A Few More Sales This Week

Who: Space.NK Semi Annual Sale
What: Prices have been slashed at up to 75% off—including items from Neil George, Phillip B., MD Skincare, Deborah Lippman, Lipstick Queen, Elemental Herbology, and many more.
When: July 28-30, 2011. Thurs 11am-8pm,Fri-Sat 10am-7pm
Where: 99 Greene Street (b/n Prince and Spring St) 212-941-4200.

Who: Rogan and Loomstate Sample Sale
What: Up to 70% off Men's and women's denim and casual wear. Men's Puck slim fit jeans $150 (was $298). Women's Klee summer dresses $175 (was $365).
When: July 27-31, 2011. Wed-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm
Whre: 330 Bowery (nr Bond St) 646-827-7567

Who: Ahkun Pop Up Shop
What: Ahkun, a New York City nonprofit, will host a pop-up sale event featuring carefully curated clothing and accessories from independent designers, sustainable brands and fair trade organizations. Ten percent of sales will be contributed to artisans abroad through the micro-lending website Kiva. Participants include: Study NY by Tara St. James, winner of the 2011 Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award for Sustainable Design; Indego Africa, a social enterprise that partners with women artisans in Rwanda on products for brands like Nicole Miller and Anthropologie; and Made by Survivors, a nonprofit that provides survivors of sex trafficking with employment and education.
When: July 30-31, 2011. Sat-Sun 11am-6pm
Where: Lower Eastside Girls Club space at 56 East 1st Street

Cynthia Rowley Launches Dress-up Band-aids

Being the chronic klutz that I am, I end up with cuts, bruises and scrapes that I can never remember where they came from. Once a friend thought they saw me in the distance while shopping at Costco and after seeing me suddenly lose control of a box I was examining determined it was indeed me. Needless to say I need Band-Aids in my life and after a while brief stint in my youth purchasing some Hello Kitty/Sanrio variety I have since returned to plainer plasters.

Anyways if anyone can make a Band-Aid pretty it's Ms Cynthia Rowley. Let sequins, jewels, beads and bows adorn your fingers. $10 gets you a box of 20 various designs that comes in a lovely tin. Plus $1 from the purchase of each box goes to the charity, Design Ignites Change, which engages high school and college students in design and architecture projects that address social issues in their own communities.

Target's Harlem Designer Preview

Isabel & Ruben Toledo Beach Towels $24.99

Isabel & Ruben Toledo Bikini Top and Bottom, $17.99 each

Isabel & Ruben Toledo One-Piece Shoulder Strap Suit $34.99, Sarong $24.99

Isabel & Ruben Toledo T-Shirt $19.99, Cut-Out Coverup $24.99

New Yorkers are ecstatic that a Target is coming to Manhattan. Does this mean the end of pop-up shops? Possibly but I don't see it as likely. Nonetheless, the new East Harlem store opens it's doors on July 25, and we are all very excited! Even as a Brooklynite I am hopeful that the new Target in the city will mean that my local store will

As part of the celebrations, Target has recruited some celebrated New Yorkers, including power fashion couple Isabel and Ruben Toledo, renowned designer Stephen Burrows, and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson (such a sweetie) to collaborate on a series of limited time collections that reflect and honor the spirit of Harlem while giving back to the local community. 5% from the sale of goods will be will be donated to a Harlem non-profit of each designer's choice.

Isabel and Ruben Toledo chose el Museo del Barrio. Stephen Burrows chose The Fund for Public Schools (in support of the library at The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem). Marcus Samuelsson chose The Fund for Public Schools (in support of the library at Harlem PS 180: Hugo Newman).

The collections will be available for purchase in the East Harlem store beginning July 25, followed by select stores and on Target.com on August 1. Prices range from $3.99 to $34.99.

I'm personally loving the beach towels & the kitchen towels, potholders & aprons are absolutely kitchy but adorable! What are you thinking of buying?

Marcus Samuelsson Fruit Placemats, $6.99

Marcus Samuelsson Pot Holder, $4.99

Marcus Samuelsson Napkin $3.99

Marcus Samuelsson Kitchen Towels Set $4.99 each

Marcus Samuelsson Adult Apron $14.99

Stephen Burrows Short-Sleeve Top $19.99, Keyhole Tank Dress $34.99

Stephen Burrows Hooded Long Dress $34.99, Off-Shoulder Dress $34.99

Stephen Burrows Leopard Short-Sleeve Dress $34.99, Short-Sleeve Dress $29.99

Stephen Burrows Leopard Ruffle Top $19.99, Leopard Skirt $24.99
Stephen Burrows Tie-Front Top $19.99 Multicolor Stripe Skirt $24.99

Stephen Burrows Tie-Front Top $19.99, Short Pocket Skirt $24.99

JBFCS' Annual Spring Benefit

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Lani and I have been fortunate since we began our blogging adventures to find ourselves in places we would never dream. Last week we found ourselves sipping cocktail and walking the red carpet amongst Manhattan's elite during JBFCS' Annual Spring Benefit, Made in New York, which celebrated the work and support of media and music mogul, Russell Simmons, JBFCS Board of Trustees Chairman, John A Herrmann, and JBFCS Vice President David F. Everett.

