The Choosy Beggar

Wednesday through Friday, GQ’s Best New Menswear Designer ’09 runner-up Yigal Azrouël is hosting a sample sale where you should find 60-80% off current in-store and past season merch.

**Report from the field: “Small but good selection of men’s stock in a range of sizes – mostly Medium and up on the knits, i saw everything 29-33 on bottoms but it may have gone up from there. $60 for shorts, $120 for pants, $90 for knits, $40 for tees, $150 for leather bags, $300 for leather outerwear. Some shoes from sz 9-11 also.**

Yigal Azrouël sale – 225 W 39th between 7th & 8th – 7th fl – 212-302-1194 – Wed-Thur 9am-7pm, Fri 9am-3pm – Map

It’s a Medium Man’s world at the Fred Perry sample sale going on through Sunday, i.e., plenty of sporty gear, but nearly everything in size 38. Prices are as follows:

• Knit polos – $60
• Polos – $40
• Woven long sleeve shirts – $50
• Raf Simons pieces – +$100
• Outerwear – +$100
• Sweaters – $60-$80
• Track jackets – $40
• Kicks – $20-60
• Trousers – $60
• Shorts – $40

Fred Perry Sale – 547 W 27th St between 10th & 11th – 3rd fl – 212-736-3030 – Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-5pm – Map

We all need something to look forward to. Thursday morning (unofficially, Wednesday night) through Sunday, get to the Steven Alan sample sale for $69 button-downs, $60-something sweaters, $70-something jeans, and a whole bunch of other goodies.

**Update #2: It’s 6;30, Wednesday night, and the doors are open.**

Update: For what it’s worth, a commenter claiming to be a Steven Alan employee insists, “No Wednesday opening…”

Note: In light of several reader inquiries, we thought it wise to clarify the whole “unofficial Wednesday” business. Many (most?) sample sales get started a day/night early for employees, “friends and family,” and press. For the average Joe, getting in is typically hit-or-miss, but better than average at these Steven Alan events. Just act like you know somebody, and shoot for 8:00ish.

Steven Alan showroom – 87 Franklin St between Broadway & Church – Through Sunday – Thurs, Fri 8:30am-8pm, Sat 12pm-7pm, Sun 12pm-5pm – Map

We were going to hold off on this, but then figured it might factor into your weekend shopping to know that, next Tuesday through Friday, Gant‘s hosting its mega 80%-off S/S ’09 sample sale.

**Report from the field: “WELL worth the trip if you’re a 50 suit and 34 pant… Prices are truly excellent…blazers are $95…sweaters are $35 and long sleeve shirts are $19…a lot of selection…”**

For the record, these sales get mixed reviews. Our friend and EatingBrooklyn.com blogger, Sam Jacobs, waits all year for these events. But, remarked one reader who left the last such sale empty-handed, “Very limited sizes, clothing is everywhere, tight space.”

Gant sample sale – 20 W 55th St just west of 5th Ave – 11 fl – 212-813-9170 – Tues-Thurs 8:30am-6:30pm, Fri 8:30am-5pm – Map