The Choosy Beggar

We love Steven Alan. You love Steven Alan. That much is clear. But paying full-price for any of his gear makes about as much sense as the plot to Watchmen. Not that his stuff isn’t worth full price — It’s just never not on sale. Alan’s Upper West Side Outpost, for one, just received a new shipment of discounted merch, including up to 80% off F/W ’08, select resort pieces, and those from Rachel Comey, Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone, Acne…

**Update: Monday, 4/6, from Outpost: “Nothing here you couldn’t get 4 months ago for less money at Barneys or any other dept store sales … The button downs here are $98,” says one unsatisfied reader.**

Steven Alan Outpost – 465 Amsterdam Ave between 82nd and 83rd – 212-595-8451 – Map

So, hip British retailer Topshop is expected to open its first NYC location tomorrow — an event the mostly-female fashion-obsessed are treating like The Beatles’ U.S. invasion of ’64. For you — post manufactured hysteria — the Broadway flagship will exist as a resource for some sharply-cut, if questionably-constructed, gear… and plenty of sales. For a sneak peek, our friends over at UrbanDaddy have some exclusive pics of the Topman men’s space HERE.

Tuesday through Saturday, Elie Tahari is hosting another sample sale at the company’s headquarters in Midtown. To each is own, but since Tahari broke into men’s wear in ’06, we’ve found much of his work to be over-stylized and over-designed. See the best of what we found at Tahari’s most recent sale HERE.

**Update: First report from the field: “Unless you love suede jackets, nothing really worth buying.”**

Elie Tahari sample sale – 510 5th Ave ***which is actually located on 43rd St between 5th & 6th*** – 212-398-2622 – Tues-Fri 8:30-7:30, Sat 10am-5pm – Map