Neither By Snow, Nor Rain, Nor Heat...

The first bona fide snow fall of the year isn't keeping the crowds from the Opening Ceremony sample sale, so expect a little elbow to elbow action. No big surprises. Mostly Opening Ceremony. No Acne in sight. Anything Ervell is still at least $250. And remember, *Cash Only.*

*Update: To each is own, but many readers are reporting leaving empty handed.*

Most of the outerwear is OC for about $150

We did, however, spot this nice YMC toggle for only $100

Plenty of OC knits for $80-$120

Long rack of TopMan, with a few finds, including this shawl collar for $40

Rachel Comey suede lace-ups for $75

OC ducky loafers for $120

A-String winter-ready lace-ups for $120

Opening Ceremony sample sale - 10 Greene St between Canal & Grand - Basement - 212-219-2688 - Through Sunday - Fri-Sat 11am-8pm, Sunday 12pm-7pm - Cash only - Map

What Lies Beneath

Saturday and Sunday (and today, we're betting), get to The Cast’s sample sale for serious markdowns on the underground boutique’s premium denim, outerwear, hoodies, T's, and scarves. For a bit more insight into the place, read UrbanDaddy’s review.

The Cut - 119 Ludlow St between Rivington & Delancey - Lower level - 212-228-2020 - 11am-8pm daily - Map

Buried Treasure

Friday and Saturday only, Barking Irons is taking 50-70% off its antiquity-inspired merch, including outerwear, shirts, and “shines,” i.e., jewelry. Men.Style recently profiled the inspired design duo - 

Barking Irons sale - 161 Bowery between Broome & Delancey - 4th fl - Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 11am-6pm - Map

No, Not Michiko Kakutani!

... Yoko Devereaux! Friday through Sunday, the Williamsburg boutique is taking up to 85% of F/W merch, and unloading samples for -$100. While not as steep, you can find some of the markdowns online right now. [Racked]

**Update: "Good selection ... but most pieces are indeed one-of-a-kind so you might be out of luck if you're looking for particular colors or fabrics," says one trusty reader. "Overall sizing is on the small side, but it's all priced to move, $20 for tees (mostly mediums), $35 for button-downs, $65 for sweet wool bombers like the one pictured."**

Transportation: JMZ to Marcy will take you within two blocks.

Yoko Devereaux - 338 Broadway between Keap & Rodney, Williamsburg - 718-302-1480 - Fri-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 12pm-6pm - Map

The Deep Get Deeper

Through x-mass, Hickey Freeman has deepened it discounts to 50-70% off all fall/winter wear, while its more youthful offshoot Hickey is now taking 65% off everything.

• Hickey - 96 Grand St between Mercer & Greene - 212-219-0230 - Map
• Hickey Freeman - 666 Fifth Ave between 52nd & 53rd - 212-586-6481 - Map
• Hickey Freeman, Wall Street - 111 Broadway at Pine - 212-233-2363 - Map

Home Team Advantage

Through Sunday, 12/14, find 50-75% off toggle coats, oxfords, knits at Canterbury of New Zealand’s sample sale downtown.

Canterbury of New Zealand’s sample sale - 2 Great Jones St nr Lafayette St 12/4-12/7, 12/11-12/14 12pm-7pm - Map

Thread The Needle

A.P.C. is now taking 30% off F/W -- a % one clerk expects to increase by the end of the month. 

Their famous jeans are not marked down, BUT an old pair will still get you 50% off a pair of new ones.

A.P.C. Flagship - 131 Mercer St between Prince & Spring - 212-966-9685 - Map

Can You Dig It?!

We have to take a moment -- in the eye of the storm that is holiday shopping season -- to give it up to the Barneys of vintage clothing, Cheap Jack's! (The Bergdorf's of vintage, if you're wondering, is definitely What Comes Around Goes Around.) But, Jack's, where it's buy-one-get-one-free right now, offers a massive and extremely well ordered array of vintagey F/W staples. 

We're particularly drawn to the corduroy jackets -    

Also, if plaid's your game -- and it's everyone's this season -- Jack's got you covered - 

Cheap Jack’s
- 303 5th Ave
at 31st - 212-995-0403 - Map

Just Take The R To Union!

Throughout December, Brooklyn boutique Bird is taking 25-50% off most fall wares online and in store. We're liking this Tovata cotton twill harrington jacket for $190.

Park Slope - 316 5th Ave between 2nd and 3rd - 718-768-4940 - Map

Hidden In Plain Site

Want Rag & Bone? The Clothingline sale's got miles of the stuff -- shirts, knit, and JEANS, anyway. (If you're after this season's prized outerwear, however, wait for the sample sale later this month.) Helmut Lang? Tons of it -- outerwear, suits, jacket, shirts, JEANS, everything... and all priced as follows (Oh, and NO LINES) -

Normally $400+, find mountains of R&B knits for -$100 -

At $250 a pop, these Helmut Lang coats are going for a fraction of their retail price -

Rag & Bone / Helmut Lang sample sale - 261 W 36th St between 7th & 8th - 2nd fl - *Tues through Fri* Tues-Thurs 10am-7pm, Wed-Fri 10am-6pm - Map

Piece By Piece

Through Friday, L.E.S. boutique Assembly is taking up to 70% off offbeat labels like Robert Geller, Henrik Vibskov, A-Z Collection, Ksubi, and Endovanera.

