Neiman Marcus is running a promotion through Nov. 6 — sign up for the luxury retailer’s e-newsletter and you’re registered to win a $3,000 Manolo Blahnik shopping spree at neimanmarcus.com.

Glass-half-empty Sam: “That’s what? Four pairs of shoes? Or three really good ones?”
Glass-half-full Sam: “That’s still three more pairs than you had before.”

And be glad you don’t live in Canada (to any Canadian readers, I apologize, but): Up there, before you can win, you have to correctly answer a skill-testing question! (And by “skill-testing” they mean “math.”) Here it is, amid the other rules and regulations: (224×18) + (9672/12) - 1119 = ??? Sure, anyone with a calculator could pull it out — it’s not like they require you to do it on the spot, with only pencil and paper — but still, doesn’t it seem kind of odd?

Here in AMERICA, Sammit readers have the chance to win a slightly less glamorous prize — but there’s no math involved. All you have to do is answer: Is that shoe up top — the Something Blue satin pump by (given the theme of the Neiman Marcus contest) Manolo Blahnik, of course.

I have to say: I think they are a pretty color, but the crystal brooch isn’t particularly thrilling — come on, this is the best you could do, Shoe Glamour Shot Photographer? And they’re also $945, which I think is pretty extreme considering they’re satin and you could buy this pair of leather boots for the exact same price and several other pairs of Blahniks that I find much more “wow!” than the blue ones.

But what do YOU think? Click on the choice you agree with, or create your own opinion as an option.

ammit

ammit

Plus, post your comment below, under “Leave a Reply,” to be entered to win a prize. This week’s winner will receive a satin-lined canvas clutch designed by Matt Murphy for MAC and filled with MAC products — a Lip pencil in Spice; Eye Kohl pencil in Teddy; eye shadows in Shroom and Satin Taupe; Lustreglass gloss in Wonderstruck; Lipglass in Oh Baby and Prrr; Lip Conditioner; and bronzing powder in Matte Bronze. I’ll pick one winner from the entries received by Friday, Oct. 10. Good luck!

ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 9/22/08
The shirt: Lightweight cotton long-sleeved button-down by J Crew
The pants: Zaf jeans by Diesel (Last Chance)
The shoes: Sneakers by Skechers (Last Chance)
The scent: Odeur 53 by Comme des Garçons
Listening to: “The Theme From Frank” by Fannypack

sammit

Most people associate the smell of fresh cedar only with closets or saunas. But as a personal fragrance? The first time I tried it, I heeded a magazine suggestion to combine cedar oil and cucumber essence (I prefer the one by Kiehl’s) to create a fall scent. I still love it, and it never fails to get remarks and compliments.

So I was keen to try Sweet Lime & Cedar by Jo Malone, the company founded by the British perfumer known for her inventive combinations of fresh accords. The cologne ($55-$100 at Neiman Marcus or jomalone.com) was released this month.

Fans of citrusy scents will be in olfactory heaven, but don’t get the wrong impression from the name: This is no two-dimensional blend. The herbal notes (sage, lavender), exotic spices (cardamom, coriander) and tender florals (ylang ylang, jasmine), combine to create a blossomy scent with some sharp peppery edges.

Want to win a bottle of your own? Click on this link to send me an e-mail with your name and mailing address, and the subject line SWEET LIME & CEDAR. I’ll choose one winner from the messages received by Friday, Sept. 26. Good luck!

ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 9/20/08
The shirt: Baseball jersey-style T-shirt (Neiman Marcus)
The shorts: Cargo shorts by Abercrombie & Fitch (Buffalo Exchange)
The shoes: Sandals by Teva (That’s right: I am wearing Tevas. I fit right in on my trip to Home Depot today.)
Listening to: “Pretty in Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs

sammit

I was surprised last year when Tom Ford introduced his signature, eponymous men’s fragrance: For someone who has built his empire on salaciousness, the scent was (pleasantly) tame. That December he released a limited-edition Extreme version of the fragrance — and while I enjoyed the original scent, the Extreme sent my heart racing.

Making things worse: I only had a tester-size bottle — and it was already out of stores! I kept it hidden from my roommates, known to appropriate scents they liked into their own regular usage.

Extreme wasn’t a longer-lasting, or more potent version of the original Tom Ford fragrance — which I considered a good thing. (Who welcomes industrial-strength cologne?) Instead of “Tom Ford times two,” it was richer — both in terms of ingredients (black figs, oak-aged patchouli, shoyeido incense) and price ($125).

Because it was so treasured, I performed what I considered a noble deed: I bestowed it upon one of my best friends on our birthday (we were both born June 19 — mark your calendars!). And he responded like someone in the know should: He displayed it on a shelf and refused to let anyone else touch it. The last time I visited, I snuck a little bit and when he entered the room he yelled, “I LOVE TOM FORD!” and I knew I’d been caught. I missed it so much I considered “accidentally” taking it home with me, but I know I would’ve had my bags checked at the door had it shown up missing.

This month is cause for celebration: Tom Ford Extreme has been re-released: It will be a Saks Fifth Avenue exclusive for the month of October, then roll out to wider release. And, no doubt because of many tales like mine, this time it’s permanent. No need for hoarding!

