SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Oscar de la Renta, Manolo Blahnik & David Yurman Mark A Major Sale Week

Yes, the season is upon us, and as if to give us a little kick-off, word spread around town in its usual last-minute way yesterday that MANOLO BLAHNIK's sale, perhaps the mother of all high-pressure, mad-dash, fight-through-the-crowd sample sales, will take place on Thursday. Manny's fans know the drill. Get up early. Line up early and try to grab the best shoes you see. As usual, it will be at the Warwick Hotel in Midtown for one day only, and we have heard that it will stay open for as long as the merchandise lasts —which isn't expected to be for very long.

Of course, That isn't the only high luxe sale this week. Already scheduled well in advance was OSCAR DE LA RENTA's sale starting today the 25th in SoHo. Since this sale recently migrated from being a more discreet showroom affair to being a full-public sale, it has become a mainstay for women looking for a bit of that authentic de la Renta glamor at a price. While the label has been having some creative growing pains over the past few seasons before stabilizing with its current design team, there still should be spectacular items t be found. While Oscar's full-priced customers didn't quite warm to former creative director Peter Copping's work as well as his former Nina Ricci fans did, sale shoppers can count on elegant eveningwear and day dressing along with shoes and accessories. A small menswear selection is also promised among the samples and stock merchandise. Shop through Sunday.

Another longtime sale mainstay, DAVID YURMAN will be returning to the Altman Building in Chelsea once again on Thursday the 27th through the weekend. If previous form holds, shoppers will find the full range of Yurman's offerings from sporty sterling silver items to more exclusive pieces in gold and precious gemstones. at discounts generally starting around 40%. Generous selections of Sunglasses, Watches and Men's Jewelry are also expected.

Further uptown in midtown, more jewelry from IPPOLITA will be on sale at Soiffer Haskin's spacious showroom near Penn Station. Expect a strict coat and bag check and shop through Sunday.

Elsewhere this week, look for a first U.S. sample sale from burgeoning British chain KAREN MILLEN at Clothingline, exclusive Italian sportswear at the COMPONENTS by JOHN McCOY SHOWROOM sale, another blink-and-you'll-miss-it one day sale at MOLESKINE's West Chelsea showroom. THE KOOPLES are back in SoHo with their seasonal clearance plus find great everyday accessories at FURLA as well as more fanciful evening bags at EDIE PARKER.

Find the details for these and more late-breaking sales in our ever growing SALE ROLL sidebar at left. Next week, brace yourself for two of the most popular, longstanding manufacturer/showroom sales at AEFFE and Staff USA back to back plus Phillip Lim, Nest and more.

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Saint Laurent, Valentino, Versace, Balenciaga & More In This Week's Flash Sales

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

Saint Laurent, Alice + Olivia, Renvy, Balmain Eyewear, Sam Edelman, Chantelle, G-Star Raw, Armani Collezioni, Balenciaga Accessories, Antonio Maurizi, Bulova Watches, Royce Leather Goods, Helen Kaminski, Dolce Vita, Cambridge Satchel Compay, Origins,  Jack Spade, Slate & Stone, Ron Tomson, Portmeiron —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Valentino, Versace, Feiyue Sneakers, Alex Woo, Eyebobs, Cinzia Rocca, J Brand, J.Mclaughlin, Kerastase, Hale Bob, Pandora, Bailey 44, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Pasquale Bruni —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Rebecca Minkoff, Aratta, Lucchese, Brooks Brothers, Steve Madden, Halston Heritage, Few Moda, Rogue, Nike Sunglasses, MOTHER, DKNY Intimates, Oliver Peoples, Havaianas, Isabel Garcia, Kenneth Cole, Maui & Sons, Diesel Watches, J Fold Accessories, Lime Crime, Chiara Ferragni, Minuet —join HERE

