Columbus Day brings with it the opportunity to save. Autumn collections are on sale virtually everywhere at the moment as retailers make space on their floors for holiday collections, resort wear and real Winter merchandise.

Here are a few specific ideas on how you can save in style this week:

• Bluefly is taking an extra 15% off all sweaters (today only). If you’re after designer cashmere at a good price, this is the first place to look.
• Express is offering 30% off all jeans and outerwear this weekend. There is an extra $15 coupon for any purchase over $60. Look for layering T’s, boyfriend jackets and new look cardigans. Good for Mum on the go.
• If you’re not sick of ruffles, my favourite Ann Taylor sale item right now is this cashmere ruffle top at 40% off.
• Two footwear bargains at Nordstrom: robust Franco Sarto “Moto” boots and hip Cole Haan “Air Penny” loafers. I’ve had both on my feet and they are comfy too.
• The Macy’s Columbus Day Sale is always great. Head straight for the coat and dress areas.
• The Budget Fashionista is giving away one $500 shopping spree at TJ Maxx every week during October.

Happy bargain hunting.

I’ve been in the international fashion game for 17 years and there is still so much about the industry that I want to know and experience. People I want to meet. Places I want to see. Jobs I want to do. Events I want to attend. Head Offices I want to crash. Secrets I want to know. Clothes I want to wear, and accessories I want to sport.

In some instances I want to be me in the flesh living my fashion fantasies. But in other instances, I’d prefer to be a discreet fly on the wall. So in no particular order, here we go:

• I’d like to be a front row guest at a Chanel fashion show in Paris. Afterwards I’d meet up with Karl Lagerfeld who’d take me into the House of Chanel and graciously offer up a vintage Chanel gown that I’d wear to the Oscars the following year.
• I want to own this Valentino handbag.
• I’d love to meet Kate Moss, who after Twiggy is my favourite model. Her fearlessly fabulous style, interesting look, flair for design and controversial behavior has kept her in the modeling game longer than any other fashion model. Impressive.
• When I was a fashion buyer, I started off by buying baby wear for the age group 0 to 2 years. I did that for years and absolutely loved it. I regard it as one of the happiest times in my fashion career. At the time, I said that I wanted to be a baby wear buyer for the Gap. And guess what – part of me still does. And this brings me to my next fantasy.
• I’d love to spend a month as a fly on Mickey Drexler’s office wall. He’s currently the chairman and CEO of the J.Crew Group but he’s probably better known for his incredible legacy at the Gap. He goes down as one of the most influential and brilliant merchants the rag trade has ever seen. To get a peek into his work life would be sublime.
• I’d love to have tea with Vera Wang. She embodies a sense of trendy avant-garde grace and elegance that is second to none. And she’s 60! A true style inspiration and role model.
• I desperately want to know how trends really get started. How do all the haute couture and prêt a porter collections end up showcasing so many of the same trends in one season. It’s uncanny. Much of the direction is set at Premier Vision and other trade shows, but I wonder whether they attend some other secret conference where they all agree that skinnies, shoulder pads and neon pink is coming back into fashion. I’d love to be a fly on a wall at this conference.
• Zara is one of the most successful retail chains in the world and they don’t even advertise. At all! They are able to design, produce and deliver their merchandise in 15 days when normal lead times on this are usually three months. I am a huge fan of their product and business model. After magically learning Spanish, I’d love to spend a month with Zara’s fashion buyers and design team.

I’ve let you in on my fashion fantasies. Care to let me in on yours?

Earlier this year I wrote about shoe alterations. In the comments to that post, Lisa pointed out an option I had never considered before: shortening the heel.  Forum member Danja gave it a bash and the results were stellar. So I decided that I, too, would jump on the heel shortening bandwagon.

My favourite heel height is between one and two inches, but I have one pair of cream booties that measured more than three and a quarter inches, making them a mere 2-hour shoe. With a cushioning foot bed, sufficient support and a very stable stacked heel, they were comfortable in every other respect. If it weren’t for the towering heel height, we’d have been be a match made in heaven.

I took the two year old lovelies to Nordstrom’s footwear department, where I have all my shoes and handbags fixed and spruced up. I couldn’t have the heels cut down to two inches without distorting the entire shape of the shoe. A third of an inch was the most they could do. Not quite the reduction that I had hoped for, but I decided to take what I could get.

I was worried that the shoes would feel odd and imbalanced after the heels were trimmed, but they actually felt really good once I’d put them through their paces. The front of the shoe has lifted ever so slightly, but the balls of my feet are much relieved as a result of a less steep arch. Overall, this was a worthwhile exercise for $18 and I’ll definitely consider doing it again. I now have “new” 4-hour shoes. Fabulous.

