Caitlin Colford

Some of New York City’s most famous designers – our local trophies of sorts –  will be hosting to die for sample sales this week. Perhaps not born in the city that never sleeps, they have all certainly made their mark after moving in and becoming among our favorite residents. From Ralph Lauren, to Charlotte Ronson, and the ever popular Diane Von Furstenberg, these top designers will be hosting sample sales this week that are sure to draw in the masses. To top it off, some great cashmere sales from Autumn Cashmere and Christopher Fischer will be taking place to turn your daywear dresses into comfortable nightwear this summer.

The Ralph Lauren Sample Sale

Upper East Side resident Ralph Lauren launches our mad trio of sample sales this week on Monday, June 4^th at Soiffer Hasken. The Ralph Lauren Sample Sale most typically features a wide selection of spring, summer, and cruise wear from his Purple Line and Blue Line with some eveningwear from his Black Line intermixed.

DVF Diane Von Furstenberg Clothing & Accessories Sample Sale

The moment we have all been waiting for! It’s that time again where DVF brings us bottom of the barrel discounts at the Diane Von Furstenberg Sample Sale. Come Tuesday, June 5^th, at 260 Fifth Ave, the doors will open to let hundreds, if not thousands, crowd in as they browse up to 70% off ready-to-wear fashions and accessories from the famed Meatpacking District resident. Last year’s sale was a crowd pleaser with dresses as low as $125, so I don’t see why this year won’t be the same.

Charlotte Ronson Sample Sale

The popular bohemian chic East Village resident Charlotte Ronson has been known to mix and match wild styles to create one elegant and unique piece. At the Charlotte Ronson Sample Sale on Wednesday, June 6^th, for up to 75% off you will find hip designs from 1920’s inspired dresses with a touch of grunge to lacy tops and floral patterns.

Cashmere, cashmere, cashmere!

Get your cashmere fix this week at the Autumn Cashmere Clothing & Accessories Sample Sale. Don’t let the name fool you, this same sale, beginning Monday, June 4^th, promises trendy cashmere for summer with up to 75% off summer weight sweaters and linen blended v-necks. After you’ve had your fill head over to stock up at the Christopher Fischer Cashmere Sample Sale where cashmere sweaters, scarves, and home items are up to 80% off!

Last week we celebrated our veterans with immense pride for our country. This week we’ll celebrate the fashion designers that make our closets happy with immense pride for New York City!

By Caitlin Colford

The I Don’t Like Mondays Warehouse sale kicked off today on the Bowery. A small sign is taped on small side door, instructing shoppers to head up to the 3^rd floor for the sale (don’t make the same mistake I made and think the lighting store on the ground floor was a secret stop for trendy clothes). Once upstairs in the stuffy, hot, and cramped space, lanky hipsters stroll around and help the changing solo shopper grab different sizes as they try on clothing in the “warehouse’s” one dressing room.

My first stop was the table of hip graphic t-shirts, varying in size and material given they are all mainly unisex. The lightweight, sheer cotton tees are amazing, but the most expensive. The best of the bunch was the said sheer cotton Obesity and Speed “I Blame Society” Tee ($46, orig. $66) and the Horrace Annoy Tee ($49, orig $72). The thicker unisex tees featured graphics from quirky well-knowns such as the David Bowie Actual Pain Tee ($22) and The Fresh Prince of Bell Air Forty Ounce Tee ($29).

Aside from tee shirts, the I Don’t Like Mondays Warehouse Sale is plentiful with cut-off denim shorts. The Obesity and Speed Purple Studded Denim Shorts ($96, pictured) caught my eye, as did their Cutoff Black Denim Shorts with Chains ($82, pictured). In keeping with the theme, Obesity and Speed also offered up a funky, Cropped Sweatshirt with Studs in Grey ($41, pictured) and they had Unicef’s Bare Shoulder Button Up ($50, pictured), which is essentially a red plaid shirt with the shoulders cut out.

As to be expected, many shoppers were in attendance for the promised deep Alexander Wang discounts. T by Alexander Wang styles were scarce, although the styles available held every size. The T by Alexander Wang Silk Georgette and Mesh Strap Dress ($171, orig $245, pictured) was the best of the small collection of black dresses and the T by Alexander Wang Olive and Black Striped Lightweight Sweater ($77, orig $110) looked super comfy-cozy for chilly summer nights.

The back of the room came quickly given the small size of the sale, leaving shoppers with not much to choose from. Great finds in the mix that may be missed at first glance was the SILENT Damir Doma Palo High Waisted Pants ($134, orig $335) and the interesting Kill City Cutout Leather Jacket ($276, orig $395), which is exclusive to I Don’t Like Mondays.

The I Don’t Like Mondays Warehouse Sale is definitely geared toward the downtown set, therefor isn’t for everybody. There are definitely options to satisfy the artsy type and cost-efficient at that. Good news though, if you’re in the market for cropped, cut out, or cut off everything, then this is your one stop shopping opportunity.

WHEN: 5/31 – 6/2; Th-F (noon-7), Sat (noon-5)

WHERE: 157 Bowery
at Broome St

By Caitlin Colford

“Ladies, seamen! 12 o’clock!” shouts Samantha to her girlfriends Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda. “I pray when I turn around there are sailors, because with her, you never know,” Miranda replies with snark. Relive the classic Sex and the City episode “Anchors Away” with your girlfriends this Memorial Day Weekend and stick around town in order to catch a glimpse (or perhaps a little more) of some hunky Fleet Week sailors.

