Sale Spree: Shop Barneys Private Sale, Bonpoint, Bloomingdale’s and Alexander McQueen

Lets not waste time here and get straight to the point. I’m sharing with you some pretty cool opportunities to shop till you drop, literally taking advantage of major drops in prices. These are special invitations to customers only, and as an insider reader, my deal is your deal! Unfold your bio-friendly cloth shopping bag this weekend and start revolutionizing your closet taking advantage of these deals.

Barneys

The ultimate New York luxury department store is slashing up to 40% off rack prices from selected clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children as well as gifts for the home. Ends Tuesday, June 1st.

Alexander McQueen

Don’t miss on this super creative collection, the last one signed by the eponymous creator himself. We just heard the good news yesterday that the company has appointed the insider Sarah Burton, who has been working side by side with the late McQueen for 14 years as its new creative director! Select merchandise from the spring/ summer collection will be 40% off.

Bonpoint

Consider this brand the haute couture for tots. And that applies to its prices as well, so I urge you to take advantage of this formidable opportunity to upgrade your kids’ chic attire. Starting June 2nd.

Bloomingdale’s

Until Monday, May 31^st you can save up to 76% on all products of this mega store. That’s hardly an insider information, I gather, but the extra 20% off you get with this secret promotion code is. When shopping online, use code BIGBROWN. If you are in the store and did not get a special discount card with this code in the mail, tell the cashier you forgot it at home and ask for her to give you the discount anyways, after all you are such a good customer!

MoMA Party in the Garden and The Kitchen – you don’t want to miss these two extraordinary benefit after-parties this week

How can you not have fun surrounded by sculptures, paintings, talent, artists, wine and a dj... And all this knowing your party ticket is not only giving you access to a special evening with a cause, but also helping to sponsor the continuum of contemporary art. MoMA's party will happen in the sculpture garden and The Kitchen's at Capitale. Those two yearly spring benefits are always a lot of fun. If you feel the party stamina flowing in your veins this week get your tickets to both right now as they are almost sold out.

If you don’t, go anyways, the environment will inevitable inspire you to celebrate!

To get tickets:

MoMA The Party in The Garden: Note: I’ve just been informed that MoMA tickets for after party only are sold out online, but there are some at the door. Arrive early and put on your irresistible smile. Of course there is always the option to attend the actual gala/dinner. Those tickets are still available! Think noble, party in grand style!

The Kitchen After-Party - 9:30 to Midnight AFTER-PARTY with open bar, desserts, and dancing with DJ Scott Campbell and a live music performance by Chief

Hang around Washington and Union Square Parks this weekend

Looking to take a stroll somewhere with something novel to do?

There’s lot’s going on around Washington Park and Union Square this Saturday. I would suggest you start by checking out the newly opened Nordstrom Rack store (where the Virgin mega store used to be). All apparel, shoes and accessories are 50-70% off label prices. Snag a discounted designer cargo capri, the look of the season. Get two just in case and I’ll soon tell you why. For lunch, benefit from the recently inaugurated all organic (from placemats to receipts) ABC Kitchen at the ABC Carpet & Home. Jean-Georges Vongerichten is behind this ultra-eco friendly environment. Not only the food is 85% local acquired at the Union Square Farmers Market, there’s no bottled water. The restaurant makes its own sparkling water and filters its own tap with a four-chamber charcoal system.

After a heartening and eco-conscious meal, stroll down to the next friendly recreational area: Washington Square Park. Besides the musicians, artists and ice-cream truck, you will might make a new special friend that day, and even take him home… Adoptapalooza is the first annual cats and dogs adoption fair organized by the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals. When you are holding that excited puppy on your lap, and he reciprocates your love, he might get a little taken away and pee on those cute new capris or shorts you picked out earlier at Nordstrom. That’s where the second pair comes in handy. And so does your new friend: next time you can do all that program together again, and take him to the fair to get his picture taken in his favorite costume. Always thinking ahead!

Diane Von Furstenberg dinner in honor of Carlos Jereissati

Hostess Diane Von Furstenberg welcoming the guests and acknowledging her love for Brazil

Tuesday night, at a very intimate dinner in honor of Brazilian entrepreneur Carlos Jereissati, Diane Von Furstenberg delivered a very inspired speech describing Brazil, the "most pleasant country of the Bric’s group to invest in today." She was referring to the business promising emerging countries: Brazil, India, Russia and China. “Brazilians are so full of joy, and they really enjoy shopping. When they like something they don’t just buy it for themselves, but for their friends, in another color, for their daughters!,” shared Ms Furstenberg. And that would be a fact, as she shared with her guests that since her first South American store opened at the Iguatemi mall six weeks ago, they’ve already sold a million dollars.

The party, held at her studio in the Meat Packing District and catered by St Ambroeus, gathered the who's who of the Brazilian fashion and design society in NYC (Carlos de Souza, Francisco Costa, Giovanni Biancho, Carlos Junqueira, Gloria Kalil, Cristiana Mascarenhas), as well as several international personalities from the fashion industry (Todd Eberle from Vanity Fair, Richard Pandiscio, Isabel Rattazzi, Marco Giacometti, Jeffrey Podolsky amongst many others.)

