Leading up to Fashion Week and the exciting festivities of Fashion's Night Out, Elie Tahari took some time to answer our burning questions. If you'd like to meet the master himself, be sure and stop by his Fashion's Night Out event on September 10th at his Soho boutique -- Alexa Ray Joel will be performing from 7-9 PM!

Luxist: How do you feel your past has shaped your designs and the way you work -- growing up in the Middle East and working as an electrician, for example?

Elie Tahari: My childhood was filled with tough times but those experiences motivated me to succeed. When I first arrived in New York City my goal was to find happiness, success and true love – I was lucky enough to find all three. All of these elements still drive me today.

L: You design such a wide range of collections. How do you make everything from a suit to a gown feel "Tahari?"

ET: I have been dressing women for close to 30 years now and I am constantly learning from the women in my life, namely [my wife] Rory, and my customers too. My collection is known for versatile pieces that are modern, sexy and exude easy sophistication. Each collection incorporates expert tailoring, intricate detailing and luxurious fabrications. This philosophy has not changed. I strive to develop items that fit the wants and needs of my customer and their wants and needs certainly change overtime, but my design philosophy does not.

L: Do you design with a certain kind of person in mind?

ET: I try to create clothes that flatter the feminine figure in a subtle and beautiful way, creating pieces that come alive when a woman wears them. I want to emphasize a woman's natural beauty as opposed to masking or hiding it. To me, the Elie Tahari woman is sophisticated, sexy and confident.

L: How did you get involved with Fashion's Night Out?

ET: Fashion's Night Out is an extraordinary way for the fashion industry and its customers to unite and celebrate their love of fashion. We are hosting an event at our boutique in Soho and Alexa Ray Joel will be doing a special performance that evening. Guests will enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while shopping the newest fall items and will receive an exclusive gift with their purchase as well. We are excited to be part of this global program and are looking forward to a fun night out!

L: What's next for Tahari? What do the upcoming collections look like?

ET: I want bring the Elie Tahari lifestyle to more customers around the globe. For the spring 2010 collection, debuting on Thursday September 10, I was inspired by exotic voyages as seen through the eyes of a 1940's traveler.

Luxist will be at the debut and we'll have lots of pictures of the new collection for you! See you all at Fashion's Night Out!

I have never surfed in my life but if I was rich enough I might consider buying this $15,000 surfboard because it's just so pretty! It's part of a collection that is the result of a collaboration between designer Elie Tahara and artist Kenny Scharf. I love the yellow and red color combo (the collection also comes in a scheme of seafoam green and purple) and the pattern is an interesting mix of floral, science, and space objects. The Kenny Scharf collection is available now exclusively in Elie Tahari's boutiques in Soho and East Hampton New York.

From the NY Post's Gimme Shelter:
--Fashion guru Elie Tahari has sold his penthouse apartment to Gregory Olsen. The four-bedroom condo at Trump International has sold for $13.05 million.
-- TV reporter Penny Crone has paid $2 million for an apartment in Midtown.
-- Susan Allen has sold her six bedroom Southampton guest house for more than $20 million.
--Leonard Stern better finish up his Southampton home now, he has sold his other home in Bridgehampton.
--It turns out that Susan Soros paid exactly $25 million for her Starck-designed home at 115 Central Park West.
--Looks Len Blavatnik won't get his co-op after all. He was denied at 998 Fifth Ave. even though he was all set to pay $27.5 million.

From the NY Observer's Manhattan Transfers:
--Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren and her husband, John Coale, paid $2.57 million for a 1,582-square-foot apartment on the site of the former Studebaker Building on Broadway at 48th Street
--The Rev. Dr. Robert Stephanopoulos, a leader of the country's Greek Orthodox community and father of George Stephanopoulos has bought a $1.08 million co-op at 399 East 72nd Street.
--The neo-Georgian townhouse at 22 West 74th Street, that was the 42-year home of the Stephen Gaynor School, has been sold for $9.1 million to a hedge-fund manager and his wife.
--Albert Hoser, the founder of the Siemens Foundation, has sold his penthouse at the Park Belvedere for $3.97 million.

From the NY Times Big Deal:
--Alexis Stewart will be combining three units into a triplex apartment at a Richard Meier-designed building on West Street. The combined units which measure around 6,900 square feet cost about $19 million.
-- William A. Ackman, a hedge fund founder paid $26 million in late May for a three-bedroom duplex at the Beresford.
--Sanjiv S. Sidhu, a dot-com boom and bust and boom again story has paid $2.85 million for a two-bedroom, 1,600-square-foot apartment at the Grand Millennium, shown above.

From the LA Times Hot Property:
--Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go' s has listed her San Fernando Valley home for $2.199 million because she is moving to Austin, Texas. The home in the Longridge Estates area of Studio City has five bedrooms and a grotto pool and spa. The listing is here.
--Lauryn Hill is renting space in a loft in a 1920s for $3,000 a month.
--Bruce Davison is selling a Sherman Oaks home that he worked on for 20 years. The asking price is close to $2.3 million.
--The longtime Beverly Hills home of Hollywood personal manager Jay Bernstein is in escrow at just under $3.5 million.

If you're not familiar with the retail industry calendar, you may not be aware of peak  season sales. You're probably familiar with Day after Christmas sales, but the other big annual sale usually occurs towards the end of June.

In other words, it's hunting season, ladies! And the best part is that many retailers have extended their in-store bargains to online shoppers. The ever-posh Bergdorf Goodman is offering spring and summer items marked down by up to 40%.

With 40% off, the Elie Tahari white lace dress that I have been coveting from afar will now only cost me $299.00! (Hey, that's down from $498.00, mind you...) And this is just the tip of the iceberg -- designer garb from Missoni, Derek Lam, Stella McCartney, and Jimmy Choo are also up for grabs.

Happy hunting!