This Week Online

Here are our choices for what looks good to us amongst the online Sample Sale Sites this week. This is just a sampling, so you should click over to the sites themselves for a full schedule of events. Most sales kick off at 11 AM except for the Gilt Groupe sites which begin at 12 noon on Weekdays and Saturdays and 9 PM on Sunday evenings.
Happy clicking-

GILT GROUPE

Marc Jacobs, Cynthia Steffe, ADAM, 1891 by Sferra, Maclaren, Costume National, Henry Dunay Jewelry —join HERE

GILT MAN

Trovata, DKNY, James Perse, Ralph Lauren Footwear & Black Label, J Brand, Consolidated Chocolate, Siki Im, Groupe Seize Sur Vingt, Façonnable, John Varvatos Collection —join HERE

GILT FUSE

Walter, Orla Kiely, Juicy Couture, Three Dots, Women's Final Sale & Final Jewelry Sale —join HERE

RUE LALA

Theory Women's & Men's, Just Cavalli, MICHAEL-Michael Kors & Michael Kors Home, Free People, Frette —join HERE

IDEELI

Custo Barcelona, Badgley Mischka Shoes, Nicole Miller, Cinzia Rocca Due, Max Mara —join HERE

ONE KINGS LANE

Archipelago, Demeyere, Timeworks, Vintage Print Gallery, Safavieh Furniture & Rugs, Vellum, Saltbox —join HERE

HAUTE LOOK

DecadesTwo, Breville, Biotherm, BCBG Max Azria, Whiting & Davis —join HERE

Inclement Web Surfing: Links For A Gloomy Wednesday

It's even gloomier today than yesterday, so here's a bunch of stuff that has been entertaining without getting our feet soaked.

• Band of Outsiders and its sister label Boy (above) are launching at The Corner, a new retail site powered by Yoox focusing on young, independent designers. (Shophound Inbox)
• Graphic Designer and Chief Obama Propagandist Shepard Fairey will be on hand on Thursday to launch his Obey x Levi's collaboration with a live installation and free poster signing at the Levi's store in Times Square (Hypebeast)
• The bad weather wasn't enough to keep people away from the Yves Saint Laurent sample sale, and inside it was a grabby frenzy for handbags. (RACKED)
• Ricardo Tisci is in no hurry to do a H&M style diffusion line with Givenchy. "It's too early. I'm still building the brand, and we want to stay on image" (Fashionologie)
• Small, independent retailers are working hard to save their Christmas business without slashing prices. That may mean putting Holiday merchandise out earlier than ever. Like tomorrow. (Wall Street Journal)
• Christian Lacroix's future was to have been finalized today, but has now been delayed a few more weeks. (AFP via The Cut)
• A talk with LA fashion queen Ilaria Urbinati of our new favorite store, Confederacy (W Editor's Blog)
Next month, Phaidon, the art book publisher will launch a pop-up shop through January with their sites are focused on Taschen. (Cool Hunting)
• A look at what has survived Carmine Street's gentrification. (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
• The first look at H&M's ads for Sonia Rykiel's lingerie line features relatively buxom models Lara Stone (as a brunette), Caroline Trentini (as a redhead) and Anne V. with little rosettes perched on their nipples. Awfully amusing, but definitely not for wearing under a sweater. (Nitro:licious)

Friday Spree: Lining Up For UNIQLO All Over The World & Other Stories

Don't worry if you missed out on Yesterday's +J launch at UNIQLO. Sample Sally reports that a new shipment was received overnight, so the curtained off boutique should be replenished by now. Of course, expect the lines to appear throughout the weekend, so we still recommend getting to the store well before its usual 10 AM opening. Here in New York, however, we seem to have had it easy. In Paris (above), where France's first UNIQLO store had its grand opening, lines apparently wrapped around the store all day.
In other news,

