SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Big Sale Weekend With Giorgio Armani, Gilt Warehouse, Phillip Lim, Bandier & Helmut Lang

The Shophound has been preoccupied with some other projects for the past week or so, but we are back to update our SALE ROLL sidebar at left, and make note of what has been a pretty full sample sale week. 

Along with the extension of last week's PAUL SMITH Sample Sale through this Saturday, this week has seen major sales from SFERRA, BANDIER and S’WELL', 3.1 PHILLIP LIM and HELMUT LANG to name just a few. All of these sales are still running today, though Sferra is on its last day, and one other longtime shopper's favorite, the Aeffe Showroom Sale featuring MOSCHINO, ALBERTA FERRETTI and JEREMY SCOTT, will close tomorrow. Going through the weekend are Lang at the Chelsea Market, Lim in SoHo, Bandier and S'Well which are sharing space at 260 Fifth Avenue. Don't worry if you were too busy to shop this week, because this weekend will bring THE GILT SAMPLE SALE starting with an exclusive preview on Friday night with various tickets shopping sessions through Sunday. If anyone is looking for a major mega-designer fix, then they should head to Soiffer Haskin on Saturday for the seasonal GIORGIO ARMANI sale featuring all of his major collections running through Wednesday the 15th.

As for next week you may want to save up as the ever-popular MARC JACOBS and GANT sales will serve as a pre-holiday season treat featuring Jacobs' newly repositioned brand and more accessible price range. Stay tuned for more sale news and see our updated SALE ROLL at left for all hours and locations.

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Elect Manolo Blahnik, Giorgio Armani, Derek Lam, Phillip Lim, J.W.Anderson & More At Sample Sales This Week

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It may be election day, but you might be forgiven for giving your priority time to the one-day MANOLO BLAHNIK sample sale which happens today only at the usual Warwick Hotel location. We all know that Hilary has zero chance of losing in New York, but that's not the only major draw Sample Sale that's happening this week. It's not quite as packed with big names as last wee, but it comes pretty close. 

DEREK LAM, ASICS and JOHN HARDY kicked off their sales yesterday at Clothingline, 260 Fifth Avenue and Metropolitan Pavilion respectively, but there are more sales coming throughout the week especially toward the end. Lam will be running only through tomorrow, while Hardy goes to Thursday, and Asics will be in residence through Saturday, reminding us that weekend sales are not necessarily covering the entire weekend anymore.

On Wednesday morning, 3.1 PHILLIP LIM opens to the public in SoHo at 150 Greene Street, We previewed this morning and found plenty of women's apparel (pictured above), a somewhat more random wall of menswear (pictured below) and a small but apparently relplenishable selection of bags

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(at right), as with Paul Smith a block west, the lower level showcases an unexpectedly large shoe selection for men and women. All in all, this should be a rewarding sale for Lim fans.
Also on Wednesday, THEORY moves the first of its regular series of sales a few steps away to Milk Studios. This one promises only womenswear. Stick around, There will surely be more of these to come.

Moving on to the weekend comes a pair of sales from two big guns. GIORGIO ARMANI returns to Soiffer Haskin with all of his labels (Except A|X). Find the main signature runway collection along with Armani Collezioni, Emporio, Jeans and Junior. This one's a classic. on the other end of the spectrum, celebrated London upstart (and current Loewe creative Director) J.W. ANDERSON will be debuting his first New York sample sale on Saturday at the Bryant Park Hotel for three days. Look for directional shapes and innovative looks, but prepare for a strict coat and bag check policy.

Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar at left for details and locations as well as late-breaking sales.
Next week, save up for Zac Posen, Charlotte Olympia, Hanro and the return of DVF. Happy shopping and don't forget to make time to vote.

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SALE UPDATE: Six New Sample Sales Have Just Been Added This Week's Schedule

It's the time of year when they pile it on, so we wanted to let everyone know that they can add a whopping SIX new late-breaking Sample Sales to their calendars starting today. Here's a brief roundup. See the details  in our SALE ROLL sidebar at left.

J.PRESS YORK STREET/ICB This one slipped under everyone's radar and began yesterday in SoHo. Up to 90% Off is promised on samples from ICB as well as back season stock from the J.Press York Street menswear line. A smattering of other labels are included but the bulk of the merchandise id from ICB and York Street. Through Friday.

OXO A seasonal cult favorite for fans of well designed household gadgets  is promising more than 850 items at deep discounts. Bring your own bag to the Starrett-Lehigh Building through Friday.

WANT Agency A showroom sale featuring insider favorite names like WANT LES ESSENTIELS de la VIE, MAISON KITSUNE, SWIMS and TOMORROWLAND. Starting today, find savings on mostly samples on these labels through the weekend.

