Another week, another round of sample sales and cocktail parties. We have to say, the atmosphere in New York this week feels a bit on the serious side, but there are bound to be moments when a twenty minute break is needed. Hop on the train and check these happenings for a little alone time.
Monday: Maxx New York is having a sample sale today. Get a new summer handbag for up to 60% off. Try to find the quilted hobo, or something like that, because these bags have never been our favorites. That's what sample sales are for though, eh? Sale at 385 Fifth Avenue, runs through Thursday.
Tuesday: The DVF sample sale starts today with current season looks, including those featured in our DVF X Bloggers photo shoot, marked up to 75% off. Part of the Coutorture team hit up the sale this afternoon (press day) and gave us the scoop on what to expect. Apparently the selection is top-notch, and the prices hovering between 75 and 100 dollars. For right-now DVF, we say that's more than worth the money. Sale at 260 Fifth Avenue, runs all week.
Wednesday: There's a King Stampede party tonight at 40 Thompson. If you don't know the brand, don't worry. Expect a bunch of skater gents and ALife types. This is probably the only time you'll see women wearing hoodies with heels other than at the felafel place circa 3am. Flyer, top left.
Thursday:Rebecca Taylor's sample sale ends today (starts Tuesday). Better get girly before it's too late. We hear it's going to be about 50-60% off which will most likely turn even the loveliest fashion rose into a raging sample sale maniac. Sale at 145 West 18th Street. See the collection here.
Friday: If you need something to romp around Manhattan in over the weekend (and we mean one of those weekends where you live in a variation of the same outfit from Friday through Sunday night) then hit up Opening Ceremony's ongoing 'Super Scary Sale' which, by this time, apparently will include Alexander Wang and Jeremy Scott for 30-60% off.
Perhaps your Memorial Day Weekend was totally chilled out and you're ready for some fashion happenings in New York this week. Perhaps you're just hell-bent on cultivating the perfect summer wardrobe. Whatever the case may be, we know of a few things going on that you might not want to miss.
Tuesday: We happen to know that the kids at Ethan James Group are running their sample sale through the week as they are receiving new merchandise daily. That means amazing clothing from the likes of Imitation by Imitation of Christ and Hyden Yoo. We've also been told there is a plethora of size 37 shoes that are driving the not-size 37 clerks crazy. This sample sale is not to miss.
Wednesday: Norma Kamali is sample sale happy with items marked down to between $10-$100 dollars. Picked up clothing marked-down from all of Kamali's collections, including the Everlast and Spiegel lines.
Thursday: The News is having a sample sale today. Set a day-date and bring your urban dandy to score Spring clothing from Cheap Monday's (how cheap can they be?) and Band of Outsiders. It's one of the only ways to see your new gent in his underwear by mid-afternoon.
Friday: Treat yourself to something special today. Check out the Yves Saint Laurent Fall 08 collection with model presentation from 1-4pm. It will get you uptown in time to watch the movie and will keep your fashion sensibilities nice and conservative for the weekend. Long live the smoking jacket, YSL's Fall 08 blew us out of the water.
After a few weeks of sample sales under our belts, it's time to kind of pick and choose which of the rest to attend. We think there's a retail threshold quickly crossed during sample sale season, and by week three or four, it's just not as fun. Another happy cocktail moment this week; a Surface Magazine party. If there's anything easier to find than a sample sale in New York City, it's a Surface Magazine party!
Monday: Sponsored by Botox, Gen Art's event tonight will surely infuse the fashion industry with youth. It's the 2008 Styles and Fashion Awards Show and tickets for the event start at fifty bucks. If you look at it like you're going to the theatre, it makes sense.
Tuesday: There's a Surface Magazine party tonight. Somewhere. Finding it in our inbox is impossible, even when the "Surface Magazine Party" filter is put on. Oh wait! There it is. It's put on by Factory PR for Design Week and DDC Lab is 20% off. It's a closer to the Meatpacking extravaganza that we're covering today on Coutorture and it will probably be a really fun little happening. (see flyer)
Wednesday: Say what? Acne is having a sample sale today. Get your skinnies and other denim separates for half as much as you normally pay when you're hungover and shopping at Opening Ceremony. Come alone and early, this sale is still in tip-stage but by Wednesday, expect a line. This town 'aint small nor is there a shortage of young things with a penchant for trendy denim. Also at the sale, Filippa K and Nudie Jeans. Um, yeah. (see flyer)
Thursday: Speaking of sample sales. Today is the last day of the Suite Orchard sample sale (starts on 5/20) where Loeffler Randall, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, and Corpus are 75% off.
