THIS WEEK ONLINE: Maje, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, Björn Borg, Missoni, Ghurka, Hugo Boss, Elizabeth and James, Longchamp, Philippe Deshoulieres, Asprey

Here is your weekly sampling of some of the brands you can expect to find on the bigger online Flash Sale Sites this week. You should click over to the sites themselves for a full schedule of events, and be sure to check for the correct start time for each sale. Happy clicking!

GILT GROUPE

Maje, Roberto Coin, Walter, Vera Wang Lavender, Magaschoni, Giorgio Armani, Jack Rogers, Moncollet, Rich & Skinny, Generic Surplus, Portolano, Crumpler, Björn Borg Underwear, Giorgio Armani, Berge Belts, Calphalon, Thomas Lee Bedding, Apadana Rugs, LED LIghting, Safavieh Couture, Cassina/Gufram/Serge de Troyer, Zuo Era, Frette, Celebrity Nursery, Pedoodles Kid's Shoes, Rockabye, Momeni Children's Rugs, Rosie Pope —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Céline Handbags, Carelle Jewelry, Core Bamboo, Vera Bradley, Bottega Veneta, Lilly Pulitzer, French Sole, Honora, Duchamp, Ermenegildo Zegna, FINAL SALES for Men, Women & Kids, Versace Handbags, Seychelles/Daniblack, Hanro, Kassatex —join HERE

BELLE & CLIVE

M Missoni, Woolrich, Salvatore Ferragamp Accessories, See by Chloé, Betsey Johnson, Clarins, Gucci Handbags, Property Of..., Harrison, Moncler, Kenneth Jay Lane, Rebecca Taylor, A. Testoni, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Kiton, Cullen —join HERE

IDEELI

Isabella Fiore, Halston, Boston Traders, Anne Klein, Badgley Mischka, John Varvatos, Michael Stars, Stretta, Coconuts by Matisse, Joe's Jeans, Max and Cleo, Yansi Fugel, Amanda Charles, Etienne Aigner, Marika, Kenneth Cole, Hale Bob, Yoki —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Nixon Watches, Giorgio Armani, Erno Laszlo, Custo Barcelona, Earnest Sewn, Asics, Pur Cashmere, Calvin Klein Collection, Poleci, Waterford, Keen, Fergie, Emporio Armani, Missoni, Gorjana, Barielle, Unionbay, Hugo Boss, Acrobat, Mephisto, Surya, Ghurka, HUGO Hugo Boss —join HERE

MY HABIT

Giambattista Valli, Pringle of Scotland, Giorgio Armani, Brioni, Vivienne Westwood, Wayne, Trafalgar, Be&D Shoes, Marc New York, Joseph Abboud Scarves, Donna Ricco, Loeffler Randall Shoes, Elizabeth & James, Twinkle by Wenlan, Pierre Balmain, Charles Jourdan
—join HERE

VENTE PRIVEE

Philippe Deshoulieres, Longchamp, Asprey, Tommy Hilfiger —join HERE

JON CARAMANICA GOES SHOPPING: Emphasis On The Critical Edition

This week's Critical Shopper Jon Caramanica has really been embracing the "critical" side of his job in the Thursday Styles lately —as if he is feeling an urge to live up to the sometimes ruthless reputation of so many New York Times critics past and present. This week, the object of his ire is United Colors of Benetton, Both in its racy SoHo pop-up shop and its scaled down, midtown boutique. The famous Italian chain is taken to task for creating controversial advertisements and events that are bound to get someone's blood boiling. Often it has seemed like the brand is merely a vehicle for an inventive, abrasive advertising team, but lately, it hasn't been following its imagery up with interesting or even decent quality products. 

No sweater radiated freshness, not the orange Fair Isle vest ($69) nor the gray Fair Isle cardigan that cut away at a 45-degree angle after the second button ($119). No amount of hard squinting gave them extra life.

Of course, this isn't exactly news, and we are a far cry from the 1980s when Benetton stores proliferated through Manhattan faster then the Gap. Still, one would have thought that at some point, someone at the company would have recognized that a product revamp was in order. Now, Uniqlo is eating Benetton's lunch, so all they seem to be proving now is that they can still get some press and prudish outrage. 