• We felt only a little guilty over all the Schadenfreude regarding the potentially imminent financial collapse and demise of CROCS. We still detest them, of course, but you know, bad karma and all. Anyway, it seems that some aesthetically impaired organization (PNC Financial Services Group Inc.) has loaned the company $30 million to get back on its feet (so to speak), so ugly plastic clogs will be with us for the foreseeable future. (The Cut)
• Eco-friendly, socially responsible e-tailer NAU is testing out a layaway program of sorts that will charge you for half the price of selected items at check-out, and then for the other half 30 days later if you haven't returned it. The program runs through October 31^st. (Heard On The Runway/WSJ)
• Thom Browne's long overdue lower priced basics line (that he doesn't want to talk about) gets a thumbs-up after a closer look. (RACKED)
• Isaac Mizrahi has finally opened his first store... because his psychic told him to. Who says designers are flaky? And don't call it a store. It's a shop. (WWD)
• Bloomingdale's Friends & Family runs through this Sunday the 4^th. For online orders use promotion code "BLMFRIEND"
• Ralph Lauren's F&F will run through Ocober 12th, and all you have to do is say "Friends and Family" at checkout for 25% off at any Ralph Lauren store including RRL and Rugby. Exclusions include Purple Label sportswear and Women's Collection. 10% of the proceeds during this period will be donated to cancer charities. Online shoppers can use promotion codes "PINK" to donate to Lauren's Pink Pony women's cancer charity or "RLCCP" to donate to the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention.
• ABC Carpet & Home will hold its Warehouse Sale on October 7^th through 12^th in lovely South Hackensack New Jersey at 400 Huyler Street. Closed on Sundays.

The Weekend Spree: Vintage Wintour and Other Stories

A model swans through the supermarket dressed to the nines in an Oscar de la Renta LBD. Classic Vogue, no?
No.
The picture above is from an extensive gallery compiled by the industrious folks at Fashionologie featuring many of the editorial stories created by Anna Wintour when she was the fashion editor of New York Magazine in the early 1980s. It's a trip down memory lane (the hair! the shoulders!) for those of us who remember the days when NYMag would publish a fashion story every few weeks, and for those who were only a glint in someone's eye at the time, it's an illuminating look at the early days of a bona fide icon. As pre-release publicity for The September Issue ramps up, the gallery features work with some Wintour favorites like photographer Peter Lindbergh, and appearances by some of the top models of the day like Ines de la Fressange, Ariane and Kathy Ireland. Yes, Kathy Ireland. (Fashionologie)
In other news,

• Speaking of the '80s, are you still unsure about the revival of Dr. Marten's boots? Would a Raf Simons collaboration convince you? Works for us. (Hypebeast)
• And speaking of shoes and revivals, J. Press creative director (who knew they had one?) Mark McNairy is creating a buzz for himself with a collaboration (yes, another one) that may will make Bass Weejuns the Top-Siders of 2010. (The Moment)
• Bad press magnet American Apparel is denying that it has ordered store managers to re-evaluate their staffs based on their looks à la Abercrombie/Hollister.
Sure.
We believe them.
They are way too classy for that kind of move. (The Cut)
•Donna Karan has launched her own iPhone application found HERE for those of you who are missing her Woman to Woman magazine. How useful is it? We have no idea, but designers are jumping on this left and right. (Shophound Inbox)
• Joining the online designer sale craze, popular contemporary web retailer Revolve Clothing has launched Rewind, its own members only clearance/off-price offshoot featuring limited sales on the type of labels you can expect to find on the upcoming GILT Fuse site. A preemptive strike? Perhaps, but the real showdown will come next week. (RACKED)
•Maison Martin Margiela has launched a home collection for those of you who long to bring home the creepy whitewashed aesthetic of his Greenwich street boutiques. Continuing brand extensions suggest that the reclusive designer has little to do with the day-to-day goings on at his label. (Know & Tell)
• Cynthia Rowley's popular sample sale begins on August 13^th through the 16^th at her store, 376 Bleecker Street.
• Escada's sample sale runs through Sunday the 9^th at the Altman Building, 135 West 18^th Street.
• And should you choose to stay home instead of braving the crowds, here's what you can look forward to on GILT Groupe this week:
 Click away over the weekend and into next week for invite-only sales on Rag & Bone for Women and Men, Yohji Yamamoto , Freeze 24▪7 , Carolina Herrera , Lutz & Patmos , Nice Collective , Band of Outsiders , Sergio Rossi Women's , and linens from Yves Delorme Paris among others. Click HERE for your exclusive invitation if you don't already belong.

The Spree: Lounge Won't Die ...And Other Stories

We thought that when former SoHo jeans palace Lounge would finally be done for good when it vacated its outlet store in the church on Sixth Avenue that was once the Limelight.
No such luck, according to our friends at RACKED. Lounge has now taken an even more permanent looking storefront on Sixth to continue selling who knows what?
The original word was that after leaving SoHo, Lounge was set to move down to South Florida and open a more upscale designer boutique in the Aventura Mall just north of Miami, which apparently happened last fall. So is this outlet offering the leftovers from this Florida mall store? It looks like Lounge just can't let go of Manhattan no matter how seedy they have to get.
Now Open: Lounge Reappears on Sixth Ave (RACKED)
UPDATE: The Post is now reporting that Lounge owner Jack Menashe has not actually left the Limelight space, and will be reopening the 150 year old deconsecrated church as a permanent retail store called Limelight Marketplace. We will reserve judgement until it opens, but the last days of Lounge in SoHo don't give us a promising feeling.
We liked it better as a nightclub.
The Limelight Is Going Retail (NYPost via The Cut)
And in other news:

