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    Mauboussin’s Discounts and Macarons

    It’s not often that you come across shoppers waiting on line on Madison Avenue. Somehow the French pastry shop, Laduree has customers lining up as if they were waiting for the newest Apple iPhone release.

    If you’re looking for a quick sweet and an even sweeter deal, we might suggest stopping into the French jeweler, Mauboussin. The store is offering Laduree macarons and 10% off everything every Saturday from 4pm to 7pm. Yes, it’s a jewelry store and it’s French but the prices are not too intimidating. For instance, this amethyst and diamond ring is $1100 and these diamond stud earrings are $1675. Both less than certain brands and styles of boots.

    Oh, did they mention that Mauboussin will also give you a glass of chapmaign to wash down your macaron? Now that’s some sweet jewelry shopping!

    Mauboussin
    714 Madison Avenue
    212-752-4300

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    Kid’s European Sample Sale

    Long time readers of Madison Avenue Spy may remember the wonderful sample sales for children that used to take place in the garment district. Since the recession many of those showrooms have closed or changed their warehousing structures, which means the days of buying fancy european chidren’s clothing below wholesale are gone.

    Well, maybe not completely. C&C Childrenswear, which carries popular brands like ADD Down, Custo Barcelona, Imps & Elfs, Lofff, Val & Max and Weekend a la Mer, is hosting a sale where prices will be under wholesale. The sale will begin Monday and run all week.

    We stopped by before the weekend to catch a preview of what’s in store and found quite a few nice items. Most if the inventory is samples from spring 2012 but we able to find a few things that can be used now. A Val & Max dress that retails for over $300 was marked $40, an ADD Down jacket retails for $288 was $125, pajamas that normally cost $90 were $27 and a baby Imps & Elfs baby set was $35 from a retail price of about $80.

    The stock isn’t as abundant as past sales at other showrooms but there are still wonderful items to be found at great prices. There won’t be any restocking, so we suggest you attend the sale earlier in the week. (Like now, if you plan to go.) Also, the colors assortment is limited on the ADD jackets. Don’t count on getting the popular shiny blacks and blues but be happy to settle on the plums and light lavenders.

    Children’s Luxury Clothing Sale
    Monday, October 31 to Friday, November 4
    9am to 5pm
    12 West 32nd Street, 9th Floor
    No Strollers
    Credit Cards are excepted but charged an extra 3%

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    Lila Dishes for NYTimes Sunday Styles

    The height of shopping season is just ahead of us and shoppers need to remember that all sales are not created equally. Specifically, those flash sales might not be offering as hot of a bargain as you think.

    New York Times Style reporter, Stephanie Rosenbloom reports that shoppers can regularity find even better deals with just a bit more online searching. On Guilt.com, “for instance, a Kate Spade cabana-stripe medium tote bag was recently $169, plus $5.95 shipping. That same day, the bag was on KateSpade.com for $130 with free shipping — about $45 cheaper,” she writes.

    So what about all this flash that can cost you extra cash?


    Those who keep an eye on sales say there are more businesses proffering discount clothing than ever before, which means that no one channel is always tops for bargains. “It’s really hard to get good closeouts nowadays because so many places are fighting for them,” said Lila Delilah, who writes the designer sales tracking blog Madison Avenue Spy. “Now the Web sites are fighting the discounters, who are fighting the flash sale sites.”

    Ms. Delilah said she tends to find the best deals in brick-and-mortar stores. “I always feel that there’s nothing as good as an old-fashioned boutique or department store end-of-season sale,” she said, explaining that returns are easy and that a good salesperson will call a customer when a coveted item is discounted. This is why Ms. Delilah posts salesclerk contact information on her blog. “Those relationships really count for something,” she said.

    Click here to see Stephanie’s full article, Bargain Hunters, Hold That Click? What do you think?

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    Duckie Brown Sample Sale

    Hey boys, here’s a chance to get back at your girl who perpetually drags you shopping all weekend.

    Ducky Brown is hosting a sample sale Saturday and will include all categories of the brand including knits, shirts, jackets, trousers and leather good. We hear that the discount will range from 70% to 90% off and prices will be from $20 to $600.