Critical Shopper: Posed to Turn Up the Volume By Jon Caramanica (NYTimes)
United Colors Of Benetton Pop-Up through December 31 at 135 Crosby Street between Houston & Prince Streets, SoHo

COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Maison Martin Margiela with H&M Is Now In Full Preview Mode

Today is the day that H&M releases everything you will want to know before it launches this season's big designer team up, which is now officially known as Maison Martin Margiela with H&M. There are product shots, look books and price lists, all of which will be hitting the web today, and we have have seen them all. We could publish an extensive look book detailing the many items that will be available, but there are two reasons why we, The lazy Shophound didn't. First of all, the collection is too big for us to represent it thoroughly here, and second, if you are a Margiela fan, you have seen it all before. That's because, if you haven't heard already, this particular project is composed entirely of re-produced items from the design house's past collections —and knowing the Margiela penchant for re-producing things, it looks like they will be remarkably accurate. What is striking is that not only will H&M be offering many of the more wearable, classically styled pieces that have made Margiela a powerhouse sleeper of a brand, but they are also including some of the most directional pieces from the past, like the horizontally worn dresses, and a men's jacket concocted entirely out of leather belts. Some styles are inside out, and some are composed of disparate pieces of other garments, mashed together. In short, this is no watered-down Margiela for the masses. In fact, this collaboration could turn out to be even more aesthetically adventurous than the Comme des Garçons line from a couple of years ago. There is an extensive shoe and accessory offering, including several versions of his women's shoes with "invisible" lucite wedge heels along with the more familiar sneakers, and flat shoes that look like they have had stiletto heels ripped off them. While prices are a fraction of the main, blank labeled Margiela line, they are a bit above our typical H&M range starting at $39.95 for some simpler items, and topping out at $399 for the aforementioned belt jacket or "invisible" wedge boot, or several other items, actually. One men's boot hits $299, which is not that much cheaper than the original. There are quite a few more higher priced items than in the past, but most of the apparel hovers in the $99 to $149 range.

What's most remarkable about the collection is really that H&M is able to pull off these collaborations year after year, and with such a diverse roster of designers, going from the glitz of Versace and Cavalli to the quirky sophistication of Marni or the refined glamour of Lanvin and ultimately the avant-garde sensibilities of Comme des Garçons or Margiela. With the abundance of collaborations in the marketplace these days, nobody seems to be able to pull them off as consistently as H&M. We can't wait to see who they surprise us with next.
Maison Martin Margiela with H&M will hit select stores on November 15th

COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Kirna Zabête Stays On The Team-Up Train With 9 West

Honestly, we had never thought of Kirna Zabête as the kind of store that was terribly concerned about mass appeal. It always struck The Shophound as a kind of fashion-first, price-is-no-object, if-you-can't-afford-it-you-don't-belong-there-anyway kind of place —and we mean that in the best way. Owners Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley have been doing some surprising brand repositioning lately. First there was Kirna Zabête's capsule collection for the Shops at Target program that debuted earlier this fall, and now comes word that next February the store will begin an extended collaboration with moderately priced shoe brand Nine West that will release new styles over the course of the following six months. WWD reports that the collections will include heels of all heights as well as flip-flops, and will retail for a very reasonable $49 to $169. The shoes will be available at both Kirna Zabête and Nine West stores as well as their respective websites along with a special selection of online retailers.

Easley and Buccini have already announced that their store will soon be moving to larger digs somewhere in the vicinity of its current, original location, and perhaps all of these mass market collaborations mean that the rarefied store may be looking to broaden its customer base in the future. Perhaps, next year, we may see a more accessible Kirna Zabête, which would be great as long as they don't abandon the high end that they have curated so well. Look for Kirna Zabête at Nine West to launch in February.