Friday: Annie Lansing, accessories designer, is holding a trunk show at Henri Bendel today. Grab some belts, some lunch, some tasti D and call it a week.
Resort shows, good weather (starting tomorrow?), and samples sales mean that you won't be without something to do every day this week. As a special Coutorture Cocktails bonus we've included events on the weekend because, even though we like to think that fashion doesn't consume our lives 24/7, there are some things that are worth a one-track mind.
Monday: Tonight's event will kick off the week with some pre-professional enthusiasm and pre-sample sale quiet time. FIT's graduating seniors will show their thesis collections from 4-7pm this evening.
Tuesday: If you need to reconcile any guilt over the countless gift bags you've received at past events, tonight is the night. Beautifully curated gift bags, donated from designers and fashion organizations, will be up for auction (these 'aint your average gift bags) with proceeds going to WaterPartners, an organization that helps obtain safe drinking water for people in developing countries.
Wednesday: 60% off Helmut Lang and Rag & Bone equals trouble in the concentration department. Just stay focused and try to make it over during your lunch break. Even if you have to run.
Thursday: OAK is throwing a party at Bowery Electric to celebrate their second issue of Oakazine. Expect as many party photographers as party goers and some sweet reading material for the blurry cab ride home. It will be surely packed as the RSVP address is already bouncing back names but we suspect arriving early with one other person should get you in the door.
Friday: The Rebecca Minkoff sample sale runs today (and Thursday) so get there early before the NYU students skip class (don't worry, they don't get up before 2) and snatch up all those Morning-After bags. If you can't make it early the sale runs until 8pm and will surely harbor a clutch or two at the end of the day. 
Saturday & Sunday: Meatpacking District Design '08 starts on Thursday and runs through the weekend. Wander around the neighborhood with champagne (or bottled water, depending on how much champagne you consumed the prior night), meet fashion people, and enjoy all those Spring deliveries. It's a rare occasion to want to be in the MP between the hours of 7 and 10pm (save for Fashion Week) so revel in it. On Saturday, cocktail receptions are being held at Abingdon 12, Ivy Brown Gallery, Milk Gallery, and Rubin Chappelle, and, on Sunday, a slew of events including cocktail receptions at Adam, Carlos Miele, Shelly Steffee, and Theory. There are also panel discussions and other excuses to enjoy fashion (and champagne!) on the weekend so, for the full run-down, check out our gallery below.
We know you want to go out and get your Kir Royale on but it's sample sale season and because the weather is turning we think it's pretty valuable to get that ball rolling. Last we checked, by the end of the Summer we'd worn through many a shirt dress and pair of vintage shorts. We wouldn't be surprised if other busy fashionistas were in our boat.Today there's a Showroom Seven sample sale and you've still a few hours to wrap up those emails and hop in a taxi to the 7th avenue festivities. Just kidding! This one runs until the 15th. With the likes of Tony Cohen, Charlotte Ronson, and Sue Stemp on sale you'll likely get a few summer frocks you never knew you needed. On Tuesday it's up to 80% off Lewis Cho. That's a lot of Cho, man. It will be current season and pre-now but like, dresses are dresses right? See you there. When one of us told the other about the Sigerson Morrison sample sale on Wednesday , the other (involuntarily) replied: 'OMFG'. Yeah, you know, gorgeous summer sandals do pull at a fashionista's heart strings. The price point is around $100, the place will be packed. 
Then, Reiss, modern purveyor of all things office-appropriate, is having their very own sample sale on Thursday so stock up on some sensible pencil skirts and really make a statement before the weekend hits. This sale requires an RSVP and, thankfully, they understand their position in the fashion world by holding the event from 6-9pm. On Friday, Rogan hits Barney's. Prepare a safety bag with first aide kit and some paper fans--this one's going to be a doozie.
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