sale

Items From Architect Philip Johnson's Archive To Be Sold

Filed under: Auctions, Celebrity Design, Architecture & Design

Legendary architect Philip Johnson has never swayed far from the public's eye, even though he's been deceased since January 2005. He's back, this time with the news that a group of items from his archive, including his hand-drawn sketches for towers that helped define postmodern architecture, are to be sold. They had been held by one of Johnson's former partners, Raj Ahuja, who had them in storage for years. The cache contains more than 25,000 design sketches, working drawings, renderings, and photographs from the second half of Johnson's architectural career, covering more than 120 projects from 1968-1992. See this New York Times slideshow for a bit more info.

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Tags: architecture, auction, collection, Philip Johnson, sale

"Designer Day" Sale at 6pm.com, July 22

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Timepieces / Watches, Shoes, Men's Style

Set a reminder on your PDA and in Outlook, put a Post-It on your desk and the fridge ... Thursday, July 22, is Designer Day at 6pm.com, the site where serious shoppers can go for a daily fix of name brands, up to 75% off every day. 6pm is a sibling site to Zappos.

As part of a weeklong summer sale, 6pm is having one day with the following brands marked down even further than its already low prices: Donald J Pliner, up to 75% off; Giuseppe Zanotti, up to 70% off; Stuart Weitzman, up to 70% off; Juicy Couture Swimwear, 70% off; Marc by Marc Jacobs Swimwear, 60% off; designer sunglasses, up to 85% off; and designer watches, up to 75% off.

Also check out the sales on the other days that week (Sunday, July 18 - Saturday, July 24) on summer, fall and winter apparel; footwear; and accessories.

Tags: 6pm, 6pm.com, designer, sale, shoes, sunglasses, watches, Zappos, Zappos.com

Wisconsin Jeweler Helps Man Unload Wife's QVC Haul

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

A unique combination of estate and rummage sale is taking place in Wisconsin this weekend. A man who recently lost his wife found that unbeknown to him she had bought hundreds of pieces of jewelry from QVC's shopping channel. Facing debts after her death the man has partnered with Paul's Jewelry in West Allis, Wis. to sell the jewelry. The sale takes place through Saturday afternoon. Pieces range from fine to fashion, many set with semiprecious stones. The store's website promises that all proceeds go directly to offset the family's debt and promises serious deals. Pieces that sold for $50 to $300 will be available at the store for $5 to $25. Often these types of sales are handled privately but the added publicity may help call attention both to the sale and the perils of over-enthusiastic home shopping.

Friday June 18th, 10a-5p,
Saturday June 19th, 10a-3p
Paul's Jewelers
Hwy 100 and National Ave
West Allis, WI 53227
414-321-5764

[via National Jeweler]

Tags: jewelry, qvc, sale, wisconsin

Very Rare WWII Enigma Cipher Machine For Sale At Rau Antiques

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

While it was built before, and used during World War II, the US never mentioned the Enigma Machine details until the 1990s when it was declassified - though it is not American at all. The little unassuming box that looks like a typewriter is the subject of legend, and was a large factor in the US (and Allies) winning the war. It is unclear how things would have turned out if our greatest minds were unable to unlock the secrets of the Enigma Machine.

Built and designed by the Germans, the Enigma Machine came in a few varieties and where code creating and deciphering machines. Originally commercial units since 1926, they are quite possibly the most complex non-computerized code machines ever made (though they are a mixture of mechanical and electronic parts). The Germans used them to send coded messages during the war, relying on the machine's ability to have over a billion combinations. No one was ever able to break the code just by seeing it. Breaking the code involved secretly capturing working Enigma Machines, but that was only half the battle. Merely having the box wasn't enough. You needed to have some manner of pattern or other code, the helped you decipher the code you were trying to decipher in the first place - at least this is my understanding of it. The link to the Wikipedia page above has lots (and lots) more information. So being able to decrypt a code that required other codes was very tough.