WOOLRICH From Friday to Sunday on two consecutive weekends the WP Lavori showroom will open with discounts on outerwear and sportswear from the American heritage brand along with SPIEWAK, BARACUTA & BD BAGGIES.

ARMANI Soiffer Haskin will be offering every collection from the Italian mega-brand including GIORGIO ARMANI, EMPORIO ARMANI, ARMANI COLLEZIONI & ARMANI JEANS starting on Friday through Wednesday.

GANT The ever more popular preppy brand will be launching its sale on Sunday the 15th at 260SampleSale's winter location at 43 Wooster Street. We aren't sure if it will be strictly samples or a full size range from the warehouse, but the sale is scheduled for a solid seven day run through next Saturday, so count on an abundance of goods.

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Late Additions From VPL, Showroom Seven & Giorgio Armani Add To This Week's Dizzying Sale Schedule

The November Sample Sale Schedule continues to expand exponentially. Here are a few notable ones that are running this week that you may want to check out. Make sure to keep an eye on our chronologically ordered SALE ROLL at left for details and more late additions. 

REBECCA MINKOFF started Monday the 11th and runs through Saturday at 260 Fifth Avenue. Early reports indicate lots of goods in all categories for the designer's legions of fans.

THAKOON the FLOTUS fave started yesterday the 12th and promises samples and stock running through Friday the 15th.

TRACY REESE, another FLOTUS approved label kicks off a two-day sale today the 13th.

HELMUT LANG is running dual sales in Chelsea Market and at Clothingline in the Garment District through Friday. Both sales are said to offer lots, but the Chelsea one has the shes & accessories, according to reports. Next week, parent company Theory repeats the feat.

MANOLO BLAHNIK's legendary sale starting today the 13th at the Warwick Hotel has now been reported to be by invitation only on both days, apparently due to last season's excessive ruckus. "Invitation", however, can be a relative term in the Sample Sale world, so you may want to try your luck anyway.

VPL, the lingerie turned sportswear brand from Victoria Bartlett kicks off a late-breaking sale today in SoHo.

SHOWROOM SEVEN, offers yet another long-term multi-brand sale already running through mid-December for those willing to venture out to West Chelsea.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, one of Britain's greatest designers kicks of a five-day sale today the 13th through the weekend covering all of her various labels.

GIORGIO ARMANI promises an immense sale featuring four different labels for both men and women at Soiffer Haskin starting on Saturday.

One more reminder about the STEVEN ALAN sale: He has brought back the walk-in sale starting tomorrow the 14th in Tribeca after experimenting with oline-only versions. The web sale is still happening as well, however, and it begins earlier —today the 13th at noon— so it may still be worth it to skip what has traditionally been an epic queue on the street for some comfortable home sale shopping.

FLAGSHIP FLASH: More Expansion In Store For Giorgio Armani On Madison Avenue As His Boutique Re-Opens

Giorgio Armani unveils a revamped, updated Madison Avenue home this week (pictured at right), but the real news for New York shoppers will be the return of Emporio Armani to Madison as well as the first Armani Junior children's store in North America all the way up at 88th and Madison. It will be well out of the way of the shopping street's most glamorous boutiques, but perfectly placed closer to Carnegie Hill's cluster of luxury children's boutiques.

Emporio Armani will re-appear on Madison Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets in a former home that had been converted to a unique Armani Collezioni store when the huge Armani 5th Avenue brand palace opened couple of years ago. Most recently, it had served as a temporary store for the main collection during renovations on the original boutique at the corner of 65th Street. While the Collezioni line will presumably remain as a label aimed at wide distribution at department stores line Saks and Neiman Marcus, WWD reports that Giorgio Armani's newly aggressive expansion will focus on the main collection and Emporio. Twelve new stores are expected to open in North America this year including three stores for the main collection, eleven Emporio units and the aforementioned junior store. Reportedly, Armani volume dipped after the turn of the century, but is currently on the rebound.

While the big brand palace on Fifth Avenue seems to be meeting its mission of delighting tourists, Armani is now turning its focus back to where rich New Yorkers really shop: Madison Avenue. Expect the new Emporio and Junior stores to be open in late Spring or early Summer

Armani Plots Aggressive Expansion in North America (WWD)

WORLD CUP SPECIAL: New Photos Surface of Cristiano Ronaldo for Armani

The Shophound is still on a reduced schedule for a few days, but it would be wrong of us not to pass along these nice photos of Soccer Star Cristiano Ronaldo that the fine folks at Giorgio Armani have kindly sent to us. It would be selfish to hog them. The shots are from the Fall/Winter 2010-11 Armani Jeans and Emporio Armani Underwear campaigns and have been released just in time for maximum World Cup publicity. It's good to see that he is still taking care of himself. Don't forget to click the images for a full-sized view.

