Cheryl Maday started Cheryl Shops in 2003 as a way to channel her fever for fashion into an outlet where others could benefit from her style savoir faire. Thus was born one very thorough destination site for all things designer…and discount.

Tell us about your blog. My friends were always asking me about sample sales and where to shop in New York, and I’ve always loved fashion, so that’s what I decided to focus on. Sample sales are my most popular feature, but I also write about everything from designer-mass market collaborations, store reviews, seasonal trend guides, and general fashion news, and I’ve gone to the last five Fashion Weeks in Bryant Park.

What brought you to New York?

Back in college, I came to visit a few friends who were going to school here, and I completely fell in love with the city – the energy, the pace, the whole nine yards. I also majored in magazine journalism, so New York seemed like a pretty logical place to move.

What do you love about living in New York?

I love that everything happens here first – whether it’s a restaurant or a band or a fashion designer, there’s always something new and exciting happening. I love that you can walk through a neighborhood you haven’t been to in a few months, and it can be completely different than the last time you were there. I also love not needing to own a car.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?

You definitely need a certain level of resilience to live here – a combination of ambition and persistence wrapped in a tough skin. Kind of like a weed!

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?

New Yorkers definitely have the reputation of being rude, and I don’t think that’s necessarily true. We’re just really efficient, and maybe that comes across as brusque. And we love to give directions – I’ve had other New Yorkers stop and interrupt and correct me while giving directions!

Best tips, tricks or insider info?

Since New York City is the fashion capital of the country, there is really no reason for you to pay full retail for anything. Between sample sales, end-of-season sales, amazing resale boutiques, and all of the discount stores, plus the Woodbury Commons outlet mall upstate, there are endless off-price options. For assistance in this endeavor, read Cheryl Shops-I list the week’s sales every Monday night.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?

I love toy stores-both F.A.O. Schwarz and Toys R Us-and am more than happy to accompany visitors with small children there. When my boyfriend’s brother and his family were in town, we spent several hours playing around at F.A.O. Schwarz, like Tom Hanks in Big. I had a blast.

Best place to dine late night?

Had I responded to this several months ago, I would’ve recommended Florent in the Meatpacking District; the food was great and the clientele was ultra-fabulously downtown, but, sadly, it’s now closed. As a slightly more mellow replacement, I suggest my favorite neighborhood restaurant, Bar Tabac, which is open till 3 a.m. on the weekends. The goat cheese salad is heavenly.

Best live music venue?

Radio City Music Hall. The Art Deco lobby makes you feel totally swanky, the sound quality is amazing, and-this is important because I’m an old lady-you get to sit down the whole time.

Best kept secret in neighborhood fashion boutiques?

I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a best-kept secret in media-saturated New York, but Gabay’s in the East Village is fairly under the radar in terms of discount shopping. They get overstock from stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Henri Bendel, so you can usually find designer clothes and accessories-think Chloé, Marc Jacobs, Manolo Blahnik-for pretty good prices.

Best area or neighborhood for fashion steals?

Chelsea has Filene’s Basement, TJ Maxx, and Loehmann’s, plus the Barneys Warehouse Sale twice a year, and there are frequently sample sales at the Metropolitan Pavilion. I also love the designer resale shop Fisch for the Hip on 18th Street. If you’ve got time to dig, go dig there.

Best way to spot a trend?

For a refined experience, walk around Soho on a weekday – between the shopgirls, showrooms, and various artsy people who work down there, everyone is devastatingly stylish.

Best high end shop? Best place to find reasonable knock offs?

For high end, count me among those who worship at the altar of Jeffrey. The shoes are to die for (and somewhat more affordable during the twice-yearly sales), they have a great mix of big-name designer and cutting-edge labels, and the salespeople are lovely. Of all the fast-fashion chains in the city, I still think H&M is the best. Zara has better quality and Forever 21 has better prices, but H&M has a stronger, on-trend runway influence. Of course, once Topshop opens later this year, I’m bound to change my mind!

www.cherylshops.blogspot.com

Which Sales Have You Sampled Successfully?
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As someone whose closet was regularly raided by friends throughout high school and college, Christina Carathanassis now has a closet to share with the world – Christabelle’s Closet (Christabelle is Christina’s childhood nickname). This owner and creative soul behind the designer resale boutique Christabelle’s Closet started blogging in order to satiate her inner editor and allow her to wear the label of “fashion go-to-girl” with pride. We sat down with Christabelle herself, to delve deep into the mind of our fashion-obsessed friend and dish about the truly important things in life… Designers, Discounts, and Daring NYC Style.