    Before you go, we suggest you hit the ATM. Cash is the only accepted form of payment.

    Duckie Brown Sample Sale
    Saturday October 29, 2011
    11:00am to 5:00pm
    321 West 13th Street, Suite 3A

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    Steuben Liquidation Sale

    In September, Steuben officials announced that the 108-year-old glass maker was shutting down its factory in Corning, N.Y., and its flagship store on Madison Avenue. This was sad news as Steuben is a brand that always represented great American craftsmanship without a lot of hype. It is clearly the end of an era.

    Sadly, the glass must go. As part of the brand closing, their famous glassware inventory is being liquidated. The sale is taking place online and at the Madison Avenue boutique. Most items including barware, vases and bowls are priced at about 30% off retail. Nimbus wine glasses are $45 from $75, a crystal rhino is $1462 from $1950 and a flower vase is $609 from $950.

    The Madison Avenue boutique plans to stay open through November or until it runs out of merchandise. We imagine that prices will be reduced as the closing date approaches.

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    The IT-it: Celine Luggage Tote

    It seems that there is a new hot bag almost every season. This year, the Celine Luggage tote is hotter than coal on a BBQ. The bag has eye catching curves and is a must-have item on almost every girl’s fashion list. There is one problem: It’s perpetually out of stock and the waiting lists are miles long.

    Of course, we have the inside scoop. Celine just sent a huge shipment of bags to all their retailers. The new shipment consists of the cruise 2012 collection and the popular color combinations from the winter collection are long gone. Shoppers can choose from the impossible to get neon pink, orange, yellow, royla blue, black, gray and beige.

    We took a run to Bergdorf Goodman to get a feel for the hard-to-get bag and couldn’t believe the clamoring. Women were swarming the two bags pulled out of stock like bottled water in the desert. The store’s shipment only includes black and beige but we believe that that this is your best chance for a Luggage Tote. We couldn’t even get a sales person to speak to use at Barney’s.

    Celine Luggage Tote
    $2000 Mini
    $2200 Medium
    Contact: Jere Ann Waters @ Bergdorfs

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    YSL Sample Sale

    Ever since Yves Saint Laurent closed their outlet in Secaucus, the annual sample sale has been a big hit for finding deals. Before heading over there, we want to warn our readers about the over-aggressive shoppers, merchandise hording and a random “hair-pulling” incident that occurred last season.

    We suggest that the faint at heart go to Woodbury Common as an alternative or wait for the YSL boutique’s second markdown, early next year. Shoppers that are ready to brave the crowds can expect a long wait on the first day. We also caution that you shouldn’t set your expectations too high. Don’t count on finding popular style bags or shoes like the Muse or Tribute shoes.

    So what can you expect? Bag and shoe prices are usually about 60% off retail and the color assortment normally ranges from chartreuse green to plumb purple. Basic black is a hard order here. We suggest setting your eyes on the clothing racks and accessory tables, which are a much better deal. Last season, dresses were priced at $350, sweaters $250 and jackets $400, Real deal seekers should keep an eye out for the YSL jewelry. Last season rings were $50, bracelets $150 and big cuffs were $200.

    YSL Sample Sale
    Wednesday, October 26th to Friday, October 28
    Wed 5pm to 8pm, Thurs 8am to 8pm and Fri 8am to 5pm
    Metropolitan Pavilion — 125 West 18th Street (between 6th and 7th Ave.)

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    Sephora Friends & Family

    This is the perfect week for cosmetics shopping because Sephora is offering a 20% discount to employees’ friends and family. Unfortunately, the promotion is only online and the unique codes can only be used one time. You can click here to enter your email address and get your personal discount code. (It’s a good thing most people have more than one email addy.)

    The sale runs until November 2 and regular Sephora.com shoppers will notice that some of the higher end brands had been temporarily removed. Some items we are going to get with the discount: Nail’s Inc. metallic polish, Privage face cream, Laura Mercier lip glosses and NARS Leguana bronzer (it always sells out as soon as the weather gets cold.)

    What are your beauty bests?

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