One of my favorite things about shopping has always been the thrill of the find. There’s something so rewarding about finding something special when you’re on a larger hunt and have no idea if it will be fruitful.

In Texas there were always so many outlet stores and incredible estate sales growing up that my mom, my sister and I would go on adventurous shopping trips regularly. Sure, we would go to the mall as well, but there were also certain outlets for major retailers that we only had in Dallas or that would get more inventory (#texasforever). It always made for such fun Saturdays!

For all of my New Yorkers, I have a special and very exciting piece of news for you. Did you know that there’s a Bloomingdale’s Outlet in Manhattan?

It was news to me, but the best kind. I had one extraordinarily glorious day recently where I was off of work and had a rare chance to enjoy a weekday in the city. I hopped on the 1/2/3 and in 20 minutes I was at the Upper West Side store (it’s so easy to get to! that’s shorter than my old commute).

Before I knew it, I had been there for almost 2 hours. I was lost in racks of designer shoes and several trips to the dressing room with arms full of clothes. I had the best time and it was such a welcome change! I have been spending so much of my time online shopping these days that I had forgotten how much I enjoyed a shopping outing like this.

The Brands

I was most impressed by the incredible selection of brands that they had at the outlet. As a seasoned expert in this arena, I have to tell you it’s rare to find that many high quality brands with current and on-trend styles at significantly lower prices.

Here’s a quick list to give you an idea:

Rag & Bone, Celine, Charlotte Olympia, Valentino, Stuart Weitzman, Derek Lam 10 Crosby, Ramy Brook, Maje, Sandro, Equipment, Ash, Marni, Prada & more

The Selection

I ended up looking for pieces that I knew I would wear a lot – I picked out this Derek Lam 10 Crosby top because I can’t usually afford that brand and I knew I’d wear this top 1,000 times. I also snagged this faux leather moto jacket with a faux fur collar for something warm and a little edgier. I’m actually most excited to wear it over a long maxi and these booties for a twist on a special occasion look! My aviators are Celine… can you believe it? If you’ve ever tried to hunt down Celine sunnies you understand how exciting that is! It’s near impossible to find Celine sunglasses at a fraction of their normal price – that alone made the entire trip worth it!

The Sizing

As someone with tiny feet who usually never finds deals on shoes, I was the most blown away by the shoe selection. I found tons of booties and heels in my size and really had to edit down what my final choices were (because our closet is exploding). I’m obsessed with these velvet Ash booties and have already worn them several times. They’re comfortable and also give an elevated look to a simple, and mostly all black look.

I’m incredibly excited to have discovered what I feel like is a hidden gem in New York City. If you’re in the area this weekend or in the mood for a little post-Thanksgiving shopping they’re offering a special discount to all of my readers!

Take $20 off a purchase of $100 or more with promo code VIEW20 (offer valid through 11/22/17)

Photos by Bekka Palmer

This post was sponsored by Bloomingdale’s Outlet. As always all opinions are my own!