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started? Christabelle’s Closet The Blog is an extension of my award winning, online consignment boutique, ChristabellesCloset.com. Though the main store’s theme is “budget shopping on a dime” offering top designer clothing, shoes and handbags on consignment for less, the blog actually encompasses all things fabulous! We cover the gamut from fashion and beauty to food and travel (and pretty much everything in between). It definitely opens the playing field in terms of voice and expression. I love it! For as long as I can remember, people have asked me for advice on the newest, coolest things on the market – a blog is a pretty loud voice to offer everyone counsel – so along came the birth of Christabelle’s Closet The Blog. It also offers a great platform to give my shoppers the HOTTEST deals in our consignment shop with our weekly “deal of the day” post as well as giving the scoop on the hottest places to visit, beauty products to buy, designers to check out etc. the remainder of the week. I originally was a Journalism major in college and wound up in Beauty PR for 10 years, so creating a blog seemed like a very organic way for me to nurture my inner editor! It also gives me a great excuse to “shop” (as if I needed one). I love exploring niche brands, uncovering really amazing products and services and having the ability to give them well deserved exposure. There are SO MANY fantastic businesses out there…I am here to sniff them out and give them props!

What brought you to New York?

I grew up in Bergen County, just 10 short minutes from NYC…I couldn’t imagine living anywhere but the Big Apple!

What do you love about living in New York?

The energy…the city reminds me of a big record…pumping out music at the hand of a great DJ. There is NOTHING like it.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?

Style and individuality. There is a definitive “je ne sais quoi” about people who live in NY…the city becomes a part of your soul. No matter where I go within the US and abroad – people ALWAYS know I am from NY and it makes me super proud (and no, I don’t have an accent lol!)

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?

The number of friendly people on the streets! People talk to me wherever I go – they are compassionate and kind (with the exception of a bad seed here and there elbowing me in the rib during a sardine packed subway ride!)…New Yorkers will always tell you like it is, but in the nicest way they know how. I make it a habit of complimenting other women on the street if I like their style…it feels good to sprinkle a little nice into someone else’s day. Everyone should pay it forward in their own way.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?

24-7 food deliveries…did you know places ACTUALLY CLOSE in other major cities? It makes me appreciate the convenience this great city has to offer.

Best tips, tricks or insider info regarding navigating a THE sale at Barney’s?

If you don’t mind picking through the bins, boxes, piles on the floor and dare I say garbage bags – going on the last day, during the last hours of a sample sale can provide you with MAJOR discounts and at times free goodies. Selection might be scarce, but there are deals to be had – leave your shame at home.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?

The Chrysler Building…not sure if that is really a “tourist” attraction, but I have a little crush on it. The architecture is amazing! I secretly long to take one of those Big Apple Tour double-decker buses around NYC with a group of my best friends (I guess it isn’t a secret anymore!).

Best place to dine late night?

Viand on Broadway and 75th – they have a little bit of everything and the staff couldn’t be nicer. The grilled cheese is especially delicious after midnight.

Best music venue?

The Beacon Theatre – not a bad seat in the house.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)

Hooted and hollered at my boyfriend’s band playing at The Bitter End. Hooted and hollered at Ryan Star kicking out some serious tunes at the Rockwood Music Hall.

Best place to people watch?

Central Park…wow…I can spend HOURS there. It is pure (and free) entertainment.

Best shop for thrifty yet stylish clothing?

If you promise not to tell anyone I am over 21 (and have been for quite some time) – FOREVER 21 has the cutest “disposable” clothes and accessories. And of course, www.ChristabellesCloset.com…

Surest sign that a trend is “over”?

For me, a trend is OVER the second I spot more than 10 people on the street wearing it. Onto the next for me! I don’t like being a sheep…

www.christabellescloset.com

Where Do You Find Discount Designer Duds?
Post A Comment Below And Give Us Some Lip About Styling Tips.

Want to look like a million bucks without spending anywhere near that? Who doesn’t? The Guerilla Shopper has mastered the fine art of finding a great deal. Her Code Word column will decode where to shop, eat, and spend your hard earned dough – while keeping you out of debt. This Guerilla Shopper is in the trenches of New York City, now you can join her!

The Devil Should Wear Kifka and Heller

Reminiscent of any high-end Soho boutique, but right in the midst of Hell’s Kitchen, dwells Kifka + Heller, where the Devil really is in the details.

Reopened this past April, K+H provide wearable, chic fashions for the men and women in and around 10019. The current collection is designed using rich but versatile materials such as silk jersey, leather, linen and denim with the idea that fashion-forward couples can build wardrobes that are complementary and also linked via meticulously designed and styled travel bags.

So what more can be said about New York City clothing boutiques that we all haven’t already heard? Well, in this case, K+H caters to an individual’s tastes and desires. Want that dress in a different color? Ask. Need help figuring out how to wear those jeans and top? They’ll style you from head to toe (and will lend you shoes to ensure that you can visualize the full package that is you). Feel like you need some jewelry to go with those new separates? They have a relationship with the jewelry designer next door. In the “industry” and need wardrobe? They do industry rentals. Hell, need a one-of-a-kind chair for your living or bedroom? Well they make those too.

So what does the (near) future hold? For the forthcoming Summer 2009 collection, K+H are planning new designs using green fabrics comprised of bamboo/hemp and blends. Just don’t roll them up and smoke ‘em.

