SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Heading Into The Holiday Weekend With Paul Smith, Theory & More

It's high Sample Sale season, but also the week before a Holiday Weekend, so the schedule is a bit lighter than it will be going forward for the next few weeks. Still there are a few highlights as we approach Memorial Day.

The mother of all makeup artist cosmetic lines, BOBBI BROWN is holding a solid week-long sale at 260 Fifth Avenue. Expect crowds, but also enough product to cover an full seven days of business.

Popular Spanish sportswear chain DES is once again taking up residence at DESIGUAL for three days starting today through Thursday the 23rd. This time they are promising mostly women's and children's items with a small selection for men.

This week's heavy hitter is PAUL SMITH who will be on Greene and Houston Streets in SoHo just a few steps from his own flagship store. The Shophound previewed the sale this morning where we found an abundance of menswear and a much smaller offering of women' apparel. Accessories included only a few bags and home furnishings, but an extensive selection of shoes (pictured above), scarves, underwear and other furnishings. Prices are even lower in many cases than the promised 75% off with a fairly even mix of the main collection and the more affordable PS line. See price lists after the jump. Shop through Sunday.

The other big draw will be tomorrow's THEORY sale at Chelsea Market. This will, as usual, be the first of a series, and it will feature only women's apparel and accessories. Shop through Sunday and stay tuned for sequels.

See our SALE ROLL sidebar at left for details and any other late breaking events. Next week, things will rev up again with DVF, Diesel, Norma Kamali and more.

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Ermensgildo Zegna, Trina Turk, Proenza Schouler, Paul Smith, Escada & 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

Inuikii Boots, Ermenegildo Zegna, Millburn Co., Seychelles, Bounkit Jewelry, Proenza Schouler, Pink Tartan, Wolford, Paul Smith, Jay Godfrey, Imanimo Maternity, Brooks Brothers, John Varvatos, 2(X)IST, Marcelo Burlon, True Religion, Raymond Weil, Ogallala Down, Vince Camuto Bedding, OXO —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Free People, Taryn Rose, NIC+ZOE, Meira T, Amrita Singh, SoftBaby, Hamptons Lane, Bettye Muller, BCBGMaxAzria, Woolrich, ESCADA, Baccarat Jewelry & Collectibles, Philip Stein Watches, Mustard Seed, Liebeskind —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

UGG Australia, French Connection, Bonny Levy, Miss Me, Elie Tahari, James Tattersall, Filson Watches, Ted Baker London, ASTR, Diesel Watches, Trina Turk, Steve Madden, Le Sportsac, Bella Lux, Astronomy, Saucony, Steeltime, Invicta Watches —join HERE

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Marc Jacobs, Carven, Michael Bastian, Helmut Lang, Moschino, Ungaro, Alberta Ferretti —And That's Just On Wednesday Of A Big Sale Week

Sometimes, the Sample Sale season whips up like a cyclone with little notice, and this week is one of those moments. There are so many sample sales happening this week that we can barely list them all, but every venue seems to be booked, and some of them are expanding into extra spaces as well. Here are some super-standouts in a week of highlights:

TUESDAY 11/1
A few sales have already started this week like Monday's 2-day NAEEM KHAN sale that ends today at 6 in the Garment District for anyone looking for some elegantly glittery eveningwear from this FLOTUS fave at a great price.
260SampleSale's home base on Fifth Avenue is being shared by NEST FRAGRANCES, LAURA GELLER and DEVA CURL giving shoppers a trifecta of cosmetics, hair care and home fragrances through Saturday the 5th.
Today, luxury bed and bath fans will be heading to Soiffer Haskin in West Midtown for the PRATESI sale. The legendary Italian brand is known to be pretty pricey even with the discounts, but it's an ecxcellent opportunity to invest in some sheets that will make you swear off Macy's White Sales forever.

WEDNESDAY 11/2
Here is one of the biggest sale days of the season, if not the year. We suggest a getting a car and driver for anyone who wants to make the most of what's being offered. First off is a decades-old favorite, the AEFFE Showroom sale. the designers have shifted over the years, but the current headliners, MOSCHINO, ALBERTA FERRETTI and EMANUEL UNGARO make a pretty compelling draw along with the luxury manufacturer's other popular labels like Fuzzi, Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini, Cedric Charlier and more.
Keeping on the European theme, CARVEN is returning for its second U.S. sample sale to be held in Western Chelsea. Look for three days of deep discounts on advanced contemporary style for men and women. 
Hometown fave YIGAL AZROUËL will also be offering similar discounts in his Garment District showroom along with some exclusive items unavailable anywhere else.
Menswear cult favorite MICHAEL BASTIAN will be once again opening his Western Chelsea showroom through Sunday, and is promising his biggest Sample Sale ever featuring Head to toe looks for men as well as a small selection of his nascent women's collection.
HELMUT LANG is also returning to familiar terrain at Chelsea Market for what is likely to be just the first of a few sales this season, id past form still holds. This sale, running through next Tuesday, promises mostly womens's apparel with a limited selection of the men's collection available as well.
Arguably the biggest draw of the day, however, will be MARC JACOBS whose sale will be found through Sunday at 150 Greene Street. As in past seasons, Jacobs will be offering all of his product lines including the last bits of Marc by Marc for men and women and those special items generally found only at his own shops.

