The Art of Shopping's spring sample sale starts today. This means men's and women's tops and jeans are discounted 50-80 percent. Think 7 for all Mankind, True Religion, Earnest Sewn, Theory, Ed Hardy, T Luxury, Ben Sherman, People's Liberation, Hudson, and more.

After reading People Liberation's online denim descriptions, we need 80 percent off to persuade us to purchase these pants. Behold the details of their Tommy Lee designed drainpipes:

How great are you going to look in these Tommy Lee skinny jeans? Imagine the fit: these jeans fit your body just like Tommy Lee's tattoos fit his body.

Eww. Even more vague is the write-up for their "Jenny Boot Cut Jeans Bentley Wash Gold Skull" style:

Always wanting to be different, Jenny is one member of the People's Liberation family who doesn't hold back. She demands to be the center of attention!

That's cool that "Jenny" is so confident, but what about the pants? Although four bullet points provide perfunctory notes, we'll have to visit the sample sale to find out more.

And while you're on Greene Street, check out Anna Sui's sale. Although it's been going on for three months, two full racks of merchandise, discounted 30-50 percent, still hang. At least now you won't blow an entire paycheck on a funky knit tank top.

The Art of Shopping
Spring Sample Sale February 28-March 4
72 Greene Street
New York, New York

Anna Sui
113 Greene Street
New York, New York
212-941-8406

(From here)

The Tribeca Grand isn't known for discounts. But every month it hosts vintage collective Everything Must Go's "designer sale/party" with guest sellers hailing from around the world.

EMG's Saturday's event promises an old Dior swing coat ($45), a '70s Givency tweed mini, red-hot YSL pumps ($40), an '80s DFV blazer ($25), fitted western shirts ($35), Whiting and Davis mesh bags ($40-$50), '70s jewelry ($5-$35), and more.

Beware the delirium this vintage spree can stir up. Too many designer styles for cheap easily destroys perspective. At the end, you've purchased a confusing jumble of threads that look like various decades vomited on you. At least we've heard this can happen. Be safe: Don't drink too much coffee and bring a friend.

EMG Sale
Saturday, February 24, 2-6 p.m.
Tribeca Grand Hotel
2 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY
212-519-6600

Behold the possibilities of a Burton-Daffy's collaboration.

Daffy's texted us. Yes, we are actually signed up to receive messages from the thrifty store. Two weeks ago they alerted us to their new patent leather shoes. Yesterday, we got word of some Italian leather sandals. The New Jersey-based chain definitely has footwear on the brain. And now, because of Verizon, so did we.

At the Soho location, their $49.99 black matte heels caught our eye. With seven straps securing you in from toe to ankle and gold angular heel detail, we immediately thought of those attacking spiky sculptures from Beetlejuice. Flashy, yes. Distracting to the point of a must buy, indeed. Day-ohhh.

Don't try ordering these online though. Daffy's site lacks purchasing capabilities and images of new arrivals. We know their slogan's "Be Dafferent," but perhaps they should follow the chain pack and sign on to '07.

(From here)

We tire of people who customize Tazo Tea Chai Lattes. But today we learned that, up to February 28, fans can actually order limited edition t-shirts that display their favorite drink ingredients. The coffee empire's joined forces with Mychael Knight, the third runner up from Project Runway, to design tops inspired by customers preferred Starbucks beverage. The Seattle company states:

Starbucks has teamed with Mychael Knight to create the personalized "My-Starbucks" line of t-shirts to showcase how easy and fun it is to customize a Starbucks(r) beverage such as adding an extra espresso shot or requesting non fat milk. This collaboration is founded on a shared commitment to innovation and shows customers that customization is not just integral to fashion; it's inherent to the Starbucks Experience.

We just can't believe that in addition to hearing people order variations on Cinnamon Dolce Lattes, we'll have to see people in clothing that declares their baroque concoction. And we thought nothing was more disturbing then Starbucks' Eggs Florentine breakfast sandwich with baby spinach and havarti.

During last week's fashion shows, we were curious what people outside the tent were sporting. And with global warming in hiatus, the winter garb of these fashion loiterers grabbed our attention.

No matter what the length, the hoodie, trimmed with fur in this 'hood, attached itself to many a coat with the wearer hidden further behind shades. Thankfully, the hoodless found expression in funky knit caps.

And although jackets in solid neutral colors reigned, shoes cropped up in all varieties, from flats to boots to Ugg-look-a-likes. However, what really stole the outside show was a person dressed in a studded jacket, shredded paper shirt, and bubble wrapped hat. He ran passed the tent screaming, "homeless fucking plasticides!" We don’t really now what that means, but one person exclaimed, "now that's fashion." We agree.