• Original YaYa designer Yael Aflalo has brought her second act East from L.A. to the Lower East Side. The Reformation on Ludlow at Rivington features vintage clothing reconstructed with a modern twist. (The Cut)
• The 2009 Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund finalists have been announced featuring a pleasingly eclectic bunch including Flora Gill and Alexa Adams of Ohne Titel, Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin, Patrik Ervell, Sophie Theallet, Waris Ahluwalia of House of Waris, Wayne Lee of Wayne, George Esquivel of Esquivel Shoes, Gary Graham, Monique Péan, and Simon Spurr of Spurr.
The fund’s winner and runners-up will be announced at a gala on Nov. 16. (WWD)
• Legendary, yet often beleageured retailer Eddie Bauer will change hands once again as Private equity firm Golden Gate Capital will rescue the brand from bankruptcy with a $286 million cash bid. (WWD)
• Still one of The Shophound's favorite shops, Leffot continues to introduce new, independent shoemakers to New York. Next Thursday, July 23, the Rider Boot Co. of Richmond, Virginia will hold a trunk show featuring some exceptionally fine shell cordovan boots. (Leffot Blog/Shophound Inbox)
• The wave of the future? Macy's online sales have outpaced their brick and mortar store numbers for the past six months in a row. (5 Blogs Before Lunch)
• The Sample Sale crush seems to have finally lightened up for the summer, but there are still a few tempting ones coming up, including:
TIM HAMILTON July 18 – 20, 11 AM – 6 PM. 195 Chrystie St between Stanton and Rivington, Second floor
SEIZE SUR VINGT through July 26, Monday – Saturday, 11 AM – 7 PM, Sunday, noon – 6 PM, Groupe 16 Sur 20/Seize Sur Vingt, 267 Elizabeth Street between Houston and Prince Streets
PENFIELD  July 17 – 19 Friday, AM – 7 PM, Saturday, noon – 7 PM, Sunday, noon – 6 PM Reed Space Annex, 151 Orchard Street between Stanton and Rivington Streets.
• This weekend, Gilt Groupe is featuring sales from Shoshanna, Shipley & Halmos, Anichini, Elie Tahari and Loree Rodkin among many others with TIBI, Derek Lam, and Brian Reyes coming up next week. Click HERE now for your exclusive invitation.

The Spree: Christian Audigier To Show In Paris (snicker) + More Posh & Becks and Other Stories

Designer Christian Audigier has announced, among other things, that he will be showing his next collection on the Paris runways.
We know! Right? Hilaaaaariooous!
Big change from the MAGIC show in Vegas. Seriously, people are chortling all over town about this one. Apparently the man thinks that his t-shirt lines will hold up against Dior, Chanel and Lanvin. Well, he is French. We have to give him that.
Of course, we have been lambasting him since the first Ed Hardy store appeared in the West Village, and he keeps getting bigger and bigger, so clearly it hasn't held him back. In fact, the more that we (and hordes of others, we can assure you) go on about how tacky and crass his clothes are, the bigger he gets. His mysterious rise is incomprehensible, but there it is. We wonder if the Paris runway audiences will actually boo? Throw things? According to British Vogue (via The Cut), Audigier claims he will have a performance by a huge (but yet to named) superstar at his show, which may be the only way he will get people to come.
All we can say is that if it looks like Anna Wintour is getting anywhere near that crap, we may have to throw in the towel. Fashion will really be dead then.
Also, he has announced that he will be the next tenant of the Holmby Hills mansion where Michael Jackson met his end last week.
Ick.
We did say crass, didn't we?
As for Posh & Becks (above), these are the latest shots from their Emporio Armani Underwear campaign by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. We are posting them just because everyone else totally is, and we don't want to be left out. Also, wouldn't you rather look at them than another Ed Hardy picture?
In other news:

• Brooklyn's Beehive Salon will be offering you the most iconic celebrity hairstyle in the history of such things for $50 on Friday July 10. The “Farrah Blow-Out” in honor of the late Angel will benefit Sanctuary for Families, a New York State organization that provides assistance to victims of domestic abuse, a cause that Farrah herself supported (remember "The Burning Bed"?). (Chic Report)
• Kelly Osbourne gets a makeover...again. (Fashionista)
• Roberto Cavalli is fixing to join the ranks of Haute Couturiers. Will money and nerve be enough for him to get him accepted into that dwindling group? (Fashionologie)
• Beloved West Village diner Joe Jr's is being forced out of its corner location after 35 years. First Florent, and now this? (Jeremiah's Vanishing New York)
• Ann-Sofie Back débuts her tattered '80s collection for Cheap Monday. (Refinery 29)
• Does the Times cover Muji so frequently because it's right downstairs? Can we blame them? (The Choosy Beggar & The Moment)

