Nov. 30 - Dec. 14: Vanessa Noel Sample & Stock Sale

Vanessa Noel Sample & Stock Sale

November 30 - December 14
M-F 10-6 Sat 11-6
158 East 64 Street
(Lexington-Third Avenues)
212.906.0055
http://www.vanessanoel.com/

All current fall boots and shoes reduced 50% to 70% off. Now $200 to $2,250, original retail from $525 to $7,500. A closeout selection of 30 styles of white satin shoes to be dyed now $50, reduced from $525.
Woman’s day and evening shoes and boots. Over-the-Knee, ankle, and to-the-knee stretch suede boots, chinchilla boots, mink booties, strappy evening sandals, pumps, ballerinas, flats, alligator loafers. Also a small selection of early resort sandals.

No further reductions. American Express, Visa, Mastercard and cash accepted. All sales final. No refunds.

Don't Be a Swine In Line: Nancy Brenner's Black Friday and Sample Sale Rules of the Game

1. Don't say "I just went to get coffee" and pretend you were on line
in the drizzle/snow/cold/wind/heat for hours with the rest of us.
Besides, any true shopper would avoid liquids before a massive grab
fest.

2. Most overused catch phrase is "I think my friend is in the front."
That's nice, see where the back of the line is around that Avenue?
Catch up post sale and compare your booty - don't disrespect everyone
who got up early/took a day off/traveled in from another state to get
a head start.

3. Let go if that Moschino that doesn't work for you. Women hang out
to a dress like it's a life raft leaving the Titanic even if they
can't get it over their body armor Spanx or if the color casts the hue
of Kermit the Frog.

4. Don't block and tackle. This is not Super Bowl Sunday. Some
shoppers have taken to hurling their entire body across a clothes rack to
ensure that you won't pass them and view the items at the end of the
rack before you do.

5. The Mirror. Unless you brought your own, don't act like you did.
This is not a taping of America's Top Model. Stop preening and
prancing and doing splits in front of what may be the only mirror in
the room. Ladies - you know who you are!

Economic times are tough...but that doesn't mean you have to be too.

Happy hunting!

Club Monaco 25% Off on Oooooooooo....Black Friday!

REPORT FROM THE FRONT: G-III M&F FROM PETITE TO 5X!

Let's give thanks for Nancy Brenner:
G-III sample sale is for men and women of all sizes, ages, tastes. Lux label seekers staked out the Gucci and Armani sales last week, while savvy New Yorkers stood outside of a red velvet rope line (nice touch) for a host of outerwear brands and jackets starting at $30 for sample pieces - including Cole Haan, Siena Studio leather, Guess!, Sean John, Marvin Richards, Ellen Tracy and many others. This is the biggest range of sizes - from petites to 5X - thatI have ever spotted at a sample sale. Choose a commitment coat that will take you through the worst of winter (if it ever shows) to a one-season-wonder fling. The bottom line is if you're looking for a puffer, a trench, a classic black wool coat, leather jacket, fake fur, fake patent...you can find it here. Biggest problem at this sale - temptation. Pick your color palette - basic black to fuchsia, tan, burgundy, red...grey python, leopard leathers. Come in with a list of what you're looking for - otherwise you'll leave with more than you and your credit card can carry!

Avoid the stampedes at stores on Black Friday - you'll never find better prices than this. A Sean John leather jacket in a size 5X was $160, regularly $550. A fake fur pink party jacket sample for $30. A trench prototype in cobalt blue $30. Jackets that Sean John retailed for $245 - now $70. A light-weight Cole Haan jacket priced at 1 for $50 or 2 for $75. A red Jones wool coat: $100. A purple puffer sample: $50.

Check out the back room with a glass window for party dresses at $25 and coats with fur trim.

Head here before you head home for the holidays - and bring your hostess a jacket instead of a pricey fruit cake!

241 West 37th between 7th-8th Aves. (ground floor)
CLOSED THANKSGIVING, Mon-Fri 10a-7p until December 18th

Three Stores I Happened Upon and Really Like

Exquisite Costume: I accidentally happened upon this vintage boutique on a part of Broome St. that I may have never tread on before. I was pretty blown away by the selection, which includes pieces from the 1800s! The pictured dress from the 60s can be purchased immediately off the website for $600.

New York Vintage: I must have gone into this Chelsea-located store before, right? It is amazing! It's not your run-of-the mill vintage store, it's more like falling back in time into the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer dressing room circa 1939 (well, except for the part where they have clothes that are newer than that, but you get my drift). Clean, vibrant, extremely well-organized and flush with thrilling apparel this place is celebrity-status. Literally. Stylists, get your vintage Oscars gowns here. And for those of you who have (top-conditioned) clothes and accessories that you inherited from your grandmother but will never wear or use, you might be able to make some money. Give 'em a call - 212-647-1107.

