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Reading List

Be-Speckled

— Wed, 12th November 2008 —

Friday through Monday, 11/17, the renowned Selima Optique boutique will be hosting a sample sale featuring special selections from its vintage collection, along with rarely-discounted first-rate labels like Persol (pictured), Alain Mikli, Cazal, Dior, and Gucci, to name a few.

Selima Optique sample sale – Bond 07 by Selima – 7 Bond St between Broadway & Lafayette – 11am-7pm daily – Map

The Real Deal

— Tue, 11th November 2008 —

Wednesday through next Tuesday, 11/18, get to Zoë for 40% off sweaters, jackets, and coats from the likes of Trovata (above), Rag & Bone (below), Rogan, A.P.C., and Nice Collective. This is all very nice stuff. If you can’t make it out to Dumbo, shop the sale online with the code “8331064.”

Zoë – 68 Washington St nr Front St, Dumbo, Brookyn – Sun 12pm-6pm; Mon 11am-7pm; Tue-Thu, Sat 11am-8pm; Fri 11am-9pm – 718-237-4002 – Map 

Changing With The Enemy

— Tue, 11th November 2008 —

As if shopping wasn’t perilous enough, the bum economy has left us with a growing mob of desperate, groveling, manipulative sales associates to deal with. Material Interest explores this worrisome trend, and we’d like to suggest a few tips to handle these determined sales-men and -women:

• Don’t want to be “assisted?” Just say so. “Just looking, Thanks!” End of story.

• When entering and exploring an establishment, don’t act like a guest. Rather, act like you own the place and everything in it. Be a gentleman, of course, but don’t hesitate to feel fabrics, throw on jackets, and ask pointed questions. It’s the basic principle of asserted dominance, and clerks will respond with the appropriate level of submissiveness. 
• Find yourself seduced by an experienced sales clerk and the fine-knit patterns she’s pulling down from the shelves? Have a line or two prepared to kill the conversation: “Wow, nice, too bad I have to get back to work, thanks!” Or,  “Beautiful, this is definitely where I’ll be Christmas shopping next month, thanks!” 
• Unfortunately, the rule that you can’t trust a sales person’s opinion is doubly true these days. That’s not to say that every sales associate will lie through their teeth — just the vast majority of them. If you don’t trust your own eye, bring along someone whose opinion you trust. **And, always get a trusted second opinion when making a big purchase.**  
• Finally, use a clerk’s desperation to your advantage. We’re in a buyer’s market, so propose a deal or two, and see what happens. As long as you handle the negotiations like a gentleman, it can’t hurt.

Un-Freaking-Precedented

— Tue, 11th November 2008 —

The other shoe has dropped at Bergdorf’s, and it’s fallen further than anyone could have expected — particularly its disheartened staff, one of whom just told us that nearly all men’s wear has been reduced by a full **40%** for the foreseeable future. “This was not expected,” he said with an audible sulk. Deals, while not quite as sweet, can also be found online.

Bergdorf’s – 754 5th Ave at 58th – 212-753-7300 – Map

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