**Update: "Nothing worth going for," a trusty reader tells us.**

**Update 2: Final sales going on through January** 

Assembly - 174 Ludlow St between Houston & Stanton - 212-253-5393 - Map

Red Alert

We just got word of an Engineered Garments sample sale going down today until about 6pm, and perhaps tomorrow. "But, everything is moving along," one staffer tells us.

**Update: Checked out the sale, but they asked us not to take any pics. Selection is small, and made up of a smattering of past and present seasons, but prices are truly unbelievable:

• **In sizes M-L-XL, we found about ten fireman jackets, which retail for about $650, for $85!**
• Work jackets, which retail for $450, for $75 (pictured)
• Wool blazers for $65
• Cotton shirts for $25
• Pants for $20-$30

Engineered Garments sample sale - 119 W 25th St between 6th & 7th - 10th fl - Map

Aloha Yourself

Likely through the New Year, our favorite “hipster high-end” boutique Aloha Rag is taking 50-80% off much of its in store and online stock.

**Update: It's mid-January '09 and this sale's still on. "Could end tomorrow; could end in February," one sales associate tells us.**

At $220, this Martin Margiela wolf print wallet makes a kick-ass gift -

Aloha Rag - 505 Greenwich St at Spring - 212-925-0882 - Map

Criminal Minded

Tuesday through Friday, Clothingline is hosting a sample sale on Rag & Bone (above) and Helmut Lang (below) F/W ‘08. Expect about 60% off, a big turn out, and prized pieces to go early. Can’t make it? Both labels are having sample sales later this month.
Rag & Bone / Helmut Lang sample sale - 261 W 36th St between 7th & 8th - 2nd fl - Tues-Thurs 10am-7pm, Wed-Fri 10am-6pm - Map

No Strings Attached

If you love James Perse's minimalist Northern California style like we do, keep in mind that he's now taking upwards of 40% off his gear online and in stores. (To access the sale online, you'll need to provide a little personal information.)

James Perse Men - 361 Bleecker St between W 10th & Charles - 212-255-5801 - Map

We All Deserve A Second Chance

Missed the Steven Alan sample sale? Don't fret, as his Franklin St. flagship -- and Web site -- are stocked with many of the same pieces at sample sale, or near-sample sale, prices. (The sales and selection are sweeter in the store.)

• Couchin wool sweaters are $150
• Cashmere cardigans are $210
• Down jackets are $300
• Basketweave sweaters are $140 (were $90 at sample sale)
• Some button-downs are $130 (were $68 at sample sale)

• Engineered Garments Sateen fireman jackets for $390
• Moncler down vests for $320
• Rogues Gallery knits for 140
• Mason’s light zip-up jacket for $170

Steven Alan flagship - 103 Franklin St between Church & W Broadway - 212-343-8870 - Map

Fit For A King

Italian design house Etro is now taking 30% off all fall/winter wear. The luxurious fabrics, the superb tailoring, the Matisseian command of color and pattern… (Drool)… When we go big, we go Etro.

The Etro shirt pictured above, however, can actually be had at Saks.com right now for over 70% off.

Etro - 720 Madison Ave between 63rd & 64th - 212-317-9096 - Map

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday!

Here it is, fellas! Our favorite sale of the season: The Steven Alan sample sale, and it's kicking off Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. Line up early if you're after a particular shirt print, a down parka, or something from Rag & Bone and Simon Miller. Otherwise, through Sunday, find mountains of oxford shirts, pants, outerwear, suits, knits, and shoes.

Steven Alan Showroom - 87 Franklin St between Broadway & Church - Thurs, Fri 8:30am-8pm, Sat 12pm-7pm, Sun 12pm-5pm - Map

Wrap Yourself In Cord

Until the end of the year, both Built by Wendy boutiques are taking 50% off boots, denim, and select men’s wear. Also find a few deals online, like the above corduroy hooded overcoat down from $400 to $200.

Built by Wendy - 7 Centre Market Pl nr Broome St - 212-925-6538 - Map
Built by Wendy Williamsburg - 46 N 6th St between Kent & Wythe - 718-384-2882 - Map

No Contest

So, about today's sales, Comme/H&M is INSANITY; the Swiss watch sale is unremarkable; and the Mike & Chris sale might not even exist. The News showroom, meanwhile, is now hosting what might be, dare we say, the perfect little sample sale: Easy access to an expansive loft filled with surprisingly well-made Cheap Monday jeans for $10 (!), and outerwear -- like this cozy grey parka -- for just $100; and -- the real story here -- a nice little selection of Shipley & Halmos F/W priced at wholesale!

Feast your eyes on two lonely racks of Shipley & Halmos F/W '08 -

We found about 5 of their coveted black leather bombers for $335 -

About 10 grey jackets for $225 is sizes as large as 44 -

Plush grey coats for about $250 -

Thick shawl-collar cardigans for $185 -

Shirts in a nice range of sizes for $85; pants for $100 -

Also find the table of Common Projects shoes, most of them prices at $200 -

And the bin of Band of Outsiders ties and bow ties for $54 and $40 -

The News sample sale - 495 Broadway at Broome St, 5th fl - Thurs, Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm - 212-925-9700 - Map