202: Runway Prada is 30% off if you know where to look

I'm uncontainable with shopping inspiration this week.

Not to sound like a shill (because I’m not), but I can always count on discovering new, affordable-ended designers in Moda Operandi’s New In pages—today’s trawl turned up Spanish brand Sophie et Voila, which has its roots in wedding wear (minimalist brides can find perfection without spending over $620 for this ivory column dress) but has since expanded into excellent duchess-satin guest attire like this red, strapless gown and less event-specific separates as in this linen-blend coat…yes, the pieces are on pre-order but you only have to wait until May; also at Moda is Heirlome, luxury RTW that leans “occasion” but is tempting to wear more regularly thanks to great fabrics (apparent in these pants) and draping and cuts that put twists on the basics but don’t feel forced—see this carwash-pleated skirt for exactly what I mean; I didn’t realize until I read Em’s newsletter from this week that Zn Ali, which I’ve had an involved screenshot/IG saves relationship with for the last year, is actually so affordable—the three-piece Valentin set Em pointed out is $323 (and can be custom tailored at no extra cost), and the Norain coat I’ve stared at so many times is $465 (ditto on made-to-measure)…this is huge for me; the crush I had on these Sea trackpants last season has been updated with a new crush on a new pair of Sea trackpants, these with lace stripes down the side (and styled brilliantly with ballet flats); doesn’t this Officina Del Poggio Sling Bag remind you of Loewe’s Pebble Bucket? Only Loewe can’t compete with its sub-$900 price point (sub-$400 for the mini) or shade of staring-deeply-into-the-eyes-of-your-lover blue; and window shopping in London last weekend led me to the men’s shoe brand Yuketen, and specifically these handsewn, raw-hide mocs (Mr. Porter has styles on sale).

It can be extremely convincing to step off a plane and into an entire city outfitted in the same brand—like, don’t know if you think Burberry is cool? Just ask one of the most populated and diverse places on the planet—it only took me a matter of hours after touching down in London to decide my wardrobe would be better-rounded with a scarf that belongs in the canon alongside a Gucci belt, Hermes bag, and Prada pumps, and a few seconds to find out that there are 18,000+ of them on resale…I like this new-season grayish jacquard, though, which pays tribute to the brand less outrightly than its signature check; I’ll say up front that at $10,000 it barely scrapes by under the guise of being a true shopping suggestion, but this suede Margiela-era Hermes vareuse overshirt is the grail to end all grails—I’ve been tempted by linen versions many times before, but this mint-condition slice of the archives has given me that drive and fervor for fashion only such out-of-reach pieces can inspire; far more accessible is Mark Kenly Domino Tan’s attached-scarf wool jacket with binded edges that spells shoulder-season attire (Clemence Pole’s elevator selfies from Copenhagen convinced me, tbh); another hero of transitional weather is the windbreaker, and while there are so many great ones around to choose from—Proenza’s, Connor McKnight’s, The Row’s—this one from Fear of God Essentials in an attractive crinkled nylon taffeta is only $175; got my Corali earrings from the “last of the SSENSE sale” (quotation marks because FYI, it’s secretly still running), and I’m convinced the brand is the next Sophie Buhai, but even more desirable in that it’s not yet ubiquitous; and we all had a nice little laugh at me comparing Labour and Wait’s Swedish recycled plastic bucket bag to The Row’s Idaho on my IG this week (I wasn’t kidding), but the real substitute is Puebco’s Japanese plastic straw bag—it’s $68 and the most charming, earthly thing one could be seen carrying in public come April (also in black).

The Tove coat I keep yammering on about was just released in a surprise checked, linen-cotton blend textile, for a lighter-weight wear with the same gorgeous gathering at the back waist; riddle me this: the Prada SS23 collection that was just hours ago released to the brand’s site is already hundreds of dollars cheaper if you know where to look, as with this sheer capelet that’s pushing $1k at Prada but is down to $665 at Julian Fashon; credit to

Sarah Shapiro

for surfacing this Mark & Graham leather tote of fantastic throw-it-all-in-there proportions with the fewest deal-breaking over-designed extras while being squarely under $400; I stumbled upon a cache of discounted Kallmeyer at Shop Premium Outlets, which I recall reading about somewhere at some point and think is an actually legit store—these heavy faux-leather jeans are down to $293 with code LINZ15 compared to their $510 sale price (down from $600) on the brand’s site, and this sold-out-elsewhere suede shoulder bag is only $438; new from Casey Casey, this Suisse Tough Cotton Coat may not be labeled an opera coat, but after NYFW’s knell, I know one when I see one; and having just single-handedly catalyzed winter’s infectious gloves-in-belt styling mimic, By Malene Birger is about to make leather-sunglasses-case-around-the-neck a thing for spring.

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