Tags: cipher, Enigma machine, German, rau, sale, world war II, WWII

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Tourneau Watch Sample Sale In Los Angeles

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

For the first time ever in Los Angeles, the Tourneau watch store is having a special sample sale from March 10th - 14th, 2010. This has been going on for a few years at the New York City store (which apparently has people lining up around the corner for the potential deals). Many of the famous brands that Tourneau carries will have models on sale from 50-70% off (this excludes at least Rolex & Patek Philippe). Available watches are "sample" pieces or pre-owned watches - meaning that they consist of the ones in the displays I believe. Most of the time they are in more or less perfect condition (just handled by people, and given a cleaning). As well as pre-owed watches that Tourneau is known for offering.

The sale can get pretty crowded, so it is best to be there on one of the first days. The Tourneau watch sample sale will, again, be held from 10:00am to 7:00pm on Wednesday March 10th through Sunday March 14th at the Los Angeles Tourneau store located in the Hotel Sofitel (8555 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048). Contact the store for additional details.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2010, Los Angeles, LosAngeles, March, sale, sample, Sofitel, store, tourneau

Porthault's Winter White Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

When it comes to pricey linens, it pays to shop the white sales for good deals on quality goods. D. Porthault in on Park Avenue New York City is holding their sale January 18 to February 6. The sale offers discounts from 40 percent to 90 percent off retail prices and and will feature special archival prints made especially available for the White Sale. Items worth a deeply discounted splurge include sheeting, terry, accessories and robes in D. Porthault's signature florals and prints. For example a queen bed set that was $1400 will be $700, shams that were $250 will be $100.

Tags: linens, porthault, sale, white sale, WhiteSale, winter white sale, WinterWhiteSale

Big Sale at Rebecca & Drew - More Than Just Shirts

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

It's no secret that we love Rebecca & Drew. We did a whole article about how well their custom shirts for women fit and why. What's more, as you can see at right (Scribble Skirt), they do more than just shirts. Their clothes are fresh and fun, office appropriate yet unmistakably stylish.

Good news for women everywhere, they are having an enormous sale, and it's not limited to New Yorkers. Tuesday, January 12 through Thursday, January 14, you'll be able to buy Rebecca & Drew items at sample sale prices -- online -- up to 80 percent off. The $290 Scribble Skirt you see, for example, will be selling for $30.

Deals include:

Shirts for $30 - $65 (regularly $145 - $220)
Dresses for $50 - $80 (regularly $250 - $400)
Skirts for $30 - $60 (regularly $210 - $400)
Coats for $100 (regularly $500 - $700)

Put this one on your calendar, folks. And don't worry, they're just clearing out their inventory for new styles. (Whew!)

Tags: online, rebecca and drew, rebecca drew, sale, sample sale

Elton John and David Furnish To Hold Large Clothing Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Charity

Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish are cleaning out their closets for a good cause. The pair is holding a wardrobe purge in the form of a pop-up shop at Covent Garden, London, on the former site of the Theatre Museum. The pair amasses quite a bit of clothing and every so often they sell off part of their wardrobes. So far they have raised millions for the Elton John Aids Foundation. According to the London Times, thousands of items of clothing and accessories have been shipped in from the couple's properties around the world for the sale. The booty will include stage costumes created for Sir Elton by Versace and Yohji Yamamoto along with Etro shirts and ties.

Elton John has decided to part with a complete collection of vividly printed silk shirts by Gianni Versace. Other items include dressing gowns, shoes, belts, bags, sunglasses and more, all priced from £30 to as high as £750 for the suits. The shop opens on December 12 and will be restocked daily until everything is sold. On December 19 any unsold items will be marked down to clearance prices.

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Tags: charity, david furnish, DavidFurnish, elton john, elton john aids foundation, EltonJohn, EltonJohnAidsFoundation, sale

Outrageous Neiman Marcus Black Friday Sale, 9-Noon

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Holiday Guides

If there's a Neiman Marcus in your town, get up bright and early on Friday, November 27 -- all Neiman Marcus stores nationwide are participating in an amazing deal: If you spend $100 or more, you'll get a $50 gift certificate. That's essentially a 50% off deal, if you happen to be spending right around $100.