(Dali's in the house at Ben Cho)

This week our fashion expert, Lynn Yaeger, weaves through the threads of New York Fashion Week and finds "the runways this season are heavily under the influence of the dogs of war." She observes:

Of course, no one is admitting this outright. Vera Wang skirts around the issue—no pun intended—by claiming that the theme of her frothy collection is White Russians running for their lives from the 1917 revolution; Gosford Park–esque chambermaids with feather dusters, oblivious to the rise of Hitler and Mussolini, open the show at Betsey Johnson, where tea tables for the elite have been set up replacing the conventional front row.

When war's not on the brain, Yaeger finds warm weather and surrealism making their marks in the noticeable dearth of coats and Ben Cho's "affection for Schiaparelli-esque surrealism."

Hmm . . . War, climate change, and surrealism. And who says designers are affected by the times?

(From here)

Apparantly the keffiyeh's very "in" these days. In the Times' Sunday Style section, Kibum Kim notes Urban Outfitters' decision to sell the military scarf popularized by Yasser Arafat. A call later regretted since the scarf was pulled " '[d]ue to the sensitive nature of this item'." Kim diggs into the past of this controversial accessory:

For those with a long memory, the current kaffiyeh craze may seem familiar. The scarves became a fashion statement in the United States at the start of the first intifada in 1987. In 1988, CBS News and Time magazine chronicled the trend. In a 1992 Michigan Quarterly Review article about the kaffiyeh's modern history, Dr. Swedenburg wrote about how a "sign of Palestinian struggle suddenly appeared in the ensembles of 'downtown' U.S.A., together with black turtlenecks, ripped Levi's, high-top sneakers and eight-zippered black leather jackets."More >>

(From here: Behold the purse that will get you laid)

Carrie Valentine’s "Promiscuous" clutch implicitly suggests such wizardry. "Join the Mile High Club With Carrie Valentine Promiscuous Clutch," declared their email. Dumbfounded, we read more:

If you feel like adding a little more spice to your life, this is the clutch for you! With two unique zipper closures that allow you to stow away many personal items on either side, and the convenient concept of folding the body in half in order to create a skinny and sexy look. You can either hold this seductive purse in your hand, or clutch it directly under your arm without anyone realizing it’s even there! All of a sudden you are feeling a bit promiscuous even before stepping out on the town!

WTF? We only wish purses had such magical powers. We'd love one that managed our finances and flew us to work. But that's just us.

(From Brooklyn Collective)

We'll confess to shopping under the influence. Those fabulous three-inch heel boots wouldn't be in our closet if we did have that extra mimosa at brunch. And we're tickled that the hat shop next to McSorley's holds such late hours.

So we're pleased as punch that this Saturday Brooklyn Collective's Valentine Day soiree kicks off with an open bar reception. Drinks at Lido and then the jewelry of Species by the Thousand, Lewis Williams, and Jess Yam, and the threads of Tessa Phillips, Magdalena Marcenaro, and more is enough for Threadster to assume being in REM. We might have to pinch ourselves or just buy those hand-painted canvas skull shoes.

Brooklyn Collective Artisan Gallery
198 Columbia Street
Brooklyn, New York
718-596-6231
rsvp to: info@brooklyncollective.com

(From www.sawf.org)

Khakis with attitude? According to Gap, this Herculean feat is possible. The company recently announced:

Just in time for spring, Gap introduces "khakis with attitude"—an integrated marketing campaign that features khakis and stars a talented cast of actors and models. This season at Gap, khakis have a lighter look, mood and style than ever before. Piece after comfortable piece, these khakis will give you the freedom to lighten up, kick back and get ready for spring.

This campaign comes after news of Gap's decline. As the The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

In the last few years, Gap has been replaced by other specialty stores, whose styles were very similar to Gap's. Abercrombie & Fitch and American Apparel offered the same basics, but their advertisements featured waiflike models in often-provocative poses.

If Gap is attempting to reclaim turf, they might want to rethink shooting their "khakis with attitude" line:

Shot by acclaimed photographer Mikael Jansson, Gap's spring print campaign features Gap’s new "khakis with attitude" in a series of laid-back images. The ads are shot against a faded khaki backdrop capturing the light, relaxed mood of the season.

Hmm . . . khaki clothes against a khaki backdrop screams Department of Motor Vehicles photography, not something edgy. If their competitors' ads feature scantily clothed youth, Gap better step it up a notch.