Going to K+H is more like visiting your personal stylist and having your whims catered to from the minute you walk in the door, but without price points that will send you running back to TJ Maxx (their prices generally run from $185-$950). And I can almost guarantee that if you go there now, you will one day be able to say, “Oh I used to go to Kifka+Heller back in the 2000s when they only had that small space on west 49th St!”

See you in Hell!(’s Kitchen).

445 W. 49th Street
btn 9th & 10th Ave
New York, NY 10019
kifkaandheller.com

For more of Guerilla Shopper’s fashion faves click here.

Like this entry? Check out more from our Code Words contributors here.

Where do you go for the best bargains in New York? Post a comment below and tell us!

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When you’re looking for the hottest jeans, the trendiest t-shirt, or even a super cool swimsuit, head to Hell’s Kitchen. That’s right. In the Kitchen, lies a small boutique that carries everything you need. The friendly staff at Wear Me Out will get you decked out, right down to your underwear.

You might think the punk rock phase has died out and that Day-Glo colored hairdos only exist in 1980’s teen movies. Luckily, nothing could be further from the truth. In 1977 native New Yorkers Tish and Snooky Bellomo opened America’s first Punk Rock boutique on St. Mark’s Place. These sisters, singers in the original Blondie line up, have been bringing the punk look and lifestyle to the masses for over 25 years with their hair color brand Manic Panic. Their celebrity clientele include Cyndi Lauper, Rancid, Aerosmith, Green Day, Dennis Rodman and designer Todd Oldham, just to name a few. The small store front on St. Mark’s Place is long gone. “We’re so big now we had to move into a huge warehouse in Long Island City,” exclaims Tish. “Who’d a thunk it?” says Snooky. This dynamic duo is famous for making bold fashion statements, especially on stage. “People were always imitating us” says Tish. Once for a show, the girls created dresses out of pillow cases. Their fans wanted to know where they could buy such funky duds. “So we grabbed some of our designs from our closet and opened up this shop.” Their mom coined the name “MANIC PANIC” and the rest is history. What’s not history is their performing. They can still be seen on stage and their costume closet takes up much of their warehouse. “Everything we sell, we wear!”

www.manicpanic.com

21-07 Borden Avenue, 11101

The only signal that you have arrived at Blueberi is a tiny paper nameplate tacked to the glass door. But the vintage dress in the window is enough to pull any girl from a block away. Blueberi has “everything a girl needs,” the owner boasts. A handpicked array of vintage and vintage-inspired contemporary pieces offers their 20-something female customers the trendiest of threads. From Olga to Mason and Majestic French T-shirts this store is stocked with the top names of fashion and balanced by a smattering of one-of-a-kind pieces. It’s full of beautiful attire leaving the shopper with the toughest decision: what to leave behind.

143 Front Street, 11201

Going organic and embracing the vegan lifestyle is a cinch with Organic Avenue. This lifestyle boutique has everything you need for sustainable living in the big city. “I wanted to make it easier for people to live the raw lifestyle, and to not feel deprivation,” says founder Denise Mari. From raw food prepared fresh daily, to natural fiber fashion plus herbal health and beauty products, you’ll discover things you didn’t even know could be organic. Customers are fans of the five-day raw food L.O.V.E. Fast, which delivers fresh meals to your door, five mornings in a row.

101 Stanton Street, between Orchard Street and Ludlow Street, Manhattan
www.organicavenue.com

Extra! Extended Interview with Organic Avenue founder Denise Mari.

CiNYC got the dirt on Denise Mari’s thoughts on sustainable living, her history as a vegan and why she opened Organic Avenue.

Why is sustainable living important in this day and age?
What we do makes a difference in the environment. Everything is coming to light now. According to environmental experts, we should “be the change.” Most people have been scared into awakening, but I do think we have the opportunity to make the changes and live the sustainable life.

Can you tell me about your background as a vegan?
I started as a vegetarian. I loved animals, and it was just kind of a progression. I developed a spiritual belief that you didn’t have to hurt another animal to live a happy and healthy life. I just kept researching, and vegans were the healthiest, happiest, most positive people I’d ever met.

How did changing your diet affect your health?
I used to have digestive problems, acne, I was moody, I had low energy after I slept, and if I ate anything I’d feel tired. I’ve spent five years on a 100% raw vegan diet, and it’s the best I’ve ever felt. I’m inspired, I’m allowing of nature to take hold of me, and there’s true vibration.

What inspired you to open Organic Avenue?
I had a desire to make it easier for people to live the raw lifestyle, so they wouldn’t have to feel deprivation. If I find that there’s anything that’s not available on the market, it motivates me to make it available for people.

CiNYC’s resident fashionista Sasha splurges in some of Hell’s Kitchen’s finest boutiques.

Sasha’s Hell’s Kitchen Picks

Lyd
405 West 44th Street, 10036
www.lydnyc.com

Ray Beauty Supplies
721 8th Avenue, 10036
www.raybeauty.com

Arnold Hatters
535 8th Avenue, 10018
www.arnoldhatters.com