COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: J.W. Anderson Is Uniqlo's Next Designer Collaboration

Image Courtesy of UNIQLO

If Japan's largest retailer seems to be at a bit of an impasse on how to expand it's U.S. business, it remains committed to its strategy of bridging the exclusive designer world with the mass market. The announcement of this fall's designer collaboration at Uniqlo should please fashion fans, as J.W.Anderson's Jonathan Anderson (pictured at right) will be creating a special capsule collection for men and women exclusively for the chain. As designer for both his own label as well as the Spanish luxury leather goods label Loewe, Anderson has caught the attention of fashion insiders even if his public profile has yet to rise to superstar status. That doesn't matter as much to the chain, as it's collaboration with lesser known label Lemaire sold out anyway and led to an ongoing collection with Christophe Lemaire for the Uniqlo U label.
“When I think of Uniqlo, I think of things that are perfectly made, that people have spent a lot of time considering; it’s a difficult job, and I think Uniqlo does it very well,” said Anderson in a statement regarding the upcoming collection. “Working with Uniqlo is probably the most incredible template of democracy in fashion, and it’s nice that my design can be accessible to anyone, on all different levels.”
As of yet, we don't yet know if the exclusive line will extend beyond the fall season (Lemaire's initial collaboration spanned two seasons), but for now we can look forward to a potentially intriguing line from a designer whose aesthetic can range from classic to avant-garde, often in the same collection.

 

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Strong Shoe Sample Sales From Frye, Sarah Jessica Parker & Paul Andrew This Week + Desigual, BLK DNM & More

Image courtesy of FRYE

The real start of the Spring Sample Sale season is only weeks away, and things are starting to heat up. This week brings some popular favorite brands and one intriguing rescheduling, so lets get started.

Starting today, Tuesday the 28th, our friends at 260SampleSale have a pair of worthy sales that kind of go together. At its Fifth Avenue home base, heritage footwear brand FRYE (pictured above and below) will be filling the store with boots, bags and other wares at a promised 70% off retail. This might finally be the chance you have been waiting for to pick up a pair of those biker boots, and if you do, you can wear them with some jeans from the BLK DNM sale down in SoHo. Look for plenty of trendy denim, tees, leather jackets and other edgy basics. Both sales run-through Sunday the 2nd.

Also Starting on the 28th, ELIE TAHARI will be offering 70% off collections for women and men at it's Fifth Avenue outlet just below 42nd Street.

If you rushed to the Warwick Hotel a few weeks ago for the SJP by SARAH JESSICA PARKER sale you will have been disappointed  to discover that it had been postponed due to that week's snowstorm. Well, Parker has rescheduled, and the sale is now promised for tomorrow, March 29th at the same place with all the same details. As she shares a CEO with Manolo Blank, pro shoe sale shoppers should probably expect a similar sort-up for the one-day event as at that designer's sales, but possibly without the same level of rapacious shopping.

Also on Wednesday, Spanish contemporary chain DESIGUAL will be settling in for three days at its usual venue, Clothingline in the Garment District. Look for Savings up to 75% off all collections through Friday.

On Thursday the 30th, Tribeca Designer NILI LOTAN will be offering up to 80% off her collections at her Walker Street boutique through Saturday while London fashion legend VIVIENNE WESTWOOD will be offering savings on all of her collections for Women and Men in the Garment District through Sunday.

Finally, another shoe extravaganza will be taking place starting Thursday for two days. CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner and newly installed Ferragamo creative director PAUL ANDREW will be opening up his showroom. Andrew has been building faithful following over the past few years for his elegant and pricey shoes and boots, so this may be the one to line up early for, though be warned that selection may be limited for non-sample sized feet.

Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar at left for times and details as well as late breaking events.

Image courtesy of FRYE

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Manolo Blahnik, Jason Wu, Alexis Bittar, Trina Turk, Pomellato, Todd Snyder & More On Flash Sale This Week

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. Shop well!

GILT GROUPE

Stuart Weitzman, Missoni, J.Brand, Alexis Bittar, SPANX, Carven, Three Dots, Scotch & Soda, Prada, Montblanc, Versace Ties, Nicholas, Splendid, Manolo Blahnik, Jason Wu, Elorie, Blank NYC, K-Swiss, Jared Lang, Skins, Frette, Bodum, Vince Camuto Bedding, D.L. & Co. —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Anne Cole, Alexis Bittar, Vera Bradley, Maui Jim, Brio/Schylling/Madame Alexander, Nanette Lepore, Jack Rogers, Kosta Boda/Orrefors, Three Dots, Jared Lang, St. John, Eyebobs, Giorgio Armani, Calypso St. Barth, French Sole, Pomellato —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

AG, Asics, NANETTE Nanette Lepore, Zanerobe, James Tattersall, Ganesh, Trina Turk, Dee Elle, Robert Graham, Skagen/Fossil, John Varvatos, Todd Snyder Suits, Vince Camuto, BVLGARI Sunglasses, SKYN Iceland, Bruno Magli, Slate & Stone —join HERE

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Your Weekend Sale Plans Include A Blowout At Industry City + Ports 1961, John Hardy & More

We have been a little late with our sale round-up this week, but we didn't want to let it pass without quickly noting some events that you might not want to miss over the weekend.