THURSDAY 11/3
There's a bit of a breather today, but there is a chance for some 80% Off bargains to be found on iconic furniture designs at the KNOLL
Sample & Warehouse Sale in SoHo.

FRIDAY 11/4
Things heat up again on Friday when the Staff International showroom in SoHo opens for three days through Sunday featuring DSQUARED2 and MAISON MARGIELA as the headliners, but often including other coveted labels as well. If that's not enough (and really why should it be?) PAUL SMITH will be taking over the spacious digs at 151 Wooster Street in SoHo for an unusually lengthy 10-day sale promising up to 75% off all of his product lines through Sunday the 13th.

That's just a partial list of all the sales happening this week. To try and keep all of those sales straight, keep your eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar for all the pertinent times and locations. Next week's sale lineup hasn't fully taken shape yet, but already, we are looking at Manolo Blahnik, Derek Lam, John Hardy, Phillip Lim and more to be announced.
Shop wisely!

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Oscar de la Renta at 80% Off, Alexis Bittar, Paul Smith, Moncler, Saint Laurent, Porsche Design, Diesel & More

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

Oscar de la Renta, Dolce Vita, Alexis Bittar Fine Jewelry, Intimately Free People, Être Cécile, Aqua di Parma, Pauk Smith, Globe, Harding Lane, Mezlan, Antik Batik, Helen Kaminsky, La Prairie, Aidan Mattox, Rivkah Friedman Jewelry, Saint Laurent Paris, Clarins, J.Lindeberg, Prada, Room 101 Jewelry —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Moncler, Samuel B., Yumi Kim, FENDI, 7 For All Mankind, CATHERINE Catherine Malandrino, Movado, Robert Graham, L'Space, Porsche Design, Bobeau, Keratin Complex, Summer 4Ever Sale  —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Cynthia Steffe, Gorjana, UGG Australia, John Varvatos Men's Sun, Lucky Brand, Keds, Akribos XXIV, Johnny Was, Diesel, Bony Levy Jewelry, A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz, Wolverine, Isaac Mizrahi —join HERE

SAMPLE CIRCUIT: Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market's Super-Market-Market Rules The Week, But Don't Miss Paul Smith, Public School & More

Were you waiting for a busy sale week?
Well, it's here. This week offers a bona fide plethora of sample sales timed just before retail stores start their first seasonal markdowns. Let's get started because even the highlights are a lot to cover.

MONDAY 5/16
Yesterday was the first day of NANCY GONZALEZ's always anticipated sale, but don't worry. The popular designer's exotic skin bags and accessories will be on sale in midtown through Wednesday, so you still have plenty of time to snag a nice little crocodile clutch or whatever strikes you.

TUESDAY 5/17
We have a big day happening on Tuesday.
Starting off we have PAUL SMITH's ever-popular seasonal sale at 260SampleSale's Greene Street location just a few steps from Smith's own flagship store in SoHo. Look for deep discounts on Men's and women's designer apparel and shoes along with books and the other collectible furnishing items that he loves to spice up his shops with. Speaking from our personal experience, we can report that it is tough to go through a Paul Smith sample sale without finding some must have item. Be prepared for eager crowds. Today's session starts at 3 PM after the VIP's do their shopping, but more regular hours will continue through Sunday.
UPDATE: The Paul Smith sale is mostly menswear with a smaller women's section. Shoes and Gift Items are downstairs and priced by colored dot. See the price lists after the jump.
260 Fifth Avenue has been give over to an unusual triple header cosmetics, fragrance and candle sale featuring TOCCA candles, STILA makeup and GHD styling tools, so it should be popular for beauty and fragrance fans through Sunday.
Heading back to SoHo, CANVAS HOME has moved its warehouse sale from its former Chelsea home to to a new venue. Look for its signature table and glass ware along with furniture and other modern home accessories through Sunday.

