Giant Missoni Texting Chick on Mad Ave Last Night

A big huge giant lady, who wasn't even a model, was seen texting outside the Missoni store on Madison Avenue during last night's "Fashion's Night Out."

I ran into Andre Leon Talley, Valentino, and Dolce & Gabbana -- the people themselves -- as I walked back downtown along Madison.  I felt like I had crashed the set of the Devil Wears Prada 2.  Funny stuff.

Aug 13-16 Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale

Dolce & Gabbana Sample Sale
August 13-16 Thursday-Saturday 11-7 Sunday 12-7
109 Spring Street (Mercer-Greene Streets)
Womens and Mens Clothing
DENYC is holding a Dolce & Gabbana sample sale for Women and Men. Racks with thousands of Dolce & Gabbana couture dresses, jackets, skirts, tops, pants, sweaters and much more ... all straight from Italy. Prices start at 70% off. All sizes are available and try-ons are permitted. Get there early for the best selection!
Visa, Mastercard, Discover and cash accepted. All sales final

A report from the front (To sample sale online or brick and mortar?)

Another re"tale" provided by the prolific Nancy Brenner:

I feel like I won the sample sale lottery last night. I must report that I snagged the Michelle O cover of People Tracy Reese pink eyelet kimono for a mere $50 at a garmento sample sale . It retailed for $395. A true sample sale price. Only the week before, Gilt, where I have a credit following an errant purchase, had an online sale and I compared the wares. Many of the items I saw at the sample sale were also online, but at substantially higher prices. Why shop online? If you're not a sample sale size, you may be better off buying online where you know you can get your size in 30 secs without the hassle and hustle of getting there in person. And even though sample sales are starting earlier (a good number now at 8 am and some open until 9 pm - formerly unheard of), it may still be hard to get to given your work schedule, parenting or social commitments since it's almost summer (even though it feels like a London fog one at that). If you're an out-of-towner, online still works unless you want to use your vacations for mini-shopping trysts to New York for sample-sale packed weeks like this one where you can catch Shoshanna, D&G, Catherine Malandrino, etc..... The deals online are still good compared to full-on retail and hand to hand combat at Berdgdorf's, but they are not steals compared with brick and mortar. And the shoes were a mere $45 - why don't they start the line with a size 5? Petite feet need to be shod too! Even men were snapping them up, presumably as gifts. I've noticed way more many men at women's sales - without any women in tow - are they shopping for themselves, a girlfriend, or to flip it on eBay? And please stay away from the dressing rooms! Readers, what say you on online versus in-person?

La Boutique Resale - Madison Ave.

One of the best things about being a woman living on the Upper East Side - or so I have been told - is the easy access to scores of resale/consignment shops filled with last season's top designer castoffs.

So this past weekend among the Puerto Rican Day parade, I did my own parading along a few Madison Avenue blocks. After perusing Dolce & Gabbana (where, incidentally, there's a 40% off sale on shoes, bags and 'ready-to-wear') and falling dangerously in love with a pair of $275 sunglasses, I came upon La Boutique Resale. I think that is French for "The Resale Boutique."

Located on the second floor of 1045 Madison Avenue, LBR immediately struck me as particularly well-organized, something I very much appreciated. It is basically run and set up like a real-live retail store, making it very easy and enjoyable to peruse...and ultimately BUY. A brilliant marketing tactic, indeed.

While many of the choices seemed a bit "old" at first blush, a bit of digging revealed some fresh gems. I scored the pictured Nanette Lepore skirt for $47.20 and Fendi shoes for $74.40. I also purchased a brand new Andrew Urbain top for $35.40 - who knows how old it actually is, but it goes with the outfit! So for a total of $157 I own my first Fendi anything, my first Nanette L. skirt and my first (and probably last) Andrew U. anything. Not a bad accidental score.

Other locations include: 803 Lexington Ave. @62nd St., 2nd Fl. and 160 W. 72nd St. near Broadway (for men & women). The store manager explained that the west side location has "younger" styles and that I should go check it out. Bless him.