Still running through Sunday, are 260Sample Sales roster of clearance events from British contemporary chain REISS at 260 Fifth Ave, the Pure Barre sample sale in SoHo along with an extension of last week's SPYDER warehouse sale now on Wooster Street.

Another long runner, the GREATS warehouse sale in Williamsburg is scheduled to wind up on Sunday, though the selection is reported to be pretty depleted by now. Keep it in mind as one to catch early next time.

For runway-minded men, PORTS 1961 is holding a private sale of the Fall 2016 collection upstairs from the brand's Meatpacking District boutique offering  up to 80% Off through Sunday afternoon.

Starting Sunday, the always anticipated JOHN HARDY sale will be taking up residence at Soiffer Haskin for four days featuring the label's classic Bali-made woven silver and gold jewelry along with more updated contemporary designs featuring diamonds and precious gemstones.

The weekend's big event however, is INDUSTRY CITY's MARCH MADNESS event designed to draw crowds to the renewing industrial complex in Brooklyn. The event features Samples Sales from popular draws like Rag & Bone and Steven Alan along with a multi-brand sale from Clothingline and furniture from Design Within Reach. Shop long with local food vendors and other activities through Sunday.

Next week, the Sample Sale scene starts to heat up with Frye, Elie Tahari, BLK DNM and a rescheduled SJP-Sarah Jessica Parker shoe sale. Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar for details and late-breaking events.

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Ferragamo, Reem Acra, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Adidas x Stella McCartney, Trina Turk, TOMS & More In Flash Sales This Week

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. Shop well!

GILT GROUPE

Carolina Herrera, Salvatore Ferragamo, A.L.C., Reem Acra, Wolverine Boots, James Tattersall, King Baby, 7 for All Mankind, Diane von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, JoJo Maman Bèbè Maternity, Rebecca Minkoff, Adidas x Stella McCartney, 2(X)IST, Hudson Denim, Bruno Magli, Blind Barber  —join HERE

RUE LA LA

L*Space, Trina Turk, Meshmerise Jewelry, Valentino, Kate Spade New York, Cuisinart, Calphalon, Tempur-Pedic, Free People, Dr. Scholl's, Wacoal/B.Tempt'd, KUT for the Kloth, Tiffany & Co., E-Land, Philip Stein Watches, Kenneth Cole New York, RUE SAMPLE SALE —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Joe's Jeans, L*Space, Meghan LA, Roberto Cavalli Sunglasses, Aldo, Creative Recreation, Travis Mathew, Persaman, TOMS, Tularosa, Commando Intimates, Bony Levy Jewelry, Rogue, Tailorbyrd, Brera Watches, SPANX, Hobo, Eva Franco, Hale Bob, OOBERSWANK, New Balance, Levi's, Hart Schaffner Marx, Eton, Lacoste —join HERE

REVISITING RETAIL: Anthony Thomas Melillo's First ATM Store Returns Him To Retailing

That big new ATM sign on Bleecker Street is not meant to alert shoppers to a cash machine.
Fans of designer Anthony Thomas Mellilo's ATM collection of deceptively simple sportswear will be pleased to discover the label's first freestanding boutique on Bleecker Street. Opened last month, the sparely designed shop offers clean backdrop for one of the collections that helped launch the unfortunately named "athleisure" trend, but should also remind shoppers with longer memories of the store that first brought Melillo attention in the late 1990s. Back when the Lower East Side was becoming an infamous hipster epicenter, Nova USA by Tony Mellilo appeared on the corner of Stanton and Ludlow Streets. The men's sportswear line brought acclaim, but the usual challenges of being an independent designer made it a relatively short lived venture. Still, Melillo persisted, helping to relaunch classic brand Generra and putting out another eponymous men's collection before finally hitting the right groove with ATM in 2012. This time, he let other retailers like Barneys present his collection, but now that he has his own store once again, it seems like a circle has finally been closed. While his designs have evolved, his straightforward aesthetic remains consistent, showing his skill for making basics that don't look boring based around cleverly designed jersey knits. ATM evokes the ongoing appetite for athletic wear without making customers look like they didn't bother to change after yoga class. Look for the new shop at 405 Bleecker Street in what was once one of Marc Jacobs' series of boutiques between West 11th and Bank Streets.

(ATM)

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Snowstorm Be Damned! Sample Sales March On With Milly, Ghurka, Spyder & Sarah Jessica Parker

There's little to stop a determined sample sale shopper. These are people who have been known to wait on the sidewalk for ridiculous amounts of time just for the chance to grab a coveted item at a discount, so, today's Winter Storm Stella will be just a minor inconvenience. While we don't have exact information on schedule changes due to the storm, 260SampleSale, a key promoter of such events has made it clear that they are open for business today which is a good thing since they are holding 2 notable sales this week.

