Cheryl Shops

As Racked noted today, there are already 40 sample sales on the roster for the rest of May, and while I'm not going to list all of them when Racked has so kindly and conveniently done so already, I will tell you which ones I think are worth hitting this week. And they are:

M. Patmos (formerly of Lutz & Patmos fame) is teaming up with a bunch of friends to host a sample sale to benefit Japan disaster relief; M.Patmos knits are $30-$400, Leroy & Perry knits are $25-$100, KBL eyewear is $40, Acme tees for kids are $18, and vintage clothes and accessories are $10-$100. 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Japan Society's Earthquare Relief Fund. 5/11; 11-7; 425 W. 13th St. (9th Ave. & Washington St.), ste. 406.

Madeline Weinrib was doing ikat prints before, well, everyone else was, and her cotton dhurrie rugs have been knocked off by everyone from West Elm to cb2. Get the real deal for 40%-70% off at her sample sale. 5/12-5/16; 11-7, 11-6 Sun.; ABC Carpet & Home, 881 Broadway (at 19th St.), lower level.

I routinely sing the praises of Twinkle by Wenlan, which makes awesome knits and cute, feminine, yet thoughtful dresses. Silk dresses are $176, silk sweaters are $115, silk blouses are $139, silk pants are $128, and jersey dresses are $118. 5/12-5/13; 10-6; 545 8th Ave. (36th & 37th Sts.), 17th fl.

If you need a new bag--and who doesn't?--Rebecca Minkoff's epic sample sale is pretty much a sure thing. Prices hover around 40% off retail and often get marked down toward the end of the sale. 5/11-5/15; 10-7, 11-5 Sun.; 155 5th Ave. (21st & 22nd Sts.).

Finally, fashionistas are falling all over Suno's unique prints; score a statement-making piece at their sale for up to 70% off. 5/11-5/13; noon-8; 242 W. 38th St. (7th & 8th Aves.), 3rd fl.

Twinkle by Wenlan
For spring, Wenlan Chia was inspired by novelist Haruki Murakami, who's one of my favorite authors--and if you're unfamiliar with his work, it's very surreal, so I didn't quite know what to expect (for example, two of the characters in one of his books are Colonel Sanders and Johnnie Walker). Thankfully, Chia interpreted it loosely, focusing on the awkwardly beautiful heroines of Murakami's books. In an adorable presentation, in which models pretended to read books, play chess, and knit, they showed off Chia's latest round of feminine dresses and separates, this time in black, dusty mauve, and deep sapphire blue. Special details like open-work necklines, cutouts, and exposed zippers retained just enough edge--Wenlan's looks are consistently girly, but always with a quirky-cool edge.

Jonathan Simkhai
In his second-ever Fashion Week presentation, Jonathan Skimkhai rounded up a bunch of reform-school girls, mixing sports-jersey-like tops and varsity cardigans with '50s-inspired dirndl or pencil skirts (some in leather!), pleated shorts, and skinny-slouchy pants. The styling was fantastic, as was the Hall & Oates music playing in the background; but even taken out of the Rizzo-esque context, there were a lot of strong pieces, like the leather bustier dress and the plaid shorts, that one doesn't have to be a bad girl to wear.

Where & When: Saturday, February 13 at 6 p.m., the Promenade, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: I always love Wenlan Chia's Twinkle shows--they're consistently one of my favorites of Fashion Week--but if I had one criticism in the past, it would be that she never shows enough of her signature knit pieces, which I adore. Thankfully, she rectified the situation this season with a generous smattering of knits in what she calls "baby chunky," a mix of gauges that creates a varied thickness and shape. Chia also excels in what I decided to call the Thinking Woman's Party Dress: frocks that are definitely meant for a night on the town, and this season they ranged from formfitting and paneled to flutter-sleeved and flowing to artfully draped to sweet, long-sleeved shifts. These dresses leave enough to the imagination, and they're constructed so that the wearer feels comfortable--because, after all, confidence is what's truly sexy, and Chia clearly understands this. From these to the cozy knits and flexible skinny pants, she knows exactly what cool girls want to wear.
Standout Look: While there were so many great dresses from which to choose, this was among my favorites, from its sweet print to its embellished neckline (no additional jewelry required!) and full, fluttery sleeves. The shape is soft, pretty, and relaxed, and I can totally picture myself wearing it.
Bonus Points: Upgrading to the Promenade (from her usual Salon venue) upgraded my seat as well; it was the best (assigned) one I had thus far.
Where to Buy: Click here for stores.

There's a fresh crop of pop-up stores, well, popping up all over Manhattan just in time for the holiday shopping home stretch. Here are the latest arrivals.

