YOUR WEEKEND SHOPPING: More Adidas = Pharrell Williams Arrives In Stores Today

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The Shophound is not usually so enraptured by sneaker collaborations, but something about noted multitasker Pharrell Williams' collection for Adidas Orignals has captured our attention. Maybe it's the slight tweaks to the brand's signature classic items like the superstar jacket, or maybe it's just the offbeat, blatant out-of-season-ness of it all (Tennis? Lightweight Springtime leather jackets? Bright green, orange and white?), but we are fascinated. Today the rest of the second delivery of the "Tennis Pack" arrives in select Adidas Originals stores, online and at specially chosen retailers (like Dover Street Market and Kith NYC) including a much more affordable version of the Superstar jacket in satin ($120), and those fuzzy Stan Smith sneakers made out of tennis ball material ($120 see them all in the gallery above). If that's still not enough, one more final delivery hits stores on December 1st just in time for the Holidays, which given the warped seasonality of this collaboration might mean an Independence Day theme. Who knows? See the latest video after the jump, which drives the equality theme of the whole collaboration home.

Adidas Originals = Pharrell Williams (Official Site)

THIS WEEK'S MUSEUM VISIT: See The Dazzling Jewels Of Treasures From India At The Met

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To be perfectly honest, The Shophound doesn't need much of any kind of excuse to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but the museum has been particularly generous in inviting us to preview its upcoming exhibits this month. This week's visit concerned Treasures from India: Jewels from the Al-Thani Collection the small but remarkable exhibition of Imperial Indian jewels from the collection originally formed by Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani of Quatar. The exhibition features a carefully curated selection of pieces from the Mughal period in the 17th Century to contemporary pieces. More than just a collection of brooches and necklaces, it is a fascinating look into the lavish ornamentation of Indian court life, where it was the men rather than the women who were festooned with gemstones including daggers and swords, turban ornaments, anklets, nose rings and  basically any other possible vehicle for wearing jewels. There are items passed down through generations of emperors as well as newer pieces, but take it as an opportunity to Marvel over some of the mind boggling treasures that can be produced from vast, dynastic wealth from a bygone era. After all, where else are you going to see a headpiece made from enormous diamonds linked together with hand wrought golden bands decorated with huge ruby drops for good measure? (Have a look at a few of the pieces in the gallery above) Put it on your list of things to catch at the Met. This month we have already been treated to the Leonard A. Lauder collection of Cubist masterpieces, Death Becomes Her at the Costume Institute and now this lavish display of Imperial Indian splendor. Block out an afternoon and head up to the Met. It will be time well spent.

Treasures from India: Jewels from the Al-Thani Collection through January 25th, 2015 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, Upper East Side

SALE REPORT: There's Tons Of Stuff At The Sandro Sample Sale

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It may not be a household word yet, but French contemporary sportswear brand Sandro has been busy setting up shops in New York's most desirable fashion neighborhoods over the past couple of years, so we are expecting that its sample sale, which starts today will be pretty busy. The Shophoound got to preview the offerings yesterday afternoon, and it looked like there was plenty to be had. The sale is being held at 260SampleSale's new SoHo space which is its biggest yet, and Sandro fills it nicely.

Menswear is in the front starting with a rack of suitings, and moving on through sportswear and some coats that looked like they were being snapped up fast. There was a good selection of shoes, boots and sneakers in the middle, but the spacious back area was fully taken over with women's apparel of all categories. There is a pretty good shoe table, considering that Sandro does not have a huge footwear line, and a smattering of accessories, but the clothes are the story here. The merchandise is priced by item which comes to an average of about 60% off. That may not seem like a huge savings, but it is higher than the sale prices in Sandro's own stores, and, this being a sample sale, there's a good likelihood of price cuts as the sale progresses. If you want to take the chance of waiting until Saturday, then there will probably still be a good selection. See below for a full set of price lists for men and women after the jump, and check our SALE ROLL at left for more details.

Sandro Sample Sale at 151 Wooster Street between Houston & Prince Streets, SoHo

IMMEDIATE ACTION: Surprise! The One Day Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale Is Happening Now

Apparently the folks at Manolo Blahnik were wondering what would happen if they threw a sample sale without telling anyone much.
Nobody shows up.
Well, the folks at Racked were there and they tell us that there is no line, which is unheard of at a Manolo Blahnik Sample sale. It's also strictly cash only, but they do have a hold policy for unprepared shoppers who need to run to the nearest ATM. Prices start at $100, and top out $435 for the most expensive boots.
There are only a few hours left, so if you can drop everything and hightail it over to the Warwick Hotel at 54th Street and Sixth Avenue, then now would be the moment to do it.

The Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale Has Great Prices, Zero Line (Racked)

FLASH FIZZLE: Vente-Privee Calls It Quits In The U.S.

