.

Labor Day sale at Lane Bryant for six days!

Through September 1, get 15% off your full-price purchase at J.Jill by entering code HBC241 at checkout. Women’s sizes are here. Tall sizes are here. Francesca notices that many beautiful items in the Women’s section are on sale — and therefore not eligible for the discount code, but at excellent prices on their own. This dress here is available up to size 4x and is great for work.

Through September 5th, use code FALL2008 to get 10% off your purchase at WomenSuits.com.

Win a $100 “shopping spree” at the HolyClothing Webstore: Send an email to contest@holyclothing.com with a photo of yourself in a HolyClothing garment, telling them “a bit about yourself, where you enjoy wearing it, compliments you’ve received, etc.” Entries will be judged for the “best photo and text combination,” and winners will get more clothes and have their photo featured in an upcoming Holy Clothing newsletter.

Lots of new items at the Overstock section of Land’s End.

Happy shopping!

xoxo

“Quilty” by Stuart Weitman.

Are not they sweet? And they are 24% off!

Happy weekend, everyone.

xoxo

Francesca is so happy. She has finally finished a project at her “day job” over which she has slaved night and day for almost a month. It is now off her desk and someone else’s responsibility! At last! And just in time for the weekend!

Francesca plans to use her new-found free time to sit in her extremely comfortable pajamas from Lane Bryant and work on her family tree. Francesca became interested in geneology about two years ago, but began researching her ancestral history in earnest only recently. She is using a program called Legacy Family Tree to collect and organize all the information, documents, and photos, and so far is finding the program quite easy and user-friendly. It also makes nifty charts, though not the exact type of chart that Francesca would prefer, but OK.  Geneology is Fun for Francesca!

Also, to celebrate the finished project, Francesca must, of course, treat herself to new shoes. What else would she do?!?

She is trying to decide between two shoes by Vigotti, the “Kady”

or the  “Vasant”

What say you, dear readers?

Dear Francesca,

I hope you can help me. I am attending a cousin’s wedding this summer, and have had a hard time putting together an outfit. The wedding is during the day (starts at 11 am) but the invitation says “Black Tie Optional.” I plan to wear a cobalt-blue blouse from Igigi (which I found thanks to your site!) and an ankle-length skirt I found in the Middle East a few years ago; it is made of layers of wispy material, mostly grey, with threaded accents here and there of blue, white, and black.  I have long pearl earrings which are fancy but lighten the outfit, and a nice gold purse.

But, Francesca, what should I wear on my feet? I’m a size 7.5 wide, and can’t walk in those uber-high heels you sometimes show on your website. What can I wear that is fancy enough for “Black Tie Optional” but not so encrusted with jewels that it is inappropriate for daytime?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Sarah

Dear internet friend,

Francesca has found the shoe for you! It is the “Vivas” by Prevata! A beautiful and elegant cream-colored sandal with gold accents, and a pretty but walk-able 2 1/2 -inch heel.

Have a wonderful time at the wedding!

xoxo,

Francesca

Look, the simple and versatile pump by the name of Nanico, which usually sells for $235 or more, is on 40% sale at both Zappos and Shoes.com, at a savings of 94 American dollars!  (Francesca frets that the American dollar is not worth as much as it used to be, but such is life. We who earn our income in dollars and spend much of it abroad console ourselves with the beautiful, well-made shoes.)

Happy weekend!

xoxo,

Francesca