The Spree: Bartlett's Claiborne Pop-Up Extended & Other News

Our replacement swag polo shirt has arrived and it fits perfectly thanks to the fine folks at Claiborne by John Bartlett. We aren't the only ones who are pleased with the newly revamped label. The Claiborne Pop-up has been such a success at Bartlett's West Village store that it has been extended through this weekend. John promises to be on hand this Friday to work the register at 143 Seventh Avenue South at Charles Street. (Shophound Inbox)
And in other news:
• Starting this weekend, SoHo's Madewell will be bolstering its offerings with a special department of merchandise drawn from the Brooklyn Flea. (The Cut)
• Tell us something we don't know: Male models diet too. Surprise! (NYTimes)
• Jennifer Lopez has shuttered her U.S. apparel business, but don't worry. You can still get J.Lo sweats overseas. (WWD)
• Hollister is getting ready to out-Abercrombie itself with all sorts of titillating/offensive promotional measures building up to the big (sorry, "EPIC") store opening next month in SoHo. (RACKED)
• Aside from their usual sample sales, this Saturday, Gilt Groupe will be holding sale of special merchandise from the CFDA's Health is Beauty collection designed by Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Patrick Robinson and Talbots. Proceeds will benefit the CFDA's two health initiatives. Click HERE for the exclusive invitation you will need to shop the collection, and while you are there, check out the upcoming sales including Amrita Sing's jewelry, Zac Posen Handbags, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Hunter Boots wellies and, next Monday, Christian Lacroix.

The Spree Charity Shopping On Fire Island This Weekend & Other Stories

The Summer Charity Shopping tour usually stays in the Hamptons, but this weekend it will be jumping the bay to Fire Island Pines with Shopping On Sunday where a host of designers including Calvin Klein, Diesel, DSQUARED², Michael Kors and Prada will be offering more than 2000 discounted items for sale to benefit various LGBT charitable organizations. In addition, fashion shows will be staged throughout the afternoon by Project Runway alums, and up and coming designer Kai D will be offering 100 special t-shirts for the event.
Oh, and since it's the Pines there will obviously be an open bar, so drink up.
S.O.S. 11 AM - 3 PM, Fradd Theatre and Lepage Pavilion, Whyte Hall, Fire Island Pines (Shophound Inbox)

• An Australian Designer named Katie Perry who has been in business for two years is getting trademark heat from singer Katy Perry who may be starting a clothing line of her own... because that will help her sing better, of course. (Fashionista)
• Columnist Michael Musto was unceremoniously dumped from an ad campaign for Daffy's. Dodged a bullet there, Musto. (Village Voice)
• The crowd at the Dyptique sale is full of unruly, greedy candle freaks! (RACKED)
• The economy strikes: Adam Lippes ditches menswear for now. He better not stop making those t-shirts. (WWD)
• You like model Tao Okamoto's cute little haircut? Thank 81-year-old Vidal Sassoon who basically invented it in the '60s and was just made a CBE (that's Commander of the British Empire -not quite a Sir) by Her Royal Majesty. (BBC)
• Phillip Lim's Los Angeles  boutique looks even more dramatic than the SoHo one. Undulating walls are the new minimalist white box. (Selectism)
• Iconic British coatmaker Crombie will be rescuing iconic British trench coatmaker Aquascutum from oblivion. (Financial Times)
• A look backstage at a Dolce & Gabbana underwear shoot starring the Italian Swim Team. Yes, that's the Italian Swim Team. There's video too. You're welcome. (SWIDE)
• The Strand Bookstore has finally eliminated that pesky bag check as legions of literary murse carriers rejoice! (RACKED)
• Coach designer Reed Krakoff, ever in search of exclusive prestige, is said to be developing an eponymous line at the company. (Fashion Week Daily)
• Get ready to channel your inner Norma Desmond. Turbans are coming back! (Refinery 29)
• In the event that it keeps raining (and it looks like it will), you will probably find yourself surfing Gilt Groupe who will be offering sales from Geren Ford , Richard Chai Men's, Habitual, INHABIT and Barton Perreira Sunglasses among others over the weekend. Click HERE for your exclusive invitation.