The event was held at Guastavino’s a truly beautiful venue that I would never have known existed at the foot of the Queensboro Bridge! With high arched ceilings, large glass windows it was the perfect backdrop to the evenings events.

During cocktails there were various musical performances and meet Sir Shadow , a terrific one line artist who was creating original drawings on site for guests to enjoy!

The cocktails and seated cocktail dinner was to raise funds for a great cause with proceeds going towards JBFCS’ 175 community-based programs, residential facilities, and day-treatment centers that annually serve over 65,000 New Yorkers-in-need of all faiths, races and cultures through a comprehensive network of mental health and social services to promote well-being, resilience and self-sufficiency for both individuals and families. The event raised over $800,000 so should be considered a definite success!!!

Before stepping out for the evening we managed to catch a quick glimpse of honoree Russell Simons and girlfriend/model Katie Rost.

Robert Verdi & Friends Sale

Who: Celeb Stylist Robert Verdi will be hosting a fundraising event for Housing Works
What: Chance to shop over 1,000 items donated by his friends including: Jonathan Adler, Steven Alan, John Bartlett, Bobby Berk, Brian Boye, Collin Cowe, Patrick Doddy, Simon Doonan, Jamie Drake, Rodney Keenan, Carson Kressley, Richie Rich, Nathan Thomas, Robert Verdiy
Where: Housingworks Chelsea, 143 W 17th Street
When: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009. 8pm

Posh Sale This Weekend

Who: Lighthouse International Fashion Fund-Raiser (Raising money to help people without sight help themselves.)
What: Check out this great sale for a good cause. Celebs and designers (Jason Wu, Christian Lacroix) donate goods — black Roger Vivier pumps for $125, Herve Leger dresses for $100, Chanel suit jackets for $100, Dior coats for $60.
When: Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: 110 E. 60th St., b/t Park & Lexington Aves. Tickets for a day pass are $10 and only $5 for students. More info at poshsale.org

Design Cares Event

The upcoming Design Cares charity event will feature a runway show of evening looks by designers including: Carolina Herrera, Catherine Malandrino, Chado Ralph Rucci, Diane Von Furstenberg, John Galliano, J. Gerard, Maggie Norris Couture, Marc Jacobs Collection, Michael Kors, Nicole Miller, Vera Wang, Versace and Yigal Azrouel. Every dress from the show will then be auctioned off to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. The event will be held at the Armory at 26 Street and Lexington Avenue from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets are pricey but if you have money to burn, it benefits a great cause! Full details here.

Gap Give Get Coupon: 30% Off

Who: Gap
What: Give Get Coupon lets you save 30% Off at Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic while Gap will donate 5% of your purchase to charity.
When: March 12-15, 2009
Where: In Stores and Online, US Only.

If You're A Size XS

There is a brand new Mackage coat autographed by Maggie Gyllenhaal up for auction at Housing Works. The coat retails for $638, but the current bid is only $234.00 with less than 24 hours left in the auction! If only I was a XS! I hope one of you gets to snag this lovely coat.

Proceeds go to a good cause. Housing Works is committed to ending the twin crises of AIDS and homelessness.

Housing Works Vintage YSL

I stopped by the Housing Works Vintage Yves Saint Laurent event last night with little expectation. I never dreamed I would own YSL, at least not in the immediate future, nor at a price point I could afford.

Thanks to the generosity of a single donor (English Professor Annie Janowitz donated her late mother Adeline Tintner's collection), 500 vintage YSL Rive Gauche Pieces were on sale to the public. As with all Housing Works Sales, all profits are donated to homeless and low-income New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS.

The sale started at 6pm, and I got there at 6:05pm but so much of the really special merchandise was already snatched up. But there were plenty of trousers and blazers that I browsed through. And I had a few things in hand when I decided to stand in line and I happened to talk to a kind woman who let me look through her discards. She pulled forth this most amazing 3-pc suit. She loved it but wasn't sure she would ever wear the harem pants and so she offered them to me. I wasn't sure how it would work out, but I just had to try it on. Fortunately the fit wasn't too far off at all, so I happily pulled out my wallet, blowing my clothing budget for the month.

The suit is not only incredibly YSL with such intricate detailing but in amazing condition. The lining is in perfect condition without stain or defect. It feels archival or museum worthy. It's like I purchased a piece of history rather than just an article of clothing. And it's even more amazing because these are pieces from when Yves was still designing the Rive Gauche collection.

Guess I wasn't the only one that thought this, because as I was walking around staff commented how amazing the outfit I was holding was. A man told me that it was actually his favorite of the bunch and actually it was filmed earlier in the day to show on CNN today between (8:30am-9am). He told me to wear the outfit while I watch it on TV.

I also bought a more everyday YSL piece, a totally 80s boyfriend jacket in stripe jacquard. That I'm planning to wear with rolled sleeves.
If you missed out on the sale, there is still a chance. Housing Works has put 10 more special pieces online only. Peep some of what's on sale below.

Leisure Suit
Jacquard Jacket
Plaid Suit

Moire Tuxedo Jacket