Girls just wanna have fun

Start your engines: The Spa Week list is out

ZaSpa in Hotel ZaZa
Uptown Park Spa

It’s all shopping and fashion shows these days and that’s just fine with us, especially when one of Houston’s favorite designers stages her latest show and a new lifestyle center is springing forward with a fresh outdoor market. And while you’re at it, why not get buffed and polished for less during Spa Week?

Spa Week Steals and Deals

Swimsuit season looms before us, so gym time is a must, but there are likely some body parts that require a little TLC after a winter of being underwraps. SpaWeek is a national event held in cities across the country that offers various treatments for a flat $50.

Seventeen area spas are participating this year including ZaSpa at the Hotel ZaZa, Bella Rinova Salon and Spa, The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel, Balance Urban Spa and Bliss Nail Spa. Contact the spa directly to book the treatments that range from massages and facials to refloxology and bikini wax. Spa Week runs April 12-18 and appointments book fast.

CityCentre’s Spring Fling

There will be plenty of air-conditioned shopping come June, so enjoy the great outdoors at CityCentre’s Spring Market Saturday and Sunday in the plaza. Glam girl items like clothing, jewelry and handbags, plus handmade soaps, candles, art, pottery and other arts and crafts items are part of the sale which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Dao sees the light in new collection

It’s only appropriate designer Chloe Dao would title her Spring 2010 fashion show “Lightness” since her fall “Destruction, Death and Rebirth” exhibition was heavy on somber hues and structure. Despite the dark themes of her last fashion show at the Four Seasons Hotel, the event sold out and was standing room only, so even though she doesn’t unveil her newest collection until Saturday, April 17, it’s wise to snag a runway seat early.

Dao has moved her show to Warehouse Live for more space, plus a pre-event sponsors' exhibit room and an after-party. Seated tickets are $35, general admission tickets are $20 and include drink specials.

The designer always donates a portion of the ticket sales to charity and has chosen The Fairy Godmother Project, a non-profit providing free prom dresses and tuxedo rentals to students in need, as her spring show beneficiary. Tickets are available at WareHouse Live and at Dao's Lot 8 boutique.

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SUDDEN SHUTTERS

Saks Off 5th to close 3 Houston stores with blowout final sale

Saks OFF 5th/ Facebook

Saks Off 5th is closing its only San Antonio store.

Houston shoppers looking for the thrill of the deal might want to mark their calendar. Discount designer retailer Saks Off 5th is closing most of its U.S. stores, including three in the Houston area, as its parent company tries to wiggle its way out of bankruptcy. Liquidation sales will begin Saturday, January 31 at select locations.

The mass closures come after Saks Global — the parent company of luxury department stores Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections on January 14. The conglomerate has been buckling under the strain of $2.5 million in debt it acquired with the 2024 purchase of rival retailer Neiman Marcus.

"As we advance on Saks Global's transformation, we are taking decisive steps to realign our business to better serve our luxury customers and drive full-price selling across our core luxury businesses," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer of Saks Global, in a release. "With these actions, we will be well positioned to seize the greatest opportunities for long-term growth and value creation. We sincerely thank our Saks Off 5th and Last Call colleagues for the important role they have played in serving our loyal customers."

Saks will close 57 Off 5th stores and shutter the five remaining locations of Neiman Marcus’ off-brand shop Last Call. Only 12 OFF 5th units will survive the move. After the onslaught, Texas’ sole store will be at Grapevine Mills mall in Grapevine.

Many of the U.S. stores will kick off closing sales beginning January 31. An additional 23 stores will close outright on February 2. Here’s the full list of Texas shutters:

Saks Off 5TH locations holding closing sales:

Cypress, 29300 Hempstead Rd.
Sugar Land, 2745 N Town Center Blvd.
Katy, 5000 Katy Mills Cir.
San Antonio, 5819 Worth Pkwy.

Saks Off 5TH locations closing February 2:

Grand Prairie, 2950 W. I-20 #125
Dallas, 8040 Park Ln.

Last Call Locations holding closing sales:

Grapevine, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy. #233
San Marcos, 3939 S. I-35 #1105

The overall primary market for luxury goods has been declining in recent years due to changing customer preferences, a perceived decline in quality in top brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, and a growing resale market led by sites like The RealReal and Vestaire Collective.

the rim luxury retail designer shopping chains closings