The Spree: Beckham' In His Undies... Again & Claiborne Pops Up At John Bartlett

Shoppers thronged Selfridge's in London earlier this week as David Beckham made a personal appearance to unveil his new advertising campaign for Emporio Armani Underwear. So you're probably thinking this is just some flimsy excuse to post pictures of Beckham in tight skivvies.
Click on him. He'll get bigger.
You're welcome.
In other news,
• John Bartlett will be turning his boutique at 143 Seventh Avenue South at Charles Street into a pop-up showcase for his Claiborne men's collection next week, just in time for Fathers' Day. The line has been callously underrepresented by retailers, so this is a perfect opportunity to see the collection in the city. Trust us, it's not the stuffy, old Claiborne anymore. Click the little picture at left for more info.
• The SoHo Stroll runs through Saturday. A $20 silicone bracelet purchased from the sponsor booth at Spring & Wooster will entitle the wearer to discounts and promotions from nearly every retailer in the neighborhood. Proceeds benefit the Association for Community Employment Programs for the Homeless and The SoHo Partnership which enable New York City's homeless men and women to re-enter the workforce and achieve long-term, economic self-sufficiency. Worth a $20 bracelet, which you'll probably make up in discounts anyway, right? Find more information about participating stores and restaurants HERE.
• Virgin Megastore on Union Square will close forever this weekend, and the place is a jumbled mess which is to be expected when the liquidators take over. Pretty much everything is now 70% off, so it's a great time to pick up some CDs or DVDs for basically a few bucks. Unfortunately, nothing is in any particular order anymore, so it's a needle/haystack kind of situation, but certainly an entertaining challenge for the scavenger.
• See the tiny picture on the left? Click on it to enlarge and print it out so you can get a 20% discount on purchases over $45 at Kiehl's stores or, at the very least, free shipping on Kiehls.com. Once again, you're welcome.
• This weekend, Gilt Groupe will be offering sales from Dunhill Accessories, M Missoni, Rich & Skinny jeans, and Loomstate for men. Early next week, get your mice poised at noon for Abaete, Vera Wang Lavender Label, Trovata and Richard Chai. Click HERE for your exclusive invitation.

The Spree National Doughnut Day & Other Stories

Ladies and Gentlemen, mark your calendars. This Friday June 5^th is NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY!

Really.

To celebrate, Dunkin' Donuts will be giving away a free doughnut with any beverage, and, even better, Krispy Kreme will be giving away one free doughnut per customer with no purchase necessary! Can we get Doughnut Plant involved in this?

Sure, most of you will have your doughnut with coffee, but if you are really daring (and somewhat self destructive) you'll eat yours Paula Deen style –as hamburger buns.

Again, not kidding. (5 Blogs Before Lunch, and see Paula Punish her arteries HERE or after the jump)

• Attention all pork lovers: There is a store in Bushwick devoted to logo merchandise from the Boar's Head deli meat company. (Bushwick BK via RACKED)
• Interview With A Visionary: Norma Kamali gets the third degree. (The Fashion Informer)
• It is the rare Ralph Lauren sample sale that is open to the public. They happen... like... never, so the one that is happening at Soiffer-Haskin on 33^rd Street right now has an interminable sidewalk line. (RACKED)
• British Blogger Susie Bubble draws the ire of designer Pam Hogg for posting pictures of herself trying on a catsuit in Hogg's boutique's dressing room. We just like this story because of all the kooky british names. Are these people characters on AbFab? (StyleBubble)
• Roberto Cavalli has finally agreed to sell a 30% stake in his company. (Reuters)
• Apple's 5^th Avenue store does a whopping $440 million a year in sales as the company's top grossing store. SoHo adds about another $100 million at #2. That makes over a half a billion $ in sales in Manhattan alone, and the West Side branch has only just been officially announced. And they say retail is down... (AppleInsider)
• A new book chronicles the rise of Jimmy Choo from obscure London custom cobbler to international luxury brand. (Wall Street Journal)
• During the month of June, online designer sample sale source Ideeli will be offering a chance for members to win a custom made one of a kind dress from Oscar de la Renta. Other prizes will be awarded as well along with access to Ideeli's impressive roster of sample sales. Click HERE for your opportunity to join.
• This week on Gilt Groupe, look forward to sales from KORS Michael Kors, Mischen, Ted Baker, Fratelli Rosetti for Men and Women, Leonello Borghi, Vera Wang Collection, Alexander McQueen Clothes and Accessories, AG Jeans and Converse by John Varvatos Clothing and Shoes. Click HERE now for your exclusive invitation.