Bloomingdales Friends & Family: 20% off Burberry & More

From now through October 1st, Bloomingdales is having 20% off with code FANDF and free shipping site-wide. Burberry and Ferragamo are included in the sale, and both make some great classics which are high on my list of splurge-worthy things.

Ever since I received a vintage pair of Ferragamo Vara shoes from my generous friend Wendy, they have been nearly inseparable from my feet. These are the type of shoes that I see myself getting re-soled and re-polished to wear for years to come. The sleek design with feminine bow is signature Ferragamo, and they have a sturdy 1.5" block heel that give shorties some extra height, but are still easy to walk in. I wear them often on the weekends and commute in them almost every non-rainy day. Some women have raised their eyebrows because my commuting shoes are not "crappy," which I've never understood - just because one wants to walk comfortably and swiftly when commuting does not mean one has to relegate herself to iffy shoes (cough...white sneakers with tube socks). Commuting or not, I try to think of shoes as an integral part of each outfit.

Ferragamo Vara bow pump in patent black, patent red / nude, and cognac brown

The Vara pump comes in a number of colors and material combos. Mine are regular leather with a grosgrain ribbon bow, but they also make patent with grosgrain bows, or all patent...
After wearing mine so much, I am now interested in adding a patent black pair that can be worn with tights even through damp conditions. Red and cognac are close second favorites, but black would definitely get the most wear (for me).

As for sizing, I feel Ferragamo shoes run slightly smaller and more narrow than other brands I've tried. Most flats are wide on my feet, whereas these fit really slender and are lengthening on the leg. These are my usual size 5 and were definitely stiff in the beginning, but got broken-in much faster than the notorious Tory Burch Revas.

On the Burberry front - while dropping off an old jacket for alterations, I brought a friend with me to the Boston Burberry store and introduced her to my beloved sales associate, John D. on Newbury St. My friend does not shop often due to having small kids and a hectic work schedule, and cares more about quality and classic style than name brands. She has, however, expressed interest in a few of my coats, and I finally convinced her to come with me for the "walk."

Burberry Rushworth wool-cashmere coat in sz 2, also in black

John took one look at her frame and listened to what she was looking for (wool-cashmere blend winter coat, classic but with some edge, non-black, under $1k), and immediately swooped up this open-collar coat. My friend fell in love at first trial and took it home. The material is extremely soft and the soft pewter color is a versatile alternative to black. I tried it on too just for fun - a US 2 fit beautifully in the shoulders/torso on me, with the sleeves being the only part needing alterations.

The same coat is currently 20% off at Bloomies with FANDF, but I will mention that alterations are complimentary only when buying full-price at a Burberry store.

Readers - Please share if you picked anything up from this F&F sale!