WEDNESDAY 5/18
It's a good day for ladies as Texas-born LELA ROSE's popular dresses and ready to wear will be up to 75% off in the garment district for three days through Friday.
For something a little sportier, head to the West Village for designer Rie Yamagata's RHIÉ contemporary collection on sale for two days only. Look for quirky dresses and sportswear at great prices including both samples and stock.
It wouldn't be a big sale week without some kind of THEORY sale. This one is at the Chelsea Market and promises 70% off the women's collection only.

THURSDAY 5/19
One of fashion's most influential designers, NORMA KAMALI has almost become almost like a best kept secret. Her sales are short but productive and shoppers have but one day, Thursday, to pick up items from all her collections past and present for a mere $50 to $100. RSVP HERE to ensure admission. 
One of the season's most reliably satisfying showroom sales kicks off Thursday at THE NEWS in SoHo. This hub for men's and women's upper contemporary collections is always worth a serious visit. Go for PUBLIC SCHOOL, TIM COPPENS or COMMON PROJECTS' coveted sneakers and stay for all sorts of other labels like Cheap Monday, Officine Generale and more. Shop through Saturday, but go early for the best selection.
Also on Thursday, jewelry designer ALEXIS BITTAR will be offering deep savings on his jewelry designs ranging from fashion pieces staring at $25 to more important pieces featuring precious metals and gemstones through Sunday

FRIDAY 5/20
One big event is scheduled for today, but it might have shoppers waiting outside all week. It's the only-once-every-few-years COMME des GARÇONS DOVER STREET MARKET SUPER-MARKET-MARKET which promises not only items from all of the myriad Comme des Garçons collections including Noir and Junya Watanabe, but also Dover Street Market collections. Whether or not this means private label only or previous season overstock from the many other designers carried by the store is still in question, but either way, this is one of the main events of the season. Be prepared for a wait, although the location at Skylight Clarkson Square in SoHo should allow for plenty of room and hopefully lots of room for everyone to shop.

SATURDAY 5/21
Finally, if you have been unable to shop all week, take advantage of Soiffer Haskin's FRETTE sale to restock you luxury bed and bath needs through next Tuesday.

That's a full week by anyone's standards, but there's more coming next week including James Perse and Roberto Cavalli's main collection along with plenty of last-minute additions. Keep an eye on our SALE ROLL sidebar on the left for times and locations as well as the inevitable late breaking sales.

WEST VILLAGE INS & OUTS: Paul Smith Is In Mulberry, Black Fleece & Marc Jacobs Men's Are Out On Bleecker

Remember when Bleecker Street was such a hot retail address that the older stores were being pushed out and replaced with new designer boutiques at a breakneck pace?
Well, that's over.
As luxury labels retrench in the face of economic uncertainty, Bleecker street is suddenly looking less like a hotspot and more like a tony neighborhood in a holding pattern, perhaps a couple of years behind the neighboring Meatpacking District where once precious retail space is now available in greater abundance. Since the Holiday season, A few more Bleecker Street storefronts have gone empty. Mulberry has quietly exited its outpost at 387 Bleecker leaving it with larger stores on both Madison Avenue and Spring Street in SoHo. Perhaps a tiny store that benefited from Bleecker Street's hotspot-of-the-moment glamor is no longer such an imperative when there are other bigger stores in more heavily trafficked neighborhoods with more potential for sales volume and brand visibility.
Mulberry is not the only company reconsidering its retail strategies. Marc Jacobs is in still the midst of re-inventing his own label. Since the Marc by Marc Jacobs label that made up most of his Bleecker Street stores' offerings has been discontinued, his West Village colony of shops is in a transition of its own. It was always a kind of free-flowing arrangement with stores regularly switching places. With Want Les Essentials de la Vie having already having taken over one of the designer's former shops, the latest branch to bite to the dust is the teeny tiny men's store whose windows are now blacked out. That leaves Jacobs with only his original shop at 403/405 Bleecker, Bookmarc across the street at #400 and the beauty store at #385, which is still a strong showing, but we are still wondering how things will settle retail wise for Marc. His men's store has always been problematic. Having bounced around from one of Jacobs' West Village locations to another, it always seemed to wind up in the same stall-like space that could only hold a few customers at a time and seemed like a poor setting for one of America's premier designers to present his collections. Part of this probably results from the fact that Jacobs has been candid over the years about his personal disinterest in menswear as a designer. He rarely if ever wears his own brand, preferring more attention getting outfits from labels like Comme des Garçons and most recently being very vocal about buying copious amounts of Alessandro Michele's first Gucci collection. His lack of interest is reflected at retail where the label has little traction in menswear, and industry watchers are wondering if the men's division has many more seasons left at all without stronger direction. Closing its store couldn't be seen as a sign of faith in the division.
While once it was incredibly difficult for a retailer to even acquire a space on Bleecker Street in its most desirable stretch between Christoper Street and Hudson Street, now a prospective retailer has something of a selection. Since Brooks Brothers has sadly discontinued its Thom Browne designed Black Fleece collection, its boutique at 351 Bleecker at the corner of West 10th Street has also been shuttered leaving another prime spot open, and more space at 345 Bleecker will be available soon as Comptoir des Cotonniers has posted a closing notice in the window of its unit there. In addition, the empty where the neighborhood favorite Manatus Restaurant once served up classic diner fare is still empty after it was forced out nearly two years ago in hopes of attracting a higher paying tenant who has yet to show up.
It's not all bad news, however. As promised, Paul Smith has opened up a temporary store at 357 Bleecker Street (pictured above) to replace his original Flatiron store. As reported, it's smaller than the shuttered  lower Fifth Avenue boutique, but Smith promises a bigger permanent unit on the way. So far the store is only carrying early Spring deliveries heavy on his lower priced label, PS. Perhaps even after a more impressive space  presents itself, Smith, who has also streamlined his profusion of labels, should consider hanging on to the Bleecker Street store as a PS-only shop. It would fit in perfectly with the street's more recent focus on slightly more accessible designer labels, and it would fill up a shop that might otherwise not find a tenant a swiftly as it might have a few years ago.