The flop proof Mom-on-the-go outfit formulas for Summer went down really well, so I’m kicking off a series of updates for Autumn 2009. Using elements from this season’s must have list, I’ve compiled 10 casual outfit combinations that I’m putting into practice with clients right now. So far, my clients are happy with the results. I’ll revisit each separate outfit combination in more detail and with visuals as the season progresses.

You can more or less interchange the shoe and boot suggestions, but for the sake of variety and simplicity, I’ve stuck to one footwear option per formula. You can also swap around the top, scarf and jacket options to create entirely new formulas. The possibilities are endless and this is just a starting point. Lastly, unless I specify the style of jeans, the wash, cut and hem width is up to you.

Flop proof outfit formulas:

1. Jeans + embellished / graphic T + new look cardigan + ballet flats: By new look cardigans I mean boyfriend, cascading or fly away and curved hem styles. I won’t shoot you if you insist on sticking to a classic cropped cardigan, but do try to evolve your look this season ladies! It’s all about the cardigan at the moment and the new styles make for a refreshing change. If a fancy layering T is not your thing, a knit top or woven blouse will work just as well. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
2. Skinny Jeans + long sleeved T + scarf + tall boots: Tucking jeans into knee–high or calf length boots is very practical for cold, wet weather. You have the option of leaving the top solid and adding a patterned scarf, or vice versa. Add a new look cardigan layer if it’s nippy outside. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
3. Casual dress + tights or hose + tall boots: Dresses can be casual and I can’t stress that enough. Think jersey knit, sack styles and sweater dresses paired with mid-calf slouch boots or knee-high riding boots. Go bare-legged if it’s warm, or add a cheeky little cropped jacket for cooler weather. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
4. Jeans + tunic sweater + leather / pleather jacket + ankle boots: Banded tunic knitwear gets my vote because the style is easy and forgiving around the midriff area. Add a cropped jacket for structure and throw in ankle-length cowboy boots for fun. Cowboy boots do not need to look overtly western. Fryes assortment has been stellar this season and the colours are delicious. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
5. Jeans + graphic / embellished T + boyfriend blazer + Converse sneakers: Wooohoo! Super cool. Boyfriend blazers do not need to look smart and strict. Choose one in a nubby tweed or pinstripe and scrunch up the sleeves for a more relaxed look. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
6. Denim skirt + knit top + leather or pleather jacket + slouch boots: Corduroy or tartan skirts will work just as well. Substitute a woven button down shirt for the knit top and layer over a sleeveless or short sleeved pullover for a fun preppy vibe. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
7. Micro check pants + denim shirt / knit top + pleather / leather jacket + loafers: Denim and chambray shirts are resurfacing and are great to pair with a non-denim bottoms. Don’t dismiss the idea of loafers. They can totally be hip if your outfit is interesting. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
8. Clamdiggers + long sleeved T + scarf+ tall boots: This look is daring and sweet. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
9. Skinny stretch knit pants + button down tunic shirt + casual belt + tall boots: Ponte de Roma knit pants are your oh-so-comfy casual pants alternative to jeans. Think plaid/tartan tunic or painters shirt and add a casual distressed belt for more structure. A lacy camisole peeking through from underneath a boyish plaid shirt adds a nice feminine touch. [Update: detailed post on this formula]
10. Leggings + tunic or dress + ballet flats: Now that the weather has cooled, you might want to try some of the leggings looks that our forum members’ rocked.

I’ve left out accessories like necklaces, bracelets and cuffs because they aren’t essential. But they’re still a great way to finish off an outfit that’s missing a little extra magic. Belts are also not a must, but they will add polish to the ensemble. Large shoulder totes, cross-body bags and rain hats are practical and hands free solutions for those with children in tow.

As temperatures plummet, you’ll substitute the T’s and knit tops for warm handle knitwear and add on layers like weatherproof trenches, wool coats, puffers, hats and gloves. Umbrellas and wellington boots are also fun items to add into these ensemble mixes. Most importantly, don’t forget that statement specs and a fabulous watch are sometimes the only accessories you’ll need to pull a casual outfit together.

For easy reference, here are the formulas I posted last season:

• Mom on the go: flop-proof outfit #1
• Mom on the go: flop-proof outfit #2
• Mom on the go: flop-proof outfit #3

And Laura’s posts on road testing these formulas:

• Roadtesting Angie’s mom-on-the-go formulas
• Roadtesting Angie’s mom-on-the-go formulas

Let me know in the comments if you have anything to add. I’d love to hear your thoughts before we cover the individual formulas in more detail. And have fun with your casual mom-on-the-go outfits.

Our fabulous forum members putting some of these casual flop proof outfit formulas into stylish action this season (you’ll see additional inspiring outfits in the forum thread). Most of these lasses are real life Moms on the go with kids in tow, while the other gals are simply using the formula for casual everyday dressing. Our models cover ALL heights, body types, sizes, ages, fashion personas and budgets. A lot more compelling than catalogue models. I’m impressed.