Nine West to Collaborate With Kirna Zabête (WWD)

THIS WEEK ONLINE: L'Wren Scott, Chopard, Marc Jacobs, Prada, Puma, Tom Ford, Jimmy Choo, Paul Smith, Proenza Schouler, John Varvatos, DKNY, Kelsi Dagger

Here is your weekly sampling of some of the brands you can expect to find on the bigger online Flash Sale Sites this week. You should click over to the sites themselves for a full schedule of events, and be sure to check for the correct start time for each sale. Happy clicking!

GILT GROUPE

Vince, Seychelles, See by Chloé, Marc Jacobs Collection, Alanna Bess Jewelry —join HERE

GILT MAN

A Testoni, Tommy Hilfiger, Elie Tahari, Givenchy Scarves, Prada —join HERE

GILT HOME & CHILDREN

DayNa Decker Candles & Diffusers, Missoni Home, Newport Cottages, The Learning Journey, Amelia, Disney Jewelry —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Cinzia Rocca Outerwear, Maggie by Magaschoni Cashmere, Bellino Linens, PUMA, Gucci Watches, Brookstone, Titan Luggage, Pour La Victoire, Junk food, Stuart Weitzman, Honora, Cluny, Freeze 24-7, Ann Gish, Carrera Sunglasses —join HERE

BELLE & CLIVE

Fendi/Mulberry/Tod's/YSL, Under.Ligne by Doo.Ri, Jimmt Choo, Portolano, Paul Smith, Proenza Schouler, Original Penguin, Tommy Hilfiger, John Varvatos, Brioni, Junk Food, Hickey Freeman —join HERE

IDEELI

Calvin Klein Jeans, Gracia, London Fog, Vince Camuto, Alex & Ani, Black Hearts Brigade, Gucci, JILL by Jill Stuart, Onna Erlich, Suzi Chin, Donna Morgan, Kenneth Cole, Mark & James, Tom Ford —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Hunter, A.B.S. Desses, Calvin Klein, CARGO, Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, RVCA, Robert Graham, Kelsi Dagger, Keneth Jay Lane, Triple 5 Soul, Donald J. Pliner, L'Occitane, Pour La Victoire, Badgley Mischka, DKNY, Karen Kane, Nudie, Victorinox —join HERE

MY HABIT

Invicta, William Rast Accessories, Pierre Balmain, Brioni Ties, New Balance, RED Valentino Shoes, Emilio Cavallini Hosiery, Etnies, Rogan, Charles Jourdan, CZ by Kenneth Jay Lane Jewelry, Timberland Boot Company, Leyendecker, Royal Ascot Bath Towels, nuLOOM, Maison Forté, Woolrich, 10 Crosby by Derek Lam, Bibhu Mohapatra, Jason Wu, Yigal Azrouël, Les Copains —join HERE

VENTE PRIVEE

Furla, Palladium, Tart, London Fog, Rebecca, L'Wren Scott, Chopard —join HERE

ONLINE UPDATE:UNIQLO's Online Store Opening Next Week

UNIQLO has been a bit cagey about when they would finally offer online shopping in the U.S., but we now have a full confirmation that not only is it happening, it's happening next week. What better time than to take advantage of heavily hyped new store openings in Paramus, NJ and San Francisco, CA?

Of course, with an abundance of Uniqlo flagships here in New York, why would we need to shop online? The company plans to offer an even greater selection than they offer in their stores. The new site will reportedly offer a whopping 50 colors of fleece jackets, for example, and men’s easy-care shirts will be available in 115 sizes instead of the meager six currently carried in stores. We're not entirely sure how they can offer 115 sizes of a single item unless they are intending to sell to giants and dolls as well as regular humans, but we figure they know what tye are doing. Along with serving customers who have been cultivated by existing Uniqlo stores, the new business will help the chain decide where to place new brick-and-mortar units, and if successful, could result in a move of its e-commerce headquarters to the U.S. as it rolls out to other countries.

As with all Uniqlo store openings, virtual or otherwise, there will be special deals to be had next week including Japanese engineered denim for $9.90, cashmere sweaters from $59.90 to $99.90 and ultralight down jackets for $49.90, so if you haven't gotten one of those things for yourself by now, you really have no excuse to pass it up.

