The Choosy Beggar

Through Friday, J. Crew is taking an additional 20% all “final sale” items. Just remember to use the code EXTRA20 at checkout.

In store and online, Brooklyn boutique Bird is taking up to 75% off F/W merch. Good all year ’round, this Acne Studios leather belt is down from $175 to $40.

Long before Pharrell graced the cover of Paper’s June/July ’08 issue with his custom made Hermès Birkin in purple croc, we knew the fashion biz was conspiring to expand the handbag market to include male shoppers. It’s just too profitable a business to waste on women alone, particularly now that men’s wear sales are miraculously outpacing the growth of women’s wear. Now, further evidence of this grand conspiracy has surfaced in a new report from WWD, outlined HERE by The Moment. Our advice to you? Watch your sacks! If an attache has scales, just walk away. If you can’t tell the difference between your canvas Jack Spade and your girl’s Kate Spade, return it immediately. These days, even an extra glossy briefcase can’t be trusted. At this very moment, retailers from Coach to Cole Haan are summoning the dark forces of Madison Avenue, and it’s you — glittery overpriced season-sensitive bag in hand — they see in their crystal balls.

Here’s what readers are saying about BWS ’09: “I’ve attended the last 4 or 5 Barneys WH Sales and this is the first time I left empty handed, messier than usual, more Barney’s brand clothes, I don’t think I’ll be going to any more in the future it wound up being a waste of an hour.” “This sale is depressing! Lots of Barney’s label, made in China stuff that doesn’t sell any other time of the year. If you do buy something at least you don’t have to wait long in line as there is hardly anyone shopping. Skip this one and wait till Barney’s goes out of business to get better deals.” “……..If you dig hard enough, you find some really good deals.”

We completely forgot about this priceless interview scene in Good Will Hunting. The matching blue top-siders and tube socks. The Thom Browne three-piece suit, and tight part of the hair. See a job interview in your future? Take notes… then burn ’em.