MOVIN' ON UPTOWN: Balenciaga Does The Kering Shuffle Uptown With Gucci

The Shophound hasn't had a stroll down Madison Avenue in a few months, and what did we notice on Monday but a substantial swath of plate glass backed in the unmistakable logo of Balenciaga. It turns out that Manhattan did not really need three Gucci boutiques. As the new Alessandro Michele-era Gucci store opened in Brookfield Place, the Tom Ford/Frida Giannini version in the former Westbury Hotel was shut down in preparation to be ceded to its sister brand. Balenciaga has only ever had one New York store at a time, but its expansion to tony Madison Avenue and 69th Street is a signal that even directional "downtown" brands can benefit from uptown exposure. This will also be first U.S. store for Balenciaga under its still new creative director Demna Gvasalia. While the current, lavish SoHo flagship opened under the brief tenure of creative director Alexander Wang, it was planned under Nicolas Ghesqiuere, who spearheaded the once sleepy label back to prominence. This new shop is expected to have a radically different ambiance given Vêtements designer Gvesalia's more avant-garde point of view. The store is slated to open in June, and will be patterned after the Balenciaga boutique that recently opened in Paris which features a Warehouse style decor with industrial fixtures, foil covered ceilings, cast concrete walls and furniture upholstered in synthetic leather. It's a far cry from the dramatic marble floored opulence found in SoHo. In fact, it's almost as if the two stores will each have an interior more typically suited to the other one, with an elegant uptown ambiance in SoHo, and a downtown industrial look on Madison Avenue. Look for the new boutique's publicity blitz to begin in a couple of months as the store opens just in time to stock the pre-fall collection.

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: The Season Ramps Up With Marc Jacobs, Maje & More

Well, it's finally here.
Spring is unfolding and patient sale sale shoppers are getting the first major sample sales of the season with heavy hitter MARC JACOBS (pictured above) kicking off the upcoming weeks-long shopping marathon in SoHo. Jacobs' sale launched on Tuesday with a whopping 85% to 90% discount on nearly everything. As usual, the offerings were a mix of past seasons with a few eye popping price tags on runway pieces that remained high even with major discounts, but overall, it has been a fairly strong showing for Jacobs fans with what remains of the affordable Marc by Marc Jacobs collection selling for giveaway prices. It's not as vast an array of merchandise as we have seen in past seasons, but there is still plenty to satisfy the designer's loyal followers. Shop through Sunday.

Also this week, the popular French contemporary chain MAJE has taken over 260 Fifth Ave with its seasonal clearance. This one is always a popular draw, so expect a motivated crowd through Sunday.

Sporty gentleman will be heading to SoHo starting today the 20th for another installment of GILDED AGE's high-quality classic sportswear and denim sales. Look for investment worthy casual wear at 60% to 80% off through Sunday.

Finally, Saturday the 22nd brings accessory favorite NANCY GONZALEZ to Soiffer Haskin offering luxurious handbags and accessories in exotic skins like crocodile and ostrich. While her bags are well priced considering their precious materials, this is always a pricey sale but full of great investment pieces. Shop through Tuesday the 25th.

Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar for hours and locations as well as late breaking sales. In future weeks look for the heavy hitters like Oscar de la Renta, David Yurman, Phillip Lim and AEFFE USA's regular multi brand European treasure trove featuring Alberta Ferrretti, Moschino and Ungaro —and those are just the ones we already have scheduled. The season has started. Save your pennies.

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Givenchy, TOMS, Paul Smith, Diesel, Members Only & More On 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

Missoni, Free People, Tart, L'Agence, Hunter Boots, Sisley Cosmetics, Givenchy, Diesel, Persol, Andrew Marc, TOMS, Paul Smith, Valentino, Sophie Anderson, PUMA, Thomas Pink, Yves Saint Laurent Suiting, Mr. Turk —join HERE

RUE LA LA

VELVET by Graham & Spencer, Tahari ASL, Rockport, Dolce & Gabbana Eyewear, Isabel Marant, Lladró, Dolce Vita, Donald J Pliner Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, Macbeth Collection, Christian Dior Optical —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

BCBGMaxAzria, Dolce Vita, Dooney & Bourke, Siwy Denim, WeSC, Converse, Sam Edelman, Love Stitch, LOVE Moschino, Sanctuary, Haute Hippie, Robert Graham, Gordon Rush, English Laundry, Michael Bastian Gray Label, Projek Raw, James Perse, Diesel, Splendid, Just Me, Mario Valentino, Mario Badescu, Tarte, LAB Series, Lindbergh, Members Only, Joseph Abboud —join HERE

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Jil Sander, Azzedine Alaïa, Stella McCartney, Shoshanna, Billy Reid, Opening Ceremony, Dr. Martens & More In This Week's Flash Sales

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

Tibi, Jil Sander, Tadashi Shoji, Jay Godfrey, TOD's,  Hanro, Prada, Opening Ceremony, Superga, ZAC Zac Posen,Thomas Pink, Curatore, Cole Haan, Moncler, L.K. Bennett, Trina Turk, Azzedine Alaïa, Mikoh Swimwear, Maiyet Jewelry, Boss Bags, Donald J. Pliner, Calvin Klein Underwear, Floris London, Onia Swim —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Magaschoni, TART, Swarovski, Sophie Catalou, Unsimply Stitched, Teva, Marika, Shoshanna, Stella McCartney, Hudson Jeans, Algenist Skincare, Spode, Commando —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