Want to win a sample-size bottle of your own? Click on this link to send me an e-mail with your name and mailing address, and the subject line TOM FORD EXTREME. I’ll choose one winner from the messages received by Friday, Sept. 26. Good luck!

ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 9/19/08
The shirt: Lightweight cotton long-sleeved button-down by Theory (Neiman Marcus)
The pants: Plaid cotton trousers (Banana Republic) The brown actually goes with the shirt, I swear!
The shoes: Leather sneakers by Puma (Nordstrom)
The scent: Fou d’Absinthe eau de parfum by L’Artisan Parfumeur
Listening to: “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton

sammit

Christian Louboutin didn’t take last week’s not-so-constructive criticism lying down: The designer, whom I had once interviewed during a personal appearance at Neiman Marcus, fired off a furious e-mail, wondering how I could accuse him of laziness when he had put out shoes like the pleated purple suede d’Orsay pump above.

“Keep trying, Christian,” I replied. “I feel like I’ve seen that shoe before … on Miss Piggy, to be exact.”

After some genteel cursing he offered up the suede and leather lace-up bootie, to slightly better fanfare,. But I still wasn’t feeling wowed.

“Christian, show me something amazing,” I said. “Show me something some incredible it will make readers gasp. Something that’s iconic and sexy. Something that’s … not available in California.”

So he did.

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Sometimes I think Tommy Hilfiger tries too hard. Case in point: Hilfiger, his fragrance for men that’s exclusive to Macy’s stores this month and rolls out to wide distribution in December.
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I’m baaaack! My flights were OK, and I was able to snap this photo of a girl wearing one of those dreaded velour track suits at Sky Harbor, on my flight out. (Although, truthfully, I did it because I thought they made a cute support system – her lap is his pillow, while his stomach is hers.)

And while I was perusing the airline’s magazine (note to self: next time remember pen for crossword puzzles), I found this week’s Shoe Hot or Not contender!

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Bettye Muller, your $495 pumps (at Neiman Marcus) have torn me asunder. Asunder, I say! You see, one part of me loves this Bonham flannel pump — did you call it that after Helena Bonham Carter and her period free-spirited yet restricted would-be wench characters, whom I can see tottering around on Italian cobblestone streets “on holiday,” waiting to fall into the arms of that dashing yet slightly socially taboo rake? — and its covered platform, even the heel wrapped in sturdy gray wool fabric.

The other part of me — the polar opposite side, so far away when they sit next to each other in the car, they shrink against their respective windows so they don’t have to touch — thinks it looks like a Minnie Mouse shoe. Not literally one she wears, but with that giant disc up front, it turns into the cartoonish version of something a gum-smacking dame reporter would wear with a pencil skirt in a 1940s movie.

I hate that disc, basically.

What do you think? Is this shoe Hot, or Not? Cast your vote in the interactive poll below by clicking your choice. (And if you’ve got a different take, feel free to create a new option.) You can vote once — but there’s no time limit. (Yes, I go back and check to see how each contender is faring, even months later.)

Plus, if you’ve got the time and opinion, leave a comment at the bottom – everyone who does so by Saturday, July 26, will be entered into a drawing to win a bottle of Barrels of Root Beer shampoo/shower gel/bubble bath from Philosophy. Good luck!  UPDATE: Congratulations to BBx, whose comment was chosen as the winner.

ammit

ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 7/8/08
The shirt: Long-sleeved cotton button-down (J Crew)
The pants: Distressed khakis by Chip & Pepper (Last Chance)
The shoes: Chukka boots by R.J. Cole (Last Chance)
The scent: None.
Listening to: “Go to Hell” by David Ford — still. (YouTube video at link)

sammi

Think how you felt when they stopped making your favorite lipstick/eye shadow/fragrance: Despondent? Defiant? Depressed? Did you go through the stages of grief?

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Even though some classics like the Spice lip pencil have been around for decades, M•A•C also releases limited-edition products that create beauty buzz and, cannily, keep shoppers coming back to the counter to check out what’s new. And although the company made its name with cosmetics — what do you think the “C” stands for, after all? — sometimes the offerings include a few non-makeup gems, too.

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About a month ago the Women’s National Basketball Association and Adidas launched an “i-design” contest that asked fans to create a shooting shirt either for their favorite WNBA team or for the 2008 Finals. (The shirt above, by “basketfan76,” was among the better Mercury designs I found on the site.)

The winning designs will be determined by representatives from the WNBA and Adidas, not online voting.

The creator of each winning team design will receive two tickets to a WNBA game, an autographed-by-the-whole-team version of the shirt itself, and an Adidas prize pack. (What, no cash?) The team will wear the shirt during its Fan Appreciation Night.

The creator of the winning Finals shirt wins an all-expense-paid trip for two to a Finals game. The participating teams will wear that shirt during one game of the Finals.

The last day for entries is July 31. More information — and a downloadable toolkit with logos and base shirt — are here. So far there are only about a dozen Mercury designs, so get to it!

ammit

WHAT SAM WORE: 6/25/08
The shirt: Four-button short-sleeved jersey shirt (American Apparel)
The pants: Relaxed khakis by Chip & Pepper (Last Chance)
The shoes: Leather sneakers by Puma (Nordstrom)
The scent: Helmut Lang eau de cologne
Listening to: “How Am I To Be” by The Watson Twins

sammit