Uniqlo to Launch U.S. E-commerce Site (WWD)

SHOP FOR A CAUSE: Housing Works Fashion For Action Gets Bigger & Better

One of our favorite shopping events is coming around again, and it has only gotten bigger. Housing Works' Fashion For Action benefit returns in a few weeks. We have been covering this event for a couple of years now and it hasn't disappointed us yet. While Housing Works' thrift shops are famous for their gently used wares, this particular event is fueled by brand new merchandise for men and women donated by a long list of 250 major designers —and priced to move. The free public sale (now four days) will be held on November 8th through the 11th at the Housing Works Chelsea Thrift Shop, but the best shopping is always at the opening night event which happens on November 7th at the Altman Building. Thom Browne is back once again as honorary chair (the event has recently featured a healthy trove of the Brooks Brothers Black Fleece collection that he designs), and actress Patricia Clarkson is back as co-chair as well with model Dree Hemingway and WNBC Talk Stoop hostess Cat Greenleaf as well, but the main activity of the evening has always been some serious shopping as VIP guests scoop up goods that will support Housing Works' dual missions of ending both Homelessness and AIDS. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Housing Works Fashion For Action
Opening Night Reception: Wednesday, November 7, 2012, at The Altman Building 135 West 18th Street Between 6th and 7th Avenues
Public Sale Days: November 8th - 11th, Chelsea Thrift Shop 143 West 17th Street Between 6th and 7th Avenues

ALEXANDRA JACOBS GOES SHOPPING:Upper East Side Snob Edition

What does Alexandra Jacobs have against Yigal Azrouël? In a strangely perverse outing as Critical Shopper in this week's Thursday Styles, she belittles the designer for lacking the megalomaniacal urge to conspicuously affix his logo on every possible product and for publicly firing the abrasive, self promoting PR executive Kelly Cutrone. She accuses him of poor brand management just as she is about to review his newly relocated flagship boutique, and even goes so far as to wonder who, if anyone actually wears his clothes.

There must be people out there buying armfuls of his droopy, drape-y, doggedly nonconformist clothes — else how could he have afforded his flagship’s recent move from the meatpacking district to one of the most prime corners of Madison Avenue? — but I’ve never encountered one.

Why bother paying attention to the store at all if it turns out that none of the right sorts of people (Hollywood red carpet walkers, preppy Upper East Side ingenues) seem to have him on their radar? Never mind that firing Kelly Cutrone puts Azrouël in excellent company, and, despite our shopper's skepticism, he has been in business since 1998, which makes him something of a veteran designer these days, and perfectly fit to have a boutique on Madison Avenue. Ultimately, Jacobs seems to find something she likes, but she leaves us with the sense that she was really just looking to find fault.

Critical Shopper: Carrying on With a Phantom Customer By Alexandra Jacobs (NYTimes)
Yigal Azrouël 1011 Madison Avenue at 78th Street, Upper East Side

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION: One Block Of Mercer Street Goes For Maximum Luxury Concentration

SoHo has regained its prestige in a big way over the past couple of years having fought off the Meatpacking District, which is now moving toward the middle of the road, and Bleecker Street, which, though still desirable, is not really built to handle the kind of customer traffic that SoHo sees every day. While all of SoHo seems hospitable for the high end right now what with a lavish new Tiffany and a relocated Stella McCartney on Greene Street and Opening Ceremony's ever-influential beachhead tucked away on otherwise unremarkable Howard Street, it is the block of Mercer Street between Houston and Prince Streets that that is turning into a its own little gold coast, but not just yet.