In another sign that the flash sale craze has cooled, the e-tailer who pioneered the concept in Europe has decided to pull the plug on its U.S. business. Vente-Privee practically invented the flash-sale model in Europe in 2001 and has grown to be one of the continent's biggest online retailers, but it only arrived stateside in 2011, long after Gilt, RueLaLa, Ideeli (now Ideel) Haute Look had firmly established themselves as flash sale leaders. In a partnership with American Express designed to pinpoint an affluent customer base, the U.S. site has only offered two or three new sales per day. Though Vente-Privee offered impressive luxury labels in its three-day sales, it often included obscure brands that may have had appeal overseas, but are little known to American consumers. The site has never managed to offer the selection of its competitors, and was reduced to the unlikely role of Johnny-come-lately despite having originated the selling format. Ultimately, the time and expense needed to build up its business here proved to be too much for both companies to invest in. The site will continue to operate through the end of the year, after which it will be up to the remaining players to fight it out for flash-sale dominance.

Vente-Privee to Shut U.S. Venture (WWD)

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Sales From Under Armour, Brioni, Rachel Zoe, Sandro & Try Your Luck Getting Into A Private Lanvin Sale

It's the last week in October, and as you assemble your Halloween costume, we are entering the peak of the Fall Sample Sale Season, so schedule carefully and  be prepared for last-minute news about breaking sales. The unexpected surprise of this week is the news of a private LANVIN Sale starting today at the label's West 57th Street showroom. Certainly, plenty of New Yorkers would salivate at the opportunity to shop Lanvin at 80% Off, but as with many European luxury brands, this is an invitation-only sale which means that the door policy will probably be ironclad when it starts today. However, this sale runs through Saturday, and it is not unlikely that the last few days of the sale will be more welcoming to anyone who happens make their way to the door. We can make no promises that anyone without an invitation will be admitted, but if you are feeling bold, it's probably worth a shot.

Down at 260 Fifth Avenue, the UNDER ARMOUR sale is going on right now through the weekend. This one has proved to be especially popular, and we hear that there is a TON of merchandise on the racks with restocking expected. Prices are about 50% to 60% off for now (with a greater discount likely before it ends on Sunday the 2nd) and much of the merchandise is reported to be current, so if you have athleticwear needs, this is the one to hit.

Fans of impeccably tailored Italian sartoria are expected to be lining up outside Soiffer Haskin's facility on West 33rd street tomorrow when the three-day BRIONI sample sale begins. The fabled Italian suitmaker is offering its full line of products including sportswear and accessories at 75% off, but keep in mind that this means that suits and sportcoats will probably still be in the four-figure price range, so be prepared for a hefty bill at checkout.

Also on Wednesday, Chelsea Market will be hosting a triple brand sale that covers all the bases. superstylist/reality star turned designer RACHEL ZOE will be sharing space with the eveningwear designer diffusion label MARCHESA VOYAGE and online menswear specialists BONOBOS through Sunday all offering up to 70% off their collections.

Possibly the week's most anticipated sale comes from SANDRO, the French contemporary sportswear brand that has been taking the city by storm over the past couple of years. As far as we can tell, this looks like the label's first big sample sale in New York, so expect a storm of eager fans. Expect to stand in a line in SoHo starting on Thursday through Saturday. Can this mean that a similar event from sister label Maje might not be far off? Stay tuned.

Of course, that's not all by any means. Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL at left for all the details and more sales from TESS GIBERSON, LATICO LEATHERS, VENTE-PRIVEE, RENÉ LEZARD, ALLUDE, M. PATMOS and more. Next week, mark your calendars for DIESEL, AEFFE's seasonal favorite multi-designer showroom sale, ALEXIS BITTAR, the GILT WAREHOUSE SALE, the PEREGRINE SHOWROOM and much more.

SHOE CHARADE: SoHo Now Has A Maud Frizon Store But Not The One You Might Have Hoped To See

Shoe fashion enthusiasts might get excited to discover that Maud Frizon, one of the great shoe brands of the 1970s and 80s has returned to New York with a boutique on West Broadway in SoHo. Unfortunately, that excitement will probably be diminished if they walk inside. 

For those old enough to remember, Maud Frizon was the one of the most exclusive and coveted shoe labels of its day, setting the stage for the extravagances of Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin that followed. As a designer, she was known for daring combinations of materials and innovative silhouettes, including popularizing the cone-shaped heels that became emblematic of the 80s. The notion of a boldly designed shoe or boot as enough of a fashion statement in and of itself to carry an otherwise nondescript outfit can be partly traced to Maud Frizon's witty designs, but sometime during the 1990s, her business fizzled out as she and her husband and business partner lost control of the brand's name. As Maud DeMarco she made a brief return designing the Ombeline brand, but the original label has been relatively invisible since the 90s —until now. The brand now has a Hong Kong based owner who has opened 14 stores there and maintained a couple of them in Paris as well. This is the first U.S. boutique since the original Maud Frizon boutique on 68th Street at Madison Avenue closed. Sadly what is inside is a far cry from the high style that made that shop a hotspot. Instead, there is an abundance of moderately priced, mostly Chinese-made ballet flats and middle-of-the-road pumps. It's certainly not anything that would impress any of the designer's previous customers, and, unfortunately, nothing that really stands out in the market in any other way either. There is no shortage of great designer labels that have wildly departed the stykes that made them famous, but at best they still move forward. Certainly brands like Givenchy and Balenciaga have found great success with fashions that often seem to have little to do with those designed by their namesakes. They are different, but not boring. Maison Martin Margiela appears to be poised for similar transformation when John Galliano starts showing his collections for the label next year. Somehow, it seems that a label like Maud Frizon deserves to be on something better than moderate, mass produced flats and nondescript handbags.

