We love sparkly things, and we love bangle bracelets, so when we stumbled across both those things at the fairly new Helianthus boutique in the Village, we had to share them. This cute little shop has a mix of American and European clothing and accessories, but what kept grabbing our eye were the stacks and stacks of bangles, which range in price from $22 to $42 -- hot pink, black, clear, silvery, white, and all twinkling with rhinestones and crystals.  The shop is located at 522 LaGuardia Place, between Bleecker & West 3 Sts., near Washington Square Park.  (212-677-6888; www.helianthusny.com)

If you are having a lazy Martin Luther King Day here is quickie errand you can run, while hopefully, not running up too large a bill on your charge card:  Yes, it's another Soiffer Haskin sale.  Today, tomorrow (Tuesday), and Wednesday (the last day).  Stuart Weitzman (one of our favorite shoe manufacturers (because, yes, we wear a size 10.5 and nobody makes that size, but we can always find something at Weitzman that fits just right and is stylish, too).  And Krizia, too.  And we don't need to embellish about Krizia, do we? 

What we like about Fogal can be summed up in three words: The Crayola Effect. There isn't a color of hosiery that this company does not fashion...well, at least they make well over 80 shades of black, white, and everything in between. We like to just click on the Web site and watch the Pantone-like parade of colors whisk by. And once you find your color, then you have to choose your hose style, from super sheer to opaque, from textured to shiny, to whatever. Unlike competitor Wohlford, which has a sort of dependably black palette, Fogal just hasn't met a color it doesn't like. And that's what we like. Because you never know when you'll need something to match a luteous green bridesmaid's dress -- or what if you land a job as a flight attendant on Austrian Air and need bright-red hose? Fogal's sure to be your new best friend. There are also some neat body suits and other intimate accessories for women, along with hose for men and cute stuff for kids. But still, we come back time and time again for that Grumbacher palette of hosiery. Dependable. Colorful. Textured styles, sleek styles. And a decent size range. What legs could ask for more? 515 Madison Ave. (near 53rd St.), 212-355-3254; www.fogal.com

If you love Catherine Malandrino's clothes the way we do, then you won't want to miss this sale. It's her fall/winter sample sale, and there is no telling what might end up on the sales floor. Take a look, take a chance. Nobody does wonderful mix-and-match patterns, fabrics, and designs the way she does (well, O.K., Etro...O.K., Missoni). Sale starts Wednesday, December 5th, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and continues Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and then ends Friday the 7th, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 145 W. 18th St., 212-840-0106; www.catherinemalandrino.com (Cash and credit cards only.)

Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 @ 03:30 PM | 6 replies View/Post Feedback

Browse: Sales/Sample Sales | Women's Clothing

We rhapsodized about TSE Cashmere months ago, recalling that pink sweater that eluded us at Henri Bendel so many years ago. And darn, we'll miss this sale ourselves, as duty calls in Europe. But you go, and snag that symbolic pink cashmere jumper (as the Brits would call it) for us! What can we say now that we haven't already said about TSE Cashmere's goods? They're luxe? They're fabulous? They're exquisitely designed? They're too expensive for us at retail? So here they are, at up to 80% off! Go, girl, and get some.

This is a Soiffer-Haskin sale, so you know the drill: No kids (strollers, etc.), no checks, etc. Plastic and plenty of it...or cash! Sunday, December 2nd through Thursday, December 6th, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; 317 W. 33rd St. (just west of Eighth Ave.).

What a wizard Ecuadorian-born Guillermo Molina is! Just give him a swathe of fabric, a needle, and some thread, and he?ll whip up a wardrobe that will rival anything the Mam'selle herself could have envisioned. In fact, countless private clients come to him just to ask for Chanel look-alikes: He can copy anything -- and he can design originals, too. Show him a picture from a magazine, or a fanciful sketch of something you dreamed up, and he can fabricate it. Present him with your favorite well-worn, about-to-die Armani or Donna Karan and he'll "rub off" (as they say in the industry) the pattern and deliver a flawless replacement. See a stylish Prada in a store window that you're dying for, but can't afford? It's no problem for Willie (as he's known to his longtime customers) to make you a dead ringer. (Closed Sun.) Starting prices (includes fabric): Trousers, $400; blouses, $400; tailored suit, $1,200; dressy evening suit, $1,500; cocktail dress, $900; coat, $1,100. House calls start at $500. 153 W. 27th St. btw. Sixth and Seventh Aves., Ste. 301, 212-366-6965; www.guillermocouture.com (This article originally appeared in the 8/05 issue of Manhattan Living.)