Carlos de Souza and Carlos Jereissati

Carlos Jereissati is the CEO of his family owned Iguatemi shopping mall empire. The group owns 17 malls around the country and attracts 1.5 million visitors each month. It’s flagship mall is in Sao Paulo, a city in which more than $1.8 billion is spent on luxury goods every year. “But you have to understand that Iguatemi is not a mall, but a community, it does not feel like a mall, it’s where people go to gather, eat, meet, take their kids and have a great afternoon,” points out the gracious hostess. Jereissati didn’t make a speech, but was super friendly and all smiles surrounded by people who truly appreciate what it takes to build a chic and esthetically appealing shopping mecca.

Brazilian media first lady Joyce Pascowitch and NY PR powerhouse Nadine Johnson, who orchestrated the event

Gloria Kalil, Carlos de Souza and Isabel Rattazzi

Francisco Costa, Diane Von Furstenberg, Alex Von Furstenberg

All photos on this post by BILLY FARRELL / PatrickMcMullan.com.

For more of DVF's party photos visit Patrick McMullan's site

Shopping for spring shoes and bags on sale this week

Now that most of us are done with the spring closet cleaning, how about stoking up on funky summer sandals and flats? Especially if you are shopping getting VIP treatment for the coolest and newest models at the Melissa sample sale. That's a refreshing idea from your pocket to your toe.

And since we are refitting the closet shelves with new springy items, we shall not forget what best pairs with shoes: bags. Imperio JP is offering their best selling leather totes at a major mark down from 25% to 75%. Plus all sorts of special spring summer items… Batiks, pareos, bikinis… You can preview some of Imperio JP's “to order only” collection of leather goods such as luggage, computer cases, other yummy items for you or that special someone in your world.

For more information on the Imperio JP sale: click here

Wallpaper Born in Brazil + other weekend parties...

Psst, don’t tell too many people about this, here are a couple great semi-secret (truly NY insider) parties happening this weekend. Start out with Friday’s cocktail gathering to celebrate Wallpaper’s Brazil issue. The party takes place at the wonderful and lofty Espasso store. Espasso specializes in talented high-end Brazilian designers, and is one of the hippest furniture stores in Manhattan. RSVP with powerhouse PR agent Nadine Johnson at Wallpaper@NadineJohnson.com

Espasso, 38 N. Moore Street, New York, on Friday, May 14^th from 8pm – 12pm

If you haven’t started your summer share yet, it’s worth driving out just for the day to check out c/o The Maidstone’s open house. The hotel will present an exhibition by photographer Jacob Fellander and showcase its newly renovated rooms for our peeking. Each suite delightful and inspired by Scandinavian personalities such as Alfred Nobel, furniture designer Arne Jacobsen and world traveler Thor Heyerdahl. The main area of the hotel has been redone last year and feature a comfortable and a welcoming atmosphere: a genuine feel of "Scandinavian cozy" as Jenny Ljungberg, the owner describes it. It is the best hotel in the Hamptons by far. This is your chance to intimately get to know your knew après-beach hang out for this summer.

Local wines and cheeses will be served, RSVP is a must. From noon until 3.

c/o The Maidstone
207 Main Street East Hampton - Directions

Spring Pedals

Bikes lined up in front of The Bowery Hotel, available to guests for their own cruising pleasure

Spring is the time to enjoy the outdoors and shake off the winter blues (and why not, the accumulated extra ponds as well). The most efficient way to achieve both at the same time would be to bicycle around town. Around Central Park there are several companies that rent bikes per hour. If you are a true bicycle connoisseur you will take pleasure in visiting the exhibit Bespoke: The Handbuilt Bicycle, starting May 13^th at the Museum of Art and Design.

Talking about bespoke and highly crafted bikes, many luxury brands are coming out with lavish two-wheeled riding machines. And since we do live in a fashion centric metropolis, I thought you would be like to be up to speed on the latest designer trends in bicycles:

For a genuine Dutch version, - those guys know what they are doing, there’s practically one bike per capita in Holland - check out the stylish eight-speed, easy-riding Men’s Amsterdam Royal 8i

Ladies, if you thought pedaling around town is for messengers and dudes only, erase, or better yet, literally white-out that pre-concept notion with the all white, super chic Cruiser Bicycle by Gucci.

Gucci's ride costs around $6,000

On that same note, girls, if you rather pedal around on something more classical, say black, Chanel offers the perfect option for your urban two-wheel ride. No need to worry about your mascara getting messy. The make-up case is built in and included, bien sur!

Around $12,000, the Chanel aluminum hand-assembled bike has a quilted calfskin seat and three bags with signature logo

Self declared bicycle lover Paul Smith collaborated with Japanese saddle maker Kashimax and designed a classic Paul Smith multistripe leather bicycle seat. Here’s a you-tube video of the British designer telling how he started his career as a racing cyclist and became the extraordinary fashion designer he is now.