The last time Comme des Garcons had one of their "shopping festivals" in New York—which they call Market Market (so good they named it twice!)—the racks seemed to stretch forever in the vast Croatian Church on the West Side. People were given enormous shopping bags when they walked in, and often they needed more than one. Because when Comme is 70% off, one hoards.
Now comes the sequel, Market Market 2. Beginning May 10, Comme will once again put out their best old stock, all the brands under the Comme umbrella from the last eight seasons. As before, the merch is replenished and rotated each day, so no chance of shopping fatigue.
Comme des Garçons Market Market 2
May 10 - 13, 10 am - 7 pm (Sat: 12 - 8 pm)
127 W. 30th Street (between 6th and 7th Ave)
Why look for deals in January when retailers are trotting them out now? Here, a few sales to bum-rush...
Opening Ceremony
— 70-90% off the likes of Band of Outsiders, Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler, and Jean Paul Gaultier. They're having a private Friends & Family preview tomorrow (Dec 13, 11-8), but don't go unless you're skilled at working a guest list.
— Fri, Dec 14 (11-8), Sat, Dec 15 (11-8), Sun, Dec 16 (11-7)
— 76 Mercer St, NYC
Aloharag
— Up to 80% off previous seasons and 65% off fall 2012. The store calls it its biggest sale yet. Think Ann Demeulemeester, Celine, Jil Sander, Raf Simons, Rick Owens, and Factotum, among other alterna-labels.
— Thu, Dec 13 - Sun, Dec 16, 12-6 daily
— 545 Greenwich St #2A, NYC
LN-CC
— The cultish London store will soon launch its Winter Sale, with up to 40% off off brands like Dries Van Noten, Haider Ackermann, and Givenchy.
— Beginning Fri, Dec 21
— 54b Downham Road, London, and online
Splurge on Lanvin at about a third off. Women's, men's, children's, accessories, it's all here. Go on, you deserve it...
Black Friday sounds so ominous. And it's true that, having feasted yesterday, shoppers are out in force today, eager to bring down big-ticket items like a pack of wolves. But Black Friday can also be a fairly civilized experience, if you're smart about it and keep it simple—and online. Our essential guide to fashion sales will come in handy...
Marc Jacobs
Not one to leave his customers without quirk, Marc Jacobs is taking 40% off fall 2012 ready-to-wear, including the main line, Marc by Marc Jacobs (women's only) and Little Marc Jacobs. Free shipping on orders over $50.
Colette
For one day only, the Paris store is holding an online sale, called Blue Friday, with fall 2012 men's, women's and streetwear at 50% off.
Net-a-Porter
For its US customers, Net-a-Porter is slashing prices in half. International sale coming soon.
Uniqlo
If it's possible to reduce fast-fashion prices even lower—like, 70% lower—Uniqlo is leading the charge.
Maison Martin Margiela
Only on its e-boutique, MMM is marking its fall stock down 30% with the code USMMMCONFIDENTIAL.
Project No. 8
Starting Friday (in-store and online), 25% off menswear by the likes of Aspesi, Marni, Siki Im, Tom Scott, and Walter Van Beirendonck.
Barneys New York
A solid 40% off men's and women's at Barneys. Now that's electric.
Bloomingdales
50% off at Bloomies (in-store and online) through Sunday. Extra discounts for online shoppers.
Those selfless gals at Fashion Girls for Humanity—formerly Fashion Girls for Japan—are back for more damage control. This time they've pulled out the rolling racks for Sandy relief, organizing a two-day sale of 128 mostly New York designers, who've generously contributed their wares. The holiday sale will directly benefit affected communities via Architecture for Humanity and Waves for Water. Over a quarter of a million dollars were raised for victims of Japan's earthquake. Here's hoping they can do it again.
Fashion Girls for Humanity
Tue, Nov 27, 12 pm - 8 pm (early admission 11 am - 12 pm)
Wed, Nov 28, 11 am - 7 pm
Bowery Hotel, 4 East 3rd Street
$5 ($50 early admission)
Rei Kawakubo may have uncloaked herself a little with a tantalizingly short Q&A in WWD, but now we're as perplexed as ever. A cryptic email arrived today with this teaser image about a holiday sale. Okay, great! But wait, when is it? Is it only Comme or the entire Comme universe? What does the Japanese writing say? Why is there a picture of the late artist Taro Okamoto? Explosion? Aarmkerkargh!
Update:
We now have more details. It's not so much a Comme sale, the kind it's famous for, but new holiday products, including a collaboration with Taro Okamoto (T-shirts, shoes, bags, and small furniture) using his graphic designs. We'll pass along the other info as it comes in.
What do you call a Comme des Garçons sale held in a parking lot? Clothes Not Cars, of course! Whether taking its cue from the hippie slogan Make Love Not War or the 99% movement, the sale will nonetheless occupy the Garage Vaugirard in Paris from November 23-25, promising a supply of fresh merch every few hours of each day. Such a sale only comes along every three years, which should tell you it's almost as important as a presidential election.
Clothes Not Cars
Garage Vaugirard, 165 rue Vaugirard, Paris 75015
Fri, Nov 23, 11 am - 7 pm
Sat, Nov 24, 11 am - 7 pm
Sun, Nov 25, 10 am - 5 pm
Following blowout Comme des Garçons sales in New York and London, Berlin now has a chance to host a bit of hair-pulling, back-biting and pile-swiping. For five days, the Lil*Shop Market with sell an array of clothes and accessories from all Comme des Garçons collections, which we think is the best possible way to say goodbye to the Guerrilla store after nine years.
Comme des Garçons Goodbye Sale
Lil*Shop Market
Brunnenstr. 184, 10119 Berlin
Nov 13-15, 11am - 7pm
Nov 16, 17 12pm - 8pm
Looking for something else to do on November 6, after you've cast 17 ballots for Obama (shh, don't tell the Republicans) but before you watch election results with, and crush hard on, Rachel Maddow? Then we have the perfect après-vote thingy: shopping! Kicking off the holiday sale season, Alexander Wang is holding a five-day sample sale of apparel and accessories from the last two years, at up to 70% off, where you'll find plenty to wear to your victory party...
Alexander Wang Sample Sale
131 Greene Street, b/w Houston and Prince
Tue, Nov 6, 8 am - 8 pm
Wed, Nov 7, 8 am - 8 pm
Thu, Nov 8, 8 am - 8 pm
Fri, Nov 9, 9 am - 7 pm
Sat, Nov 10, 10 am - 6 pm