Let's start however, with Clothingline in the Garment District where a big MILLY sale launched last night to run through Thursday. Expect the full range of Milly products, but don't dally. This label has a devoted cult customer.

Today, despite the sleet and ice, athletic label SPYDER (pictured above) will open its warehouse sale down at 260 Fifth Avenue. It's fitting, since performance ski and snowboarding gear is this brand's specialty. Fans and customers shouldn't be daunted by a bit of winter weather, and should be shopping through the weekend

Down at 260's SoHo location, the JIL SANDER NAVY diffusion collection is also launching its sale today featuring discounts on the luxury label's more affordable women's collection. Early reports have deep discounts putting most items well under $100 including accessories and shoes. Shop through the weekend.

Since the SJP by SARAH JESSICA PARKER shoe line shares a president with Manolo Blahnik, it's not surprising that the entrepreneurial actress is mimicking the celebrated shoe maestro's sample sale scheme. Her sale will be a one-day-only affair on Wednesday the 15th at the Warwick Hotel, so Manolo sale veterans should expect a similar set-up but perhaps without such rabid crowds. Parker's elegant shoes are something of a sleeper line, however, so plan ahead, and don't expect to simply sail in and out.

Finally, heritage leathergoods label GHURKA has switched its sample sale promoter to Soiffer Haskin which is where its rates sale will open tomorrow for three days through Friday the 17th. Look for savings up to 75% off including luggage as well as bags and accessories for men and women.

Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar at left for all details and any late-breaking events. Next week, look for events from Reiss, Berretta and more.

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Miu Miu, Aquazzura, Bottega Veneta, Vince, Sandro, Maje & More In Flash Sales This Week

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. Shop well!

GILT GROUPE

Miu Miu, Jonathan Simkhai, Escada, Brooks Brothers, Romano Martegani, Diesel, Bottega Veneta, Eugenia Kim, Sandro, Leo & Sage, Lafayette 148, Bedhead Pajamas, G-Star, Ben Sherman, Fendi —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Aquazzura, Magaschoni, Cinzia Rocca, LeSportsac, Zadig & Voltaire, Andy & Evan, Lanvin, Amrita Singh, TKEES, Maje, Tema, Shun Cutlery, Wilton Armetale —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Vince, Alexia Amor, RAGA, Unsimply Stitched, Bonobos, Hudson, Philosophy, Dogeared, Flynn Skye, Fergie, Berries Swim, Barbour, Descendent of Thieves, English Laundry, Nicole Miller, Loveappella, STILA, CARLOS by Carlos Santan, Marrakech, John Varvatos ★ USA, David Donahue, Lindbergh —join HERE

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Aquatalia, Wolford & Kiton Keep The Sample Sale Schedule Going

Images: Wolford via 260SampleSale

We missed a week on the sale beat, but we are back to remind readers that while we are a several weeks away from the schedule really heating up again, there are still a few worthwhile events happening .
Starting today, the stalwart 260SampleSales has two notable openings. At its home base on Fifth Avenue, WOLFORD will be offering the full array of its fabled hosiery, innerwear, bodysuits and more ((pictured above). This will be an excellent opportunity for its faithful cult of customers to pick up the pricey labels goods at a discount. They will be shopping through Sunday.
Downtown in SoHo, burgeoning Italian footwear brand AQUATALIA will be discounting both men's and women's collections (pictured below) through Sunday. With new creative director Edmundo Castillo on board, this sale should be a must-see for shoe mavens.
The menswear sale run kicks off this Friday when KITON arrives at Soiffer Haskin's midtown showroom for a four-day run. The celebrated Neapolitan brand will offer discounts on the full range of its luxurious offerings including sportswear, shoes, accessories and those famous hand-tailored suits. The sale is also promising a selection of women's apparel as well through Monday.
Finally, Brooklyn boutique IN GOD WE TRUST will be staging a final clearance all weekend in Greenpoint including a host of directional young designer labels for women and men.

Be sure to keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar at left for all sale details, locations and late-breaking events. Next week, look for sales from Milly, Spyder and the first SJP-Sarah Jessica Parker shoe sale.

Images: Aquatalia via 260SampleSale

WANDER NO MORE: Fendi Finds A Permanent Home On Greene Street

After leading a nomadic existence for the past several years, Fendi's residency in SoHo will finally become permanent when it moves into its mew location for the foreseeable future at 99 Greene Street. The fabled Roman luxury brand has taken out 6,000 square feet where it will be able to spread out and present its full offerings after occupying a series of pop-up along the same road. Joining Fendi will be Italian outer and casual wear brand Herno which has also taken space in the building. As far as we can tell, this will be Herno's first U.S. store, designed to raise the European brand's status in the U.S. from cult label to mainstay. Both stores are expected to debut sometime this spring, and they will join a host of tony brands on the block including Dior, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo among others.

(Commercial Observer)