Sassy City Chicks Fashion Bash in NYC December 2, 2009

Shopping events (both online, and in person) are becoming the new, savvy way for fashionistas to get what they want, without going broke. What's more, shopping events and "girls night out" gives women a chance (and in some cases, an excuse) to get out of the house, and to socialize and enjoy themselves. Usually, these events also feature free cocktails and nibbles, so you're partying, not just paying, for great stuff!

The latest of these events (and only their second in New York (the first was in April) happened yesterday (December 2nd from 5:00-10:00 p.m.), the Sassy City Chicks Fashion Bash, hosted by Haute Life MarketingEvents (HLPR). They've been producing and organizing Sassy City Chicks events in other cities, since 2001.

The formula is pretty much the same as other shopping bashes: provide unique vendors of stuff "girls" like at good discounts, and make it fun, with drinks and nibbles. Of course, there are gift bags (the one advertised for Sassy City Chicks had an estimated value of $300.00). The event was very conveniently located at the Hotel Pennslvania's Gold Ballroom, a location near Macy's and Madison Square Garden. I went in the morning for the press preview, and there was a mountain of yummy cupcakes. In the evening, I'm told, it's cocktails.

Tickets are not terribly expensive, just $20.00. You might ask: Why spend money to spend money? Well, the truth is, you'll get access to designer items and discounts you can't get any other Although there were not as many booths as in other events, many of the items I checked out were truly unique. You won't find them in Macy's or a big, box store. These are the type of things you find in Soho or in pricey boutiques around town and think: "How cute! But I can't afford it." At Sassy City Chicks, you can! The prices were went from insanely inexpensive, to reasonable. There were plenty of goodies to purchase: cosmetics, jewelry, accessories, and clothing. The $20.00 one spends to get in, will be made back in discounts and a shopping bag full of special items, as long as you come prepared to shop and buy more than one thing. As to the 50%-80% off clothing from designers such as DVF, Nanette Lepore, Marc Jacobs, Rebecca Taylor, Betsey Johnson, Theory, and accessories from designers like Gucci and Coach, they were there as advertised, although not huge amounts of them. There were a few vendors (mostly they sell on Ebay) with racks full of genuine designer items that you could purchase on a beer and peanuts budget. And, there was a makeshift dressing room to try things on (something other shopping events don't always have).

I loved the products from Perfect Pouch Wear, stretchy, silky, glamorous dresses, tunics and pants that literally, folk into a pocket and will not crush. The entire dress shown in this photo folks into it's own pocket, smaller than a recyclable nylon bag...and doesn't wrinkle! The cost (at this show they wer half price at just $40.00). I almost never buy things (if I did, I'd be broke in short order) but I broke down and bought one of the basic black pants. They're dressy enough to wear out, comfortable enough to survive a long plane trip, and, if someone spills something all over me, I can "wash and wear" again, quickly

Even if you don't buy a thing, you do get a gift bag with a full price tickets. The organizers say it's worth at least $300.00. In all fairness, I am not sure it was quite that much in value, but it definitely was worth far more than the cost of admission. When you add up all of the contents, it is still quite a lot of value for your money. I was thrilled that my bag had one of Eve's Pearl's amazing lipgloss duos (value: $28.00) and also a nice cami/panty set from Fredericks of Hollywood (not tacky, wearable and pretty). The contents were a bit heavy on the drugstore item side, but all were brand name. There were several nail items (I know they're worth at least $6.00 each because I've reviewed them). Also included was a lovely Honeysuckle spray "pen" from Demeter Fragrance Library (the Advice Sisters have reviewed many of their unique scents); lip gloss from Murad; a box (not a sample) of 16 Wisp mini-toothbrushes filled with Colgate toothpaste: Shobha Ingrown Relief Lotion, Skin Compliment lotion from Amena, faux eyelashes from Revlon; two skincare samples from Sabon Organic; four skincare samples from BodyOgraphy; an adorable tin of eye shadow from Pop Beauty; a sample of Borba Skin Balance Water, and four sample pouches of skincare from Better Botanicals. The re-useable, Sassy City Chicks mini shopping tote is going to be great for carrying shoes and other must-haves, around town.



Who's that woman with a genuine (and impressively heavy), Ocscar)? That's actually me, Alison Blackman, after Eve Pearl worked her makeup magic on me. I couldn't resist holding the Oscar when opportunity, knocked! The face and body are mine, but the Oscar (one of a well-deserved, five) is Eve Pearl's.

Eve Pearl was the first person I spied as I walked in, and I made a beeline for her! I remember being very impressed with her demonstration of high definition makeup, at the Makeup Show, back in 2006. The Advice Sisters have not yet reviewed Eve Pearl cosmetics, but I think we'll be doing so very soon (and hopefully, often).


Eve graciously offered to do my makeup (cost: priceless), and I was thrilled to accept. After all, Eve was coming from a morning at the Today Show, and she's a personal make-up artist to Meredith Vieira. She's also a frequent on-air guest and expert, performing make-overs and providing make-up and beauty advice, and is the author of Plastic Surgery without the Surgery, the Miracle of Makeup Techniques (Book - Warner Books, DVD -GreatFaces, Inc.).


While Eve worked, I watched the master of makeup, best I could. Eve uses a lot of sponges and brushes to apply makeup so it looks flawless, but not mask-like. She is known for her creamy, salmon-colored concealer that lets you cover up without getting "raccoon" eyes. Eve likes to spritz her tools and sponges with water (with her foundation, it made it a bit more sheer), but she also used water on her pressed powder eye shadow to get more intensity out of the color. I had already been wearing (testing) a red lipstick, but Eve used her red: "Hollywood Affair," lining my lips and then filling them in with a brown pencil, first. The brown pencil not only kept the lipstick from smudging and running, it also toned down some of the red so it had a bit of warmth. When I got home I tried the same with another red lipstick that I felt was just a bit "tooo much" for my fair skin, and the technique worked, perfectly!

Sassy City Chicks was a fun event that I'd attend again and recommend. Visit www.sassycitychicks.com for more information and to be there for the next event.

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