Pas de Deux: I happened upon this fine boutique on my way to Veniero's the other night, which may be why I probably could not fit into anything! Just amazing clothes from top designers such as rag & bone and Philip Lim, et al. Not cheap, but inspiring to peruse...

10% Sale At Klurk thru Nov. 29

I've been meaning to write about this place since I happened upon it during my jury duty stint...It's Klurk and they sell groovy Japanese-designed gear for men. Which means it's ultra super hip and not suited for most garden variety boys because few are cool or thin enough. I wouldn't even suggest giving it a shot if you aren't completely confident in your ability to put it across. But if you ARE that hip and svelte, I strongly suggest checking it out.

Closed Tuesdays. And on Broome St., not Broom street as the pictured flyer indicates.

Project Runway: Congrats Irina

I didn't love her as a person, but the styling on her final runway show at Bryant Park was badassery at its finest.

REPORT FROM THE FRONT: TRACY REESE

Nancy Brenner...how does she do it?

Is your version of the LBD really fuchsia? Find funky frocks for $50 or $35 at the sample racks at Tracy Reese. These people know how to throw a true "sample sale" on a day when it feels like every showroom on Seventh Avenue in Soho and Chelsea Markets have swung open their doors - pre-empting the Black Friday sales.

Spotted at today's Friends and Family a shocking pink spots cardi retailing for over $200- here $50. That "stars" dress that Paris Hilton wore to the David Letterman show - skirt version for $50. A ruffled strapless dress in purple for $35 - bargain basement! Ladies line up early, especially if you're the lucky sample size for Tracy Reese, Frock and Plenty. Just please ban men from the mirrors!

260 West 39th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenue - 5th Floor
9-7 Thursday and Friday

OYE Bathing Suits

I just realized that in the 3+ years I have been writing this blog, I rarely write about the most feared apparel item known to womankind: the BATHING SUIT. AHHHHHhhhhh!

But I am brave. I went to view new suits from OYE (Open Your Eyes), the Turkish-based collection of hand-crafted swimsuits designed by twin sisters Ayca and Zeynep Sadikoglu.

OK, so good news or bad news first? Let's get the bad news out of the way:

• Currently, they are only available at Breeze in Brooklyn (I think we're talking Avenue U, like heading toward Coney Island).
  
• They cost between $300-400 each.
  
• They come in sizes XS-L. Except it was explained that a Large is approximately size 6 or 8. Not exactly "large" in most parts of the ol' US of A.

So now let's focus on the good news:

• They are truly unique and come in a wide range of styles.


• They come in beautiful colors and no unflattering prints. They do, however, create interesting patterns by overlapping contrasting colors in their designs.
  
• A few suits can be worn in more than one way - like getting 2 or more suits for the price of one.


• They are pretty "girly," but in a sophisticated way. Some of them are adorned with jewels and come with earrings to match! But again, nice, not trashy.

I suspect that they will soon expand their retail reach beyond Avenue U. I can't imagine that there wouldn't be some strong interest in this line.

I picked the photos above based on styles that I would consider to be more wearable for most women. Granted, you still have to be pretty g.d. hot, but you might be able to pull them off even with a few extra ounces sitting on your bones.

You will also be able to peruse and buy OYE suits (starting in January 2010) at couturecandy.com, famousfashionsfound.com, verypoolish.com and peepingt.co.uk.

Battle of the Bags: Rebecca Minkoff vs. Kooba Report from the Front

It's Nancy Brenner's bag, baby...

Bring a helmet to today's Rebecca Minkoff's sample sale. If you like the feeling of masses exiting Madison Square Garden post sold-out Madonna concert, head right over to this sale, which had its VIP preview last night.

Space is small, checkout slow, prices high -$350 for best bags (for a ss). Most Minkoff minions did seem happy to drop major moola - perhaps they dropped by the bar next door for a margarita during the more than half hour wait to gain entry.

Better prices at the Kooba sale - where you can find bags in the sample room - if you don't need this year's IT bag, score a real deal for $25 - if you can handle an '04 model. Ask the knowledgeable sales staffs for the provenance.

If you can hold out, wait and see if Botkier ishaving a sample sale this year where I scored a $50 bag that retailed for over $600 last year), or just wait for Black Friday or CyberMonday.

17 West 17th Street - Minkoff 10-8 thru Sunday
141 West 36th Street - Kooba 0 today and tomorrow 10-8 (closed 2-3)