This is only taking place for three hours: 9:00 am to noon on Friday, November 27. The news was just released today, so there's a good chance that not many people have heard about it.

A couple $100 items: Electronic Wine Chiller, Food Steamer , and the "Clef du Vin" Wine Aging Tester (I didn't even know that existed). The Lamina Small Footed Bowl above is $125. The deal is only in stores and only while supplies last (so if they're out of the item you want, unfortunately, you won't get the deal).

Also, the gift certificate must be used by December 6 -- but for the savvy holiday shopper, that should be no problem. Some exclusions may apply, so see a sales associate for details.

Tags: black friday, black friday deals, BlackFriday, BlackFridayDeals, neiman marcus, NeimanMarcus, sale

Montblanc Boutique In San Francisco Private Sale (You Are Invited)

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches, Events

Most of what you need to know is right there in the invitation. The Montblanc boutique store located near Union Square in San Francisco is having a two week private sale. What does private mean? That you are invited, and others aren't of course. Sales such as this aren't scheduled to my knowledge, and mean that there are deals to be had at the impressive Montblanc store. Among the included items are watches, pens, jewelery, and their fine leather goods. Did you know that Montblanc makes really nice wallets? Even belts and bags I think. If you are nearby and have been looking for the right time to incorporate some new Montblanc in your life, this is the time.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: boutique, montblanc, pen, sale, san francisco, SanFrancisco, store, watch

Swiss Watch Sales Plummet Q1 2009

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Do you know what happens during a feeding frenzy? Too many people arrive for chow and in the end there isn't enough food for everyone. Compounded with the fact that there is a diminishing amount of food, a real problem can arise. This is what happened with the watch industry. Things were looking so good for a few years that unwise minds thought that either the bubble wouldn't burst, or that they would get in while things were still good. Now people aren't buying as much luxury watches, and the overall industry is feeling the bite and trying to figure out what to do with all the extra unsold watches.

Before getting to the nasty figures, this situation is also a blessing in disguise. The last few years of the watch industry was almost a set-up for disaster. You had too many brands, too little realistic values, and way more watches than we had people to service them. Thus, there was going to be a major problem in a few years anyway. Now companies are realizing that they need to have actual back-end support on the technical and customer service side of things, and they are realizing that consumers are actually interested in the fact that if they pay $100,000 for a watch, it might actually be worth close to $100,000.

So, here are the numbers from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry in brief. Sales in all top 30 markets are down. Here is the damages in some key markets from one year ago. US down 43%, Hong Kong down 22%, Japan down 29%, China down 36%, UAE down 34%, Russian down 61%, and Singapore down 30%. Big hits all around, but remember these are numbers just for Swiss watches.

It may look as though people just aren't buying as many watches these days. This assumption would be wrong. Recall that Swiss watches are for the most part the most expensive watches. Almost all segments of consumers are reducing the amount they are spending on timepieces, but they are still buying watches. Thus, the Japanese and American owned brands aren't doing amazingly, but aren't hurting nearly as badly. Some brands are even likely doing better given the focus on less expensive brands.

The message to watch companies is to focus on value. Make sure a watch demanding $5,000 is actually worth that, and can be communicated well to the consumer. Otherwise they will need to focus on the sub $1,000 segment if they wish to see any retail space in the next few years. Lastly, watch companies must adapt to the times and embrace the Internet as a strong sales, distribution, and marketing channel. They can learn from Rolex, the most powerful watch brand in terms of value, which also spends the most money on advertising. Coincidence? I think not. Estimates see these trends improving over the next few years, but we shall see just how much, and in what way that happens.