Cintra Wilson Goes Shopping: Church Of Armani Edition

This week's Thursday Styles finds Critical Shopper Cintra Wilson in a more reverent frame of mind than we have seen thus far. Our shopper has been nearly hushed into submission by the Armani|5th Avenue brand palace that opened earlier this year. Leading with a Wiliam Faulkner quote (!), she puts aside her shopping gadfly persona, recounting the history of Giorgio Armani as if transformed into an adoring acolyte —until she wasn't anymore,

Armani Casa occupies a corner of the second floor. These are unaffordable housewares in black lacquer, leather and chrome, all of which belong in Mickey Rourke’s apartment in “9 1/2 Weeks.” In that spirit, I hovered around an Art Deco tea set (teapot $1,395; creamer, $910) with the intention of beating up anyone capable of buying it.

And she's back.
La Cintra is mostly piqued about the elusive price tags on the more expensive items which would prompt the cruel, old adage, "If you you have to ask how much it costs, then you can't afford it." Of course, that discovery can't be much of a surprise chez Armani.
Ultimately, she is taken, or at least amused by, the monumental quality of the place,

Armani|5th Avenue will likely survive as long as Fifth Avenue does. Like the Pyramids, it was built as an indelible valentine to the invisible worlds ahead.

But is it destined, like the pyramids, to one day become a symbol of a mysterious culture now extinct? More importantly, is it merely a coincidence that the article will run on the very day that every label in the store will be available at a sample sale in Chelsea?
Stranger things have been known to happen.
Critical Shopper | Armani|5th Avenue: Indulging His Every Indulgence By Cintra Wilson (NYTimes)
Armani|5th Avenue 717 Fifth Avenue at 56^th Street, Midtown
Giorgio Armani Sample Sale November 19^th - 21^st, Metropolitan Pavilion 123 West 18^th Street, 4^th Floor Gallery, Chelsea

Today In Underpants: Armani Switches Footballers Beckham Out. Ronaldo In.

Giorgio Armani has a new sports icon to plaster all over town.
Portuguese football star and international heartthrob Christiano Ronaldo (right) has been named the new "official worldwide testimonial" for Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans. We assume this means he will be appearing in his underpants on billboards all over the world starting early next year. He replaces David Beckham who declined to renew his contract with the designer. So far no new images have been released, so we have to rerun these old Beckham pictures. We know it pains you to have to look at them again, but as soon as we have the fresh media we promise to get it out to you as soon as possible. Beckham is said to be pursuing an underwear deal of his own, so you can still expect to see him in him in his skivvies for years to come.
Basically it's a win-win.
Fashion Scoops: Beckham Said Seeking Underwear Deal (WWD) & Shophound Inbox

Diffusion Du Jour: Saks Scores An Armani Exclusive

Few designers are as skillful at managing multiple collections at varying price points as Giorgio Armani. Ever since his premier diffusion line Emporio Armani was made available here during the 1980s, it has been one of the most sparingly distributed, sold only at Emporio Armani stores of which there are still only fourteen in the United States. Now that the label's licensed accessories have been distributed more widely, and the Beckhams have drawn huge awareness to the brand's underwear, the fine people at Armani have kindly informed us that Saks Fifth Avenue will now be the first retailer to launch the main Emporio Armani men's collection in seven stores starting around now. Those locations will include Fifth Avenue, Birmingham, Cincinnati, Dallas, Indianapolis, San Diego and Tyson's Corner Virginia outside of Washington DC. This is the sort of introduction that, in our humble observation, typically leads to a storewide rollout if successful, and could possibly push a similar expansion of the ladies' line.
The thought crossed our mind that this may be some consolation for the fact that, due to tight distribution and exclusivity conflicts, Saks has few (if any) stores that are permitted to sell the top Giorgio Armani Collection for men, though the women's counterpart is sold in several of it's branches including New York. Perhaps the folks at Armani are mollifying the folks at Saks, who have surely been anxious to add the top line for quite some time now. They may ultimately be better off with an even more exclusive label at gentler, far more appealing prices. We'll call it a coup.
Emporio Armani (Official Site)

Today In Switcheroos: Emporio Armani Madison Avenue Converts To Collezioni

We were mistaken yesterday when we wrote that the new Armani brand palace on Fifth Avenue duplicated  his offerings nearby on Madison Avenue. In fact the uptown Emporio Armani shop has been converted to be a flagship for Armani Collezioni, the line once known as "white label" which is distributed primarily to department stores with locations deemed not quite exclusive enough for the main Giorgio Armani collection. It, like A|X, is not sold in the new superstore. So far as we know there are very few of these, all of them overseas, making this the first one in the US. This leaves the SoHo location as the only one solely devoted to Emporio in New York. At the moment, that would seem to be enough.
Armani Collezioni 601 Madison Avenue between 57^th & 58^th Streets, Midtown