Just in time for the party season, Alisha Trimble's flirty frocks and handmade jewelry are on sale at Arrojo Studio on Saturday 12/12 from 10-5, 56 King Street (6th Ave. & Varick St.).

For the athlete on your list, you can find everything from $9.99 socks to $39.99 waffle tees up to super-high-tech jackets for $549.99 at the Under Armour pop-up shop. It's open now through 1/24 from 10-8 (11-7 Sun.) at 3 W. 57th St. (5th & 6th Aves.).

Find luxe, menswear-inspired gifts like silk and cashmere scarves, cashmere throw blankets, and stuffed animals at the Bryce & Co. pop-up shop. Hours are 11-8 M-Th and 11-9 F-Su at 92 Perry Street (at Bleecker St.).

Mackage makes some of the most flattering, chic, and yet still warm and comfortable coats around. They've moved on from the Meatpacking District and have opened a new pop-up shop in Soho. The new location is open through the end of December from 11-8 (noon-7 Sun.) at 148 Spring St. (W. Broadway & Wooster St.).

Finally, Twinkle by Wenlan is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a pop-up shop this weekend at Cadillac's Castle in the East Village. Expect to find fall clothing and bedding items, plus reissued classic pieces and limited-edition items created just for the pop-up store. 12/10-12/12; noon-6 Thurs., noon-8 Fri. & Sat.; 333 E. 9th St. (1st & 2nd Aves.).

Where & When: Friday, September 11th at noon, the Salon, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: When I read in Wenlan Chia's notes that her Twinkle collection was inspired by Yoko Ono and Blondie, I thought, "Oh no, even Twinkle has jumped on the '80s bandwagon." So I was expecting the worst, but I was pleasantly surprised by what came down the runway: airy knits and silky dresses of all shapes in everything from strong black-and-white to soft pastel prints to bold magenta and mint green. It was a bit of something for everyone, but every look accomplished what Chia does so well, which is expertly straddle the line between soft femininity and edgy cool. Chia played with volume throughout--sometimes on top, sometimes on bottom, and sometimes all over--but I think the looks that managed to contain it, such as in the sheath and chemise dresses, were the most successful.
Standout Look: Chia always has interesting prints in her collections, and I was particularly intrigued by this one, which featured a mix of stripes and flowers, once again evocative of her pretty-but-cool aesthetic. The dress also had pleats and tucks which worked well with the geographic nature of the pattern.
Bonus Points: My first Gossip Girl sighting of the week! Yin Chang, the actress who plays Nelly Yuki, sat front row.
Where to Buy: Click here for stores.

Twinkle by Wenlan Fall 2009
Where & When: Sunday, February 15th at 5 p.m., Classic Car Club of Manhattan
Runway Recap: For her Twinkle line, designer Wenlan Chia was inspired by a 1950s Audrey Hepburn for her fall show, and while the pre-Mad Men vibe was obvious with rich jewel tones, whimsical prints, and pleated skirts, I didn't quite see the gamine Hepburn effect. Not to worry--the collection meshed a retro influence with modern-day cool; Chia makes sweet clothes that tastefully straddle the line between girlish charm and womanly chic.
Standout Look: Chia is well-known among the knitting community for her patterns and yarns, so I was happy to find some chunky-knit sweaters in the collection. You don't normally see a slouchy, oversized sweater such as this with a prim pleated skirt, but the unexpected pairing works.
Bonus Points: I'm not going to go into the particulars of this show, which was a bit late to start and not the best in terms of organization. However, the free champagne and fancy chocolates made the wait much more tolerable.
Where to Buy: Visit Twinkle's website for locations worldwide.

Twinkle by Wenlan Spring 2009
Where & When: Monday, September 8th at 9 a.m., the Salon, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: In the notes for her spring collection, Twinkle designer Wenlan Chia had me at "Jean Seberg" (seriously, if you've never seen it, add Breathless to your Netflix queue now). Instead of the obvious reference to the famed French actress--striped tees, capri pants--Wenlan created a tightly focused collection of high-waisted skirts, sexy camisoles, and printed dresses. I was expecting more knits (Chia is well known in the knitting community), and I could've done without the Hammer pants, but the show had a strong early-1960s Paris vibe, and anything Parisian is good in my book.
Standout Look: Some of my favorite looks in the show featured Wenlan's "etoile" print, including this asymmetrical dress (again, trend alert!), and I have a feeling it was her favorite print as well—-it decorated all of the reversible tote bags the audience received as gifts.
Bonus Points: Nine a.m. shows are always a hard sell, so I wasn't expecting any celebrities. But, right across from me sat...the kid who plays America Ferrera's nephew on Ugly Betty, by far my most random celebrity sighting of the week!
Where to Buy: shopbop.com, Nordstrom, and more locations here.