The late night in Soho edition...
Sunday through next Thursday, 4/25-4/29, Soiffer Haskin is hosting a Hickey Freeman / Bobby Jones warehouse sale featuring up to 80% off traditionally cut suits, furnishings, and sportswear.
Here's a gorgeous piece that failed to make any of the recent affordable-watch roundups. This Simon Carter stainless steel round-cased wristwatch features a 3 ATM interior frame and white dial equipped with black arabic numerals, luminous hands, and a second dial... and all for just $250. Blackbird calls it "low profile" and "classic." We'd add versatile and supremely cool.
After several years of covering the city's sales, we're still struck by the rapid downhill trajectory taken by particular products. Take the 50-odd Steven Alan shirts that retailed for $200 just last year, which can now be found in 5th Avenue's never-ending sample sale -- between 28th & 29th -- for $30 each. They're highly-wearable, in good condition, come in sizes S-L, and are accompanied by another 150-odd equally-wearable spring shirts from Loden Dager, Claiborne by John Bartlett, and John Varvatos. As a lover of clothes -- and Steven Alan's clothes in particular -- it's actually quite a sad sight. Go give those shirts a good home. They deserve better.
Never-Ending Sample Sale (not official name) - 260 5th Ave between 28th & 29th - 10am-7pm daily - Map
The "style blogosphere," God love it, runs on pretty product pictures, which, while pretty, don't reveal much about fit, feel, or other intangibles that require a little in-person testing. That's why Angelo of Class Act deserves praise for this hands-on analysis of Levi's 511 jean/trouser in several materials. "A casual, slim and surprisingly solid feeling chino," he notes. "At $54, I really don't think there's a better go-to khaki out there right now." [via Valet.]
Thursday through Sunday, 4/22-4/25, present this coupon for 20% off most any purchase at Saks. Online, enter coupon code FRIEND4 at checkout.
The spring night game edition...
A reader just tipped off Racked to a private sample sale presently taking place at Jil Sander HQ. Act like you know somebody, and take your chances for a shot at 90% off Sander's minimalist pieces.Put This On, Episode 2: Shoes from Put This On on Vimeo.
The interview edition...
Earlier this month, a Gilded Age rep told us the company's sample sale had been pushed back again to April 21. (In her defense, she called the date tentative.) Now, we're hearing from Camp Gilded that the sale is set for the first week of May. For the record, we're not trying to build up this event beyond all reasonable expectations -- Just keep you posted.
Cycling in the City: Outlier Tailored Performance from hypebeast.tv on Vimeo.
The I-thought-it-was-supposed-to-be-warmer-by-now edition...
Having followed Commerce With A Conscience for some time, we're pleased to report that the site just received a refresh, along with some smart new features like a Product Guide for tracking down equal parts eco-friendly, styish, and cost-conscious products. We're really impressed.
Sure to be overrun by female shoppers, the Rodarte sale is going down Tuesday and Wednesday, 4/20-4/21. For the uninitiated, the label just recently branched out into menswear with a few highly-conceptual knit pieces, which retail for nearly $3,000.
Sunday through Thursday, 4/18-4/22, get to the Soiffer Haskin showroom for steep markdowns on Loro Piana knits, outerwear, clothing and accessories. Last year, The Wall Street Journal profiled the famed Italian textile maker, whose products are sold exclusively at Bergdorfs, and its eponymous Madison Avenue boutique. Make no mistake, however, even at 80% off, Piana will set you back.
The praying-for-shorts-weather edition...
Some beautiful headgear at the Selima Hats sale going down through Sunday. At $150 a pop, these pieces ain't cheap, but -- if you luck out with size, shape, and a suitable color -- they are capable of transforming your whole style. Sizing and styles are limited. Also expect to find some classic Cutler And Gross frames for $75 each. 
Selima Hats - 7 Bond btwn Broadway & Lafayette - 212-677-8487 - 11am-7pm Daily - Map
Last month, The New York Observer noted (observed?) the rising sartorial sophistication of New York men. As further evidence of this promising trend, the boys over at Complex were just treated to a quick tutorial on "floating chest pieces."
Friday through Sunday, get to Selima Hats -- established last year by eyeglass doyenne Selima Salaun -- for 50% off one-of-a-kind fedoras, pork pies, and the like. These puppies will typically set you back $280 to $340. Check out Cool Hunting's profile of Selima and her hats here.
If you're not afraid of a little ass-stitching (we actually are), then get to the Rock & Republic warehouse sale going down Friday through Sunday, 4/16-4/18, at Metropolitan Pavilion.
The loosely-military-inspired-without-resorting-to-epaulets edition...
Without any premeditation, Jon "Critical Shopper" Caramanica just spent $350 on a pair of jeans. Now, despite the undeniable allure of denim shrine Self Edge, and the virtues of quality gear, there are some guys who'll never forgive such a purchase. "My $50 501's do just fine," they'd say. Yet, while we consider our $160 A.P.C.'s a more reasonable proposition, we can't fault anyone for investing in a product that's built to last years, if not a lifetime. Regarding his "transformative" Iron Heart's, Caramanica reports, "Putting them on left me feeling less dressed than wholly encased." Made of 21-ounce denim, that's a feeling he has time to get used to.
Wish we had better news to report from the French Connection sample sale, which began this morning at Chelsea Market. Alas, stock and wearable patters are quite limited. For $100, we liked the double-breasted (linen blend?) blazers (above), but only found about 10 in sizes 38 to 44. They were the only jackets, too.
One of the few non-patterned, i.e., wearable shirts
The rare wearable piece among the knits, cardigans, polos & tees
Shorts come in two plaids -- this being the friendlier of the two
One could, in theory, put this windbreaker to good use
Shopping engine Yoox just kicked off a 7-day "sample sale," where you'll find up to 90% off some pretty reputable, and otherwise hard-to-find items. We suggest refining your search by such established and well-stocked brands as:
GQ has kindly listed the 25 top vintage destinations in America. We're surprised by the omission of Church Street Surplus, and amazed that Brooklyn doesn't have a dog in this race, but otherwise think it's a fine roundup.
Wednesday through Sunday, 4/14-4/18, Chelsea Market is hosting a French Connection stock and sample sale featuring up to 70% off versatile (if not entirely indestructible) gear, including trench coats (down from $288 to $100), and shorts (down from $88 to $30).
No pictures inside the Elie Tahari stock & sample sale, but we can assure you there isn't much to see. Even big Tahari fans -- though, frankly, we've never met one -- would be advised to do something better with their time than wait on this slow moving line. Most disappointing, we found virtually none of the business wear basics that Tahari began designing last year, and which we assumed would serve as a nice alternative to similar offerings from Banana Republic and Theory. Still, if you must, here's a price list:
The End Of (cool weather) Days edition...
The key takeaway from GQ's 38 slide guide to dressing for less: A.P.C. founder Jean Touitou considered a JCPenney Big Mac his best chambray shirt... before his son stole it. At $15, these bad boys make Gap's $50 chambray's look extravagant.
