The Secret To Shopping At Neiman Marcus

*Pinch*  Did this really happen?  Did I get to host a beauty event with the talented Mimi Banasik at Neiman Marcus last weekend?!  Yes…and it was everything I could have imagined (+ much more!).  10 of you beautiful babes joined me in the ultimate pampering party, spoiled with champagne, sweets and a full 2+ hour beauty master class on perfecting that ‘Pop of Color.’

First, can we all just agree that Neiman Marcus knows how to throw a party?  The details!  Oh the details…everyone had their own personalized makeup station with Giorgio Armani swag, POP Pink Rose and a full bar with yummy treats.

The ladies showed up with zero (or minimal) makeup so we could start from square one – since beauty includes both skincare + makeup.  ♥

After we were led through the tips and tricks of skin perfection, we moved onto the main event – how to create a ‘Pop of Color’ with makeup.  As Mimi demonstrated the steps on me, everyone had the opportunity to practice on themselves (of course we’d all love a personal makeup artist every morning, but that’s not real life, now is it? :) …

If you’re interested in finding out more of what we learned, my beautiful friend, Angie, shared a fantastic recap on her blog, Chasing My Halo → 7 Makeup Tricks I Learned From Giorgio Armani.  #3 was my fave :)

Okay, so I teased you with the ‘Secret’ To Shopping at Neiman Marcus….and here’s the truth – the Beauty Department.  I know the luxury retailer can be intimidating with their designer apparel, but they carry many of the same cosmetic brands you’ll find at Nordstrom’s, Macy’s, etc…at the exact same price point.  Here’s the difference at NM, though – customer service.  The moment you walk in, you get it.  Every department, every counter, there is someone ready to help you – and offer a water bottle while shopping (it’s the little things!).  And they’re not your everyday retail girl…these are experts – NM Beauty has highly skilled makeup artists (like Mimi), and NM Apparel has personal stylist’s ready to work one-on-one.  And remember the Spa I mentioned HERE?  Yeah…this is not your typical department store.

My favorite part about Neiman’s in Bellevue (WA) is that it’s located in the Bravern, set apart from the busyness of the mall.  There is less traffic, therefore, less chaos – which I appreciate, especially when I have a limited time to shop.

So if the luxury seems daunting, I highly recommend shopping the Beauty department first.  It’s a great way to get the Neiman Marcus experience without stretching the budget.

Though, I must say…if you have the opportunity to have just one statement piece in your closet – get it from Neiman’s.  I’m pretty obsessed with Alice + Olivia in the CUSP Department.

And of course, my winning note is THIS PARTY.  NM completely showered my reader’s (& I) with major love last weekend.  The photos say it all – everyone left beaming, with gorgeous pops of color and boosts of confidence – we all need this from time to time, don’t you agree?

Skincare Favorites:

Giorgio Armani Prima Moisturizing Balm

Giorgio Armani Prima Skin Perfector

Giorgio Armani Crema Nera Extrema Face Serum

Giorgio Armani Crema Nera Extrema Eye Serum

Giorgio Armani Maestro UV Skin Defense Primer Sunscreen SPF 50 (Mimi recommends this as her #1 skincare product!)

Beauty Favorites:

Giorgio Armani Crema Nuda

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Giorgio Armani Maestro Concealer (Mimi recommends this as her #1 beauty product!)

Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Lipstick

If you’d like to have a personal consultation with Mimi, you can reach her at [email protected]!

I’d love to hear your thoughts – would you be interested in attending another beauty event with me? :)  If so, tell me in the comments!  Also, if you have other event ideas I should look into – send them my way!  Let’s party together!

Thank you to my fellow Seattle Blogger Babes that also joined us :  Diary of This Girl, SveetesKapes & Chasing My Halo!

XoXo Portia