Previously:
Paul Smith Is Leaving Flatiron For Bleecker Street. . . For Now

See a gallery of closing notices after the jump.

ROVING BOUTIQUE: Paul Smith Is Leaving Flatiron For Bleecker Street. . . For Now

The Flatiron District will be dealt a blow next week when the Paul Smith boutique at 108 Fifth Avenue (pictured above) permanently closes its doors and moves to a temporary space on Bleecker Street in the West Village. While the designer has a flagship store in SoHo, a Williamsburg location and a new outpost at Brookfield Place in the Financial District, the Fifth Avenue store was Smith's first in New York opening in 1987. It was one of the first designer stores in the neighborhood and, along with Emporio Armani on the other side of 16th Street (now a closed Joe Fresh), established Fifth Avenue between 23rd and 14th Streets as a bona fide shopping destination that seemed to be geared more toward downtown dwelling New Yorkers than tourists or bridge-and-tunnel shoppers. Even though the neighborhood eventually became more of a destination for chain stores that made it something of a mall without the mall (Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, H&M, Victoria's Secret etc.), The Paul Smith boutique maintained its place as the high-end lynchpin for the neighborhood for nearly 30 years, even expanding downstairs.
Smith won't miss a beat, however. As clearly stipulated in the window (pictured below) the Bleecker Street store will open on Monday It is a more compact 1,000 square feet to Fifth Avenue's 1,800, but it is technically a temporary location to serve until a more suitable permanent spot is found. Where it will ultimately land remains to be seen, but the hands-on designer has been known to be extremely picky about where he places his boutiques, so wherever it is, expect it to be perfectly chosen all in good time.

Paul Smith Relocates to Temporary Site in Manhattan (WWD)

THIS WEEK ONLINE: Saint Laurent, Paul Smith, Illesteva, Haute Hippie, TOD's, Tom Ford, Hugo Boss, Balenciaga, Tory Burch, Brunello Cucinelli, Chan Luu

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, Hunter Boots, Sandro, Three Dots, Alana Bess Jewelry, Russell Trusso, Paul Smith, PLAC, Incotex Ivory, Ben Minkoff, Alternative Apparel, Tommy John Lounge, Matteo Bedding —join HERE

RUE LA LA

Haute Hippie, TUMI, Hugo Boss, TOD's, Tacori, Saucony, iRobot, Bodum, Bettye Muller, 88 Rue Du Rhone, Brio Toys, Hanro, Cinzia Rocca, Michael Kors, Jared Lang, Evil Twin, Zanetti, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Sferra, Melinda Maria Jewelry, Elie Tahari, Rivkah Friedman, Illesteva, Frederique Constant Watches, Le Mystere, Judith Leiber, Swarovski —join HERE

IDEEL

Ajar Canada Outerwear, Tag Heuer, T Tahari, Tory Burch, BCBGeneration, Dior Beauté, Peri Luxe Furs, Rachel Zoe, Threads for Thought, Ben Sherman, Escada Sport, Kate Spade, Ray-Ban —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

