COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Uniqlo Taps Tomas Maier For Its Next Capsule Collaboration

There as once a moment when it seemed like designer collaborations were everywhere in every chain you saw in the mail. The craze may have cooled, but it hasn't disappeared completely, and for certain chains, it has been an an going tool for creating buzz and generating traffic. One of those chains is Uniqlo, and today the Japanese apparel giant announced that it was joining forces with Bottega Veneta designer Tomas Maier for a summer capsule collection under his own label. Whether or not this will be a one-off event or the beginning of a series of product drops remains to be seen. One of Uniqlo's current LifeWear collaborators, J.W.Anderson is about to deliver his second (and last?) collection for the chain, though a floor-up season for these projects are usually only announced after the initial collection has been accepted by customers. French model-turned-designer Inès de la Fressange seems to have an ongoing arrangement with Uniqlo, while Christophe Lemaire became the permanent designer of a new sub-brand, Uniqlo U, after two seasons of his collaboration. We shouldn't get ahead of ourselves, or Mr. Maier. All we know so far is that the collection will be arriving sometime this summer, and it will reflect the sensibilities of Maier's own signature collection. Unlike the opulent luxury items he creates for Bottega Veneta, Maier's own label features more casual, relaxed sportswear in luxury materials. Call them luxe basics. Now he will be creating affordable versions of his collection for a chain most known for well priced, simple basics in quality materials. This one will be yet another collaboration to save up for. Though it's too early for preview images, we are looking forward to some irresistible clothes and accessories for both men and women to come out of this team up.

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Nicholas K, Brian Atwood, Freemans Sporting Club, Canali & More Keep The Winter Sample Sales Humming

It is the dreary time of year when retail therapy may be the only way to get through short, cold days until Spring finally starts to take hold. This week, the Sample sale schedule has been doing its part to lift shoppers' spirits, starting with a debut in nomad from beauty and fragrance chain RITUALS. Customers have been responding well to the sale this week featuring bath and body indulgences along with gift sets and beauty items open through Sunday.

Also this week, designer NICHOLAS K enlisted 260SampleSale for the first time for his women's sample sale in SoHo. Look for savings on the advanced Contemporary collection also through Sunday. For good measure, last week's HERVE LEGER archive sale has been extended through Sunday. The label has recently changed hands, and is due for a revamp, relaunch or repositioning of some sort, so this may be the last chance for a while to pick up an iconic bandage dress.

For anyone with a taste for more advanced fare, the esteemed SoHo boutique IF is holding its seasonal basement sale through Sunday. Look for directional European labels like Margiela, Dries Van Notes and more at below-wholesale prices while they last.

For the tried and true menswear classicists, Lower East Side boutique FREEMANS SPORTING CLUB is holding its winter sale from Friday to Sunday at its Rivington Street boutique. Known for its timeless, meticulously constructed men's tailored clothing and sportswear, she label has evolved from Lower East Side pseudo-heritage brand trailblazer to classic clothing mainstay, and looks like a weekend must for men who are disenchanted with the parade of sneakers and streetwear that fashion seems be pushing on them these days.

This weekend, designer BRIAN ATWOOD appears to be holding a final clearing out of his stock of women's designer shoes advance of an expected relaunch of his signature brand. Fans looking for past favorite styles should be expected to turn up at the East Village Standard Hotel's penthouse on Friday and Saturday for a last chance before, hopefully, Atwood is ready to reveal the next steps for his brand.

Finally, Italian menswear mainstay CANALI will be taking over Soiffer Haskin for four days starting on Sunday with discounts on its luxurious men's tailored clothing, sportswear and accessories. It will be stock-up time for suited gentlemen looking for something more than middle-of-the-road classics.

Be sure to keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar at left for hours and locations as well as any late-breaking events

COMING SOON: Trader Joe's Next NYC Store Will Come With 2-Buck Chuck

At this point, a new Trader Joe's is not as unique an event as it used to be, unless it is but a couple of blocks away, as the upcoming Columbus Avenue unit is from Shophound HQ. As we regularly pass breathlessly by the site to gauge progress, we noticed through the recently uncovered front windows that they are starting to install fixtures and registers to the store, suggesting that an opening may be only weeks away. We don't have a firm date yet, but the store at the corner of 93rd Street is listed as 'opening soon' on TJ's website, along with the more unusual news that it will include not just beer but also wine and spirits in its assortment. This will be only the second Trader Joe's liquor store in New York City where it has been notoriously difficult for the chain to navigate the licensing requirements to sell alcohol. Interestingly it will be just down the street from the only Whole Foods around that has a separate liquor store. This may signal fewer obstacles in the future for both chains in adding alcohol to their stores as the Trader Joe's slated for later this year on Spring Street in SoHo is also listed as selling wines and spirits. Perhaps the stores are being more aggressive in achieving their full presentations because, though it's taking a while, and it's going to be all the way in Brooklyn, there's one store on the way that will give both chains a run for their money: Wegmans. Get ready for a grocery way where all New Yorkers might turn out to be the winners.

OPENING SOON: The Nordstrom Men's Store Is Now Hiring For An April Opening

While the immense Mothership across Broadway is at least a year away from opening, the Nordstrom Men's store near Columbus Circle is now prominently posting 'Help Wanted' notices —right in its windows. While the notices are a bit tongue-in-cheek —we don't think that there is actually a position called 'sock svengali' at Nordstrom— their presence indicates that the retailer has set a firm opening date for what is the most significant men's store to to open in New York City since Bergdorf Goodman took advantage of an exceptionally good real estate deal to open its separate mens store in 1990. New York Magazine published a simple floor plan of the store in its current issue with a few highlighted items that don't seem earth shattering, but suggest that Nordstrom is looking to stock up on some cultish, New York-y items like Le Labo beard oil and and Mykita sunglasses which are far removed from the classic but accessible fare that made Nordstrom into a Menswear powerhouse. Little other early info has been released, but it's Nordstrom, so we can safely expect an extensive Mens tailored clothing presentation and an enormous shoe shoe department built to compete in a city now known for its enormous shoe departments. Add competitively pleasing service to that mix, and you should have the menswear staffs of Barneys, Bergdorf's, and Saks on their toes and on notice to see how this new interloper will stand up to the hometown faves. Its only a few months away now, so start the countdown.