Of course, canny Marc Jacobs has been on the block for quite some time. Vera Wang, Marni and the backside of Prada's Epicenter store have made it a particular destination to keep free-spending shoppers busy, but a few more crown jewels remain cocooned for unveilings to be announced. Balenciaga, at 148 Mercer is not expected to be ready to take customers until sometime next year though it is heralding its upcoming arrival, with gigantic advertising images (at right). Saint Laurent, which has been under wraps for well over a year now, seems to have been held back so it can presumably make its debut in sync with new creative director Hedi Slimane's controversial debut collections for next Spring. Now this group is being joined by one of fashion's flashiest labels, Versace at 160 Mercer (pictured above). We won't have to wait as long for this one, however. Apparently, this store that flew under the radar for most of it's construction is set to open this month. Ads are already running  that say, "Now In SoHo", so we expect to see inside soon —maybe this weekend?

Why is this particular block such a draw for these brands? Who knows? Maybe the spaces were right, maybe they got the best deals there, or maybe, like some kind of weird fashion jinn, the Marc Jacobs store lured them there through trickery or sheer alpha-fashion-male magnetism. Whatever the reason, by this time next year, that block of Mercer Street will be packed to capacity with luxury designer shops hoping to find strength in numbers, or at least one-stop-shopping for tourists too tired to schlepp from one corner of SoHo to another.

THIS WEEK ONLINE: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Catherine Malandrino, Billy Reid, Jimmy Choo, Sergio Rossi, Vera Wang, Cuisinart, Gucci, Reebok, Zero + Maria Cornejo

Here is your weekly sampling of some of the brands you can expect to find on the bigger online Flash Sale Sites this week. You should click over to the sites themselves for a full schedule of events, and be sure to check for the correct start time for each sale. Happy clicking!

GILT GROUPE

Corso Como, Qi Cashmere, 3.1 Phillip Lim, MINKPINK, Natori, StriVectin, Swarovski Jewelry, Wythe NY, Sea Cashmere, Catherine Malandrino, Kate Spade, Boutique 9, Kenneth Jay Lane, Lodis, Stretta, LOVE Moschino, Rosegold, Z Spoke/Zac Posen Handbags, Special Bridal Event —join HERE

GILT MAN

Ben Sherman Pletrum, Puma, Linus Bikes, Triwa Watches, Saucony, Ike Behar, Dries Van Noten Sunglasses, Belvest, Billy Reid, Regi's Bee Scarves, Florsheim by Duckie Brown, Peter Millar, Thomas Pink, Eagle Creek, Clapham Ties —join HERE

GILT HOME & CHILDREN

Warhol Prints & Portraits, Frette, Sagaform, Morgan Cycle Scooters, Sesame Street, Pyrenex, PluiePluie, Feather Baby, Eden & Esme, Emile et Rose —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Le Mystère, Rosie Pope, Sue Wong, Leslie Greene Jewelry, CanvasPop,  Sperry Top-Sider, Berndes, Sergio Rossi, Oscar De La Renta, Narciso Rodrigues, John Hardy —join HERE

BELLE & CLIVE

Tom Ford/Gucci/Dior Sunglasses, Dior/Miu Miu/Jimmy Choo Shoes, World of Marchesa, Current Elliott, TOD's, Fresh, John Varvatos ★ USA, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Romeo & Juliet, Valentino, Oilily, Ralph Lauren —join HERE

IDEELI

August Silk, Carla Mancini, Columbia, Coogi, Ssley, Gabby Skye, Melissa & Doug, Amrita Singh, BCBGeneration, C. Wonder, Members Only—join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Hobo, LORAC, Cuisinart, Enzo Angiolini, Stitch's, Andrew Marc, J-41, Valentino, Armani Junior, Wusthof Cutlery, Calvin Klein, Kiki de Montparnasse, Vera Wang Lavender, New Balance, Cynthia Rowley, Susana Monaco, Me&Ko, Converse, GCNY, French Connection —join HERE

MY HABIT

Gucci, Gran Sasso, C'N'C CoSTUME NATIONAL, GANT, ksubi, Cullen, WHiT, nuLOOM, POST'AGE Denim, Silent by Damir Doma, Reebok, Joe's Jeans Belts, Will Snyder for JFold New York, Zero + Maria Cornejo, CAT Footwear, Mark + James Shoes —join HERE

VENTE PRIVEE

Arche, Luciano Padovan, Carlos Falchi, Little Paul & Joe —join HERE