Kate Spade, Andrew Marc, DL1961, Creative Recreation, MUK LUKS, Hudson Jeans, Diesel, Hale Bob, Lorenzo Uomo, Vince, Asics, Vince Camuto, Judith Jack, Chan Luu, Stuhrling Watches, J Lindeberg, Mackage —join HERE

MY HABIT

Balenciaga, 10 Crosby by Derek Lam, Oryany Handbags, Desigual, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tahari by ASL, Brunelli Cucinelli, Portolano, Chan Luu, TOD's, Tom Ford, Geoffrey Beene, Tommy Hilfiger, New Balance, Emporia Armani, Latico Accessories, Toscano, PAPI —join HERE

SALE UPDATE: The Paul Smith Sale Is Packed With Goods + Late Additions From Patrik Ervell And Kent & Curwen

It has turned out to be a great week for menswear sales in New York.
The Shophound checked out the PAUL SMITH sale yesterday (above) and we can report that it is crammed with merchandise. It's the first time in a few season that Smith has held a public sample sale, and it shows with an abundance of everything everyone loves from the designer including his signature patterned shirts, tailored suits and witty sportswear. While there was a decent selection of women's shoes and apparel in the front section, the large back section, in a reversal of the usual arrangements at the venue, is full of menswear. In particular there were tons of men's shoes at the press preview ranging from $25 for flip flops to a measly $125 for the most expensive Italian-made shoes and boots plus collectors' styles from a collaboration with legendary English shoemaker John Lobb which retailed for $1,295.
That might be the best bargain anyone will find all season. There are also stacks of art, photography and fashion books from the boutiques as well as other tableware and gift items priced with color coded dots that top out at a mere $40.
Suits are going for $450, and most apparel is in the 60% to 80% off range or even more. The friends and family preview was pretty packed this morning, so we would imagine that this will be a busy sale that could get picked clean pretty quickly by Paul Smith devotees who have been waiting for this one for a long time. Shop early, and look for a partial list of prices after the jump along with some looks inside.

Yesterday morning, a few more important sale notices hit the web including PATRIK ERVELL's sample sale which is a seasonal mainstay for stylish New York men. It begins on Friday the 2nd and runs through the weekend in SoHo where up to 80% off retail prices on clothing and accessories is promised.

Another late-breaking event that the city's men won't want to miss is KENT & CURWEN's sale starting on Thursday the 1st in Trump Tower in Midtown. The venerable British brand has been trying to raise its U.S. profile over the past couple of years with updated creative direction by industry favorite Simon Spurr. Currently it can be found in Bloomingdale's and Saks, but its sprawling Madison Avenue flagship abruptly closed recently after barely a year, and the label just announced a major new creative collaboration with David Beckham that has again left Spurr out in the cold (Somebody please reunite this designer with his label already!). We don't know exactly what will be included in this week's showroom sale, but it is likely to be a housecleaning of Spurr's collections which is good news for the designer's many fans still mourning the collapse of his beloved signature label.

As usual, all details can be found in our SALE ROLL sidebar at left along with any late-breaking listings

Mike Albo Goes Shopping: Outer Borough Sale Shop Edition

This week's critical shopper Mike Albo discovers that in the world of Paul Smith, service levels directly correlate to discounts in the designer's various boutiques around the city.
The longtime Smith fan finds disappointment at the designer's recently opened sale shop in Williamsburg when the discounts are underwhelming and the sales staff's demeanor and storekeeping skills are downright disagreeable.

When I walked up to the new Paul Smith store in Williamsburg, one of the salesclerks, a young woman, was busy texting in the doorway. She looked up from her keypad. “Hihowareyou,” she said under her breath, with a dead face. (I am fluent in the language of retail, and this means: “Oh, great. A person.”)
“Oh, don’t worry!” I said, like the overfriendly doormat that I am. “You can keep texting!” She glared at me, turned and walked into the store.

Welcome to Williamsburg!
And yet, a few days, a bit of tidying up and, most importantly, a jump in the discount from 30% to 70% makes all the difference for Mike, just as it would for us.
We have to wonder, however, if Smith's year-round clearance store has anything to do with the vexing absence of a Paul Smith sample sale this season, which would be a bummer for us provincial Manhattanites. Are we now to trek to Williamsburg for our seasonal Paul Smith fix instead of having it practically carted to our doorstep via a jumbled room of bargains at the Chelsea Market? Such are the trials we have to suffer for our vocation.
Critical Shopper | Paul Smith Sale Shop: Where Happiness Is on Clearance By Mike Albo (NYTimes)
Paul Smith Sale Shop 280 Grand Street between Roebling and Havermeyer Streets, Williamsburg