7 For All Mankind, Frye, Three Dots, Karen Mullen, Billy Reid, Perry Ellis, Red Wing, Sperry, Elizabeth and James, Sky, Little Mistress, Dr. Martens, Unsimply Stitched, Burnside, Jantzen/Jag, Rock Revival, Anna Beck PRE, RAGA, Love + Harmony, A.L.C., ERIN Fetherston, BCBGeneration, Mirenesse Australia, Luli Fama Swim, Hartmann Luggage, Mezlan, Andrew Marc —join HERE

TODAY IN BELT TIGHTENING: Ralph Lauren's Fifth Avenue Polo Store Is Getting The Axe

In an unexpected but only marginally surprising move, Ralph Lauren will be shuttering the splashy Polo flagship store on Fifth Avenue as a cost cutting measure. It turns out that the high profile, loss leader flagship stores we have come to know so well in New York are not the investment in publicity that they once were. WWD is reporting that the store closure along with other measures including a workforce reduction and an updated digital platform will save the company a not insignificant $140 million per year after an initial $370 million cost. 
Opened less than three years ago, the Polo store was meant to be represent a grand relaunch of the Polo brand for Lauren. it was to put the designer's original brand back into the spotlight with the rebranding of his women's "Blue Label" collection to make Polo a masterbrand for men and women along with a newly designed label. Its Fifth Avenue location should have been a tourist magnet, and the attached restaurant became one of the most coveted reservations in town. This is the first indication we have heard that the lavish three-level store has not lived up to expectations, although when it opened we were struck by impression that though the store is very large, it offered little in terms of newness in either environment or product. Lauren still remains content to draw from the same creative wells he has established over his 50 years in business. That leaves us with a whole bunch of reinterpretations of reinterpretations of the same things he has been making for years., which may be the root of his company's current troubles. At any rate, the "way forward" business reorganization plan that the company has been following seems to be the on right track in shedding some of the behind the scenes excesses that has always plagued the organization, but it is somewhat surprising to see it extended in such a high profile way. At least it shows that they are serious about setting the business right.
There is no closing date announced for the store, and the company is not giving up on new retail concepts, and it identified the Ralph's Coffee counter within the Polo store as a future opportunity. We also expect a newer, more modestly sized Polo store to appear somewhere in Manhattan to maintain the label's presence. With all this cost cutting, we immediately thought about the future of the cult-sized RRL label which has gone through several iterations before settling on an antique-inspired menswear theme. The collection is presented with evocative stores in Los Angeles and SoHo, but not a business on the scale that might warrant its continuation at this point under the company's apparent willingness to make hard choices. One has to wonder if the big RRL store on West Broadway, which has also had a series of lives under Lauren, might be headed for yet another transformation into a Polo store?

UPDATE:
The store is slated to close on April 15, only a week and a half away, however, the popular Polo Bar restaurant is expected to remain open as far as we can tell.

(WWD)
Previously:
Flagship Flash: Fifth Avenue's New Polo Flagship Holds Few Surprises

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Jason Wu, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Maison Margiela, St. JohnBalenciaga & 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

St. John, Vita Fede Jewelry, M.i.h. Jeans, IRO, Oscar de la Renta, Stella McCartney Accessories, Timo Weiland, New Balance, Maison Margiela, C/89, Bavna Jewelry, Burberry —join HERE

RUE LA LA

J.McLaughlin, Effy Fine Jewelry, St. Lynn & Blanc Menswear, Cole Haan, Balenciaga, Melissa & Doug, Salvatore Ferragamo Eyewear, Sparkling Sage, Hale Bob, Givenchy, Pisley & Gray, FENDI, Technomarine, Cosabella, Badgley Mischka, Nine West, Bailey44, AG Jeans, Diane von Furstenberg Luggage, Mariposa —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

L.K. Bennett, Parker, Michele Watches, Saint Laurent Sun & Optical, Park & Ronen, Stone Rose, Keds, Majestic Loungewear, Ivy Park, Fergie & Fergalicious, IRO, Ron Tomson, Vince Camuto, Skagen Watches, Giorgio Brutini, Jason Wu, Morphe Brushes, Aquatalia, Level 99, Sea Gypsies, Supplies by Union Bay, Riller & Fount, GO SMiLE, Ike Bear, Versace —join HERE