Linda Richards can always be depended upon for her semi-annual warehouse sales. Lots of wonderful work clothes -- pants, skirts, suits, and really great winter coats. This woman never met a bolt of gabardine she didn't like. We always manage to find lots of things here to fill in holes in our ever-expanding wardrobe, and sometimes we have to buy them in many sizes, to fill in the holes in the ever-expanding size range in our closet. Among the outerwear, expect to find wondrous cashmeres, alpaca, angora, and her usual gabs, including her very versatile raincoats. And of course, stock up on all your work-clothes needs.

The sale started just before Thanksgiving and goes through December 2nd (9am to 6pm daily), so you have plenty of time. Buy what you want and then just tell Santa to give you the cash for it. How could the big guy refuse when you tell him that you paid wholesale or below? 209 W. 38th St., Suite 505 (between Seventh & Eighth Aves.), 212-382-2257

We're not sure just what this sale is promising today, but we're going to check it out later and we'll report from the front.  It's allegedly supposed to have Gucci and Pucci…and Chanel and Hermès.  We shall see just how much of each of these houses it actually has for sale…and for how much off.  The material sent to us by our friends at Lazar Media says that there will be clothing and accessories at 75% off.  Stay tuned for tonight's report.  But in the meantime, here is what you need to know:  It's today and tomorrow, at the Shoreham Hotel, 33 West 55th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues), Ground Floor; from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.....credit cards accepted.

Another Metropolitan Pavilion sale is on the calendar this week, with clothing and accessories by Valentino, Missoni (oh, how we love those sweaters), See by Chloe, Moschino Jeans, and assorted other goods. (What could be bad with labels like those?)Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; 123 West 18 Street, fourth floor gallery. (Thanks to our pals at Lazar Media for alerting us in time to post this!) So, if you missed out buying something at Hermès a few days ago, make up for it now!

Well, it doesn't get much better than Nina Ricci and Carolina Herrera.  About the only way it can get better is to make the sale prices better--and our sample sale stagers at Soiffer Haskin say that this sale features clothing up to 90% off.  We'd say that that is "better," wouldn't you?  You gotta' go there to believe it; expect bridal and women's wear, the kind of stuff you wear when you want to make a real entrance when walking into a room.  Clothes with bearing, clothes you'd wear when you go on an important job interview, or to meet prospective in-laws, or to meet the Queen.  By now, if you don't know the drill, here it is again:  Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St, just west of Eighth Ave.  Sunday, June 24th through Tuesday, June 26th; 9am to 6:30pm; credit cards only, all sales final; no strollers, no children under 12.

1) The Guy Laroche sale features clothing for men and women, up to 60% off! 47 W. 57th St., through the 17th; Friday and Saturday, from 10am to 7pm, and Sunday, 11am to 6pm.

If you’re late for Dad’s special day, Hugo Boss has a sample sale starting today...

Kati Stern, a European-born-and-bred designer, is having her first-ever sample sale. Stern first showed here in the States at Seventh on Sixth in 2004 and has been a hit ever since, a choice of cutting-edge fashionistas.

Rev up those charge cards: Yesterday, a Valentino sample sale started. If you love the maestro’s clothing, shoes, and accessories, now is your chance to snag a great buy. (There will be some furnishings for men, by the way.)
 
We think that one of the finest -- absolute finest -- exhibits of haute couture we’ve ever seen was the Valentino show at the Park Avenue Armory. (We swear, you’d never have known it was an armory, the way it was “done up”; it was completely transformed.) The show was amazing -- all that luscious red -- and the catalogue Rizzoli published to accompany it is well worth hunting for on the Web. It’s called Valentino/Thirty Years of Magic, and if you find it, buy it. His work is masterly and the book imparts the tiniest flavor of that retrospective.
 