We don’t want to make it obvious that we want in on some sailor attention, so the best bet is to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time. Get wardrobe approval from your gals and head down to Pier 90 & 92 on 51^st Street and the West Side Highway on Saturday with your besties where, from 8am-5pm, Free Ship Tours will be taking place. Snoop around your future fling’s bunk as he hangs on the dock nearby and smiles at you as you pass.

Invite the cutie in uniform to bring some friends along as he joins you and your girlfriends for a group movie date. What’s more romantic than a good flick outdoors, under the stars? Rooftop Film Summer Series presents Kumaré Saturday evening @ 8PM on the Open Road Rooftop on the Lower East Side. You’ll splurge for the movie tickets as long as he opts to take you all out for drinks after.

Now that you have a new (and hot!) gang to hang with for the weekend, gather your girlfriends and call up your sailors. Treat them first to a morning of country pride in Times Square (I know, who goes to Times Square? Just remember, these guys are from our of town – they’ll love the tourist trap!) where Military Bands march and play while vets and service members alike crowd around to cheer for America from 2PM-5PM.

Now that the torment is over, on to the fun! Since these guys are stuck on a boat all day, I’m sure they are well attuned to all things video games. Therefor, they will love you for the next event you’re taking them to – the New York City Zombie Bar Crawl! Grab some cheap red face paint (or lipstick) and add a dash of blood to fit in with the undead impersonators as you participate in the 6^th Annual Zombie Crawl starting at 3:30, hoping from bar to bar and ending at an after-party at the Public Assembly with Rigor Mortis Revue’s horror burlesque.

Phew! It’s not easy keeping up with those guys. Time to recover on Monday, the final day of your long weekend of fleeting bliss. Soak up the last day with your sailors as your head for a late picnic in the East River Park (you’re going to need to sleep in after the bar crawl!). Celebrate Memorial Day traditionally and claim one of the park’s six public grills as you watch your man grill up some burgers and corn on the cob. The views of the water, sweet smell of barbecue, and hunky seamen will make for one unforgettable Memorial Day.

With New Yorkers out of town for Memorial Day weekend, they courteously allowed you and your girlfriends first dibs on the sea’s hottest sailors during Fleet Week. Unfortunately, everything good must come to an end but it was fun while it lasted and hey, there’s always next year! In the words of Carrie Bradshaw, “That’s why I love New York. Just like that, it can go from bad to cute.”

By Caitlin Colford

It is obvious when browsing the racks of sample dresses at the Behnaz Sarafpour Sample Sale that the designer has held previous design positions at Isaac Mizrahi, Narcisco Rodriguez, and Anne Klein. Sarafpour’s perfectly hugging dresses have been notably worn by the likes of Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Rachael McAdams, and Claire Danes. Many of her dresses are simply cut with a pop of flair such as black bows, rope belts, crochet, or a criss-cross open back deeming her style feminine and youthful.

Today is the last day of the Behnaz Sarafpour Sample Sale on 29^th Street, so make sure you race to Midtown after work before they close shop at 7PM! Sarafopur’s dresses typically run on average for more than $1,000 a piece, but within the airy, 4^th floor studio they are a true steal, priced at $250 for long dresses and $175 for short dresses. Additionally, her knit blouses (only a few left as of this morning) are $85, skirts and shorts are $75, and jackets (between trenches and blazers, there are only about five still available) are $125.

All of the merchandise available are samples aside from a handful of previous production pieces. Sarafpour’s fashions are only available in sample sizes (2/4), aside from one lone size 6, but due to the natural give in the fabric, they may fit a larger size. Among the gorgeous dresses includes a Pink and Black Floor Length Dress with a Plunging Neckline and Criss-Cross Open Back ($250), a Long Yellow with a Black Crochet Neck ($250, pictured), and a Long Silk Cream Dress with Black Lace Detail ($250, pictured).

The short dresses are all super cute and perfectly wearable for this summer’s best outdoor parties. To start, the Pink Satin Short Dress ($175) is adorable and truly looks like a ballet slipper (which are also available in black and nude for $10). Other interesting discoveries are a mermaid-esque Turquoise and Navy Laminated Silk Dress ($175, pictured), a simple White and Light Blue Short Dress ($175), a Draping Collar Linen Dress ($175), a gorgeous Cream with Black Bows Short Dress ($175, pictured) that would be perfect for work, as well as an awesome Crochet Tube Dress ($175, pictured). Do be weary of some of the dresses that are lighter in color, some stains are noticeable.

There are two additional racks at the Behnaz Sarafpour Sample Sale but your attention should be dedicated to the dresses. If you have extra time I would recommend checking out the funky White Denim Pants with Zippers ($75, size 29, pictured), the zippers are extra long and creep all the way up the thigh. Also take a gander at the quaint selection of cream and off-white button down blouses ($85).

If you go crazy for cute dresses at affordable prices, do make sure you make a pit stop at the Behnaz Sarafpour Sample Sale before 7PM. The celebrity worthy dresses available are well made and red carpet ready, sure to make you look like a million bucks when in reality you only spend a fraction of the retail price.

WHEN: 5/22 – 5/23; Tue-W (10-7)
email for a private appointment at [email protected]

WHERE: 210 West 29th Street
4th Floor
between Seventh and Eighth Avenues
New York NY 10001

By Caitlin Colford