Maud Frizon 422 West Broadway between Spring & Prince Street, SoHo

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Missoni, Garolina Herrera, Dolce & Gabbana, Bond No. 9, Bottega Veneta, Emilio Pucci, TOMS, Jimmy Choo, Apolis, Nudie Jeans, Ippolita, Tom Ford

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

Missoni, Oscar de la Renta Sleepwear, Avaleigh, Pour La Victoire, Ava & Aiden Jewelry, Alvin Valley, Elie Tahari, The Letter, Carolina Herrera, Dolce & Gabbana, Incotex Ivory, Gant Rugger, A. Testoni Basic, 2(X)IST, Farah Vintage, Spurr NY, Fjällräven, Magaschoni Home, Dominique Ansel, Abrams Books, Hideo Wakamatsu Luggage —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Free People, Kay Unger, SEIKO Watches, Icebreaker Merino Activewear, Anzie Jewelry, Hawke & Co., Bond No. 9, Visionair Luggage, Rivkah Friedman Fine Jewlrey,Kapital K Boys, Bedat & Co. Watches, L.A.M.B., Tommy Bahama Apparel & Home, Maurice Lacroix Watches, Medisa's Heirlooms, Luca Carati Jewelry, K-Swiss, Trina Turk, AG Jeans, English Laundry, CATHERINE Catherine Malandrino —join HERE

BELLE & CLIVE

Valentino Accessories, Le Creuset, Kipling, Tahari, Ike Behar, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Saint Laurent, Clarins, Armani Men's Suits, Autumn Cashmere, Hoksie Jewelry, Emilio Pucci/Fendi Sunglasses, Red Line/Elini Barokas Watches  —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

TOMS Shoes, Catherine Malandrino, Tumi, Laura Geller Beauty, Franco Sarto, Nanette Lepore, Laura Ashley, Philosophy Cashmere, Halston Heritage, James Perse, PUMA, M Missoni, Marchesa NOTTE, Badgley Mischka, PAMELLA Pamella Roland, KInetix, Apolis, Nudie Jeans, Allen Edmonds, Façonnable, Eton —join HERE

MY HABIT

Jimmy Choo, Custo Barcelona, Amrita Singh, Soia & Kyo, Nina Ricci, Zac Posen, Rowallan of Scotland Handbags & Accessories, Lafayette 148, Tom Ford, Portolano, Hawke & Co., Jil Sander, Versace, MUK LUK, Kenenth Gordon, Salvatore Ferragamo —join HERE

VENTE PRIVEE

Ippolita, Hickey Freeman, Jessica Simpson, Happy Socks, M-Clip, Jared Lang, Magaschoni, Emilio Pucci, Kenneth Jay Lane —join HERE

LAST MINUTE SALE: The Oliver Peoples Sample Sale Is Happening Now

This is a very busy couple of sale weeks, but we just got word of one of favorites that is happening now. The annual Oliver Peoples Sample Sale is happening right now at all of the label's boutiques. Sunglasses and optical frames will be priced at $79, $99, $109 and $129 for products that typically run from about $350 to $550, so it's a great time to shop. There is never a bad time to add to your eyewear collection (which can never be too big in our humble opinion) and Oliver Peoples makes some of the very best, so if you have a free moment this weekend, stop by the boutiques on Madison Avenue and West Broadway and go to town 

Oliver Peoples Sample Sale through October 26th at-
812 Madison Avenue at 68th Street, Upper East Side
366 West Broadway at Broome Street, SoHo

SPORT INVASION: Quiksilver Pushes The Meatpacking District Toward Sports

Is fashion being pushed out of the Meatpacking District in favor of performance sportswear?
It would seem to be the case these days. The south side of 14th street, currently home to Patagonia and Asics will next welcome a Quiksilver BoardRiders Club at 408 West 14th Street, the same building that until recently housed Carlos Miele's boutique. We aren't sure if the 5,900 square feet that Quiksilver has taken includes that exact space (there are a few storefronts that share the address) but it continues the trend of high fashion stores migrating away from the Meatpacking District and being replaced by more middle-of-the road merchants. With Columbia Sportswear and a pop-up store for rugged boot specialists Sorel coming next month to the neighborhood, the area is starting to feel more like it is geared toward athletic activewear than the urbane high style that first attracted serious shoppers. Quiksilver will add a surf component to the neighborhood as well as (on the plus side) filling at least some of the empty retail space that continues to bedevil what is still supposed to be a hot shopping area.

Anthropologie seizes the entire Dey Street retail space (NYPost - 4th item)