So, if you’d like to see something you own as a part of the next retrospective, buy something now -- this is just the place. The sale will run through Wednesday the 13th. Hours: Sunday through Tuesday, 9am to 6:30pm, and Wednesday, 9am to 5pm.  Place:  317 W. 33rd St., just west of Eighth Ave.  It’s another Soiffer Haskin’s sale, so you know that means credit cards only, all sales final, no kids, no strollers.  But plenty of wonderful merchandise.  DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

If you’re a fan of Eileen Fisher’s clothing line, then set aside some time this Saturday, June 2, and head over to the shop at 314 E. 9th St. btw. First & Second Aves. Fisher’s wonderfully clean, classic, and contemporary fashions will be reduced a good 40%. This is a one-day-only sale, at the shop where Fisher usually ships all its sale items anyhow, so expect the very best here…samples, overruns, returned goods, and things you may not have seen elsewhere. Eileen Fisher is one of our favorites, so get there early if you want to beat us! (Open 10am to 7pm; thanks to our friends at Lazar Media for tipping us off to this one.) 

It’s definitely the season of the belt and it’s also the season of glitz, so combine the two and pick up a very useful wardrobe-builder in the form of a skinny little gold metallic belt. Cinch it over T’s, tanks, and tops. Banana Republic has a very chic, narrow, glittery gold leather belt that won’t wear out after four outings (or get all cracked at the buckle point), but at $38 it won’t break the bank, either...and it’s also something you’ll have and use for years. BR also has some handsome horn bangles ($28), some coral-y, ombréd, beaded bracelets ($24) and lots of bags, scarves, and cute ballet flats, all of which can transform an outfit, taking it from no-nonsense office-y to lots-of-nonsense after-hours-y. 

Malo is one of Italy’s finest cashmere producers, and along with Brunello Cucinelli, among our favorites. (O.K., yes, we admit, and we put it into print a week or so ago, we still lust after that TSE pullover that got away from us 18 years ago.)  But there is almost nothing in the Malo line we’d turn down. So that’s why we’re thrilled there’s a Malo sample sale, starting Sunday, with goods for men and women -- mostly cashmere, but some silks, too. It’s another Soiffer-Haskin sale, taking place at the company’s site, 317 W. 33rd St., just west of Eighth Ave. It goes from Sunday through Wednesday, the 20th through the 23rd, from 9am to 6:30pm daily, except the last day, Wednesday, when it closes at 5pm. You know the drill by now: NO cash, NO checks, just credit cards. NO KIDS, NO STROLLERS.   

Adam Plus Eve makes fun clothing for men and women, and today and tomorrow (May 18th and 19th) the company’s staging a terrific sample sale at the Chelsea Market (75 Ninth Ave. btw. 15th & 16th Sts.) from 9am to 7pm. Current Spring ’07 merch is included, not to mention the company’s signature jersey knits. Expect to see prices that are up to 70% off retail, including appealing prices for things like lightweight cashmere cardigans for him and silk taffetas for her. For example, for men: tennis/swim shorts in red and khaki, originally $95, now $35; striped jersey short-sleeved V-neck T’s, originally $110, now $38. For women: Cashmere hoodies in solids and stripes, originally $395, now $140; piqué tank dresses with pockets in cream and slate, originally $275, now $175.

All sales final, cash and credit cards only, no checks. 

Just about the time last month that we were telling you about that "sneaky" Loehmann's opening on Broadway and 73rd Street, another stealthy retail debut occurred nearby, one that we have been meaning to write up and share with you. The shop is called Just Birdie, with homage paid to golfers (as its name implies), but its merch is not solely for duffers at all; "civilians" will find the stock alluring enough (and prices compelling enough) to make this shop a destination. And indeed, it's a darling, jewel-box-size store with wonderful cashmere-and-silk-blend sweaters, all of which would look very spiffy on the golf course. (The exterior of the shop is decorated with little vignettes picturing St. Andrews, and plaid seems to be the major design element on the interior -- so Scotland and golf are definitely part of the company's inspiration.)

Started in France in 1996, the company has five stores in Europe and the one here at 2047 Broadway btw. 70th & 71st Sts. is the first in the U.S. There are well-priced styles for both sexes, and classics include turtle-, crew-, boat-, and V-necks, zip fronts and traditional cardigans, polos, T-shirt styles, and much, much more. Prices range from $89 to $165 for men, and from $79 to $165 for women, but there are accessories, wraps, and scarves in the store that are lower-priced. There are nearly three-dozen rich colors in the company?s yarn palette, ranging from delicate violet to deep russet.  

And just in time for Mother's Day, the shop is offering 10% off your purchases (if you mention that you read about it here), and considering that these are such well-priced sweaters to begin with, it?s a steal. So, forget scoring a birdie -- the shop is a hole-in-one!