Foley & Corinna Mid-City Tote in Beige $444

Diane von Furstenberg Silk Cropped Pants in 'Chocolate' $205

Elie Tahari Necklace $298

Not only was I fortunate enough to spend a lovely holiday week in Palm Springs surrounded by family and friends, I received a gift of a shopping trip to one of my most favorite places: The Desert Hills Premium Outlets. Although this might sound like the seventh ring of hell to some, there is nothing that I love more than the cheap challenge of an outlet, and Desert Hills has some good ones. Amongst the requisite crap-fest that is True Religion, Liz Claiborne and UGG, you’ll also find YSL, Gucci, Barney’s, Saks, Jimmy Choo and Bottega Veneta to name (literally) just a few. Per usual, I came away with my arsenal of tiny VANS, but I also managed to score some great stuff for myself.

Clearly, the outlet deal is that it’s mostly (okay entirely) post-season, so the images shown are the closest I could find without having to subject you to more of my own photographic obscenities. I scored the Mid-City tote (minus the weird shiny leather – mine is matte) at the Saks outlet for $300; they also had the larger ‘City Tote’ version for $339. In lieu of the Chocolate ones pictured, my satin DVF pants are olive green. They’re also akin to wearing pajamas, cost a mere $59.50, and are the pants shizz-nit for Spring 2010 (more on that later). My necklace is actually a pale dusty-rosy-lavendery…ish color, and is a gorgeous complement to the gunmetal chains and rhinestones; it also doubles as a belt. Although a somewhat impractical buy even on sale ($100), I was unable to divorce myself from it since I know I will wear it a skillion times. I’ve always said that it’s the little things, and a dreamy day in my world it was…