Via FHS report (PDF).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 2009, downturn, drop, economy, indusry, sale, swiss, watch

Deal On Limited Edition Itay Noy City Square Piazza di San Pietro Watch Collection, May 8 - 15 Only

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

This is a good deal from Israeli luxury watch maker Itay Noy, in celebration of the Pope's pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Israel, or course) that will take place this year from May 8th through the 15th. During this time, you can get one of five Itay Noy City Square Collection Piazza di San Pietro (Saint Peter's Square) watches for $2,500 down from the standard price of $3,300. This is a significant discount, and apt for the occasion. I'll be the first to say that it is ironic that an Israeli brand is celebrating a Catholic event, but that event will take place in Israel - so it's all good.

The Itay Noy City Square Collection of watches is pretty cool. They take an aerial view map of an area, and turn it into a Google Maps like image for the dial of the watch. Looking at the dial, you are reminded of the region all the time. Saint Peter's square in the Vatican City within Rome, is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, and makes a great center for a watch face given its relative radial symmetry. The watch itself is 42.4mm wide in stainless steel all hand assembled with a Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic mechanical movement inside. The Itay Noy City Square Piazza di San Pietro is part of a limited edition of just 99 watches, so this special offer is made even better by that fact. The $2,500 price is available only during May 8 - 15, 2009. To learn more or get your watch visit Itay Noy here.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: city square, CitySquare, collection, israel, itay noy, ItayNoy, piazza di san pietro, PiazzaDiSanPietro, saint peters square, SaintPetersSquare, sale, watch

J.C. Penney's Big Jewelry Sell-Off

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

If you didn't get what you wanted in the jewelry department this holiday season, J.C. Penney may be your place to shop on December 26. The retailer has announced that its after-Christmas sale will include discounts of 50% on its entire stock of diamond jewelry. J.C. Penney also plans a 50% sale on gemstones and cultured pearls, 70% off gold and fine sterling sliver jewelry and another 40% off clearance prices. The company says this sale will be its largest to date and stores will open at 5:30 a.m. on December 26.

[via Diamonds.Net]

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Tags: diamonds, jc penney, JcPenney, sale

Manhattan Vintage Show

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

Today in Chelsea, 85 top vintage dealers gathered at Metropolitan Pavilion for a textile show and sale. The room was full of sparkling jewels, fur coats, and gowns fit for princesses. Menswear wasn't ignored either; vintage boots, suits, and cufflinks were abundant.

Above is a display of items from Exquisite Costume, a vintage clothier with a shop in Soho. At right is a closer look at that fabulous boa; one of the most exciting pieces we saw.

Our pick of the show was a boutique called Grape in the Shade. Previously featured in Travel and Leisure, Grape in the Shade is a vintage shop in Connecticut with a reputation for having whimsical, classical wares. Owner Joanna Lombardi, whose taste is exceptional, was an absolute treat. Their website will be up and running soon. For now, you can contact the shop (we recommend them for hats and jewelry) at 860-868-9119.

Also spotted at the Manhattan Vintage show was Mad Fashionista Elisa DeCarlo, an eccentric seller of fine plus-sized vintage clothes.

The next three shows are already scheduled, so if you didn't make it this time, watch for the show again in February, April, and October of 2009. You can keep tabs here at ManhattanVintage.com.

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Tags: manhattan vintage, new york, new york city, ny, nyc, sale, trunk show, TrunkShow, vintage

Royal Monceau Prepares To Get Starcked

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Auctions

These days when a famous hotel needs a redesign, they often make a cottage industry of selling off the old design. The Royal Monceau in Paris is selling off furniture, mirrors, minibars, curtains, bar stools, dishes and more in a multi-day auction that ends today. The grand hotel has played host to many famous faces since its opening in 1928 including everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Britney Spears. The sale is expected to bring in around one million euros with some of the top pieces for sale including an 18th century commode and a Louis XIV-style marble table. Next week, on June 26th, VIPs are invited to a "demolition party" to help smash whatever is left over.

The four-star hotel will reopen in Fall 2009 after a thorough redesign by Philippe Starck that will give the hotel a style referred to as "Art Deco revisited which is expected to give the hotel more oomph to attract a younger crowd.

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Tags: france, hotel, paris, royal monceau, RoyalMonceau, sale